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Obama to Address Newtown Tragedy; NRA Releases Statement; Newtown Shooting Impacts Nation; Scathing Report on Benghazi

Aired December 19, 2012 - 11:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

ASHLEIGH BANFIELD, ANCHOR, "CNN NEWSROOM": Thank you very much, Carol. It's nice to see you and thanks for joining us everyone. This is the hour in the long shadow of Newtown, Connecticut and everything that's been happening in that tiny town.

President Obama and some Democratic members of Congress are attempting to turn tragedy and outrage and national heartbreak into policy instead.

In about 45 minutes the president will name Vice President Joe Biden to lead a government-wide gun law reform initiative. But, in the meantime, the House minority leader, Nancy Pelosi, and several of her colleagues are pushing right now to outlaw high-capacity ammo clips and also beef up security in schools.

And two things are clear at the outset, a debate that has long been dormant in this country is dormant no more. And just like the pain from the massacre of innocents, the gun debate is not going to go away anytime soon.

CNN's Dana Bash is live on Capitol Hill. And, Dana, it seems things are moving much faster at the White House. What is in the works right now?

DANA BASH, CNN SENIOR CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, as you said, we expect the president to come out and talk to reporters to officially tap Joe Biden, his vice president, for this role, very interesting role, to have -- to lead what is essentially being called an inter-agency kind look at what they can do, post- this horrible tragic shooting, not just with regard to potential new gun control measures, but also with regard to mental health and other issues.

So, he's going to be kind of scouring government agencies and leading a task force to do that and, Ashleigh, it's very interesting because he is kind of uniquely qualified to do that because of his work with I am on Capitol Hill.

He, of course, was here for decades and decades as a senator from Delaware and, for almost 20 of those years, he was either the chair or the ranking member of the Senate judiciary committee.

And he was really at the forefront of many, many legislative pushes for -- the crime bill in 1994, the assault weapons ban -- and he actually is somebody who knows how to legislate. He can -- once he's done with the federal agencies, knows how to talk to Democrats and Republicans here on Capitol Hill to try to bring them together to come up with some kind of legislation, potentially, that could pass, again, whether it's dealing with guns or mental-health issues.

BANFIELD: And maybe other things, as well, Dana. That's sort of what I wanted to get from you and maybe, you know, it's so early we don't even know yet how broad the scope of this will be.

But is it fair to even ask whether this kind of initiative would include not only, say, the ban on assault weapons, but also what you mentioned, the issue of addressing mental health and the services that are out there and the funds that are out there and the statewide agencies that are out there and also the gaming industry and Hollywood and the entertainment industry.

Is this all going to be one big basket?

BASH: Well, I can tell you. Just from having random conversations on Capitol Hill with senators, even the most conservative senators, and the most liberal senators, they all bring up all of those things you're talking about, Ashleigh, even video games.

You know, they're concerned about the First Amendment and not stomping on the First Amendment is very real, but there is, you know, this definitely, there's no question has been something that has shaken people to their core and ask questions about what should be allowed out there.

So, it probably is too early to answer the question. My understanding is that the president is going to say he's not going to announce any policy moves today, that that is the whole purpose of this task force that the vice president is going to lead.

But it's hard to imagine that he's not going to look at all of those things that you just discussed because they're all very much involved and factored into this solution unspeakable tragedy in Connecticut.

BANFIELD: And I think, Dana, it bears showing the statement again that the NRA issued just recently

"Out of respect for the families and as a matter of common decency, we have given time for mourning, prayer and a full investigation of the facts before commenting. The NRA is prepared to offer meaningful contributions to help make sure this never happens again."

I think a lot of people looking to that last part of the statement and wondering just what exactly that means.

In the meantime, do we know if the White House has been reaching out to the gun lobby?

BASH: Unclear. That's a good question. Certainly -- those would certainly be strange bedfellows, to say the least. However, what is noteworthy is that the gun lobby's biggest supporters here on Capitol Hill have also been very loudly quiet if you will. They have been very mum, taking the NRA's lead or, you know, sort of going along the same strategy with the NRA because they felt that it is too raw.

But, also, in private conversations I've had with some of the biggest advocates of gun rights, it has been very surprising to me how willing they seem to be to go much further in legislating, whether it is banning those high-capacity ammunition rounds or anything of the sort, much, much different in terms of tone and tenor.

BANFIELD: All right, CNN's Dana Bash standing by live for on Capitol Hill. Thank you.

And, also, to our viewers, don't forget that the president is going to speak live at 45 minutes past the hour, about 40 minimum from now, and Wolf Blitzer is going to join us for special live coverage starting at 11:30, Eastern time. That's 8:30 a.m., Pacific.. We're going to be covering that fully, live for you.

And we also want to take note of the president's selection as the "Time" magazine's Person of the Year. "Time" is calling Mr. Obama, quote, "the symbol and, in some ways, the architect of a new America."

Its cover story also includes some never-before-seen photos, including one from just last Sunday where the president is writing his Newtown memorial speech and where he's sitting is poignant. He's watching Sasha Obama's ballet rehearsal, or at least getting ready to anyway, and the story and the photographs are online now and they'll hit the newsstands on Friday.

As the White House and, of course, as President Obama is dealing with the task of turning the unbearable loss into action on Capitol Hill, in Newtown, Connecticut, today, there are four more funerals and another day of goodbyes to people and young ones that so many people love .

And this time it is six-year-olds Charlotte Bacon and Caroline Previdi and seven-year-old Daniel Barden and, also, first-grade teacher Victoria Soto. All four of these people will be buried today. The visitation for Sandy Hook's principal, Dawn Hochsprung, is also scheduled for today.

The latest funerals and visitation among the 26 victims killed by gunman Adam Lanza on Friday and all of this time investigators are still working diligently to retrieve any kind of data they can find from the killer's computer.

He smashed it to bits before he went on his shooting rampage, but they are still trying to get what they can.

As the White House and Congress grapple with the politics of gun control and that raging debate and as Newtown, Connecticut grapples with the reality of the gun violence, we are seeing an unintended consequence, perhaps, of this, a spike in gun sales. Here's David Mattingly.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Almost a thousand away from Newtown, Connecticut, gun owners rush to buy more guns.

Why are you in here today?

KEITH FISHER, GUN OWNER: I was looking for a gun that I have wanted for a long time and just wanted to get it before possible changes.

MATTINGLY: At this gun shop and firing range north of Atlanta, already brisk holiday sales have suddenly bumped up even more

Customers fearing future gun restrictions from Congress are looking to buy now.

RUDY ORLANDO, GUN OWNER: Me and my brother collect weapons and we have plenty of handguns and shotguns and only one assault rifle. And with all this -- all the new, you know, talk of new legislation going onto assault rifles, I really -- you know, I definitely want to get a few more before something may happen.

What's the largest clip that you can put in there?

MATTINGLY: Gun collector Rudy Orlando is specifically looking to buy the AR-15, a semiautomatic rifle similar to the one used in Connecticut.

And he's not alone. Demand for the weapon here is driving a $1,000 price tag.

ORLANDO: All the prices are really high. I mean, they're really high on these guns right now, you know?

And they're not going to budget on the prices because they're going to be sold.

MATTINGLY: Are you going to buy anyway?

ORLANDO: I probably will.

MATTINGLY: A recent spike in sales reported in stores across the country add emphasis to what is already a record sales year in the U.S. Last year, the FBI conducted a record 16,450,000 background checks. This year, the total so far is over 16,800,000, and that doesn't include the month of December.

Future legislation could affect availability of certain semi-automatic weapons, features on the guns and the magazines that hold large numbers of rounds.

Without specifics, store president Tom Deets says any gun owner could feel vulnerable. TOM DEETS, PRESIDENT, SHARPSHOOTERS USA: ... or how it would be implemented. Would the existing rifles that are in the marketplace be legal or would they go across the board and make everything that people have previously purchased illegal?

MATTINGLY: The uncertainty bothers non-gun owners, as well.

Brandon Ward is a first-time gun buyer worried about protecting his family.

Why now? Why today, so soon after the shootings?

BRANDON WARD, GUN OWNER: Because I'm worried that the government is going to put so much regulations on being able to do this, you know, come future months, that it's not going to be an option for me.

MATTINGLY: Industry analysts see this as a possible peak to the sales growth that began when the election of President Obama four years ago.

U.S. gun sales totaled $2.5 billion in 2008. This year that figure could top $3.5 billion.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MATTINGLY: These latest sales were not entirely unanticipated, Ashleigh. We saw after the shootings in Aurora, Colorado, there was a 43 percent jump the following week in the state of Colorado for background checks. So, this, following an unfortunate pattern.

BANFIELD: David Mattingly, thank you. Appreciate that.

And, coming up after David's report, we'll turn the corner somewhat. As Newtown is trying to get over what it is dealing with and it probably never will get over it, there are other voices around the country saying things that may not resonate so well, like God may have been too much of a gentleman to prevent the killing of those children.

Imagine that actually being said. We're going to talk about that and the role of faith in all of this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BANFIELD: Not just in Newtown but across the country, people are finding ways, personal, public, to show that they're heartbroken over this, that it's not just a local story; it's our story.

There is just truly so much sorrow in all of this and the question that keeps coming up, where was God? How could He have let this happen?

Some have use this had question to make political points like former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee who suggested that the children in Newtown died because God has been removed from our schools. Have a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) MIKE HUCKABEE (R), FORMER ARKANSAS GOVERNOR: We ask why there is violence in our schools, but we've systematically removed God from our schools. Should we be so surprised that schools would become a place of carnage? Maybe we ought to let Him in on the front end and we wouldn't have to call to show up when it's all said and done at the back end.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BANFIELD: It may be hard for some people to hear that, but Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, obviously, I think you're someone who is going to be able to process that for me, maybe put it into perspective.

If you don't know the rabbi, the good man, he's got a new book, "Fed Up Man of Faith Challenging God in the Face of Tragedy and Suffering." That's coming out next month?

SHMULEY BOTEACH, RABBI, BEST-SELLING AUTHOR: It is.

BANFIELD: How do I handle a comment like this that we've taken God out of schools and, therefore, what should we expect?

BOTEACH: Listen, I like Governor Huckabee, but that is a loathsome ...

BANFIELD: As do I. Let me say right now ...

BOTEACH: ... disgusting comment.

BANFIELD: I like that man. I do not like hearing that.

BOTEACH: Well, you know, let's put everything in perspective here. You've 20 murdered children, killed in the most brutal, monstrous fashion and, instead of giving the parents true comfort and saying to them that their child's life was of infinite value, we're kind of blaming the victims.

You know, had we not made a war on God, maybe your child would still be alive.

BANFIELD: That God would have taken it out on innocent kids? I mean, this is remarkable.

BOTEACH: I find it so interesting that theologically, we always want to let God off the hook, that it's not God. God should not have protected these children. We are the ones who removed God.

On the contrary. God is all powerful. Where is He when these tragedies happen? I actually believe in a theology of defiance. We have to make demands of God. He expects us to protect life. He has to protect life.

He expects us to safeguard the innocence of children. He has to safeguard the innocence of children.

No doubt He is bound by the same rules and laws that He gives us, but this whole thing that tragedy results from sin, American sin, we heard this after 9/11, that because of homosexuality or abortion, so God allowed Osama bin Laden to attack us. We heard religious leaders say that.

But come on. These are 20 innocent kids. For God's sake, leave them alone.

BANFIELD: And that's it. For God's sake.

When I read about your look, I am looking forward to it coming out because when I read about it, the fact that you believe that we should be holding God accountable. I had to read -- I did a double-take.

I thought, what do you mean, Rabbi? You're questioning God? Are we supposed to be questioning God? How can we question God? We're not brought up to question God and you're saying we need to.

BOTEACH: Isn't that amazing that we've lost that theological tradition of challenging God? On the contrary, the single greatest act of faith is to challenge God and to make demands of God.

It means that you believe God controls the world. It means that you believe everything the Bible says, that He's capable of protecting the innocent.

If he can split the Red Sea, surely, he can ensure that Adam Lanza gets hit by a truck on the way to school, so he can't perpetrate his violent action.

You know, the word "Israel" literally translates as "he who challenges God and, if you look at the great stories of the Bible -- yeah, the great stories of the Bible, like God says to Abraham, I'm going to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. He challenges God. He says, you are? But you're the judge of the whole earth. How could you judge people unrighteously?

We're supposed to be in a partnership with God to protect life. We're not supposed to always defend tragedy and blame ourselves.

BANFIELD: OK. OK, partnership. And that's why I want to bring up -- when you say the partnership with God, I want to bring up Brian Fisher.

Brian Fisher with the American Family Association said these words and I am going to quote him, word with for word, and you may have to read it twice.

"You know the question's going to come up -- where was God? I thought God cared about the little children, God protected the little children? Where was God when all of this went down?

"And here's the bottom line. God is not going to go where He's not wanted. We've kicked God out of our public school system and I think God would say to us, hey, I'll be glad to protect your children, but you've got to invite Me back into your world first.

"I'm not going to go where I am not wanted. I am a gentleman."

God is a gentleman and, thus, will not save 20 children until we invite Him back into the public school system? How can people get away with this kind of thing?

BOTEACH: Well, because we allow them to. The fact is that is the ultimate statement of heresy. There's not -- this is not a religion man.

BANFIELD: He's a man who's the head of the American Family Association.

BOTEACH: Well, just because someone claims to be religious doesn't mean they are.

Let's be clear. Not only is he wrong that we kicked God out of our lives, the United States and the American people are the most righteous people in the world. We have spent endless blood and treasure to defend complete strangers, women from being beaten up by the Taliban. Our soldiers died for those people.

God is one our money. We give more charity than any nation on earth. We deserve better.

I am tired of people maligning the American people and saying we deserve to suffer, we've kicked God out. This is the most religious country in the Western world.

BANFIELD: Rabbi, then why did God do it? If it is time for us to challenge God ...

BOTEACH: Great question.

BANFIELD: ... why did he do it?

BOTEACH: So, you know what, Ashleigh? That's the thing.

Let's say I gave you the most brilliant eloquent response and I explained why 20 kids had to be shot multiple times by high-powered assault rifles.

BANFIELD: You can't.

BOTEACH: Would you suddenly say to me, that explains it? No. The tragedy would still be there.

We don't want an explanation. We want it not to happen. We don't want God as a comforter. We want God as protector. He's supposed to protect us.

We have to have a new approach to religion in this country where we are not just cosmic chaff that always surrender in silent submission to God's will. We have a right to challenge God's will. That's real religion.

BANFIELD: And we've challenged it before, after 9/11, after Columbine, after Virginia Tech, after Aurora, and we never get any satisfaction.

BOTEACH: Well, we have to be in a partnership with God. He has to do his role and we can't let Him off the hook. But we have to do our role.

There has to be a robust conversation about gun laws in the United States. Wherever people -- whatever your opinion is, we have to be courageous enough to have that conversation.

We have to have a serious conversation about the culture into which our children are immersed. Look, my kids play video games. I see them going -- it doesn't make me happy to see that.

Is that the worst thing in the world? I'm not making conclusions here. I'm just saying that a courageous nation is not so cowardly as to avoid these issues and only react to them when tragedy strikes.

We are an intelligent, farsighted nation and we have to start looking at what's happening.

By the way, for me one of the biggest issues today is how angry American men are becoming. Remember, these are men that are perpetrating these mass murders and I think that we have a single definition of success that is alienating a lot of men, making them feel like they're failures and they're taking out their rage against the society that they feel belittles them.

BANFIELD: And that's a whole conversation you and I are going to have on another time, as well. Maybe you can come back when your book comes out.

BOTEACH: Thank you. Thank you very much.

BANFIELD: It's always good to see you.

BOTEACH: Wonderful to see you, too.

BANFIELD: I really enjoy your perspective and you do make me feel more calm, even in the wake of horrible things that we end up together.

BOTEACH: Even though I'm trying to make you more defiant, but OK.

BANFIELD: Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, thank you. And I know you're headed up to Newtown, as well, ...

BOTEACH: I am, yes.

BANFIELD: .. after we speak.

We are going to take a slight break. Don't forget "The Fed Up Man of Faith, Challenging God in the Face of Tragedy and Suffering" is the rabbi's book and it releases on January 7th.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) BANFIELD: An independent panel is out with a scathing report on the State Department's role in the deadly attack on the U.S. mission in Benghazi and, among the findings, security at the compound was, quote, "grossly inadequate," end quote, to deal with the attack on September the 11th this year.

That attack killed our U.S. ambassador to Libya, Chris Stevens, and also killed three other Americans serving with him.

The State Department ignored repeated requests for more security personnel, another revelation, and there was a lack of transparency, responsiveness and leadership at the senior levels in Washington, Tripoli and Benghazi.

In a letter to Congress, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said that she accepted every one of the panel's 24 recommendations.

Elise Labott joins us now from the State Department. First of all, Elise, characterize this for me, if you will.

Were we expecting this to be as scathing? And then, again, give us a feel for who this panel is and how independent it is.

ELISE LABOTT: Ashleigh, I've read a lot of these types of reports in my many years of covering the State Department and it's pretty scathing.

I think we expected an honest assessment, a tough assessment, but it was really kind of extremely critical, not only of the State Department as a whole, but specific bureaus in talking about the systemic failure, senior leadership problems that basically failed not only to protect the consulate in Benghazi, but also failed to see the warning signs of this very deteriorating situation in Benghazi that was really a brewing hotbed of Islamic activity.

Now, Ambassador Thomas Pickering, Admiral Mike Mullen and the other people that were on this independent panel, really the kind of top- notch people that you would want to conduct this type of investigation, they interviewed hundreds of witnesses, went through thousands of documents, videos and I think that given everything that they put together, this is really as tough as it could possibly be, Ashleigh.

BANFIELD: So, let me ask you this. In the tenor and the tone of the report and maybe in the direct language of the report, Elise, did this suggest that this was ineptitude or that this was recklessness on the part of the State Department?

LABOTT: Well, I think it might be somewhere in the middle. I mean, certainly, these officials kind of missed the warning signs and also failed to coordinate amongst each other. Also didn't have a sense of who was doing what, but I think at the end of the day, it's not only a bit of incompetence, but it's also this whole culture of no, which we saw some security officials found when they got their security requests rejected. Also has to do with budget resources because, Congress here, there's a shrinking of pot of money that the State Department has had for protecting U.S. consulates and facilities overseas. There's never enough money and this was a very small facility, very few personnel and I think the State Department thought it could get by doing more with less, which is often the case.

So, this report very critical of Congress, saying it needs to put up the money to make sure that these facilities have adequate protection.

BANFIELD: Well, and the secretary is saying she would accept all 24 of the recommendations.

Elise Labott, thank you for that.

I just want to add one more note and that is that officials say that the panel didn't take up one very specific issue and that's the possible limitations that the U.S. military command that's responsible for the very large area in North Africa, like Libya and the Middle East, the limitations that that command actually has.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Nine-year-old Evan Moss is a boy who seemingly only cares about one simple thing.