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American Morning: Wake Up Call

New College Child Sex Scandal; "Occupy" Unleashed; Obama Announces Historic Move; Syracuse Coach Accused Of Molestation; Suspect Called Obama, "Anti-Christ"; Cain Gets Secret Service Protection

Aired November 18, 2011 - 05:00   ET

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

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: It's happened again, another child sex scandal at a major university. A college basketball coach accused of abusing a ball boy for more than a decade.

A major show of force by Occupy Wall Street protesters in New York and across the country as demonstrators mark the two-month anniversary of their cause.

And Twitter war -- NATO and the Taliban exchanging angry tweets?

This is your A.M. WAKE-UP CALL.

(MUSIC)

COSTELLO: And good morning to you. This is your A.M. WAKE-UP CALL for Friday. Happy Friday. It's November 18th. From the Time Warner Center in New York, I'm Carol Costello.

Here are the morning's top stories:

Another child sex scandal at a major university. Syracuse University has confirmed that basketball assistant coach Bernie Fine has been put on administrative leave. One of his two accusers talking about more than a decade of abuse that started in sixth grade.

He thought President Obama was the anti-Christ. The man accused of taking shots at the White House, now accused of trying to assassinate the president. And we're learning more about his alleged obsession with Obama.

And cleaning up and recovering after deadly storms tear through the South. The storms started in Texas and tore path all the way to the Carolinas. At least six people were killed.

So, let's head to Atlanta and check in with meteorologist Reynolds Wolf.

Hopefully, the rough weather has ended.

REYNOLDS WOLF, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Well, in part of the country, we begin to see things ramp up. You know, that system is now leaving the eastern third of the country, which is certainly some great news. You get the cleanup in its wake that's remaining.

But as we take a look at the maps, you look at the delays. And the delays actually tell the weather story. In Miami, in New York and in Boston, mainly along the East, you're going to have some issues with showers and with wind. In the Midwest, both Chicago and St. Louis could have delays for about an hour. But back out to the west, those at the top of the screen, San Francisco, showers, major delays expected, over an hour.

But if you look a little bit farther north from, say, San Francisco up to into the coastal range and to, say, the foothills of Mt. Shasta, into the Sierra Nevada and then all the way back up along parts of, say, Washington state and the Willamette Valley, and back up towards Seattle, we're talking about some heavy snow. Some places could see snow in excess of a foot. Same situation in parts of the central northern Rockies. Great news for skiers.

If you're trying to drive along parts of I-70 or I-80, it could be difficult for you. That snow is only part of the story. When you couple that with strong wind gusts topping 40, 50 miles an hour, it's going to be very difficult, the drive along parts of I-90. In Rapid City and Billings, it's going to be tough, too.

I have to tell you, Carol, in those mountain passes, you could see the wind accelerate even a bit more, perhaps some approaching 60 miles an hour. So, it could be a rough day. We're going to talk more about what you can expect nationwide in a few moments, plus the highs and lows of the day.

COSTELLO: All right. We'll get back to you. Thank you, Reynolds.

WOLF: You bet.

COSTELLO: A new child sex scandal rocking another major university this morning. Syracuse University has confirmed that basketball assistant coach Bernie Fine has been placed on administrative leave. ESPN is reporting that two former Syracuse ball boys, both stepbrothers, say Fine molested them starting in the late '70s and continuing into the '90s.

The network spoke with one of the accusers last night.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BOBBY DAVIS, ALLEGED SEXUAL ABUSE VICTIM: Sixth grade, 11, 10 years old and he started trying to touch me and things like that. You know, honestly, I don't remember if I thought that is what was supposed to happen, you know? I know I cringed up and didn't want it to happen. I was like, what's going on? I just remember been disgusted in a sense, when he started trying to touch me, my private.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Syracuse University says it investigated the allegations back in 2005 and found no evidence to support the claim, saying the coach would have been fired otherwise. But Syracuse police have now re-opened the investigation.

Syracuse's long-time head coach Jim Boeheim came out in support of Fine. He says, quote, "I'm known Bernie Fine for more than 40 years. I have never seen or witnessed anything to suggest that he would be involved in any of the actions alleged. Had I seen or suspected anything, I would have taken action. Bernie has my full support," end quote.

New developments, too, this morning in the Penn State child sex abuse scandal. A new accuser coming out. An attorney tells CNN there could be up to 10 more victims. Jason Carroll has the latest from State College.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JASON CARROLL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Carol, I spoke to an attorney who says he has received more than 10 calls from people who say they were victimized by Jerry Sandusky. He's formally representing one man who says that Jerry Sandusky started sexually assaulting him in the early 1990s.

I want you to listen to the conversation I had with him about those allegations.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JEFF ANDERSON, ATTORNEY FOR ALLEGED VICTIMS: I can tell you, there's a pattern that has emerged not only in the folks that have engaged this, but the cause of received, in every instance, Sandusky used his position of trust and power and his caring ways as a coach and mentor to groom the families and the children. And after he did would in some way, act out on them, either at the schools, at the events, on trips, at a variety of locations. And in some instances, he raped or assaulted them on one occasion. In some instances it's multiple.

As it pertains to Penn State, as soon as the revelations came forth that there had been what looked like a cover-up or several victims, several victims started to make calls, realizing they weren't alone. And we took those calls and were giving them support. And then as soon as Sandusky gave the interview in which he denied the sexual abuse, the numbers of contacts that have been made with us at our office have really ratcheted up dramatically.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CARROLL: I also want to point out did I have a conversation with Jerry Sandusky's attorney earlier this week, and one of his concerns was that anyone who was associated with Sandusky early on might now want to come out and try to take advantage of what's happening by claiming to be a victim. But having said that, Jeff Anderson, the attorney there who you just heard from, told me that he feels as though these new allegations are in fact credible -- Carol.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: Jason Carroll, reporting this morning.

Also this morning, New York City regrouping from occupy's show of force. Thousands of protesters marched through Lower Manhattan across the Brooklyn Bridge last night to mark the two-month anniversary of the Occupy Wall Street movement. Dozens were arrested for blocking cars.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm not happy with the state of things right now and I like that everybody's here for different reasons. But we're all united together to express, you know, dissent.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They're playing a rigged game. The rule's got to change.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: There were a few bursts of violence, scuffles with police, some clashes got a little bloody -- protesters lifting barricades, blocking traffic, clogging subways. The NYPD says one officer was cut by a flying object in Zuccotti Park. In the end, around 245 protesters were arrested.

And check this out -- protesters were projecting pre-Occupy messages on the Verizon building downtown. The video shot from the Brooklyn Bridge posted online with the message, "The New York City skyline has just been occupied, suckas."

Occupy L.A. put together its biggest march yet. Hundreds of protesters moving from a Bank of America branch to the downtown financial district. Fifty people arrested there.

And in Portland, a drink flew at an officer outside a Wells Fargo Bank where they staged a sit-in. A line of police officers, some on horseback, tried to break up the crowd.

Word out of Washington that they just can't get it done. The so-called super committee running out of time to find a way to cut at least $1.2 trillion from the nation's deficit. Some lawmakers saying a deal may be out of reach. They've had 2 1/2 months and now, they're down to five days. They're still fighting over the same things: tax increases and cuts to entitlements.

Failure to reach a deal will trigger across the board budget cuts and likely higher interest rates for you.

President Obama in Bali, a meeting with Indonesia's president this morning. The president also making big news during his visit, announcing he is sending Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to Myanmar next month. That's the first visit by a U.S. secretary of state in more than 50 years.

Dan Lothian is traveling with the president. He's in Bali this morning.

Good morning, Dan.

DAN LOTHIAN, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.

The U.S. for decades has been concerned about human rights abuses in Myanmar, also known as Burma. There have been democratic reformers who have been imprisoned, along with some of the ethnic minorities, all under military rulership there.

But President Obama says that over the last several weeks, the U.S. has been able to notice what he described as, quote, "flickers of progress". Some of these democratic reformers have been released from prison, some of them media restrictions have been lifted. And so, that's what is behind this decision to send Secretary Clinton to Myanmar next month.

But while there has been progress, President Obama made clear there's still room for growth.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Of course, there's far more to be done. We remain concerned about Burma's closed political system, its treatment of minorities and holding of political prisoners and its relationship with North Korea. But we want to seize what could be a historic opportunity for progress and make it clear that if Burma continues to travel down the road of democratic reform, it can forge a new relationship with the United States of America.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LOTHIAN: Now, this move today fits into the president's playbook of looking towards the East for reforms and also for economic opportunities. That's why the president is here in Bali, Indonesia, attending two high-level regional summits, also meeting one-on-one with several world leaders, including the prime minister of India -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Dan Lothian reporting live for us this morning -- thank you.

You thought President Obama was the anti-Christ, the man accused of taking shots at the White House now charged with trying to assassinate the president. Twenty-one-year-old Ramiro Ortega- Hernandez making his first court appearance yesterday. He's heading back to Washington to face charges.

Authorities say the man was obsessed with President Obama. He took two shots at the White House last Friday night, one bullet cracking a window of the first family's living quarters. The president and his family were away.

Gas prices and a job crisis are not going to ruin your holiday. AAA is predicting that 42.5 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more over Thanksgiving despite the economy. That is 4 percent more than last year. AAA is saying this year people are choosing family and friends over frugality.

But will it be a smooth ride? The first look at your holiday travel forecast, coming up bit later.

Still to come this morning, some parents are outraged after seeing this video, a bus driver caught texting with their kids on board. Her punishment, just ahead.

Think of your worst airline nightmare. And this next story might beat it. A group of plane passengers forced to pay hundreds of dollars before being taken to their final destination.

And the Vatican considers taking legal action after seeing Benetton's latest shock. It involves the pope.

It's 12 minutes after the hour. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: It is 15 minutes past the hour. This is your A.M. WAKE-UP CALL.

Here's what's all new this morning:

New allegations of sex abuse at another university. Syracuse has placed its associate men's basketball coach, Bernie Fine, on administrative leave. ESPN reports he's accused of sexually assaulting two boys on the campus grounds starting in the 1970s. The university says it investigated in 2005 and found no evidence backing the claims.

A Florida school bus driver breaking the golden rule of the road, caught texting while driving, with a bus packed full of middle schoolers. This surveillance tape shows Cindy Bishop (ph) fumbling around with her phone, taking her eyes off the road for several times. School officials suspended her for only one day.

In money news, President Obama witnessing a record deal for aircraft giant Boeing. Indonesia's Lion Air ordered $22 billion worth of jets in Bali today. It's the largest purchase in Boeing's 94-year history. Some of the planes will be ready to fly in 2017.

In sports, a new look for Major League Baseball. The Houston Astros will switch from the National League to the American League by 2013. That move will equal out the leagues with 15 teams each. Also, the MLB will add a second wild card spot in the playoffs.

Let's get a check of today's weather. Meteorologist Reynolds Wolf is in Atlanta.

Any flight delays to speak of this morning?

WOLF: You know, we don't have any as of yet but they're going to come. And the heaviest is going to be out along the West Coast. But in the East Coast, things are going to great.

Let's focus on the East Coast and show you what we have. Just pure bliss up and down the Eastern Seaboad, few exceptions. There will be rain in parts of south Florida. But it shouldn't be too big of a deal there. Beautiful along the Gulf Coast.

Central Plains look fantastic, with very dry and breezy conditions for parts of Texas. That's where your fire threat is going to be. But Pacific Northwest and the plains, it's all that big snowstorm.

Here's what we have in terms of your highs of the day, 60 in Memphis, 50 in Chicago, 46 degrees in New York, 78 in Tampa and Miami, 48 in Boston, 63 in Denver, 61 in Albuquerque. If you're headed out west, San Francisco, your high is 57, Portland and Seattle with 41, Los Angeles, 59.

That's a quick snap shot of your forecast. Let's send it right back to you. Houston, I don't know, kind of strange. It's like tomorrow Yankees are playing in the National League. It just doesn't fit.

COSTELLO: I don't think that will ever happen. I'm betting on that.

WOLF: Let's hope not.

COSTELLO: Thanks, Reynolds. We appreciate it.

WOLF: You bet.

COSTELLO: Passengers aboard two chartered planes are furious this morning after being told they had to pay 200 bucks a piece if they wanted to continue to their trip from India to Britain this week. Passengers on the Comtel Air flight say they were told to fork over cash during the layover in Vienna Tuesday.

Passengers aboard a second flight were also hit up for cash. The charter company and the company that owns the planes are pointing fingers at each other.

It was the ad seen round the world. Clothing company Benetton released a PhotoShopped image of Pope Benedict kissing an imam. That ad has now been pulled after the Vatican launched a protest and is threatening a lawsuit.

The story from CNN's Jonathan Mann.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JONATHAN MANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): U.S. President Barack Obama locks lips with China's Hu Jintao, entirely fake but eye catching. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu puckers up with Mahmoud Abbas. Another arresting and entirely artificial image. The two Koreas, North and South, go at it from the west and east.

But the most provocatively image of all is Pope Benedict XVI planting one on a prominent Sunni imam, Sheikh Ahmed el-Tayyeb displayed within walking distance of the Vatican. The Italian fashion giant is known for trendy merchandise push by provocative ads, but what was it thinking this time? Encouraging what Benetton calls unhate.

ALESSANDRO BENETTON, EXEC. DEPUTY CHAIRMAN, BENETTON GROUP: We want to create a new energy toward tolerance, respecting others and finding the elements in common rather than the elements that separate you from the others.

MANN: The Vatican wanted to separate itself immediately from the ads and announced what it called the firmest protest for this absolutely unacceptable use of the image of the Holy Father. It called on missions worldwide to take proper legal measures.

In the end, both sides prevailed. There is still a French kiss from President Nicolas Sarkozy for Germany's Angela Merkel projected in a public square in Milan, but the offending ad has been pulled in many places. And wouldn't you know it, the ad campaign itself is getting exactly the attention it aimed for.

Jonathan Mann, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: Still ahead on A.M. WAKE-UP CALL, millions are expected to hit the road starting today for the Thanksgiving holiday. And that ride is expected to cost a lot more. We'll explain.

Plus, a glimpse of what's going on behind the scenes as the super committee tries to come up with a deficit deal. Find out why some are pointing to the Bush era tax cuts as part of the problem.

It's 20 minutes past the hour.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: A sharp drop in stocks after another shaky session on Wall Street. All three U.S. markets closed down yesterday, the Dow plummeting 134 points. The decline comes as investors are edgy about Europe's debt crisis.

It's 23 minutes past the hour. Welcome back to A.M. WAKE-UP CALL.

And other business news this morning:

If you're hitting the road this Thanksgiving, be prepared to dish out serious cash at the pumps. Gas prices are expected to hit record highs this Thanksgiving. A gallon of regular will average about $3.37. That's up nearly 50 cents from last Thanksgiving.

Business review's Web site, Yelp, has filed for a $100 million IPO. It's the first step to becoming a public company. But no word on how many shares it plans to sell or which exchange its stock will trade on. Yelp pulled in about $58 million in revenue in the first nine months of this year.

The super committee is quickly running out of time to find a way to cut at least $1.2 trillion from the nation's deficit. Some lawmakers are saying a deal may be out of reach. Now, according to "The Washington Post," one of the issues is being traced back to the Bush administration. Bet you can guess what that issue is.

Christine Romans joins us live from New York with today's money headlines.

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Let me think, a money issue from the Bush administration that might be highly controversial and at the center of trying to solve the nation's budget woes -- those would be the Bush tax cuts. You're right, Carol.

And that seems to be a sticking point for the super committee according to numerous reports this morning. Of course, those are the 12 hand-selected Republicans and Democrats that have a few days now, Carol, to come up with $1.2 trillion in deficit reduction so that we can get the financial house of this country in order somewhat and get moving forward. They've only got a few days and there have been conflicting and I would say -- I would say conflicting and vague reports every single day about just how far along they're doing.

But it looks as though now the real issue seems to be the Bush tax cuts. The golden ticket for the Republicans would be to be able to preserve those Bush tax cuts somehow in this process and, of course, with Democrats, they want to raise taxes for the wealthiest people who make more than $250,000 a year.

There are other things that they still have to do, don't forget. There's defense spending. There's entitlements.

I want to really reiterate something, Carol. And you and I have talked about this a lot -- $1.2 trillion in deficit reduction has been political difficult, it has been so torturous, we're all in pins and needles to see if they get a deal -- $1.2 trillion in deficit reduction doesn't even stop the growth of the national debt.

So, this is just a very first step, a very important political step. We have to tell the rest of the world we know what we're doing and we're going to smartly and aggressively start to whittle down these deficits so that we can't have an economy that's not buried under the overhang of debt.

But, seriously, this is really difficult stuff. Both of us will talk to a leading Democrat and Republican on that committee later on "AMERICAN MORNING" and we'll see what kind of progress they're making.

COSTELLO: It just seems unbelievable to me. They've had two months to work on this. Now, they're down to five days and the Thanksgiving holiday is come up.

ROMANS: And it isn't even two months. They've had years to work on this. I mean, they're in there with all of the work of many, many very smart, reasonable people who have been studying debt and deficits for years. So, there are lots of road maps here but the Bush tax cuts seem to be a sticking point.

COSTELLO: Christine Romans, we'll see you in about, oh, 35 minutes. Thanks so much.

Coming up in our 5:30 half hour, it's happening again. Allegations of child sex abuse happening at another university. And one of the accusers is talking on camera.

And did you know there's a new front in the Afghan war? We tracked down a skirmish happening between NATO and the Taliban on Twitter.

Twenty-six minutes past the hour. This is your A.M. WAKE-UP CALL.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO (voice-over): Another child sex scandal at a major University, Syracuse rocked by allegations, two former ball boys coming forward. This is your A.M. WAKE-UP CALL.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO (on-camera): And good morning to you. This is your A.M. WAKE-UP CALL for Friday, Happy Friday. It's November 18th. From the Time Warner Center in New York, I'm Carol Costello. Here are this morning's top stories.

Syracuse University has put an assistant basketball coach on administrative leave after two former ball boys claim they've been molested. The allegations against Coach Bernie Fine first surfaced six years ago, but the university says it found no evidence at that time to support the claims.

Now, a second ball boy is making similar allegation to ESPN. Head coach Jim Boeheim says Fine has his full support.

An Idaho man who referred to President Obama as the anti-Christ has been formally charged with trying to assassinate him. Oscar Ortega Hernandez made his first court appearance yesterday. Authorities say he fired a semiautomatic rifle at the White House last Friday.

Republican presidential candidate, Herman Cain, is getting secret service protection. He is the first of the 2012 Republican candidates to request and be granted protection by the federal agency. It's not clear why Cain is getting the protection.

Let's get a check of today's weather. Meteorologist, Reynolds Wolf, is standing by in Atlanta. Good morning.

REYNOLDS WOLF, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Good morning. Let's take a look at that forecast and show people what they can expect as we make our way towards the end of the week and into the weekend. High temperatures today from Boston to New York to Washington, D.C., mainly in the 40s.

Rain is now moving out, thankfully, although, we may see some residual showers in spots like Miami with 78 degrees, 56 in Atlanta, 60 in Memphis, 58 in Kansas City, 63 in Denver, 61 in Albuquerque, 52 in Salt Lake City, and some 50s out in San Francisco and southward into Los Angeles.

Now, in terms of your delays, you are going to see quite a few of those, especially with New York, Boston, Chicago, St. Louis and Miami, but thankfully, all those delays should be under an hour. Out west, there will be a bit of a different story. Major delays over an hour due to some showers.

A major winter storm moving through the Northern Rockies and Northern Plains, but for much of the eastern seaboard, in fact, two- thirds of the nation, just pure bliss, just a beautiful day. A little bit more mild conditions in parts of Texas. We have more of a southerly flow that will bring you a but more humidity, very, very mild air. So, that's pretty good there.

But again, northwest traveling the (INAUDIBLE). All right. You're up to speed with the forecast. Let's send it back to you, Carol.

COSTELLO: All right. Thank you, Reynolds.

WOLF: You bet.

COSTELLO: A new child sex scandal rocking another major university this morning. Syracuse University has confirmed that basketball assistant coach, Bernie Fine, has been placed on administrative leave. ESPN is reporting that two former Syracuse ball boys, both step-brothers, say Fine molested them starting in the late 1970s and continuing into the 1990s. The network spoke with one of the accusers last night.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BOBBY DAVIS, ALLEGED SEXUAL ABUSE VICTIM: Sixth grade, 11, 10 years old, and he started trying to touch me and things like that, you know. And honestly, I don't even remember if I thought that was what was supposed to happen, you know. I know I cringed up and didn't want it to happen.

And I was very, you know, like, what's going on, is this -- I just remember being disgusted in a sense, you know, but that's when he started trying to touch me, my private.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Syracuse University says it investigated the allegations back in 2005 and found no evidence to support the claims, saying he would have been fired, otherwise. But Syracuse police have now re-opened the investigation. Syracuse's long-time head coach, Jim Boeheim, came out in support of Fine. He says, quote, "I have known Bernie Fine for more than 40 years. i'Ve never seen or witnessed anything to suggest that he would be involved in any of the activities alleged. Had I seen or suspected anything, I would have taken action. Bernie has my full support," end quote.

This morning, New York City regrouping from occupy's show of force. Thousands of protesters marched through Lower Manhattan and across the Brooklyn Bridge last night to mark the two-month anniversary of the Occupy Wall Street movement. Dozens were arrested for blocking cars.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm not happy with the state of things right now. And, I like that everybody's here for different reasons, but we're all united together to express, you know, dissent.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They're playing a rigged game. And the rule's got to change.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: There were a few bursts of violence, scuffles with police, some clashes got a little bloody. Protesters lifting barricades, blocking traffic, clogging subways. The NYPD says one officer was cut by a flying object in Zuccotti Park. In the end, around 245 protesters were arrested.

And check it out, protesters were projecting pre-occupied messages on the Verizon building downtown. The video shot from the Brooklyn Bridge was posted online with the message, "The New York City skyline has just been occupied, suckas!"

Similar protest swelling up across the country, L.A., Portland, Denver, Houston, D.C., and Miami. Occupy L.A. put together its biggest march yet. Hundreds of protesters moving from a Bank of America branch to the downtown financial district. Fifty people were arrested there.

In Portland, a drink flew at an officer outside of Wells Fargo Bank where they staged to sit in. Align of police officers, some on horseback, trying to break up the crowd.

President Obama in Bali, just wrapping a meeting with Indonesia's president. The president also making big news during his visit announcing he's sending secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, to Myanmar next month. That would be the first visit by a U.S. secretary of state in more than 50 years.

White House correspondent, Brianna Keilar, is traveling with the president in Bali this morning. Good morning, Brianna.

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol. This is a significant move of reaching out to what has been one of the most authoritarian regimes in the world. And while White House officials are citing some of the moves toward reform that they've seen from the government of Myanmar, the relaxing of restrictions on political opponents and on the media in the October release of about 200 political prisoners, they're stressing that this is really just a first step and this doesn't mean that sanctions will be lifted against Myanmar or that diplomatic relations will be established or are poised to be established anytime soon.

I sat down with Secretary Clinton a few hours ago here in Bali to talk about this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HILLARY CLINTON, SECRETARY OF STATE: There has been some forward movement, and in this part of the world, we have examples of countries that did finally get on a Democratic path after authoritarian regimes, military dictatorships, you know, all of the problems that have been around for a long time.

So, we're hoping, most certainly, for the people of Burma that this is real. But, you know, if it is, the United States will support and encourage it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KEILAR: President Obama called on Aung San Suu Kyi, the head of the Burmese Democracy Movement, aboard Air Force One as he was flying last night from Darwin, Australia here to Bali to talk about his plan to have Secretary Clinton visit. And when the secretary visits next month, Carol, she'll be visiting, of course, with Aung San Suu Kyi, also President Thein Sein as well as the number of other leaders of the opposition or the opposition party.

COSTELLO: Brianna Keilar reporting live from the Indonesia this morning. Thanks, Brianna.

In Washington (ph), they just can't get it done. The so-called Super Committee running out of time to find a way to cut at least $1.2 trillion from the nation's deficit. Some lawmakers saying a deal may be out of reach, and they've had 2 1/2 months. Now, they're down to five days. They're still fighting over tax increases and cuts to entitlements.

Failure to reach a deal will trigger across the board budget cuts and likely higher interest rates for you. With that deadline almost here, let's talk about what's at stake. I'm joined by top radio host, Jimmy Barrett out of Richmond, Virginia.

Jimmy, I haven't talked to you in such a long time. Welcome back.

JIMMY BARRETT, WRVA TALK RADIO HOST: Oh, hey, we're ready to join Carol Costello at CNN.

(LAUGHTER) BARRETT: How have you been, Carol?

COSTELLO: I've been great. It's so nice to hear your voice, your big booming voice.

BARRETT: Long time, no talk too.

COSTELLO: OK. Well, let's talk about the Super Committee, because we must. There are some saying that they're not going to reach a deal, and there are others who say they just can't find that even possible.

BARRETT: Well, you know, United States Senator Mark Warner, who, of course, is from Virginia, he's one of those people saying they absolutely, positively have to reach a deal. And I think they have to reach a deal as well. Whether or not they will, whether or not they even intend to, that's my big question. Do they really want to reach a deal?

COSTELLO: Well, you would think they do because we've been hearing what dire effects these big defense cuts that would be implemented if they don't reach a deal would have on our military. You think, wow! We really have to for the sake of the security of this country.

BARRETT: Well, and I think that's probably what (INAUDIBLE), Carol, because that really hurts Virginia. We have a huge military presence here in Virginia. They start slashing the Pentagon button and laying people off here due to those budget cuts. That's really going to hurt this state.

COSTELLO: You know, it's just difficult to believe that the same two things are holding them up, you know, tax cuts and entitlement reform. Why can't the two sides come to some sort of agreement? Why?

BARRETT: I think Republicans, they tried to make a move in that direction. They are proposing about $290 billion worth of additional revenues, and I realize when we're talking about trillions of dollars in our budget in red ink, that doesn't seem like a lot, but they are looking at increasing some taxes on people and taking away some privileged deductions like the mortgage interest deduction.

Now, I think they think that only hurts the top two percent, if you will, of income people with that mortgage deduction, but that's not really the case either. There are a lot of people in which I consider myself one of them, who maybe made the mistake of buying their McMansion back in 2006 at the peak of the market, who if they lose that mortgage deduction, that could mean $8,000, $10,000 that they're not getting back in an income tax refund.

COSTELLO: Right. And in many cases, that's the only tax break you have if you're in that section of the middle class, the middle class, of course, is fast, but for some, that's the only deduction you have anymore.

BARRETT: And how much more might that depress the housing market if that's the case? A lot of people are going to say, well, maybe, if there's no tax advantage to me buying a house, I might as well just keep right on renting. Why buying?

COSTELLO: Exactly. Well, you know, there are reports this morning that the big fly in the ointment, so to speak, is the Bush tax cuts and that Republicans, yes, they are talking about raising revenue but the icing on the cake for them, you know, a way for them to save face would be for the Bush tax cuts to remain in place. And democrats are saying, no way.

BARRETT: Well, I think the other fly in the ointment here, too, is I don't see any movement, do you, when it comes to the Democrats regarding entitlement programs, Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, changing any rules at any time or any benefits no matter how far down the road.

And at some point in time, just on the sheer difference of the older population versus the younger population, some changes are going to have to be made.

COSTELLO: And everybody agrees with that, too. So, you just sit back and say, hmm. Well, we'll see what happens. We're going to talk to a prominent Republican, a prominent Democrat on "American Morning." We will see what they have to say. Jimmy Barrett, nice to see you again. I hope you come back.

BARRETT: Thank you, Carol. Good to talk to you.

COSTELLO: Bye.

Remember the next Republican debate on national security is set for Tuesday, November 22nd at 8:00 p.m. eastern right here on CNN. Candidates will take on big issues like homeland security and foreign policy.

It's 42 minutes past the hour. Let's get a check of what's coming up at the top of the hour on "American Morning." Hey, Christine Romans.

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: Hi, Carol. Coming up in 20 minutes now on "AM", a child sex scandal now spreading from the concerns at Penn State to another one, potentially, at Syracuse. We'll tell you more about that.

Another protect their own problem? Allegations going back decades. Is this another case of protecting your own at all cost? We're going to speak to the man who wrote "Friday Night Life" about it.

And it got bloody for protesters and police in New York City. Occupy Wall Street clogs up streets and packs the Brooklyn Bridge. I'll talk to the former deputy commissioner of the NYPD about the response to the raid.

And super stumped. The so-called Super Committee now is just five days to reach a deal before we all pay a price. We'll be joined by members from both sides. We'll have all that for you in about 20 minutes, but two minutes now until "American Morning."

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ROMANS: A.M. WAKE-UP CALL comes right back.

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COSTELLO: Forty-six minutes past the hour. Here's what's all new this morning.

New allegations of sex abuse at another university. Syracuse has placed its associate men's basketball coach, Bernie Fine, on administrative leave. ESPN reporting he's accused of sexually assaulting two boys on the campus' grounds starting in the 1970s. The university says they investigated in 2005 and found no evidence backing those claims.

The battle over Prop 8 is back in motion. California Supreme Court is allowing the law supporters to defend it in appeals court. The measure bans same sex marriage and was voter approved in 2008 but a judge ruled it unconstitutional last year.

In money news, President Obama witnessing a record deal for aircraft giant, Boeing. Indonesia's Lion Air ordered $22 billion worth of Jets in Bali today. It is the largest purchase in Boeing's 94-year history. Some of the planes will be ready to fly in 2017.

In sports, a new look for Major League Baseball. The Houston Astros will switch from the national league to the American League by 2013. That move will equal out the leagues with 15 teams each. Also, the MLB will add a second wild card spot in the playoffs.

A new battleground in the Afghan war. Twitter, NATO, and the Taliban are taking to social media to vent their anger and exchange some pretty intense tweets. CNN's Nick Paton Walsh reports on the cyber crossfire.

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NICK PATON WALSH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: After a decade of lethal combat, NATO and the Taliban are now fighting over something else. The last word. On Twitter, for months now, ISAF media, the coalition press office, and ABalkhi, an apparent Taliban spokesman have been slugging it out. First, they got personal over claims NATO has Afghan mercenaries (ph) and its pay.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Your offices have admitted to it dumb dumb.

WALSH: Dumb dumb how the dialogue elevates. Look, nobody takes you seriously. Everything you type is wrong. Just stop.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's why they picked you for this job. If I wasn't here, you don't have a job.

WALSH (on-camera): Neither side wants to talk about it on camera or show their face of their Tweeter, but they both seem compelled into this ongoing war of words. When NATO said it wants talks with the Taliban, they probably didn't have this in mind.

(voice-over) NATO admits this is a war of perception and the Taliban's information front is getting slicker. When tribal elders gathered near the intercontinental hotel in Kabul to talks on Wednesday, insurgents put this video online, appearing to eulogize the suicide bombers who attacked that same hotel months earlier.

But direct conversation happens mostly on Twitter. On Monday, after reports a Taliban spokesman was arrested, they sniped over whether he was a civilian.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why are you capturing civilians?

WALSH: So, you're saying he was not a member of the Taliban? Is that what you want everyone to believe?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know not everyone is paid to sit behind a desk all day to tweet. Everyone else has a life to tend to.

WALSH: Twitter is seen by few Afghans but influential among media and diplomats in Kabul. NATO have long had reporters and a TV channel to put out their message but don't want to lose ground with the Twitterality (ph), getting into exchanges that may not help their message some say.

LOFTULLAH NAJAFIZADA, CURRENT AFFAIRS, TOLO TV: I saw some of them this morning, and they were so funny, to be honest. I was wondering why ISAF should really reply. ISAF shouldn't do it, because Taliban probably won't consider all ethics of communication. So, it's good for ISAF to stay out of it and not to engage in such communications. It would be counterproductive for ISAF.

WALSH: But they do. Dozens a day, often just to deny false Taliban claims of ISAF casualties.

Nope again, no ISAF halo shot down last night. Nice try.

Did not happen. Abalkhi is truly the gift that keeps on giving.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Whoever has put you behind desk needs to fire you and put someone more competent. You're making people laugh at ISAF's intelligence.

WALSH: However infectious, these online spats remain after a decade of war of much more than words.

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COSTELLO: That was CNN's Nick Paton Walsh reporting.

We've been hearing about it for weeks. Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore calling it quits. Well, apparently, it may actually be true this time. We'll talk about it. It's 50 minutes past the hour. This is your A.M. WAKE-UP CALL.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) COSTELLO: Seven minutes until the top of the hour. This is your A.M. WAKE-UP CALL. This just in, Ashton and Demi are done. After months of speculation, the Hollywood couple announcing their six-year marriage is over. "Showbiz Tonight" supervising producer, Rachel Wells, joins us by phone.

So -- well, we've heard they were breaking up a million times before, but it's for real this time, right?

RACHEL WELLS, HLN'S SHOWBIZ TONIGHT (on the phone): Yes. Hi, Carol. Yes. I guess, it just proves the old saying, where there's smoke, I guess, there is fire. Yes. Last night, 49-year-old actress, Demi Moore, announced she wants out of her marriage to 33-year-old Ashton Kutcher after only six years. And of course, this is one of Hollywood's most famous May-December romances, though.

There were a lot of people that were holding out hope for this one. They married back in 2005. And of course, the headlines more recently back in September. Rumors swirled about Ashton's alleged infidelity as a woman sold her story to a tabloid alleging a huge fling with Ashton on Demi-Ashton's marriage -- on their wedding anniversary.

So, that fueled a bunch more rumors. And, in the weeks after the story broke, we've seen them out together a little bit. They went (INAUDIBLE). They had a camping trip together. So, I think a lot of folks thought they were working it out. But yesterday, she sent via her publicist (ph) taking strongly at his infidelity.

Let me read you a little bit of the statement, the most pointed part of it which says, "As a woman, a mother and a wife, there are certain values and vows that I hold sacred and it is in this spirit that I have chosen to move forward with my life. This is a trying time for me and my family. So, I would ask for the same privacy and compassion you would give to anyone going through a similar situation."

For Ashton, he's a prolific Twitterer, so he tweeted. Kind of a shorter note. "I will forever cherish the time I spent with Demi. Marriage is one of the most difficult things in the world. And unfortunately, sometimes they fail. Love and light, AK." I did happen to notice, the pair is still following each other on Twitter. So, they're still friendly that way.

COSTELLO: So sad.

WELLS: A little disappointing, I think.

COSTELLO: Yes. Me, too. I really love Demi Moore. Not sure about Ashton Kutcher any more, but I like Demi Moore.

There's another kind of fascinating thing developing now in the world of entertainment. Natalie Wood, she drowned 30 years ago and police in Los Angeles have decided to re-open the investigation. So, what have they found to justify that? WELLS: Yes. This is sort of -- the announcement yesterday by the L.A. County Sheriff's Department that they are re-opening the investigation is just another mystery that on top of the mystery that just surrounds the death of Natalie Wood. She drown 30 years ago. The date was November 29th of 1981. So, we're looking at about the 30-year anniversary of it.

And just late yesterday, the homicide investigators in California released a statement that they've been contacted by individuals with new information. And that's about all they would say. They're holding a news conference today at 11:00 a.m. L.A. time. So, we'll expect we'll get a little bit more information about they're re- opening the investigation.

What we do know is late last year, the actress's sister, Lana Wood, and the captain of the yacht on which Natalie Wood was sailing when she drowned off the coast of Catalina Island in 1981, they've asked the investigators to re-open the case. Lana Wood --

COSTELLO: Right, Rachel. Rachel, we got to go. We're out of time, but -- Rachel, we got to go. We're out of time, but 11:00 a.m. California time, Los Angeles police will have this press conference to say what new information they have about Natalie Wood's death.

That's it for us. "AMERICAN MORNING" continues after a short break.

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