Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Newsroom
Obama Weights Choices for Key Posts; Obama's First Top-Secret Security Briefing; Post-Racial Era?; Energy Fix; Obama To Hold News Conference; Hit the Ground Running; Same-Sex Marriage; Role Model
Aired November 06, 2008 - 11:59 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: And hello everyone. I'm Tony Harris. And here are the headlines from CNN for Thursday, the 6th day of November.
Team Obama. New names surfacing today. Will the new White House lineup include Republicans?
Michelle Obama, wife, mother, attorney, and soon to be first lady. We look at her new role on the world stage.
John McCain in seclusion today, recovering from a grueling two years on the campaign trail. His future in politics, right here in the NEWSROOM.
"This election gives us all reason to be proud of our democracy and our country." That statement from President George W. Bush just last hour. In an address to his staff, the president said he will meet with President-Elect Barack Obama early next week to ensure a seamless transfer of power. Mr. Bush also urged this staff to cooperate with the Obama team on the transition as our country goes through tough times.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: We face economic challenges that will not pause to let a new president settle in. This will also be America's first wartime presidential transition in four decades. We're in a struggle against violent extremists determined to attack us, and they would like nothing more than to exploit this period of change to harm the American people. So for the next 75 days, all of us must ensure that the next president and his team can hit the ground running.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: The president's comments coming after a meeting with his cabinet this morning. He vowed to keep his promise to sprint to the finish of his administration, which ends with Obama's inauguration on January 20th.
Possible players in the new Obama administration, more names popping up today.
CNN's Jessica Yellin in Chicago with the president-elect.
Jessica, good to see you. And what are you hearing? JESSICA YELLIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Tony.
Well, the big news today is, of course, we're expecting announcements of Obama's senior staff. Those are the folks who populate the West Wing and make the decisions, make the trains work, if you will.
Of course, Rahm Emanuel, that's the name we've all been talking about for so many days, and he could be formally announced as early as this afternoon. We talked to our own Paul Begala about Rahm. Paul has known Rahm Emanuel since the Clinton White House days, when Rahm came in with incoming president then Bill Clinton, and here's what Paul had to say about this choice.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PAUL BEGALA, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: The tone of the administration will be set by the president, and I think what Rahm would convey, should he be the choice, is effectiveness, strength, toughness, clarity. I mean, I just think it would be a terrific choice.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
YELLIN: If you put him together with John Podesta, the man who is now running the transition team, you've got two hard-core Washington insiders who are also real pragmatists, Tony. Men who know what a bad transition looks like, which was Bill Clinton's introduction to Washington, and also were there for the duration and know how to make a White House work.
One of the things that both of them, if Rahm is to announce this afternoon, would be responsible for helping to do immediately is roll out the first names of an Obama cabinet. Some of the names floating around, treasury secretary, is the one we expect to be announced first. Larry Summers, the former treasury secretary under Bill Clinton, is one of the names out there, and Tim Geithner, who is very well liked, a young man -- some people say he's the future Larry Summers, somebody who could have long-term duration in Washington, D.C., if Obama were to stay for eight years.
Both are men that have high respect in academic communities, but we have to see if either of them is going to get the nod. Lots of names floating out there, lots of rumors and gossip right now, Tony, we're all waiting to hear.
HARRIS: Oh, absolutely.
All right. Jessica Yellin for us in Chicago.
Jessica, thank you.
And among the issues facing the new president, Iran and its nuclear ambitions. Army General David Petraeus oversees military operations in that region of the world. He is in Afghanistan now, and that's where our Barbara Starr caught up with him. She asked General Petraeus how the new American president should deal with Iran.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEN. DAVID PETRAEUS, COMMANDER, U.S. CENTCOM: Clearly what is required is a comprehensive approach. It has to be an approach of partnership with the other nations in the region. All of them demonstrating a degree of unity, if you will, in response to potentially provocative actions by Iran.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: Israel's foreign minister said today he doesn't think Obama should be talking with Iran just yet. He says doing that could signal weakness, highlighting disagreements between the old and new administrations.
And this will be the first presidential transition since the 9/11 attacks. The president-elect getting his first top-secret security briefing today.
Here's Justice Correspondent Kelli Arena.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: It's called the Presidential Daily Brief, or PDB. It contains the most classified information about covert activity, U.S. military operations and threats facing the United States.
FRANCES TOWNSEND, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CONTRIBUTOR: He will begin to see not only the threat, but also the response, and he will have to begin to make decisions about what will his policy be.
ARENA: It will be a sobering experience for the president-elect. He'll be able to see top-secret satellite photos, hear what the nation's spies are reporting, and he'll get the latest intelligence from the world's hot spots.
What's happening with the insurgency in Iraq? How sick is North Korea's Leader Kim Jong-il? And what's the status of the hunt for terrorists in Pakistan? The sooner he hears it, the better.
MIKE MCCONNELL, DIRECTOR FOR NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE: Those who wish us harm realize this is a period for us when we are still adjusting to making decisions and understanding and so on.
ARENA: McConnell points out the first and second attacks on the World Trade Center happened during the first years of the Clinton and Bush administrations, a fact that has not escaped the president-elect or his number two.
SEN. JOSEPH BIDEN (D), VICE PRESIDENT-ELECT: Mark my words, it will not be six months before the world tests Barack Obama like they did John Kennedy.
ARENA: Officials stress there is no intelligence to suggest that any attack is imminent, but they remain on guard. MICHAEL CHERTOFF, HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY: We have put into effect some additional measures to just make sure we're really scrubbing all the intelligence. We're looking very carefully into anything that might be a vulnerability.
ARENA: A smooth transition also calls for the fast placement of a new national security team.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: And Kelli Arena joining us now from Washington.
Kelli, good to see you.
You know, what players make up that security team, and how important is it to maintain continuity there?
ARENA: Well, you've got the CIA director, the director of national intelligence. You've got the attorney general of the United States, the FBI director. Out of all of those -- of course, the secretary of state of Homeland Security -- the only person who keeps his job is Robert Mueller, the FBI director. He's got a 10-year term which doesn't expire until 2011.
The experts say it is important to get the new people in place as soon as possible, obviously. But, you know, there are so many senior people that will remain at those institutions, career employees who have been doing this day in and day out for years. So, you know, it's not like the world collapses because the guy in charge moves on. But very important to make sure that whoever he does have in mind to lead those agencies is put in place as quickly as possible so that no momentum is lost.
HARRIS: Justice Correspondent Kelli Arena with us.
Kelli, thank you.
ARENA: You're welcome, Tony.
HARRIS: Among the international issues facing the new president, the stalled Middle East peace process. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is in Israel today to meet with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, but don't expect much. Rice and the White House say a peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians is not likely this year. Still, she adds, it is important to -- quoting here -- "maintain momentum and support for the negotiations."
(BUSINESS REPORT)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: You know -- Doc, hang on a second. Let me do the lead to you, and then we can talk. I know when we get together we just -- we just -- no, we're not going to talk about that.
Reverend Lowery is here. No, don't -- stop. Stop. Just wait a second. Stop.
All right.
A lot of pundits are talking about the election of the nation's first black president as the beginning of a post-racial era. What does that really mean anyway? There have been a lot of gains in the last 50 years, of course, since the early days of the civil rights movement, but can American really get past race?
Joining me here in Atlanta is civil rights activist -- a hero of mine, obviously -- Reverend Joseph Lowery, who co-founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference with Martin Luther King, Jr.
And in Los Angeles, Myrlie Evers-Williams, the widow of assassinated civil rights icon, activist, Medgar Evers. And the former chair of the NAACP.
Myrlie, good to see you. Thanks for being here.
MYRLIE EVERS-WILLIAMS, MEDGAR EVERS' WIDOW: It's my pleasure.
HARRIS: Well, let me read to you a bit of a quote from your endorsement in May of Barack Obama. You wrote, "Like my husband, Medgar Evers, and other great leaders of the civil rights movement, Barack Obama embodies a deep well of courage, integrity, compassion, strength, and sound judgment." That from your May endorsement.
How often have you thought about your late husband and the fight you both fought together in Mississippi in the run-up to this election and since Tuesday?
EVERS-WILLIAMS: Well, I must tell you, Medgar has been in my mind almost constantly since Barack Obama announced that he was going to run for the presidency. It's very difficult for me to separate everything of the past that we went through, that we fought with our bodies, our minds, our souls, and with the limited money, with where we are today. And I am just so absolutely thankful to be alive today to witness this historical moment, which I believe will take us further into prosperity, trust, happiness, all of those things that we worked for years and years ago. So many people known and unknown.
Here we are today with this young man who is the epitome of strength, wisdom, grace, determination. And he links those two generations, my generation, those who went before me, as well as the young people of today, and it's an absolutely marvelous thing. It's truly a blessing.
HARRIS: Wow. That was -- that was wonderful, Myrlie. That was really wonderful.
Reverend Lowery, you said you knew this day would come. You just didn't know that it would be quite this soon.
Can you explain to me how this happened? I mean, let's take -- let's take -- let's go back 43 years ago. Let's go back to Bloody Sunday. Let's talk about the Edmund Pettus Bridge, Alabama, and those unprovoked attacks, it must be added.
How did we get here so quickly, relatively speaking?
REV. JOSEPH LOWERY, CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST: Well, there's only one answer to that, and being a preacher, you probably can anticipate my answer. I think the last time you and I were together we had this debate about God being in the plan. Really, I'm sure you see that this couldn't have happened.
There are too many isolated incidents that all converged to Barack's benefit. There's too many of them. It couldn't have happened without there being some divine plan.
So I'm going to stick by that. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.
Aside from that, I think -- I'm so proud of America. I've never been more proud of this country than I am at this moment, because we're growing.
This is a giant step towards the fulfillment of a dream that Martin had, which he said was rooted in the American dream. So American now is on the road that it professed to be on early in its founding, and its existence, and we're on our way. I think white people have decided that they're going to weigh their options more carefully, that they will not let their interracial feelings interfere with their self-interests.
HARRIS: Yes.
LOWERY: So the economic crisis, if there was any doubt left, whether you vote for Barack, or McCain, when the economic crisis came, that sealed the deal. Racial bias be damned. I'm going to save my 401(k).
HARRIS: Yes. Yes. Yes. Exactly.
Myrlie, let me just ask a quick question and then you can take it in whatever direction you want from there.
Do you have any advice? Because as we look back, I also can't help but want to look ahead. Boy, the obstacles, the challenges, for this president-elect are just lining up one after the other. Do you have any advice for President-Elect Obama today?
EVERS-WILLIAMS: You know, when I introduced now President-Elect Obama in May at a major rally in Bend, Oregon, I said to him just before that, "I keep you in my prayers, as I do my children, on a daily basis." And he told me, "Please, don't forget to pray for me."
There are so many challenges, but I think he has already addressed those challenges in the sense of telling the American people the other night that it may not be something that will happen all at one time, all of these things will be settled within his first term. And certainly we hope that there will be a second term for him. But I do want to address the fact that it isn't just America that benefits from this change that we see that we're going through. The leadership of Obama, it is a world as a whole. And I certainly agree with Reverend Lowery that this is not something that he chose.
He was chosen to lead us forward from this time until another leader comes along. And it's international. That is what is so wonderful. Not only here in America, but people throughout the world who have been looking for leadership such as this.
HARRIS: Yes.
EVERS-WILLIAMS: There's also another challenge, though...
HARRIS: Sure. Sure.
EVERS-WILLIAMS: ... that he has put to Americans as a whole, that we must be responsible ourselves for doing whatever we can, and we must do for ourselves, our families, our neighbors, our communities, our nation. And it's turning that responsibility over to us.
And to see people respond to that, particularly our young people, who for a while I know we wondered, would they ever come into their own and become activists and care, there it is. It's wide open for all of us to see. And I just say we must continue in the vein in which we are and not somewhere along the line, three or four months from now, become disillusioned because all of a sudden there was no magic wand to wave.
HARRIS: Yes.
And Dr. Lowery, let me give you the final 20 seconds on this, if I could.
LOWERY: Well, I want to comment on this post-racial matter (ph) that you mentioned at the beginning.
I've heard people say, what's the role of the civil rights community now? Don't they need to go away? Have they become irrelevant?
HARRIS: The NAACP, the SCLC.
LOWERY: We'll always need an independent advocacy community. And that's the civil rights community.
Barack Obama's not a civil rights leader. It's not his job. He's the president, and he must be president of all the people, covering all the issues. And thank God he's there, because our job is to speak truth to power, irrespective of what color holds the power, and at a given moment in history.
So, the advocacy community must continue to be fiercely independent and to speak truth to power. And to keep the agenda of the civil rights community before power, and before those who hold the reins of power.
HARRIS: I can't tell you how much this means to me.
Thank you both.
Myrlie Evers-Williams, thank you so much. It's great to see you.
EVERS-WILLIAMS: It's my pleasure.
HARRIS: And Reverend Lowery, as always...
LOWERY: Nice to see you, Myrlie.
HARRIS: ... you owe me lunch.
LOWERY: Wendy's. McDonald's?
HARRIS: We're back in a moment.
McDonald's, that's all I get?
LOWERY: That's all you get.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(WEATHER REPORT)
HARRIS: You know, long before the economy became the dominant issue on the campaign trail, energy was a hot topic. The candidates, including President-Elect Obama, made a lot of promises. So what can we expect from an Obama administration?
CNNMoney.com's Poppy Harlow has our "Energy Fix" from New York.
Poppy, good to see you.
POPPY HARLOW, CNNMONEY.COM: Hey there, Tony.
Promises, promises, promises. Right?
HARRIS: That's right.
HARLOW: We want to know what is really going to come true. Obama making a lot of promises in terms of his energy plan.
Well, on the campaign trail, we counted them up. There's about two dozen, ranging from conservation to transportation. So we want to know, what can we expect right away? Well, here you go. Here are some of them.
Some big changes by the federal government. That's one thing.
Obama is calling for the entire White House fleet to be plug-in vehicles within his first year in office. That, of course, as security permits.
Now, by the end of his first term -- that's actually in his first year in office -- but by the end of his first term, he says half of the federal vehicles will be plug-in hybrids or electric vehicles. He also wants to change buildings. He wants existing federal buildings to be 25 percent more energy efficient. He wants those new federal buildings to be 40 percent more energy efficient.
Again, all within his first term.
He's also calling for a 15 percent reduction in the amount of energy the federal government consumes by the year 2015. And keep in mind, the federal government in this country is the world's single largest energy consumer. Spending, Tony, an estimated $14 billion this year alone.
HARRIS: So, Poppy, that's the federal government. What about the rest of us?
HARLOW: Right. We all have to do our part as well.
He talks about that extensively. His plan includes an idea to spend $150 billion over 10 years on clean energy. If you look at his proposals, this is really an overhaul also of the transportation system.
He's going to reduce carbon in fuels. He wants to see all new vehicles flex fuel capable by the end of his first term. He wants to see 1 million plug-in hybrids on the road. So he's going to rely on consumers to buy those by the year 2015. And he really wants the average American to do more.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. BARACK OBAMA, (D) PRESIDENT-ELECT: We are going to ask all citizens to participate in that process. Not just government. But each and every one of us are going to have -- are going to make commitments in terms of increasing fuel efficiency in our cars and our homes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARLOW: So what he's talking about essentially here, Tony, is a renewed commitment to conservation. He wants 10 percent of electricity to come from renewable sources by the end of his first term. He wants to see a 15 percent decrease in the electricity that we all demand by the year 2025. And job creation. That is a huge part of this alternative energy plan. He says this will trade more jobs in America. We're doing to discuss that more tomorrow when we get that all-important October jobs report.
And because this is "Energy Fix," just want to let you know, right now, oil is way down around $60 a barrel. We'll see if it breaks through that number later today.
Tony.
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: All right, Poppy, appreciate it. Thank you.
We've been telling you throughout the day that we're on the lookout for any announcements, really, from team Obama in Chicago. Jessica Yellin is standing by and I think she has some news for us.
Jessica.
JESSICA YELLIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Tony.
Yes, we've just confirmed from a top Obama transition aide that they're planning to have a press conference tomorrow when we would hear from President-elect Obama. We expect him to take questions and answer reporters questions about what are his first priorities in office and also some of his initial announcements.
By then we expect to know at least who he's choosing for certain key jobs in the West Wing administration. Perhaps like chief of staff and press secretary. And there's always the possibility he could announce a cabinet post, although tomorrow does seem a bit soon. We'll have to wait and see and do a little more reporting on that.
We know that Obama has said that he will answer reporter questions this week. And given that it's not happening today, not a big surprise it's happening tomorrow. But we will all be eager to ask him what his first steps will be.
Tony.
HARRIS: That's right. So, Jessica, you had a sort of a "Star Wars" moment election, is that right? Yes, yes, yes, it's your turn. Our new hologram technology beamed reporters into the studio. Here you see Wolf Blitzer talking with, yes, that's Jessica Yellin in New York. Jessica was actually in Chicago. Needless to say, late-night comedians could not resist.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JAY LENO, "THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO": How many saw the hologram? Did you see it?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was -- oh, yes.
LENO: You know, it was a great idea. Apparently they still haven't worked out all the kinks. I guess they had some sort of intergalactic glitch earlier in the day.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Intergalactic.
LENO: Yes. Show what happened when they did the hologram the first time.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN: Right now I want you to watch what we're about to do because you've never seen anything like this on television.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: Oh, no, that's so wrong! Jessica, I can't -- that's crazy, isn't it? I can't imagine what you're inbox looks like. What's been the reaction? YELLIN: Yes, I've gotten more Princess Leia jokes than you could possibly imagine. Most of them have to do with your our only hope. Some of them, though, aren't ready for air. It was such a trip. It was fun.
HARRIS: Oh, well, there she is in Chicago for us. Jessica Yellin live and in living technicolor. Needless to say, Wolf Blitzer will keep his head in "The Situation Room" later today.
And still to come, as President-elect Obama gets ready to take office, he is facing a lot of competing priorities. What will rise to the top?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: Boy, take a look at the numbers on the New York Stock Exchange. The big board now. What was that, Joe? The Nasdaq is down 60? Boy. And as you can see, the Dow just past three hours into the trading day is down 354 points. You factor in the huge losses yesterday. Been a tough couple of days for the market. We will continue to keep an eye on the markets throughout the day with Stephanie Elam right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.
President-elect Obama may name his White House chief of staff soon. It's widely reported Illinois Congressman Rahm Emanuel is the choice. Emanuel worked as a top adviser to President Clinton. Former Clinton adviser Paul Begala says Emanuel is the right man for the job. Begala, a CNN political contributor, says it's only natural Obama would tap Clinton vets for key posts.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PAUL BEGALA, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: I think most people think the peace, the prosperity that we had under Clinton was pretty good. But, more importantly, the talent pool was pretty good. I mean, Bill Clinton did a good job of bringing in people, giving them experience, moving them up and promoting them. And, you know, this is where you turn. You want a mix. My guess is he'll have a mix of old and new, of veterans and newcomers. That's certainly the way his campaign was run.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: Barack Obama entered the White House facing great expectations from the people and a mountain of challenges. Here's White House correspondent Elaine Quijano with a look at presidential priorities.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT, (voice over): Mr. President, Americans want the broken economy fixed first. Maybe a good time for that promised tax cut. If that goes well, experts say, keeping other promises on energy alternatives and getting health care for millions more will be easier.
STUART ROTHENBERG, THE ROTHENBERG POLITICAL REPORT: In Washington, winning leads to winning and losing breeds losing.
QUIJANO: But setting priorities means navigating treacherous waters.
ROTHENBERG: If (ph) we now, in (ph) inauguration, every group in the country is going to lay down their marker as to what they think should be done, what they need, what they want, and how they got him elected.
QUIJANO: And in the first 100 days, a president's agenda can easily get derailed, especially if he or she provoke as fight with Congress.
BILL CLINTON, FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT: This compromise is not everything I would have hoped for.
QUIJANO: In 1993, Bill Clinton set out to undo the ban on gays in the military.
DAVID GERGEN, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Bill Clinton, as talented as he was, and he was enormously talented, came in with some uncertainty about where to go each week, each month, and there was a certain amount of (INAUDIBLE). It's really important to hit the ground running as president if you want to accomplish a lot.
QUIJANO: Democratic expectations are running high.
ROTHENBERG: They don't think that he's merely going to be president. They think that he's been elected savior.
GERGEN: Barack Obama has to avoid the pitfalls of being -- of dilly dallying, of not being certain where he's going to go. I must say about Barack Obama, he's one of the most strategic and disciplined political leaders we've had in a long time.
QUIJANO: But foreign policy crises have a way of knocking president's plans off track. And on the domestic front, analysts say, even as the honeymoon phase continues, the expectations and list of demands are soaring.
Elaine Quijano, CNN, the White House.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: A former top aide in the Clinton White House says Obama's number one focus entering office should be national security.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MACK MCLARTY, FORMER CHIEF OF STAFF TO PRESIDENT CLINTON: Fundamentally, the most sacred responsibility of any president is the security of the American people. And, of course, the tragic events, horrific events on 9/11 underscore that. So the transition is important in terms of security. I think there's strong measures underway to make that a seamless, orderly transition. I give President Bush and his White House chief of staff, Josh Bolten, a lot of credit for their focus on this. I think John Podesta, leading the transition effort for President-elect Obama is very focused on it as well. (END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: Mack McLarty was President Clinton's chief of staff from 1993 to 1994.
California's vote to ban gay marriage is drawing a lot of reaction and we're keeping an eye on it for you.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: One gunman is dead and two others are on the run in Texas right now. A manhunt comes after a deadly shoot-out. Police are searching neighborhoods in east Austin and are urging people to stay inside right now. Seven schools are closed. The incident began about 5:00 a.m. Eastern Time when someone reported gunfire. Police found two men hurt. Then just before dawn, they confronted a car with several suspects. They killed one man when he fired on them with an AK-47. Later they captured two more. But two others remain at large at this hour.
A high-profile murder case in Atlanta is in the hands of the jury right now. Brian Nichols faces the death penalty for a deadly shooting spree at the Fulton County Courthouse. Nichols is accused of killing a judge, a court reporter, a sheriff's deputy and an off-duty federal agent in March of 2005. Nichols has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.
California's amendment to ban same-sex marriage has drawn cries of outrage. More than 1,000 people turned out into the streets of Los Angeles last night to protest. Our Veronica De La Cruz has been watching the web and joins us now with some reaction.
And, Veronica, good to see you. What are you finding online?
VERONICA DE LA CRUZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good to see you, too, Tony.
Lots of outrage on the web as well. We're going to go ahead and start with conservative blogger Andrew Sullivan. He is openly gay. And this is what he has to say. He's disappointed by the outcome. He does feel that the fight must go on. He writes this on his blog. This is from "The Atlantic." He says, "my own marriage exists and is real without the approval of others. One day soon it will be accepted by a majority. The tide of history is behind us, but we will have to work harder to educate people about our lives and loves and humanity."
Now, Tony, the amendment passed 52 percent to 48 percent. And this was a big victory to Prop 8 supporters. Protect.com. This is their website. And this is what they posted. "The outcome of this race is being closely followed in every state in the nation and in countries throughout the world. California's vote in favor of traditional marriage should give the silent majority comfort that they do have a voice and can and should stand up for this precious institution in legislatures throughout the world. Marriage is between a man and a woman."
And then I have this as well, Tony. Blogger Tom Gergory from thehuffingtonpost.com points the finger at religion for the passing of Prop 8. He writes, "the ballot measure was funded in large part through Catholic, Mormon and evangelical mega churches. Money poured in as hateful well-crafted sermons spewed out to congregants anxious for the golden ticket to their beloved afterlife. Money that could have fed the poor was donated instead to this intrusion of church and state."
And then, Tony, want to go ahead and check in on our FaceBook group. Been watching the comments there. This is from Mark Rocchio in Los Angeles. Mark Rocchio. He has this to say. He says, "read the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. It's the cornerstone of American freedom. That cornerstone has now been chipped by the forces of fear and loathing."
And, of course, you, too, can join in on the discussion. All you have to do is log on to FaceBook and search for Veronica De La Cruz in the CNN NEWSROOM with Tony Harris.
HARRIS: There you go. All right, Veronica, appreciate it. Thank you.
You know, America is about to get a new first lady. How is Michelle Obama likely to carry out this very high-profile role?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. BARACK OBAMA, (D) PRESIDENT-ELECT: Ann Nixon Cooper is 106 years old. She was born just a generation past slavery. A time when there were no cars on the road or planes in the sky. When someone like her couldn't vote for two reasons, because she was woman and because of the color of her skin. And tonight I think about all that she's seen throughout her century in America. The heartache and the hope, the struggle and the progress. The times we were told that we can't and the people who pressed on with that American dream, yes, we can.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: 106-year-old Ann Nixon Cooper casts her ballot for Barack Obama at a polling center right here in Atlanta. She was one of the early voters. She tells CNN she is very proud of Obama and calls his win the victory of faith over fear.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANN NIXON COOPER, 106-YEAR-OLD OBAMA SUPPORTER: Things are changing, changing, changing. And I look for more change now that it's the first black president and victory of faith over fear. So don't you know that's quite something to be proud of. Yes. I knew he was talking about me. And I have been told that he would be saying these things. I had been told. I would be as proud to meet him as anybody else, you know. I can't say I wouldn't be prouder to meet him than anybody else. But I would be very proud if I could just meet and shake his hand.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: And we've been telling you that we have been on the lookout for any announcements from team Obama out of Chicago. And we have one for you. We've been telling you throughout the morning. And the story that really broke yesterday, that President-elect Obama was likely to name his White House chief of staff, and that it was being widely reported that Illinois Congressman Rahm Emanuel was that choice. The Associated Press is reporting now that Rahm Emanuel has accepted that post. That Rahm Emanuel has accepted the responsibility. And it is an awesome one. And CNN and our Jessica Yellin has confirmed this as well, that President-elect Obama has a new White House chief of staff and it is Representative Rahm Emanuel of Illinois.
We have some early reaction to this as well. House Republican Leader John Boehner issuing a statement -- and on the announcement. "This is an ironic choice," starts the statement from the House Republican leader, John Boehner. "This is an ironic choice for a president-elect who has promised to change Washington, make politics more civil and govern from the center." The beginning and the end of the statement there from the House Republican leader, John Boehner.
We will take a quick break and we will come back with more of CNN NEWSROOM and get you to Kyra Phillips' show in just a couple of minutes.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: A lot of you are wondering what we can expect from the new first lady. CNN's Erica Hill spoke with a historian for the National First Lady's Library about what we might expect from the next first lady. That's Michelle Obama.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SEN. BARACK OBAMA, (D) PRESIDENT-ELECT: I would not be standing here tonight without the unyielding support of my best friend from the last 16 years. The rock of our family. The love of my life. The nation's next first lady, Michelle Obama.
ERICA HILL, CNN CORRESPONDENT, (voice over): She may be the rock behind the man, but Michelle Obama has never stayed in the shadows.
CROWD: Yes, we can. Yes, we can.
HILL: On the campaign trail, Mrs. Obama drew clouds in the thousands.
CARL ANTHONY, HISTORIAN, NATIONAL FIRST LADIES LIBRARY: I think her greatest asset is her natural charisma. Unlike most first ladies, she seems comfortable being in public. She seems comfortable giving a spontaneous speech without notes. Perhaps because of her training as an attorney and that will, I think, allow her to light up a room.
HILL: Described as passionate, intelligent, independent. This Harvard-educated lawyer says her most important title is mom. MICHELLE OBAMA, BARACK OBAMA'S WIFE: I'm a mother first. And I'm going to be at parent teacher conferences. And we're -- I'm going to be the things that they want me to attend. I'm not going to miss a ballet recital.
ANTHONY: Her time and her priority and her energies are going to be a little bit pressed in that regard.
HILL: A daily challenge for millions of American families. Michelle Obama has pledged to help these working parents and military families.
OBAMA: You're just asking for a Washington that understands what's happening to our military families.
HILL: Raised in a tight knit middle class family on Chicago's south side, she was taught to believe anything is possible if you work for it.
CRAIG ROBINSON, MICHELLE OBAMA'S BROTHER: It is surreal to think of my sister as being the first lady. You know, astronaut maybe or, you know, first woman to swim around the world or something incredibly -- something completely out of the ordinary. But first lady, that would have been at the bottom of my list.
HILL: It's impossible not to mention the historic nature of this election and of this first lady, but not for the reasons you might expect.
ANTONY: I do not think that Michelle Obama will be held to different standards because she's a black woman. I think that she can't help but be a role model.
HILL: Michelle Obama, meantime, will likely be calling on her personal role models for inspiration. Her late father and her mother, who started her on this path many years ago.
Erica Hill, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: That's all our time. CNN NEWSROOM continues right now with this lady, Kyra Phillips.
Rock on, lady.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Here we go.
HARRIS: Yes, yes.
PHILLIPS: He's got the job. Now Barack Obama has to fill dozens of others. And fast. A private process that could become a lot more public as soon as today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. BARACK OBAMA, (D) PRESIDENT-ELECT: For those who would tear the world down, we will defeat you. To those who seek peace and security, we support you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Obama's message to the world. The world responds with excitement, elation and great expectations. Can the new leader deliver?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CROWD: Equal rights. Equal rights. Equal rights.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: The voice of the people. Just not the people who passed a ban on same-sex marriage. Will the California courts get the final word?
And hello, everyone, I'm Kyra Phillips, live at the CNN world headquarters in Atlanta. You're live in the CNN NEWSROOM.
