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Healthcare Reform Bill; U.S. Supreme Court Ruling; Ray Vivier a Hero; Freedom Sisters; Pulled From Rubble; Osama Bin Laden Tape

Aired January 24, 2010 - 16:00   ET

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

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: A new audiotape may be from Osama Bin Laden. What it may tell us about the failed Christmas day attack on a U.S. airliner.

And despite long odds, there are calls to continue Haitian rescue operations. We have amazing pictures of a rescue taking place this weekend. You are in the CNN NEWSROOM where the news unfolds live this Sunday, January 24th. I'm Fredricka Whitfield.

Even though it has been 12 days since the Haiti earthquake, people are calling for emergency crews to continue rescue efforts. They point to yesterday's dramatic rescue of a 24-year-old man who had been trapped under the rubble of a hotel.

CNN's Hala Gorani has that story.

HALA GORANI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: 11 days underground clawing his way out of a dark hole, Wismond Jean Pierre has only a few yards to go to freedom. This dramatic video given to us by French authorities shows the 24-year-old pushed out of the rubble of a four-story building. He survived that long because of sheer luck, caught in an air pocket and surrounded by food and drink from a shop on the ground floor.

The gathered crowd first hushed, erupted in spontaneous applause, as the young man was taken by ambulance to a French field hospital.

(APPLAUSE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Bravo!

CORPORAL CHIEF SHESSE MARIE LAURENCE, FRENCH CIVIL PROTECTION RESCUER: All the stuff and - we are very happy. Very emotional.

GORANI: A rescue that probably never would have never happened if it had not been for the dogged determination of Wismond's family. Wismond's brother Jean Eli (ph) told me, "I spoke to him. I called his name. I knew he was alive." He said he tried to get officials' attention for days but it took the help of a Greek journalist to mobilize the massive rescue effort.

Another family member on the scene worriedly showed me a picture of Wismond. He was waiting, too. And hoping. As the day unfolded, reinforcements were trucked in. Ordinary Haitians pitched in to help. And rescuers worked for hours under a flimsy tin roof and deep into the ground to save the young man's life. At the hospital, later, Wismond was well enough to speak to CNN. He moved his arms and legs because he was not crushed by the falling building. Now he needs hydration and rest. A moment of true joy in a country with little to celebrate.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: And Hala Gorani joining us live now from Port-au-Prince. So Hala, what happens to Wismond now? Where does he go after the hospital?

GORANI: Well, when we visited him this morning in the French field hospital, he spoke to us. He was weak but overall in good condition. We were told by medics there on the scene that he was going to be released in just a few days. And then we spoke to his brother, one of the family members, who just never gave up, Fredricka, who told rescuers, who tried to get the attention of rescuers, saying I hear my brother. I can hear him tapping. I can hear him telling me he is alive.

In the end, A huge rescue operation was down to family members who never gave up. We followed his brother to what he calls home now which is an underground shack. And you know, behind the good news story, there's still is so much desperation, Fredricka and very little hope for the future. I heard from his brother saying look, this country is destroyed. We have no jobs. And Wismond who is coming home to live with me in this make shift home, really doesn't have much to look forward to either, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Wow, tough situation. Hala Gorani, thanks so much from Port-au-Prince. Appreciate that.

All right. Twin Haitian toddlers who survived the earthquake are now home in Minnesota. The two-year-olds (INAUDIBLE) got a round of applause since they arrived in the twin city with their adoptive mom, Betsy Sathers. Sathers lost her husband in the 2007 Minnesota bridge collapse. And she got word Friday that her adopted children were finally on their way.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BETSY SATHERS, ADOPTED TWIN HAITIAN ORPHANS: I can't even explain it. The last 12 days waiting after the earthquake. I mean, we knew it would be a long wait to get the kids. But then when we found out last night that they were coming home and just by the grace of god, they got here. I can't even explain it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: All right. Craig Juntunen helps people adopt children from Haiti through his foundation, Chances for Children. He and his wife have been adoptive parents to three Haitian children, including four-year-old Quinn right here, Quinn Juntunen right here. Good to see you.

CRAIG JUNTUNEN, FOUNDER, CHANCES FOR CHILDREN: Thank you for having both of us.

WHITFIELD: Well, this has to be incredibly heartbreaking as it is for everyone. But particularly you know with the adoption process is. Many children who were orphaned, who were perhaps on the list to be adopted, the process has been expedited for them as a result of this earthquake.

JUNTUNEN: And I think that's the appropriate course of action. You know, Chances for Children exist to support the well-being of children. We facilitate that through adoptions over the last 3 1/2 years, we produced about 100 adoptions. My wife and I have adopted three children ourselves.

International adoption works. And in the case of these orphans that are in process, getting them matched and reunited with their families as quickly as possible, I believe is the most sensible thing for us, all of us to be doing.

WHITFIELD: And what's your group right now, Chances for Children, doing as you see these images that pour out of Port-au-Prince, and some of the cities just on the outskirts?

JUNTUNEN: Chances for Children is pleased to announce we have a new fund, the Haiti Renewal Fund. First of all, what's happened with the relief effort the way that the world has come together, has just been remarkable. It has been monumental. It has been inspiring. But predictably our collective attention is going to be diverted in 90 days from now because that's what happens. The Haiti Renewal Fund, haitirenewal.org, is intended to help rebuild the Haitian infrastructure, the roads, the schools. So the Haitians can rebuild their lives.

WHITFIELD: And what are your greatest concerns then as we talk about perhaps, long term, around the corner, after two months, three months from now when you still have a number of children who are not in the adoptive, you know, children process but they have been orphaned because their parents or loved ones were lost in the earthquake, do you worry about the process being expedited?

JUNTUNEN: There were 350 orphans, approximately, pre-earthquake. Now there are, who knows what the number is. What we understand is the children that were in process pre-earthquake are going to be expedited. That's very good news. For the children that are now - this new generation of orphans, I think we have taken a collective time-out this week and I think all of - all of us that are involved are going to try to put our heads together and say what's the best practice for these children.

In many cases it's going to be an international adoption. In many cases, it's going to be an in-country solution. So we just don't know yet, I don't think any of us would want to over react.

WHITFIELD: OK, Quinn. You got something to say.

JUNTUNEN: What do you want to say?

WHITFIELD: He's so talkative at four years old. That's very impressive.

JUNTUNEN: Do you want to say hello, Atlanta?

QUINN JUNTUNEN: Hello, Atlanta.

WHITFIELD: Oh, very good.

Now you got two siblings, your brother and sister. You are lucky enough to hang around with your dad today. What has it been like today?

JUNTUNEN: Play fun.

QUINN JUNTUNEN: Yes, play fun.

JUNTUNEN: Well, you know, we - I wrote the book "Both Ends Burning" to inspire others to consider the possibility of international adoption. I don't know if you know this but the numbers - pre- earthquake again, international adoption was in freefall. 22,000 adoptions in 2004, 12,000 this year. So I wrote the book to inspire others to consider the possibility. "Both Ends Burning" is a story of hope. It is a story of human transformation. But in essence, it is a love story.

WHITFIELD: There are also a lot of obstacles in adoption, whether it is in this country, whether it's transcontinental.

JUNTUNEN: Right.

WHITFIELD: What has made it perhaps prior to this earthquake one of the toughest obstacles about trying to adopt children in need in Haiti?

JUNTUNEN: Well, I think what we all want to do in the international adoption process is protect the sanctity of the child. We don't want to put them in an at-risk situation. And that makes a lot of sense. I think we may have overreacted in that case and we elongated the process. I think it is time to rethink the international adoption process in entrepreneurial terms and not in bureaucratic terms.

WHITFIELD: What do you mean?

JUNTUNEN: Well, I think we should be able - if you look at all the variables that need to happen in the task of scrutinizing - understanding that a child really has a need with modern technology today, we could do this in months, not in years. Today it takes two years, maybe it takes -

WHITFIELD: Do you think as a result of what took place in Haiti, that perhaps it is not just the, you know, few dozen children through the process of being expedited but you think in the near future that it will be reduced to months or maybe even -

JUNTUNEN: This may be the catalyst for all of us to say how do we instill positive change, maintain the integrity of the system, but most importantly, make it a little quicker so we create a wider pathways so more families and more kids can participate.

WHITFIELD: Craig Juntunen, thanks so much. You did great, Quinn. You were so patient, just hanging in there.

JUNTUNEN: Say bye-bye, Atlanta.

WHITFIELD: Good job.

QUINN JUNTUNEN: Bye-bye, Atlanta.

WHITFIELD: Can I get a little high-five on that? All right. Awesome. All the best to you and your family.

JUNTUNEN: Thank you very much.

WHITFIELD: All right. Thanks so much.

JUNTUNEN: All right. Bye-bye.

WHITFIELD: And of course, if you want to help just logon to cnn.com/impact. There you can find a whole lot more information on the various charities in which you can make a donation to perhaps even find more information on the ongoing relief efforts.

And then tonight, be sure to watch a special two-hour "Larry King Live" on how you can help Haiti, a powerhouse of celebrities, leaders and activists join us to show you how to take action and be a part of the global outreach effort. It all begins at 8:00 Eastern, tonight only on CNN.

The U.S. now taking notice of a purported threat from Osama Bin Laden. Again, we will tell you about a new audiotape and what it says about more attacks potentially against the U.S.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: A new audiotape has surfaced that may be from Osama Bin Laden. On it, the speaker claims responsibility for the Christmas day attempt to bring down a Northwest Airlines flight over Detroit. Cal Perry has more on the new threats and the message directed towards America.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CAL PERRY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): A recorded audio message with the voice of Osama Bin Laden released on Sunday. Now while CNN cannot independently authenticate that this is, in fact the voice of the top leader of Al Qaeda, message carried and released and carried in this way in the past have turned out to be verified by intelligence officials as the voice of Osama Bin Laden.

Now the message itself first, saying that the attack on Christmas day was indeed the work of Al Qaeda. And that the message to America is the same as it was on September 11th.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (through translator): The message intended to be sent to you was through the hero and fighter Umar Al Farouk, may god release him, confirming an earlier message that the September 11th hero was delivered to you and it was repeated before and after that event. And that is that the United States will not dream of enjoying safety until we live it in reality in Palestine.

PERRY: Now on the table Osama Bin Laden says these attacks will continue to be carried out by Al Qaeda on American soil. And he equated the safety of the American people with that of the people who live in the Gaza strip.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): The United States will not dream of enjoying safety until we live it in reality in Palestine. It is not fair to enjoy that kind of life while our brothers in Gaza live in the worst of miseries. Therefore, god willing, our attacks will continue as long as you support the Israelis.

PERRY: Intelligence analysts here telling CNN today they believe that this could be a sign that Osama Bin Laden did in fact, not know about that failed bombing, that plot to bring down that jet from Amsterdam to Detroit until after the fact. It was, of course, Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula that originally took responsibility for that attempted bombing of that passenger jet on December 27th.

Analysts add that this could be a sign that the message to America is clear - that they can still be infiltrated, that the security measures in place can still be breached by Al Qaeda.

Cal Perry, CNN, Abu Dhabi.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: And earlier today, in CNN's "State of the Union," President Obama's senior adviser, David Axelrod, responded to the news of a possible new tape.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAVID AXEROLD, WHITE HOUSE SENIOR ADVISER: I can't confirm that nor can we confirm the authenticity of the tape. But assuming that it is him, the - his message contains the same hollow justifications for the mass slaughter of innocents that we heard before and the irony is that in the name of Islam, he's killed more Muslims than people from any other religion. He is a murderer. And we are going to continue to be on the offense against Bin Laden, against Al Qaeda to protect the American people.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: And if this latest tape is from Bin Laden, it will be the first in seven months. Last year he delivered six messages in all.

Let's check with our Jacqui Jeras because the start of the new work week and folks have places to go and get to. They want to know whether they need to bring an umbrella, parka or what.

JACQUI JERAS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Both. WHITFIELD: All of it.

JERAS: Or all depending where you leave. Because people are going to see rain changing to some snow. So really ugly especially up and down the eastern seaboard today and what you are seeing now is going to last into parts of tomorrow.

I want to start out with the threat of severe weather which is ongoing at this hour. There you can see a tornado watch which is in effect from panhandle of Florida on through southeastern Alabama and into Georgia, including the Atlanta metro area. We haven't seen a lot of widespread severe weather here. But tornadoes are going to be possible over the next couple of hours. This expires at 6:00 local time. But we will be monitoring these storms as they start moving into the eastern Georgia and throughout the Carolinas as we head through the evening.

And the other threat that we are dealing with is that the rainfall is extremely heavy. Flood watches from that Florida panhandle stretched all the way up into New England. The rain will be heavy here and snow won't be coming in until way behind this system. We think by Monday afternoon. And we are a little concerned with this rain as well as the warmer temperatures that we could see some ice dams developing on area rivers. So be aware of that if you are going to be traveling across the area for today.

And speaking of rivers and problems across parts of the west, you know, it has been an incredible week across parts of California and into Arizona. We got some pictures that I want to show you of a rescue which took place late last week in Catalina, Arizona. And yes, a woman had to be rescued from a flooded wash here after she was trying to cross it in her SUV. Emergency crews tried to get her from the shore but weren't able to do that. There you saw the chopper go in and they had to use the chopper to bring her to shore and that she was safe there.

So some scary, scary moments and just a really good reminder as we have flooding in the forecast here that you definitely don't want to drive through. You never know how deep it is, especially at nighttime when you just have really no perspective. This rain, of course is our next system coming into California. Southern Cal staying dry today. But this is going to move into your neighborhood, we think by late for tomorrow.

And here's tomorrow's forecast. Showing you that wet weather across parts of the west. And then there's that snow coming in behind the system. We got blizzard-like conditions today, across the Dakotas. It will be very windy but the snow not terribly heavy. And as for those travelers you asked about, Fredricka, we got a rough go of it across most of the east for today. You can expect that first thing tomorrow morning.

WHITFIELD: Oh, boy. So no one should be surprised.

JERAS: No.

WHITFIELD: Because you just called it. Thanks, Jacqui.

All right. Well, a famous hard rocker is heating up the Sundance Film Festival. Joan Jett is not only back in a new movie but she actually took the stage last night. CNN entertainment correspondent Brooke Anderson had a chance to speak with the rock icon and she joins us now from Park City. Not only is she, I guess, leading up this film but she is a producer of it.

BROOKE ANDERSON, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: She is an executive producer on "The Runaways," Fredricka. You know, the Sundance Film Festival, I love it for so many reasons. But you know, it is not just about movies and actors. It is also about rock stars. A few years ago I was able to interview Bono from U2 here and yes, Joan Jett is in town.

Of course, she first hit the music scene in the 1970s with her all- girl group the "Runaway." She is here to promote the film of the same - the "Runaways" rather. She is here to promote the film of the same name, about that group. She did give a special performance last night, delivered some of her old school favorites, "I Love Rock and Roll," "Crimson and Clover."

I sat down with her prior to the performance and said that this movie about the "Runaways" is huge and means a lot to her and is excited to see their story on film. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOAN JETT, MUSICIAN, FILM PRODUCER: Pretty surreal for me to watch this on screen. But it is an amazing story. And the actors did an incredible job. And the music is great. It is great rock 'n' roll.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

ANDERSON (on camera): Why did you think that Kristin Stewart could portray you? And was she your first pick?

JETT: We met, I'd say, about a year ago on New Year's eve. She went to see a concert. And we talked a lot about it. I chewed her ear off about "The Runways" and what it meant to me. And she just seems very real and authentic. And I can tell by her attitude that it wasn't just another gig.

ANDERSON: When you look back and you say, now that was cool, I'm so glad I got to do that, what stands out?

JETT: Well, some of the stuff I couldn't say. It was a lot of socializing. We got to see a lot of great bands play. I lived in Hollywood across from the (INAUDIBLE) of Go Gos - I went to see pretty much everybody that came to town. It was just - a really creative, special time.

ANDERSON: Is there anything you would change about your career? Or about your past?

JETT: No. I think everything that you go through, whether it is beautiful things or - you know, terrible tragic things, it makes you who you are. Helps you to grow. You know, we all need to go through stuff. And so you - I think I have had a blessed, blessed life. And I wouldn't change a thing.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: Fredricka, "The Runways" is scheduled to be in theaters in March.

WHITFIELD: And go, Joan Jett. Looking good in her cat suit. Not a lot of folks can pull that off.

ANDERSON: Yes.

WHITFIELD: All right. Brooke Anderson, thanks so much. Have fun. And be careful while you ski between live shots there in Park City.

All right. From "Purple Rain" to purple and gold. Who knew that Prince was such a football fan. More of that in the chat room.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Checking our top stories right now. They are dealing with a major mess in southeast Texas nearly half a million gallons of crude oil is in (INAUDIBLE) Port Arthur. The tanker ruptured when it collided with two barges that were being towed by a tugboat. Nobody was hurt. But the port had to be evacuated since the oil contains a sulfide which can be hazardous.

And one Navy pilot had been rescued. The fate of another is uncertain after their small plane crashed into Lake Pontchartrain outside New Orleans last night. The Coast Guard rescue teams are searching for the plane.

All right. Now you've entered the chat room with Jacqui Jeras and I. We got some interesting kind of pop culture things beginning with you know, we all love Prince. Who doesn't love Prince?

JERAS: We do.

(CROSSTALK)

JERAS: That's right. You are donning the purple.

WHITFIELD: But not because of all the songs back in the day. But now he has penned something new -

JERAS: There he is.

WHITFIELD: Mr. Prince.

He penned something new. And who knew that he was such a huge football fan.

JERAS: Well, you know -

WHITFIELD: Did you?

JERAS: Well, we've been watching "The Vice" this year, you have seen Prince, I know at least twice in the box. Kind of interesting to see Bud Grant up there. But apparently the win last weekend over the Cowboys inspired him so much that he wrote a song in less than a week.

WHITFIELD: Do you want to hum a few bars?

JERAS: Not so much. It is very high.

WHITFIELD: OK. The lyrics?

JERAS: Well, purple and gold, obviously. He talked about hail to purple and gold. The vale of the sky draws, open the roar of the cheering, touchdown. It is kind of an interesting song. Not what you would expect for a football song necessarily. Kind of what you would expect from Prince. So there's been a lot of comments I have been seeing of people.

WHITFIELD: And he's the favorite son.

JERAS: He is.

WHITFIELD: So you know -

JERAS: He is Minnesota (INAUDIBLE), you know.

WHITFIELD: And I'm sure people were mesmerized when they would see him in a sky box at the Vikings game.

JERAS: Absolutely.

WHITFIELD: And then he said I was so inspired just in time for tonight's game against the New Orleans Saints, I penned this song.

JERAS: Right. And hopefully it will be enough to go for the big "W." Right?

WHITFIELD: OK. I know you're a big fan, too.

JERAS: Well, Prince has performed in Super Bowl before like when was that? I think 2007 he did the halftime show which was fantastic.

WHITFIELD: That's true.

JERAS: He sings "Purple Rain," it starts raining. Only Prince can do that.

WHITFIELD: Only Prince can do that.

All right. Meantime, there is another rumor out there.

JERAS: Ah, yes.

WHITFIELD: You know, British newspapers say it is true.

JERAS: Right. The papers have been signed.

WHITFIELD: Brangelina. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have signed legal papers saying they are splitsville, not divorced papers because they're not married, remember. But they do have six children.

JERAS: Right.

WHITFIELD: According to this report, they have agreed to share custody of the children, split their $300 million fortune. But wait. There's more. "People" magazine - in this country saying not true. They are doing just fine. So once again -

JERAS: We heard this over and over again. Splitsville, rumored. Oh, Brad has been hanging out with Jen. Did you see her at the Golden Globes? Oh, my god.

WHITFIELD: People love to talk about this couple.

JERAS: They really do. They just gave what a million dollars for the relief fund in Haiti. But I guess that's part of the check, too, that while he was there -

WHITFIELD: Brad Pitt was part of it and she wasn't. Both conspicuously absent from the Golden Globes Awards. So people want the read into that. And - people want to write about it. At least - the London newspaper is saying that they have in fact -

JERAS: They have six kids, they can't be everywhere.

WHITFIELD: Yes, well. OK. We will find out, won't we, in the coming weeks.

JERAS: Will let you know.

WHITFIELD: We will find out whether the Vikings do well with the New Orleans Saints and enough to continue to play that song or if this is the last that you will be hearing those few bars.

All right. Jacqui Jeras, thanks so much for being in the chat room. We'll see you a little bit later.

JERAS: OK.

WHITFIELD: Appreciate that.

All right. Let's talk politics straight ahead. Now that Democrats have lost their super majority, what happens to health care? We will ask our political roundtable.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: The Massachusetts Senate election and its impact on the health care reform bill and the U.S. Supreme Court ruling on corporate campaign contributions; these are the topics that we are discussing in our political roundtable today. CNN deputy political director Paul Steinhauser joins us live from Washington. Good to see you. Also, in the nation's capital, "Boston Globe" Washington bureau chief Christopher Rowland and Nathan Gonzales, political editor for the Rothenberg Political Report. Good to see all of you, gentlemen.

All right. Paul lets begin with you. You know, did the outcome of the Massachusetts race put the Republicans in a different, more emboldened position as we lead up to the mid-term elections?

PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Yes. If you can buy the victories by the Republicans in the contest last November where they grabbed back seats in Virginia and in New Jersey, couple that with this big huge victory and upset victory in Massachusetts, remember, the Republican candidate was down about maybe up to 30 points in early December. You put all that together and you have a big wakeup call. Very loud wakeup call for the Democrats when they have to defend these large majorities in the Senate and House come November.

WHITFIELD: So Christopher what did the Democrats do wrong in this Massachusetts race or was it an issue of the independents speaking loud and clear, saying this is not an issue of Dem versus Republican?

CHRISTOPHER ROWLAND, BOSTON GLOBE: Well, the big problem was that Barack Obama ran as aide of change and independence believed him in 2008. No change ever came. So as they now -- wound up 2009 with no health care bill, I think that there are a lot of people who are angry and they are still angry over the economy. So these factors have really now woken up the administration and Democrats with the election of Scott Brown.

WHITFIELD: Well Nathan, that brings us to an interesting position now. You look on the cover of the "New York Times" today and it says that President Obama is reaching back into the designers of his campaign leading up to this seat. Trying to reach out assembling them once again to say let's put ourselves in a better position come this fall. What would be the strategy? Very similar to his campaign or does it have to be different with some of those same players?

NATHAN GONZALES, THE ROTHENBERG POLITICAL REPORT: Well, I think Democrats are trying to get their game plan together and much like the teams that are playing in today's football games, they want to get their game plan and that is making a 2010 elections a choice between the Democratic Party and the Republican Party. Because Democrats are looking at the polls and see that they are viewed slightly more favorably than the Republican Party and they want that fight.

The problem for the Democratic Party is that this election coming up in November and the one we just had in Massachusetts was more of a referendum on the party in power. It is the Democrats control almost every lever of government and they are most likely to receive the responsibility for people who are angry with what's going on in Washington.

WHITFIELD: So is everyone in agreement here that this, indeed, was a referendum against this administration and that perhaps health care, for example, really is in peril?

STEINHAUSER: That "Washington Post" -- "Washington Post" and Harvard University and Kaiser did a poll after the election in Massachusetts, they put it out yesterday and among those people who voted for Brown, three-quarters of them, I think, said that they were not crazy about what the president - the Democrats' agenda in Washington is all about. So yes I think to a large degree, a lot of this - and not just health care but we are talking about the stimulus and the bailout and almost everything else that's come out of Washington, remember, voters were upset in 2008.

And as Christopher and Nathan just talked about you know, they took their anger out at the Republicans because they ran the shop. Now the Democrats run the shop.

WHITFIELD: OK. Go ahead Christopher.

ROWLAND: I think that so now -- the problems with Scott Brown election are still with the Democrats now. I mean, they don't -- both passed forward on health care are -- seem unpleasant at this point. They can continue to negotiate and have it drag out like it did last year. I mean they treated the American public to a drawn-out debate about the public option. I don't think that's really what they needed to be doing.

But at the same time --

WHITFIELD: Go ahead.

ROWLAND: They can't take a lot. If they take a loss that's also very devastating.

WHITFIELD: And that's what I was going to ask you about. If President Obama says OK, let's back pedal here or let's abandon health care all together it would seem as that that might do him more harm.

ROWLAND: Yes, I don't think that that is going to be the option they pick. I think that if you look at what David wrote today in "The Washington Post" in his op-ed it looks like they are determined to move ahead somehow. It may end up being a quick push through to get something in, maybe the -- maybe the House will pass the Senate bill.

WHITFIELD: So how does this administration do that, given what just took place in your state if Massachusetts says, you know, overwhelmingly we are not happy about health care, how in the world does this administration go forward on health care without jeopardizing seats come this fall?

ROWLAND: They have to do it - well if they can do it, they have to do it very quickly and then quickly develop a message on how to sell it better. They had been able to sell it. Their messaging has been fairly infective over the last six months. They haven't translated the health care bill in ways people can understand how it will help them or how it can potentially help the economy. There is an argument to be made but they haven't been making it coherently enough.

WHITFIELD: All right. Thanks. And who is in trouble here?

GONZALES: I don't think there's lot the Democrats can do to change the landscape dramatically. I mean, even if they are to get the health care bill passed and then they get out on the campaign trail and sell it, I think that the problem for Democrats is that they need to have the rhetoric on the campaign trail match up with the reality. If the American people don't see either jobs coming back or their health care situation getting better, then it is just going to fall flat and that's going to become a problem.

WHITFIELD: Let's talk about what might happen now because that message or any one of those messages might be getting out in a more forceful way now, the U.S. Supreme Court has said corporate organizations as well as union teams can now contribute, you know, as much as they want to a lot of these campaigns. So Paul this is either going to mean a major logjam of information come as early as this fall or simply going to mean or send another message that unless you get deep pockets, you just can't win, you can't run and win.

STEINHAUSER: Maybe a little of both. This Supreme Court decision is definitely going to open flood gates to corporate advertising in politics. You know just in the last two or three weeks up there in Massachusetts we are talking about what $8 million to $10 million was spent on campaign ads. That's before this verdict in the Supreme Court.

Now corporations, which were prevented by many laws from basically free-flowing of their money into campaign ads, they can do that now. The big question is what side this held on the Democrats or the Republicans? At least from the initial responses we have seen, it seems Republicans are pretty happy with this decision and you heard President Obama right after the decision and again yesterday in his radio and internet address criticize this decision. So it seems the Democrats are a little more upset about this than the Republicans.

WHITFIELD: Christopher, how do you think this is going to change --

ROWLAND: I do agree with that, that I think that the Republicans will get the advantage of this new corporate spending. Their agenda is more in line with sort of a less regulatory approach that corporations favor. I think that even beyond just the amount of spending you will see in elections, I think lobbyists on Capitol Hill who are representing corporations suddenly now -- it really literally overnight have more leverage to make their case because if they have the threat now of these massive expenditures and people's local districts, if members of Congress tend to cross them.

WHITFIELD: OK. You know what, Nick; I am going to ask you what the last word is. We look to this week, the state of the union address, you all have mentioned stimulus, health care, et cetera, and it is expected that the president is going to say something about both of those things on the state of the union. What new can be said to convince perhaps people who were onboard with President Obama and are now teetering?

GONZALES: I think that Democrats on the hill are looking to President Obama to lay out a specific agenda on health care and what he wants done and what the path ahead should be for the party and for that bill. They want to see, you know, what the specific plan is for jobs and stimulating the economy and have the president lead this country and it is going to be in a very different landscape.

I think we are going to see more Democrats retire from the House; maybe Democrats that were on the fence, about retiring and now with the election in Massachusetts decide well, this might be a good time to go out instead of running a tough re-election race. It will be a very different landscape for the president than a year ago.

WHITFIELD: Nathan Gonzales, Christopher Rowland, and Paul Steinhauser, thanks to all of you, good to see you.

And speaking of that stimulus, wait until you hear what the American people seem to think about a stimulus. Yet another one or the one we just had. We will have some numbers for you.

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WHITFIELD: A look at our top stories right now. Wal-Mart announced today it is cutting more than 10,000 jobs at its Sam's Club stores. The cuts will come in the warehouses and Wal-Mart's out sources one department and eliminates yet another. Earlier this month Wal-Mart closed ten Sam's Club stores resulting in a loss of 1,500 jobs.

An increasing number of Americans are opposed to the government's economic stimulus plan. The program cuts taxes and boosts federal spending in an effort to jump start the economy. A new CNN Opinion Research Poll shows that 42 percent of Americans supported while 56 percent oppose it. The numbers were almost just the opposite. Just weeks after the plan was passed last March, then 54 percent of the public favored it with 44 percent not favoring it.

So where did the stimulus money go? And who is it helping? Those questions will be answered next week when CNN debuts "The Stimulus Desk" that's tomorrow on "American Morning" starting at 6:00 a.m. Eastern Time.

They are called the Freedom Sisters, 20 African-American women who help change the course of history from the 19th century into the 21st. I will talk with two of them.

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WHITFIELD: A homeless man's heroism could have fallen through the cracks. He died after saving others from a burning house. His body was headed to a pauper's grave when a chance acquaintance intervened. Our Kate Bolduan has the story.

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KATE BOLDUAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Another hero laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery. Ray Vivier a U.S. marine is accorded the traditional honors for the fallen. His family by his side. But Vivier isn't typical of Arlington's heroes. He didn't sacrifice his life in the sands of Iraq or the mountains of Afghanistan but rather in a burning boarding house in Cleveland, Ohio.

ENSIGN HARAZ GHANBARI, U.S. NAVY RESERVES: From eyewitness accounts, maybe one of the other gentlemen actually went back in to look for other people and alert neighbors.

BOLDUAN: Vivier rescued several people but could not save himself. In the hospital, doctors didn't even know his name.

GHANBARI: Ray, from what I understand, had burns over 80 percent of his body. When he was in the hospital bed he kept saying, Emanuel, Emanuel. The hospital staff thought that was his name, but Emanuel means god is with me, god is with us.

BOLDUAN: Vivier died in the hospital after a long and troubled life. He joined the marines in 1965 and was honorably discharged a year later. He married and had several children but personal issues like battles with alcoholism eventually left him homeless and estranged from his family.

ELISHA VIVIER, DAUGHTER: He struggle ad lot with different things and I think he was finally starting to overcome them. Which even makes us more sad.

BOLDUAN: At a wedding last year, Ray Vivier met Haraz Ghanbari a navy reservist and AP photographer. Though they only met once, Ghanbari was outraged to learn that Vivier was going to be buried with no ceremony and without even his family knowing. So Ghanbari and a couple of friends made it their mission to keep that from happening. After tracking down Vivier's family, they discovered he was a veteran.

GHANBARI: When I found out that Ray was in the Marine Corps, I said we have to get him buried at Arlington Cemetery. I could not allow him to be buried in a pauper's field.

VIVIER: My father was not only our father but he was a brother. He is a grandfather. You know. He is a son. I want to bring not only closure, you know, for myself but for all those other people, too, that couldn't be here today.

BOLDUAN: Now after a long journey and thanks to a chance meeting, Vivier's ashes rest on the nation's most hallowed ground and his family reconnected with a lost father. A nearly but not forgotten hero.

Kate Bolduan, CNN, Washington.

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WHITFIELD: Called the backbone of the Civil Rights movement. So- called freedom sisters. Their story is part of a traveling exhibit.

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WHITFIELD: This is the fourth full week of 2010. And here's some of what happened this week in history.

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WHITFIELD (voice over): One year ago this week, the Illinois Senate removed Governor Rod Blagojevich from office for allegedly trying to sell influence. This week in 2000, Republican George W. Bush and Democrat Al Gore won the Iowa presidential caucuses. They go on to face each other in the November election. Fifty years ago in 1960, Pete Rosell was named commissioner of the National Football League and he stayed on the job 29 years and was credited with turning pro- football into America's number one game. And on this week in 1890, New York's world reporter Nellie Bly completed and astounding feat for that day in age she traveled around the world in 72 days.

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WHITFIELD: All right. Talk about history, 20 women who helped shape it in this country.

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WHITFIELD: All right. Well you don't want to miss this if it happens to be in a city near you. It is called Freedom Sisters an interactive traveling exhibit that features 20 African-American women who have fought for equality and social justice. It is currently on tour in Chicago. But before going on to Dallas in the spring, it will also be making its way to Philadelphia as well. We are lucky enough to have two of the Freedom Sisters with us today. Dr. Dorothy Height has been fighting for Civil Rights for half a century. She's joining from us Washington, D.C. and Sonia Sanchez, her poetry and political activism has spoken to the heart of the struggle and she is joining us from Philadelphia. Good to see both of you ladies.

DR. DOROTHY HEIGHT, FREEDOM'S SISTER EXHIBIT: Hello. How are you?

WHITFIELD: Miss Sanchez, I want to begin with you because we are still trying to work out some audio with Dr. Height and hopefully we can do that. Give me an idea of your impression when you first went to the exhibit. I realize you have been to a number of the exhibits that have toured in country. What's your first impression?

SONIA SANCHEZ, FREEDOM SISTER EXHIBIT: Well my first impression when I saw the exhibit was that what a mighty exhibit. What a wonderful place for young people to come and view people, women, who have struggled so thoroughly for this country in such a fine fashion. You know, a famous writer said to speak is to assume a culture and to bear responsibility for civilization. I look at these 20 women who had borne responsibility for civilization by speaking out, by their activism, by their work in Civil Rights, and by writing, by doing all of the most important things that women could do in a movement and in a country and they certainly did bear responsibility for a civilization.

WHITFIELD: While you are talking we are seeing video of Dr. Dorothy Height as she was touring one of the exhibits as well. There are 20 women as we mentioned. You are in a company of Fannie Lou Hammer (ph) and Dr. Height, Sonia -- well, you. Coretta Scott King. What's it like to be in the company of these women?

SANCHEZ: Oh, my dear sister. You have no idea. When we were in Memphis, there at the Civil Rights Museum, Sister Marilea Ebbers, Williams and myself, we stood actually on the balcony where our dear brother Martin Luther King had been assassinated. And we held each other and we cried. We continued to walk in that museum looking at the women. But also looking at the men and women who have fought so very hard to make change come in this place called America and the world.

WHITFIELD: You mentioned a moment ago how important it was that young people are part of this exhibit, witnessing this interactive exhibit and learning about all of these trail blazers. Is it your greatest concern that perhaps a lot of young people are so far removed from this experience that it is going to take a lot of convincing to a lot of young people who go to the exhibit and that this is real and their successes and their progress is an example or really a byproduct of all that you and these other young ladies and women carry through.

SANCHEZ: Right. When they enter into this great, great place, you can see how the astonishment, the wonder of children as they go from place to place, listen to words to words, it is the wonder in their eyes and I observed them in Birmingham, Alabama, in Cincinnati, and Sacramento, California, and Memphis, I went behind some of them and just watched them watch and look and listen and it was a wonder to behold.

WHITFIELD: Fantastic. Dr. Height is with us. I think she is able to hear us now. You are using a telephone. Hopefully you will be able to hear me clearly, Dr. Height. So good to talk to you and see you. Give me an idea, what are you hoping that young people or people alike will learn from this exhibit once they go? What are you hoping people will learn the most from this exhibit?

HEIGHT: I think this exhibit is a wonderful thing. It really highlights the role that women played in the whole Civil Rights movement. In fact, what I think is great about it is it all starts beyond the '60s. Takes us back into the centuries where we get a picture of what women have done and the courage they have shown.

WHITFIELD: For so long, women, particularly, were described as the backbone, they may have been in the background but they really were in the forefront of promoting change.

HEIGHT: Women played a major role. As a matter of fact, even in the Civil Rights movement, women and children and youth were really what I would call the backbone of the movement.

WHITFIELD: Dr. Dorothy Height, thank you so much. We are out of time. And Sonia Sanchez thanks so much ladies for being with us. It is a beautiful exhibit. On its way now to Dallas and then Philadelphia. Thanks so much.

HEIGHT: Thank you.

SANCHEZ: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: And thanks to you at home for hanging in there with us through this hour. Don Lemon is coming up next.