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In Search of Votes for Health-Care Reform; What Led to Lehman Brothers Failing?; Number of Delivery Deaths Increasing

Aired March 12, 2010 - 13:00   ET

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

TONY HARRIS, ANCHOR: Oh, I can hear you. You are screaming at the set now, aren't you?

CNN NEWSROOM continues right now with Brooke Baldwin, in for Ali Velshi.

BROOKE BALDWIN, HOST: Tony Harris, have a fabulous weekend. Thank you.

Hi, everyone. I'm Brooke Baldwin, in for Ali Velshi. I will be here for the next two hours.

And on this show we don't just fly through the headlines here. We really take a look at every single topic. We cover it. We break it down for you. So, here between 1 and 3 Eastern, I'm going to give you a level of detail, precise detail, that will help you make important decisions about your voting, your spending, your safety and security.

Let's get going. Here's what we've got on today's rundown. First, this final push on health care. Democrats, they're gearing up to make it happen, but President Obama, he'll even be sticking around, putting off his vacation, this work trip, was going to take his kids as well to Indonesia and Guam. He'll be sticking around and make sure health care happens. It's called reconciliation, but it could have the opposite effect. We'll delve deeper on that.

Plus, have you heard about this story? This is really now the spiraling scandal. And it hits close to home for Pope Benedict. Dozens of people coming forward with claims of clergy sex abuse in the pope's native Germany. Now he wants the truth.

Also, hope you've had lunch. How about a little cat stew, perhaps a little puppy pie? It's on the menu in China. But the government there says it might be time to keep Fido in the doghouse and off the dinner plate.

All right, why don't we begin this hour with a big topic we've been covering here on CNN? We're talking about health-care reform in a search of a not-so-simple majority in Congress.

Now, the events have been moving quickly for us this Friday. President Obama, as I just mentioned, he is putting off plans to take this trip overseas. He will be staying in Washington. Why? You guessed it. To talk health care. I want to bring in CNN congressional correspondent, Dana Bash. She's been watching this whole thing really unraveling through the day, including hearing from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. I know in her words she said that the thought of this historic moment is exhilarating.

Dana, bring us up to speed.

DANA BASH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: She was actually more positive than we had heard in quite some time, and she came from one of many, many meetings that House Democrats have been having this week on this issue.

Leaders trying to brief the rank and file about what exactly they're talking about in terms of the substance of voting on health care and the policy and procedure of voting on health care, which may be politically as -- as important as the policy.

But we are hearing that they are talking about trying to hold a vote within the next ten days in the House. And they'll actually officially get the procedural ball rolling on Monday.

And you mentioned at the top of the show, Brooke, they've already asked the president, and he has accepted that ask [SIC], to stay and delay his international trip next week for a few days.

Because what they need, particularly on the House side among Democrats, is they need presidential arm twisting big time, because the votes, according to many sources I've talked to, are not there yet to pass this health-care bill, in the various process -- procedures to do that. But they are hoping by the time they get to the vote that they'll have that magic number to finally get health care to the president's desk.

BALDWIN: Right. The magic number for the simple majority, 51.

Follow-up question, quickly, Dana. We're also hearing talk about student loans amidst this conversation with health care. What do the student loans have to do with the whole thing?

BASH: Nothing. It has nothing to do with it. But that's not stopping Democrats from -- it looks like they are going to make a student loan change, a pretty major change in the way that student loans are dealt with, put that onto the health-care bill, put that through Congress together.

And essentially, what Democrats have been wanting to do for some time -- this is a big Obama priority -- is to take the idea of lending to students away from the banks, away from the private sector, and put it in the government's hands. They'll say that they'll save money to -- doing that.

And this is something that Democrats were talking about this morning, how and whether they should do this all as part of the health care. But listen to what one top Democrat said in describing this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. ROB ANDREWS (D), NEW JERSEY: The student loan bill is really all about helping community colleges that are having record enrollments do a great job. It's about expanding college scholarships, Pell grants, for people. It's about reducing student- loan interest rates. It's about helping historically black colleges, Hispanic-serving institutions, tribal colleges. It's a very good thing at a time when it's really needed.

So I think it's not only a procedural twist; it's also a very good piece of public policy.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BASH: Now, here's been the issue, Brooke. The issue is that this student-loan policy change has been stuck in the Senate. There have been enough Democrats who oppose this idea of the government taking over this program that it has not gone anywhere.

So just like health care, they -- they want to use this process to just get it through with 51 votes. Congress, they can only -- they say that they can only do this once, so they have to put priorities like this all on the same package, and that's why this is going with health care.

But politically this gives Republicans the same argument that they're using against health care, maybe even more so, that this is, from their perspective -- they're already saying it -- one more example of the Democrats changing major policy things in -- in favor of the government. Taking something away from the private sector and putting it in the government's hands, and that is what this is doing.

But Democrats say it's important, because they say it saves money.

BALDWIN: And here is their one moment. We'll see if it happens. Dana Bash, you have a big week ahead of you, as do members of Congress. We'll check in with you next week. Dana Bash for us on Capitol Hill.

Dana knows a whole lot about this word, reconciliation, but it might turn out to be a bit irreconcilable.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: I want to take you back to the homestretch, or perhaps, depending on your opinion, the last gasp for health-care reform. You know what? It's all about this word we keep using, reconciliation. Take a look with me. I'll help you break this down, a lot of people still scratching their heads over what this whole thing means.

Basically, the House has to pass this highly-unpopular Senate bill. Then both houses have to pass a series of changes. Now, the big number we're looking at here, 51. The Senate only needs 51 votes, that's what they call the simple majority. Filibuster is not an option here.

Now, Republicans are livid. A lot of people saying, "Hey, wait a minute. Hold on with this reconciliation." But we took a look back in the history. The practice actually started back in 1980. They have used it, Republicans, 17 times. Democrats, you can see, five times.

I want to give you a couple different examples of when it was used. Some big-ticket controversial legislation, so we're not talking about just health care here in 2010.

This I found interesting. I had no idea. You know the word COBRA, the one allowing laid-off workers to purchase health-care coverage they used to get from their employers? In fact, the "R" in COBRA -- guess what -- stands for reconciliation.

Also, the Medicare overhaul of 1989; the welfare overhaul of '96, both; both Bush tax cuts there; and a deficit-reduction bill in 2005.

So, now that you kind of get the lay of the land here when it comes to reconciliation, I want to bring in CNN political editor Mark Preston, who's really been following this.

Some are saying, Mark, closed-door maneuvering and also a little bit of P.R. buzz going on here. And if you will, first begin with this new ad, which we have been the first to air it here right here on CNN, that's targeting a very specific population. Tell me who they're targeting and who's paying for it.

MARK PRESTON, CNN POLITICAL EDITOR: Sure, Brooke. No question, it seems that we are in the final homestretch. Of course, it seems we've been in the final homestretch now for over a year. This was supposed be in done in August. It was supposed to be done by Thanksgiving, Christmas. Here we are in March.

But it does appear that it is coming to a crescendo. We see a new television ad that will start appearing tomorrow on Black Entertainment Television. Americans United for Change is running this 30-second spot. And actually, let's take a quick look at it, Brooke, this 30-second spot that is targeted at African-Americans to try to put pressure on Congress to pass health-care reform. Let's take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The special interests are marshaling their forces for one last fight to save the status quo. We can't let that happen. That's why I'm asking you to summon the energy and the commitment and the drive that has fueled this movement since day one.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Call Congress to make your voice heard now.

(END VIDEO CLIP) PRESTON: And there you are, Brooke, you see President Obama appear in that Americans United for Change ad. The organization, a liberal advocacy organization, did not ask for his permission. They did it under legal guidelines. They inserted him in the ad. It looks like he is actually pushing, in at least part of the ad.

And, of course, I'm sure the White House is not very upset about it, because they are pushing through, of course, on health-care reform.

BALDWIN: Right. So, as we hear first from this ad, these pro- reformists trying to push this thing through.

Another issue, you know, when we talk about essentially, Mark, the P.R. front, you have this 11-year-old kid -- and correct me if I'm wrong. I think it was actually his 11th birthday when we saw him a couple days ago in D.C., activist. His mother passed from a lung condition. She could have survived -- it was preventable. And now sort of the torch, if you will, of activism has now passed onto this 11-year-old. Let me get you to comment on this. First, let's roll the videotape.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARCELAS OWENS, HEALTH REFORM ADVOCATE: I'm here because my mom -- my mom was a health-care activist just like I am today. And she testified in rallies, about everybody having health care.

My mom -- my mom was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension in 2006. She missed so much work that she lost her job. And along with her job, she lost her health care. And losing her health care ended up costing her her life.

I don't want any other kid to go through the pain that our family has gone through. I want Barack Obama and Congress and everybody to come together and help the health-care bill pass.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Again, that is 11-year-old Marcelas Owens. Mark Preston, that's compelling stuff.

PRESTON: You know, I don't even know what to say, Brooke.

BALDWIN: Yes.

PRESTON: Honestly. That's one of those things where we're -- of course, Democrats are trying to use this, this young boy, to really tug at the heartstrings of America and really to try to put pressure on Congress to get health-care reform passed through.

So, we're going to see more and more of that over the next week. You know, Brooke, you know, just in the next week alone, we're expected to see $600,000 worth of television advertising running...

BALDWIN: Wow. PRESTON: ... every day, trying to push through health-care reform. That number could increase as we get closer to the day.

In addition to that, Brooke, Republicans are pushing back. Tomorrow we're going to hear from Scott Brown, the Massachusetts Republican...

BALDWIN: Right.

PRESTON: ... who won Ted Kennedy's seat. He'll deliver the Republican address tomorrow. Of course, he ran on the idea that he didn't agree with Democrats' push for health-care reform. He'll deliver the response tomorrow.

BALDWIN: What do you think? Last question, real quick, Mark. This big P.R. blitz? Will it work for the Dems?

PRESTON: Look, I think that the Democrats are pulling out all stops. And that's why we're seeing, you know, that young man there talk about his mom who passed away.

BALDWIN: Yes.

PRESTON: That's why we're seeing liberal groups try to put as much money into this push.

BALDWIN: Mark Preston for us from Washington. Mark, thank you.

PRESTON: Thanks, Brooke.

BALDWIN: Well, what caused one of the biggest corporate collapses in U.S. history? We are finding out who and what killed Lehman Brothers. Christine Romans has the details, after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Lehman Brothers, the poster boy for the financial meltdown, and its bankruptcy filing, by the way, was the biggest Chapter 11 filing in financial history.

So, now we're finally getting some answers here, some clues, if you will, about what it actually was that actually triggered that collapse. A new report actually blames Lehman executives and the company, their auditor, that was supposed to be keeping an eye on them.

Let's bring in our business correspondent, Christine Romans, of course host of "YOUR $$$$$."

Christine, OK, so we have this 2,220-page report.

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: Right.

BALDWIN: And in it, it's saying, "Hey, executives of Lehman Brothers, you kind of screwed up, because you didn't really paint the whole picture as honestly as you could have." And, No. 2, Ernst & Young is sharing in the blame.

ROMANS: Yes. Basically, it says Lehman did it to itself. That Lehman imploded because of a lot of mistakes that were made all up and down the line. This is-- a bankruptcy examiner for a year has been studying what happened at Lehman, and basically, Brooke, found out it was bad executives, professional misconduct -- I'm sorry, malpractice is the actual quote from the accountant, and asleep regulators. And the entire country, of course, paid the consequences.

These are laundry lists: accounting gimmicks, withholding information, auditor failure, in particular looking at $50 billion last year of debt that was moved off into what's called the repo market so that it didn't look like Lehman was as leveraged as it really was.

Also this report, Brooke, I found was very interesting. It basically blames to -- the investment banking model in this country, the way that things have just evolved, that these companies were allowed to take so much risk and have so much leverage; and also the fact that the regulators, quite frankly, didn't -- didn't even get it.

This is what they finally conclude. The conduct ranged from serious but non-culpable errors of business judgment...

BALDWIN: Non-culpable?

ROMAN: Ouch! To actionable -- non-culpable, to actionable balance sheet manipulation.

So, this story doesn't end here. That's for sure.

BALDWIN: Now, what about, let's say, the former CEO of Lehman? Is he saying mea culpa or no?

ROMANS: No. Look, a lot of people are named here, including some former finance -- finance officials of this company, as well.

BALDWIN: Yes.

ROMANS: The auditor, Ernst & Young, is saying, "Look, we gave them a clean bill of health in 2007. That was the last time we audited them. They fell apart in 2008 because of adverse conditions in the financial markets."

You look at Dick Fuld, the CEO of this company. Through his attorney or through his spokesman, he has released a statement saying that he didn't know about these particular transactions that were moving the $50 billion off the balance sheets. He didn't write them. He didn't know what they were. He didn't design them and he didn't know what they were.

And others are either not commenting or saying "no comment," quite frankly.

A couple of banks named here, as well, who were accused of calling in their collateral to help Lehman go over the edge, maybe to help their own position. They're not commenting either.

BALDWIN: Wow. Christine Romans.

And, by the way, I want to remind, as always, our viewers, Miss Christine Romans, the star of "YOUR $$$$$." We will see you this weekend, as we do every single weekend, 1 p.m. Eastern. Christine, thank you.

I'm sure she'll have much more on that juicy report from Lehman.

ROMANS: Yes.

BALDWIN: Thank you very much.

ROMANS: Yes.

BALDWIN: All right, moving on. Let's do some top stories for you.

Ground Zero workers who say they were sickened by dust and debris have finally reached a deal on their health claims. A settlement would be worth up to $657.5 million, but it must first be approved by the workers and a judge who scheduled his first hearing this afternoon. In total here, about 10,000 lawsuits have been filed by police, firefighters, construction workers over respiratory illnesses.

Investigations into runaway cars, a massive recall for bad brakes, and now accusations of endangering the public. Toyota is being sued by Orange County, California. Prosecutors claim detective vehicles and deceptive business practices put people in danger.

And "in God we trust" isn't budging from your money. And your kids will still be pledging allegiance to "one nation under God." Here's the deal. The San Francisco appeals court basically now has rejected arguments that the words cross the line between church and state. The panel said the God references are historical, not religious.

A pregnancy crisis. Right now, in America, an alarming number of women are dying from simply having babies. So, our question, why?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: He was a man's man who became a woman. Meet the person behind CNN's emotional documentary, "Her Name was Steven." Inside the dramatic transition and extraordinary journey.

A disturbing report out from Amnesty International. The headline: hundreds of women in the U.S. will die from pregnancy- related complications this year. And half of those deaths are believed to be preventable. Senior medical correspondent, Elizabeth Cohen, following this one for us -- Elizabeth.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's rare to die from pregnancy or childbirth in the United States, but it does happen, and the numbers are on the rise.

Let's take a look.

In 1987, for every 100,000 births, 6.6 women died.

In 2006 for every 100,000 births, there were 13.3 deaths. That's obviously a big difference, and it far exceeds the goal that's been set forth by the U.S. government for 4 deaths for every 100,000 births.

Now, what's particularly disturbing is that these numbers are very different based on a woman's race, so take a look at these numbers.

When you're looking at white women, you're looking at 9.5 deaths per 100,000 births. When you're looking at black women, you're looking at 32.7 deaths per 100,000 births.

Now again, as I said, it's rare for a woman to die in pregnancy or childbirth, but experts agree these numbers are higher than they should be, and they're particularly disturbed that the numbers are the increase.

Now why do they think the numbers are on the rise? A couple of different reasons here. One is that obesity is more common than ever among women of childbearing age, and with obesity comes diabetes and heart disease and other things that can really make for a very tricky pregnancy.

Another reason is that Caesarean section rates are on the rise. Caesarean sections come with risks like blood clots.

Another reason, more and more women -- more and more everybody, but in this case more and more women -- are uninsured, and when women are uninsured, they have a very tough time getting good prenatal care, which makes it more risky during their pregnancy and during childbirth.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BALDWIN: And now in the severe weather center, my friend, Reynolds Wolf. Talking, what, a little bit of rain for us?

REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: A little bit of rain and actually some rough weather as of yesterday. Again, we're going to see that pattern continue through a good part of today.

BALDWIN: OK.

WOLF: Through mostly part of Florida and into Georgia, even up into Tennessee and the Carolinas.

Right now here's the picture that we got for you. You can see in south Florida, some strong thunderstorms. They had some -- some really strong storm damage in parts of Zephyr Hills, Florida, right in the Central Florida area. But then when you go back towards Atlanta and then back a little bit farther north, you notice a little bit of a shape that's popping up? That is actually a severe thunderstorm watch that will be in effect until this evening.

Meanwhile, again, we've been seeing some heavy rain moving right towards Alligator Alley. Could see a little bit of flash flooding there, so keep that in mind.

But then, when we go to the north, what we're going to see, Brooke, is the beginning of the next big weather story, which is going to be this area of low pressure that's going to pull its way across parts of the Great Lakes and the Ohio Valley. And as we put it into motion, you can see how it's going to play out. It's going to go eastward. It's going to tap into the moisture from the Gulf of Mexico, then moving into the Atlantic, pulling that moisture up, too.

That's where you could see some heavy rains, some strong winds, not just for places like New York and Philadelphia, but also a few spots like maybe even into Pittsburgh where the "Shot" right now shows we've got some gray skies out there, light rain coming down. But that's going to intensify.

Something else is going to intensify, unfortunately, into the weekend, will be -- you got it -- travel delays.

BALDWIN: Oh!

WOLF: Already we've got some delays from Atlanta, Ft. Lauderdale, over to San Francisco. Again, about an hour and 50 minute wait for you. And Las Vegas basically the same deal. And Minneapolis, your wait is about 30 minutes.

And then, speaking of time, remember, we've got to roll the clocks forward.

BALDWIN: Spring forward.

WOLF: We're pushing forward.

BALDWIN: We lose an hour.

WOLF: Yes.

BALDWIN: On Saturday, into Sunday?

WOLF: We need to -- we need to arrange it so we actually get an extra hour all the time to sleep. But then we'd be getting up at 2 p.m. in the afternoon.

BALDWIN: Yes, so when you and I are coming to work on Sunday, at like 3 a.m., we'll be...

WOLF: Yes, kind of...

BALDWIN: ... a little extra sleep-deprived?

WOLF: Exactly. It happens. BALDWIN: All right, Reynolds. Thank you.

WOLF: You bet.

BALDWIN: OK. Still to come, the Catholic Church certainly has been rocked by several sex abuse scandals, but this one hits very close to home for the pope himself. He was briefed on it today. We'll take you through this story, here, in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: The Roman Catholic Church has paid out billions of dollars over the years to victims of sex abuse, but now new allegations here. They're surfacing all over Pope Benedict's native Germany. There's even an investigation involving the world-famous choir that used to be run by the pope's brother.

Today Benedict called in the leader of the Catholic Church in Germany just to essentially brief him on these growing scandals. And Morgan Neill covering the story for us, standing by live in Rome.

Morgan, take me through this meeting today. What do we know?

MORGAN NEILL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, the German archbishop, Robert Zollitsch, met with Pope Benedict today, and they went over these widespread and growing allegations of sexual abuse at Catholic Church-run institutions and schools in Germany.

Now, the archbishop said the pope was devastated upon hearing the details of some of these allegations. The archbishop himself repeated on an apology to the victims that he had made in the past, and he had this to say about the 45-minute meeting he had with the pope.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ARCHBISHOP ROBERT ZOLLITSCH, GERMANY (through translator): The Holy Father has already expressed in the past that sexual abuse of the minors is one of the most heinous of crimes, and this is a very clear stand. The pope showed great seriousness and, obviously, great distraught for the facts that have recently come to light.

It is not just a German problem; it is a problem that concerns many countries.

We did not talk about Regensburg, because as I've said before, I don't have enough information on the problem to discuss it properly.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NEILL: Now, you heard mention of Regensburg. That's a reference to the boys' choir that was run for three decades by Pope Benedict's brother, Monsignor Georg Ratzinger, now 86 years old.

Now Ratzinger says that, while he was there, he has admitted to punishing some students by slapping them in the face, but says these allegations of sexual abuse came before he was at the choir. We didn't get a statement from the Vatican specifically today, but we did hear one earlier in the week in which the Vatican said that the European churches were taking timely and decisive actions dealing with these allegations.

But there was also a bit of a defensive tone, saying that this is not just a problem that's confined to the church and that centering these allegations on the church gives a misleading picture, Brooke.

BALDWIN: And as you emphasize, Morgan, of course, these are still allegations, but is it possible that these allegations -- we just heard him say the concerns involve many churches -- could this lead to further changes within the church?

NEILL: Well, there have been some signs of debate going on within the church. Now the "Vatican Daily" published an article this week. suggesting that a greater role for women might help to break down what a lot of people have called the veil of secrecy that tends to surround these kind of cases.

And the cardinal of Vienna has suggested a more open discussion of priestly training and celibacy itself.

But the pope today, while not explicitly responding to that, did, in talks with theologians, reaffirm the sacred nature of priestly celibacy. And a lot of people are going to read that as an answer, Brooke.

BALDWIN: Morgan Neill for us, covering these allegations out of the pope's native Germany. Morgan, thank you.

They are so steamed about the Tea Party, well, they're brewing up an alternative. You heard about the Coffee Party? If you haven't, you're about to.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Take a look at some of our top stories here.

Not exactly every day we get a pleasant economic surprise quite like this one, but take a look at this. Retail sales rose 0.3 last month. OK, so it doesn't sound like a whole lot, but most experts expected they would drop by nearly that much, so that is some good news.

President Obama pushing next week's Asia-Pacific trip back just by a couple of days amid the Democrats' massive health-care push. The president was meant to leave for Indonesia, Guam, Australia on Thursday. That's right around the time the House might be voting on these reform package, so he'll be staying in Washington, sticking around for that.

And also, just a heads up. Most of us have a date with DST this weekend. DST, you ask? Daylight Savings Time, starting early Sunday. So it's spring ahead. So, yes, we get one less hour of sleep over the weekend. Tomorrow, a national kickoff day for a percolating political movement. The Coffee Party's motto, wake up and stand up. A little bit of background now for you now on this Coffee Party from CNN's Lisa Sylvester.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LISA SYLVESTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Coffee with a side of politics. The Coffee Party is branding itself as the alternative to the Tea Party movement.

Sunday a small group gathered at the One World Cafe for the first meeting of the Baltimore chapter. Among them, Geralyn MacVittie. She says she's tired of rhetoric coming from conservatives.

GERALYN MACVITTIE, BALTIMORE COFFEE PARTY: I don't think the moderate people. I don't think the more reasonable people, whether they agree with me or disagree with me, are being heard.

SYLVESTER: Members lean to the left and share common goals: like stop the shouting and get things done in Washington.

KRIS SIELOFF, BALTIMORE COFFEE PARTY: We want to operate using civility rather than hateful rhetoric.

KEVIN ZEESE, BALTIMORE COFFEE PARTY: I'm hopeful this will be an independent political movement, independent of the two parties, and really develop pressure to push the Democrats as well as the Republicans in the right direction.

SYLVESTER: The national group has taken off. Weekly meetings around the country, from St. Louis to D.C., to Knoxville, Tennessee. Annabel Park is the founder.

ANNABEL PARK, COFFEE PARTY FOUNDER: We are trying to change our political culture. We're not trying to start a third party. We have to approach the entire process with the understanding that we already are a community. We have shared goals and values, and that we can't get divided and separated over our differences.

SYLVESTER: But conservative bloggers see the coffee group as a watered-down version of the Tea Party movement. They say Park is a political operative who has worked as a volunteer for the Obama campaign in 2008 and, before that, for Democratic Senator James Webb's campaign, and dismissed the Coffee Party as not populism but political fraud.

JIM HOFT, ST. LOUIS TEA PARTY: It's driven from the top down. It's not a -- it's not a grassroots movement coming from the bottom up.

SYLVESTER: But the coffee movement now has more than 60 groups nationwide and, on Facebook, the number of fans has grown from 9,000 members to more than 90,000 in the last 3 weeks.

(END VIDEOTAPE) BALDWIN: Actually, checked that. We just logged onto Facebook a little bit ago. We have an update to that number. Since Lisa filed that piece, the Coffee Party has gained about 25,000 Facebook fans, so the grand total as of right now, topping 115,000.

So, coming up, we're going to be taking a closer look at this Coffee Party. What does it mean? This guy knows a thing or two about it. He talked to Annabel Park. We'll talk about why she came up with this idea and why she thinks it's going to be working with the official kickoff, tomorrow being official -- I don't know, Paul -- Coffee Day? We'll talk to Paul Steinhauser on the other side of this break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: OK. So, you've heard us talk about the Tea Party, but now you're hearing us talk about the Coffee Party. It's the new political movement; kind of bills itself as an alternative, maybe an answer to the Tea Party.

Tomorrow, by the way, is the Coffee Party's national kickoff day, and the party says hundreds of events are planned at coffeehouses all across the country.

So, just to delve a little deeper on who the Coffee Party really is, is our CNN deputy political director, Paul Steinhauser.

And Paul, you know, when we think about, let's say, the Tea Party that was an acronym for Taxed Enough Already. That was an anti-tax rhetoric, fiscal conservative. So now we have the Coffee Partiers. Who are they? What's their mission?

PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: You kind of mentioned right off the bat there, they say that they're -- in a way, they want to be an alternative version, a progressive version or a liberal version of the Tea Party movement.

And Annabel Park, as you mentioned -- you saw her in Lisa Sylvester's piece -- she kind of started this at the beginning of the year.

I spoke with her last week, and she told me the story, that she was a little upset with the mainstream media's coverage of the Tea Party movement, and she started talking about it on Facebook. And do you know what? She got a lot of replies.

She started a fan page on Facebook and, as you mentioned, the numbers have exploded, thanks to some coverage, of course, in the media. Now she's up to, what, 115,000 fans, Brooke, as I think you said, on Facebook.

BALDWIN: Yes, 115,000 plus.

STEINHAUSER: That's the genesis of it.

You know, it's interesting. They agree with some of the grievances that the Tea Party members, the more conservative Tea Party movement has, and that is that the federal government really isn't working for average citizens.

But where they disagree is on the goals and the solutions. Whereas the conservative Tea Party movement really wants to, in a way, downsize federal government -- they say the federal government is too big -- the Coffee Party seems to kind of want to work with Washington to change it, not downsize or downscale it, but change the federal government to make it work more for citizens.

BALDWIN: And so what is happening tomorrow? We talk about -- I don't know if this is sort of the unofficial or official kickoff of the Coffee Party movement, kind of raising that glass of Joe around coffeehouses across the country, essentially to what?

STEINHAUSER: Yes, this is the unofficial kickoff. Annabel Park says about 350 events are planned at coffeehouses from the West Coast to the East Coast. We're going to be covering one of them right here in Washington, D.C., to see how many people show up and also what they're talking about, what their grievances are.

And Brooke, this is interesting. What does the Tea Party movement say about the Coffee Party movement? Well, they say that, while they are a grassroots organization, they kind of criticize the Coffee Party from being just the opposite, from being a top-to-bottom organization and not being very organic. So this is going to be an interesting dynamic here.

I think the jury is still out as to whether the Coffee Party will truly evolve into a movement like the Tea Party. It's still way too soon. We're only about two months in to this.

BALDWIN: We heard in Lisa Sylvester's piece, I guess some critics who are saying, "Hey, this is just a bunch of political froth. Maybe they're just drinking, not coffee, but the Kool-Aid."

Who knows? We'll find out.

STEINHAUSER: They also point -- they also point out that Annabel Park, who you saw in the piece...

BALDWIN: Yes.

STEINHAUSER: ... that Annabel Park was a volunteer for the Obama administration. She says she doesn't think that's any big deal, that the Coffee Party doesn't align itself with either the Democrats or Republicans. We'll see.

BALDWIN: All right. All right. Paul Steinhauser in D.C. Paul, thank you. I have a feeling we'll be talking to you tomorrow morning about this big Coffee Day.

Meantime, as first lady, Hillary Clinton, made women's rights really a priority, but now she is taking it on again as U.S. secretary of state. We will take a look at her record.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: All week we've been talking about this documentary. It's called "Her Name Was Steven." It's playing this weekend right here on CNN. And tonight on "LARRY KING LIVE," the woman behind the show, Susan Stanton, joining Larry King. You won't want to miss that. That is at 9 p.m. Eastern.

Hillary Clinton, she has certainly made women's rights one of her signature issues since really becoming U.S. secretary of state, and she is speaking precisely about that issue today at the United Nations.

And our foreign affairs correspondent, Jill Dougherty, is following the story for us.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JILL DOUGHERTY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Brooke, Hillary Clinton isn't talking about women's rights just because she's a woman. She's making the case that empowering women can have an enormous influence on their families' well-being, in their local economies, and in the world's economy. And that, in turn, affects stability and security around the world.

As secretary of state, she's able to muster the resources of the United States, to help to do that.

(voice-over) In Indonesia, Hillary Clinton sees how women with almost no money survive.

In South Korea, a lighter moment. She tells young women students the meaning of love.

HILLARY CLINTON, SECRETARY OF STATE: How does anybody describe love? I mean, poets have spent millennia writing about love.

DOUGHERTY: There are events like this on almost every trip abroad, but do they make a difference?

Ann Njogu attended one such event in her native Kenya last August. This week, her work was honored by the secretary of state at an awards ceremony for women.

(on camera) A cynic might say, OK, Secretary Clinton shows up in Kenya. She says some good words, she's inspirational, but what does it really mean on the ground? What does it mean to you?

ANN NJOGU, KENYAN ACTIVIST: On the ground, the ordinary woman on the ground, they know that they have a big friend somewhere who will not let the country perish.

CLINTON: Speaking with women.

DOUGHERTY (voice-over): As first lady, Clinton put women's rights front and center, traveling to 80 countries to make her point, including this now-famous speech at the U.N. World Conference on Women in Beijing.

CLINTON: If there is one message that echoes forth from this conference, let it be that human rights are women's rights, and women's rights are human rights, once and for all.

DOUGHERTY: But as secretary of state, she can do more than talk.

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, she pledged more than $17 million in new funds to stop rape as a weapon of war.

In Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan, she's pressed to make women a key part of the U.S. stabilization strategy.

A former undersecretary of state during the Bush administration says Clinton is incorporating women's issues at every turn.

PAULA DOBRIANSKY, THOMSON REUTERS: She's been in the position to put the resources behind it. And most significantly, as secretary of state, she's not only an activist, but she also is a symbol. She is looked up to by many women across the globe for what she is doing. They are inspired by her actions.

DOUGHERTY: And Clinton is inspired by what she has witnessed.

(on camera) Let me into her mind a little bit, if you could. Why did she want to focus on women's rights? What motivates her?

MELANNE VERVEER, AMBASSADOR-AT-LARGE FOR GLOBAL WOMEN'S ISSUES: Through all of those years as first lady, seeing firsthand not only the terrible situation that women are in, in so many places, but the tools that are at hand to make a difference. She knows deep down is important for the women, themselves, but critically important for the kind of societies we want to build.

DOUGHERTY: In her speech at the United Nations today, Secretary Clinton is expected to say that women's lives have improved in some countries and regions, but in too many places, laws to protect women are not fully enforced; that violence against women remains a global epidemic; and that extremist voices calling for women's rights to be constricted are growing louder -- Brooke.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BALDWIN: All right. Jill, thank you.

We call them pets in this country, but in China, they're sometimes called dinner. Yes, it is a cultural thing, but maybe too -- not too much longer. The back story on China's culinary dilemma.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: You have pets? Maybe puppy dogs and cats? Well, guess what: China looking at taking some items off the menu permanently; specifically, the ones that make a lot of Americans kind of cringe.

Every Friday, come on over. Michael Holmes gives us a story behind the story. Love "Back Story" on CNN International.

MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: I love that we walked into that one. That is kind of cool, isn't it?

BALDWIN: It's like you have to walk in to do this show.

HOLMES: It's like I just got here and I just came in the door there.

BALDWIN: You had the Michael Holmes strut going on.

HOLMES: I was right there, wasn't I? I was just right there.

BALDWIN: Excellent walking.

HOLMES: This is the whole "Back Story" thing. We give everything away.

BALDWIN: This is the back story behind the show.

HOLMES: Exactly.

BALDWIN: That walk. Well, beyond that, I could not -- I mean, I've seen the Emily Chang piece,.

HOLMES: Yes.

BALDWIN: She's basically walking people through.

HOLMES: Yes. What the law is there now and what the law may be in China, because there's always been this big row about the eating of dogs and cats. And you're right: it is a cultural thing.

BALDWIN: It's a delicacy.

HOLMES: Yes. Well, it's considered a staple, because there's a lot of meat on a dog. Just saying.

But Emily takes us on a walk through the markets, if you'd like. She did a piece on this, and she also did a "Back Story," and you get more -- you know, a bit more about Emily and how she feels about it all, too. It's not easy to watch for us in this country, but have a look anyway.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GRAPHIC: Wholesale Meat Market

EMILY CHANG, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: This is a giant wholesale meat market in Guanjo (ph). They've got lots of live animals here: chickens, geese, donkeys, goats, and cats and dogs. This is a cage full of cats, presumably waiting to be sold.

All right. So, these ladies are telling us these cats aren't sold for meat. They're actually sold to people for their homes to help them catch mice. Then again, we are at a, quote, unquote, "meat market," so I don't know how those stories match up.

And these are the dogs that are, some of them at least, not as skittish as the cats. So there's that have run to the back. A lot of the vendors we're talking to here claim they don't sell these dogs and cat for meat. But again, they're all caged up here at a meat market, and we can assume they're just waiting for buyers.

GRAPHIC: Meat and Vegetable Market

CHANG: We're at one of the biggest meat and vegetable markets in Guanjo (ph). We're actually looking for dog or cat meat, which they usually sell here, though coming in as a foreigner, it's a little bit difficult. I believe some of the vendors have been told not to show the meat to foreigners, because they know it's a sensitive issue.

But they've got pretty much everything else. And we're just going to see if they're selling that cat and dog.

OK. So at this stall they say they have dog meat. It's frozen. They're going to bring it out for us, so we'll see what it looks like.

Frozen dog leg, 36 yen so that's about $6, for what looks like a lot of meat there.

GRAPHIC: Meanwhile, Back on the Street

CHANG: So we're having a little bit of a vehicle emergency here. We were driving away from the Guanjo (ph) meat and vegetable market, and our car started smelling like gasoline. Got out of the car. Looks like the gasoline is pooling under the van that we were in. So, we quickly unloaded everything.

But, we're completely stopped right now and going to have to find alternate transportation.

Covering news in China. It happens.

GRAPHIC: Han River Dog Meat Restaurant

CHANG: So, on the menu they've got dog steak, dog soup, dog and tofu, and many, many other dishes. And when we asked them which one is the most popular, they said everything is popular here.

So, he's chopping up the dog meat. I've never seen this before. It looks a lot like pork, I would say. It is a little difficult to watch.

(SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

CHANG: OK. So you can have it spicy or not spicy. It just depends upon your taste. (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE) CHANG: Most people like spicy. Being an animal lover myself -- I grew up with cats and dogs as pets. You know, this is something that I would never eat. But people here in Guongjo, and across south China, love to eat this. It's a cultural tradition. And at least the people in this restaurant are making their business out of it.

So more people in China these days are actually owning pets, because pet registration fees are much lower than they used to be. And that, on top of higher living standards -- people are making more money. And they have more disposable income to feed an extra month. And they are irresistible. This is dangerous. I may have to take this one home.

(END VIDEOTAPE)