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Lawmakers Threatened Over Health Reform Bill; Health Care Bill Head's to President's Desk; New Plan Address Mortgages; Israeli-U.S. Relations Strained by Jerusalem Settlements; Questions Remain About Pope's Knowledge of Abuse of Deaf Boys; Iowa Power Play; I'm Not Backing Down; McCain-Palin Reunited; Rubbed the Wrong Way?; Health Care Reform & Rancor

Aired March 26, 2010 - 09:00   ET

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

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Hi, guys. Happy weekend.

How has your lawmaker been threatened today? Health care reform making for some unhealthy, downright toxic discourse.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hazmat crews responded to the office of Democratic Congressman Anthony Weiner, who received an envelope containing a suspicious white powder and a letter referring to the health care vote.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. ERIC CANTOR (R-VA), MINORITY WHIP: A bullet was shot through my campaign office.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You and Boehner (EXPLETIVE DELETED) Mitch McConnell, all you racist (EXPLETIVE DELETED) Republicans.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Both sides are accusing the other of stoking disturbing displays, like this mock wake, complete with a coffin, that was held outside a Democratic Congressman's St. Louis home Sunday night.

Guess what? The week is not even over. The day is still young. Got to wonder what today will bring. With all the "I"s dotted and the "T"s crossed in the health care legislation, ranker is the dust that won't settle.

Here is CNN's senior congressional correspondent, Dana Bash.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DANA BASH, CNN SENIOR CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The second ranking House Republican came to the cameras to say he has been the target of violence too.

CANTOR: A bullet was shot through the window of my campaign office in Richmond this week. And I've received threatening e-mails. I will not release them, because I believe such actions will only encourage more to be sent.

BASH: Then, the main reason he was there, to accuse Democrats of using threats of violence for political gain.

CANTOR: I have deep concerns that some DCCC Chairman Chris Van Hollen and DCN Chairman Tim McCain, in particular, are dangerously fanning the flames by suggesting that these incidents be used as a political weapon.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: What makes you say it's political?

BASH: Eric Cantor would not answer questions about his accusation.

But Democratic leaders have been going after Republicans, saying they are inciting threats against Democrats.

DNC Chairman Tim Kaine issued a statement Wednesday saying, "Republican leaders are themselves engaging in actions and rhetoric that would have been limited to fringe elements of the Republican Party."

Now, Organizing for America, President Obama's political organization is even trying to raise money all threats against fellow Democrats, specifically citing an incident with Democrat Tom Perriello and asking for political donations.

Meanwhile, many Democrats are not relenting, lashing out at Republicans like Sarah Palin for releasing this map with 20 house Democrats in rightful crosshairs, and House GOP leader, John Boehner, for what Democrats call overheated rhetoric.

REP. JOHN BOEHNER, (R-OH), HOUSE MINORITY LEADER: Hell no, you can't.

BASH: Boehner called Democrat Steve Driehaus a dead man for voting yes on health care. Driehaus says he understood it was political but insists others may not.

REP. STEVE DRIEHAUS, (D), OHIO: It's not how I take it. It's how somebody back home or somebody in another state might take it. We have death threats coming into our offices, coming into other offices of members of Congress.

BASH (on camera): Given what's going on, do you think those words could have been taken out of context?

BOEHNER: I don't --

(CROSSTALK)

BOEHNER: No one saw this quote of mine in this publication until Mr. Driehaus and others made a public issue of it.

BASH (voice-over): No apology for rhetoric Democrats call incendiary, but he did say this. BOEHNER: Violence and threats are unacceptable. They have no place in a political debate.

BASH (on camera): So both parties are accusing the other of using politics to district from a serious issue, and that's security threats. But all of this seemed to overshadow the big news here on Capitol Hill. Congress passed the final piece of health care legislation to send to the president, once and for all, his signature issue.

Dana Bash, CNN, Capitol Hill.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: From threats to promises, the final pieces of the health care puzzle are in place. Just hours after the House passes its fix-it bill, the new measure heads straight to the president's desk.

CNN congressional correspondent, Brianna Keilar, is on Capitol Hill.

Brianna, we are finally finished. What is it going to mean for us in the short-term?

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Let's talk about what goes into effect this year. A couple of things the Democrats are really trying to highlight that they say are very good news for young people and for kids. The first, young people, up to the age of 26 can remain on their parents' insurance. This is something that is attractive to a lot of parents out that who have college-age students who are graduating and then they find themselves without insurance.

Then, also, for kids, that idea of insurance companies not being able to deny coverage on the basis of a pre-existing condition. It first goes into effect for children. That's going to take place this year.

Also, there are small business tax credits that are going to be phased in starting this year to help small businesses buy insurance for their employees.

And also another one, Kyra, that I think I should mention, because it gives you a chuckle, is the tanning tax, that 10 percent tax on faking and baking. That will go into effect in July, just in time for swimsuit season.

(LAUGHTER)

PHILLIPS: I love it. You always know how to throw in the little talker there.

What about in the long term? Also, if we can not fold in addressing the issue of caps. This is something that we were evening going back and forth on, as we were seeing some stories cross today about babies being born with medical issues. Will they have health insurance for the rest of their life if the costs are high and caps are an issue?

KEILAR: That speaks to the idea of the short-term. This idea of no caps on benefits over the course of your lifetime or over the course of a year, this was a big issue we have talked about throughout this debate. That's something that would go into effect here in the short-term.

But when you talk about the long-term, because remember, a lot of the things in this bill take years to go into effect. 2014 is a big year for a lot of things. In 2014, we are going to see that mandate that says you must have insurance. Then, adults also get that benefit of not being denied coverage on the basis of a pre-existing condition. Then, here in about eight years, you are going to start seeing that preventative care being free. We are talking about annual gynecological exams, annual physicals, colonoscopies, those tests that are considered to be preventative measures.

PHILLIPS: Brianne Keilar, appreciate it.

Moving on to the president's next promise now, mortgages. Question for you. If you are jobless and your home is worth less than you owe, would skipping a few mortgage payments ease your pain? Well, help may be on the way.

Kate Bolduan joins us live from the White House.

Kate, what's the plan?

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey there, Kyra. Well, there are some big details that are still unclear this morning. Obviously, we will be getting some more detail a little later this morning, like how many homeowners are likely to qualify for this new plan, these new efforts we will see? But senior administration officials tell CNN this latest attempt to take on the foreclosure prices is really trying to focus in on to better helping the unemployed as well as homeowners who owe more than their home is worth.

Now, how is this going to happen? What is this plan? In one of the big elements, one of the big parts, especially for the unemployed, would require that lenders reduce monthly payments by two, no more than 31 percent of homeowners' income. That comes out to roughly equivalent to the amount of unemployment insurance they would be getting. And that would be for three to six months. In some extreme cases, mortgage payments all together could be suspended.

Now, all told, all the efforts that they are coming out with today are going to cost in the neighborhood of $50 billion. But administration officials are quick to stress that this does not mean new taxes to Americans. This money is going to be coming from existing funds from the Troubled Asset Relief Program, as we say affectionately, known as TARP -- Kyra?

PHILLIPS: Well, the administration has tried to tackle the foreclosure crisis in the past. How is this going to be any different?

BOLDUAN: This time around, the big focus is on the unemployed. And unemployment right now is seen as one of the major sources of current defaults. This White House, you can be sure, is looking for some better success this time around, because previous efforts, previous programs, especially their signature foreclosure prevention program that was announced last year, has been seen as not doing enough, not nearly successful as they wanted it to be, and really ineffective. The White House says this is more of a tweak of existing programs rather than a broad new initiative. And, of course, we'll be seeing exactly how this unfolds in the weeks and months ahead.

PHILLIPS: All right, we will follow it. Thanks, Kate.

So is Barack a one-term president? That's what most Americans are predicting. According to a CNN-Opinion Research Corporation poll, 54 percent of people say that Mr. Obama would lose a re-election bid in 2012. 44 percent say he would win. Here is a breakdown of how registered voters are leaning right now more than two years before the presidential election. 47 percent say they would vote for Barack Obama in 2012. The same number say they would vote for his Republican challenger.

It's been a tight race, but in about three hours, we are going to know the winner of Iraq's election. Voters went to the polls almost three weeks ago to decide between current Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki's group and a block led by the former Prime Minister Eyad Allawi. Well, the extended counting process has prompted fraud concerns but those in charge of the count are dismissing the allegations. Still, Al Maliki and his supporters are demanding a manual recount.

He got no picture, no hand shake, just a cold shoulder. We're talking about the prime minister of Israel. He is back home now to explain it all.

Kevin Flower in Jerusalem joins us.

Kevin, will it be more cordial than cool for Prime Minister Netanyahu?

KEVIN FLOWER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, he certainly hopes so. And we would expect that he would get a warmer reception today, Kyra, as he meets with members of his top cabinet officials and coalition members to talk about his recent trip to D.C.

Of course, the issue with the Americans is deteriorating relations over housing, the construction announcements in East Jerusalem here. This is an issue, a very contentious issue that the Americans are now supportive of these announcements. They see it as an impediment to the peace process. Of course, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been on the record saying that he is completely supportive of Israeli building in East Jerusalem.

So you've got the two sides basically at logger heads here. So what Benjamin Netanyahu has to do today with his cabinet meeting is talk to his advisers about a way forward, a middle ground approach that can both appease the Americans and appease his right-wing coalition members, who are not supportive of any sort of halted construction in east Jerusalem, nor to making any concessions to the Palestinians.

So you have the prime minister in a political bind here, sort of beholding to the demands of the Americans, his greatest ally, and the parties that put him in power, the right wing coalition parties that make up his government -- Kyra?

PHILLIPS: The settlement issue has definitely been a bind, as you say, for decades. Well, keep following it, Kevin. Thanks so much.

The Catholic Church praying for some answers. What did the pope know about a disgraced American priest who abused deaf boys?

MARCIANO: And I'm Rob Marciano in the CNN Severe Weather Center. That storm across the east coast slowly moving out, but colder air is moving in. And another snow storm for Colorado. Weather is coming up when the CNN "NEWSROOM" returns.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Someone needs to say some Hail Marys. What, if anything, can be done to stop the abuse and cover-ups of priests who molest their flock? Now Catholics and the rest of the world are wondering, what did the pope really know about a disgraced American priest who abused deaf boys.

CNN's Diana Magnay joins us now with more from Rome.

DIANA MAGNAY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Kyra. Well, an allegation was made in yesterday's "New York Times" that there was a cover-up on the part of the Vatican in relation to this case of a man who abused up to 200 deaf boys in the United States. The Vatican has denied that. It's issued a very strong statement saying it was only informed of the abuse 20 years after the fact, when the accused was old, infirm and not in touch with children anymore. And that they acted appropriately at the time. They are also accusing the media in general of an attempt to smear the pope. An ignoble attempt, they called it.

Another article came out today in the "New York Times" relating to the pope's time when he was archbishop of Munich in 1980. It alleged that he had known that a priest, who came into his archdiocese to receive treatment for pedophilia, he'd known that he had gone back into pastoral care, back into looking after children. But the archdiocese of Munich and also, just now, the Vatican, who has directed us back to Munich, has strongly denied that also, saying that the memo doesn't necessarily exist anymore. The "New York Times" hasn't seen it, and that it was never directly addressed to the pope. So he may not have been aware that this priest had been reintegrated into pastoral care -- Kyra?

PHILLIPS: Diana, why is the Vatican calling this a smear campaign now?

MAGNAY: Because every day, we are seeing new allegations on the part of the media. The Vatican feels very much that it is under attack, and its side, i.e., the measures it is taking to try to combat child abuse and the protocols that are already in place are not coming out to the forefront.

But I think what is important to note here, Kyra, is that these cases are generally dating back from decades back and that is something that the Vatican is really trying to emphasize -- Kyra?

PHILLIPS: Dana Magnay, we appreciate you staying on the story for us.

And that's the world from the Vatican. But how are Catholics in the U.S. feeling about this? How do you separate the message from the messenger? That's what we are talking about in the next hour.

Seriously, you have got to see this. Watch this snowmobiler in Iceland. From snow and ice to fire. The volcano is actually under a glacier, and it's erupting for the first time since 1821. Hundreds of people have gotten out of there because they're scared. All this hot stuff will melt the snow and cause the flooding.

Pretty remarkable pictures, Rob. You don't get to see something like that up close very often.

MARCIANO: Yes. That is truly amazing.

Some were saying that if Cornell made it to the lead eight, that hell would freeze over. Clearly, this may be a repercussion of that, that not happening last year. Amazing stuff just to see earth in turmoil like that.

(LAUGHTER)

PHILLIPS: Yes, that's the best way to put it. I mean, it's just incredible pictures.

MARCIANO: The way things move on this planet really amazes me sometimes.

PHILLIPS: Now, explain it all technically for me.

MARCIANO: I wish I had the time to do that.

(LAUGHTER)

It's right along the mid-oceanic ridge there, so we've got some plate tectonic action happening there. And certainly, volcano eruptions can happen along that sort of activity.

OK, listen up. Where they would cool things off across the northeast, if there was a volcano up here, it would be places like Boston, back through New York City.

(WEATHER REPORT)

MARCIANO: That's the latest from here, Kyra. Back over to you.

PHILLIPS: All right, thanks, Rob.

MARCIANO: You bet.

PHILLIPS: A stunning picture of solidarity. This was the scene on the streets of Miami yesterday. Check it out. Thousands of people dressed in while as far as the eyes could see. The massive march was organized by singer and songwriter, Gloria Estefan, calling attention to Cuba's well-known Ladies in White. They had the wives, relatives and supporters of dissidents jailed in Cuba. Last week, they were attacked and beaten by government supports doing a week of marches in Havana.

Attention all potential dirt-bag boyfriends. You mess with Austin's mama, you're messing with Austin too.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

AUSTIN MUNDY, DEFENDED MOM FROM ATTACKER: Choking my mom kind of. So I kind of like grabbed his fingers and pulled them back away from my mom's throat. I kind of started kicking him.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: That's what I'm talking about. Where is that cape, Austin? You say you don't feel like a hero, but you are.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: East Texas trying to track down a mysterious would-be bomber. We told you about a homemade explosive device yesterday. Can you believe it? They have actually found another now. That makes more than ten in less than three weeks. The bombs were all found in post offices or mail drop boxes. None have gone off.

Check this out. Combat fatigues and a prince in a Brooks Brothers suit. Britain's Prince Charles wrapped up a surprise visit to Afghanistan. He's looking pretty dapper there. But later, he wore military fatigues while visiting troops in one area where they thanked him for his service.

The only dunking Gilbert Arenas may be doing for the next several weeks is a doughnut in his coffee. The Washington Wizards star is being sentenced today for bringing four unloaded guns into the Verizon Center locker room. Prosecutors want him behind bars for at least three months. We'll let you know as soon as we learn the sentence.

Question for the Chattanooga Police Department. Do you rub raw liver on the bumpers of your can cruisers or does Winston really, really, really need to go to obedience school?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) PHILLIPS: Someone needs to tell Winston he is supposed to take a bite out of crime, not cops or cop cars. Definitely, not the cruisers. Look at Winston, a pit bull, boxer mix, tearing up that bumper like it's a rawhide bone covered I gravy. This is dash cam video from the Chattanooga P.D. It gives new meaning to Chattanooga choo-choo doesn't it? Winston, no! He and some buddies did March 14th, chewed on the tasty tires. Winston has been confined to an animal shelter since then. His owners have him back now. A judge ordered him to get obedience training, stay behind a fence and wear a tag that says he could be dangerous.

An Indiana woman doesn't really need a guard dog. She has got Austin. When her boyfriend started roughing her up at home, choking, hitting her, pushing her allegedly, guess what, her 11-year-old son, Austin, got busy.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MUNDY: I was like, oh, my god, he is really trying to kill my mom. And I was like, man, I better stop him or else he is going to kill her and she is my mom, so I can't let that happen.

I said, I'm calling the cops. I ran like this, picked up the phone. I was like San Clemente Drive, now, please!

DISPATCHER: What's going on there?

MUNDY: They're fighting?

DISPATCHER: Who is?

MUNDY: My mom and her boyfriend, they're fighting.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: After he hung up with 911, Austin says, he pried the boyfriend's fingers from his mom's throat and started kicking him. You go, Austin. The cops got to the house a short time later and arrested the guy. Austin's mom is OK, got some cuts and bruises. Hopefully, she will dump that guy, press charges, and let Austin watch all the "Transformers" that he wants.

So would you threaten an 80-year-old woman with seven grandkids? Some people apparently have no problems with it. Anger over health care reform is turning decorum upside down.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Just about to hit the opening bell at the half hour here.

(RINGING)

PHILLIPS: There you go. A new report on economic growth. and one European nation finally getting a bailout. We are going to follow up more with that a little later in the hour. All right. Let's talk about it could get pretty dark for tens of thousands of Iowans next week. Apparently, they are all behind on their power bills right now, and starting a week from today, the electric company can legally flip the switch. You see that's the when the winter moratorium runs out. They're protected when it's really cold, but when it warms up, they're fair game. Right now, more than 89,000 Iowans are on the brink of getting turned off.

And after years of talk and months of bickering, the final pieces are now in place for health care reform. Just hours ago, the house passed the fix-it bill, and it's now simply just awaiting the President and his signature. That means the Democrats has successfully beaten back Republicans efforts to block reforms, but tensions remain high, lawmakers are on edge. Banned was in threat and now a new incident. New York Democrat, Anthony Weiner says that an envelope filled with white powder was sent to one of his congressional offices.

Initial test showed that the powder is not a biological agent such as anthrax. But it was a real brick that went through Congresswoman Louise Slaughter's window at one of her offices in Western New York. She has been on the receiving end of threats, too. So, what do people in her district think about that? CNN national correspondent Susan Candiotti went to New York's 28th district to find out. So, Susan, people seem to agree there are better ways to disagree?

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: That is the one thing that everyone certainly agrees upon, that's right, Kyra. And so in light of all the recent attacks, we went to that one district to see what constituents thought about what happened to their congresswoman. She is 80-year-old Louise Slaughter, a Democrat from Rochester, New York. She has three daughters, seven grandchildren. She's seen a lot in her years but never, she says, never anything like the attacks on her and her colleagues, both Democrats and Republicans.

Someone threw a brick into Slaughter's office as you indicated in Niagara Falls, and she also received a threatening voice mail talking about snipers and assassinations. All supporters and non-supporters in her district universally criticize those behind the incident.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ENZO LUCIANI, VOTER: Violence is not the answer. The answer is the vote. If you don't like what Slaughter done, don't vote for her.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CANDIOTTI: Now, hers is not the only attack, not by a mile. The FBI is looking into this one and others, and in the next hour, we'll talk about some of those and hear from more of the people in Slaughter's district -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Sounds good. Susan Candiotti, thanks so much.

And Senator John McCain fighting for his political life? Who is he going to call, Sarah Palin to the rescue. Arizona reunion in two minutes.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: John McCain and Sarah Palin, that's right, together again. Remember the lovefest during the presidential campaign. This time, she is trying to help him, not get a new job, but keep his old one. Senator McCain is facing his toughest re-election fight in 20 years. Former congressman and radio host, J.D. Hayworth, is McCain's main rival. He says the Arizona Republican wants a more consistent conservative. Palin will try to work her magic on voters and help solidify McCain's conservative credentials. She is campaigning with him today and tomorrow in Arizona.

And Palin is known for her straight talk, full no punches rhetoric, but now, some Democrats say she has gone too far. A picture posted on Palin's website this week showed rifle crosshairs over the districts of vulnerable Democrats who voted for health care reform, and she tweeted telling conservatives, don't retreat, instead reload. Democrats pounced on her saying that she is fanning the flames of violence. John McCain is hitching his political career to Palin, though. He condemns the violence against lawmakers that we've seen on the heels of the health care vote, but in an MBC interview, he refused to condemn Palin's fiery language and imager.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JOHN MCCAIN, (R) ARIZONA: There are targeted districts and there are areas that we call battleground states, and so, please, let that rhetoric and kind of language is just part of the political lexicon. It is no place for threats of violence or anything else but to say that someone is in a battleground state is not originated today.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

All right. On the flip side, in the CNN interview, McCain called for a more civilized political discussion.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MCCAIN: I think that we got to urge everybody to be respectful. That's all we do. I have town hall meetings all the time. And the only thing I ask people to do is be respectful, and I've had thousands of them, and so we ought to urge everybody to be respectful of one another.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Death threats directed at lawmakers. Bricks thrown through windows, suspicious powdered mail. One Republican congressman is calling for a hearing on the issue now.

An argument cost a college football player his life. Kendall Barry, a running back at Florida International University was stabbed during an argument on campus. He died on the way to the hospital. Police are looking for who did it. Investigators have run into one dead end in the case against Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger. A 21-year-old woman accuses him of sexually assaulting her at a Georgia nightclub. And attorney says, police can no longer view a video recording of scenes from the club, because it was taped over. The attorney says, the club owner saw the original recording but didn't notice anything unusual.

It will be a bittersweet ceremony today on Hollywood's walk of fame. Actor, Dennis Hopper, is getting a star, and it could be the last time he is seen in public. He is 73 years old and dying from prostate cancer. Hopper has been acting for almost six decades. His breakout role, as you may remember, was in 1969, "Easy Rider."

Good brakes, a train stopped just short of going into the water this morning. The draw bridge was up in Chesapeake, Virginia, and car is still hanging off. Nobody got hurt. Diesel fuel has spilled into the inner coastal waterway. Water traffic has been stopped, and coast guard crews are keeping an eye on the spill.

Put on your body armor. Police near the Mexican border on alert, warned that gang members may be planning an attack.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Police, we know that they wear bulletproof vests but body armor? Police officers doing their jobs are now being targeted by possible hit squads in El Paso, Texas. So, their uniform is changing. Their families may also be in danger. The Department of Homeland Security is warning about the possible revenge attacks by a notorious gang connected to Mexican drug lords. El Paso police have arrested dozens of gang members since they launched operation knockdown. The officers are also being told to vary their routes to and from work.

The final results in Iraq's elections, not due for a couple hours, but protesters are already calling for a recount. What's even more odd, that these demonstrators support one of the leaders from the partial count. CNN's Mohammed Jamjoon is on the streets of Baghdad.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MOHAMMED JAMJOON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: We are here to protest in Central Baghdad. Right behind me, you see what appears to be hundreds of supporters of Iraqi Prime Minster Nouri Al Maliki. They're here to try to ask for a recount. Now, the interesting thing about that is because the final results of the election haven't even been announced yet. They are scheduled to be announced tonight by the Independent High Electoral Commission.

You see people waving around banners. Let me show you this one. This says right here why? And you see the purple fingerprint, which is the symbol of democracy here in Iraq with a noose around it. The banners are saying, why are you executing our votes? That's the level of concern by the people here that the tabulation process of the votes isn't being carried out properly. Here is an example of another sign we have here in the crowd. This says, they don't want to go back to the Backus regime. Because these are supporters of Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki, some of the rhetoric that's been used, they are afraid that if another coalition wins mainly the soonest, that could mean return to the days of Saddam and the Backus regime.

Mohammed Jamjoon, CNN, Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Heroes, it is a word that gets thrown around a lot in songs, books, even news reports, but in the case of these remarkably brave Americans, the title hero most definitely fits the bill. The Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation handed out its Citizen Service Above Self honor yesterday, one of the country's highest civilian awards. They are given to just a few select people who exemplify extraordinary courage and selflessness. One recipient couldn't be at yesterday's ceremony in Arlington, Virginia and that was Dylan Nelson of Madison, South Dakota.

He actually saved his brother and cousin from drowning in Lake Madison last year, but after saving them, he was unable to save himself and he drown. Dylan nelson, a true hero.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: What did this guy do last night? Coyote looks like those guys in the hangover. He's actually been on the move in Manhattan when the NYPD finally cornered him yesterday in the parking lot. He pretty much had the cops right where he wanted them. They darted him up with a tranquilizer. Then it was nighty night.

There have been four coyote sightings by the way in New York City over the last few weeks. Something I wouldn't want to come in contact with -- Rob.

ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Oh that coyote, is that what you're talking about?

PHILLIPS: Yes, "Coyote Ugly," you're familiar with that. But I'm talking about coyote, the animal running loose.

MARCIANO: I have no idea what you're talking about, "Coyote Ugly." All coyotes that I know are cute as a button like that little guy or girl right there.

PHILLIPS: Oh I got you.

MARCIANO: I saw that video yesterday and you know, she was just hanging out underneath the car there with a little snout.

PHILLIPS: Oh, it's a she?

MARCIANO: I think so.

PHILLIPS: Really?

MARCIANO: I think that's what we discovered on -- you know I just don't --

PHILLIPS: Yes, how did you discover that? How did you know?

MARCIANO: I have -- I went to Cornell, which has a veterinarian school and it just comes with the degree.

PHILLIPS: Got it. Impressive.

MARCIANO: I can tell from afar without having to check anything else.

Anyway, moving along; we're looking at showers across parts of the Northeast, colder air coming into this area. And how cold is it going to be? Well, temperatures right now, you're pretty much at your highs, I think which would be 30s across Pawtucket, places like Danbury, Connecticut, in the mid 30s right now. So I don't think we're going to see much improvement on this. They may come up a couple of degrees.

But generally speaking, we're looking at temperatures that are not going to be where they were yesterday at this time, which would be much, much warmer, and maybe by 15-20 degrees warmer yesterday than they are today.

Salt Lake to Grand Junction over to Denver, we've got a snowstorm that's developing here in the higher country, could see several inches if not up to a foot of snow. Today, they're high temperatures and then it'll be 50 degrees, it'll be colder tomorrow. 60 degrees expected in Memphis, 70 in Dallas.

And here is your snowfall forecast across parts of Denver. There is a winter storm warning that's posted south of Denver. The front- range and the foot hills if you go over the continental divide and you could see 10, 12 inches of snow. So Saturday morning, maybe a (INAUDIBLE) day for the folks out there. Yes, got to like that.

Tomorrow's forecast does bring this thing off towards the east. A little bit of rain stretching into the mid south and the central plains but for the most part, the northeast looks to be relatively quiet, although cool and dryer than it is today for sure with those rain showers still kind of pestering the folks out that way.

A quick check on what's going on as far as delays are concerned: 45-minute delays in LaGuardia, Chicago 30, and Philadelphia 25; so not quite as bad as yesterday as well. So improving weather throughout the day today. From me to you. And stay away from that coyote tomorrow.

PHILLIPS: Are you ok? You seem a little stressed out?

MARCIANO: Well, you know, I have to admit it. I didn't get much sleep. Cornell took a beating last night against Kentucky.

PHILLIPS: I knew it. You were up watching basketball.

MARCIANO: You know, I tried to go to sleep. I just couldn't. I couldn't. It's the only time, you know --

PHILLIPS: It's just cool. I know I get it. Just cool, you have to root them on.

MARCIANO: Men's hockey tonight, the road to the frozen four. We take on New Hampshire. There's still hope for a championship.

PHILLIPS: Thank you, Rob.

MARCIANO: See you.

PHILLIPS: Well, there's a lot going on in addition to hockey and the big four.

CNN crews are working hard to bring you all the details on a number of other stories. Let's go ahead and check in with our correspondent, starting with you, Susan Candiotti.

CANDIOTTI: Well, health care reform fallout, it's ugly out there. We'll talk to the voters in one district who are trying figure it all out. I'll have that story at the top of the hour.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And here in Germany, the Pope faces new criticism after allegations have surfaced that he didn't do enough to prevent child abuse when he was an archbishop in Munich in the 1980s. We'll have more at the top of the hour.

POPPY HARLOW, CNNMONEY.COM: And when it comes to health care reform we have heard from the lawmakers, the pundits all of them, but what about the real people that don't have insurance? We talk to one cancer survivor who made it through without insurance care. That's coming up in the next hour.

PHILLIPS: Thanks, Poppy.

Also ahead a tale of heroism so impressive it caught the eye and touched the hearts of Washington. Next hour we'll talk to the winner of one of the highest civilian awards in this country.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Some breaking news coming to us out of Kentucky; just getting information as we watch these live pictures from our affiliate there. This is actually near Munfordville, Kentucky.

At least ten people, as you can see here, where the bodies are covered -- it's hard to see those pictures. This is our affiliate WLKY.

Ten people here have been killed in this wreck on Interstate 65. Apparently a tractor trailer crossed the median and hit a passenger van head-on and as you can see it's very chaotic. It's blocked up that entire part of I-65. We're trying to get more information and we'll bring it to you as we get it.

All right. Let's go to cnn.com. We have to check out our News Pulse page to see what the most popular stories are that you are logging on to. And this is an interesting story.

The second most popular story about these murders that were solved after three decades; it involves African-American teens out of Newark, New Jersey. Our Randi Kaye investigated and shows what took so long and also how a number of advocates and families are extremely happy about finally getting justice after three decades.

Also something kind of fun here -- the dog chewing off the cop car bumper. You want to see video that's going to make your day. This is pretty darn funny you don't want to miss it.

Another interesting story here just to kind hit on entertainment news, looks like Donny Osmond not too happy with Lady Gaga and Beyonce over their new video "Telephone." The full story right there on our entertainment programming with A.J. Hammer.

All right. Now to get to the Web site you just go to cnn.com and on the top left of the page click on to News Pulse. That page updated every 15 minutes. The most popular stories you're clicking on to.

You ever rub someone the wrong way? I'll bet you didn't do it with the whole world watching, though. But by now you've seen the story of George W. Bush apparently wiping his hand on the shirt sleeve of his presidential predecessor.

The story is just not the same until Jeanne Moos gets her hands on it.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Bill Clinton, human handy wipe? With handiwork like this while shaking hands in Haiti, comedians didn't even have to write a joke, they just rolled the video.

President Bush, the first time we've seen him in two months this is what he does. He's the best.

MOOS: The former president's office had no commented on hand wipe gate though some floated alternate theories.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Signaling to Clinton that he was ready to move on.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Check out what some soft core porn music does to the video.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And Bush thought marriage should be between a man and a woman.

MOOS: Maybe the brouhaha over the back rub he gave Germany's chancellor led to a more subtle affectionate touch when it came to Bill Clinton, former President Bush is said to be somewhat germophobic. Who wouldn't be -- shaking all those hands?

Barack Obama writes in his book that when he shook President Bush's hand the first time they met Bush turned to an aide nearby who squirted a big dollop of hand sanitizer in the president's hand. "Not wanting to seem unhygienic," Obama wrote, "I took a squirt."

JIMMY KIMMEL, ABC HOST: And by the way, if you're germophobic is Bill Clinton the best place to wipe your hand?

MOOS: Speaking of human hankies, remember that's what they called the stranger whose shoulder Oprah cried on after Obama won the election.

OPRAH WINFREY, HOST, OPRAH WINFREY SHOW: At one point I was just sobbing on this shoulder, mascara everywhere.

Anyway, thank you, Mr. Man for letting my cry on your shoulder.

MOOS: Impersonators already tend to portray former President Bush.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Besides, I want to put the Iraq war on my credit card. I never dreamed I was paying 28 percent in interest rates.

MOOS: As somewhat uncouth. If George Bush wiped his hand on Bill Clinton and it's only an if, it wouldn't be the first time that he used someone as a human tissue.

Letterman loves to show the time George Bush cleaned his classes on a staff member during a commercial break. You've got to hand it to the former president, at least he's clean.

MOOS: -- or at least wipe us.

Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: It's been a tight race, but in about two hours we're going to know the winner of Iraq's election. Voters went to the polls almost three weeks ago to decide between current Prime Minister Nuri al Maliki's group and a block led by former Prime Minister Eyad Allawi. The extended counting process has prompted fraud concerns.

The only dunking Gilbert Arenas maybe doing for the next several weeks is a doughnut into his coffee. The Washington Wizards star being sentenced today for being four unloaded guns into the Verizon Center locker room. Prosecutors want him behind bars for at least three months. We'll let you know as soon as we learn the sentence.

Good brakes. A train stopped just short of going into the water this morning. The draw bridge was up in Chesapeake, Virginia, one car still hanging off. Nobody got hurt but diesel fuel has spilled into the inter-coastal waterway. Water traffic has been stopped and Coast Guard crews are keeping an eye on that spill. Call it a wrap. Health care reform is finalized, and it passes not with a bang, but a whimper.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: On this vote the ayes are 225. The nays are 199. The resolution is adopted. Without objection, the motion to reconsider is laid upon the table.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Almost looks kind of ho-hum, doesn't it? Well, not -- once the lawmakers step out of the chambers and into the wrath of angry voters like this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hazmat crews responded to the office of Democratic Congressman Anthony Weiner. It received an envelope containing a suspicious white powder and a letter referring to the health care vote.

REP. ERIC CANTOR (R-VA), REPUBLICAN WHIP: A bullet was shot through the wind of my campaign office.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You and Boehner (EXPLETIVE DELETED) and Mitch McConnell all you racist (EXPLETIVE DELETED) Republicans.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Both sides are accusing the other of stoking disturbing displays like this mock wake complete with a coffin that was held outside a Democratic Congressman's St. Louis home Sunday night.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHLLIPS: Well, let's talk about some of those threats; the ones in New York's 28th district, western New York. At least one brick through a lawmaker's window and many harsh words.