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Unarmed Man Shot By Phoenix Police; Sharron Angle Debates Harry Reid; Former CEO of Countrywide Settles Fraud Charges With SEC; No Cost of Living Increase in Social Security; Ben Bernanke Signals Fed May Do More to Help Economy; President Obama Denies He Will Replace Joe Biden on 2014 Ticket
Aired October 15, 2010 - 15:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Thank you very much, Ali Velshi. We appreciate that.
The big story today: an unarmed man and his dog shot by Phoenix police, an officer there. An outraged community protests for more than a week now. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED PROTESTERS: We want justice! We want justice! We want justice!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Want to tell you now that the officer has just been indicted on second-degree murder and animal cruelty charges. But the protesters and the unarmed man's mother, they want more.
In just a moment, I will talk to one of the protest leaders and to the officer's attorney.
But, first, here's how the shooting went down. All right, pay attention to this. A domestic disturbance call brought police to the home of this man. His name is Danny Frank Rodriguez. He had been arguing with his mother. She was afraid that he might hurt her and hoped police could calm him down.
The details I'm about to give you are outlined in some court documents. So, first, Phoenix Police Officer Richard Chrisman and his partner responded to that call. Rodriguez told them to show a warrant or leave.
Officer Chrisman allegedly put his gun to Rodriguez's head, told him he didn't need a warrant, and ordered him out of the house. Rodriguez -- Rodriguez struggled with the police officer. Officer Chrisman allegedly used a stun gun and pepper spray to try to restrain the man, and then shot his pit bull.
Rodriguez tried to leave on his bicycle, but the struggle then continued. And Officer Chrisman allegedly pulled his gun again and fired. And, remember, Rodriguez did not have a weapon. And can you imagine? The mother heard it all.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ELVIRA FERNANDEZ, MOTHER OF DANNY FRANK RODRIGUEZ: You know, he's my son. I love my son. It's wrong. What happened was wrong. First, I heard two shots, and then it paused, and then we heard two shots. They just told me that, yes, they killed him.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: So, officer Chrisman was originally charged with aggravated assault. He was arrested, then released on $150,000 bond. Rodriguez's mother wants him behind bars again.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FERNANDEZ: I'm, however, very disappointed that Officer Chrisman has not been re-arrested based on new charges against him. I urge the county attorney to reconsider this decision and please re-arrest Officer Chrisman for the second-degree murder charges.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: All right, let's talk about this and discuss it, really.
Craig Mehrens is Officer Chrisman's lawyer. He says the shooting of Danny Rodriguez was justified. And Carlos Galindo is a radio host who organized protests calling for more serious charges against Officer Chrisman.
Thanks to both of you for joining me.
And, Mr. Mehrens, I'm going to start with you.
Even the officer's partner says the man wasn't armed and didn't pose a threat. So, how is this justified?
CRAIG MEHRENS, ATTORNEY FOR PHOENIX POLICE OFFICER RICHARD CHRISMAN: Well, the officer's partner has given several stories.
In addition, the officer's partner stayed outside the trailer while my client was inside trying to take care of the situation. In addition, the officer's Partner, Mr. Virgillo, used his Taser and Tasered the suspect.
So, if he wasn't a threat, why did Officer Virgillo Taser him?
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: But his partner --
(CROSSTALK)
MEHRENS: What's happened is --
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: Listen, won't his partner's testimony be damaging, because, again, as I said, he was unarmed at the time? And the partner has said on record in the documents that he did not pose a threat at the time.
Is this not damaging to your client?
MEHRENS: If you listen -- if you -- absolutely. If you listen to just that officer's testimony, you would come to that conclusion. It's unfortunate the police and the county attorney didn't wish to listen to my client's side of the story.
We made it available to them, and they didn't even return my -- I -- I wrote them a letter and asked them, you know, let's meet with you. And they said -- well, they didn't say anything.
LEMON: OK. Listen, here -- here's what the -- here's what the police officers are saying.
They're saying that: "We make decisions based on the facts of the investigation, not rumors, not people being upset. We base them on facts."
Phoenix Police -- that's Phoenix Police Chief Jack Harris. He said that at a press conference announcing murder charges against Officer Richard Chrisman.
He said just the facts, Mr. Mehrens. And -- and what is your -- if you -- if you believe, again, as you say -- and you wouldn't be representing him -- that this officer is wrongly accused, what is his version of the story?
MEHRENS: His version of the story is that this man was absolutely a threat and that he came at with -- him with a weapon. He didn't try to leave the trailer. He was inside the trailer with a bicycle. He didn't try to leave the trailer on his bicycle. I -- I don't know where Officer Virgillo came up with that fairy tale, but that's exactly what it is.
LEMON: OK.
Listen, let's get to Mr. Galindo now.
You actually informed the mother of the charges. And you have put this in the spotlight. Are you satisfied with the more serious charges now?
CARLOS GALINDO, ARIZONA PROTEST ORGANIZER: Absolutely. I think they were merited.
I think the facts, as they said, speak for themselves. And the idea was here to make sure that the Phoenix Police Department conducted the proper investigation, provided said investigation to the county attorney, so he could file the appropriate charges in this case. And not only did we obtain appropriate charges; we obtained a complete change in policy and procedure on how the Phoenix Police handles South Phoenix and certain areas that are primarily indigent and minority in Phoenix.
LEMON: Mr. Galino -- Galindo -- excuse me -- are you saying that there is -- is this a pattern with the police department?
GALINDO: We -- we have seen investigations that are lacking from the Phoenix Police Department in the past. We have had many complaints.
I have had many individual citizens complain to me about shoddy police work. I -- I -- I really, truly feel that there's a change now in the Phoenix Police Department. I truly feel that Chief Jack Harris will do what's wrong, that the mayor and vice mayor of Phoenix will start moving to heal the community and have a better relationship. I -- I --
LEMON: OK.
GALINDO: I'm confident of that.
LEMON: They're not here to defend those charges or to accept what you're saying is the -- how the department is improving. But, again, the police chief is just saying they're doing what they do based on facts.
Mr. Mehrens, it's -- I want to ask you this, another -- something else that may be potentially damaging to your client. Officer Chrisman had been in trouble before -- and we have the video here -- for saying that he helped to plant a crack pipe on a woman. That was during a 2005 arrest.
There's the video right there. You can see it, and you can see him handing the woman police officer -- may want to -- there it -- there it is -- handing the crack pipe, putting it on the woman. He has said that it was a joke, because she wasn't arrested for any type of drug charge. She was arrested for an outstanding warrant, I mean, but come on.
MEHRENS: All of these officers were disciplined for this incident, as they should have been. This happened some years ago. It was inappropriate behavior, but it has nothing to do with this charge --
LEMON: But doesn't it go to --
MEHRENS: -- nothing to do with this.
LEMON: -- judgment? As they would say in a court, doesn't this go to judgment of a police officer?
MEHRENS: We have all used bad judgment, Don. I know I have a lot. Of course it goes to his judgment on that situation. But it has nothing to do with -- with this situation. They're two -- totally two different things.
Because of this, he was put on a list. There's over 200 Phoenix Police officers who have been placed on this list, past and present. The head of internal affairs, the commander of internal affairs at Phoenix Police Department, he is on the same list as my client for this sort of conduct.
The prosecutor's office looked at this several years ago and did nothing about it. They concluded there was nothing about it. They have used my client as a witness in other cases. It hasn't been a problem until now, when they want to make something out of it.
LEMON: Back to Mr. Galindo now.
You actually, as I said, informed the mother of the upgraded charges.
GALINDO: Yes.
LEMON: We spoke to her for a little bit today. She is distraught. I think, actually, there are services for her son today. How is she doing?
GALINDO: She is -- she is torn up. She does want a re-arrest of Officer Chrisman. I think, if it was you or I or any other U.S. citizen, we would be arrested, re-arrested, and -- and put in jail with the appropriate bond.
We're disappointed that the appropriate bond has not been affixed here by the county attorney. However, we are happy that the county attorney did step up to the plate and do what was right and charge him with the correct crime.
LEMON: Carlos Galindo, Craig Mehrens, thank you.
MEHRENS: Thank you, sir.
LEMON: OK. Here's a question for you. What did Bill O'Reilly say to cause two members of "The View" to storm off the set? The walk-off went viral, but we will show you what led up to the anger and whether O'Reilly has had -- whether he had his facts straight on that show. That's straight ahead.
And remember that nor'easter that we warned you about yesterday? It's pounded several states, and it's not done yet. We will tell you where it's headed now and who should be making alternate -- alternative plans for flights and on the road.
That's next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Listen, don't say that we didn't warn you, because that low-pressure system affecting the Mid-Atlantic yesterday has become a nor'easter.
Bonnie Schneider, our meteorologist -- meteorologist here with me now to break down what this means.
So, there are some flood warnings in effect in some areas and other things as well, not over yet, far from over.
BONNIE SCHNEIDER, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Not at all.
And even when the rain stops, Don, we still have to worry about the wind. And that is going to be a very serious situation that could create danger and problems for people from the Mid-Atlantic all the way to northern New England.
Let's show you what's happening right now. As we zoom into the radar, you will see not only do we have rain really hammering parts of Maine, but look what's happening in Upstate New York and into northern Vermont. You can see the little bursts of pink and white on the radar picture? Well, guess what that is? I know it's October, but we have eight inches of snow on the ground in Killington, Vermont. That's a ski area, so I'm sure they're happy to see the snow.
The temperature has been holding around 32 degrees. So, at the higher elevations, this nor'easter, this early one in the season, is definitely bringing some wintry weather. Now, certainly, of course, cities like Boston, New York seeing rain only with this system, but we are still seeing some heavy bands of rain and very strong gusts of wind as the nor'easter continues to work its way to the north and east, really bringing the rain and wind, particularly to northern New England today.
I want to show you a live picture of what it looks outside in New York City right now. We can show you Central Park, and looks -- it looks pretty good, as you can see. We don't really have too much of a concern in terms of the rain falling from this point forward. But we are looking at areas of the city and certainly in the surrounding area still under a wind advisory for very rough wind as we go through much of the afternoon hours, into the overnight hours even.
The heaviest rain is through northern Maine working its way into Canada. And we're also seeing some bands of rain kind of wrapping around the system, coming back in from western sections of Massachusetts and back into areas towards I would say Rhode Island and certainly towards Long Island to the south in New York.
So, here's the wind advisories. Now, these wind advisories go straight through tomorrow, well into Saturday. Some of them don't go -- end their effect until early, like 8:00 in the morning. So, we are going to see strong wind with gusts up to 50 miles per hour. And we can't rule out a gust even higher than that.
Now, this is really important to note. If you haven't done this already, I would go outside to your backyard, kind of bring everything in that's loose, because debris can get picked up with a gust of wind and it really can cause damage. You might as well avoid it while you can, if you haven't done so already. It's a good time to kind of get everything together and batten down the hatches.
Take a quick closer look at what we are expecting for the rest of the day. You can see stormy conditions in New England. But this has been impacting travel in a huge way. (INAUDIBLE) shows lot of congestion in the Northeast, no doubt about it, over 6,000 planes in the U.S.
So, how does it break down the air delays? They are enormous, almost two-hour delays at New York's La Guardia Airport, Newark not too far behind, Washington and Philadelphia, Don, also reporting lengthy airport delays -- of all day, on a Friday, this nor'easter really causing a lot of trouble for travelers right now.
LEMON: Here we go, and a lot of people watching us in the airport. So --
(CROSSTALK)
(LAUGHTER)
SCHNEIDER: Hang in there.
(LAUGHTER)
LEMON: So, hang in there.
(LAUGHTER)
SCHNEIDER: Yes.
LEMON: And -- and -- and watch CNN. Don't go to the food court. Watch CNN.
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: So, thank you very much, Bonnie Schneider.
This next story doesn't have to do with weather, but it certainly has to do with the airlines. And the question is, have the airlines gone too far? Coming up, we will tell you about one airline that allegedly rejected a passenger, saying he was too disabled to fly alone.
And the Senate's most powerful man took on his inexperienced Republican challenger during a debate, and she was really ready with some jabs, including a call for him to -- quote -- she said it -- "Man up, Harry Reid."
Jessica Yellin next with the debate fallout. Make sure you stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Who would have thunk just by looking at him? Did you know that, once upon a time, mild-mannered Harry Reid, now Senate majority leader, was an amateur boxer?
Well, this is the main event, and it is this fall, Reid's reelection race against Republican insurgent Sharron Angle. You know, they staged their one-on-one and one and only debate, I should say, debate -- you can call it a one-on-one as well -- last night, and the word we're hearing is, no one really landed a knockout blow.
Our Jessica Yellin was there and she joins us today from Los Angeles.
So, I want you to score it for us. But, also, you know, Vegas is a pretty happening place. I think I heard you characterize it earlier as the dullest thing that happened in Vegas last night.
(LAUGHTER)
JESSICA YELLIN, CNN NATIONAL POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: That was my I guess.
(LAUGHTER)
YELLIN: I think that that was the dullest thing in town.
I'm telling you, this is the most ferocious campaign of the season. It's the marquee race, probably the nastiest on both sides that I have seen in a long time. And, astonishingly, the debate was pretty much dullsville.
Harry Reid, the Senate majority leader, is known to be wonky, awkward, and dull sometimes, and he scored all three pretty much last night. On the other side, Sharron Angle, the Republican insurgent, she was able to be an aggressor, but she really seemed to lose herself on the facts and get confused in the middle of her own sentences.
And this is a neck-and-neck race to topple potentially the chief Democrat in the Senate. I will just give you an example. Two of the latest polls, one poll shows Harry Reid up by three. The other one shows her up by two. And a lot of votes are going to a candidate called none of the above, because voters are just so dissatisfied there.
And I want to give you a little taste of what happened last night. Listen to this. This is the back and forth they have been having over Social Security. It goes on and on. The bottom line is, she has said she wanted to privatize it and phase it out. He has said that -- and now she's changed her position. He -- they go back and forth on this.
Listen to how wonky he gets, and how she comes back at him.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. HARRY REID (D-NV), MAJORITY LEADER: Social Security is a promise we have to keep. It takes care of seniors in their golden years. That's why I work so hard to protect Social Security. I feel so strongly about this that I took on the president of the United States when he tried to privatize it. And we won that battle.
Social Security is an important program. The actuarials at Social Security and also the CBO has said within the past month that Social Security will pay out 100 percent of its benefits for the next 35 to 40 years.
That's important.
SHARRON ANGLE (R), NEVADA SENATORIAL CANDIDATE: Man up, Harry Reid. You need to understand that we have a problem with Social Security. That problem was created because of government taking that money out of the Social Security trust fund.
In 1990, you said it was stealing to use Social Security for anything but Social Security, and then you voted to take that Social Security money into the general fund where it could be generally used for generally anything.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: OK.
(LAUGHTER)
LEMON: Jessica --
YELLIN: Don, you know, folks were starting -- yes.
LEMON: The only thing that would have been better if she had just said, man up, Reid, instead of man up, Harry Reid.
That was --
(LAUGHTER)
LEMON: That was a good one.
YELLIN: We were all sort of getting glassy-eyed with all the wonk talk..
(LAUGHTER)
YELLIN: And then she said that, and everybody jumped to.
(LAUGHTER)
LEMON: So, you know, you have moved on to California. And, tonight, a familiar face will be out there campaigning for Democrats.
Hey, listen -- look at this. You recognize this -- this guy?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BILL CLINTON, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: All these guys running against the Democrats, they act like, well, they got a new president on January the 21st, 2001 -- I mean, 2009. Why couldn't they stop a train going downhill at 900 miles an hour in 34 seconds?
So, it's like these guys are saying, OK, we coached America to several seasons where we were 2-9. This team, they haven't won the national championship yet. They're only about 7-5. So, let's throw them out and put the 2-9 coaches back in and let them call the same plays all over again.
(APPLAUSE)
CLINTON: They're playing you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: OK, so you don't even have to see him. You recognize the voice.
(LAUGHTER)
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: It seems like Bill Clinton, though, is everywhere these days, campaigning for Democrats.
YELLIN: He is.
LEMON: Is he supposed to be the secret weapon here?
YELLIN: He really has been enormously effective for Democrats this season, Don. I saw him I think it was Wednesday night in Vegas. I'm in L.A. today.
Between the time I went from Vegas to L.A., he has been to Arkansas, across the South, to the Southland of L.A., and coming back up north to where I am. I mean, he is on a nonstop tear. And he is in, a way, the most desirable get on the campaign trail for Democrats --
LEMON: Yes.
YELLIN: -- because he's able to sell the message right now.
LEMON: And you know what?
YELLIN: And he's --
LEMON: Him --
YELLIN: Yes.
LEMON: The president has been out there. And you see the first lady out there. So, again, they're pulling out the big guns here, the most popular, and probably the most high-profile Democrats, so to speak.
Hey, listen, I -- I want to get back to something. Someone -- someone on Twitter said something, Jessica, I want to ask you about, and especially --
YELLIN: Yes.
LEMON: I don't know. I think you can -- you can deal with it. Someone says -- YELLIN: Yes?
LEMON: -- why is that woman, Angle, can you tell a male -- why can she tell a male to man up? But if someone -- if a man says something like that, it is deemed as sexist?
Did you think that sort of was a sexist remark, if it had been reversed?
YELLIN: I thought it was noteworthy.
There was -- Jane Norton was running in Colorado during the primary against a man named Ken Buck, and she told him he should be man enough to admit who's sponsoring third-party ads. So, man enough, man up -- increasingly, women candidates are challenging the manhood of the men they're running against.
But, you know, you have Jerry Brown and the whore comment here in California.
LEMON: Right.
YELLIN: So, there is a gender theme running through politics this season. Not quite sure what to make of it -- maybe sexism on both sides.
LEMON: Ah. You said the word, too. Thank you.
YELLIN: Sexism?
LEMON: Appreciate it.
(LAUGHTER)
YELLIN: OK. Bye.
(LAUGHTER)
LEMON: Thanks, Jessica.
You know, there's never a good time to plow your car into the Department of Motor Vehicles, is it? Never a good time. But there's really, really one bad time. You have got to see what happened during this epic fail. That's straight ahead.
Plus:
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOY BEHAR, CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": I was really angry -- angry. I saw O'Reilly -- I thought he was saying something that I construe as hate speech, frankly.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: That was Joy Behar on her show, HLN, last night. So, what did Bill O'Reilly say that upset Joy Behar so much that she stormed off the set of "The View"? We will have highlights from that showdown next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: You have probably seen some of it, but not as much as we're going to show you of Bill O'Reilly's rather explosive visit to "The View" yesterday.
He was discussing -- discussing President Obama's popularity problems with Barbara Walters and company when he abruptly turned the discussion to the planned Islamic center near Ground Zero. So, you may have seen the screaming match that ensued. But we want you to hear what O'Reilly said just before the screaming began.
O'Reilly referred to an August CNN poll showing nearly 70 percent of Americans oppose the Islamic center near Ground Zero. Seventy percent oppose that, nearly. That opposition, O'Reilly said on "The View," puts the American people at odds with the president. Take a look now at that discussion.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "THE VIEW")
BILL O'REILLY, HOST, "THE O'REILLY FACTOR": Seventy percent of Americans don't want that mosque down there, so don't give me the we business.
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
JOY BEHAR, CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": Where is that poll? I want to see that poll.
O'REILLY: You want to bet on that? You want to bet? I will show you that poll in a minute.
(CROSSTALK)
O'REILLY: Seventy percent don't want it down there.
WHOOPI GOLDBERG, CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": Well, why is that? Then why aren't we saying --
O'REILLY: because it's inappropriate.
GOLDBERG: Why is it inappropriate, when 70 families died?
(CROSSTALK)
O'REILLY: Muslims killed us on 9/11. That's why!
(CROSSTALK)
GOLDBERG: No! Oh, my God! That is such (EXPLETIVE DELETED)
O'REILLY: Muslims didn't kill us on 9/11? Is that what you're saying? (CROSSTALK)
GOLDBERG: What religion was Mr. McVeigh?
(CROSSTALK)
GOLDBERG: Mr. McVeigh was an extremist, and he killed people.
(CROSSTALK)
O'REILLY: I'm telling you, 70 percent of the country --
(CROSSTALK)
(APPLAUSE)
BEHAR: You know what? I don't even want to sit here. I don't want to sit here now. I don't. I'm outraged by that statement.
(CROSSTALK)
O'REILLY: You're outraged about Muslims killed us on 9/11?
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Boy, that really upset me.
No, seriously. Whoopi Goldberg and Joy Behar, they did come back. That was after Barbara Walters calmed things down and O'Reilly apologized, saying it was Muslim extremists, not all Muslims, who are responsible for the attacks.
But that wasn't the end of it. After all, O'Reilly and Behar, they do have prime-time shows.
First up, Bill O'Reilly last night. Look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "THE O'REILLY FACTOR")
O'REILLY: I'm not in the business of sugarcoating harsh reality. This program and my book state the truth as I see it.
I enjoy jousting with "The View" ladies, because, with the exception of Elisabeth Hasselbeck, they don't see it my way, and I want their audience to hear both sides.
I loved that exposition today. Didn't you?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: And you know Joy speaks her mind. She didn't drop it last night either. Here you go.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "THE JOY BEHAR SHOW") BEHAR: Today on "The View," Bill O'Reilly had a real pinhead moment.
I was really angry -- angry. I saw O'Reilly -- I thought he was saying something that I construe as hate speech, frankly.
I'm joined now by former Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura.
I mean, it upsets me as you can see because I really think that to say Muslims killed us on 9/11 is like you could say that about any group to lump an entire group like that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Jesse Ventura. Hang on to that. What a coincidence.
But, first, I want to tell you, the issue was dropped entirely on "The View" today, not one word about Bill O'Reilly or the screaming match that erupted, because Friday's shows are pretaped. So, Monday will be their first chance to take up the issue again.
Now back to Jesse Ventura, the former Minnesota governor. I'm going to talk to him about this episode in the next hour of the CNN NEWSROOM. Stay tuned.
You know, yesterday, we had an interesting conversation live on the air with rapper T.I. He did a good deed on Wednesday when he supposedly talked a man down off of a building who was threatening to jump, kill himself. Well, today, he is a defendant trying to convince a judge to keep him out of prison. That hearing is taking place right now. And as soon as we know the judge's ruling, we're going to bring it to you. So stay tuned.
Also, General David Petraeus drops a bombshell about a significant change in the relationship with the Taliban. Details next in top stories.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: News here on CNN that involves Angelo Mozilo, the head of Countrywide and that hold scandal. CNN's Allan Chernoff following that developing story for us. What's going on, Allan?
ALLAN CHERNOFF, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Don, a major settlement here with the Security and Exchange Commission announced in a Los Angeles courtroom, the former head of Countrywide Financial agreed to pay $67.5 million to the government. He's settling charges from the SEC that he had lied to investors about the fact that Countrywide had been making very, very mortgages to many millions of people, and also charges that he had engaged in insider trading.
So again, a fine of $67.5 million. That is one of the largest individual fines ever agreed to with the SEC. Also the chief operating officer and the chief financial officer also are settling their cases. And Don, this is highly significant. Actually -- if you look at the history, it affects all of us. Why? Because Countrywide was in so much trouble it sold itself to Bank of America for $4 billion back in 2008. And of course, you recall that TARP money, Bank of America need $45 billion to be bailed out, $45 billion of taxpayer money, and this countrywide acquisition, that's one reason they needed that bailout. Don?
LEMON: So $67.5 million, Angelo Mozilo is worth a lot of money. But that still has to hurt with as much as he is worth. Thank you for that.
CHERNOFF: That is a chunk of change and he could still face other lawsuits.
LEMON: Thank you, Alan.
Time for top stories here on CNN. We start in Chile. At least ten more of the 33 rescued miners are expected to be released from the hospital today. Three others went home yesterday to recuperate and celebrate with their families.
And despite being trapped 69 days below ground, doctors say only a few of the men needed medical treatment. Amazing, right? Barring any unexpected setbacks, the hospital expects the remaining miners to be sent home by Sunday.
LEMON: "There would appear to be a case for further action here" with those words in a speech this morning Federal Reverse Chairman Ben Bernanke signaled the Fed might make additional moves to jumpstart the U.S. economy. The Fed has kept the lending near zero percent for almost two years now and analysts say Bernanke's words set the stage for the Fed to possibly pump more money into the economy.
How did Wall Street react? Let's take a look at the big board. You see the Dow trading above 11,000 and minus 44. Still have a few minutes. We'll check back to see what happens.
Speaking at the British -- at a British think tank, General David Petraeus, the top U.S. general in Afghanistan, touched on the current talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government. In fact, Petraeus' comments today confirmed what sources had been telling us, that NAT -led forces have been guaranteeing safe passage to Taliban commanders to attend the meetings.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEN. DAVID PETRAEUS, COMMANDER, INTERNATIONAL SECURITY ASSISTANCE FORCE: Indeed in certain respects we do facilitate that given that, needless to say, it would not be the easiest of tasks for a senior Taliban commander to enter Afghanistan and make his way to Kabul if ISAF were not witting and aware of it and therefore allows it to take place.
(END VIDEO CLIP) LEMON: Another top story right now, Social Security is something that affects all of us either now or later. But the government just made a big announcement that has many people worrying about their future. That's next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Here's something a lot of you are talking about today, especially if you're one of the more than 58 million Americans will receive -- who receive -- the first day with the new lips -- a Social Security check.
It's also the reason that Sandra Endo is here. Sandy, good to see you. If you receive Social Security payment you got some disappointing news today. This is the second year that monthly benefits -- it's not going to go up?
SANDRA ENDO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, it's the second year in a row, same news, which is really unfortunate. And it means there will be no bump in Social Security benefits. It's one of those unfortunate side effect of an otherwise pretty positive development, which is no inflation. But it also means there is no automatic cost-of-living increase for people on Social Security. And it means seniors across the country today are asking, what about us?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JACQUELINE BYERS, SENIOR CITIZEN: We're the forgotten generation. And it's sad. It's really sad.
ENDO: Senior Jacqueline Byers is in tears. For ten years she's been relying on Social Security as her sole income. Every month she gets a $600 check and it's getting harder to make ends meet.
BYERS: Everything's gone up except our checks -- the groceries, gasoline, our gas inside the home, our electric bills. They are constantly -- and don't mention the water bill. Everything has gotten sky high.
ENDO: So Byers goes to the senior center where she can get a hot meal, socialize, and she even sews her own clothes to cut down on costs.
BYERS: You can't find a suit for my size probably $160, lined suit. And I can probably make one for less than $10. So, yes, sewing helps a whole lot on our budget.
ENDO: And that budget will remain tight. For the second straight year based on a federal formula there will be no increase in Social Security payments due to flat inflation rates. The Social Security Administration says Social Security has no leeway to increase benefits if the inflation measurement doesn't call for it.
Still, the struggle is getting tougher for seniors.
BYERS: The things that we enjoyed when we were growing up, we can't afford to do it for our children now.
ENDO (on camera): For seniors like Jacqueline Byers, things aren't expected to improve any time soon. Right now nearly 59 million people receive Social Security or supplemental security income and last year recipients got a $250 bonus as part of the federal government's economic recovery plan.
This year, no bonus, no cost-of-living increase, and seniors are unlikely to get one until January, 2012.
DAVID CERTNER, AARP: What this emphasizes year after year is how important Social Security is for older Americans. And that cost of living adjustment every year is a critical component of helping them keep up with prices and keeping their heads above water. So seniors have come to count on that money every month.
BYERS: It's my prayer that our officials and our government people would take the time and see what's going on with the seniors. They need to know that people care about them and they need to feel it.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ENDO: Now, some lawmakers are trying to push for another bonus payment this year. But that won't be considered until after the November election. And the White House also released a statement today hoping another bonus payment will get passed.
But it goes to show how big-ticket political issues have such a strong and profound effect on everyday people, in this case, tens of millions of seniors across the country. And Social Security came up in last night's big debate between Senate candidates in Nevada. Democratic Senator Harry Reid says the money is there. His opponent, Sharron Angle says it's just too expensive. It is such a divisive issue.
LEMON: Yes, it is a divisive issue. And tell me, do you know what the average Social Security check is? What is that?
ENDO: Pretty much the average is about $1,100 a month, around $13,000 a year for a senior. But someone like Jacqueline Byers, she is only getting $600 a month. And her rent here in Atlanta is $500 a month. So the numbers really don't add up.
LEMON: Yes, cost of living goes up every single day, too. Thank you, Sandy. I'll see you later, right?
ENDO: Absolutely.
LEMON: I don't make you feel uncomfortable here, do I?
ENDO: I love being here with you.
LEMON: Good, thank you, Sandy, see you soon, because remember the female reporter who said the New York Jets made her feel uncomfortable in the locker room? That will be the last time she interviews football players there. What happened? Who made that call? That's next.
And you've got to see this. The smarter criminals use disguises. This suspect went into full camouflage mode and still got caught. Details next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Remember how excited you were when you were about to get your driver's license? I couldn't sleep the night before. And then how excited you are once it happened. So you passed your driving test. You're home free, right?
But wait, you've got to see this. A teenager just passed his road test was driving his tester back to the DMV and, boom. Poor guy. He actually drives right through the glass window and doors of that building. Apparently, though, the teen thought he put the car in park. The teen thought he'd put the car in park. Not so much. It started to roll, and he slammed on the gas instead of the brakes.
He's not being charged. Everybody is OK. Somebody's just got to pay for that big ole mess there.
And you've got to see this -- police arrest a man in the woods wearing this -- looks like one of Roger Strauss' sweaters. It is a camouflage outfit. That moss fur thing is a full bodysuit used by police and military snipers. Apparently, this guy's been sneaking around in these -- sneaking around a museum in Hillsboro, Oregon.
Get this, he was caught when the sheriff's dog sniffed the ground and then bit into it, it, being, the man's leg. Could have been a whole lot worse, right, guys? He yelled out and they took him in to custody.
And you've got to see this as well -- a baseball field. It's Florida. That turns into a field of romance. The man rented out the field, made sure the lights were on, and used ten gallons of turf paint to pop the question. There you see it. He also flew his gal up in the helicopter where he couldn't miss her proposal.
So, what did she say? Did she say yes? Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She said with a loud gasp "yes," and speechless for the rest of the night.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Wow. I always wonder, what if they said no when they do that like on television. Have you seen the people who propose -- what happened if they say no? How embarrassing. Congratulations, though.
OK, former governor Jesse Ventura says the government is not telling you the whole truth, but he will. His take on 9/11, the JFK assassination. And that spat between Joy Behar, Whoopi Goldberg, and Bill O'Reilly. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: I use a little tweet deck here, and it's going crazy, especially on the whole Bill O'Reilly thing. Let's go, as we say, to the Twitter board. Here's what you're saying about that -- thanks in advance for these.
"I understand the frustration of Joy and Whoopi, but walking offstage was the wrong way to handle it. But you can't blame them." Thanks, Vanessa, for that. "Don Lemon, Whoopi and Joy embarrassed themselves by walking off like that. No one is on their side." Thank you, One Blond.
"O'Reilly laid down the truth. The ladies that condone tolerance were obviously quite intolerant of his statement. Hypocrites." Thank Zombie for that one."
OK, "Bill O'Reilly" -- see if I can do it -- "Bill O'Reilly is a pinhead and used the wrong words just to get a response from the ladies." Bill O'Reilly, a pinhead and not a patriot. What's the world coming to? Thank you, we appreciate it.
We're counting down here to this country to Election Day with the best political team on television. Wolf Blitzer is tracking today's developments. That's next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: It's 18 days until Election Day. And it is time right now for the latest campaign developments including the president and the vice president out on the campaign trail. CNN has all of the latest political news with "The Best Political Team on Television." The best of the best is Wolf Blitzer and he's at the CNN political desk. What's crossing right now, Mr. Wolf?
WOLF BLITZER, HOST, "THE SITUATION ROOM": A lot is crossing at CNNpolitics.com on the Political Ticker. For example, if there was any lingering doubt, President Obama today put it all to rest, saying this about his vice presidential running mate, his vice president, formerly running mate Joe Biden. Look at this. He said "The single best decision that I've made with selecting Joe Biden as my running mate, the single best decision I have made. I mean that. It's true."
I guess he's trying to suggest that the rumors that he would consider removing Joe Biden from the ticket, replacing Joe Biden perhaps with Hillary Clinton as his running mate in 2012, the president clearly has no such intention based on what he just said in Delaware. He's out campaigning together with Joe Biden in Biden's home state of Delaware for Chris Coons against Christine O'Donnell.
You may remember the uproar that followed the interview on "JOHN KING USA" with Bob Woodward when he said replacing Biden was on the table. Since then the White House has fought hard to make sure that it isn't on the table. And today the president was very firm, saying Biden is the best decision he made.
Another issue crossing our ticker, Sarah Palin last night seemed to be going after the first lady, Michelle Obama, when she said "I have heard people say or have said in the campaign that they've never been proud of America. Haven't they met anybody in uniform yet?"
It seemed like a pretty direct slap at the first lady of the United States who during the campaign in 2008 said something along the lines "For the first time in my adult life, I am really proud of my country because it feels like hope is making a comeback." Conservatives pounced on that at the time.
Michelle Obama clarified what she meant to say, "For the first time in my lifetime, I see people rolling up their sleeves in a way that I haven't seen in really trying to figure this out." So I guess a lot of people are wondering why Sarah Palin last night seemed to make a point of going after the first lady, who's very popular, by the way. All of the public opinion polls, 65 percent approval in the most recent public opinion polls.
Finally, Don, I taped an interview earlier today with Condoleezza rice, the former secretary of state, and we're going to air it in "THE SITUATION ROOM." You're going to be fascinated some of the stuff she's saying growing up in the segregated south, what it was like. She couldn't go to an NFL football game in the early '60s. She explains why she became a fan of the Cleveland browns of all teams, even though she lived in Birmingham, Alabama. She recalls the bombings of the churches, the killings of those four little girls.
This is an emotional interview. I think our viewers will be interested to hear a different side of Condoleezza Rice that we haven't seen. I think our viewers will be interested in seeing it in "The SITUATION ROOM."
LEMON: I agree wholeheartedly and have already pre-bought it on Amazon because I saw a previous interview.
BLITZER: Yes. It's a part of our history all of us need to remember, especially young people who didn't live through it.
LEMON: Yes, I can't wait for that.
Thank you, Wolf Blitzer. we will see you soon.
And another political update in about 30 minutes. And you can always get all the latest political news at CNNPolitics.com. And, remember, on Twitter, it's @PoliticalTicker.
