Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Newsroom
Charlie Rangel Walks Out on Ethics Hearing; Sarah Palin For President?; Tea Party Wave on Capitol Hill?; Republican Political Figures Back Earmark Ban For New Congress; New Tea Party Backed Congress Members Claim To Want To Cut Government Spending; New Michael Jackson Single Released; Man Video Records Confrontation With Tsa At Airport Security Checkpoint; Sarah Palin's Reality TV Show Premiers
Aired November 15, 2010 - 15:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: A mother, her two kids and a friend go missing. Then police find the little girl bound and gagged in a basement. And now crews are zeroing in on a specific location to try to find the others. That mystery is unraveling.
I'm Brooke Baldwin. The story in 60 seconds.
Full-body pat-downs, scanners that see through your clothes. What happened when this passenger said, no way? And did he plan this caught-on-camera moment. You will find out when he joins me live.
REP. CHARLES RANGEL (D), NEW YORK: I respectfully remove myself.
BALDWIN: Embattled Congressman Charlie Rangel walks out of his ethics hearing. What's next, as the case rolls on without him?
"Sarah Palin's Alaska" features pristine lakes, towering mountains and breathtaking views. Her new run at reality TV times pretty well with presidential politics. See if it's a hit.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BALDWIN: All right. Here we go, two major developing stories this hour, and we're going to get through all of the breaking news here.
First, we have Republican Mitch McConnell, Senate minority leader. There he was on the floor. He has just announced he will support a ban on earmarks for the next session of Congress. Our question we're asking is, is that move indicative of a Tea Party-induced wave of change on Capitol Hill?
Also right now, the search is under way for survivors of that building collapse in India. And that is where we want to begin. We have breaking news in a rescue emergency situation unfolding now in India. And that is where this multistory residential building crumbled into basically a pile of debris just about six hours ago.
You see her there. Sara Sidner in New Delhi with the latest on the casualties, the injuries here, and what rescuers are saying about what exactly happened.
Sara, what's the latest?
SARA SIDNER, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: The latest is that Delhi's chief minister is saying the scale of this tragedy is unprecedented in Delhi's recent history.
We're now hearing from authorities that 32 people have been killed in this building collapse, a five-story building flattened on the banks near the Yamuna River here in New Delhi. We're also hearing that there are still what they believe is somewhere around two dozen people who are still trapped.
Now, this happened around 8:15 India time in the evening. And it's now been five hours, and the rescue is still going fast and furious. There are up to 300 rescue crews who are now on the scene, the chief minister saying that there are concerns that this building may have been weakened by very heavy monsoon rains and also concern that it was an unauthorized building, which means that it was not up to code, a lot of concern that the rains may have softened this building and then created this collapse.
But a lot of people right now very concerned about family members who are still trapped inside the rubble -- Brooke.
BALDWIN: Sara, let me follow up on that. You mentioned the building that perhaps was not up to code. What more do we know about the building? How tall was the building? What kinds of building was this? And, secondly, you mentioned two dozen trapped here, so obviously a rescue mission very much so under way.
How hopeful are some of these officials that they will get these men and women and possibly children out?
SIDNER: Right now, they're just making sure that they are slowly getting through this building. They have heavy machinery out there. The national disaster relief forces have been deployed to the area as well, who are familiar with trying to get people out of situations like this, so they're hopeful that they can save more people.
Forty people were rescued and have been taken to the hospital, but we still know about 20 to 24 people are believed to be inside this building. As far as this building, five-story building, residential building, a lot of people inside, families. This is in a middle-class neighborhood here in New Delhi. So there's a lot of concern.
And, of course, the authorities are saying, look, our hearts go out to the families who have lost loved ones, but our mission right now is not to find who is at fault here, our mission right now, to try to rescue those people who need the most help at this point -- Brooke.
BALDWIN: Of course, our hearts go out to the people, the family members who are seen digging through some of the rubble.
Sara Sidner, stay on the story. And as soon as you get more information, more on those two dozen trapped people, please let us know.
Now take a look at this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RANGEL: Since I don't have counsel to advise me, I'm going to have to excuse myself from these proceedings.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: Excusing himself from the proceedings today. Did you watch that? Didn't exactly take so long for fireworks. Congressman Charlie Rangel tried and failed to shut down his potentially embarrassing ethics hearing. We will tell you what happened next.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I turned to him. I looked him in the eye and I said, if you touch my junk, I will have you arrested.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: Well, those words triggered a confrontation with the TSA and turned him into a folk hero for some frustrated fliers. So, why did he resist and what would you have done? We will be talking with him live in the NEWSROOM.
Stay there.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: Welcome back to the NEWSROOM.
All right, at this hour, the House ethics trial of Congressman Charlie Rangel is in recess on Capitol Hill. You see a live picture. It's an empty room. They're in recess. But a trial here of a standing House member is extremely rare. And there he is. Democrat Rangel has dropped a bomb already.
This morning, he walked out. Now, Rangel is claiming he cannot afford to keep paying lawyers and needs more time to form a legal defense fund. Well, here he is, New York's Charlie Rangel. He's served nearly a century (sic) in the House of Representatives.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RANGEL: My reputation, 50 years of public service, has to suffer because this committee has concluded that you must conclude this matter before this Congress ends.
And all I'm asking for is time to get counsel, time to get counsel. And you're saying now, I think, that you denied it before and you're denying it now.
REP. ZOE LOFGREN (D), CALIFORNIA: I gather that you do not object to the admission of the evidence that has been proffered by committee counsel...
RANGEL: Well, I..
LOFGREN: ... and, therefore, the admission...
(CROSSTALK)
RANGEL: I object to the proceeding. And I -- with all due respect, since I don't have counsel to advise me, I'm going to have to excuse myself from these proceedings, because I have no idea what this man has put together over two years that was given to me last week.
And I just hope that the history of this committee in terms of fairness will be judged for what it is.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: Half-a-century, half-a-century. He did not serve for almost a century. The guy would be pretty old by now.
Anyway, Congressman Rangel took his leave, and the Ethics Committee huddled to consider delaying the trial, as Rangel appeared to request. Now, the decision, no delay. So, the trial continues this hour -- as we mentioned, they're in recess right now -- without Charlie Rangel.
So, Rangel faces 13 allegations, including failure to pay taxes on a home in the Caribbean and misuse of a rent-controlled apartment. Interesting note here. The chief prosecutor said today at the trial that, based on the evidence, Rangel isn't corrupt, not corrupt, but negligent.
We will bring you more on the story a little later live from the Hill.
Also, did you watch last night? Here it is, Sarah Palin's reality show. It has officially aired one episode, and there are already reports the mama grizzly violated wildlife guidelines. What? We're going to get all the details. That's coming up in trending.
Also, the Tea Party-backed freshmen in Congress want to crack down on earmarks. And today they're joined by a senior statesman, Mitch McConnell making news here just within the last hour or so.
So, we're all over it, as is of course Jessica Yellin, taking a closer look at seeing what this means in D.C. and beyond. That is next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: Got a developing story for you out of Washington. So, within the past hour, the incoming Tea Party freshmen appear to have scored a very, very big victory.
I want you to first listen here to Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, who spoke just a short time ago on the floor of the U.S. Senate. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL (R-KY), MINORITY LEADER: This is no small thing. Old habits aren't easy to break, but, sometimes, they must be. And now is such a time.
With a $14 trillion debt and an administration that talks about cost- cutting, but then sends over a budget that triples the national debt in 10 years and creates a massive new entitlement program, it's time for some of us in Washington to show that -- in every way possible, that we mean what we say about spending.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: So, Mitch McConnell essentially is saying that he will cast a vote tomorrow to impose a moratorium on earmarks. And this is no small thing because McConnell has been a powerful defender of congressional earmarks. Perhaps that's what he meant by old habits.
We will talk to Jessica Yellin about this. She's our national political correspondent.
And, Jessica, just explain here, big picture, what just happened on the floor?
JESSICA YELLIN, CNN NATIONAL POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: So what happened here, Brooke, is that the Tea Party, as you say, scored a victory, but a very, very meaningful one to them, because I have been talking to Tea Party activists for the last few months, as you know.
And last week, what they were telling me was ,we are going to ask Republicans in the leadership to make it clear they will ban earmarks, which they see as very bad. Tea Party activists see them as very bad. And, if they don't, we will turn on them, essentially. Effectively, they said they will go to war with their own party if the leadership doesn't bow to this and agree to this.
Now, the leadership has not been on board fully until now. Mitch McConnell made it clear that he's on board. And, basically, I mean, he's caved. And it's a big win for this party -- for the activists within their own party.
BALDWIN: And before we move forward, I think, just for the sake of everyone watching and listening, if we can just be all -- all on the same page, Jessica Yellin, Ms. Harvard, what exactly...
(LAUGHTER)
BALDWIN: ... is an earmark?
YELLIN: Oh, I'm so glad you asked.
(LAUGHTER)
YELLIN: This is what's so interesting. So, the -- so, an earmark, just the basics, it is when a member of Congress puts into a bill spending that is specifically for a hometown project.
Now, we always focus -- you always hear about the bad stuff, you know, some silly bridge to nowhere or studying how monkeys mate, right?
BALDWIN: Right.
YELLIN: But this also can be stuff that residents, citizens, business owners like. For example, if you live in a small town, and you're -- you're growing, and you need a new runway at your airport or -- or another lane on your bridge, a bigger bridge, those are the sorts of spending sometimes you send members to Washington to bring home.
So, they're not always bad. But, right now, they're seen as bad because, too often, we hear about the time when it seems corrupt, it seems silly. And, bottom line, Brooke, it's only three-tenths of 1 percent of the bunt. So, eliminating earmarks is going to make just a tiny little drop in the bucket. It's symbolic.
BALDWIN: Got it.
YELLIN: It means something symbolically.
BALDWIN: Got it. Got it.
And, also, we will be watching for that vote tomorrow. But, also, speaking of Mitch McConnell, it's just kind of interesting. We saw McConnell posing with some Senate freshmen this morning. And he flat- out, you know, refused to answer when he was asked about his position on earmarks vs. that of the freshmen.
So, he wouldn't even touch it earlier today. Jessica, let's -- let's listen very close here.
Here...
YELLIN: OK.
BALDWIN: Here was the moment earlier today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE) earmarks, sir (OFF-MIKE) number of these members passionately opposed to them. You support earmarks. Will you try to convince them?
(CROSSTALK)
QUESTION: ... be able to convince them not to (OFF-MIKE) earmarks?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: Bueller? Nothing, right? No answer from Mitch McConnell, just kind of what you saw, his hand sort of wave. But, as we showed you, he came out loud and clear just a short time ago.
So, he's now very much so in favor of this moratorium on congressional earmarks. So, Jessica, this Republican civil war was brewing over earmarks. Is it perhaps over now?
YELLIN: No, I wouldn't say it's over. This was a first test.
So, what the activists have been telling me is, we will pressure the members to vote on this. Now, first of all, this is a voluntary ban by Republicans on earmarks. It does not mean that it becomes an actual ban. In the Senate, Democrats are still in control. And so far there's no indication that the Democrats will follow suit.
Second of all, it was a first test. So, there will be other hurdles on taxes, on spending. I mean, it was the Republican Party that backed the prescription drug benefit, which is a huge piece of the budget as well now. Will they back down on something like that? Who knows where these spending cuts will come.
There will be one battle after another from Tea Party...
BALDWIN: Hmm.
YELLIN: ... within the Republican Party. Brooke, this is just the beginning.
BALDWIN: Yes. This is the first test. This is the beginning of the narrative, but it is what makes politics so very fascinating.
Jessica Yellin...
YELLIN: Yes.
BALDWIN: ... good to see you. Thank you.
YELLIN: Good to see you.
BALDWIN: Dozens of cars, icy roads, a recipe for disaster. This is a monster pileup. That is next in our top stories.
Also, the British couple -- You remember this? -- the British couple freed by Somali pirates over the weekend had to cut their celebration short. We're going to tell you about the tragic news they faced shortly after their release.
Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: We have all kinds of developments -- developments in that case in the missing family in Ohio.
Remember, we first talked about this story, this bizarre -- a bizarre really mystery this past Friday. Well, it got even stranger over the weekend with the rescue of a teenage girl. And right now there is a massive search of ponds in a former gravel quarry that's now apparently some sort of public park.
I'm going to go there in just a moment here, but, first, I want to back up and just set it up for you. You have Tina Hermann, her 13- year-old daughter, Sarah Maynard, her 10-year-old son, Kody Maynard, and a friend, Stephanie Sprang. They just -- poof -- they vanished midweek last week.
So, the investigation actually began when Hermann didn't show up to work at the local dairy queen. A co-worker went by her house to check on her, looked in the windows, saw blood.
So, that night, Hermann's pickup was found abandoned some seven miles away. Now, over the weekend, SWAT teams came in. They raided a home in another town. And that is where they found that 13-year-old daughter, Sarah Maynard. They found her gagged and tied up in this basement of the home.
Now, police then arrested this man. Here he is. This is 30-year-old Matthew Hoffman, who owns that house where the little girl was found. And neighbors say -- their word is that he is strange, to say the least.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CAMMIE KENT, NEIGHBOR: They found that girl, like, tied in the basement. Who would do that to a kid? I mean, she's only 13. That's really sad, really sick.
DONNA DAVIS, NEIGHBOR: He is a weirdo. I mean, he -- he really was a weirdo. Like, he sat in the trees. If you look back here in the tree, there's a hammock where he would sit and watch people. He's just different.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: He's different, she says. She also went on to say that Hoffman made her so uncomfortable sitting in the trees perhaps that she wouldn't let her kids go outside when he was in his yard.
Now, Sarah Maynard, the daughter that was found, she is OK. She is with relatives right now, but there is still no sign of his -- her mother, her brother, the family friend.
And that brings us on track here to the investigation. The local sheriff held a news conference just minutes ago. We have turned the sound around for you. Listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAVID BARBER, KNOX COUNTY, OHIO, SHERIFF: We still would -- would like to remain a hopeful attitude, but we have to remain realistic, that the -- the amount of blood, the fact that -- that Sarah was found with one person, with the suspect, no one else was found there, and we haven't -- no one has apparently heard or seen anything out of Tina, Kody, or Stephanie since then, and that's why we're encouraging the public that, if they have had some contact, they -- even as late as last Thursday, to please let us know.
(CROSSTALK)
QUESTION: Do you know any reason...
(CROSSTALK)
QUESTION: The last time that Sarah saw the other three individuals, you said, was last Wednesday. Was the last place she saw them at her home? Was it where the car was recovered? Where was the last place that she saw them to help try to pinpoint for a lot of people paying attention to the story in this community.
BARBER: Partly at -- for the most part at the home on King Beach Drive.
QUESTION: For the most part. (OFF-MIKE)
BARBER: She may not have seen Stephanie until like the -- the day before. But her -- her brother and her -- her mother were -- the last time she saw them were at home.
(CROSSTALK)
QUESTION: Sir, what about the evidence found in the park? Apparently, there was a report that there was blood on the evidence, but it didn't match to any of the victims? Is that right?
BARBER: I can't discuss evidence or any scientific testing.
QUESTION: Do you believe that Hoffman had contact with them, the other three individuals?
BARBER: I'm not going to speculate on what Matthew Hoffman did or did not do. I'm just following the investigation and where it leads us.
Go ahead.
QUESTION: Was this a home invasion?
BARBER: No, I don't believe so.
QUESTION: Is the search confined only locally or is there reason to possibly expand it out of state or elsewhere?
BARBER: At this time, there's no -- no reason to believe that the three missing victims are outside of the geographic -- geographical area of Knox County.
QUESTION: Is there another person of interest besides Hoffman at this (OFF-MIKE) that you've identified?
BARBER: Not at this time.
(CROSSTALK)
QUESTION: Do you think there will be another suspect, or is there a possibility of other suspects, or are you pretty much narrowed in on him?
BARBER: Not at this time. There is -- there is nothing to indicate an accomplice. But the investigation is -- is still progressing. QUESTION: Did he appear in court today?
BARBER: He did not.
(CROSSTALK)
QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE) condition right now, Sarah's health and condition?
BARBER: It's my understanding that, physically, she's -- she's fine. Obviously, she has been through a lot, and she is going to be receiving, you know, that kind of support and those kind of services.
(CROSSTALK)
QUESTION: Have you been able to talk to her to get any information?
BARBER: Investigators have -- have talked to her, sure.
QUESTION: Without revealing details about specifics about what they say (OFF-MIKE) compromise that (OFF-MIKE) try to find these other three individuals, what did she tell you about the first time she came in contact with this man, where that took place, how it occurred, what happened...
(CROSSTALK)
BARBER: For investigative purposes, I can't discuss statements made by her.
(CROSSTALK)
QUESTION: Is it inside the home, outside the home?
BARBER: Where did what happen?
QUESTION: Where did she first see this man Matthew Hoffman?
BARBER: Inside the house.
QUESTION: Inside the house? And, at the time, she was with her mom and her brother?
BARBER: Everyone was at home.
QUESTION: So, Stephanie was also in the house at that time?
BARBER: That, I'm unsure of.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: You can hear those reporters are asking that sheriff all kinds of questions, trying to get more information about Sarah and perhaps how she met that man. He won't give that information up, doesn't want to compromise the investigation. But what he is saying is how much he -- he admires Sarah Maynard, that young daughter that was found in that basement. In fact, listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARBER: She is a very brave, very brave little girl. I have not met her in person yet. My investigators have -- have talked to her. I'm looking for the day -- or looking forward to the day that I get to meet Sarah Maynard, because, not only is she assisting the investigation, but under the circumstances, a 13-year-old girl being held captive for four days by a total stranger, I would call her the epitome of bravery.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: "The epitome of bravery."
Also, though, there are still three missing people. We're keeping a close eye on that search, that mystery unraveling right now in Ohio. As soon as we get more information, we will bring that to you here on CNN.
Some other big stories we're following for you, including, yikes, take a look at this, some serious weather-related stories. This huge pileup on I -- this is an interstate south of Denver, Colorado. The fire chief says there was some kind of black ice there on the road. The drivers just lost control. Look at that, the snow still coming down. Twelve people in fact were taken to the hospital. Traffic was tied up for hours.
Now to Minnesota, where people are cleaning up after a big snowstorm there. Parts of the state got about 12 inches over the weekend. About 60,000 people lost power in the Twin Cities. The state patrol says they responded to more than 400 crashes on Saturday.
Look at this. Where are we, mid-November? I guess it wasn't all too bad, though. Some folks had fun building a snowman. There it is, not too shabby. The weather is supposed to be better, we're hearing, this week.
Now to China. And I want you to take a close look at this with me, unbelievable pictures, as a fire rips through a high-rise building. This is Shanghai. The country state-run media tells us at least 42 people died. One of our iReporters sent us this footage. The high- rise is under renovation. Witnesses say some sort of scaffolding caught fire.
Flames, as you see, spread throughout the whole building. Look, just flames after flames, floor after floor. The fire is still under investigation. Crews rescued more than a hundred people there.
And a Texas company -- heads up if you like turkey -- recalling some packaged turkey because it could be contaminated with a bacteria that can cause listeriosis. That is a potentially fatal disease, so you need to listen up here. That is -- here is what New Braunfels Smokehouse is recalling. They're recalling one-pound package of Smokehouse sliced smoked turkey.
You can see the package codes. Read this with me here. Here are the package codes you need to look for on the package. You have four-to six-pound packages of honey-glazed spiral sliced smokehouse hickory, smoked boneless breast of turkey, four- to six-pound whole breast packages of Stegall boneless hickory smoked turkey breast, and four to six-pound whole breast package of Stegall spiral sliced hickory smoked turkey breast.
I know that was a mouthful for me.
(LAUGHTER)
BALDWIN: So, if you missed that, we're putting it on the Internet -- Internet for you. Go to CNN.com.
So, how does a bull celebrate bucking its rider? Look at this -- with a surprise leap into the crowd. Get your baby out of the way. That's ahead.
Up next, though, they have won the election. Now what? Dana Bash shows us how congressional freshmen plan to make the transition from campaigning to governing. Stay there.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: Big day in Washington. Newly elected members of the House arrived in D.C. today for orientation. And one of those members is South Carolina's Tim Scott. Scott was backed by the South Carolina Tea Party movement and he ran a campaign against the president's health care reform and against the "e" word we're mentioning a lot, earmarks.
I want you to take a listen to part of one of his ads from the campaign.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. TIM SCOTT, (R) SOUTH CAROLINA CONGRESSMAN-ELECT: We hear people talking all the time we need more earmarks. Hogwash -- we don't need more earmarks. What we need is courage, backbone, and commonsense.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: That was Scott championing a basic Tea Party movement issue, getting rid of those earmarks. Scott is now a member of the House Republican transition team. I want you to listen to what he told CNN's Dana Bash.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SCOTT: We have to make sure that we set the expectations for what we're going to be able to accomplish, realizing that we have a bifurcated system where we have the Republicans holding one House and the Democrats in the White House controlling the party.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: Senior Congressional correspondent Dana Bash joins me from D.C. where I know you have the running shoes on again. I can see you get them on as they're arriving. Dana, to the American people, this sounds a little bit like a group trying to manage their expectations, going from campaign and all this rhetoric on the trail now to work.
DANA BASH, SENIOR CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It really is a healthy combination of both, Brooke. It's fascinating. I have talked to so many of these newly elected members of Congress as they try to make their way around here and figure out basics, like where's the rest room.
But some of them definitely are sounding like Tim Scott, saying it's really great that we have this huge power now in the house and that they have not only the majority but big numbers when it comes to the majority.
But they're trying to manage expectations in saying we have the house, we don't have the Senate. We don't have the White House. Everybody take a deep breath, because they know full well that they could be swept out as quickly as they were swept in because it just happened two years ago for the party.
At the same time, I've heard from many, many of these new members that they're not managing expectations. They're saying we get it, we hear loud and clear from our voters that they want us to do something very quickly, and we're going to do whatever it takes to do that fast.
BALDWIN: I want to talk to you about another Tea Party backed congressman elect. You have South Carolina's Geoff Duncan. I know you talked about him. I thought this was fascinating. He said voters have given conservative Republicans a mandate. Here's what he said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEFF DUNCAN, (R) SOUTH CAROLINA CONGRESSMAN-ELECT: He was a Tea Party endorsed candidate, and so they've gotten behind conservative Republicans and they expect us to govern differently. And if they don't, if we don't, then you may see the rise of an independent third party but I think they're going to give us a chance.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: Talk to me about that, Dana. There you were with the microphone. That jumped out at me on the ticker that he's eluding to this rise possibly of an independent third party.
BASH: Exactly. He's in the camp of the people saying we don't have a lot of time. We have to do this, because he knows full well, because he considers himself a Tea Party patriot, one aspect of the Tea Party movement. He says I know because I'm a member and got elected by these people. There isn't a lot of time to do this.
That's why you already see mingling in the hallways. As they meet one another, many for the first time who have shared principles and campaign promises they're saying we have to do this in a very, very fast way and they're already publicly and privately putting pressure on the Republican leadership who most have been here for a while to do that.
BALDWIN: Dana Bash, we appreciate you hustling through those hallways as always. Thank you, thank you.
I want to move one camera down from you, because newly elected members of the House arrived in Washington today, as Dana mentioned, for orientation. One of the freshman Republican is Randy Hultgren. He was a traditionally center-right Republican seat, home state of Illinois, took it from the Democrat in the president's home state -- important to include that.
Congressman-elect, thank you for joining me. And if I may, I want to pick up on a bit of -- we'll go with developing news this afternoon, the fact we're hearing from Republican Mitch McConnell, the Senate minority leader, who has typically backed the concept of earmarks, just announcing he's going to support the ban, support the vote on a moratorium for earmarks next session of Congress.
I'm just curious -- big picture for you sir. Do you see this perhaps as more of an established Republican congressman-elect, do you see this as a win for the Tea Party and might this also be indicative of a bigger change in Washington this session?
RANDY HULTGREN, (R) ILLINOIS CONGRESSMAN-ELECT: I think it's a win for the people I represent. People want accountable government and responsible spending out here. Earmarks -- both parties were involved in that and flew in the face of that. I think it's a win for the American people to say it's time to get rid of this. It's a disservice. It's not the right way to do this. We need an open process.
BALDWIN: Do you see it as a win for the Tea Party?
HULTGREN: Yes, I think it's a win for them and the independents getting involved. I think it's across the board it's a good move. It's reestablishing that confidence back in Congress that we can do things in an open way representing the people that have sent us here and we're hearing that voice loud and clear.
BALDWIN: You campaigned on the belief just talking economy because that was issue number one throughout this campaign. You campaigned on the belief that Congress made a bad situation worse. We can look at the Wall Street bailout bill, economic stimulus package. I'm just curious as you move forward starting in January, what will you do to try to turn our economy around?
HULTGREN: Well, it is the most important issue we've dealt with all over my district. People are struggling. Families are struggling. They had to tighten their belt. We need to tighten ours as well.
So we need to take stems in Washington to have a budget in place. It was offensive to people for the first time in 36 years we didn't have a budget here in Washington, D.C. That's got to change. We've got to make sure we have a real budget that we can live within.
And we also have to bring some certainty back to job creators, knowing that their taxes are going to go up, and they'll know what health care is going to cost them. There's so much uncertainty right now that it's paralyzing job creators and making it so we can't get this economy can't get turned around again.
BALDWIN: With all of this spending, spending, spending, how would you cut programs some of the deficit spending? What would you cut?
HULTGREN: There's been talk going back to a 2008 budgeting level. I think that would make sense. Certainly everyone knows there's waste in government. That's clear and obvious when you talk to citizens around the country.
So we can make some cuts. The key is getting the economy going again. I served in the Illinois legislature and I saw the best times we had when we had natural revenue growth was when the economy was growing. We need that to happen once again in America.
As the economy grows and we have responsible spending tightening our belt like American families have had to do, we'll see a very positive result of getting things on the right track once again.
BALDWIN: Congressman-elect Randy Hultgren, best of luck to you.
HULTGREN: Thank you, good to talk to you.
BALDWIN: Thank you, you too.
How many hits are sitting in the Michael Jackson archives? We'll find out today with the release of a new duet with Akon. That's trending. That is next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: A lot of stories trending today. What are you talking about and tweeting about? For that we go to Sandra Endo. And Ms. Endo, let's begin with the show last night. You have Sarah Palin. Some people are saying this could be like the best possible ad for her ever, or programs it could backfire. Do we know yet how the ratings were?
SANDRA ENDO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, really good, Brooke. It's very trendy today because it debuted strong with nearly five million viewers. An inside look at Sarah Palin's life at home in Alaska. The former governor's new reality show on TLC is the cable channel's number one launch in its history.
And the show is called "Sarah Palin's Alaska." And it takes us inside her home and shows us a beautiful Alaskan landscape with her family, rock climbing, fishing, near bears. Here's a little of that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SARAH PALIN, (R) FORMER ALASKA GOVERNOR: Let's get the fish before the bear gets the fish.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Roar.
PALIN: Piper, don't.
A bear is coming towards us. We're going to back up. Look at his claws, McKinley. Yes, I'm looking around to Todd, going, are you feeling what I'm feeling? It could feel we are its lunch instead of those little tiny salmon.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ENDO: But maybe a little too close for comfort because the former Republican vice presidential candidate is coming under fire for possibly violating the state's fish and game guidelines. The director for Alaska Wildlife Alliance says the Palins were too close to the bears while fishing when guidelines state you have to be more than 30 feet away. He says it sends an irresponsible message to the public.
And state officials on the other hand, though, question if the Palin family was actually really violating the guidelines. So you have a little back and forth there.
So far, though, Brooke, the show has no real talk of anything political, but it does keep Sarah Palin in the spotlight and on the radar. It humanizes her as well. But some critics could argue it may not help her look presidential.
BALDWIN: I know. We'll have to wait. We don't know what her aspirations are just yet, but we will wait and see. It's just an eight-week run, is that right?
ENDO: That's right. And she's also going on this book tour too to promote her second book. So one of those little states she'll be visiting is Iowa.
BALDWIN: Iowa.
All right, what about also making the news Prince William? He's probably so relieved it's not about the possible marriage that everyone is sort of obsessed with but the fact he made a surprise visit to Afghanistan.
ENDO: Yes. He's kind of taking on official duties, very prince-like duties. He flew to Afghanistan for a surprise visit to mark Remembrance Day to honor soldiers who have died during the war effort.
And he attended a service Sunday morning and the British military base was surprised to have him. And he laid a wreath there before heading back to London. The queen held a separate service to mark Remembrance Day as well.
BALDWIN: And then also today you have a new song for all the people who were so sad when Michael Jackson passed. There will still be much more Michael Jackson to go around apparently. In fact there's a new duet. ENDO: Yes, I'm sure you were listening to it in the newsroom, a new release by Michael Jackson. It's his first official song that's been released after his death, and it's called "Hold my Hand." It's a very cute little video here as well. And it features this guy you're looking at, Akon. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(MUSIC)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ENDO: OK, a pretty catchy tune there. It was actually recorded in 2007. And in a handwritten note released by his estate, the pop singer said he wanted this song to be his first release for his next project.
And take a look at the twitter board here. This is a tweet from Jackson's nephew. He tweeted this last night saying, ""Hold my Hand" was the last song my uncle Michael played to me in person. He was so proud of it and I'll never forget that smile he had on his face as the song played through the speakers in his room at the palms hotel in Vegas." And that's from Todd Jackson Tweeting that last night. He's anticipating it will be a hit. What do you think?
BALDWIN: I like it. I've got to admit that's the first time I heard it. It's kind of catchy.
Sandra Endo, thanks for making us hit with the trending stories of the day.
Coming up next, the pat-down confrontation that could cost one passenger $10,000. By the way, it also forced the TSA to defend its controversial body scan procedures. We'll talk all about that coming up.
Also, what happens when animals invade the supermarket? Deer have been on the loose recently. Wasn't there one in the bar last week. This one went grocery shopping. This is just one of the videos you've got to see. That is next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: Whether you hop on a lot of planes or not, you will want to pay close attention to this, because this is really just more than a public argument or angry guy at the airport. This is about your security and my security.
This is about the government's sometimes strict rules aimed at ensuring our security. And it's also about one man's impression that those rules sometimes equal a sexual assault and a violation of his rights.
And like most complex discussions, it takes a little bit of a story to set it up. So let me begin. Look at this video from a cell phone. That's why it's shaking and you're staring at a ceiling. This was recorded by a man going through airport security this past Saturday in San Diego.
John Tyner is documenting his treatment there by TSA agents, and on the video you will hear he refuses to go through one of the new full body scanners. No problem there. That is, in most cases, optional. Passengers can choose a pat-down instead.
I want you to listen what has when the TSA agent describes what he's about to do and as you listen read along as well. It's kind of hard to hear.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Also we're going to be doing a groin check. That means I'm going to place my hand on your hip, my other hand on your inner thigh, slowly go up and down. We're going to do that two times in the front and two in the back. If you would like private screening we can make that available for you also.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We can do that out here, but if you touch my junk I'm going to have you arrested.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Actually, we are going to have a supervisor here because of your statement.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: You get that? You hear that little exchange? John Tyner tells the TSA agent that if he touches him in that way perhaps inappropriately he will have the agent arrested. In that moment things change dramatically for Tyner there at airport security in San Diego.
I want you to keep in mind through this whole thing his cell phone camera is still rolling and recording all of this. So now listen. This is a TSA supervisor giving him his options.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If you are not comfortable with that, we can escort you back out and you don't have to fly today.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. I don't understand how a sexual assault can be made a condition of my flying.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is not considered a sexual assault.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It would be if you weren't the government.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is considered an administrative search and we are authorized to do it. You have submitted yourself to it by coming through the checkpoint.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If you enjoy being touched by other people, that's fine. I like only my wife and maybe my doctor to touch me there.
(END VIDEO CLIP) BALDWIN: Fast forward past more supervisors and even a local police escort comes through. John Tyner does not go through security, and he leaves the airport with his ticket refunded. He wanted to show what it's like to go through security, and check mark there. He did precisely that. It ends there.
Not so much. The video went viral. Tyner wrote about it on his blog where he fiercely is critical of other government programs, what he sees as, quote, "erosion of liberty" and a general distrust of the TSA.
So here is where you come in. Did he handle the situation properly? Is he right or wrong about airport security searches? Are they too intimate? Had he already decided to pick a fight with the TSA before he got to the airport? That's what I want to know. I'm going to ask John Tyner when he joins me live right here a little bit later in the.
But also today the Homeland Security Secretary did address his case in Washington, saying she welcomes all this conversation. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JANET NAPOLITANO, HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY: If you refuse the AIT machine all together, then you can go to a separate area for a same- gender pat-down, which is conducted as a law enforcement pat-down should be in a professional way. Again, same gender.
And if there are adjustments we need to make to these procedures as we move forward, we have an open ear and we will listen. If people want to travel by some other means, of course that's their right. Of course they have that right.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: So basically she's saying you need to follow security guidelines or find some other way to go from a to b. Like I said John Tyner will be joining me right here live here on CNN.
And I'm interested to hear your take, the stand Tyner is taking and whether you feel his argument has any weight. And if you could put yourself in his shoes, would you have done anything different had you found yourself in the same situation.
Next, two gators, one cat, who do you think comes out on top? You've got to see this. That's next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: You know, deer are not particularly dangerous animals, unless they pick a rather unlikely place to play the ultimate game of tag, you're it. You've got to see this. Two deer wreak havoc in a super market Niagara Falls. The deer, there they go. There's they used the front door.
Imagine if you're inside looking for some milk. Going through the store, there they go. Next, listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(LAUGHTER)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: Oh, my gosh, this is the ultimate duel. The fearless feline proves it's not the size of the fight in the dog but the size of the dog in the fight, or in this case, the cat. Watch closely. You've got a gator, you've got a cat. The cat is not budging, he means business. And the gator, well, there he goes. Cat got your tongue?
You think that's where it ends? Not so much. The gator, there he goes, comes back. This time he's got a friend with him, two gators. It's going to take a more than a couple of gators to frighten our furry little friend, because watch this -- claws at the gator. No match for this cat.
That is one tough kitten. The cat ultimately retreats to the little guy -- kitty, two, gator zero.
We led the hour with breaking news from Capitol Hill. We're going to check in with Wolf Blitzer when we come right back. There he is.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: Before we begin with Wolf Blitzer and the Political Ticker, I want to let you know we're waiting for two things pretty significant on Capitol Hill. The majority of the newly elected congressmen and women will officially be sworn in, in January.
But today, two men, two senators elect will be sworn in by the vice president. You have Joe Manchin, a popular governor from West Virginia will be taking over to fill the seat of the late Senator Robert Byrd, and Democrat Chris Coons, newly elected senator from the state of Delaware. So we will be watching for that ceremony to happen any minute now and we will bring it to you live when it happens.
Meantime, CNN has all your latest political news with "The Best Political Team on Television." Of course, CNN = Politics. And Wolf Blitzer is at the CNNpolitics.com desk. Wolf, we keep talking earmarks today. That is really the buzz word in Washington and beyond.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WOLF BLITZER, CNN HOST, "THE SITUATION ROOM": And it seems like the Republicans are jumping over each other to get on the anti-earmarks bandwagon. The latest, Mitt Romney, he is widely considered as a potential candidate for the Republican presidential nomination in 2012, he now says he'll support South Carolina Senator Jim DeMint's efforts to ban earmarks.
He says "Senator DeMint is courageously standing on conviction with his much needed proposal to ban earmarks, which will curb wasteful spending and restore accountability to the way Congress spending taxpayer dollars."
