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Pat-down Backlash During Travel Rush; NFL Concussion Crisis
Aired November 22, 2010 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: It is 10:00 a.m. on the East Coast, 7:00 a.m. out west. Here are some stories that have us talking right now. Icy roads in Minnesota mean a lot of spinning wheels and plenty of work for tow truck operators. Freezing rain, slick streets led to nearly 400 accidents in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. The local newspaper there actually - of course, it was so bad even that even some4 snowplows were sliding off the roads.
So should defendants in U.S. courts be able to use Islamic laws in their arguments. The federal judge is taking up that question today. Oklahoma voters approved an amendment banning the Muslim law in state courts. The Counsel on American-Islamic Relations has sued arguing that the amendment violates the constitutional guarantee of religious freedom.
And the Pope talking about condoms, showing a little leeway actually. Pope Benedict XVI says they may help in the fight against AIDS. Now, keep in mind, the Roman Catholic Church firmly opposes artificial contraception but this is the first time that the church has ever talked about an exception to the condom rule.
All right. Get ready for crowded planes, trains and automobiles this Thanksgiving holiday. AAA says more than 42 million people will travel at least 50 miles. That's an increase of more than 11 percent from last year. And many airports are already packed. Take a look at this video just shot Friday out of Chicago. The security lines rapped around the terminal.
Airport security lines now battle lines for some travelers who say they don't want to sacrifice privacy for the sake of safety. TSA is feeling major pushback on full body scans and pat-downs. And viral video like this is fueling passenger concern. A shirtless little boy getting patted down in Salt Lake City. TSA says that the little boy was searched after he set off a metal detector, and the boy's father just took his shirt off to move the family through security a lot faster.
Then there was Detroit, earlier this month, a retired special education teacher and a bladder cancer survivor says that his urostomy bag broke during a pat-down. He told CNN's AMERICAN MORNING that he believes that poor training is the root of the problem.
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TOM SAWYER, RETIRED SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER: I don't think he was trained to deal with me. As I reflect back on it now, I think maybe he was in as much shock to what he had done than I was, and that's why he didn't respond at all. He didn't apologize, didn't offer me help. I don't think he was trained for - he didn't know what a urostomy was. These people need to be trained on medical conditions, and emotional conditions of some patients.
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PHILLIPS: Mr. Sawyer says that he plans to file a formal complaint. And the TSA promises to review the incident. Now the TSA points out that millions of Americans fly every day and that the number of complaints is actually low, but a lot of people will be facing the new security measures for the very first time this week as the holiday travel rush kicks into high gear.
Kate Bolduan takes a look now at the TSA facts, the fiction and the frustration.
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KATE BOLDUAN, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Kyle Whitney could hop on a plane and be home for the holidays in just one hour, but this season he's opting for what he considers the hassle- free option, a seven-hour train ride to avoid new airport security measures.
KYLE WHITNEY: I don't like the practices that I have seen, and it's just one more reason not to go through with the ordeal of flying.
BOLDUAN: The new measures from the Transportation Security Administration have set off a wave of criticism and frustration among passengers. Shown here in photos from denverpost.com, are the pat- downs some call extreme and there's also the revealing full-body scanner machines. So what can air travelers expect this holiday season?
Most will walk through metal detectors. Only 69 airports in the country, about 12 percent, have full-body scanners. For those who do go through full-body scanners, the TSA says they're safe. The exposure to radiation is less than you'd receive in two minutes of flight, and passengers will only receive the enhanced pat-down if they refuse the full-body scanner, set off the scanners alarm, set off the metal detectors' alarm or are randomly selected.
The TSA says children under 12, who required extra screening will receive a "modified" patdown. TSA administrator John Pistole told CNN's Candy Crowley, the challenge is finding a balance between passenger's privacy and doing their job to keep those passengers safe.
JOHN PISTOLE, TSA ADMINISTRATOR: Clearly, if we are to detect terrorists who have, again, proven innovative and creative in their design and implementation of bombs that are going to blow up airplanes and kill people then we have to do something that prevents that.
BOLDUAN (on camera): Despite the controversy, Pistole says the procedures are staying in place for now despite the controversy.
Kate Bolduan, CNN, Washington.
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PHILLIPS: Now to a developing story out of eastern Utah where we are closely following this manhunt for a person of interest in the shooting of a state park ranger. It has entered its fourth day now. The sheriff of Grand County identifying him as 40-year-old Lance Leroy Arellano (ph). His car was found where park ranger Brody Young was hit three times in a gun battle with the motorist that he had pulled over.
Well, law enforcement has been combing the rugged terrain around Moab ever since then. They haven't found Arellano but they have found a rifle and blood-soaked t-shirt. Arellano is considered armed and dangerous, and an impending storm could impact the on-going search, possibly for Arellano to come forward to get out of the cold. We'll keep you posted.
Winter is making harsh early appearance in parts of the country. Take a look at this. Salt Lake City, traffic wasn't moving much yesterday because of the heavy snow. Roads remain closed today, and sort of same story in Minnesota. But even worse, icy roads are the problem there. The state patrol reporting hundreds of accidents including a fatal one. Then in California, it's pretty good weather for skiers but not for tractor trailers. The Sierra Nevada mountains got up to two feet of snow. Rob Marciano watching it all for us. Hey, Rob.
ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Hey, how about that? Great news for skiers but at some point, you got to turn off the spigot if you want to get where you need to go, right? That's going to be the problem I think today and then going through Tuesday, much of this week. We got a couple storms that are rolling across the northern tier. Most of which affect the Great Lakes back to the west, and the one that's dropping down now across the Pacific Northwest has unusually cold weather with it, and it's going to have a tremendous amount of wind energy with it as well.
So in some cases we'll see blizzard conditions across the inner mountain west, come Tuesday and Wednesday. As far as what's going on right now. We have some travel issues already. In D.C. and in Philadelphia, we got some delays because of low ceilings and also a fog. In Chicago and Milwaukee, we have issues because of thunderstorms that are rolling through those areas.
And, there we go. In Chicago, there's your thunderstorms that are rolling through Lake Michigan now and about to get into say South Bend and then back through Minneapolis. We are looking at - we're working a little slow today. Come on, come. Wake up, wall. We got pink on the map, which means we got a little freezing airdropping across parts of Minneapolis and St. Paul and there are freezing rain advisories out for this area through tonight.
This is the second of three snow and ice situations that are going to roll through Minneapolis. The next one will come on Wednesday and in through Thursday. This one is not going to drop a tremendous amount as far as taking down power lines but make the roads slick. We had hundreds of accidents over the weekend across parts of Minnesota. We'll see accidents again today because it's just going to be slow.
Here you go, another 10 to 18 inches potentially across the Sierras and another potentially one to three feet potentially across Wasatch of Utah and the Colorado Rockies has the next system drives down into the inner mountain west. Again, great news for all the skiers. The ski resorts if they haven't opened are opening just in for the holidays, but it's going to be tough to get to grandma's house in some spots. We'll keep you posted throughout the week. Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Thanks, Rob.
North Korea appears to be at it again with its suspicious nuclear program. A Stanford University professor who visited the new uranium enrichment facility there says that North Korea's nuclear program is way beyond what anyone had imagined. The professor says about 2,000 centrifuges at the facility could be readily converted to produce enriched uranium bomb fuel. Joint Chiefs Chair Admiral Mike Mullen says that the development raises concerns and shows North Korea is "a very dangerous country."
Well, the Back Street Boys, the New Kids on the Block together on the same stage. A must-see moment from the "American Music Awards," coming up next.
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PHILLIPS: Well, Bieber fever ruled the "American Music Awards" last night. The 16-year-old star dominated that award show and took home more statues than any other. A.J. Hammer actually hooked up with him backstage. We are talking about that now. Of course, from "Showbiz Tonight," A.J., so how does he come across in person? What did you think?
A.J. HAMMER, HOST "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT": He's a nice guy. He has this wisdom beyond his years to be sure. Make no mistake about it, Kyra. It was a bieber-ific night at "American Music Awards." That's really the only way to put it because this was just Bieber's first ever AMAs and boy did he cleaned up. He also performed and did really well. It got a standing ovation from performing "Pray." And he took home four awards - he got Artist of the Year, Favorite Pop Album, Breakthrough Artist and Favorite Male Pop Artist. You really can't do much better than that.
Of course, "Showbiz Tonight" was right there backstage and we did catch up with Justin just after his big win.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JUSTIN BIEBER, MUSICIAN: I like to stay calm and collected but inside I'm like, I can't believe what's happening. It's been an amazing night for me. I'm just going to go party and have fun and stuff.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: See, he's remaining humble but he's still remaining a kid, which I really like. It was teen guys with good hair like Justin and some formerly teen guys with good hair. That's sort of the theme for the show last night. The '90s boy bands, New Kids on the Block and Back Street Boys really brought down the house with this big joint finale that they did.
Just before they went on stage, the nine guys tell "Showbiz Tonight" how excited they are to be joining forces for a brand new tour next summer. I know when word of this tour got out, Kyra, a lot of people are saying, "what the heck is it going to be like" And if this performance was a any preview, and I guess it really was. It's kind of a mash-up of their songs, it's going to be a pretty cool tour to see and I think a lot of people are pretty excited about it.
PHILLIPS: Talk about hair. These are guys that are our age, A.J. it's a good thing they still have their hair.
HAMMER: Hey, hey, come on, come on. It was interesting, I was thinking about it last night when they were performing, it was more than 20 years ago when the New Kids had their first hits.
PHILLIPS: I know. We should through Menudo into the group and we got all of the young hot boy bands from our time, A.J.. Well, did you get a chance to see the new "Harry Potter"? How did it do this weekend?
HAMMER: I haven't contributed but they didn't really miss me at the box office. You did pretty well, "Harry Potter" and the audience as big as ever. In fact, the audience loves their midnight shows still. Everybody coming out in full force, sold out all weekend long. "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows, part one, took in 125.1 million bucks at the domestic box office and $205 million from nearly every major foreign markets according to an estimate from his distributor Warner Brothers. That puts among the two biggest movie openings of this year.
And the other one the "Twilight" saga "Eclipse." Now, when you account for ticket price inflation. The box office numbers are pretty close to what "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" day when it opened back in 2005. The big one in the franchise, the one to beat is 2001, "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," that's the first movie in the series is still the first box office performance of all of them, $975 million, total worldwide, but I do look forward to seeing this. It's sort of a tradition that I get to go with my niece or my niece and nephew, and I haven't had an opportunity yet. And I have a feeling they're going to see it before I can grab them and see it.
PHILLIPS: Uncle A.J., you're such a good guy. Thanks so much. See you tomorrow.
A.J. doesn't like to get mushy. But I can brag about him. Well, If you want information on everything breaking in the entertainment world, you can watch A.J., every night. "Showbiz Tonight" 5:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. on HLN.
Still ahead former NFL star quarterback Kurt Warner talking about one of most debated topics in the NFL right now.
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KURT WARNER, FMR. NFL QUATERBACK: I think for a long time it was felt like, well, if you didn't get up dizzy or with no memory, you didn't really suffer a concussion.
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PHILLIPS: His candid conversation with Dr. Sanjay Gupta, next.
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PHILLIPS: Well, just yesterday we saw another Sunday of NFL football and another violent hit. Hits to the head responsible for one of the league's most notorious injuries, concussions.
Chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta taking a closer look at the dangerous trend.
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, they will tell you there is this paradox. They acknowledge it. That people watch the game and in part because they want to see the big hits but they also cringe because of them.
Case in point, last night, take a look at this. Ellis Hobbs, the Eagles running it up there, helmet-to-helmet hit there. He was laying down in the field for about 10 minuets after that. Just last night about 100 of these sort of concussions a year. What's unsettling when you watch these hits and what is happening to the brain.
We know more about this than ever before, and we also know that after a first concussion, the brain is much more likely to actually be subjected to a second concussion. So this is the big concern here. What's also unsettlingly unsettling is that there is a persistent ignorance about just how to treat players who have concussions. I did speak to former quarterback and Super Bowl MVP Kurt Warner, specifically about this issue and about his personal story as well. Here's what he told me.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Snap, blitz coming. Warner steps up.
GUPTA (voice-over): It's a chilling moment in football.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And Kurt Warner is hurt. Warner is down.
GUPTA: A player is hit and does not get up.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Kurt Warner is on his back.
GUPTA: January 16th, 2010, former NFL quarterback Kurt Warner was that player. He got up, and later he returned to the game. Do you feel like now in retrospect you every stayed in the game or were sort of pushed to stay in the game when you shouldn't have?
KURT WARNER, FORMER NFL QUARTERBACK: Yes. There's no question that's happened. A lot of guys when they get those hits or those concussions, they think, "OK, I'm going to play through it here for the short-term and it's going to get better."
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He was just lifted up and deposited -
GUPTA (voice-over): Playing through it is part of football says Warner. A big part.
WARNER: Probably 100 percent of the guys that played my sport in the NFL have been there. And I think for a long time it was felt like, well, if you didn't get up dizzy or with no memory, then you really didn't suffer a concussion.
GUPTA (on camera): What does a concussion feel like?
WARNER: It's like a mental fogginess where you almost feel like you're separated from the situation. You're in it, but you're kind of looking at it from the outside looking in.
GUPTA (voice-over): According to the NFL, there are more than 100 documented concussions every season. After a big hit, doctors on the sidelines test players for signs of concussion, memory problems, confusion, dizziness. But there is no definitive answer to the most important question, who should continue playing and who should come out of the game?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How many of you have - by show of hands - had a concussion?
GUPTA: Kevin (INAUDIBLE), formerly a Pittsburgh Steelers trainer studies concussions impact on the brain in high school players.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is showing moderate levels of atrophy.
GUPTA: And retired NFL athletes.
In his study, players with three or more concussions get MRIs.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm going to say three words.
GUPTA: And memory tests.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Apple, penny, table.
Now you say those.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Apple, penny, table.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Good. What were those three words I asked you to remember earlier?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't remember. Penny - that's all I remember.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK.
GUPTA: Memory problems are not the only thing they are finding.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The brain has shrunk.
GUPTA: Concussions may be shrinking memory and learning centers in the brain, thwarting its ability to transmit signals.
(on camera): Did you retire because of concussions?
WARNER: No, not because of concussions. But there's no question, you know, as I contemplated the big picture. And, you know, thought about life after football, do I want to put myself at risk for another concussion? Or for a worse concussion?
GUPTA (voice-over): Many players, of course, decide to play through it.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GUPTA: Now Kyra, Kurt Warner knows a lot about this topic. He suffered at least five documented concussions. He says really think of the problem two-pronged. First of all, a lot of players just want to continue to play. So they'll minimize some of the symptoms that they might have. Also team want to win, that's the other part of this. He says that he was explicitly never told that he had to play despite having symptoms, but he does worry about the culture overall.
We talked to the NFL here's what they said as well - they said, "If anything, we're going in the other direction where people sit out until they are totally symptom free. There are so many protocols now if a guy gets pulled out in a game, he cannot go back until he's cleared by the team doctor."
And incidentally Ellis Hobbs, who is there, after that big hit, 10 minutes on the field, actually in a stretcher, but the thumbs up sign. We hear this morning that he got some x-rays of his neck and he had no evidence of fracture. So hopefully he will be well. Tomorrow, we're going to talk about high school football as well. Not just professional football. Three million kids playing. Their brains are still developing. What is the impact of these hits? Max Conradt is someone we're going to be profiling. You're not going to want to miss his story, Kyra. That's tomorrow. Back to you.
PHILLIPS: Got you. Thanks, Sanjay.
Tens of thousands of black farmers have spent a decade waiting and fighting and protesting on Capitol Hill. And now they are one step closer to a billion-dollar discrimination payout from the government. What's next and when they could have cash in their pocket?
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PHILLIPS: Well, the stock market opening bell rang just about an hour ago. Let's go and check those numbers right now. Dow Industrials not so good, down 56 points right now. From the big board to the cash register, we have seen four straight months of retail growth. So let's see how the holiday spending season is shaping up. Alison Kosik is following that for us. So what do you think? What's the forecast, Alison?
ALISON KOSIK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, the Consumer Federation of America, Kyra, just came out with a survey about a half hour ago, and it shows that people are continuing to cut back on how much they're going to spend this year. No big surprise there. But if you go ahead and compare it to last year, they're actually going to be spending a little bit more this year, so it's getting a little better but its' still far from normal.
The fact is everybody is still concerned about the economy and their personal finances. They're paying off their debt and they're saving more. So, Kyra, A little more cautious buying out there.
PHILLIPS: All right. Well, a new CNN poll came out last week and it said 80 percent of Americans think the economy is in poor shape. So how big of a factor is this when you think of holiday spending and trying to improve our economy?
KOSIK: You know, when you think about it, it really impacts it a lot. Because how you feel really impacts how you shop and how much you spend. You know, do people feel like they have money? Is the economy doing well? Do people feel secure in their jobs? You know, people ask themselves this, and their answers determine how much they're going to spend and shop.
Look, since the recession, people have been using strategies to shop. Take a look at this. They have been spending less, they've been shopping for sales, using coupons more frequently. And they're comparing prices from online to what they find in the stores.
So for many people, shopping for those bargains like we do on Black Friday, it's kind of like a Black Friday everyday for consumers. And these stores, Kyra, know this. Some are even opening on Thanksgiving day and announcing these Black Friday deals way in advance to lure everybody in.
PHILLIPS: All right. Let's hope it goes well. We'll know in a few days. Thanks, Alison.
Well, I'll tell you who is happy. Thousands of black farmers. They're finally going to get their money from Uncle Sam. We are talking about a billion dollars for racial bias claims. Black farmers have been waiting for this payout for more than a decade. They won a class action lawsuit against the USDA in 1999. But for so many, it has been red tape and setbacks ever since. Eleven years of splitting time between the fields and Capitol Hill, staging protests, even riding tractors through downtown D.C. to get attention from Congress. That's what John Boyd did with a number of other farmers. He's the president of the National Black Farmers Association. And John, you've actually called this wait a living hell. I've interviewed you a number of times on this issue. And now the bill heading to the House where it's expected to pass. Then, of course, it has to go to the Oval Office, the president has to sign it. So, how soon could you and other farmers get the cash in your pocket?
JOHN BOYD, PRESIDENT, NAITONAL BLACK FARMERS ASSOCIATION: Hopefully very soon. I'm just so pleased to have the bill out of the Senate where we ten times tried to get that bill passed. Leader Reid worked very closely with Senator Chuck Grassley. That's what happens when Republicans and Democrats work together. Some good things can happen.
So, black farmers who have been just waiting so very, very long -- and many have died at the plow, Kyra, just waiting for this justice. So it was very, very good to get it out of the Senate and hopefully we'll be able to reconcile the bill in the House very soon, after Thanksgiving. I'm looking forward to working with leaders on both sides, Republicans and Democrats, to help bring that long overdue justice to black farmers.
PHILLIPS: And John, you bring up a good point. I mean, unfortunately, a number of these farmers won't get to see that cash because they didn't make it long enough to see that cash. And how much are we talking about? We're talking about thousands and thousands of dollars, right?
BOYD: Well, about $1.25 billion at about $50,000 per farmer --
PHILLIPS: That's a nice chunk of change.
BOYD: Well, it doesn't put the farmers back into business, but what it does do is it give vindication to farmers and also bring long overdue justice. This case was always about justice. When America is tried, America stands up and does the right thing. That's what happened in the Senate. People heard our plight.
PHILLIPS: John, you even said you think this will bring the country closer to racial harmony. What do you mean by that?
BOYD: I think by dealing with this issue because this issue has resurfaced. It's a very, very old case. We first filed our first lawsuit 26 years ago. And this case has continued to resurface and resurface, and I think by settling this case and actually putting the resources into the farmers' hands, we can begin to rebuild that trust factor between black farmers and the United States Department of Agriculture where there has been historically some bad blood there.
So, we are looking forward to rebuilding that fence and getting in there and getting the black farmers back involved in federal programs there.
PHILLIPS: Well, we know that even Shirley Sherrod, who made huge headlines not too long ago, her family has been involved in one of these lawsuits as well. So, John --
BOYD: Yes.
PHILLIPS: -- let's have a reality check. This is such great news, and hopefully the farmers are going to get the 50 grand soon.
BOYD: Yes.
PHILLIPS: But you still have an uphill battle here with regard to access to credit --
BOYD: Yes, we do.
PHILLIPS: And taking part - yes. What's the next step? I know there's going to be another fight or two down the road for black farmers.
BOYD: Absolutely. We are trying to look forward to getting black farmers into the U.S. Farm Subsidy program and farm lending programs. And there's other cases out there we want to be involved in to help work on. The women's case, the Hispanic case, the Indian case, and we want to be involved and help those persons get through this process, too. So, there's a lot of work to be done, but we're just pleased that we're making so much progress. The White House, who has been very, very supportive over the last couple of weeks, have certainly played their role there. We are just looking to work with the leaders in Congress and to get this done as quickly as possible for our nation's black farmers.
PHILLIPS: Well, you've been an incredible advocate. John Boyd, it's always good to talk to you. Congratulations.
BOYD: Thank you, Kyra.
PHILLIPS: You bet.
BOYD: Thank you for having me.
PHILLIPS: Oh, it's my pleasure.
About 10:35 on the East Coast now. Monday morning is getting underway in the West. And here's stories we're going to be updating all day for you.
Fears of a terror attack in Germany. The government's even closed part of its parliament building to the general public. It's normally a busy tourist stop for tourists in Berlin. Police are denying a report that terrorist may have been planning to hit that site.
Security here in the U.S. under fire. People including Secretary of State Hillary Clinton not happy with the TSA body scanners and pat- downs. The head of the TSA tells CNN privacy takes a backseat to security and not to expect any changes during the busy week this week.
And a Delta jet headed from New York to Moscow had to return to JFK last night. The Boeing 767 was having engine trouble. Everyone on board is okay. They caught another plane to Russia, and the FAA is investigating what went wrong.
Catholic Church and condoms. Two things that have never really gone together until maybe now. The Pope quoted in a new book says condoms are "okay sometimes." That's a Talker. We're going there right after the break.
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PHILLIPS: All right. Our "Morning Passport" taking us to China, where there are some very relieved miners this morning. Twenty-nine pulled to the surface after being trapped for 30 hours. China has a history of mine accidents. Just last year, more than 2,600 people died in mining accidents.
And another mining disaster. This in New Zealand. And explosion trapped 29 miners. Efforts to contact any survivors have failed so far. Poisonous gases are keeping rescuers from getting into them. A robot has been sent into the mine to determine the next step for the rescuers, and workers also have been drilling a small bore hole.
All right. Let's talk about condoms and the pope, shall we? Maybe you actually heard over the weekend that Pope Benedict is bending a little bit on this long-time church taboo. A new book actually quotes him as saying condoms can be "okay sometimes, like to present disease but not birth control." It's the first time the church ever talked about exceptions to the condom rule. Listen to how some Catholics heard the news.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's like Merrill Lynch. When he talks, we listen.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't think it's terribly inconsistent. I think it's pretty modern thinking, frankly.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: But I'm also thankful for the comments.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Tackling the social issues of the day. As Catholics, we take them one at a time. It's not going to happen all at once. But it's a process, and I agree with what the pope is doing.
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PHILLIPS: All right. So, here's a part of what the pope said in the book that caught so many people's attention. He says, quote, "There could be single cases that can be justified. For instance, when a prostitute uses a condom."
Hmm. Doesn't it sound like the pope is justifying prostitution, too? Surely not, but it's a pretty bizarre analogy. Let's talk more about this with CNN's Atika Shubert in London. What's the reaction been like since these quotes have surfaced? ATIKA SHUBERT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, for a lot of aid workers who are working to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS, these are very welcome comments. They really want to see more of this kind of stuff coming out of the Vatican for a number of reasons. For one thing, for Catholics around the world, it is a way of accepting what has been known in health circles that condoms simply prevent HIV/AIDS. This is a message they want to spread.
But interesting. I talked to the head of the U.N. Aids, and he says one of the biggest impact is the very fact that Catholic aid agencies will now consider when they do their work promoting the use of condoms. He says they may not do it right away, but that hey are now actually considering it simply because the Pope said it may be justified using condoms in certain circumstances. That's a big boost for those who work to prevent HIV/AIDS.
PHILLIPS: All right. So, the head of the U.N.'s AIDS fighting group saying it's a step forward. But wasn't the pope slammed last year for saying that condoms were not okay to control AIDS in Africa?
SHUBERT: He was. In fact, he suggested that in fact the use of condoms promotes promiscuous behavior and it was causing the spread of HIV/AIDs. And that's what got him a lot of negative comments and condemnation from health workers.
So, this can really be seen an attempt to kind of clarify his position and his personal opinion on it. But it's important to point out, even though he says there may be some cases, he also says it is not a real or moral solution, condom use. He says that there should be other solutions. Mainly, chastity and refraining from sex.
PHILLIPS: All right. So, the comments don't really raise to the level of official Vatican policy. What do you think? Is the pope going rogue or just being realistic with the times?
SHUBERT: He's not really going rogue. It's really his personal opinion about the way Catholicism should be practiced in the modern world. Obviously, his opinion holds a lot of weight. It is considered opinion and every word will be pored over by theologians.
But again, it's not set Vatican policy. He is really just commenting on how he sees the world today. It's also important to point out that the Vatican itself has taken out several studies on the use of condoms. Should they be used? Obviously, he's been reading this and this is what prompted him to make the comments today.
PHILLIPS; Atika Shubert, we will continue to follow this story, for sure. I know there's going to be a press conference tomorrow.
We asked your thoughts about the pope's comments. Paul says, "If they are so confused about the utility and necessity of condoms today with all the scientific research available to their scholars, I put no faith in their moral compass."
Pamela thinks, "We believe in his holiness in matters of faith and morals and know he along with so many others have prayed on his knees for direction for hours upon hours. I love my Pope!"
And Therese says, "The Catholic Church never changes her stance on issues, and the pope is a very holy man who would never attempt to lead the Church astray. His personal views will always e in accord with the truth."
We always like to hear from you. Appreciate you for weighing in. You can go to CNN.com/kyra and share your comments with me.
Voters weighing in on a possible Obama/Palin White House race in 2012. The president is up by eight points in the poll. Talking politics next.
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PHILLIPS: During Christmastime, we usually sing carols, right? On New Year's Auld Lang Syne. But what about Thanksgiving? Well, leave it to SNL to give us that.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE (singing)
SETH MYERS, SNL CAST MEMBER: Are you okay? Are you okay?
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PHILLIPS; Sometimes you just got to go backwards to go forward. We have the proof in our first stop Cross Country with some rarely seen video footage from L.A. where the fire department's helicopter had to fly backward to help rescue a man got caught in a fast-moving current in the rain-swollen Los Angeles River. After a couple of failed tries, they were finally able to hoist him out of the water to safety.
In Minnesota, icy weather conditions made for a rough weekend on the roadways for drivers and police. More than 300 accidents, which kept tow truck drivers pretty busy.
Weeks after California's vote on Prop 9 failed to legalize marijuana, people took to the streets in Boise, Idaho to light up in a blaze of protest. We're talking about laws that criminalize cannabis. Those demostrators say that the event wasn't so about getting high but to make the point about marijuana legalization. Police say they found out about the smokeout on social media but did not make any arrests.
Tea Party activists putting pressure on Congress now. CNN deputy political director Paul Steinhauser with more on the story. Hey, Paul.
PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: You got it, Kyra. I guess they helped to get some of these Republicans elected to Congress, so now they want them to do things. And one of the things they're asking is lower taxes. This is a letter from Tea Party Nation. That's the group that put on that first Tea Party convention earlier this year. It was signed by them and about 180 other Tea Party organizations. And it's a letter to John Boehner, who will be the new House speaker, and Mitch McConnell, the top Republican in the Senate, and it asks to keep the taxes low, to cut spending, don't fund or give money to the new health care law.
It also gets into some social issues like "don't ask, don't tell" It says they should not repeal "don't ask, don't tell." That's interesting because it's kind of a pushback, Kyra, it seems, against another letter that came out from another group of Tea Party activists led by GOP Proud. And that said, you know what? Stay away from social issues. Just deal with fiscal issues. So, looks like a little bit of a fight here. You can see more on that on the CNN Political Ticker.
Kyra, something else I want to talk about? 2012. It's still 2010, but never, never too early to talk about the next presidential election. But this is interesting. Mike Huckabee yesterday in Iowa was asked about when, if he decides to run again, when will he announce. He says this could be months off, maybe five or six months from now. Get back to me then.
And it's not just Huckabee, Kyra. It's a bunch of other possible, possible Republicans who may run are not planning on announcing any time soon. Next year, March, April, maybe even May, even that late. And it's very different than it was four years ago, Kyra. Because four years ago you already had a bunch of people already announcing for the White House. Seems like everything is being pushed back this time around, Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right. What about the possible 2012 Obama/Palin matchup?
STEINHAUSER: Yes. We can't talk enough Barack Obama versus Sarah Palin. A hypothetical matchup, if she decides to run. If she wins the nomination.
Check this out. A brand new poll. This is from Quinnipiac University, a national survey among registered voters. And you can see right there, according to this hypothetical matchup, 48 percent said that they would vote for the president, 40 percent for Palin.
Now, Kyra, we did our own poll here at CNN about three weeks ago. Similar thing, about an eight-point advantage for Barack Obama. When you break that Quinnipiac poll down by independents, even independent are going slightly for Barack Obama.
One thing I want to say about this poll and every other poll. Remember, they are a snapshot of how Americans feel right now. 2012 is a long way away, Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Yes, it is. It will be interesting next couple of years. Thanks, Paul.
The JFK assassination and the torment of two Secret Service agents protecting him.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I had so many nightmares. Seemed like every time I turned around, there was something that reminded me of what happen happened, so I just clammed up and went in my basement with some alcohol and cigarettes and stayed there for a few years.
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PHILLIPS: Pretty incredible testimony. Straight from the men who were there.
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PHILLIPS: Everyday at this time, we honor the men and women in uniform who have given their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan for all of us. And we call it "Home and Away." Today we are lifting up Private First Class Paul Cuzzupe (ph) from Plant City, Florida. He died following a roadside bomb attack in Afghanistan on August 8th of this year.
His mom, Annette Kirk, wrote to us. She said "Paul had a love for music, American history and a soft spot for taking care of people, especially children. Becoming a combat medic seemed fitting to his personality." It goes on to say "We cannot forget about this men and women who have given their lives selflessly to help protect not only the U.S. but other countries against terrorism. They are willing to put their lives on the line to protect our freedom that we all enjoy and sometimes take for granted."
So right. And if you have a loved one you would like to honor, here's all you have to do. Go to CNN.com/homeandaway. Type in your service member's name in the upper right-hand search field, pull up the profile. Send us your thoughts, your pictures, and we promise to keep the memory of your family member alive.
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PHILLIPS: This day in history forever burned in the collective psyche of our nation. On this day 47 years ago that President John Fitzgerald Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas. Suspected gunman Lee Harvey Oswald arrested hours later, and Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn in soon as the 36th president of the United States.
We are learning more about that assassination and its aftermath. Two Secret Service agents who were protecting the president that day are revealing fascinating details, including the fact that one of them almost mistakenly shot the newly sworn in President Johnson. Here's our Brian Todd.
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BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): They're a pair of stoic 78-year-old grandfathers, Gerald Blaine and Clint Hill still carry themselves in the upright position, still have that bond that only Secret Service agents know. And still have vivid memories of that clear, crisp day in November nearly half a century ago.
GERALD BLAINE, FORMER SECRET SERVICE AGENT: We couldn't help it. We felt like we failed. We all had the same mission and it was a terrible feeling.
TODD: Blaine gives riveting new accounts of that period in his just released book "The Kennedy Detail." He reveals how less than 24 hours after John Kennedy's assassination, he almost caused another unspeakable tragedy. Blaine stood guard outside Lyndon Johnson's house in the early morning darkness, exhausted, on edge, he heard approaching footsteps and readied his submachine gun.
BLAINE: Put it to my shoulder and steadied my feet. And around the house, I recognized right away it was President Johnson by his profile.
TODD: Johnson had just come out to get some air.
(on camera): How close did you come to shooting him?
BLAINE: Well, my finger was on the trigger. I had nightmares about this for months afterwards.
TODD (voice-over): Johnson, he says, turned white, said nothing, and went back in the house.
I spoke with Blaine and Clint Hill just a few feet from John Kennedy's grave. Hill wrote the foreword to Blaine's book but has rarely spoken about that day.
(on camera): You had a tough time in the years after the assassination after your resignation. Can you talk about what you went through?
CLINT HILL, FORMER SECRET SERVICE AGENT: I had nightmares and seemed like every time I turned around, there was something that reminded me of what had happened. And so, I just clammed up and went in my basement with some alcohol and some cigarettes and stayed there for a few years.
TODD (voice-over): Clint Hill was the first Secret Service agent to get to Kennedy's car in Dallas. He broke into a sprint after the initial shot was fired. He says if he could relive those moments, if he could jump on the back maybe two seconds earlier --
HILL: Without a question, I'd be taking a bullet for the president and be dead.
TODD (on camera): Would be -- you think that would be a happier ending if you weren't here to talk to us?
HILL: It would be a happier ending for the country and for everybody.
TODD: How do you feel about that? I mean, that's a tough thing to live with for a number of years.
HILL: Well, it's just one of those things you do live with it. You have to accept the fact that you had a certain responsibility and you failed in that responsibility. So, you just have to accept it and live with it the best you can.
TODD: Hill says he still goes through periods where he's almost unable to talk about the assassination. He brushes it off when people call him a hero. Heroes, he says, are people who are able to do extraordinary things, and, quote, "unfortunately, I was unable to do that."
Brian Todd CNN, Arlington, Virginia.
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PHILLIPS: Wow. That does it for us. We're back here tomorrow.
Tony, I remember when Mike Wallace interviewed Clint Hill, and he was smoking and he was real nervous. It was a very powerful interview. And that's haunted him ever since that day --
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: You feel it, yes.
PHILLIPS: -- that he could not save the president's life, yes.
HARRIS: That's part of their creed, that's part of the oath they take.
PHILLIPS: Yes.
HARRIS: It's powerful stuff. What is story, huh?
PHILLIPS: Have a great show.
HARRIS: You have a great day, Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right.
HARRIS: Good to see you. You look great, by the way.
