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President Obama to Attend Tucson Memorial Service; New England Blizzard; Haiti One Year Later; Friend of Gunman in Arizona Shooting Gives Interview; Man Who Was Held for Ransom by Pirates Devotes Life to Combating Piracy; Sarah Palin Pushes Back Against Criticism of Her Rhetoric
Aired January 12, 2011 - 15:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: Thank you, Ali. The eyes of a nation and really for the world, for that matter, they're focused at this hour in Tucson.
And I want to show you a live picture here. Take a look at this. This is this makeshift memorial that keeps growing and growing. Look at all the balloons, the flowers, the people paying their respects. This is the scene outside of the University Medical Center. And this is the place where people just keep coming to mourn the loss of those six people, all of whom were killed in that attack Saturday morning, that attack that targeted Arizona Democrat Gabrielle Giffords.
Also, President Obama at this very moment on his way to Tucson to attend a memorial service this evening on the campus of the University of Arizona. He will address the service and the nation some time after 8:00 Eastern this evening.
We have CNN's Jessica Yellin. She's at the scene of tonight's service there at the University of Arizona campus.
But I want to begin with you, Susan Candiotti, right around where that memorial seems to be growing...
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Brooke.
BALDWIN: ... outside the University Medical Center.
And I just -- if you can, Susan, as Tucson now is awaiting the arrival of President Obama, just set the scene for me.
CANDIOTTI: Well, you know, there's a lot of anticipation throughout the city.
We haven't heard anyone say anything but that they're excited to have the president coming to Tucson, in hopes that he will be able to provide the kind of emotional support that so many people here want.
But, in the meantime, there's been an incredible outpouring of support among Tucsonians. But also they're hearing it from people all over the world that are sending messages.
And I note that this is the Mayor Walkup who is joining us here from the fine city of Tucson.
Can you tell us from -- the types of people you have been hearing from so far, Mayor?
ROBERT WALKUP (R), MAYOR OF TUCSON, ARIZONA: Well, I have been hearing, like you said, from all over the world.
I got e-mails and Twixes (ph) and Twitters. But they're all -- what I'm getting is just a complete global outpouring to, first of all, to Gabby and to the people, the family of the six that lost their lives, but also the people that are still fighting for their lives. And that fortunately is down to -- the report today, there's about six people left in the hospital.
And what good news that is. Our prayers are being answered.
CANDIOTTI: That's right.
What kind of message do you expect from the president tonight?
WALKUP: Well, first of all, how pleased we are as a community that we have our president coming to Tucson to share this community memorial service this evening at 6:00.
And it is -- it is a memorial service. So, I don't know but I'm -- I'm guessing he's going to say the hearts and prayers of this country are -- are with you and with the members of the -- the families and for those that lost their lives in this tragic event in the city of Tucson.
CANDIOTTI: Can your city and the country bounce back from this?
WALKUP: Oh, absolutely. We're going to bounce back from this.
And we're -- we're seeing it behind me. All these people are -- are here because they care about the people that were -- that were involved. They care about Gabrielle Giffords, that is beloved in our community. She is one of the finest legislators that we have. And she has fought for all these people.
So, no, we will. We're a great city. We have been a great city. And we're going to continue to be a great city.
CANDIOTTI: Thank you, Mayor.
Brooke, do you have a question for the mayor?
BALDWIN: I do, Susan. Thank you.
Mr. Mayor, you know what? I covered the Virginia Tech shootings in Blacksburg some years ago. I remember the -- the memorial there. And it is just reminding me, this memorial there in Tucson, and how it has sort of grown exponentially.
And I know I have heard Tucson described as a spunky, cheery little town. What other, though -- Mayor, what other signs of hope have you seen throughout your city?
WALKUP: Well -- well, it's the kind of thing that you hope never happens to your city, that an event -- event like this would bring a city together.
And the city is together to help get those healed in the hospital and to honor those people that lost their lives. And we are a spunky city. We're not a little city anymore. We're -- we're a large city. But we feel like a small city.
And it's because we all care for each other. And -- and that's what this is all about. And I think the president coming here helps us in the healing process. And that's why we're so pleased that he's coming here.
CANDIOTTI: Do you think it's possible for this man who's been accused of this shooting to get a fair trial in this district?
WALKUP: The individual that has -- has been charged, I am sure that he will get a fair trial, no matter where he is in this country.
And he is certainly going to get one in Tucson. We -- we believe in -- in justice. Let the facts speak for themselves. But I tell you, as the -- as the mayor of this city, I'm focusing, not on who he is, but I'm focusing on -- on the people that lost their lives and the people that we still have to get out of the hospital, get them back to their families.
What you -- again, what you see behind me are family people and neighbors that -- that love the people that have been injured and are praying for them and are praying for Gabby.
CANDIOTTI: Mayor, thank you very much. And I'm sure that there will be a huge outpouring of support when everyone shows up tonight to hear from the president as well.
All right. Thank you very much for your time -- and, Brooke, back to you.
BALDWIN: Susan, thank you.
And, of course, our thanks to -- to the mayor there, Bob Walkup.
Obviously, our thoughts are with the city of Tucson, not just our thoughts, everyone else.
Stand by, Susan.
I want to also show, as we're looking at this memorial that is obviously growing there in Tucson -- guys, let's show the live picture in the Capitol. People are still lining up. They're signing this well-wishes book. This is in Washington. This is the U.S. state Capitol. They're signing their names -- the U.S. Capitol -- forgive me -- U.S. Capitol. And as we're watching what is happening there in Washington, D.C., and we know the president is en route, should arrive in a couple hours in Tucson, I want to go to Jessica Yellin, who has been there for several days.
And, Jessica, I know the president and thousands and thousands of people -- I have been reading this is an anticipated overflow crowd tonight within the McKale Center there on the campus at the University of Arizona.
Tell me, Jessica, what do you know as far as the president's plans once he lands there in Tucson? I imagine he's meeting with victims, families, before he attends this memorial service.
JESSICA YELLIN, CNN NATIONAL POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: That's absolutely right, Brooke.
The president is on his way now with a bipartisan delegation, Republicans and Democrats, on Air Force One, as well as the secretary of homeland security, Janet Napolitano, who is the former governor here, and Attorney General Eric Holder.
When he gets here, he will meet with the members of some of the families of the victims. So far, the White House has been very discrete about releasing any of the specifics of who he will be meeting with. But he's going do that and then come here.
I will tell you, Brooke, we have spoken with people who have been lined up since 5:30 in the morning to come and hear the president's remarks and everyone inside. Twelve thousand people is what it can hold, but it -- I wouldn't be surprised if there is that overflow capacity.
And, you know, the president will speak, the president of the university, a student, and -- and, you know, very different perspectives among the people we have talked to about what they'd like to hear from the president. But, most of all, they're excited that Tucson can be highlighted for what it is -- for the positives.
There are -- a lot of people very upset that Tucson is maybe coming under a glare of a negative light. And they want to show that this is a place that can be filled with healing and -- and goodwill -- Brooke.
BALDWIN: So, they want the president to focus on the positives.
What about the president himself, Jessica? Are you getting any information, any kind of idea of tone or tenor that the president and his words will take tonight?
YELLIN: You know, the White House is very explicit that he is going to focus on the victims and who they were, what this loss leaves -- you know, the hole this loss leaves for their families and in the world in general.
But he is the post-partisan president who has made a very -- one of the big focuses of his entire candidacy and presidency has been about bringing people together. So, I wouldn't be surprised, Brooke, I will put it that way, if we do hear him make a call for all of us to rise to our higher selves and recognize the fragility of life and the importance of our relationships with one another.
So, I wouldn't expect a partisan speech at all, but something that does touch on this in the -- in the sort of most high -- at the highest level possible, you know? You know what I'm saying?
BALDWIN: I know what you're saying. I know what you're saying, all of us coming together, looking beyond those lines.
Jessica Yellin...
YELLIN: Yes.
BALDWIN: ... we will be watching for that some time after 8:00 Eastern this evening there at the McKale Center on the campus of the University of Arizona.
Jessica, my thanks to you, and, of course, my thanks to Susan Candiotti as well.
YELLIN: Thanks.
BALDWIN: We're not going too far from the story in Tucson. But I want to talk about the other big story of the day, really the week here, the weather -- this storm that dumped nearly a foot of snow in New York now making its way through New England.
And it is still a nightmare on the roads in Atlanta. Look at this picture. Look at the right-hand side of your screen, that -- that tractor-trailer and all those -- all those cars. We are going to show you more of these incredible pictures when we come back, get a status update for you.
Also, we're taking you to Haiti, where it has now been one year exactly since that devastating earthquake that killed tens of thousands of people.
And,, again, live pictures of that memorial that is growing and growing, as so many people, young and old, from Tucson and from beyond are coming by to pay their respects to the victims of Saturday's shooting -- again, the president en route with many other members of Congress, also former Arizona Governor and current Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano en route as well.
Stay here -- more coverage of the tragedy in Tucson coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: Welcome back to the NEWSROOM.
We have a number of other stories we want to get to, but I want to take you to Tucson and to our own Susan Candiotti. Susan is there at the scene at the medical center where a number of the victims are being treated, and also right in front of a memorial that just keeps growing and growing and growing.
And, Susan, I understand you have a guest next to you who has come to this memorial to share her thoughts.
CANDIOTTI: Exactly.
People come in an impromptu way, many of them, to pay tribute. But Carolyn Smith (ph) has gone out of her way to bring a hammered dulcimer here to play.
But why did you decide to do this? There are so many people coming from the area. Why did you want to bring music?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, music is, first of all...
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I will hold it. It's OK.
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's -- it's very healing. Every -- every note has a frequency. And frequencies hit different parts of the body and parts of the mind.
And so music is actually being proven to be healing. And I'm playing for the people here who are grieving.
CANDIOTTI: Has anyone spoken to you and...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, they have come up crying, especially with the "Ave Maria." I have been playing that and old -- old-time Gospel hymns and the beloved "Amazing Grace," "There Is a Balm in Gilead."
CANDIOTTI: Well, it must make you feel good that you're able to contribute to the healing process.
Before we go, can play out a little bit?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Mm-hmm.
CANDIOTTI: And thanks for joining us.
Go ahead.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK.
(MUSIC)
BALDWIN: Susan, thank you. Thanks you to our guest.
We will be right back.
(MUSIC)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) BALDWIN: You know, you really should see Atlanta in the summer: mild nights, hot days. It's pretty lovely.
And the best part...
(LAUGHTER)
BALDWIN: ... is that this guy's happy, fun ice skates, I'm hoping, are hanging on a hook gathering dust somewhere. Atlanta, my own hometown, it's a frozen, solid mess still today. It has been since late Sunday night. And I can tell you, the novelty has worn off for many of us here who have been stuck in hotels for many nights.
(LAUGHTER)
BALDWIN: But I want to get to -- to more on Atlanta's deep freeze in just a minute. But take a look at the mayhem. This is one of Atlanta's interstates. This was just a couple of hours ago, thick sheets of shiny ice still sending cars -- you can see in the middle of it a couple of big rigs sliding sideways, backing up highway traffic for miles and miles.
Now, the same weather system that buried Atlanta in ice is today smashing into another storm, about to make life miserable for much of New England. This is a live picture from Boston. But all of Connecticut, all of Massachusetts and all of Maine are being hammered right now.
And I have Chad Myers here from the Severe Weather Center.
We're going to talk all things North, South, and in between. But I -- I want to bring in Bob Crowley. I have worked with Bob in Boston. He is our Boston P.J., our photojournalist. He's on the phone with me.
And, Bob, I know you're -- you're Massachusetts-born-and-raised. You lived in Tampa for, what, one year of your life, and for the rest of the time, you have been in New England. So -- so, put this in perspective for me.
(CROSSTALK)
BALDWIN: It is bad, or is it, eh, not too bad for Boston?
BOB CROWLEY, CNN VIDEOGRAPHER: Well, I would say it's a mess, Brooke.
The thing about this storm is that the snow came down quickly. It is definitely tapering off. So, it doesn't measure up to, say, the great blizzard of 1978.
BALDWIN: Uh-huh.
CROWLEY: But, you know, the roads are pretty slick. And, sometimes this morning, the visibility was no more than 100 feet. It -- it was pretty bad.
BALDWIN: It was pretty bad. I saw some pictures earlier this morning, and the snow was really, really coming down. Has it tapered off for the most part now? Is the T. working? How is it now?
CROWLEY: You know, I drove into the city not too long ago. And the main expressway which was clear down to wet pavement, and -- and which was great...
BALDWIN: Hmm.
CROWLEY: ... easy to get in. And I did notice that red line was running, the green line was running. But now I'm slightly west of the city, and -- and it's snowing again.
And so it really depends on what region of the state you are in.
BALDWIN: OK.
CROWLEY: The southeastern part is what got clobbered the most with that really wet, heavy stuff.
BALDWIN: OK.
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Now, we have heard -- this is Chad Myers. We have heard about some spots 20, 25 inches.
BALDWIN: Whew!
MYERS: Have you seen anything like that or heard about that locally?
CROWLEY: I have heard about it, but, thankfully, I haven't run into it.
(CROSSTALK)
BALDWIN: Hopefully, it's just legendary.
CROWLEY: Yes.
(LAUGHTER)
CROWLEY: I live -- I live near the Rhode Island border. And we had, I would say, about between eight inches to maybe a foot. And that was at about 8:00 this morning.
BALDWIN: Hmm.
CROWLEY: And it's just been accumulating and accumulating and accumulating.
And I also drove near the coast.
BALDWIN: Mm-hmm.
CROWLEY: And, there, I was astounded to see that it was -- it was much less, again, with that -- that rain mixture. So, it -- it varies from place to place.
MYERS: Hmm. BALDWIN: Well, hopefully, you're nice and warm and inside sipping some hot cocoa and that's where you're talking to us from, Bob Crowley. But I have a feeling they're going to stick you outside shooting some of that snow.
Bob, thanks for...
(LAUGHTER)
BALDWIN: ... thanks for calling in and giving us -- giving us the quick skinny on the snow.
Is this -- Chad, is this what they call a nor'easter?
MYERS: Technically not, because it didn't stick around and run up the coast, like a nor'easter should.
BALDWIN: OK.
MYERS: A nor'easter almost needs to make the north -- northeast winds or a northeast pass at New England in order to make a loop there and come back at it.
This thing just -- it's almost a southwestern -- it kind of just shot right out.
(LAUGHTER)
MYERS: And now it's -- now it's headed to Newfoundland and up through Atlantic Canada. And that's OK. That's why the snow came in so fast, and that's why it's leaving so fast.
BALDWIN: OK.
MYERS: And that's why New York only got nine inches. It was really, really heavy.
BALDWIN: OK.
MYERS: New York had two to three inches an hour.
BALDWIN: It was heavy. I was watching some of it come down this morning on TV, and it was just kind of amazing.
MYERS: Yes.
BALDWIN: And then you have us in Atlanta. And I know we're sick and tired of the guy skating on Peach Tree Street, so we're going to...
MYERS: Yes.
BALDWIN: ... we're going to move past that, and I want to look at some more pictures and show what you else we're seeing here in our slightly surreal, if we could call it that, scene here in the South.
Look at what you can buy here. This is an Atlanta Kroger supermarket. Not a whole lot of much. The store is open. But shoppers cleaned out the shelves. You know how you hear about shoppers going in and buying stuff?
(LAUGHTER)
BALDWIN: They did that this week in Atlanta, in anticipation of being stuck inside their homes, many of whom are very much so stuck this week. It's a smart move, though, since that turned out to be the case. But -- but Kroger Corporation tells us they're facing challenges having to get, you know, all the food in, and all those buses bringing it back into the grocery stores.
Take you to Huntsville, Alabama. Look at this. This is slow going, freezing rain, frozen slush, 8.9 inches of snow. I'm glad we got it that precise for you. All schools, all but the essential public facilities are still closed.
And, in North Carolina, this is Fayetteville. It took a direct hit as the storm, you know, marched its way, as you were mentioning, on up the coast. Road conditions are still, in parts of the state, pretty dangerous, as you saw there, because very little of the packed-downed snow and ice has melted.
Look at that, back over on its side.
MYERS: Hmm.
BALDWIN: Same story, I'm told, through much of South Carolina, as we have seen for several days here the Atlanta area.
And as long as I have you here...
MYERS: Mm-hmm.
BALDWIN: ... we have one more story. Do we have one other story we're going to show? No?
So, final thoughts on Atlanta?
MYERS: Atlanta is a mess. I drove it in this morning, and it's a mess.
Sixty hours after the snow started, it's a mess. And I have heard all about the excuses and all that: We don't have the stuff. We don't have the stuff. We don't have the stuff.
BALDWIN: We're not used to it. I mean, being grown -- born and raised here...
MYERS: Whatever.
BALDWIN: ... this is not normal. So, we don't spend all the gazillion dollars on all these -- all the equipment, because it only happens once every five or 10 years.
MYERS: I get -- I get that part, because if you bought a plow, and you only use it every 15 years, by the time you use it, it would be worn out, even though you didn't use it, because all those seals would be rotted.
(CROSSTALK)
BALDWIN: Well, what were you going to say? What was your point?
(LAUGHTER)
MYERS: I just -- I was on the roadways today. And people have now -- they have opened malls. They have opened other -- other stores. And it's dangerous out there.
BALDWIN: Yes.
MYERS: Stay inside. It's literally -- it's life-threatening. It's risk-threatening. You can break your hip. It's not worth opening the malls and going to the store and trying to...
(CROSSTALK)
BALDWIN: Got it.
MYERS: ... unless you need food.
BALDWIN: Got it.
MYERS: And there is nothing out there. The food came to CNN yesterday. It was like a food drop from a C-130.
BALDWIN: Wow.
MYERS: It was on a big pallet.
BALDWIN: I missed that.
MYERS: We were all happy about that.
BALDWIN: I missed that memo.
MYERS: Yes.
(LAUGHTER)
BALDWIN: I hope you ate enough for me there, Chad Myers.
MYERS: We had coffee anyway.
BALDWIN: But a good note there: Stay inside.
MYERS: OK.
BALDWIN: Thank you.
And we're also learning a little bit more -- back to Tucson, we're learning a bit more about this young man, 22 years of age, Jared Loughner, the accused gunman in the Tucson shooting, including the fact that he had a run-in with police the morning of Saturday's shooting -- more on that coming up.
And it has now been one year since the earthquake in Haiti that killed tens of thousands of people. When we come back, I'm going to take you there to see how they're recovering.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: It is about an hour-and-a-half from now, that exact, precise moment, when one year ago today, when that already troubled nation descended into utter disaster. A 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck. About 200,000 people died in -- in moments.
And those who did survive did so through -- through seas of crumbled buildings and -- and piles of bodies, and very little more than absolute misery on the horizon.
And I want to take you now live to Port-au-Prince. You are going to remember one of the first people there in -- in Haiti, first CNN people, I should say, to arrive after the quake, Gary Tuchman.
And, Gary, I know you've been back since, but describe the feeling coming back, descending back into Port-au-Prince here one year later, and compare for me, you know, what you see around you today vs. what you saw a year ago.
GARY TUCHMAN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: What's so sad, Brooke, and so dire is that things really have not improved.
BALDWIN: Hmm.
TUCHMAN: I mean, they're still finding bodies of victims to this very day.
Just five days ago, right next door to where I'm standing, they were putting up a security fence at this hotel and they found the bodies of three victims who had been missing.
Meanwhile, when we got here, 17 hours after the earthquake on the morning of January 13, 2010, we stood in this very spot, and this park across the way was relatively empty. Some people started coming into the park because their homes were destroyed. And they have remained in the park 365 days later.
These are some of the one million people who are still homeless in the nation of Haiti. There are only 10 million people who live in this country. One out of 10 people homeless, 220,000 people killed, another 300,000 people injured. That is a total of 500,000 casualties. And that in itself is one out of every 20 Haitians.
So, you could see just how desperate the situation is here. There has been very little rebuilding, because 95 percent of the rubble -- that is the estimate from international charities -- is still here, hasn't been touched. I mean, we go to some locations, Brooke, where we see the same rubble that we saw the first day we were here. And I have been back seven times.
BALDWIN: Hmm.
TUCHMAN: So, unlike a lot of catastrophes -- and we have certainly covered a lot in our careers -- usually, after a year, you see marked improvement. Here, you see virtually none.
BALDWIN: I -- I can't believe they're still pulling bodies out of rubble on year later.
Let me ask you this, though, because it was sort of like the nation got a one-two punch just in the last few months, Gary. You know, the cholera outbreak, what -- what kind of update do we have in terms of numbers and sickness now?
TUCHMAN: Yes, that's what is so sad. I mean, we have been reporting throughout our times here over the last few months that one of the most amazing things is there has been no civil disobedience, civil violence and no disease.
Well, now we have had the violence because of disputed election results and three months ago cholera. Cholera had been absent in this country, Brooke, for generations before this past October. Then the first few cases came in October.
Now more than 3,600 people are dead. More than 170,000 Haitians are infected with cholera. Where did it come from? It's believed by French scientists that it, very sadly, inadvertently, came from U.N. troops from Nepal, who were dumping waste into a river an hour-and-a- half north of here. They have had some outbreaks of cholera in Nepal, and that's what they think started the cholera outbreak here in Haiti.
Now, the U.N. is investigating and has not concluded that's what caused it. But it is being actively investigated. So, it is sad all the way around. But there is no indication that the spread of cholera has stopped. It continues to spread. In the last week, the number of cases has gone from 155,000 to 170,000 infected.
BALDWIN: Oh. Oh.
Gary Tuchman, Port-au-Prince -- Gary, thank you.
Talk about a whirlwind for the man with the golden voice. You know who I'm talking about. After being discovered on the streets, he was given a job just about immediately, but now we're hearing Ted Williams may have had a run-in with the law. That is ahead.
Also, a disturbing note has been found at the house of the accused Arizona shooter. We're going to tell what you that note says and what else we're learning about the suspect. Stay right there.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) BALDWIN: Today we're getting more insight into the suspect of the Tucson shootings, and for the first time we're hearing his voice. I want to play audio with you. You're going to hear Jared Loughner appearing in court on 2007 on a charge of possessing drug paraphernalia. Listen especially as the judge called out his name.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: At this time I need to hear from Jared Loughner. Please come on up. And then followed by Robert -- and also Crystal -- please come on up and get in line. We'll see you really quickly. Is this you Mr. Loughner.
JARED LEE LOUGHNER: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. Loughner?
LOUGHNER: Loughner.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you. And you're going into diversion on this possession of drug paraphernalia.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: So you hear him corrects the judge, pronounces his last name after a couple more formalities. The judge tells Loughner what he needs to complete a diversion program and have that charge dismissed. Here's that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JUDGE JOSE LUIS CASTILLO JR., PIMA COUNTY JUSTICE OF THE PEACE: You have to pay $20 to the court. When are going do that?
LOUGHNER: I'm going to do that right now.
CASTILLO: OK. And you have to pay --
LOUGHNER: How do I pay that?
CASTILLO: You have to call them.
LOUGHNER: OK.
CASTILLO: So call them today and work it out. You may just want to stop by and see them while you're here because they want you to see them within 48 hours.
LOUGHNER: OK. I'll do that.
CASTILLO: Don't take a chance.
LOUGHNER: It's just down the street?
CASTILLO: Yes. That's the Pioneer Building.
LOUGHNER: Yes.
CASTILLO: And to the immediate south is where you're going to be going.
LOUGHNER: Thank you so much.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: Again, that was back in 2007. Loughner is polite. There is nothing unusual about his voice. Sounds like a nice kid who got into a little bit of trouble.
And "nice guy" is precisely how a friend describes Loughner when they first met, nice but also different. Listen to Zane Gutierrez from this morning on "The Today Show."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ZANE GUTIERREZ, FRIEND OF JARED LOUGHNER: He was quirky, weird. But he was very intelligent. And, you know, our crowd, you know, we're a little different, and we're very accepting. And Jared had a lot of really different ideas and views towards things. He was really into lucid dreaming.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: Then Jared Loughner started to change. I want to bring Serge Kovaleski with "The New York Times." And Serge, I know you also talked to Zane Gutierrez and he told you a lot more about Loughner. We heard him describe him as quirky, weird, and intelligent. What else did he tell you and what most stood out to you?
KOVALESKI (via telephone): Well in, the broader sense, Zane told us yesterday, told me yesterday that he really thought that Jared back in high school should have been getting some kind of psychological help but was not.
In terms of his thinking that he had very grand, intelligent thoughts, but Zane thought that Jared couldn't handle them and would get upset about things. Like when he started discussing issues about why magnets work, for instance. He seemed to get very bent out of shape about that.
He talked a lot about his obsession with lucid dreaming and how he would see grass is blue, sky is orange, you know, trees as purple and thought others could see that as well. He even kept a detailed dream journal apparently he would write in every morning about not only what he dreamed about but how he participated in his dreams and kind of alter them.
And all of that coupled with the fact that from, you know, an early stage in high school he seemed to be a very skilled gunman and they would spend time out in the Arizona desert shooting guns for target practice, and Jared had a .9 millimeter back then.
BALDWIN: A lot of the investigators are fairly certain that they believe this shooter here Loughner was targeting Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. Did Zane at all share with you in your conversation that Jared had frustration with her regard to the question that he apparently asked her, you know, several years ago back in 2007?
KOVALESKI: He -- Zane didn't portray it as any kind of obsession or a compulsion that he had about the congresswoman, but he did reference this, you know, brief meeting where in '07 at one of the public forums Jared asked her some question about the legitimacy or the nature of government and thought, and in Zane's words thought the reply was, you know, not very insightful nor intelligent. And that seemed to frustrate him.
But Zane did not, you know, indicate that over the years this had been something brewing.
BALDWIN: What about you referenced or Zane told you he had concerns in high school that Jared Loughner need psychiatric or psychological help. What signs specifically was he showing for Zane to think that and did he ever try to get him help?
KOVALESKI: Well, there was certainly over time, and this is in Zane's perspective, over time increased isolation. There was an instance at a party where Jared rather than socializing ended up in a room alone reading a dictionary.
There also seemed to be a slow, steady dissent into paranoia. I think from Zane's point of view, they lost contact after Jared apparently became paranoid of Zane and other friends and thought Zane, perhaps, was stalking him outside of his home and even intended to kill him or steal from him. These are a number of issues that came up.
At one point, Jared, according to Zane, told him that he no longer trusted him and couldn't be his friend.
BALDWIN: That goes to what I had heard about how Zane now looking at this mug shot that we see of Jared Loughner bald, he said this morning that is not Jared Loughner. That doesn't look like his friend.
Let me just finish with asking you about the Loughner's parents. You have had any chance to -- in speaking with Zane or anyone else close to the family, describe their home life at all.
KOVALESKI: Yes, Zane is one of the few people, I think, you know outside of the immediate family that actually has some insights into that, having been there a few times. And his distinct impression was that they did not have very good communication at all. And his overall feeling was that the parents did not do a very good job reaching out to him and vice versa, that Jared didn't seem to be reaching out to them in terms of communication.
And, you know, I think this is in part all part of Jared and being inside his head and this notion of lucid dreaming. He was rather walled off. I'm sure that didn't help in terms of his relationship with his parents. BALDWIN: We are all just trying to understand who this young man is. Serge Kovaleski for the "New York Times," thank you so much for your perspective and background on the interviews. Really appreciate it.
Yesterday we introduced you to a real life pirate. Today, we're going to hear from a man who was actually kidnapped by pirates. This is all part of our series "High Stakes on the high Seas." That is coming up.
And we are also keeping our close eye on the scene there, more and more people coming to pay respects in Tucson. More on the tragedy in Tucson. We remember the victims. Stay here.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: Time for "Trending" today. And I want to talk to you about a man you really couldn't turn on your TV and not see him, Ted Williams and his golden voice. His family having problems stirring things up yet again, and this time this is all over this alleged feud between Ted Williams, one of his daughters, 29-year-old Janey Williams.
Monday night Williams and his daughter were briefly held by L.A. police after a reported heated argument between the two outside of a Hollywood hotel. Both appeared on "Entertainment Tonight" to give their sides of the story. Here is what Ted Williams says.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TED WILLIAMS, HOMELESS MAN WITH A GOLDEN VOICE: I want to bring it to a close by saying "Shut the hell up and let me talk to your mother." When that was said out of my mouth, my daughter exploded, just erupted into this jump-up-in-my-face type of thing. Fists got to flying, none of which were mine, none of which were mine. But they were escalating to that point where it could have gotten really ugly.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: That is Williams' side of the story. Some report the argument is over money. According to Janey, it was actually all about a comment about her weight. Here's what she has to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JANEY WILLIAMS, DAUGHTER OF TED WILLIAMS: He was like will you -- And I sat up out of my chair and said-- who you talking to? And he said you, you fat -- and when he said that I just got angry.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: Janey also claims her father has started drinking again. Now, Ted Williams says he's been sober for two years. We can't confirm either side. But we can confirm Ted Williams has been in the L.A. area. He's taping this reunion show with his estranged wife and five of his nine daughters.
And according to CNN Ohio affiliate WBNS, a press released from Battle Plan Promotions states that all events and appearances by Ted Williams have been canceled to allow him time to, quote, "decompress, rest, and get the professional help he needs." We wish him well.
Coming up next here, look at this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN BURNETT, AUTHOR, "DANGEROUS WATERS": It's as terrifying as being waking up in the middle of the night in your bedroom on land and realizing there is an intruder in the house. It scared the hell out of me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: Not just any intruder who was sailing the high sea when pirates kidnapped him. Today he is sharing what he now knows with the world.
And Sarah Palin releasing this lengthy video statement insisting she is not to blame for the shooting in Tucson over the weekend. We'll play a portion of that sound for you and tell what you else she said on that video that is causing a bit of controversy today. Stay there.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: Do you remember the commercials in the '90s featuring Bo Jackson, "Bo knows baseball"? I want you to meet a man whose motto could be "John knows pirates." John Burnett was on a sailboat when pirates caught up with him. He not only survived but devoted his life's work to stopping piracy on the high seas.
Zain Verjee has his story in part two of her stor, "High Stakes on the High Seas."
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ZAIN VERJEE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Few know more about piracy than this man's. John Burnett's education in piracy began the hard way while sailing solo towards Singapore.
BURNETT: It's as terrifying as waking up in the middle of the night in your bedroom on land and realizing there is an intruder in the house. It scared the hell out of me.
VERJEE: He was held hostage by pirates in the South China Sea. When he was released, he decided to make piracy his life's work. I asked him how Somali pirates are able to make millions in hijacks for ransom.
BURNETT: It's nearly a corporate business plan. They have -- it's run with military precision.
VERJEE: Like any good business, it attracts investors and suppliers. A pirate gang leader oversees the operation that includes a pirate action group, perhaps eight to 12 men on two skiffs, a logistics manager, an accountant, and an interpreter. VERJEE (on camera): Pirates will get close in the dead of night to a ship like this one. They approach it, they look for one that moves slowly and is kind of low. They throw a rope with a hook or a ladder and climb up on to it.
VERJEE (voice-over): Their skiffs have powerful engines, weapons, GPS, extra fuel. Tim Hart is a Somali piracy expert who says that pirates are expanding their range, that they're attacking deeper in the Indian Ocean using mother ships which can support the smaller skiffs. Mother ships are mostly low tech like this one or high end. Pirates captured this ship and used it as a base.
TIM HART, MARITIME UNDERWATER SECURITY CONSULTANCY: They will take the ships back to the anchorages off the coast of Somali, and they will sit there and negotiate with the shipping companies to pay a multimillion dollar ransom.
VERJEE: While they're waiting, a whole new industry kicks in.
HART: You have to build the boats for the pirate skiffs. You have to feed the pirates. You have to feed the hostages. You set up restaurants.
VERJEE: According to a United Nations report, once the cash comes in, the money is shared out depending on how crucial the pirates' role is in the hijack. Suppliers are paid back and militiamen get about $15,000 each. Investors or financiers get 30 percent. Local elders get five to 10 percent, and the rest is divided among the remaining pirates.
Somali pirates keep their money in cash or use it to make legitimate investments in neighboring Kenya and places like Mombasa. Burnett says piracy is big bucks and out of control.
BURNETT: There are many, many men and women who are being held hostage, and no one deals with it. No one cares about it.
VERJEE: Zain Verjee, CNN, London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BALDWIN: Zain also spoke to a maritime security company that tracks pirate hijackings. They told her right now there are 28 vessels and 650 hostages currently being held on the high seas. The average ransom payment for a shipping crew has doubled to nearly $4 million, $4 million.
Tomorrow Zain is going to look at how those ransom payments are actually made.
Also coming up here, Sarah Palin finally reacting strongly to accusations she might be somewhat to blame for the deadly shooting in Arizona. We're going to have that story and what she said, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) BALDWIN: Former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin has issued a statement on the shootings in Arizona and on the criticism directed at her really since Saturday. Since the tragic attack in Tucson, it has been pointed out in the media last march Palin posted a map on her website. Here it is. It's a map of congressional races denoted by symbol that appear to be crosshairs.
You'll also notice that one of the races to which Palin was calling attention was the race involving Congresswoman Giffords in Arizona, and Palin clearly wanted Giffords defeated. And these apparent crosshairs were pointed out all the way back in March and now pointed out again since the tragedy in Tucson on Saturday.
So I want to play you part of this. This is Sarah Palin, this is part of her recorded video statement response to the criticism against her.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SARAH PALIN, (R) FORMER ALASKA GOVERNOR: Like many, I spent the last few days reflecting on what happened and praying for guidance. After the shocking tragedy, I listened, at first puzzled, then with concern, and now with sadness to the irresponsible statements from people attempting to apportion blame for this terrible event, especially within hours of a tragedy unfolding.
Journalists and pundits should not manufacture a blood libel that only serves to incite the very hatred and violence that they purport to condemn. That is reprehensible.
When we take up our arms, we're talking about our vote. Yes, our debates are full of passion, but we settle our political differences respectfully at the ballot box, as we did just two months ago and as our republic enables us to do again in the next election, and the next. No one should be deterred from speaking up and speaking out in peaceful dissent.
And we certainly must not be deterred by those who embrace evil and call it good. And we will not be stopped from celebrating the greatness of our country and our foundational freedoms by those who mock its greatness by being intolerant of differing opinion and seeking to muzzle dissent with shrill cries of imagined insults.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: I should also tell that you Palin's entire response runs close to eight minutes, and she began this whole thing by noting her heart a broken for the innocent victims of Saturday's attack.
Jessica Yellin joining me now again live in Tucson. She's our national political correspondent. Jess, I know I have listened to this whole thing, as have you. We played only about a minute and a half of the statement. Overall here, what was Sarah Palin's message?
JESSICA YELLIN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: You know, her tone was very solemn and considered. It was clearly in depth. And her message was in two parts. One was, as you mentioned, this acknowledgment of the victims and the healing that should take place now, and then turning to the political discussion that America has to be a place where we have vibrant debates and where vigorous debate is welcomed.
And she focused on the fact this was a lone gunman not associated with any political party or political belief. And she really then turned to lashing out at the media, lashing out at critics who have tried to say that in any way her crosshairs and her language influenced the cultural environment here that could have contributed in any way to this kind of action.
So it was a very defiant and angry tone toward the end where she's clearly gave the sense she feels she's been unfairly -- profoundly unfairly persecuted in this case.
BALDWIN: And perhaps that's part of the reason -- do we know why Sarah Palin felt the need to come out with this eight-minute video?
YELLIN: Yes, you know, she only -- you know, she's been talked about since this happened, and the only response she's given was a posting online, a brief posting online, and then an e-mail to Glenn Beck. She felt this was her moment to speak in her own words what she feels is appropriate at this time. So it was her first remarks since this happened.
BALDWIN: And, you know, you look at other national leaders, been very much so quiet, almost going out of their way not to say things that are controversial right now. Does it seem to you that Palin is taking perhaps a different approach here?
YELLIN: Well, there is one piece of what she said that has on its -- while she was trying to tamp down controversy, it has sparked controversy. And you know Palin tends to have controversy around her. This is no exception.
She used the term "blood libel" in that statement that you played. And blood label has historical resonance for Jews. That was a phrase that was used by -- to describe Christians claiming that Jews have the blood of Jesus on their hands, that they used Christian blood in their own rituals. It was used as a reason to persecute Jews.
So now there are responses saying, for example, the Wiesenthal center, her remarks, "The use of this term was simply inappropriate." They said she has ever right to criticize journalists without going over the top.
Then there's this from Debbie Wasserman Schultz, a Democrat in Congress who is very close to Gabrielle Giffords and herself Jewish. Schultz's spokesperson says "Palin's comments either show a complete ignorance of history or blatant anti-Semitism. Either way it shows an appalling lack of sensitivity given representative Giffords' faith and the events of the past week." As you know, Gabrielle Giffords is also Jewish. So that's tipped off a bit of a debate now that will no doubt carry forward, Brooke.
BALDWIN: Jessica Yellin for us in Tucson. Jessica, thank you. I want to remind all of you we'll get another political update for new half an hour.
