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President Obama to Attend Arizona Memorial Service; Ammo Debate; Ammo Limits Proposed; Former Godfather's CEO Herman Cain's Possible Presidential Run; Deadly Flooding in Brazil; Lebanon's Cabinet Crisis; Palin Video on Tucson; 'On the Case'
Aired January 12, 2011 - 16:00 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: More than 30 bullets, that's what it took, according to police, for the Tucson shooter to gun down 19 people. And now some lawmakers are trying to ban certain types of ammo.
I'm Brooke Baldwin. The news is now.
SEN. FRANK LAUTENBERG (D), NEW JERSEY: There is no earthly reason for these weapons to have that kind of bullet capacity.
BALDWIN (voice-over): Senator Lautenberg is my guest live this hour.
Fourteen dead, dozens missing, and water covering an area twice the size of Texas. We're getting more incredible images from Australia.
A rape trial is dramatic enough, but in this courtroom the accused a questioning the alleged victim on the stand. Sunny Hostin is on the case.
Plus, a stunning development in the trial of Michael Jackson's personal physician. A witness for the prosecution admits he made a huge mistake. Will it set Conrad Murray free?
The news starts now.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BALDWIN: Here we go. Top of the hour. Hello once again. I'm Brooke Baldwin.
A lot of news happening right now. I want to begin with what's happening in Tucson, Arizona. Look at this. This memorial is growing and growing, really an outpouring of support and grief and comfort there in Tucson.
This is just outside of that hospital where Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords lies in critical condition this hour. Her doctor said today Giffords is making the progress they expect at this stage and in their words she's becoming more and more spontaneous. President Obama is en route to Tucson right now.
Next, we are monitoring what is being called a weather bomb in the Northeast, a severe winter storm punishing large chunks of the country right now, particularly in Boston. The city is expected to get just about 18 inches.
Next, take a look here. This is Dan Gorman, the athletic director of training at the University of Mount Union. He's out of Alliance, Ohio. Sad story here. He was killed last night when the wrestling team bus he was riding in reportedly crashed into a snowplow between Cleveland and Columbus.
The bus was returning from a wrestling match at another school. Four other people on the bus were hurt.
Next, five years in Iraq, more than 21,000 civilians killed by homemade bombs, that's according to the Pentagon in a new report that counted the casualties from IEDs, those improvised explosive devices. The deadliest year for IED victims was back in 2007. That's when nearly 20 people a day were killed by roadside or homemade bombs in Iraq.
Next, a manhunt under way for the person who mugged an elderly woman. Watch this with me, the whole thing caught on video. He takes her down -- 81-year-old walks into the subway station in New York. The suspect waits for her. You saw her tossed to the floor. He takes her purse. And there we go. Watch him just run off. The robbery left the woman with a broken shoulder and cuts to her head. By the way, she says she was on her way home from work and the thief made off with her paycheck. Oh. Cops hoping the public can help identify the suspect.
Next, sixth-graders may soon have to take random drug tests. That's a proposal in Belvidere, New Jersey. The town's board of education is scheduled to vote on this tonight. One principal says she hopes the test will act as a deterrent. It's worth mentioning, though, here, if children test positive, they would not be in trouble with the law or with school. Instead, they would get counseling or go to rehab.
Next, Jerry Brown taking away cell phones in California, at least the cell phones paid for by taxpayers. The new governor is demanding more than half of all state workers return their phones. Folks, that's 48,000 phones in all. Brown says the move will save the state $20 million a year.
Next, you know what they say. There's no such thing as bad publicity, especially if you are "Spider-Man." Here we go. The new musical is now Broadway's hottest ticket. The show reportedly made even more money than "Wicked" last week. How about that? This despite all of the show's problems, including serious, serious accidents on the set.
Next, where is the birthplace of wine you ask? France? Could it be Italy? No and no. Try Armenia. Researchers discovered what they say is a 6,000-year-old winery in a vast cave system there. Who would have thunk? They found a wine press, vats, even remnants of grapevines and seeds. The cave's roof collapsed and sealed off the secret for thousands of years.
Next, yesterday, some of my staff briefly -- I know, some of us were a little geeky over this -- applauded at 1:11 p.m., 1/11/11, you know, the date? Get it, all ones? All right. But 12 hours early, Minnesota families actually celebrated the moment with a new addition to their family. She was born, get this, at exactly 1:11 a.m. on January 11, 2011. Her parents were thrilled. Mom had this to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AMY ZELLER, MOTHER: We already figured she wasn't going to come until after midnight. And the closer it got, the more texts going, uh-huh, it's going to happen.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: And it did. Since we're talking babies, I love this picture. I tweeted this out earlier. Take a look at this picture. This is from North Carolina. Baby, dog, dog, dog, something is not like the others. You know that song, can you guess which one? The baby. Cutie-pie. Cute, cute, cute photo.
(STOCK MARKET UPDATE)
BALDWIN: Also now to a situation in Lebanon. Really, it's a serious situation that is developing there right now, the whole government there suddenly collapsing. Lawmakers are quitting left and right. We're gathering the facts. We will get a live report also ahead.
And coming up next, should certain types of high-powered ammunition be banned? This is this big debate after this massacre in Arizona. Senator Frank Lautenberg, one of those lawmakers pushing for the ban, good enough to join me live in New York. We will have that conversation after the break.
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BALDWIN: If you click on the CNN opinion page -- just go to CNN.com -- you may have checked out Senator Frank Lautenberg's call for a ban on a particular type of ammunition that was used in Saturday's shootings in Tucson.
The police say eyewitnesses on the scene Saturday, they tackled Jared Loughner when he paused to reload his weapon. It was a .9- millimeter Glock that could hold up to 30 bullets.
Senator Lautenberg joins me now.
And, Senator, I thank you for being on with me. I know it's tough for you to talk about this. Do you think that more lives would have been spared if he had used a different gun, different ammunition?
SEN. FRANK LAUTENBERG (D), NEW JERSEY: Well, we can speculate about that.
The fact is that the toll was high. The weapon that he had was the weapon used by law enforcement people, by the military. We send these guns to our soldiers and fighting people.
And to have a deranged person take this weapon -- and if he hadn't been stopped by a couple of heroic people alongside, he would have killed more people. And that volume of lethality, speaking of 30 bullets in a matter of seconds discharge, should not be in the hands of people casually, especially without having enough of a check about the person who is getting the gun that you don't know whether they're stable or not.
BALDWIN: What is it then, Senator, what is it about -- they call them these extended magazines, these high-capacity magazines that can hold all these bullets. What is it about that that prompted you to propose this legislation?
LAUTENBERG: Well, because, first of all, it was banned, for good reason, for about 10 years, ending in 2004, along with other automatic weapons.
And the fact that we let that ban lapse, and here we have what took place in Tucson with all of the damage that it did, with the heartbreak that it's got, where all the country is in mourning over this, there is no earthly reason that people casually interested in damage should be able to buy a weapon that can discharge that many bullets in that short of time.
BALDWIN: Sir, you referenced the assault weapons ban. We know it was signed in '94. It expired in 2004, as you mentioned. It banned not only this type of particular ammunition, but also Uzis and AK-47s and other semiautomatic firearms.
And also, though, sir, Democrats, they have moved away from this in a big way, including the president not pushing it, Democratic leaders not pushing it. In fact, from our senior congressional correspondent talking to sources on the Hill recently saying it's pro- gun Congress, going to fight fights they can win, and this ain't it.
Is this a fight, sir, that you think you can win, even if perhaps the president is not on board?
LAUTENBERG: Yes, I think so, because, when people see the sadness, the grief that surrounded this killing, these killings, people are saying, we don't want that. We don't want that in our community.
And they're going to let their representatives, be they senators or a representative, they're going to let them know. And we're going to carry the message to the public and we're going to force their hands. We're going to make people who are opposed to it stand up and tell us why they're opposed to protecting people like the 9-year-old or the congresswoman or the elderly woman from New Jersey who was there on a visit, innocent people. They should not be slaughtered like cattle. BALDWIN: And I think, no matter what side of the political aisle you're on, people agree with you there.
But, then, on the flip side, sir, you have gun rights activists. And they have several arguments here. They say a limit on ammunition is really a limit on their Second Amendment right. They say if the bad guys out there, if they want this kind of gun, if they want this kind of extended-capacity ammunition, they're going to find one, they're going to get one.
What do you say to those activists?
LAUTENBERG: Well, we say that we don't want you to be able to buy a gun that can discharge this many bullets in such a short period of time because of the mayhem that's possible to be create. And we know there are people who are deranged or unstable who may want to get one of these weapons to enhance their reputation or some crazy thing. Well, we don't want that to happen.
And I think the people of America now feel wounded by what took place in Tucson these days ago. The country is in the midst of a lot of grief, somber moments, reflection, and I think that we can raise the consciousness enough to get this done.
I'm doing it with Carolyn McCarthy who lost a son and a husband was killed when the son was wounded, and she's going to work very hard on the House side and I'm going to work hard on the Senate side. We're going to get it done.
BALDWIN: Senator Frank Lautenberg, I want to remind everyone they can read your piece, just go to CNN.com. Senator, I want to thank you for coming on.
I want to remind everyone that there will be a memorial at the Mckale Center University of Arizona campus. The president is en route right now with a number of other members of Congress, also former Arizona governor and current Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano. That should start right around 8:00 Eastern.
Moving along, did a couple in Mississippi catch a meteor streaking across the sky on video? Coming up, I'll let you be the judge. You can see it for yourself.
And let the 2012 talk begin. A high-profile talk show host is now considering a presidential run. Joe Johns has the "Political Pop" here. Joe is next.
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BALDWIN: So who do you think is going to be running for president next year? Some potential candidates may not be ready to throw their hats in the ring just yet, but they're starting to generate some serious buzz.
Joe Johns in D.C. with our "Political Pop" today.
Mr. Johns, good to see you. Sir, who are we talking about here?
JOE JOHNS, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, there's a lot of buzz right now involving some of the usual suspects. Newt Gingrich, Haley Barbour, Mitch Daniels to name three. But hey, we had to start today with a guy in the news who is not exactly a household name, unless you really like pizza. And we're talking about Herman Cain, the former CEO of Godfather's Pizza, who is forming a presidential exploratory committee. Cain's also a conservative talk show host. He's become something of a Tea Party favorite.
CNN's Shannon Travis talked to him about a potential run for the White House. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HERMAN CAIN, FORMER CEO, GODFATHER'S PIZZA: If I run for president, I will not be promising a pizza in every home. I will be promising an opportunity for you to go out and get your pizza to put in your home.
That's the difference in the philosophical approach that I have. I believe, Shannon, government should be in the business of, first, leveling the playing field, and secondly, helping people to help themselves.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: So he obviously, Joe, making light of the fact he's a former pizza guy. So let me ask the obvious, which is, what is it about him that makes him this potential player in presidential politics?
JOHNS: Well, he doesn't come out of nowhere. First place, Herman Cain is well known in Republican circles. He does have a great personal story, has a reputation as a no-nonsense businessman.
He's been making noises, frankly, about running for president for more than a decade and he also ran for the Senate in Georgia in 2004. So at this stage, it's really just about the money you can raise or can't raise and at least he sort of taking a look at it early to see if it's doable.
BALDWIN: We're looking at Cain. We're also looking at some other potential candidates here creating buzz as well even though we have the memorial services not yet out of the way in Arizona.
JOHNS: Right, right. I mean, the D.C. machine is slowly, and I emphasize slowly, getting back into its January routine. Right now, it's what you call retreat time around here when members of the new Congress go off somewhere to sort of huddle and talk about the plan for the session.
Republicans are going to Baltimore starting tomorrow. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich is expected to be there. In fact, speaking to members of Congress would be his sweet spot as it were. Also, we're expecting Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour there. Barbour just gave his State of the State Address in Mississippi. Among the things he talked about was supporting a civil rights museum in that speech, which has launched a lot of speculation he's just trying to get his ducks in a row on minority outreach.
BALDWIN: Yes, a lot of people mentioning his name also. That was his state of the state. There's another state of the state by Mitch Daniels, governor of Indiana.
JOHNS: Right, and this is a guy who talks fiscal responsibility all the time, so it's no surprise really that he did the same thing last night. Daniels now allegedly used to be called "The Blade" when he was the director of the Office of Management and Budget here in Washington. I say allegedly because I never heard him called that in all the time I have been around this city.
BALDWIN: Why "The Blade"? Because he cut the budget?
(CROSSTALK)
JOHNS: Yes, right. He's a budget cutter. Cute, right? It also sounds like something that a press secretary would conveniently throw out there.
Anyway, Daniels is supposed to be appearing at something called CPAC here next month, which the annual Conservative Political Action Conference is called. This is a big stage, but Daniels is one of those guys who might have rubbed a few conservatives the wrong way because he told them last year, I believe it was, that they ought to focus a little bit more on the economy and sort of cool it for now on the social issues. So that makes him a controversial figure at CPAC.
BALDWIN: Yes, we'll be looking at CPAC next week.
Joe Johns, hey, enjoy the snow, will you. We're not so much enjoying it anymore, but you have fun in Washington.
Joe Johns, thank you, in Washington.
A murder mystery now unraveling. A woman killed on her honeymoon, her body found inside her hotel room and police say they have a pretty good idea as to what happened. That is ahead.
And there is an urgent problem in Lebanon right now just as the president, President Obama, meets with the country's prime minister. Nearly a dozen leaders up and quit, and now the entire Unity Government has collapsed. That is next.
But first this, we have a list for you. A new report has a pretty grim outlook for the rising global debt crisis. This information suggesting several European countries once considered safe sovereigns are now more likely to default than Iraq.
Here is the list. Rounding out the number five spot, you have Argentina with a default probability of 35.4 percent. Number four, Portugal, 35.9 percent. And number three with a 41.2 percent probability of default, Ireland.
What are the top two countries most likely to default? Stick around. We'll share those with you next.
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BALDWIN: What were once considered some of the world's most stable markets have taken some drastic turns, many are now on the verge of default according to the CMA Datavision reports. I wanted to get to the top two.
Number two on their list, Venezuela with a default probability of 51.4 percent. And number one, the number one country most likely to default with a whopping 58.8 percent, Greece.
And "Globe Trekking" we go now, taking a look at some of the other stories sort of percolating overseas thanks to Hala Gorani, our favorite anchor over at CNN International.
And I hate to bring it up again, but you know, Australia still very much a story. We can't get over these incredible images. And I think it was the Queensland premier saying this is the worst natural disaster in our history.
HALA GORANI, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR AND CORRESPONDENT: Well, there is just a tiny sliver of good news.
BALDWIN: Bring it.
GORANI: And that is -- right -- the river has crested, the Brisbane River has crested. It didn't reach the peak that the river reached in 1974 for the big wet --
BALDWIN: It didn't?
GORANI: It did not. But look at these pictures, this is all you need to see. And we're looking at a death toll of 17, 43 still missing, tens of thousands, of course, affected, homeless.
And you know, the big irony here is everyone is surrounded by water, but people were told to preserve water because the water treatment plant might be affected. Electricity, phone service, of course, affected as well in this area that is extremely large when you consider it's at least once the size of Texas and we're hearing potentially --
BALDWIN: Maybe double the size.
Look at the furniture on the roof. What about even just trying to get helicopters and emergency services to these people? You see the car just sort of stuck in the middle of the water. Are they able to do it? Are they successful?
GORANI: Well, they are able to do what they can, but I know we're going to talk about Brazil as well and the navy might be called in that situation. BALDWIN: Let's get to Brazil. We're talking more flooding in Brazil. Is it near -- is it near Rio?
GORANI: Right, it is north of Rio, 127 people confirmed dead. The navy might be called in because emergency services aren't able to reach people affected because mudslides have blocked roads. So now the landslides are a problem.
This is a picturesque, beautiful region called Cerana (ph) and many homes there without power, without phone contact. So calling for help is also an issue.
BALDWIN: And it's tricky, I guess you mentioned mudslides because a lot of the terrain in Brazil is mountainous.
GORANI: Right, it's mountainous. And we see it a lot in Latin America and mountainous regions, when it rains heavily, you have mudslide situations and that just doesn't just affect the people caught in the mudslides, it makes help very difficult for -- it makes it very difficult for help to reach the victims.
BALDWIN: Lebanon. Hala Gorani, give me Lebanon in 60 seconds.
GORANI: This is, as I was telling you, it's like explaining the Theory of Relativity in 60 seconds. An extremely complex situation, but one in the end that might lead to something very simple and that is open conflict and war.
BALDWIN: What's happened?
GORANI: Lebanon no stranger.
Hezbollah, supported by Iran and Syria, pulled its ministers by a Unity Government. The Unity Government was supported and still is by the United States, the West, and Saudi Arabia, it's allies in the region.
Now the government has collapsed. What does that mean? It means this man, Saad Hariri, who was the prime minister of Lebanon and still is, might not be in power anymore. It means that Hezbollah is in its protest against the tribunal looking into the assassination of Saad Hariri's father, Rafik Hariri, is saying --
BALDWIN: A couple years ago.
GORANI: -- we're not playing ball anymore with you and this government. This was in 2005, the assassination of Rafik Hariri. A U.N. investigation into it has been opposed by Hezbollah because of concern that Hezbollah will be blamed for implication in the assassination.
BALDWIN: What about the Lebanese people? What are they saying? Fears of uprisings in Lebanon?
GORANI: There's always a fear. The thing about Lebanon is there's always percolating under the surface tension. Why? Because we're looking at 18 different sects and tribes and influences. So Lebanon is always, you know, at the mercy of a crisis. And the big fear is, of course, if there is a conflict, it will infect the rest of the region, and you have Israel to its south with which Hezbollah had a conflict in 2006.
And the United States is supporting financially the central government and the central Lebanese army. So, you have a militia in the south, Hezbollah, a central government that is weak, and the United States really hoping it won't get worse.
BALDWIN: Hala Gorani, Lebanon in 120 seconds. Not too shabby.
GORANI: I tried! I tried!
BALDWIN: Hala, thank you so much. From CNN International.
Also a young woman -- have you heard about this? She dies on her honeymoon. She had just married this famous athlete and police say someone murdered her.
This is Michaela Hart (ph). She's a teacher. A former beauty queen. Her husband is a football star in Ireland. Here's what the police say happened. The couple were at a restaurant at their lavish hotel - this is just two weeks after they walked down the aisle and said their "I dos." She apparently went back up to the hotel room and never came back.
Her husband is the one who found her body. Strangled. Police say he's not a suspect here. Instead, we're being told this may have been a robbery. Investigators are now talking to staff at that hotel. The person who did it used an electronic room key, so still a mystery there in Ireland. We'll follow this story and keep you updated.
And the population is growing. People are living longer, and we're getting brand new numbers on how cancer will affect Americans down the road. You have got to hear this.
Also, at this very hour, on this very day last year, people in Haiti were living their lives, going about as normal you could have in Haiti here. Just really in a matter of minutes, this earthquake rocked their lives forever. We are going live to Port-au-Prince, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: Time to play "Reporter Roulette." There's a lot going on in the world today from here to Haiti.
I want to begin here with senior medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen on this new report from the National Cancer Institute who says the cost of fighting cancer could go up as much as 66 percent in this country by the year 2020. Elizabeth, why the huge spike?
ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: You know, it's really quite simple. The baby boomers are growing older, and older people are more likely to get cancer. And that's why the National Cancer Institute says that costs could go from $124 billion this year to $207 billion in 2020. Now, that's a worst-case scenario. They hope it doesn't go up by that much, Brooke.
BALDWIN: I know the researchers looked at 13 cancers in men, they looked at 16 in women. Which ones do they predict will be associated with the biggest cost increases?
COHEN: The most expensive seem to be breast cancer and prostate cancer, simply because those are the most common, so that's where you get the most expenditures.
BALDWIN: How can -- can we do anything at all to bring the costs down?
COHEN: You know what? We can. The American Cancer Society, Brooke, says half of all cancer deaths are actually preventable if we just change our lifestyles. So if Americans quit smoking, kept to a healthy weight and exercised regularly, that would help. And of course get regular screenings like mammograms and prostate cancer screenings.
BALDWIN: Elizabeth Cohen, thank you.
Next on "Reporter Roulette," we have Ivan Watson live at Port- au-Prince, Haiti, marking the one-year since that devastating earthquake. Ivan, I remember watching you. I can't believe it was one year ago. Talk to me a little bit about the then and the now and what, if anything, has changed.
IVAN WATSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's a somber day here. Haitians all commemorating this terrible day, the anniversary in their own way. In some cases, we have seen people quietly gathering with their loved ones next to the grave of a loved one who died on that terrible day one year ago. In other cases hundreds, thousands of people gathering in stadiums for multi-denominational prayer services, taking comfort in each other's company and in prayer a year after this cataclysmic event.
BALDWIN: Ivan, it's a somber day.
Gary Tuchman also in Port-au-Prince tells me they're still pulling bodies out of the rubble today. Also, there was the cholera outbreak. Are there any signs of positive change?
WATSON: Very few, unfortunately. I mean, you can see behind me, this tent city here is smack dab in the center of Port-Au-Prince right next to the ruins of the presidential palace. You have tens of thousands of people living here. Close to a million in camps like this all across the city. Next to the ruin of houses. Still very little of the rubble has been picked up. And that's a year after this earthquake took place.
One of the bright spots had been that disease had not broken out in these vulnerable communities in the first six months. Well, now there's a cholera epidemic that's raging. More than 3,600 people dead and that death toll is rising. The big question, where did all that money go that was pledged to help this country out?
BALDWIN: Ivan Watson in Port-au-Prince. Ivan, thank you. That is our "Reporter Roulette."
Did a meteor streak across the sky last night? People in several states say, yes, they did indeed see one. We're going to show you the video. Want to know what you think.
Plus, President Obama right now en route on Air Force one to Arizona to honor those victims of the massacre in Arizona. Also, several high-profile people are sitting right alongside him on that plane. Gloria Borger is standing by. We'll talk about that. CNN political ticker coming up next.
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BALDWIN: Where were you at 8:45 Central time last night? If you were anywhere near a window, then you might have noticed this bright flash of light overhead, and you might have witnessed what some believe was a meteor.
Scott and Paula King sent us this video. You can kind of see it, I guess, reflecting on their back pool area. The flashes from their home in Mississippi. Flashes of light, very much so evident in the video. Reports of a meteor came in from states also across the South.
Did you see it? Send me a tweet. I'm curious.
And CNN Equals Politics. Gloria Borger joins me now with the latest news crossing the ticker. I imagine, Gloria, item number one, the fact the president now en route on Air Force One to Tucson, and he is sitting by several other very high-profile people as well.
GLORIA BORGER, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: He is, and I can guarantee you, Brooke, that he's probably working on his speech right now, making the final touches on it. You know, he's somebody who is quite a writer, and he likes to really look at these speeches himself and work them over.
So he's doing that, but you're right. He does have quite an august crew of folks with him on their way to Arizona. Of course, Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi, the attorney general Eric Holder, the homeland security adviser, Janet Napolitano. Do not forget, she is the former governor of the state of Arizona. Supreme Court justice Anthony Kennedy because as we all know, a federal judge was murdered over the weekend in this event. Several members of the Arizona congressional delegation.
What's really interesting, Brooke, is that among those Arizona members is freshman congressman Ben Quail. And you remember congressman Ben Quail during the campaign gave a speech - or a campaign commercial, I should say -- where he looked right into the camera and said that Barack Obama was the worst president in history. Well, he is sitting on that plane with President Barack Obama. So, quite a bipartisan group heading to this memorial tonight. Also, speaking of bipartisanship, Brooke, there's an interesting proposal that just came across our desk this afternoon from Senator Udall of Colorado. He suggested that at the president's state of the union address that Democrats and Republicans instead of sitting on separate sides of the House of Representatives as they do, divided by party, that they all sit together this time as a show of unity to the American people. He said, quote -- let me quote this, "Perhaps by sitting with each other for one night, we will begin to rekindle the common spark that brought us here."
I think that's a pretty good idea. What about you?
BALDWIN: How about that? Sitting together. I'd love to see if they actually would follow through on that, Gloria Borger. Let us know, will you?
BORGER: We will. Interesting.
BALDWIN: Gloria Borger for me in Washington. Thanks, Gloria.
Also, huge, huge developments in the case against Michael Jackson's doctor. People sitting in the courtroom, they actually let out this audible gasp when a witness took to the stand, talking about the possibility of the singer killing himself.
We're "On The Case." That is ahead.
Plus, Sarah Palin responds to her critics days after that shooting in Arizona, but a phrase she used is bringing on even more heat. That is next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: Now I want to get you tomorrow's news today.
Let's "Fast Forward" and begin with the fact that the family and friends honoring 9-year-old Christina Green days after she was killed in the Arizona shooting will be doing that tomorrow. A funeral is scheduled for early tomorrow afternoon.
Also, Republicans kick off their annual GOP retreat in Baltimore. Possible presidential hopefuls might be there, including Newt Gingrich and Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour.
And a trustee will ask a federal judge if he can start giving out money to victims in the Bernie Madoff scam. Remember, the amount so far, $7 billion there.
And I want to bring in my colleague Wolf Blitzer here in just a moment to react to this video that has been trending online all day today, Sarah Palin's statement on this Tucson tragedy.
But first, here is just a piece of it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) SARAH PALIN (R), FMR. ALASKA GOVERNOR: Like many I've spent the last few days reflecting on what happened, 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 serves only 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: And that was just a piece of her video address. It's about eight minutes there in total.
But I want to show you this tweet. This is from Wolf Blitzer. This is from earlier today.
Guys, take a look at this. Wolf tweeted, "Sarah Palin's video address was carefully scripted and highly produced."
So I want to bring Wolf in now.
And Wolf, we know Sarah Palin, she has this TV studio built into her home to accommodate her multiple media appearances. So I don't know if we know for a fact it was in her home, but to your point about how it was highly produced, do we know who produced the video for her?
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: I don't know who did, but it was obviously well produced, as she was clearly, for almost eight minutes, looking into a camera, reading from a teleprompter. She does that very well. President Obama does that very well himself when he delivers these kinds of addresses.
I almost thought it was like a prebuttal, her comments before his speech tonight, his remarks at the memorial service in Tucson. You saw her with the fireplace behind her, the American flag, and she spoke calmly. She spoke very deliberately.
Obviously, all of her words were carefully considered. This was a well-thought out remark, although the words "blood libel," as she used them in those remarks, that's causing a huge controversy right now --
BALDWIN: Yes. Explain that to me, Wolf.
BLITZER: -- given the history of that phrase. It's a phrase that's been going around for a long time. Normally, it refers to anti-Semites over the centuries accusing Jews of killing Christian children and using their blood for Jewish rituals like baking matzo during Passover, for example.
It's got that huge connotation. That's why some Jewish groups like the Anti-Defamation League have criticized Sarah Palin today for using that specific phrase, because it is so laden with history and so powerful, libel, if you will, so powerful a condemnation to make.
So it's just one of the issues that's coming up. We're certainly going to go in depth and take a closer look at that during the course of THE SITUATION ROOM over the next two hours.
But it's causing controversy, as you can appreciate, Brooke.
BALDWIN: It's causing controversy. And apparently the Palin camp subsequently offered no comment with regard to that particular phrase.
But I also want to remind all of our viewers you, Wolf Blitzer, you are anchoring our live coverage of this whole Tucson memorial this evening. Obviously, not an easy task for the president tonight, probably making those finishing touches as he's en route to Tucson on Air Force One right now.
What kind of tone does he need to strike tonight?
BLITZER: He needs to strike the appropriate tone, which is one of sadness. He, in effect, is the mourner in chief right now. Six individuals brutally killed for no reason whatsoever, including a federal judge, a 9-year-old little girl. How sad is this?
BALDWIN: So sad.
BLITZER: The memorial service is supposed to last for one hour, beginning at 8:00 p.m. Eastern, going until 9:00 p.m. Eastern. We're told the president will speak for 20 minutes or so during the course of that hour, and there will be other speakers as well.
We'll have live coverage of the whole thing here on CNN, and our coverage will begin right after "JOHN KING USA" at 8:00 p.m. Eastern.
BALDWIN: We will look for you then. And before then, of course, we'll see you in just a couple minutes there on "THE SITUATION ROOM" with more on Tucson and many other stories as well, Wolf Blitzer. Thank you.
And still to come here, a man accused of raping a woman not only sees her in court, he cross-examines her. Sunny Hostin is on that case. That is next.
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BALDWIN: I want to show you this piece of video. This is a mugging of this elderly woman, and so this manhunt is under way right now for this person.
You see him throwing her down, an 81-year-old woman. She was walking into the subway. This is New York.
The suspect, as you saw -- and we'll show you again -- throws her down on the ground. There she goes.
He takes her purse, and you see him taking of and running out of the frame. The robbery left the woman with a broken shoulder and cuts on her head. Police, they're hoping you perhaps can recognize this person, can identify the suspect, and call police.
Michael Jackson's doctor will be going on trial for the star's death.
Sunny Hostin is "On the Case" from Westchester County, New York.
Sunny, I saw the picture of the snow outside of your door. I thought this was a clue to us that you would not quite be making it in.
How are you?
(LAUGHTER)
SUNNY HOSTIN, "IN SESSION," TRUTV: I'm great, Brooke.
BALDWIN: Let's talk about this case. And there was a bit of a bombshell in this courtroom just yesterday. A prosecution witness testified that Jackson may have given himself the final dose of propofol.
HOSTIN: That's right. I mean, it was really interesting.
And we've always had this sense that the defense was going to argue that Michael Jackson may have injected himself with additional propofol or took some orally. I think that is clearly a long shot, that the Michael Jackson killed himself defense will work, Brooke.
I mean, the government's witness testified that while it's possible, it just isn't really probable. And there really isn't any evidence to suggest that Michael Jackson even did that.
But at the trial, I mean, I would imagine it only takes one juror to believe that that happened, and that could lead to reasonable doubt, that Dr. Murray wasn't responsible for his death. And if not acquittal, then perhaps a hung jury. So, in my view, it's a long shot, but I think the defense is probably going to go for that one.
BALDWIN: And that was when -- you know, I guess when the witness said that, there was this big gasp within this room.
But let me ask you this -- could the same testimony during Murray's trial result in Murray being acquitted?
HOSTIN: Well, you know, it's quite possible. Obviously, the judge here did not buy that argument since he's going to trial, Dr. Conrad Murray. But, you know, consists of 12 people, as opposed to just one. So, if one person believes that Michael Jackson may have injected himself with propofol, even though the i.v. was his in leg, or perhaps took some orally, who knows?
I think it's a long shot, but it is possible.
BALDWIN: Looking ahead, Sunny, paint the picture for me. What would we expect in an actual trial?
HOSTIN: Well, I think we got really a great preview, Brooke, of the government's case, and it really is a compelling one.
You know, we heard more -- I think we will hear more of the evidence that we heard, that is Dr. Murray ordered approximately four gallons of propofol to treat Michael Jackson with. We will hear that he administered it to Michael Jackson almost every day for several months, that he was trying to wean Michael Jackson off of it, but he was using it in a non-hospital setting.
He left his side on the day that he died for some time. When he came back, Michael Jackson wasn't breathing. There was a lapse of time before 911 was even called.
And Dr. Murray never told the paramedics at the scene he had given Michael Jackson propofol. And, in fact, he tried to clean up evidence of his use of propofol. And we are going to hear that during the trial, if indeed it goes to trial.
BALDWIN: Right, if indeed it goes to trial.
Second case, Sunny, ,this is a case we were all sort of talking about in our morning meeting. I want to play just a snippet from this trial. This is a snippet of testimony from just yesterday.
Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did this person at any time ever show you a badge?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, you did not show me a badge.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: This is from a rape trial in Tampa, Florida. That's why her face was blurred.
The witness is the alleged rape victim, and the man questioning her is the defendant. So he's representing himself in court.
And Sunny, I didn't even know this was possible. What do you make of this? How does this happen?
HOSTIN: Well, you know, of course, I'm just as outraged as everyone else, but every defendant has a right to represent himself or herself at a trial.
But this is an awful position for the victim to be in. Many people are saying she's being victimized yet again.
But I will say from what I have seen, she was so strong in that witness -- in that trial, on the witness stand, which is so commendable. I think she really stood up to who she is accusing of raping her.
BALDWIN: Last question, 30 seconds, Sunny. Is this likely to end in a mistrial?
HOSTIN: Not on the ground alone that he represented himself and cross-examined her. Not on that ground because that is his right.
BALDWIN: How often do we see a defendant choose to represent himself? Is it really an anomaly?
HOSTIN: It is not. I have tried cases with defendants representing themselves. It's a difficult thing to do, when you're a lawyer up against someone representing themselves. We call it pro se. But it happens more often than you think -- Brooke.
BALDWIN: Sunny Hostin calling in from a very snowy Connecticut.
Sunny, thanks so much.
HOSTIN: Thanks.
BALDWIN: Be safe shoveling a little bit of that snow.
That is it for us here. I'm Brooke Baldwin.
I'm going to send things off to Washington, Wolf Blitzer in "THE SITUATION ROOM" -- Wolf.
