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Ex-U.S. Congressman to Meet with Gadhafi; Clock Ticks toward Government Shutdown; Florida Congresswoman to Lead DNC; Opposition Forces Storm Ivory Coast Palace; Billionaire Branson to Travel to Bottom of Ocean; Federal Reserve May Hike Interest Rates; Giants Fan Nearly Beaten to Death
Aired April 06, 2011 - 08:59 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. And I will be there tomorrow morning to watch you guys. Thanks so much.
It is 9:00 a.m. on the East Coast, 6:00 a.m. on the West. I'm Carol Costello, in for Kyra Phillips.
Some top stories we're following this morning. The FAA is ordering airlines flying older 737s to inspect them more often.
It comes days after a Southwest 737 had to make an emergency landing when a hole opened up in the roof.
On Capitol Hill and across the country, a possible government shutdown is now two days away. Budget talks between Democrats and Republicans still at an impasse.
Also at an impasse: NFL owners and players, the athletes' anti-trust case kicks off today. The players want a judge to lift the owners' lockout.
Former congressman Curt Weldon is in Libya right now. He is meeting with Moammar Gadhafi. Weldon met the colonel on an official visit back in 2004. This time around, his trip is private.
He writes in the "New York Times," Our purpose is to meet with Colonel Gadhafi today and persuade him to step aside. I've met him enough times to know that it will be very hard to simply bomb him into submission."
Weldon says Gadhafi's chief of staff invited him and that the White House and Congress know about the trip.
So let's talk more about this with CNN's Nic Robertson. He is live in Tripoli.
So, Nic, do you think Weldon can make something happen?
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, this is really what the Libyans have been waiting for, some diplomatic contact with the United States. They are very angry with the Europeans and have been quite angry with the United States. The record, of course, speaks for itself. We have heard from Gadhafi. But he seems to be toning down that rhetoric now. Indeed, we have heard that there is a letter coming from Gadhafi going to President Obama commenting on the fact the United States has pulled out of what he calls the crusader alliance against Libya. It seems to be a reference to the United States planes taking a backseat in involvement in the enforcement of the no-fly zone.
So what former Congressman Weldon is going to be saying is a series of proposal that include a ceasefire, other things that the U.N. has called for, pulling out -- Gadhafi forces pulling out of key cities.
But there's also going to be some things in there for Gadhafi himself and for the rebels that Gadhafi could get an honorary title, perhaps, honorary chairman of the African Union. That there should be an interim parliament here. That there would be a parliamentary advisory, international committee set up to help Libya.
But the leading opposition figure could form a transitional type of government with the prime minister here in Libya at the moment. So there's a lot there that may -- that may -- that Gadhafi may like. Of course, all his advisers say the key thing is not to tell him to step down.
And what we're hearing from former Representative Weldon is that he is going to say, step aside. The language here is so important. So there's real potential here -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Interesting. Can you talk more about this Libyan TV report that claims Gadhafi sent a letter to President Obama?
ROBERTSON: Well, I think we need to look at that in the context of former Representative Weldon's arrival here because this sort of seems to be a bold out of the blue.
After all this sort of anti-American rhetoric that we've heard from Gadhafi leadership, privately what we've been hearing is that really secretly that the leadership here has hoped and believed that they have a better relationship with the United States than they do with the Europeans. And that they've been hoping that relationship would pay off.
So what this letter essentially is or portrays a situation for Libyan consumption, if you will, is that Libya or the United States is no longer at war with Libya. And that creates some diplomatic space here for Gadhafi to back away from his rhetoric, to make it seem like he's getting on OK with the United States, that something has changed, that he's brought this about and allows that diplomatic space that Weldon is now going to walk into. Perhaps to bring some into fruition -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Fascinating stuff. Nic Robertson, live in Tripoli. Many thanks as always.
U.S. government engineers are warning that some of the techniques being used to stabilize damaged nuclear reactors in Japan could lead to new threats like explosions and ruptures.
"The New York Times" is reporting that the warnings are part of a confidential assessment report prepared by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
This morning Tokyo Power Company officials are reporting some good news. They say water is no longer gushing into the Pacific Ocean from the number two reactor building. In the meantime, Japanese fishermen are calling the utilities' actions insulting, incompetent, and, quote, "unforgivable", over the course of this nuclear crisis.
The Fishing Trade Group issued a statement just hours after meeting with power company officials.
Finally, the U.S. Department of Defense is reducing the number of ships and aircraft it is contributing to the Japanese response effort.
No deal on a federal budget but did you really think there would be one? The two sides can't even agree if there was at one point a compromised reached between Democrats and Republicans.
We do know a lot of numbers are being tossed around, $73 billion in cuts, $10 billion in cuts, $40 billion in cuts. But the most pressing number right now, two. We're two days away from the first government shutdown in 15 years.
Brianna Keilar on the phone from Capitol Hill.
I understand you got stuck in traffic, Brianna. And we understand that perfectly.
BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, certainly, no government shutdown here. It is very bustling in the capital today. But you know I think when we look at all of the different numbers, Carol, what's important to remember is there are many different moving parts here and it's not just about how much Democrats or Republicans can stomach in spending cuts.
One of the big things on the table here is a number of hot-button social issues. And particularly health care reform. And House Republicans want is to defund health care reform. They want to defund Planned Parenthood so then you have really the abortion issue playing into this.
They want to take on the Environmental Protection Agency and then it's not really hot-button social issue so much, but there are some cuts to Head Start programs. And these are things that are on the table and certainly House Republicans, the way it works is, if they can get more in the way of some of these hot-button social issues, then maybe they could go with less cuts. You can see how the number is really contingent on those things -- Carol.
COSTELLO: And all of those things add up to what, 1/50th of the budget? So we're not even talking about that much money.
Brianna, there's so much extreme rhetoric out there on both sides. I mean Republican Congressman Paul Brown is calling the shutdown a diabolical plot on the part of Democrats. The Democrats are painting all Tea Party-backed lawmakers as extreme.
You're on the inside there. You're inside the bubble. Are there lawmakers in a compromising mood?
KEILAR: Well, I know -- and when you talk about Congressman Brown, and I know that you're going to be talking with him, I wouldn't say that what he says is representative of the mainstream. But what it certainly does show is the difficulty that Speaker John Boehner has in dealing with a Tea Party-backed contingent, many of whom are his freshmen.
And having to walk a line between maybe some Republicans who would be in more of a compromising mood and some Republicans who say, no, we want these hot-button social issues and no, we don't want to fend on cuts.
You know what we're hearing in this -- I'll tell you from Democratic sources, the meeting yesterday between Speaker Boehner and Senate majority leader Harry Reid, that there was some progress in it.
There's no meeting today scheduled at the White House, Carol. And Democrats are saying that should be taken as a good sign.
But I think if you were to boil it all down, the mood up here on Capitol Hill is uncertainly. When you talk to just people that work here, when you talk to rank-and-file members, they can't tell you exactly what's going to happen. And there certainly is concern there could be a shutdown.
COSTELLO: Brianna, stuck somewhere in Washington, D.C. You'll eventually make it to your destination but many thanks.
Brianna Keilar live from Washington.
And as Brianna said, we'll ask Congressman Paul Brown why he thinks the shutdown is a diabolical Democratic plot and if he thinks that kind of language is really helping the debate. He'll join us in just a few minutes.
There's going to be a new person in charge of the Democratic National Committee and she has the representation for being a tenacious political fighter.
CNN's senior political editor Mark Preston is here with the details.
This is the first, this is history-making.
MARK PRESTON, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL EDITOR: Well, it's history-making because we're seeing a woman actually head the Democratic National Committee during a presidential year.
Let's tell you a little bit about her. First, Carol, it's Debbie Wasserman-Schultz. She's a congressman from Southern Florida, she's a mother of three, she's a breast cancer survivor. And as you said, she's very tenacious. She's very good on television. She's very good at selling the Democratic agenda.
Well, she will be the pick -- President Obama's pick to head the Democratic National Committee which is a very important job heading into 2012 for two reasons. One, Debbie Wasserman-Schultz will be President Obama's top surrogate on the campaign trail. Also will be the top surrogate here in Washington when President Obama needs to look presidential, she can look political.
She's also a prolific fundraiser. So she will help President Obama reach that goal, as we've been talking all week, of about $1 billion. We think that he is going to raise to try to win reelection.
You know talking about President Obama's reelection, he put out his reelection video just a couple of days ago. But Republicans are snickering a little bit because, Carol, they put out a video of their own. In fact the National Senatorial Committee, they're in charge of electing Senate Republicans. They put on a parody video. And they are getting a lot more views on YouTube.
In fact just this morning, the NRSC received 869,000 views of their parody video. Meanwhile, President Obama's video only got 287,000 views. But let me just say this, in his defense, though, Carol, if you look at his Twitter feed, President Obama has 7.3 million followers.
COSTELLO: Whoa.
PRESTON: Compared to the NRSC. It only has 13,000 followers. And if you look at his Facebook page, President Obama has 19 million people who are following him on Facebook while only 27,000 are following the NRSC. But as the NRSC will point out and they're absolutely correctly, they put no money behind this video. It just went viral. So they'll try to win any little battle they can in the race for 2012 -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Yes, I can believe that. Mark Preston, many thanks.
We'll have your next political update in one hour. And a reminder, for all the latest political news, go to our Web site, CNNpolitics.com.
New worries as to how al Qaeda may take advantage of the civil unrest sweeping through much of the Middle East.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There are ways we can get counterterrorism operations in the country without relying on a -- essentially a two- bit dictator to get you there.
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: We'll take a look at how the growing anti-government protest in Yemen might hinder America's war on terror. That's next.
And NFL players are still locked out. What does it mean for the football season and new players hoping to get drafted? You know the big hearing starts today. We'll talk to a former NFL star just ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: A five-month political stalemate may be ending. May be ending. Opposition forces in the Ivory Coast have attacked the home of the country's longtime president. He lost reelection last year but he refused to leave office. Now it's looking like he may have to be removed by force.
Zain Verjee is live in London.
Zain, I thought this guy was ready to step down?
ZAIN VERJEE, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: That's what he said. That's what everyone thought. They were negotiating the terms of his surrender and then he decided, well, hang on a minute, I'm not going to go anywhere. I am the right full president. I am going to stay.
Well, he's in a bunker below the presidential palace right now.
Let me just show you the two guys who are at the heart of all of this. Just take a look at this picture. On the left-hand side is the man who refuses to go and says he won. Laurent Gbagbo, he's been the president of Ivory Coast for a while. On the right hand side is his rival. A guy called Alassane Ouattara. The entire world has endorsed him and said yes, you are the right full president. He's basically had it now and he has reportedly sent his forces into the presidential palace to seize Laurent Gbagbo and drag him out.
I spoke to one senior U.S. official just moments ago who knows what's going on right now on Ivory Coast. And he said that the door for negotiations for Gbagbo has closed and it's just this one guy who's holding the entire country hostage because he can't admit that he lost.
COSTELLO: It's like an episode of "24" but sadly it's real and it's costing lives. I mean --
VERJEE: Yes.
COSTELLO: Tell us why this country's political battle is so important.
VERJEE: It's really important what happens here, because you have a situation where two leaders are claiming that they won an election. This happens a lot in countries, particularly in Africa, right? So, what happens in this situation is going to send a very strong signal to other people that are going to be facing elections all across Africa that end up in situations like this.
The reason it's important to the US is, if there's instability in Africa, it's going to cause problems with trying to fight al Qaeda and trying to deal with terrorism in different parts of the continent.
And also, Nigeria is going to have an election soon. That's also in West Africa, and the US relies on this country, because it's an important oil producer. And with everything that's going on in the Middle East, you don't want any sort of issues in Nigeria, either. So, what happens here is going to send a strong signal elsewhere.
COSTELLO: Zain Verjee, live in London. Many thanks.
There are new concerns of Libya's civil unrest potentially jeopardizing Americans living here or abroad. A law enforcement official is telling CNN that the FBI has begun interviewing Libyans living in the United States as part of a proactive effort to identify threats.
CAIR, the Council on American Islamic Relations, reacted by issuing a statement reminding American Muslims they are not required to talk to FBI agents without an attorney present.
In the meantime, some point to Yemen as a more likely source for a potential terror attack. Pentagon officials worry that US counter terror efforts could be severely hampered if Yemen's president falls amid growing anti-government protest, and that al Qaeda is ready to exploit the opportunity. CNN Pentagon Correspondent Chris Lawrence has more on that from Washington.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(CROWD CHEERING, CHANTING)
CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A US official says Yemen's government is preoccupied with political unrest and little is being done to find and capture terrorists.
An American counter terrorism official says the government's ability to check travelers, screen cargo, and work immigration issues is all in question right now. And that should matter to Americans, because the al Qaeda group based there is considered the number one terrorist threat to the United States.
MARK TONER, STATE DEPARTMENT DEPUTY SPOKESMAN: We do believe that they've taken advantage of the insecurity and poor governance in some regions of Yemen.
LAWRENCE (voice-over): And if the government falls?
JAMES CARAFANO, THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION: It wasn't that great a government to begin with.
LAWRENCE: Analyst James Carafano argues that even if the opposition topples President Ali Abdallah Saleh, the risk to US interests is somewhat mitigated.
CARAFANO: Because most of the cooperation is with the military and intelligence services. Some of that can continue to go on regardless of who's in charge of the government.
LAWRENCE (voice-over): Last year, Defense Secretary Robert Gates approved doubling the US military to Yemen to $150 million. Despite the instability, Pentagon officials say they have not suspended that aid.
GEOFF MORRELL, PENTAGON SPOKESMAN: As far as I know, it has not been.
LAWRENCE: The Pentagon says Yemen's embattled president and the US military still have common goals.
MORRELL: We both still face a threat emanating from Yemen that needs to be dealt with.
LAWRENCE (voice-over): Carafano says there's a chance a new government in Yemen could be better than the present one.
CARAFANO: There are ways we can get at counter terrorism operations in the country without relying on a -- essentially, a two-bit dictator to get you there.
LAWRENCE (on camera): On the other hand, those WikiLeaks cables revealed just how closely the US has been working with Yemen's president. One quoted him as saying that he would keep claiming that the attacks on al Qaeda in Yemen were coming from his forces, not the Americans.
Of course, the release of those cables has come back to hurt him politically during this current unrest. Chris Lawrence, CNN, the Pentagon.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: Making their case. Locked out NFL players want the season to begin. So they're sending their lawyers, all 11 of them, to court today. We'll talk to a former NFL running back about what it all means to the game, next.
Plus, an eight-year-old who got pepper sprayed by police admits he has anger issues. We'll hear from him, his mom, and the police just the ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: NFL players get their day in court today. A federal judge could issue an injunction to end the league lockout and allow the NFL season to begin as scheduled. Or not. Former Atlanta Falcons standout Jamal Anderson is following it all, and welcome, Jamal.
JAMAL ANDERSON, FORMER ATLANTA FALCONS RUNNING BACK: Thank you.
COSTELLO: So, as a player, you're watching this hearing --
ANDERSON: Right.
COSTELLO: -- and the judge could decide, OK, we're going to end the lockout, go back to work, and we'll reach some sort of settlement later. So, as a player, as you're listening to this and watching this, what is going through your mind?
ANDERSON: Well, you definitely want the lockout to be over. Obviously, right now, it's very tough to football players because you're supposed to be in off-season training, you're supposed to be preparing yourself to get ready for the next season, and nothing's happening right now. Guys can't work out. Guys can't do anything organized into -- in the facilities with the football teams.
So, right now, you're kind of just throwing together guys on your own and trying to do things. And you just hope this lockout comes to an end.
It's interesting, because it's the off-season right now and it's April, so not a ton happens until May and June, when you start getting into mini camps and stuff. And that's when you've got to watch out. That's when this lockout is really going to get critical.
COSTELLO: Yes, because I was just going to ask you that if the lockout ends today, will we see much with the start of the new season, will we see players not really knowing what to do because they haven't worked out with the team?
ANDERSON: Yes. It's going to be interesting. If the lockout ended today, guys know, especially veterans know what they've been doing. Obviously, the draft is going to take place, here, in the next couple of weeks. So, that's going to happen regardless.
And guys have an opportunity. The NFLPA is basically saying, you can go to the draft if you want to, it's up to you.
(LAUGHTER)
ANDERSON: Yes, it is true, I know. It's an interesting situation. You can't really ruin players' opportunities to get drafted for the first time. This is an experience that they'll never forget, you know?
COSTELLO: That's true, but -- I have a bad feeling about the draft. And just a last question for fans who say, look, the players' union, dissolve the union. They're the ones that brought this lawsuit to court. So, what would you say for fans who are blaming the players for making all this come to this?
ANDERSON: You can't blame the players. Listen, both sides tried to negotiate. It's not the players' fault. The players did not opt out of the deal. OK? The owners opted out of the collective bargaining agreement to try to get a better deal. The players did not opt out of this. The players never did ask for a lockout.
Understand that this is a business, and this is a lot of money at stake, and both sides want to make sure that they're treated fairly, and you just have to understand -- but it's certainly not -- you can't blame the players. You really can't blame the players.
COSTELLO: Spoken by a player.
ANDERSON: I'm just saying, it's not their --
COSTELLO: No, no, no, I get it. Thank you so much. Actually, in about 20 minutes, Jamal and I will talk about a -- talk about that near fatal beating of a fan at Dodgers' Stadium on opening day.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ERIN COLLINS, BEATING VICTIM'S SISTER: We all love each other and love him. And -- it's -- it's just been so hard.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: That's just an awful story. And the family of Bryan Stow begs for help, and parents around the country are left asking if it's still safe to take your kids to a baseball game.
Checking the stories making news Cross Country, now. A car chase and shootout caught on tape in North Carolina. Now, two people police describe as a modern day Bonnie and Clyde are in custody. They're suspected in four car thefts and three home invasions across three states.
Next, in Lakewood, Colorado, police use pepper spray to calm a second- grade boy's temper tantrum. The eight-year-old admits he was angry and he wanted to hurt his teachers.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AIDAN, EIGHT-YEAR-OLD PEPPER SPRAYED AT SCHOOL: I wanted to make something sharp for -- like, if they came out, because I was so mad at them.
STEVE DAVIS, LAKEWOOD POLICE: The officers told him to drop it. He wouldn't.
MANDY, AIDAN'S MOTHER: There's been three times where they've called the police on him.
DAVIS: Our officers had to do something to diffuse the situation in a hurry before someone got hurt.
MANDY: I am sure what he was doing wasn't right, but he's eight years old.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: In Newport Beach, California, billionaire Richard Branson announces plans to explore the bottom of the sea in a solo submarine. He and explorer Chris Welsh will take separate trips in the Virgin Oceanic sub to the deepest parts of all five oceans. Fascinating.
Coming up at the noon hour of CNN NEWSROOM, Suzanne Malveaux will talk live to Richard Branson about his ambitious goals and more.
First, though, we'll talk to a congressman who thinks a government shutdown is a diabolical Democratic plot. Paul Broun of Georgia joins us straight ahead.
And as the economy recovers, so do nips, tucks, and lifts. What some workers are doing to stay competitive in the job market. That story coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Money is cheap these days, after all, interest rates are extremely low. But on Wall Street, talk is growing that the Federal Reserve could hike rates soon. Alison Kosik is at the New York Stock Exchange. So, what are you hearing, Alison?
ALISON KOSIK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Carol. Yes, it's been two years since interest rates fell to historic lows, and they've hardly budged since then. But now, with the economy improving, there's a lot more talk that an interest rate hike could happen soon.
Fed policy makers, though, are split on the timing. It could happen this year, because inflation is heating up. You take a look at where oil prices are. Oil is up 19 percent this year, it's trading around $108 a barrel. That's, of course, because of all the political turmoil happening overseas in Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya, and Nigeria, as well.
(OPENING BELL OF NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE)
KOSIK: And as we hear the opening bell right now, stocks in the immediate outlook are looking pretty good. We do have a higher open. Carol?
COSTELLO: OK, on a lighter -- this makes me kind of sad. We know it is a tough job market, but some people are going to the extremes to try to get hired as in plastic surgery.
KOSIK: You said it. I mean, they're taking their resume. They're making sure their suit is pressed and they are also getting plastic surgery. This is mostly older people concerned about getting or keeping their jobs.
This coming from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons saying there were 13 million plastic surgeries performed last year. Talk about disposable income that's 5 percent from 2009. Facelifts are up 9 percent and of course, can't forget about these cheaper nonsurgical options there growing even faster.
Look at that, Botox injections up 12 percent. Look at all that, fat injections up 14 percent, ouch. You know -- what's happening is they are delaying retirement, Carol, because of the recession.
And you know, they're out there competing with younger workers. They're trying to look younger so when they are talking to the hiring managers, you know, the wrinkles aren't right there in the hiring manager's face.
You have to do what you have to do. They don't do the lips when get that fish face.
COSTELLO: That's a bad thing. That's worse than getting anything else. Alison Kosik, thanks so much.
KOSIK: I hear you.
COSTELLO: The budget stalemate between Democrats and Republicans threatens to shut down the government at the end of this workweek. Federal agencies are already making preparations and lining up contingency plans and some members of Congress are already ticking off the seconds until the so-called Obama/Reid shutdown begins.
You're looking at a web site from Republican Congressman Paul Broun of Georgia. He says Democrats have been working for months on a diabolical plan to shut things down. Congress Brown joins us live from Capitol Hill.
Welcome, Congressman.
REP. PAUL BROUN (R), GEORGIA: Carol, thanks for having me today.
COSTELLO: Thanks for being here. Do you really think Democrats want the government to shut down?
BROUN: Absolutely. I think they're doing this for political purposes. I think that back there in the lame duck session, they started trying to figure out how to get Nancy Pelosi the speaker of the House again, give Harry Reid a big majority in the Senate and re- elect Obama next year.
They figured since Republicans in their pledged to America, pledge to cut $100 billion in spending, they just said, here is the way we will do this. We will give them a few crumbs, look like we are reasonable. We will shut the government down, blame Republicans.
There will be a backlash against Republicans and we will get all these things accomplished. So I think it was a very diabolical plan that they put together back last year after the November election. They are caring it out.
A good example is just the fact that Barack Obama has not even been engaged in these budget talks trying to keep the government from shutting down.
COSTELLO: But President Obama did engage yesterday and I just want to play a bit of what he had to say. Here is President Obama's take on things.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: I think what the American people expect from me is the same thing that they expect from every member of Congress, that is that we are looking out for the interests of the American people and not trying to score political points.
I think what they are looking for from me is the same thing they are looking for from Speaker Boehner and Harry Reid and everybody else. That is, that we act like grown-ups.
(END VIDEO CLIP) COSTELLO: So just your reaction to the act like grown-ups because if you look at the polls, and CNN just did a poll, Americans are split evenly on who is to blame for this possible government shutdown.
BROUN: I have got a challenge for the president. Start acting like a leader. He has been absent. He finally came to the table yesterday. We have been dealing with this for months and months.
Forty six days ago, the House passed HR-1, a long-term continued resolution to continue funding the government through this fiscal year. The president has been a AWOL.
He's been missing in action, way pastime for him to come to the table and start getting involved in this process. Even the Democrats have been bemoaning the fact he has been AWOL, missing in action.
I think they're planning on shutting the government down and this is just a good circumstantial evidence to point to the fact that that's exactly what they want to do for political points and --
COSTELLO: I think, Congressman, though that a lot of Americans are concerned about the rhetoric on Capitol Hill. I mean, you've called the president a socialist who doesn't care about the constitution.
I mean, when rhetoric is going on like that on Capitol Hill, is it possible to sit down with the other side and to have a productive conversation?
BROUN: Well, Carol, I have worked with Democrats on a number of issues in the last Congress, on housing issues, on trying to get our economy going to create jobs. But the thing is the president does --
COSTELLO: Why the name-calling and why can't you guys come to some sort of conclusion?
BROUN: Carol, it is not name-calling. It is just pointing out a fact. The thing is the president, Harry Reid and Barack Obama believe the federal government should do everything for everybody. They believe in a socialistic Washington controlled government.
That tells everybody in this country what to do, what kind of health care we can have, what kind of light bulbs we could have.
COSTELLO: But couldn't you argue it from the other side too since the series of -- like defunding Planned Parenthood and defunding NPR and PBS. Some people might say the Republicans are doing exactly the same thing, telling people what to do with their lives.
BROUN: No, Ma'am, absolutely not. In fact, the things is we don't have constitutional authority under the original intent of the constitution to fund Planned Parenthood, NPR, a lot of things we are doing, in fact, Article 1, Section 8, a list that enumerates the powers of congress to act and it's only 18.
We should be dealing with - with national security, national defense, foreign affairs and very little else. We have to find bridges to send the powers back to the people as our founding fathers meant for them to.
And that's what we're working on here. I believe in freedom and in fact, the president and the leadership of the Democratic Party believe that government needs to control everybody and everything. That's not freedom.
All I have done is pointed out the differences in the two parties. We have to get the economy going and start creating jobs in this county.
COSTELLO: I think everybody would agree with you. But, you know, people are just hoping that the two sides can sit down and talk in a reasonable manner with each other.
BROUN: I agree. That's one of the problems we have been trying to do all along. That's what Republicans have been trying to do. We have been trying to fund this government. We've been trying to go forward.
But the president and Harry Reid have been missing in action. Harry Reid has not passed anything. He has been negligent in doing his duties. He has not shown leadership in the Senate. Put something on the table. In fact, our speaker, Mr. Boehner --
COSTELLO: We could go on and on with it. Actually, the Democrats supposedly did put something on the table, but like I said, you know, voters are hearing so many things from so many different things from both sides. It's difficult to know what's real. But thank you very much for giving us your side of the action. We appreciate it.
BROUN: Well, thank you. I appreciate it.
COSTELLO: Congressman Broun, thanks for joining us.
Checking our top stories at half past the hour or a little past that now. A new development in fighting in the Ivory Coast between two men who claimed to be president.
Forces loyal to the elected president have attacked the rival's home, but have not captured him yet. When they do, the government promises to bring him to justice.
Former Congressman Curt Weldon will meet with Libyan leader, Moammar Gadhafi today to try to convince him to step aside. He says bombing came into submission will not work.
Actress Angelina Jolie visited a refugee camp on the border between Egypt and Tunisia. She serves as a U.N. Goodwill Ambassador. Jolie is urging the world to continue humanitarian efforts to the people.
Now, to the fight against Moammar Gadhafi. It is centered in eastern Libya. That's where we find CNN senior international correspondent Ben Wedeman. So, Ben, what are you seeing there? Bring us up-to- date.
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Carol. What we're seeing is that yesterday, the rebels really suffered a setback being pushed from the outskirts of Brega 25 miles towards Adjdabia. That's where we are now.
What they have done is set up defensive positions around this city of about 100,000 people. They continue to try to hold back the Gadhafi forces, but what they complain about time and time again is the lack of air cover.
NATO doesn't seem to be striking at the moment on Gadhafi's positions. Right behind me, you see a tank of what could be done. This happened about 2-1/2 weeks ago when the NATO aircraft, French aircraft took out dozens of tanks and armored personnel carriers, troop transports that were hit by the French aircraft 2-1/2 weeks ago. So it can be done.
But Libyans here in the eastern part of the country are asking why it is not being done. NATO is saying that so far, they have been able to disable 30 percent of Moammar Gadhafi's military capabilities.
But that other 70 percent is proving quite lethal and putting the rebels on the defensive, Carol.
COSTELLO: Ben Wedeman live in Eastern Libya, many thanks.
A baseball fan's first-ever visit to Dodgers Stadium ends in a savage beating that has left him in a coma. We will have the latest on his recovery and what is being done to find the attackers just ahead.
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COSTELLO: You heard Congressman Broun talking about Harry Reid and not coming to any conclusion on some sort of, you know, compromise in the budget battle. Well, Harry Reid is talking about that on the Senate floor. Here's a bit of what he had to say earlier.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SENATOR HARRY REID (D), MAJORITY LEADER: Once talks began, Republicans ask for $73 billion in cuts. When we set, let's meet in the middle, they said no. When we said, in the interest of getting this done, we will agree to your number. They still said no.
Republicans refuse to take yes for an answer. Every time we agree to meet in the middle, they move where the middle is. They said, no when we met them halfway. Now, they said, it is our way or the highway. That is no way to move forward.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Taking a look at stories that will make news later today, NFL players will be in a Minnesota courtroom at 10:30 Eastern this morning trying to force owners to end the current lockout. They've asked for an injunction to let them go back to work so the season can begin on time.
At noon, Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann at noon will speak at a rally in Washington calling on the government to cut spending.
Also at noon Eastern, in California, lawyers for Dr. Conrad Murray, the man charged at Michael Jackson's death will ask a judge for access to some important medical records.
A baseball rivalry goes way beyond the bounds of sportsmanship. There was a man, a Giants' fan nearly beaten to death at Dodgers stadium.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: To think that he came for a game, his first Dodgers stadium game and to be attacked senselessly.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: The victim's family hopes the reward being offered will help catch the people who did that. We'll have more on this story next in the NEWSROOM.
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COSTELLO: He is in a medically-induced coma. His family pleads for his attacker's arrest. A $100,000 reward now being offered for information into last week's near fatal beating of Brian Stow. He's the San Francisco Giants' fan who was viciously attacked outside of Dodgers' Stadium on opening day.
Kara Finnstrom has the family's appeal for help.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ERIN COLLINS, BRIAN STOW'S SISTER: We all love each other and love him. And it has just been so hard.
KARA FINNSTROM, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The parents and two sisters of 41-year-old Brian Stow, the Giants' fan who remains in a coma fighting for his life after an unprovoked attack at Dodgers Stadium are struggling to understand why.
ANN STOW, BRIAN STOW'S MOTHER: To think that he came for a game, his first Dodgers' Stadium game and then, to be attacked senselessly.
FINNSTROM: Why on a packed opening day, two attackers shown in these police sketches wearing Dodger attire taunted Stow on the parking lot struck him in the head and after he was on the ground continued kicking him, yelling obscenities about the Giants.
COLLINS: Why were they so angry? Why? Just why? And the more I think about it, the more it just really starts to get really into our heads.
FINNSTROM: His cousin John Stow says Brian had sent a text to family earlier that night saying the crowd was getting unruly and scary. His family says the irony in the random attack is he was someone who cherished and protected life, a paramedic.
JOHN STOW, BRIAN STOW'S COUSIN: I remember the first time that he had actually -- through CPR was actually able to save a life -- the amount of pride that he felt and how excited he was and how much it meant to him as a person. FINNSTROM: The other great love of Stow's life his family says, are his two young children. They say both will be at the Giants' opener this Friday for a tribute to their father.
A. STOW: It's going to be important for his children to be a part of that.
J. STOW: We are praying that he'll get well soon so he can hold them again in his arms.
FINNSTROM: At a news conference, Stow's family said they want to make it clear that Brian, who had attended more than 200 Giants' games was at the ballpark because he loves the American pastime meant to bring people together.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I urge those two men to come forward on their own. I want them to try to make it right.
FINNSTROM (on camera): In a show of solidarity, the cities of Los Angeles and San Francisco are also pleading for the public's help to catch Brian Stow's attackers. They and others are offering a reward that's now climbed to $100,000.
Kara Finnstrom for CNN, Los Angeles.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: And I want to talk a bit more about this with former NFL all pro running back, Jamal Anderson. It just -- it -- it breaks your heart. Opening day, baseball, family, I mean, ok, you loved your fans, right, as a player.
(CROSSTALK)
ANDERSON: Absolutely.
COSTELLO: So when you hear this kind of -- because it's not just Los Angeles.
ANDERSON: No.
COSTELLO: I mean everybody could have a story about this.
ANDERSON: There's no question about it.
COSTELLO: So as a player who -- who loved his fans, when you hear about something like this what goes through your mind?
ANDERSON: It's astonishingly sad that we're talking about this. Ok, the Giants and the Dodgers have a great rivalry. Many teams do. Our rival are the same; in college my rival was the Cougars.
Fans are passionate, fans get excited about this thing but the fact that we're talking about a guy who is critically injured from going to opening day baseball game is absolutely ridiculous and it's uncalled for. You should never have to worry about this level of violence or anger from anybody when you go to a sporting event. And so for a guy to be in a coma, this is ridiculous.
COSTELLO: This is so sad and a lot of people say oh, they must have been drunk. But I'm sorry. I've seen a lot of fights break out --
(CROSSTALK)
ANDERSON: Right.
COSTELLO: -- between fans who had not been drinking --
(CROSSTALK)
ANDERSON: Right.
COSTELLO: -- or who were obviously not drunk. So what is it?
ANDERSON: You know, the Giants won the series last year. I grew up in Los Angeles. Dodgers fans get really, really fired up and it's a huge rivalry but none of that matters, none of that matters. The fact that this guy went to a game in Los Angeles and this -- this type of violence occurred is unacceptable. And it is absolutely ridiculous and they should be stopped immediately.
So I'm happy to see the city of Los Angeles, I'm happy to see San Francisco come together to figure out how they can address this. And hopefully, they catch these guys because these -- these are things you shouldn't worry about when you come to a sporting event.
(CROSSTALK)
COSTELLO: No you bring your kids there.
ANDERSON: When you're talking about baseball, you're talking about football; regardless of what it is, you shouldn't have to worry about this.
COSTELLO: No it should be a fun and wonderful past time.
ANDERSON: Absolutely. Cheering and -- and hopefully your team wins or losses or whatever but go home and be safe.
COSTELLO: Absolutely. Jamal, many thanks.
ANDERSON: Thank you.
COSTELLO: From what I understand the Dodgers are looking into their security measures.
ANDERSON: Yes.
COSTELLO: Which they should, obviously.
ANDERSON: Yes. COSTELLO: Exhibiting experience far beyond his years; we'll show you why a rookie police officer is being hailed a hero. That's next as we take you across the country.
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COSTELLO: Checking stories across the country now.
In Florida a rookie officer's quick action caught on his dash cam video cam. Officer Michael Rodriguez rolled up on a two-car crash and -- and soon found himself in -- in an explosive situation. You can see that he pulled the driver out of that car moments before the vehicle exploded. Wow.
In Rhode Island, the woman whose credit card was stolen received a thank you note from the alleged thief but not after he racked up $2,400 in charges on her card and then another $65 bill was added to the tab for delivering flowers to her home. Police have yet to make an arrest.
And from Gotham, Marvel Comics' best known crime fighters are teaming up with the New York City firefighters to battle a common enemy, preventable fires. The comic book is chock full of fire safety tips and it's free while supplies last.
We're following a lot of developments in the next hour of the CNN NEWSROOM. Let's check in first with CNN's Brianna Keilar.
BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Carol, we're two days away from a government shutdown, as Senate Democrats and House Republicans negotiate spending cuts. How close are they to a deal and what are the sticking points? I'll have that coming up.
ZAIN VERJEE, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: I'm Zain Verjee in London. We're going to take a look at the headlines in newspapers in Asia to see what they are saying today about the nuclear power plant disaster in Japan.
ALISON KOSIK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And I'm Alison Kosik at the New York Stock Exchange where I have new developments in a story that sparked public outrage. Transocean, that's the company that made the oil rig that exploded last year in the Gulf of Mexico. It said Monday it would award bonuses because of its stellar safety record well, now the company is back pedaling. Carol, I'm going to have details in the next hour.
COSTELLO: Thanks to all of you.
Also ahead his fists are his -- not his not his only weapons but you need something a little bit bigger than that in Iraq. Boxer Oscar de la Hoya joins us live to talk about his recent USO tour. That's in the next hour.
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COSTELLO: In sports, last night, Texas A&M became very improbable champions of women's college basketball, the first-ever national championship game. The Aggies beat Notre Dame 76-70. Notre Dame and their star Schuyler Digins had beaten the two-time defending champions U-Conn to get into the championship. Texas A&M didn't even admit women a half century ago.
In the NBA, Steve Nash of the Phoenix Suns pulled off a spectacular pass between the legs -- this is amazing -- of the Bulls' Carlos Boozer to give (INAUDIBLE). Look at that. Take a couple of more looks as Nash pulls off a spectacular assist.
Finally, Donald Trump has been talking about getting into a race he can win. Well, it was announced Trump will drive the pace car for the Indianapolis 500. It's not exactly a presidential campaign. He is going to find himself turning left a lot.
