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New Info on Bin Laden Raid Emerges; Tiger Woods Washed Up?; Uprising in Syria; Peace Corps at 50; Baseball's Future; Attention on Indiana Governor's Wife; Colbert Wants "Super Pac"
Aired May 13, 2011 - 16:01 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: But, right now, I want you to watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES (voice-over): They promised revenge. Now militants loyal to Osama bin Laden launch bloody attacks. Dozens are dead and the terror group is promising to kill again. But it's not al Qaeda.
Also, Robert Gates says everybody in the Situation Room agreed to keep quiet about the bin Laden raid. Then something went wrong.
ROBERT GATES, U.S. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: That all fell apart on Monday, the next day.
HOLMES: So, who broke the code of silence?
Plus, he abruptly quits in the middle of a big-time tournament.
TIGER WOODS, PROFESSIONAL GOLFER: It was a bit of a struggle.
HOLMES: Is Tiger Woods washed up at 35 years old?
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Hello to you all. I'm T.J. Holmes, sitting in today for Brooke Baldwin.
We're getting some new details this hour about video taken during the raid on Osama bin Laden's compound. Navy SEALs wore helmet cams during that operation. And much of the video they captured is described by a U.S. military official as fast and violent, also described as hazy.
Let me give you an idea. Take a look at this. We dug this up as an example of nighttime helmet cam video. This gives you an idea of the quality of the kind of video we're talking about. Again, let me reiterate, this is not the actual video from the bin Laden raid. No, this is just an example of what it could look like, similar to the technology used by the SEALs during that raid.
You can see here that the video is shot in dark conditions. It's really grainy, not a lot of detail to it. We can also show you the example of a combat helmet with a helmet cam on it. Take a look at this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHRIS HEBEN, FORMER U.S. NAVY SEAL: In the front, you have got a really small camera.
HOLMES: Yes.
HEBEN: It has got some pretty high resolution to it, but let's face it. It was the darkest night of that month. It is night-vision, so you have a green hue upon things and things are very grainy and very pixilated.
So the camera is here. The opening is a scant millimeter. It's about one millimeter in diameter, very small. You have got a feed line here that goes all the way to this unit that does a number of things. It gives power. It gives you storage capability and it also gives you that RFID, that radio frequency I.D. tagging through this antenna.
So this signal probably went to one of the helicopters that was close by, because that helicopter had a lot more juice to be able to beam that signal up to the satellite.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: All right, bring in Chris Lawrence at the Pentagon now.
Chris, what are they doing with this video?
CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Yes, T.J., right now, it's being looked and examined at see exactly how much of the actual death of Osama bin Laden was recorded on some of these cameras.
I will say, from speaking with a military source, who has not seen the actual, video but has been -- had it described to him in detail, says basically the difference would be the video that we just showed you looks like it was on a helmet cam of someone standing fairly still, staring in one direction.
Now you have got to put these helmet cams on the -- on a SEAL team that is running through doors, looking all around, looking around corners. So, the video has been described as very, very shaky, because their heads are constantly moving during this operation.
But, again, right now, what they are doing is taking a look at it to help the SEALs remember what they saw in the heat of battle, sort of a post-mission analysis, so they can better determine what went right with the mission and what may have gone wrong.
HOLMES: And, Chris, how closely are they protecting this video right now? Are they limiting the number of people who had access to it? And can you keep this stuff from getting out? We always talk about leaks and a lot of people, like yourself, trying to hunt down as much information as we can on this stuff. How can you keep this from getting out? LAWRENCE: Exactly. I mean, not only reporters, but you make a great point, T.J. We live in the age of WikiLeaks. So, things tend not to stay secret for very long.
But as far as this video right now, it is being held very, very closely. It was suggested that, at some point, we may see some pieces of it released at some point. But, on the other hand, you have got Defense Secretary Gates making a very strong case that already too much information has already been released and that he wants to place the safety of the SEALs and their families at the top of -- top of the priorities list.
And so you wonder, you know, if you're taking video from one helmet cam, it may show other SEALs in that video. How much would have to be cut out without compromising the identity of the men who actually performed this mission?
HOLMES: All right, Chris Lawrence for us from the Pentagon -- Chris, we appreciate you, as always.
And coming up, on the point that Chris was just making there, Robert Gates says, actually, that everyone in the Situation Room agreed that the details of the raid would stay secret. But, just a few hours later, whew, that plan went right out the window, didn't it? Now the secretary of defense fears for the safety of those Navy SEALs.
Also, we heard a lot about all the information found at the bin Laden compound. You know what else was found there? Porn.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: All right, so much information about that raid has gotten out already that the SEALs worry their families may be in danger. And listen to this. It turns out we weren't supposed to know anything about the raid on Osama bin Laden's compound. Listen to Secretary Gates.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GATES: A week ago Sunday in the Situation Room, we all agreed that we would not release any operational details from the effort to take out bin Laden. That all fell apart on Monday, the next day.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: And so, you hear that? Nothing was supposed to get out. Now, with all the information that is pouring out, can the identities of the individual members of that SEAL team stay a secret?
Listen now to former Navy SEAL Chris Heben.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HEBEN: That is a very real concern. That is, without question, probably the number-one priority that these guys have on their minds right now, that the operation is done. They performed flawlessly. Right now, it is: We need to be protected. Please protect us.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Well, Secretary Gates says the Defense Department is looking into what it can do to -- quote -- "pump up the security" for the SEALs who helped kill bin Laden.
Now more news unfolding right now. So, let's go, rapid fire. The flooded Mississippi River is slowly moving downstream. People are preparing for what could be a disaster in the making, Mississippi already, already experiencing its worst flooding in decades, spillways diverting some of that water, but it may not be enough. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is expected to start opening another key spillway in Louisiana as early as tomorrow. It's expected to divert floodwaters from Baton Rouge and New Orleans.
Also, in Indiana, Jessica Miller had to think fast when she realized her 11-year-old son, Austin, was home and a tornado was bearing down on the house. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JESSICA MILLER, MOTHER: I said, get in the laundry room. There's not a basement. I said, just get in the laundry room. And then he's like, why, mommy? And I said, just get in the laundry room. And then the sirens went off.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Well, check this out. Once he got to the laundry room, Austin decided himself the best place to be was, yes, inside the drier. The storm tore the roof off the house, tossed debris around. Austin made it out without a scratch.
Also, listen to this. Police say a man tried to board a flight from Bangkok to Dubai, but in his luggage, this is what they found, two leopards, two panthers, a black bear, and let's throw in a monkey for good measure, all live animals. We're told they are all doing OK. And the would-be passenger faces just a long laundry list of smuggling charges. The worst part here is that investigators say he has probably done this before -- oh, look at that cute little guy -- and probably got away with it.
We turn now to California, much different story here, where three people have been arrested in connection with several robberies and at least two murders, including Sunday's fatal shooting of an MTV producer. He was shot in the back of the head. Police arrested three suspects on Wednesday. Investigators say they linked the crimes from similar descriptions of the robber and the fact shotguns were used.
Also, the smoke detector in your house, you need that to protect you, keep you safe, give you the heads-up to get out. Well, could it be fake? The Fire Department in Atlanta recalling more than 18,000 smoke detectors after they were found to be counterfeit. The FBI now investigating the people who sold those devices, thanks to a local news investigation by CNN affiliate WGCL. Also to South Carolina now. A man was arrested for spitting in the face of an officer. But look at the mug shot, folks. You notice anything here? Well, probably. What is that on his forehead? That's actually a tattoo. Let me tell you what it reads now. This is a direct quote, if you can't see it well enough there.
But it says -- a tattoo, now, on his forehead, says -- quote -- "With God, all things are possible. God loves you. Please forgive me if I say or do anything stupid. Thank you" -- end quote.
The picture has gone viral, but he is still locked up. The police department has not quite forgiven him, despite what his forehead says.
Finally here, reporter, meet camel; camel, meet reporter. Turns out a barn might not be the best place for a live shot. Check this out.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TARA MORGAN, REPORTER: No. Get it out.
Still looking for the other two. Meanwhile...
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: That's Tara Morgan. We have all been there, right? She's reporting a story about dogs injuring animals at a nearby farm. Then the camel did not like the reporting, decided to take a bite out of her hair. She is doing just fine.
All you young reporters out there, hey, we all have to make these mistakes. Stay clear of the big animals, the big wildlife. Smaller ones, maybe you can get away with. But the big ones, well, take a lesson from Tara.
So, another Republican is joining the race for president. But what is Ron Paul promising to do different this time around? That is coming up.
And also this: The United Nations says more than 800 people have died in Syria since protests began there in March. And, today, as government forces fire tear gas, these demonstrations have a bit of a theme. That is next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: All right. We told you this week that the government of Syria is beginning claim to have the upper hand against protests happening there. Syria's journalists hard to get the real truth out of there.
But we are getting some pictures, some video and some idea. This is video of today. Hundreds of people are chanting for the fall of the Syrian President Bashar Al Assad. The government claims a sigh here. These protests appear to be spreading. We will show you something we haven't really seen up until now. Look at this. The government forces used tear gas today on a group in Damascus. This is a rare show of force in the capital of Damascus and it has remained fairly calm. This could be significant.
Also today, a U.N. official says clashes since March have claimed up to 850 people. We're about to see an armored vehicle open fire in a city called Hahn. Look and listen. Now, this video is apparently from yesterday. No reports of casualties anywhere in Syria today.
In fact, that same city that I was telling you about, apparently some peaceful protests there. It appears to be this is the story we're getting out of Syria today, peaceful anti-government protests in a number of cities, people still braving potential arrests or worst and the government still responding at times with force.
All right, let me bring in our senior political editor Mark Preston join us with the latest news from the Political Ticker. And, Mark, it seems we are getting some new, fresh faces into the field of GOP contenders for president.
MARK PRESTON, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL EDITOR: Yes, some would say that, fresh faces if you consider a 75-year-old congressman from Texas fresh?
HOLMES: Yes.
PRESTON: I don't know. Perhaps, perhaps not, but you are right, Ron Paul, again as I said, he is a 75-year-old Republican congressman from Texas. He is going to run for president.
Now T.J., you and I covered this back in 2008. Ron Paul sought the Republican nomination. He was unsuccessful. A lot of people were very surprised about how successful he was, though in raising money certainly in the latter part of the campaign. So Ron Paul up in New Hampshire today announcing that is he going to run. He says right now the time is right. He believes that his message of physical discipline is really resonating with the voters.
Now, T.J., he will be on with Wolf Blitzer right after your show just to talk a little bit about his run. So Ron Paul is in the race.
HOLMES: So you say time is right? New and fresh? But, you know, will there be scent of some a worry that we've been there, we did that, he was the hot thing for a little while?
You bring him into it and also Newt Gingrich. I kind of played it at the beginning, but still it seems like the old guard trying to move the country in this new direction, they claim.
PRESTON: Yes, and that's true. And let's add Mitt Romney to that list as well. Mitt Romney who sought the nomination in 2008 and we fully expect him to run. Interestingly enough Michele Bachmann who is the Minnesota congresswoman, she's Republican.
She is very likely to run. She put a fundraising e-mail out today, T.J., that said are you happy with the current field of presidential candidates? Why don't you take my poll and meanwhile, why don't you drop me some money and that might help me decide if I will run.
So Michele Bachmann kind of playing off the whole idea about are people happy with the feel.
HOLMES: Give me the money then I'll decide to run instead of -
PRESTON: Show me the money, T.J.
HOLMES: Come on. All right, Mark Preston. Buddy, good to see you, as always. Certainly plenty to talk about down the road. Thanks so much.
Well, is he perhaps the most famous golfer in history. He might be the most famous athlete on the planet right now, but now after a sex scandal, certainly problems with his image and now injuries.
Certainly after what we saw happened this week, some are really asking the question, is Tiger Woods washed up at 35 years old? Find out why we are going there and asking that question. What this means for a sport that desperately needs a superstar.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: All right, do you remember the last time you saw Tiger Woods? The last time was out there on the course, well, the last time we saw him he was making pretty nice charge of the masters. He said the new swing was finally starting to come together and golf was fun again, so much for fun on the golf course.
This is Tiger yesterday. There is a little chip, into the water there then a hole or two later. He chunks one, into the bunker. Now, you folks have played golf and you have done that, but this is Tiger Woods.
You probably heard by now, Tiger Woods limped off the course at the annual player championship withdrew after just nine holes. The first nine now, he has not won a tournament in 18 months, not since the tabloid divorce. He's got a bum knee, a bad Achilles, he's 35 and people are asking the question, is he washed up?
Let me bring in Geoff Shackleford. He's a contributing writer for "Golf World." He's also got his own blog, geoffshackelford.com. He is he there at the player's championship for us.
Geoff, hello to you and the "Golf World." How did they view this? As a guy who needs time to rest or is the "Golf World" looking at, wow, we may be seeing the end of Tiger Woods?
GEOFF SHACKELFORD, CONTRIBUTING WRITER, "GOLF WORLD": A little bit of everything, T.J. It's a little resignation that things will never be the same, but there's also this - that wow, we were just a few weeks ago we had the masters and it seemed like he was really playing well and starting to come back. Then he goes off to China to do a thing for Nike. We see video of him looking great, looking healthy and then all of a sudden this happens and he comes to the players and looks awful and isn't moving very well.
HOLMES: Well, Geoff, why was he even there? He wasn't practicing and we knew he needed some time to rehab a bit. Why even try it? Because he looked like he shouldn't even be out there.
SHACKELFORD: Well, the U.S. open is coming up and this is a major championship to a lot of players, obviously to the PGA tours a big deal. This is their home tournament.
And a lot of people feel that Tiger felt some sense of obligation to play and then there's the fact that he, as he calls them, reps, he needs to play more.
With congressional coming up, it makes sense and he withdrew last week and he needs to get out and play.
HOLMES: OK, let's talk about this knee. Several surgeries, so many commentators talk about the force and torque and the power of his swing can't be good on that knee. Just how bad off is that left knee?
SHACKELFORD: Well, there's not just a knee. There's an Achilles and then yesterday, he said his calf was cramping up. He retooled his swing twice now and the first time was in theory to help his knee and then the second time also.
So obviously that's the big question, is what can he do now at this point? Is the swing the problem? Where is he going to go from here and nobody knows, it's really change.
We don't have information and we can't figure it out. His attitude yesterday after the round was surprisingly good, all things considered. It leaves everybody here about what the future holds.
HOLMES: The future holds, what does he plan? How much did he tell you all about what he plans to do? Is it just a matter of rest? Is it a matter of staying off of it? Not playing? Let it heal fully? Rehab, more surgery, what?
SHACKELFORD: He really basically was very vague, as he always usually is and he was going to leave it up to his doctors. The doctors gave him a clearance to play this week. So I have to tell you, my sense, and I have no idea what he's going to do, but his attitude was pretty good after the round yesterday.
That tells me he's not as worried as some people would think and I think his life revolves around the major championships and trying to get those and get to that magic number. I think he will be at the U.S. open, but who knows?
HOLMES: OK, speaking of, this is how we're going to wrap it up because it was a foregone conclusion. This is a done deal. This young man, no doubt, again, he was a very young man when he certainly won the master's for the first time.
But we're showing the trajectory of his career and also Jack Nicklaus who he is chasing. At the same age, both of them had the same number of major championships, but right now Geoff, is the feeling at least - and I know this is early after the injury yesterday, it was a foregone conclusion that he was going to break Nicklaus' record.
Is that now not just in question, but are people questioning whether he can win one or two anymore major championships?
SHACKELFORD: Absolutely. There was a foregone conclusion and now the feeling is that getting there is going to be quite a journey and right now, just actually winning a tour of that would be a big step.
But getting the record is going to be interesting to watch. But I don't have a sense that he's going to be able to do it, unless he really turns it around with his health.
HOLMES: All right, Geoff Shackelford for us on has been an extraordinary year and a half for the man who was on top of the golf world for so long. Geoff, good to see you, buddy. Thanks so much. You enjoy the rest of the weekend out there.
SHACKELFORD: Thank you.
Now, terrorists promised revenge for Osama Bin Laden's death and today maybe it started in Pakistan, but the deadly attack did not come from al Qaeda. We will take you there live.
Plus guess who showed up at the White House today? Members of the Libyan opposition. I'll tell you what happened.
Also, first Arizona, now Georgia introducing what is considered one of the toughest immigration laws in the country. Find out what it gives the police the right to do. That is next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: A revenge attack in Pakistan, Libya rebels visit the White House, and Georgia has a tough new immigration law. Time to go around.
We begin with our Stan Grant in Islamabad, Pakistan, right now.
Stan, the Pakistani Taliban claiming responsibility for suicide attacks on a military training facility, saying it was retaliation for the death of Osama bin Laden. Do Pakistani officials think, yes, they are the culprit?
STAN GRANT, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It was certainly -- the Taliban members that we spoke to, the Taliban spokesman, who said, no doubt, they were claiming responsibility and directly linking it to the death of bin Laden. That is not to say, though, that it is the only motive. You know, T.J., this area of the country is up near the Pakistan- Afghanistan border is a hotbed of militancy. The military is being operating there for years, trying to drive out elements of this insurgency and, certainly, that could have been a factor as well today. The fact that they targeted a military training facility, that they killed primarily military recruits, also adds another dimension. But coming up, the death of bin Laden, there is no doubt, the people we spoke to, that was a driving factor today -- T.J.
HOLMES: All right. Stan Grant for us in Islamabad. Let's continue on following a busy day at the White House, starting with the meeting between the Libyan opposition leader and president's national security.
Our senior White House correspondent Ed Henry is at the White House.
Ed, hello to you. What should we be reading into this meeting?
ED HENRY, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, the meeting is going on right now, as we speak, as you mentioned, with Tom Donilon, the president's national security adviser, and Dr. Mahmoud Jibril, he is opposition leader from Libya. The significance is that while the White House tells us that President Obama has no plans to drop into this meeting, which would obviously be a high level of endorsement if he showed up, at the very least, this shows that the opposition leader is now in the West Wing of the White House. He previously met Secretary of State Clinton.
It's a big deal. He's right behind here in the West Wing. It's the White House trying to put ever more pressure on Gadhafi, T.J.
HOLMES: Also, George Mitchell stepping down as the Middle East envoy? Why?
HENRY: Well, it's a huge deal because next week, it was supposed to be all about the Mideast, president is giving a big speech Thursday, trying to strand together what is U.S. policy after all the tumult in the region. Tuesday's meeting with the king of Jordan, Friday with the Israeli prime minister, then up in -- you know, he has his chief envoy, chief envoy George Mitchell, resigning today.
Basically, a lot of people close to him say that he's tired. He's been at this for more than two years, flying back and forth to the region, with very little progress. A problem for this president -- well, that's understandable -- is that it suggests that there's very little, if any, momentum, just on the eve of this big push. It's a big problem for them.
HOLMES: All right. Ed Henry for us at the White House, thank you.
Next, let's turn to a tough new immigration bill signed into law today in Georgia. It's modeled after the controversial law out in Arizona.
CNN's Gustavo Valdes is here.
All right. Very similar but some differences between the two laws, between the one in Georgia and the one in Arizona?
GUSTAVO VALDES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, very close. The governor made good on one of his campaign promises, signing one of what is considered one of the toughest anti-illegal immigration laws in the country. It's similar to Arizona in the sense that it allows the police certain powers to inquire about the legal status of people during the process of a criminal investigation. It also punishes those who knowingly transport illegal immigrant and also forces businesses to participate on a federal program known as E-verify, in which businesses have to verify the status, the legal status, of any potential employee.
The businesses lobbied hard against this bill, but at the end, the Republicans, the large priority in the state, came to pass the law.
HOLMES: We all remember those pictures. A lot of people will out of Arizona. Those massive protests, people opposing the bill out there. Not necessarily the same kind of reaction here even though there has been some opposition.
VALDES: There were a few people, not the mass protests that we saw in Arizona, where people were crying today. There was a human chain outside the governor's office while he was signing. They were chanting, "Shame on you, shame on you," outside. The cry was a little louder.
People were afraid that they might have to split families, parents who might be here illegally. The children might be U.S. citizens. They are already a number of lawsuits waiting for the sign to get close to enactment in July and they hope that they can stop it in the courts.
HOLMES: All right. Gustavo Valdes for us -- we appreciate you as well. Thank you so much.
And to our viewers, we are learning more about who Osama bin Laden wanted to kill. President Obama was on that list, including others in the president's inner circle. I will tell you who just ahead.
Plus, news that the Navy SEALs found, of all things, porn inside the bin Laden compound. You've got to hear this one.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: All right. You might remember the marijuana plants that we have seen and found growing outside Osama bin Laden's hide out. Our Nic Robertson discovered the pot plant shortly after the raid on bin Laden's compound.
Guess what else was found? Pornography found inside the house. U.S. officials are telling "Reuters" that there was porn stash and it was, in their words, "extensive" and modern. The officials tell us they don't know whether the porn belonged to bin Laden or someone else in that compound.
Also, have you seen that video of bin Laden wrapped in that blanket watching himself on television? Well, he changed the channel every time President Obama showed up on the screen and ABC News reporting that bin Laden wanted to kill the president but the vice president didn't make the cut on that list.
Reports say that bin Laden felt the office of vice president wasn't important enough to warrant an assassination.
Meanwhile, American investigators may make another run on Osama bin Laden's three widows. They've already talked to three of them and we're getting some details from a senior Pakistani official and the two senior U.S. officials, that the women are described as hostile towards the Americans and that the oldest of the widows did all of the talking for all of them. She didn't give up much information, however. We're told that the American investigators may try to talk to the widows once again.
And this weekend, we want you to see this. We're taking you inside the mission, getting bin Laden. That's on CNN Saturday night at 8:00 Eastern Time.
Well, it has been 50 years now since President John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps. In that time, more than 200,000 people have volunteered. So, what actually inspires someone to serve?
Our own Brooke Baldwin shares the story of a recent college grad who signed up.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOHN F. KENNEDY, FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT: I have today signed an executive order providing for the establishment of a Peace Corps.
BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): That was March 1961. In the 50 years since President John F. Kennedy launched the Peace Corps initiative, more than 200,000 volunteers have served in some 139 countries.
Twenty-two-year-old Katie Pollak is one of them.
KATIE POLLAK, PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEER: It's an exciting thing to be a part of. Some of the amazing people have been Peace Corps volunteers, and just the network of people who have done it. They use the word "family" a lot. It's exciting to sort of be going into that.
BALDWIN: Katie recently earned her college degree in human biology and African studies. She plans to put it in good use for the next 27 months in Senegal, where she'll work in the Peace Corps malaria program.
POLLAK: Professionally, this is going to be sort of the best thing that I can do in terms of the underground experience and whether I want to work broadly in life or doing policy work. And personally, I think it's going to be the biggest challenge of my life, being in an entirely new culture.
BALDWIN: Peace Corps volunteers serve until several areas -- education, HIV/AIDS awareness, agriculture, and business development just to name a few. They are provided with health insurance, a housing allowance, and they receive about $7,500 at the end of their 27-month assignment. And the desire to serve is still very strong.
KRISTINA EDMUNSON, DEP. COMMUNICATIONS DIR., PEACE CORPS: Today, we have more volunteers than at any time in the last 40 years. And, you know, I think it's representative that Americans are ready to serve. They're standing up. They're answering President Obama's call to service.
BALDWIN: Forty-seven people in this latest group of Peace Corps volunteers are heeding that call.
COSTA KOKKINOS, PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEER: I just hope to do stuff, to complete projects that people will appreciate. Maybe something that's sustainable, so when I leave they will have it.
SARAH KUECH, PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEERS: Two years seems a lot like now, but in the grand scheme of things, it's really not that big. So, if I can donate a little of my time to try to do some good, I think it's worth a shot.
BALDWIN: And for Katie Pollak, she says she is ready for the learning experience of a lifetime.
POLLAK: One of the goals of the Peace Corps is to bring a better understanding of Americans to people around the world. And I hope I can, like, be an ambassador for America. And so, it's sort of the good side.
BALDWIN: Brooke Baldwin, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Well, baseball legend Hank Aaron is getting pretty candid in a one-on-one sit-down with me. Listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HANK AARON, BASEBALL LEGEND: We are talking about Harry Bonds. And, you know, Barry Bonds has hit more home runs than I did.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Yes, but there was more to it than that. And a whole lot more he had to say, including about whether or not Barry Bonds deserves to be the home run king or is Hank Aaron still the home run king. He addresses that and also breaking barriers. You don't want to miss this. It's next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) HOLMES: Well, baseball, bringing its civil rights game here to Atlanta on Sunday afternoon. It's hardly a secret here that some of the game's brightest stars of the last 50 years, Barry Bonds and Hank Aaron are all African-Americans.
But this part isn't a secret either young African-American athletes are choosing other sports today, basketball, football, baseball, not so much. I talked with Hank Aaron, the former home run king. Listen to him open up about the state of baseball.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HANK AARON, 755 CAREER HOME RUNS: It could be better. It could be a lot better. We don't have as many African-Americans playing baseball as we used to have.
Any time we have an economic struggle in this country, we, and I mean we, the blacks are going to feel the pinch a lot quicker than anybody and baseball is a very expensive game.
HOLMES: Kids could turn on TV and they can see that immediate - that instant fame or what not from basketball or football.
AARON: I just don't believe baseball has sold itself as much in the black era as it should have. You know, really I think that somehow football has been a terrific job. I think basketball has done another terrific job of selling its sports in the areas.
When you look at it deep enough, is that young kid who is 7'10", 12 years old playing baseball, growing up wants to play baseball and by the time he get it to 18, when he can get to college then here come football coach.
The football coach is telling him we got a four-year scholarship and he's looking somewhere because we have not made that kind of progress in baseball that we needed to make where that black kid can look up and say Hank Aaron is part owner of a ball club, this and that.
You know, we haven't done that. Basketball has done that. Basketball has owners and this black kid and the black mother, father, can look out and see that that kid, if he makes it, he's got a chance to go on to do greater things.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Now, here are some of the numbers for you to chomp on, 8.5 percent, that is the percentage of black athletes playing professional baseball to date in this country.
Last year it was 10 percent, 8.5 percent is one of the lowest that they have seen in major league baseball in the past 30 years. Back in the '90s, the percentage hovered around 16, 17, 18 percent so you see where this trend is going and like Hank Aaron is saying the wrong direction. Now many people when you bring up the name Hank Aaron, people will start that debate, is he the real home run king or is Barry Bonds? Yes, Barry Bonds has hit more home runs, however with all of the steroid allegations surrounding Barry Bonds, many people say he cheated.
The real king is still Hank Aaron. Well, Hank Aaron doesn't like to talk about that a whole lot, but he chose to talk about it a bit with me.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: What would you say to those fans who say, Hank Aaron is the home run king. He will always be my home run king and they refuse to acknowledge anybody at this point that is above your name. Would you say to them, let it go folks? The guy above me has more home runs, he's your home run king or would you say --
AARON: I would say, thank you. Thank them first of all if they think that way. But we are talking about Barry Bonds and you know, Barry Bonds hit more home runs than I did and he should be justifiable, the home run king.
That's the way I look at it. I look at it and said that he'd done everything he wanted to do. Everything he was supposed to do in baseball. People say, he was on this, he was on that. I don't know what he was on.
I have no idea. I'm not God. I don't have any idea. The only thing that I know is that Barry Bonds was a terrific ball player. I hit 755 home runs and no matter how you look at it, I am not going to hit another home run, not in this era, I may do it somewhere else but not here.
And he hit more home runs than I did and this was so he could be classified as the home run king.
HOLMES: So you don't believe he was on anything?
AARON: No, I didn't say I believed he was on it. No matter what it is, I don't know what he was on. I have no idea. As I said before, I'm not God. I don't make those kinds of rulings.
HOLMES: (Inaudible) once we get up to 50, 60 home runs something is funny.
AARON: I said I think it's something funny. I think and there's a difference when you say you think. I know I think something is different.
HOLMES: You are a scholar. I love it, I love it, I love it.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Yes, well, a lot more in my interview with the legend. You can see that this weekend. CNN Saturday and Sunday Morning. We, of course, will be airing it right here. I will be here with you on CNN SATURDAY and SUNDAY MORNING starting at 6:00 a.m. Eastern Time.
He has a lot more to say. Also, talked about A-Rod a bit, but still he wants to talk about mainly how this game can improve and get more young African-Americans into baseball at an early age and the civil rights game playing there on Sunday afternoon on our sister network TBS.
Coming up, in "THE SITUATION ROOM" Wolf Blitzer here now with a preview.
Wolf, I think you have a pretty good pretty big interview with a guy once again jumping into the ring in presidential politics.
WOLF BLITZER, HOST, "THE SITUATION ROOM": It's the third time for Ron Paul, the Republican presidential candidate. He made it official today. He announced that he is running for the Republican presidential nomination once again.
He's here in "THE SITUATION ROOM." We just taped a little while ago the interview. We're going to run half of it in the 5:00 p.m. Eastern hour and then the remaining part in the 6:00 p.m. Eastern hour.
We go through all of the issues why he disagrees, for example, with President Obama on his decision to go out and kill Osama Bin Laden. He is very blunt that a lot other sensitive issues, like FEMA, for example. He doesn't believe it should exist even during times of hurricanes and floods and other crisis here in the United States.
Why he supports legalizing drugs, I asked him about legalizing heroin, for example. So we go through a lot of sensitive issues. He wants to be president of the United States. He knows he has to answer these kinds of questions and he does.
So that interview coming up at the top of the hour and continuing in the next hour as well. So we'll divide it up in half.
HOLMES: All right, looking forward to seeing it. Wolf, good to see you as always and we will see him in just about seven and a half minutes from now. Wolf, thanks so much.
Meanwhile, Steven Colbert, he apparently wants to have a role in the 2012 race. Today, the comedian is making a pretty big move. He's taking on campaign and the Supreme Court. We've got the scoop for you.
Plus, she was supposed to be shy, but the wife of one possible presidential candidate told the crowd about milking cows and being a hooters' girl. Our Joe Johns, we have to lean on his expertise for that story. That is next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: All right, Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul now throwing their hats into the race for president. Some of the other potential contenders back in the spotlight, including Mitch Daniels, the Indiana governor and also his wife, Sheri.
Joe Johns is here with the "Political Pop." Now Joe, what did we knew about his wife before and what do we know now?
JOE JOHNS, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: T.J., well, we don't know if Mitch Daniels is going to run for president, but we do know these two, you know, they're quite a love story. This is actually the second time they've been married.
They broke up, she split, married another guy then she and Mitch Daniels got back together again. And now as he talks about running for president or at least thinks about it, he's also got to think about where Sheri Daniels is going to say.
She reportedly, like, you know, a lot of political spouse, has not exactly been out there burning the airwaves up, publicly, privately, talking about how awesome it would be to jump into a brutal campaign and go into 24-hour media fish bowl for several months. She's kind of close until the speech you see here.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SHERI DANIELS, MITCH DANIELS' WIFE: I think you're going to be a little surprised to find how similar my role is to the governor's role. Mitch has received many awards over the past years, honorary degrees, plaques for all sorts of things, well, I too have received some very prestigious awards. I am an honorary hooters girl.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: That's pretty good.
JOHNS: It's pretty good. I think these two would be a very interesting couple to cover on the campaign trail.
HOLMES: Look, there's no video or picture of her in that actual outfit. That would be a different story though, right?
JOHNS: Probably not. That could be a problem down the road.
HOLMES: Now, people were listening closely. Of course, she had some fun there, but still, everybody is wondering what Governor Daniels is going to do and maybe his wife would give some kind of an indication? Did she drop any hints in there we can take to think maybe he's getting in?
JOHNS: Not a hint. Not a hint at all, which is a little bit of a surprise. But he has said that he's going to let us know in the coming weeks which way he's going to go on this. A lot of Republicans would love to see him in the race.
HOLMES: I would love to see her in the race quite frankly. That's a fascinating story. Tell me what Steven Colbert up to now?
JOHNS: All right, he's kind of, frankly, doing the public a service by showing how impenetrable the federal election laws can be and I'll try to shorthand this. Colbert wants to form something we call in Washington a super political action committee. Super pack, for short.
His parent company Viacom, doesn't want him getting into trouble with the Federal Election Commission while he's doing this and so now Colbert is making a big production of going to the FEC to file a request for a media exemption that would give him and Viacom some protective cover when all they would have to do is send a piece of paper over to the FEC.
So a lot of people down at the FEC today although we have Twitter pictures, maybe not, the other thing he's done, besides tweeting about it and talking about it. Very good, you can see a bunch of people all over the place. He also had his lawyer on his show talking about this issue and the lawyer happens to be a former chairman of the FEC. Listen up.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: About what you're trying to do is slightly different than what other people have done before. They are nervous that Viacom is going to end up making an illegal corporate contribution to your pac.
STEVEN COLBERT, HOST, "THE COLBERT REPORT": But they are allowed to give money to a super pac. Corporations can give money. Why wouldn't they want to give me all of that sweet, sweet money?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They say that if it's counted as a contribution, they would have --
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JOHNS: All right. Well, one thing is clear, hopefully he will never have to claim attorney-client privilege on that conversation with that lawyer because it was very public.
HOLMES: Those guys are great. You know, sometimes they try to make a statement and sometimes just trying to get some press for the show and be funny. But still they use it to wrap up a good message in there as well.
Joe, good to see you, as always. Buddy, you enjoy your weekend there in Washington. Thanks so much.
And to our viewers, I appreciate you allowing me to be here with you in the CNN NEWSROOM for Brooke Baldwin.
Right now, let me hand this thing over to Wolf.