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Pakistan to Return Chopper Tail Section; IMF Chief Jailed at Riker's Island; Schwarzenegger Admits Fathering Child; NASA Rolls Out Shuttle Atlantis; Tips on How to Ask for a Raise
Aired May 17, 2011 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: It is 10:00 a.m. on the East Coast, 7:00 a.m. out West. I'm Carol Costello, in for Kyra Phillips. Good morning to you.
A quick look at some of the stories we're following. Their high profile marriage on the rocks and now we know why. Former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger reveals he has fathered a child out of wedlock. According to the "L.A. Times," it happened ten years ago with a household employee.
Queen of England makes the first visit by a British monarch to Ireland and it follows a bomb threat. Security for the visit is high.
And the Miami connection to suspected terrorism: two Muslim clerics have been indicted on charges they provided financial aid and other support to the Taliban in Pakistan.
As early as today, we're expecting Pakistan to return the damaged tail section of that secret military helicopter that went down in the Osama bin Laden raid. Washington's shakey relationship with Pakistan is the subject of a Senate foreign relations committee. That's happening right now as you can see.
Here is what Senator John Kerry said just moments ago.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JOHN KERRY (D), MASSACHUSETTS: While the Pakistani leadership and people initially reacted by praising our actions in Abbottabad. The subsequent discourse in Pakistan unfortunately became quite sharp and quite critical because of the issue of sovereignty and the questions surrounding the raid itself.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Kerry is the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and he just got back from Pakistan and that's where we find our Stan Grant actually in Pakistan.
Stan, the senator says he wants a specific series of steps to reduce tension, so what are those steps?
STAN GRANT, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Actions, not words. That's the blunt message really that he left Pakistani officials with. What he's talking about here is setting up a framework here that they can actually move this relationship forward.
No detail exactly on what that framework will involve, however, there are officials coming over the next week or so, one from the State Department, one from the CIA, to have further talks with a view to the Secretary of State Hillary Clinton ultimately coming to Pakistan, as well, but that's still some way off.
In the meantime, they want to see that there is a commitment from Pakistan to go after the militants here to support the U.S. action across the border in Afghanistan. You know, John Kerry said that Pakistan shares in this fight. Pakistan has lost tens of thousands of people to terrorism.
And he wants Pakistan to decide what sort of country it wants to be, whether it wants to be a healthy democracy or a haven for terrorists. But still no specific answer on what Pakistani officials did or did not know about Osama Bin Laden actually living inside the country.
John Kerry said there was no evidence to suggest they knew and he wouldn't speculate either. For the moment, they're putting that to one side and just trying to get this relationship back on track, Carol.
COSTELLO: And the Taliban is involved in this. I mean, there are stepped up talks with the Taliban. Tell us what that means.
GRANT: Yes, this is intriguing. Reports coming out that the U.S. has been holding secret talks with the Taliban to try to discuss ways of bringing them back into the fold particularly in Afghanistan.
Now, apparently some of the discussions have already taken place in Qatar involving one senior Taliban official who is close to the Taliban leader. This is a long term strategy. It's been talked about a lot trying to get the Taliban back on side.
And I think with the death of Osama Bin Laden, many see that as a circuit breaker, as a way of saying, OK, maybe we can start again here and try to actually negotiate with the Taliban. It's easier said than done, though, because there is not just one Taliban.
There are various groups who are aligned it to the main body. They all have different agendas. They're all capable of breaking havoc. You may be talking to one group, doesn't necessarily mean the others are going to be on side, as well, Carol.
COSTELLO: Stan Grant live from Islamabad, Pakistan. Thank you.
Here in the states, the head of the International Monetary Fund and potential candidate for French president waking up at Riker's Island, New York's giant jail complex. Dominique Strauss-Kahn will spend the next few days alone in a jail cell after a judge denied him bail.
Strauss-Kahn is accused of sexually assaulting a maid Saturday in his Manhattan hotel. Here's a breaking down of that day. The information is coming from a law enforcement source.
The maid went into his suite around noon, which would be checkout time. Less than a half an hour later at 12:28, he checked out. He was to meet his daughter for lunch at 12:45.
At some point, he got into a car and headed to JFK airport for a flight to Paris. Around 3:30, he called the hotel to ask about a cell phone he could not find and then he boarded the Air France jet at 4:00 p.m.
About 40 minutes later, just before departure, authorities took him off that plane. Sunny Hostin is a legal contributor for TruTV's "In Session" and a former prosecutor. Welcome, Sunny.
SUNNY HOSTIN, LEGAL CONTRIBUTOR, "IN SESSION" ON TRUTV: Thanks, Carol.
COSTELLO: What are the chances that this guy will get out of Riker's this week?
HOSTIN: Well, there is a possibility. There is it another hearing in this case on May 20th. He'll be in front of a different judge and there is no question at that time his defense attorneys will ask that judge to revisit the conditions of bail.
At this point, of course, as everyone knows, he was remanded to Riker's Island without bail, without even the opportunity to post bail. Many of us were surprised at that. We were not surprised that his passport was taken because certainly he's a flight risk under the law as that is defined because he was taken off of an Air France flight prior to its departure.
And so flight risk, yes. But sometimes in these cases, Carol, these defendants are allowed to post a million dollars bail, $2 million bail. In this case, the arraignment judge declined that.
COSTELLO: Is he in solitary confinement at Riker's?
HOSTIN: I haven't heard that. I will say this. I've been to Riker's Island as an attorney and it is an unpleasant place. A lot of high profile defendants are put in solitary confinement. They are removed from the general population.
He would be considered a high profile defendant, but my guess is that many people there don't know who he is. But it is probable that he will be removed from the general population there.
COSTELLO: So what exactly will happen on Friday?
HOSTIN: Friday could be another arraignment. We don't know exactly what's going to happen, but a grand jury is likely looking at this. If he gets indicted by a grand jury, that will be read into the record. He will enter either a plea of not guilty or guilty. And again his bail conditions will be reconsidered.
COSTELLO: Sunny Hostin, thanks for joining us as usual. As you might imagine, the Strauss-Kahn story is making headlines around the globe. CNN's Zain Verjee is in London. So Zain, what are the papers overseas saying about this?
ZAIN VERJEE, CNN ANCHOR AND CORRESPONDENT: Let's go straight to those headlines, Carol. The press in New Zealand has this headline, "Seducer, Victim of Puritan Sex Sting Say Supporters." It goes on to say the view that Dominique Strauss-Khan had been stung by unscrupulous Americans has won support amongst the French public always ready to believe the worst of the U.S.
"Wall Street Journal," Europe has got this headline, "In France the Talk is Strauss-Kahn." Despite the serious charges, many in France said they found it hard to believe that a man with his political experience could commit such an act, Carol.
COSTELLO: I'm just trying to imagine for the French people, this must be unbelievably shocking. A potential presidential candidate in handcuffs in the United States accused of a brutal rape?
VERJEE: Totally. I mean, just the image of that and the way it's playing in France is really intense because, yes, this was the main political rival to the president, Nicolas Sarkozy so his whole Socialist Party scratching their heads there.
They're so disappointed and upset. They're trying to figure out what do. The second is, you know the French elite, you know, they can get away with a lot. And having him walk like this in handcuffs is something that would be unthinkable to many people.
And lastly, Carol, this is important, too, in French law, you can't legally show shots of someone unless they've been charged with something or they've been convicted with something. So the fact that these images have been beamed all over French TV is actually not exactly legal in the country.
So Dominique Strauss-Kahn could sue some say because these pictures are being shown like that. They say according to the French legal system that it prejudices people if they see people in his situation at this point in time legally in handcuffs.
COSTELLO: He's being tried in the United States. I understand it's different from France, but --
VERJEE: Right. You know, he has got more (inaudible), you know, in Riker's Island and he's got more fish in the fire to deal with than lawsuits right now.
COSTELLO: You've got that right. Zain Verjee live in London, thank you.
Coming up later, CNN's Deb Feyerick will joins us. She'll talk about the case itself. A hotel maid accusing an international figure and a potential president of France of a serious crime.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) COSTELLO (voice-over): Just a few days after President Obama announced plans to expand domestic oil production, his administration's explaining some of its initiatives to the Senate Energy Committee.
Among those testifying today, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar. This hearing comes as lawmakers beaker over blame for high gas prices, which has actually dropped just a hair.
According to the AAA, the national average for a gallon of regular is $3.94, a whole penny less than yesterday. That won't exactly cheer up a lot of people, though.
Nearly seven in 10 Americans say high gas prices at the pump are causing financial hardship for their families. That's from a new "USA Today" Gallup poll.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: If you think you deserve a raise, we do too. Coming up in a live report, we're going to tell you if this is a good time to ask for a raise and three things you can do to get one.
And the bombshell America woke up to this morning, Arnold Schwarzenegger admitting he fathered a child outside of his marriage. We'll take you to Los Angeles for more details next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Now we all know why Maria Shriver and Arnold Schwarzenegger called it quits last week. The former governor admitting he has a 10-year-old child and it's not Maria Shriver's.
According to the "L.A. Times," the mother, not Shriver, but a household employee -- it means when Schwarzenegger was running for office in California and denying allegations of sexual misconduct, he would have had a secret child with another woman.
Let's go to Los Angeles and CNN's Casey Wian. Tell us more.
CASEY WIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Carol, it's hard to believe that Schwarzenegger could become even more controversial after his two terms as California governor than he was during. Well, he has, Schwarzenegger is acknowledging that before he ran for office in 2003, he fathered a child with a member of his household staff.
In a statement, Schwarzenegger said, quote, "after leaving the governor's office, I told my wife about this event, which occurred over a decade ago. I understand and deserve the feelings of anger and disappointment among my friends and family. There are no excuses and I take full responsibility for the hurt I have caused. I have apologized to Maria, my children, and my family. I am truly sorry."
The story was first reported by the "Los Angeles Times" and has now been confirmed by CNN. The woman worked for the Schwarzeneggers for 20 years, retiring in January. The former governor has been providing financial support for the child.
Only a week ago, Schwarzenegger and his wife announced they had separated after 25 years of marriage. At that time the couple said they were working on the future of their relationship. No word on the status of that relationship now, Carol.
COSTELLO: Casey, you can't help but remember back to 2003 when Schwarzenegger was running for governor, when 16 women accused him of improper sexual behavior and who was by his side? Maria Shriver. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARIA SHRIVER, SCHWARZENEGGER'S WIFE: You can listen to all the negativity and you can listen to people who have never met Arnold or who met him for five seconds 30 years ago or you can listen to me. I advise you to listen to me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: And during that time, Casey, she didn't know about this secret child. So it's just so ugly.
WIAN: Apparently not. Clearly a difficult time for Maria Shriver. She's lost her parents, both of her parents in the last year and a half, and now she's struggling with what appears to be the end of her marriage.
And on Friday before this news about the child became public, she sent out a tweet saying thank you for all of the kindness, support and compassion. I'm humbled by the love. Thank you. Now as for Arnold Schwarzenegger, he has been busy making speeches and sort of teasing people about what his next plans maybe.
He's been reported that he's hoping to revive his movie career and there's a web site schwarzenegger.com that shows a picture about of the former governor sitting at a chess table and the text on the web site as you can see there says stay tuned for my next move. It's very clear that this is not the next move he was talking about, Carol.
COSTELLO: Casey Wian live in Los Angeles, thank you. Checking out the news cross country now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: This morning at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, NASA began rolling out the space shuttle "Atlantis." It is scheduled to launch this summer. It will be the final mission of 30-year-old shuttle program.
In Shelton, Connecticut, students at Shelton High School celebrated the "Endeavour" launch. The advancement placement biology class designed one of the 16 science experiments on board the shuttle that will measure the rate of growth for a specific bacteria in space.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Ty Hobson Powell, Bachelor of Arts. COSTELLO: He's an amazing young man at the age of 15, Ty Hobson Powell is one of the youngest graduates of the University of Baltimore, but success is nothing new.
He learned Chinese at the age of 3, graduated from high school at 13, and now he's preparing for law school at 15. And, yes, he'll get his driver's license next year at 16.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Now CNN in-depth. All this week we're focusing on America's job hunt. In tough economic times, it's hard thinking about asking for a raise. Just having a job is good enough for most of us.
But with the recession turning a corner and with corporate CEOs raking in millions of dollars, we started to wonder, is this a good time to ask for a raise? Alison Kosik joins us live from the New York Stock Exchange. So is it?
ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Is it ever a good time to ask for a raise, that sort of dreaded walk into your boss' office, but you know what, Carol? The good news is a that for the first time this several years, employers have some wiggle room now, so we are seeing some increases in pay.
But those raises are still very small and overall salaries are only a little bit higher than they were about four years ago about 3 percent because of the big beating we took during the recession. I want you to take a bigger look here of where we've been and where we are now.
Look at this, but employers have been raising salaries since last spring. The economy's picking up and companies are making money again. But look at the size of those bar, you can see there's still a lot of caution there. They're not taking you to the side and saying, come on, take this $20,000 raise.
You know, the increases today, they don't come even close to what we saw before the recession hit. But the takeaway here is that employers do have the cash and they are letting go of at least some of it, Carol.
COSTELLO: Yes, but nothing over like a 3 percent raise, which frankly isn't much, right?
KOSIK: You will be happy you have a job, right, you said it.
COSTELLO: I know, it's depressing, though. So let's say you really, really think you deserve a raise. I mean, what do you do? Do you go back to college and get more education? Do you put together a giant portfolio of your successes, what do you do?
KOSIK: You can do all of that, and keep this in mind if you're doing all that, generally the more education you have, the more you'll get paid. But not everyone has the time or the money to go back to school. And if that happens to be your situation, analyst tells us the best thing you can do is look at your skills and see about if they're transferable to another job, a higher paying job. A lot of tech jobs are very flexible in that way.
You can go from let's say being a programmer to working in the I.T. Department or it can be an entirely different career all together. A lot of people in TV, they go right into public relations and if that doesn't work for you, play the system at your current job.
Take on more responsibilities, learn something new to expand your own skill set, you know, it's all about taking initiative, making yourself more valuable to your employer. You know, what can I do for you some isn't that what it's all about?
COSTELLO: Yes, it is. You're right about that and I'll be practicing that much more very soon.
KOSIK: You do that.
COSTELLO: An NBA executive makes a public announcement about his private life. Phoenix Suns CEO Rick Wells comes out as a gay man. In the macho world of sports, that's a brave thing to do, isn't it? We'll talk about that next.
Also actor Michael J. Fox has been battling Parkinson's for years and now he'll guest star in an upcoming episode of "Curb Your Enthusiasm." He will play himself and there will be jokes about his disease. We'll explain.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: The man who helped launch a dance craze has been killed. "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" host A.J. Hammer is here. This was so sad.
A.J. HAMMER, HOST, "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT": Yes, really sad. We're talking about somebody who is just 22 years old, Carol, and the hip hop community is reeling following the murder of M-Bone who was a member of the group, "Cali Swag District," which brought us the huge hit "Teach Me How to Dougie" back in 2010.
It had everybody doing the "Dougie" even Justin Bieber. M-Bone's real name was Monte Talbert. He was killed on Sunday night in a drive by shooting in his hometown of Anglewood, California.
Police tell us that he was sitting in a car when another car pulled up, somebody fired two rounds, which struck him in the head. Police are still searching for the suspects and the group's rep tells "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" Talbert was the victim of a random act of violence.
They added he was a hard working passionate artist and dancer who will be sorely missed. Carol, M-Bone was one of Cali Swag District's four members and was really the guy that helped define the group with his unique dance style.
COSTELLO: So sad. I guess an end of an era is coming in the world of telethon. Jerry Lewis finally calling it quits.
HAMMER: Yes, it was bound to happen sooner or later, but truly the end of an era because for 45 years, Jerry Lewis and MDA's annual Labor Day telethon have really been synonymous, so much so that it's now known as the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon in honor of the comic's tireless efforts.
But the charity announced Monday that this September the 85-year- old will put on his tux, entertain the masses and help Jerry's kids for the last time. Now Jerry issued a statement, which in part read, I've hosted the annual telethon since 1966 and I'll be making me final appearance on the show this year by performing my signature song "You'll Never Walk Alone."
I'll continue to serve MDA as its national chairman as I've done since the early 1950s. I'll never desert MDA and my kids. This year's events will happen on September 4th. It's only six hours this year.
It's a lot shorter than many years in the past, but still Lewis promised it will be spectacular and he is thrilled to be a part of it, Carol. Amazing that he's been a part of this organization since the '50s.
COSTELLO: I know, that is -- something else amazing, Michael J. Fox going back to TV and allowing people to joke about his condition.
HAMMER: Yes, he has this amazing capacity for self effacing humor about something that some people would see as so dire. Fox is telling TV Guide is he on board for a story line on the long awaited new season of Larry David's sitcom, "Curb Your Enthusiasm."
Apparently he's playing Larry's upstair's neighbor in a sub plot, which has him poking fun as you said at his own Parkinson's symptoms, but in his typical style, Larry thinks that Michael J. Fox's character is faking it.
Now Fox recently spoke with our own Dr. Sunjay Gupta and he told him how keeping humor and a positive attitude is really what keeps him going.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: What keeps so you optimistic?
MICHAEL J. FOX: Being in the moment. There is no more important moment than right now and I think I say to my wife sometimes, if you get caught up in the worst case scenario and it doesn't happen, you've wasted your time. And if you are caught up in the worst case scenario and does happen, you've lived it twice.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Carol, Curb returns in July and I for one can't wait. It's my favourite show on television. COSTELLO: It's a great show and I'm glad he'll make a guest star appearance. Thank you, A.J. as always. Want information on everything breaking in the entertainment world, A.J. has got it tonight on "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" at 11:00 p.m. on HLN.
A young hotel maid accusing a powerful international figure of a serious crime that could wreck his career and put him in prison for years. We're talking about the case against Dominique Strauss-Kahn next.
And if your morning coffee didn't wake you up, this news probably did. The "L.A. Times" says Arnold Schwarzenegger has admitted to fathering a child out side of his marriage. We'll go to it our buzz panelists will that and more next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: It could be Friday before the head of the International Monetary Fund leaves jail. Dominique Strauss-Kahn will spend the next few days alone in a jail cell on New York's infamous Riker's Island.
A judge denied him bail. Strauss-Kahn is accused of sexually assaulting a maid at his hotel. Riker's is only about seven miles from the hotel in Midtown Manhattaan where the alleged crime went down, but it might as well be a world away.
Strauss-Kahn was staying at the swanky Sofitel Hotel in a $3,000 a night suite near fun places like Times Square, Broadway theaters and Central Park. At Riker's, he's in an 11 by 13 foot cell. He has limited movement outside and he's surrounded by thousands of accused and convicted criminals.
Strauss-Kahn's breakfast at the hotel, scrambled eggs, home fries, toast and ham and cheese sandwich. Riker's cuisine is a bit different, one apple and banana, a box of dried cereal, miniwheats, two pieces of toast, milk and coffee or tea.
CNN's Deborah Feyerick talked with a former sex crimes prosecutor in New York about the Strauss-Kahn case.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You have a hotel worker going up against one of the most powerful men, the head of the International Monetary Fund. What sort of evidence needed to be met for police to believe that something in fact did occur?
LINDA FAIRSTEIN, FORMER HEAD OF MANHATTAN D.A. SEX CRIMES UNIT: That's a great question obviously body fluids and where it is. If it's on the bed of the alleged offender, may not be terrifically significant.
If it's on the clothing of the victim and I don't know where it is, that's going to be awfully significant. Most hotels in this day and age have cameras in corridors. Is there tape of this woman leaving the room, what condition was she in both in clothing disarray and in emotional distress, what condition was he in when he left the room if these things are filmed.
FEYERICK: Will this lady have to testify?
FAIRSTEIN: Yes. This it case is entirely based on the testimony of the young lady who made the complaint. This case could not proceed without her.
FEYERICK: Investigators and police went immediately to the airport to get him off the plane. Is that an extraordinary measure?
FAIRSTEIN: If the Special Victims Unit detectives had probably cause, meaning a witness that they believe who told the truth, made an immediate outcry, found evidence to support it, which is not needed but icing on the cake, and then they did the only thing they could do, which was to stop this man before he left the country.
FEYERICK: This young lady has to be terrified.
FAIRSTEIN: This is what they are so good at. The detectives whose pictures I saw in the paper today -- one of them I worked with for more than 20 years. He is not only a great detective, they are just the nicest guys in this business. They are chosen for not only skilled detective work but because they have the manner to handhold scared witnesses through this process.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: I wanted to bring in Deb Feyerick now. She's live in New York. So, Deb, there are hotel security cameras, right? I'm sure they'll be an important factor in this case.
FEYERICK: Well, they are going to be a big factor. For example, detectives most likely have already looked at them. They want to see what Mr. Strauss-Kahn looked like. Was he nervous, did he appear agitated, was he even looking to see whether there were or are the presence of cameras in that hotel? All of these kind of clues as to just what was going through his mind at that time.
One former NYPD detective that I just spoke with, he made the point that because of the kind of suite that this is, they would have had their best people cleaning that suite. Somebody, who, for example if they found a Rolex or a piece of jewelry or passport, would have taken that to hotel security. So, that may have played into why this woman was believed so quickly and why this played out as it did, Carol.
COSTELLO: Deb Feyerick reporting live from New York. Thank you.
Checking our top stories now. A week or so after they announced their separation, new insight into Arnold Schwarzenegger's and Maria Shriver's split. Schwarzenegger has confirmed reports he fathered a child with a mistress over a decade ago. He says in a statement, "There are no excuses, and I take full responsibility for the hurt I've caused."
Government buildings burn in Tripoli. Libyan officials say NATO air strikes hit the anti-corruption headquarters and police station. No word of casualties.
And check out this fantastic amateur video of the shuttle Endeavour blasting off. A New Jersey woman shot it from the window of a Delta flight headed for West Palm Beach. She posted to Twitter, and it's gone viral.
He created a media frenzy when he said he was considering a run for president, but now businessman and TV celebrity Donald Trump says he will not chase the Oval Office. There are likely mixed emotions around the country because of this announcement, but it seems one of the most segments of our community upset, the comedic corner.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CONAN O'BRIEN, HOST, "CONAN": Donald Trump said he is not running for president.
(APPLAUSE)
O'BRIEN: You, yes. You're happy. But this is devastating news for Trump supporters, all of whom, by the way, are late night comedians. This ruins my life.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: What better way to set up "Political Buzz," a lightning-fast conversation hitting the hot political topics of the day . Each of our brilliant political observers get 20 seconds to answer three probing questions. Will Cain is a conservative, a political analyst and a CNN contributor. Robert Zimmerman is member of the Democratic National Committee. And comedian Sam Seder is host of the podcast "The Majority Report."
Welcome and first question. Republican candidates for president are dropping like flies. Mike Huckabee among them. He announced the decision not to run and explained how he got to that decision like this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MIKE HUCKABEE, FOX NEWS CONTRIBUTOR: Only when I was alone in quiet and reflective moments did I have not only clarity but an inexplicable inner peace, a peace that exceeds human understanding.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: "An inexplicable inner peace, a peace that exceeds human understanding." I want that! But what is it? Will?
WILL CAIN, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: The man said it was inexplicable, Carol. It's beyond human understanding. I know you think highly of me, but the pressure is a little high there. I think that the peace is having your own TV show and not subjecting your family and finances to such scrutiny of 300 million Americans. You kind of have that, Carol.
COSTELLO: Well, maybe. Robert.
ROBERT ZIMMERMAN, DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE: To me, inexplicable peace is Donald Trump dropping out of the race. And to Mike Huckabee, inexplicable peace is building a beautiful home in Florida, having a variety show and making a lot of money.
COSTELLO: Sam.
SAM SEDER, HOST, "THE MAJORITY REPORT": Well, I got to agree with the others. I think the bottom line, inexplicable peace is being able to work a calculator and eat all you want at the all you can eat buffet.
COSTELLO: Oh, geez! OK, next question. I don't even think there's a need for a question. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Go! Will!
CAIN: You know, seriously, Schwarzenegger now joins a list of people that include Bill Clinton, Mark Foley, John Edwards. You know, the common characteristic that all these guys have, beyond the fact that they're men, which, by the way shouldn't be understated, is that in my opinion they're narcissists. Now, that is a very hard thing to filter for when we pick future leaders, but it ought to be near the top of our list. Don't choose a narcissist.
COSTELLO: Robert.
ZIMMERMAN: Ah, for the simpler days of John Edwards. Another family valued politician bites the dust. But looking past the politics, quite seriously, he has an extraordinary family of four beautiful children, a very profoundly smart and capable wife who is deeply religious. And to them, my heart goes out to them.
COSTELLO: Sam.
SEDER: Yes, I feel badly for the family, as well. All I can say is thank goodness the governor vetoed the gay marriage rights on two different occasions because one can only imagine if he had signed that what it would have done to the institution of marriage in his home.
COSTELLO: Coming up, we've got our last question. We call it our Buzzer Beater. We'll ask our experts now that Donald Trump is officially out of the 2012 running, what did we learn from him? We'll be back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: OK. Let's bring our buzz panelists back for one final question. We call it our Buzzer Beater. On the right, political analyst Will Cain. On the left, DNC member Robert Zimmerman. And on the margin, comedian Sam Seder. So, here we go! Ten seconds each. Now that Donald Trump is officially out of the 2012 running, what have we learned from the Trump 2012 saga? Robert.
ZIMMERMAN: Absolutely nothing. The last time he proposed running for president, he dropped out because he had a phobia about shaking hands. And so the reality is what we all should learn is that if you take a reality TV character like Donald Trump -
(BUZZER SOUNDS)
ZIMMERMAN: and put him in the real world --
COSTELLO: Your time is up. Will.
ZIMMERMAN: -- he couldn't step up to Seth Meyers!
COSTELLO: Robert, your time is up! Will.
CAIN: He's eating my time! Very little. We learned very little. As former President Bush tried to say, fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. This guy has pretended to run three times.
COSTELLO: Sam.
CAIN: That's our problem.
SEDER: We learned that 47 percent of the Republican base will vote for any reality show candidate as opposed to any of their existing candidates. I say Snookie is next for them.
COSTELLO: Oh, God, I hope not! Robert, Will, Sam, thanks so much for playing "Political Buzz." And "Political Buzz" will be back tomorrow.
The CEO of the Phoenix Suns comes out as a gay man while two of his players show up in a PSA saying gay slurs are flagrant fouls. Are attitudes changing in pro sports, and is it a big deal or not? We'll discuss.
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COSTELLO: Checking stories cross country now. Bernie Madoff's wine and spirits collection will be auctioned off today in New York. The U.S. Marshals office confiscated it. The proceeds will go toward Madoff's victims.
Countdown is on for the queen of daytime television. Today Oprah Winfrey begins taping the final week of her program. The last show will air next Wednesday.
Some people in Louisiana are sticking it out despite orders to evacuate their homes. Up to 25,000 homes could be flooded because of the decision to open a spillway to spare New Orleans and Baton Rouge. CNN's John King flew over the flood zone with Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOV. BOBBY JINDAL (R), LOUISIANA: These are tough people, they're resilient. They've been through a lot. They've been through four hurricanes, they've been through an oil spill. They'll get through this.
I've talked to a lot of families. Nobody's happy about it, but they're moving their property, they know exactly where they will go to evacuate.
The good news is you get the sense people given the amount of time they've had with the forecast, they're do everything they can to help secure their property.
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COSTELLO: John King reports live from Louisiana again tonight. You can see it on "JOHN KING USA" at 7:00 Eastern.
The decision by Phoenix Suns CEO Rick Welts to come out as a gay man has generated a lot of buzz inside the sports world and beyond. Welts' story was first reported by "The New York Times" over the weekend. Speaking of sports, Welts said, "This is one of the last industries where the subject is off-limits. Nobody is comfortable in engaging in a conversation."
That said, it is interesting to note that two players on Welts' team are in a new PSA telling people not to use the word gay as a slur. Watch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Last time you boxed someone, you were on the line.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Your moves are just gay.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Using "gay" to mean dumb or stupid, not cool.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Not cool.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Not in my house, not anywhere.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It is not creative. It is offensive to gay people. And you're better than that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: That's Grant Hill. And Jared Dudley also in the clip. Let's bring back LZ Granderson. Used to work for ESPN. You know a lot about professional sports. So, are you surprised by Welts' announcement?
LZ GRANDERSON, CNN.COM CONTRIBUTOR: No. No, I can't say that I am. Many of us in the gay community who also follow sports and are closely related to the sport industry were aware that Rick was gay. And so I'm not surprised that he made this step and revealed his true self at all. Not at all.
COSTELLO: What about players? Will we see more players coming out?
GRANDERSON: I think we may see more retired players coming out. I think what you're asking, are we ever going to see an actively gay player in one of the major sports come out? And that remains to be seen.
I'm encouraged by Rick, I'm encouraged by all the young people in high school as well as college who come out to their teams that are doing quite well. So, you have to believe that the environment is becoming much more acceptable where you will see an openly gay player in one of the top sports come out.
COSTELLO: Like football, baseball? Which do you guess will be first?
GRANDERSON: What's the gayest sport? Is that what you are asking?
COSTELLO: No, no, I'm not! I was just wondering if it would be harder in one sport over another to come out.
GRANDERSON: You know, I would think -- if I had to take a stab at it, I would think basketball, only because it's a smaller team environment. So, there's an opportunity for that teammate to get to know the players closely and have that support there. I would think in a larger environment like the NFL locker room, which has tens and tens of players, that there might be a little bit more insecurity there as opposed to a tight-knit group of guys with 15 players.
COSTELLO: The PSA we just saw where basketball players are coming out and saying, hey, you shouldn't use gay as a slur toward a ref during a game, maybe like Kobe Bryant did not so long ago? Is that heartening to you? Is that helpful?
GRANDERSON: Well, you know, there is this misnomer that all jocks are homophobes. And it's been my experience -- I've been an openly gay sports report for over ten years now. And it's always been my experience that it's not so much the one-on-one interaction that players have problems with, it's the perception. It's being friendly towards gays and then people thinking that they're gay.
And I think what you're seeing happening how is that this silent majority are actually speaking up and saying this is not a big deal. I have gay relatives, I have gay friends. Rick obviously works as a top executive. There are gay owners in professional sports. And so, what you're seeing is the silent majority saying enough is enough already.
COSTELLO: LZ Granderson, many thanks as always.
GRANDERSON: Hey, thank you!
COSTELLO: Sure.
It happened throughout history, and Libyan women say it's happening again. Troops using rape as a weapon. And in this case, there is an extra horrifying twist. We'll have the details for you next.
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COSTELLO: Taking a look at stories making news later today. President Obama and King Abdullah of Jordan are meeting at the White House this morning. They're discussing a variety of issues and will make a joint statement at 12:05 Eastern.
The Los Angeles Police Department holds a news conference at 7:30 Eastern, 4:30 out West. It will update the case of the San Francisco Giants fan beaten at Dodgers Stadium several weeks ago.
And late tonight, 10:56 Eastern, the crew aboard the shuttle Endeavour will get a wake-up call.
Just days after announcing his run for president, Newt Gingrich is taking heat from fellow conservatives. Our deputy political director Paul Steinhauser is here to tell us why. Hi, Paul.
PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: You can give me a promotion! That's fine. Call me political director, Carol. Do I get a raise?
No, seriously, though, it's been six days since Gingrich officially announced his candidacy for president of the United States. And I guess you could say maybe he stepped in it. What I'm talking about comments he made on Sunday, on the Sunday talk shows when he talked about Budget chairman - Republican Budget Chairman Paul Ryan's Medicare, plan which most Republicans are behind. Gingrich called it "radical change" and "right-wing social engineering."
He also in that same interview appeared to endorse some form of health care mandate that calls for the individual mandate that everybody must have health insurance, which is a big, big no-no with most Republicans.
Well, since then, 48 hours later, Newt Gingrich is getting crushed by many, many on the right, criticizing Gingrich for what he said. He's in Iowa, a good place to be if you're running for president, right? He's pushing back. His spokesman said listen, Gingrich and Ryan, there is no daylight between them. And this morning, Gingrich is signing a petition to call for the repeal of the president's health care law.
So, we'll see how this plays out, but right now, very, very interesting news. Gingrich in the spotlight. Carol.
COSTELLO: Fascinating. On the battle for control of the Senate, there are a couple of big names making news. What are they? STEINHAUSER: Yes, we're talking about Wisconsin. And let's it talk about Paul Ryan again. We heard Herb Cole (ph), the long-time Democratic senator say last Friday he would not run for re-election next year in Wisconsin.
So, a lot of speculation on Ryan, would he run or not? He told our Candy Crowley he'd have an announcement this week. Well, it just happened. And Ryan said he will not run for the Senate. He will stay as budget chairman. He thinks he can do better work for the country there.
Who will run? Well, sources telling CNN that it's very, very likely that the former governor of Wisconsin, Tommy Thompson. Remember, he ran for the presidency four years ago. He was also health and human secretary under President Bush. Very likely he will announce as a candidate.
So, Carol, a lot of things percolating out there in campaign politics today.
COSTELLO: Thanks, Paul. We appreciate it.
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.
We can't stop talking about the bombshell out of California. Arnold Schwarzenegger admits to fathering a child with another woman. In the next hour of the CNN NEWSROOM with Suzanne Malveaux, she'll talk with a psychologist about why some people struggle with monogamy.
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COSTELLO: The International Criminal Court is looking into claims that Libyan forces are using rape as a weapon of war and get this. They're allegedly popping Viagra so they can gang-rape women who support the rebel side.
CNN's Nic Robertson joins us live from London with more on this terrible story. So, Nic, how did the court learn of these alleged rapes?
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It seems it has come from reports from the rebel side that they, when they've gone into army barracks to take weapons out after Gadhafi's forces have fled, they've found they say Viagra or Viagra-like enhancement type products that they believe have been used to enhance the soldier's appetite for sex and thereby driving them to rape women. And they have said that this could be part of an orchestrated campaign by the government, and that's what the chief prosecutor says he's going to investigate.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LUIS MORENO-OCAMPO, CHIEF PROSECUTOR, INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT: There are rapes. The issue is who organized them. ROBERTSON: And you believe it's institutional?
MORENO-OCAMPO: They were committed in some police barracks where the policemen prosecuted. What happened -- there is some information there was Viagra. So, it's like a machete. Viagra is a tool of massive rapes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTSTON: And there's obviously a huge allegation for the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court to be making, but it is so serious that he's going to dedicate investigators into digging up more information about this. The reason being the claims, reports that he's getting are more widespread than just ones, twos or threes. I've talked to opposition spokesmen, and they told me there could be as many as several hundred women they believe have been raped in this way. Carol?
COSTELLO: It's just one of the most horrible things I've heard some in quite some time.
Let's talk about Eman Al-Obeidy. She says she was raped by Gadhafi forces. And she's the woman who burst into your hotel screaming and she was dragged off. She's now escaped the country. And you've got a full interview with her for the first time. Tell us about it.
ROBERTSON: She's finally free, and she's really beginning to enjoy that freedom. She escaped from Libya across the border to Tunisia, was very afraid that Gadhafi's forces would catch up with her, would then manage to get to Qatar, two-and-a-half thousand miles away. And that's when she said she really began to feel free.
I asked her, though, how could she have endured what she went through. She said she wasn't going to let these men get away with it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
EMAN AL-OBEIDY, ALLEGEDLY RAPED BY GADHAFI FORCES (via translator): I was telling myself to defy them. These animals cannot slip without punishment. I must speak out no matter how much people will talk about me and would blame me and would ask how could a Libyan woman and a Muslim go on the media and say this? All these things did not matter to me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTSON: And the chief prosecutor told me Emam's case is one of those that he'll be looking at because that's typical, he said, of these Viagra, as he's heard about it, cases that he's going to investigate. Carol?
COSTELLO: I know she's one courageous woman. You'll have more on Anderson Cooper's show tonight. We look forward to that at 10 p.m. Eastern.
Nic Robertson reporting live from London.
All right. Now I want to toss it over to Suzanne Malveaux. I'll join you in just a minute to talk about the potential Republican candidate dropping like flies and why they're exiting the race.
SUZANNE MALVEUAX, CNN ANCHOR: OK. Should be good. All right. Thank you, Carol.
