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Debt Negotiations Continue; What Next for NASA?; No More Mr. Nice Guy?; Betty Ford Memorial; Cries for Help Go Unanswered; Hero Awarded Medal of Honor; Highest Honor for Army Ranger; Sherwood Schwartz Dead at 94; Michelle Obama's Shake Out

Aired July 12, 2011 - 16:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: I have love for you, Wolf Blitzer. You know that. Thank you very much.

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Thank you.

BALDWIN: We will get another "Political Ticker" update for you in half-an-hour.

And now take a look at this.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BALDWIN: Right now, in a room inside the White House, you have Republicans, Democrats and President Obama all negotiating a deal over America's debt before it's too late. And something could break any minute. I'm Brooke Baldwin. The news is now.

(voice-over): A young boy beaten, kept in a cage and then buried in cement.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He was our little cutie.

BALDWIN: Now we're hearing the boy's heartbreaking words, including why he wanted to die.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He was the outgoing one of the whole entire bunch. Now he's gone.

BALDWIN: This comes as Congress hears shocking testimony about child abuse in America.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There are in fact 2,500-plus deaths a year, about five times the number of U.S. soldiers killed in two wars.

BALDWIN: American troops are used to carrying boots and bullets. But soon, they may be forced to add a certain kind of gadget to their packs. I will tell you why.

Plus, as Atlantis astronauts walk among the stars...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Wow. Amazing.

BALDWIN: ... the head of NASA reveals the next step in space. (END VIDEOTAPE)

BALDWIN: A lot to get to in this next hour. Welcome back. I'm Brooke Baldwin.

But the big story, folks, anything could change at any moment now. We're awaiting confirmation in fact from the White House that another round in these crucial debt negotiations and talks has, in fact, begun on schedule.

The talks were scheduled just a short time ago, about 15 minutes ago, in fact. We're trying to find out whether they are under way and who might be in the meeting, because as we told you last hour, the top Senate Republican, Mitch McConnell, is speaking in past tense today about the chances of getting a debt reduction agreement.

He said he doesn't think it will happen as long as Barack Obama is president. But listen to this, the president dropping this bombshell in an interview with CBS News. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Twenty billion dollars worth of Social Security checks that have to go out the day after the government is supposedly going to go into default.

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Well, this is not just a matter of Social Security checks. These are veterans' checks. These are folks on disability and their checks. There are about 70 million checks that go out each month.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Can you guarantee as president those checks will go out on August the 3rd?

OBAMA: I cannot guarantee those that checks go out on August 3 if we haven't resolved this issue, because there may simply not be the money in the coffers.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Joining me now from Washington, Jay Newton-Small, congressional correspondent for "TIME" magazine.

Jay, good to see you.

Look, even if you account for potential political posturing, and we always have to do that, you know that very well, it's a scary prospect the president just raised for millions. He said 70 million Americans. But what about the folks in the room, in the White House presumably? They're speaking right now.

You have Republicans. You have Democrats. Do you think, Jay, that the president's statement today with Scott Pelley of CBS might have them surprised as well?

JAY NEWTON-SMALL, WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT, "TIME": Oh, well, I think Republicans probably knew this was coming. Certainly one of the things that Democrats have always said that will be the cost of default will be essentially a mini-government shutdown.

So about every -- for every $1 the U.S. pays out in services right now, 40 percent, 40 cents of that dollar comes from borrowing. And if you don't have 40 cents on that dollar, then essentially, you're going to have to cut 40 percent of whatever the government does in order to make sure that you're not -- you're spending within your means, if there's no debt ceiling increase.

And so this has always been sort of the doom and gloom scenario is you're going to have a 40 percent government shutdown if this does happen.

BALDWIN: Affecting Social Security potentially for millions of Americans as we just heard from the president. But in terms of Mitch McConnell, Senate Republican leader, he signaled today that he's given up hope for a debt reduction deal. I want to play some of this sound, because he also said this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL (R-KY), MINORITY LEADER: Republicans will choose a path that actually reflects the will of the people, which is to do the responsible thing and ensure that the government doesn't default on its obligations.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: So, Jay Newton-Small, here's my question. McConnell and the Republicans have promised the Tea Party that they would not allow the government to continue to borrow money without some sort of debt reduction deal. But how can McConnell avoid a default without breaking his promise to the Tea Party?

NEWTON-SMALL: Look, there are all kinds of lines being drawn in the sand right now. And essentially a lot of people are going to have to break their promises for anything to actually happen.

And you saw this with any big bill. You saw this with health care reform. You saw this with really anything the government does, Medicare Part D under the Bush administration. People draw lines in the sand. They make all kinds of promises to their base, they rally their base, they thump their chest, they say we will never, and then next week they do. So it's just part of negotiating tactics.

BALDWIN: Let's talk about something that you wrote about pretty extensively in "TIME" magazine and that being between Cantor and Boehner.

So what is going on, on the House Republican side between the speaker of the House and his number two? We know Boehner was edging toward this deal. They were calling it maybe a grand bargain with the president. Cantor appears to have quashed that. It also sounds as though Cantor is taking the lead. He's the one speaking at some of these meetings, it sounds like from behind closed doors there at the White House.

So my question to you is who runs the House Republican Caucus? Is it the man on the left or is it the man on the right? Is it Boehner or Cantor, Jay?

NEWTON-SMALL: Well, there's only one speaker of the House, but I do think that the speaker realizes that Cantor represents an important part of his constituency, which is really the freshman, the Tea Party freshmen, the sort of more right-wing kind of conservative part of the base. And so without them, you're going to split the conference and you're really going to split the party. So you needed to bring them on board.

And so when Cantor essentially came out against this grand bargain, Boehner stepped back and said, OK, well, you're not for a grand bargain. Why don't you go in and negotiate and you figure out a deal? And so that's exactly what Cantor has been doing for the last two days. Boehner has been sitting back, hasn't been saying almost a word during these talks. And Cantor has been doing all the negotiations.

BALDWIN: Back to the big picture. Final question to you. Is the long-term debt fix the president says he wants, is that, Jay, is that out the window? And if so, is a shorter-term agreement even possible?

NEWTON-SMALL: Well, keep in mind, I mean, even the small package that they're looking at here is about $2.4 trillion worth of cuts and revenues.

And so I mean, this is still going to be an historic deal no matter what. But, yes, I think the big grand bargain, $4.5 trillion worth of cuts, entitlement reform, tax reform, I think that all of that is really off the table. And you're looking at a smaller package, probably just $2 trillion or a little bit more that will get them through the 2012 elections.

And before I sign off, can I just say happy birthday.

BALDWIN: Jay Newton-Small, thank you very much.

NEWTON-SMALL: Thank you.

BALDWIN: Two bits of birthday love in the last 10 minutes. Thank you very much, Jay, "TIME" magazine.

(NEWS BREAK)

BALDWIN: Happening right now, folks are arriving for Betty Ford's memorial service in Palm Desert, California. It is expected to begin this hour.

The former first lady mapped out the service before she died. We will tell you who she specifically asked to speak at this service. We're live outside the church there coming up. But, first, he's in charge of everything from FOX News to "The Wall Street Journal." And, soon, Rupert Murdoch may still be sitting in the hot seat here and answering questions about the hacking scandal threatening his empire. Find out who's about to grill him next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BALDWIN: There is no bigger news story shaking the United Kingdom today than this one. One major newspaper is out of business. Two other equally huge newspapers caught in the same scandal that brought down the "News of the World."

Now, the man who owns all these papers is being called onto the carpet in London. Lawmakers want to ask Rupert Murdoch about his own employees who are accused of phone hacking and bribing policemen and stealing private information about people as highly placed as the prime minister and the queen.

Howard Kurtz is with me now. He's in our Washington bureau. He's a bureau chief at "Newsweek" and The Daily Beast as well, also hosts "RELIABLE SOURCES." You see him each and every Sunday here on CNN.

Howard, let's about how we may see some sort of effect here in the States.

HOWARD KURTZ, CNN HOST, "RELIABLE SOURCES": Hi.

BALDWIN: How will we see, you know, perhaps some sort of manifestation of the scandal reactionarily within our own newspapers and TVs here?

KURTZ: Well, a few quick points.

This is such a black eye, such a debacle for the Murdoch empire. He will be under some pressure to sell all of his newspapers because they're close to his heart, but they don't make their money. The television and movies do, so perhaps he would get rid of "The New York Post."

"The Wall Street Journal," the parent company, Dow Jones, headed by a fellow named Les Hinton, who was in charge of the London unit of News Corp., Murdoch's company, and who assured the British Parliament that there was -- that this is just a rouge reporter, there was no big scandal here, he will be called on the carpet. His position could be in jeopardy.

And the Federal Communications Commission here could -- I'm starting to hear rumblings -- could maybe create some problems for say some of Murdoch's local FOX stations.

BALDWIN: Well, let me pick up on that, because I thought that we learned today that the FCC made this announcement, saying they're not involved at all. If what you're hearing is true, if they're involved, how would that affect, I don't know, if I watch "Glee" on FOX television, would that mean that would change? How would that affect things?

KURTZ: You probably will still get to watch "Glee." I think you can relax on that one point.

And officially the FCC has no role. This is a British matter. I don't expect to see any licenses challenged. But, informally, there are rumblings. And this may not come to anything.

BALDWIN: Well, let's say that this scandal were to happen here in the United States at some other paper not owned by the Murdoch empire. Hypothetically, Howard, would these newspapers here risk shutting down like we have seen happen with the "News of the World"?

KURTZ: You know, I was surprised as anybody, as somebody who's watched Murdoch for a long time, that he chose to go the route of shutting down "News of the World." It's the best selling newspaper in Britain, published only on Sunday.

And I just think it had become such a toxic symbol of corrupt journalism that in part is a P.R. move, then, in part as a business move Murdoch chose to shut it, 280 people losing their jobs. If there were big -- look, there was a major fabrication scandal in 2003 that I was reporting on at "The New York Times" involving Jason Blair.

BALDWIN: Oh, yes.

KURTZ: The paper didn't shut down. Usually, the response -- well, because usually response when you have a scandal is to clean house, hold the executives responsible, as well as the reporters. But usually, the institution is not threatened because unless it can be shown that everybody at the newspaper was involved in some kind of illegal or questionable conduct, you do it by having an independent investigation and firing people.

And that's one of the things that Murdoch hasn't done, is he hasn't fired any of the executives who oversaw "News of the World." It's the reporters and editors who were losing their jobs, many of whom who had nothing to do with the phone hacking these years.

BALDWIN: Yes. Well, I have a feeling as I'm sure you can suspect as well, that we certainly have not seen the end of this story, very much still the beginning phases, right, Howard Kurtz? Howard, thank you so much from Washington. Appreciate it.

KURTZ: Sure.

BALDWIN: No more Mr. Nice Guy for Jon Huntsman. Find out who the Republican is attacking now and why. That is next.

Also this --

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. BERNIE SANDERS (I), VERMONT: If you told the American people you're not going to cut Social Security, then don't cut Social Security. Keep your word.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Senator Bernie Sanders going off on President Obama using his own words against him. Things are getting fiery in Washington. Right now, the president, the congressional leaders are meeting at the White House, debating how to handle America's debt. Could a deal happen soon? We are monitoring.

Stay right there.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Let's go to Washington, get another "CNN Equals Politics" update. Paul Steinhauser with the latest news fresh off the Political Ticker.

Paul Steinhauser, what do you have?

PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Hey, let's talk about some rough and tough politics, right? Running for the White House, it's not something for the faint of heart.

Jon Huntsman, looks like he's getting a little tough and maybe shutting that Mr. Nice Guy image, going after Mitt Romney, who's perceived to be the front-runner right now in the battle for the presidential nomination. Huntsman is talking about Romney's efforts on jobs, and Huntsman was pointing out, you know, when I was governor of Utah, we were number one in the nation in the nation at creating jobs. He said, guess what? Massachusetts was 47th.

Well, Romney, of course, is the former governor of Massachusetts. The Romney campaign responded saying that, you know what, the Romney guys have done a good job when Romney was governor of Massachusetts. Unemployment had actually gone down. Well, today, the Huntsman campaign responded saying that the Romney camp is doing abysmal. Romney did abysmal by every standard on jobs.

So, Brooke, it's really getting a little rougher and little tougher out there in this battle for nomination.

BALDWIN: OK. And now, here, as we look at the date, July 12th. It is election day somehow. What's the story there?

STEINHAUSER: Yes, I mean, it's the middle of summer. Wait a minute, election day, that makes sense whatsoever. But, yes, actually two elections. I'll talk about them real quick.

The Republicans in California, maybe they're California dreaming because there's a special election out there, California 36th congressional district. This has long been held by Democrats. But Democrat there, Jane Harman stepped down earlier this year. You got an open seat. There's an election there to fill that seat for the rest of the term.

With the high unemployment in California and with a low turnout today, you know what? This is a competitive election. We'll have results later tonight.

And, Brooke, do you remember this? Madison, Wisconsin, early this year, back in those massive protests over there with the Republican governor and the state lawmakers.

BALDWIN: Oh, yes.

STEINHAUSER: We cover that story. Remember those protests --

BALDWIN: Oh, yes.

STEINHAUSER: -- over the governor's attempt, yes, to strip the collective bargaining rights of public workers? Well, Democratic lawmakers fled. You had those protests every day. Huge story.

Today, the first round of recall elections for a bunch of Democrats and Republican lawmakers who were involved there.

So, that's what's going on today.

But, Brooke, what's most important? None of the things I just said. It's your birthday.

BALDWIN: Oh, my goodness. I'm overwhelmed by the birthday love this hour. Paul Steinhauser, I don't know how you heard. But thank you very much. I appreciate it very, very much.

Coming up here, what happens next time United States wants to send astronauts into space? Well, there won't be a space shuttle to take them there. You're going to hear what NASA's chief, top astronaut -- this guy has been in space four times -- what he's telling Congress today about the future of space travel.

And a former president and four first ladies are gathering in California this hour to say goodbye to one of a kind here, a memorial for Betty Ford in Palm Desert. We are there live as the dignitaries and special friends begin to stream in for this special memorial service.

We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Check out this view. You're going to see the view of two astronauts tied to the International Space Station. This is their final space walk, removing a busted cooling pump to bring back to earth for inspection.

Meantime, NASA chief, Charlie Bolden, testified today before the House Science Committee on NASA's space program.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHARLES BOLDEN, NASA ADMINISTRATOR: And I promise this committee, one is that the U.S. will maintain its leadership in exploration. The second one is that we will do everything in our power to facilitate the success of an American capability of taking humans to space on American-built rockets, using American innovation. That's critical for us. And then the third thing is that we are going to do deep space exploration.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: And I'm told, Roger says, these are live pictures, that looks like maybe CAPCOM. Just went away, we have some of the live pictures of some of the guys and gal, crew of four, within space shuttle Atlantis. By the way, they extended their mission by one day. So, now, I know Atlantis will be heading home July 21st to end NASA's final space shuttle mission.

And friends and family, and some of the many, many admirers of the late Betty Ford are in gathering at this hour in southern California. They are there to pay their respects to the pioneering first lady and wife of the 38th president, the late Gerald Ford.

I want to check in once with Thelma Gutierrez, who's live for me there in Palm Desert, California.

And, Thelma, when does the actual memorial service begin?

THELMA GUTIERREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It should begin within the next hour or so, but I can tell you that already, invited guests have begun to take their seats inside of St. Margaret's Church. We've noticed a steady stream of people, Brooke, buses bringing these invited guests to the church.

This area is under very high security. There's no fly zone over the area. The roads are closed. And so, the only way for many of these people to come in is on some of the buses.

Now, we were just told that a couple of minutes ago, the former first lady of California, Maria Shriver, did arrive. She walked into the church.

We also saw that there were three large motorcades that came up. They were escorted by police. They pulled into the back of the church. We presumed that all the dignitaries are arriving or perhaps already here.

Now, we're expecting First Lady Michelle Obama, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, her husband, the former president was expected to arrive, but because of problems that he had with his aircraft in New York, he had to cancel. He will attend the funeral in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Also, former President George W. Bush also expected to attend.

BALDWIN: And here, we're looking at some pictures. Maria Shriver, I know it's tough to see. You can see this church here. This church is packed, St. Margaret's Episcopal Church in Palm Desert. Former first lady of California as Thelma just mentioned.

And, Thelma, I also want you to just run down as we continue to look at these pictures, run down some of the other dignitaries.

You mentioned that former President Bill Clinton was hoping to attend but there was some sort of problem, what, with his airplane?

GUTIERREZ: Yes, we learned a short time ago that there was a problem with his aircraft in New York. But that plane was grounded. He was never in any danger whatsoever. They wanted us to emphasize that. The president will attend the funeral that's going to be held on Thursday in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Now amongst some of the other people are children of the former presidents.

Now, I also wanted to mention, Brooke, that according to the schedule, in about 25 minutes, the dignitaries will walk out of a private area that they are being held in right now. And they will take their seats. At the same time, the Ford children, their grandchildren, there are seven of them, will line the steps of St. Margaret's Episcopal Church. They will await the casket of the former first lady.

When it arrives, she will be escorted up the steps by members of the armed forces. The pallbearers will carry her casket to the front of the altar of this church. And the ceremony is expected to begin at 2:00 local, 5:00 Eastern.

BALDWIN: Thelma, I spoke with Cokie Roberts of ABC last hour. She was one of the few eulogists selected by Mrs. Ford herself to speak at her funeral. I know also Rosalynn Carter will be speaking. And it's a unique story there that Betty Ford and Rosalynn Carter, wife of, of course, Jimmy Carter, who beat Gerald Ford in that presidential election. They were good friends.

GUTIERREZ: They were great friends, Brooke. In fact, we were talking to a friend of the family who said that the relationship they had was one of the most deepest and the most enduring relationships that the former first lady had. This was a relationship that spanned decades. They actually had very much in common. They championed women's rights, they spoke out. And they were also grandmothers. And they shared a lot in common. And so the friends said that these two women who began as political adversaries, and then, as their husbands did, grew to respect each other and form this very deep bond.

One thing I found really interesting, Brooke, is that Betty Ford was very instrumental in planning this funeral. All the details of this funeral. This happened over the course of many years. And she selected the eulogists. And of course, one of those eulogists that everyone is hoping to hear from today is the former first lady, Rosalynn Carter.

BALDWIN: As you mentioned, we are minutes from that service. Again, dignitaries streaming through into this Episcopal Church there in southern California. Thelma Gutierrez, appreciate it very much. And now, OK, you've heard about the political bickering, but coming up next, you're going to find out what happens to you and your family if Congress does not reach a deal on raising the debt ceiling. One of the world's biggest power banker says it would have, and I'm quoting here, "nasty consequences." That is next.

Plus, U.S. troops may soon be forced to carry along a certain gadget on the battlefield. What is it? Alison Kosik has the scoop. She's next.

(COMMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: U.S. troops may be forced to carry a certain gadget on the battlefield. And a big move in the Atlanta school's cheating scandal. I want to play "Reporter Roulette" and begin with you, Alison Kosik in New York. And Alison, we've been talking a lot about this deadline, this debt ceiling deadline. August 2. It's looming. Three weeks away.

Tell me, in case people haven't heard, what is the president saying will happen to Social Security checks if the Democrats and Republicans fail to raise the debt ceiling by then?

ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: You know, he's saying he can't guarantee that the checks are going to be in the mail on August 3. So, it looks like senior citizens and veterans, they could be the first to feel the financial impact because what the government has to do is prioritize the millions of bills it has to pay. So, if the government, let's say, you know, decides not to pay Social Security and stiffs the beneficiaries there, that would free up about $50 billion to pay for other things.

So, these are tough choices. So, yes, let's say that it decides to keep those. Let's say they keep Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, unemployment benefits and that they'll keep paying defense contractors and debt holders.

But here's what it would not be able to pay. It wouldn't be able to pay for the Department of Education. I'm talking about all of it. That goes for Pell Grants and scholarships. It wouldn't be able to pay salaries for active duty members of the military. The Federal Highway Administration, which means all those highway projects, would be put on hold. And the list goes on and on. Brooke?

BALDWIN: You mentioned members of the military. Let me ask you about this. We know, you know, our men and women have to carry a lot of equipment, right, when they're overseas. What is this new gadget that will soon be this new requirement for them?

KOSIK: Well, actually, the Army has been testing touchscreen phones and tablets. And it's been a success. It looks like the first smartphone-equipped soldiers, they could be shipped overseas later this year. Now, keep in mind, those old-fashioned tactical radios are going to stay around. They won't go away.

But this new equipment is really useful because they can send text message updates to each other about surrounding. They can send pictures, GPS location, and pull up maps. And it looks like actually the iPhones and Android phones have done really well in these rugged conditions.

But you know what? There are a lot of obstacles before the combat troops get these phones because the software and transmissions have to be secure, they have to be encrypted because you know, you don't want your cell phone on the battlefield to be hacked. It could be a matter of life and death. So, the combat soldiers won't get these right away, but the other members, looks like they will very soon, Brooke.

BALDWIN: Certainly security would be an issue, and I'm wondering gosh, would they really even have that great of a signal in some of the remote parts of Afghanistan?

KOSIK: They would. They could carry around little sort of satellite devices so they would have a good signal.

BALDWIN: Wow. Alison Kosik --

KOSIK: Little, portable.

BALDWIN: -- thank you very much. Interesting.

Next here on "Reporter Roulette," a major development in the Atlanta school cheating scandal, which is massive, massive. We've been following it in Georgia. Eddie Lavandera joins me now with more. And Eddie, we're talking about more than 170 teachers and principals accused here. What's the new fallout today?

ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, in Atlanta - actually like, on two fronts. So, in Atlanta, you have the interim superintendent there announcing some big changes. Four superintendents and a principal that have been let go. And then that school district still needs to figure out what to do with the almost 180 principals and teachers that are essentially accused of cheating on these standardized tests in the Atlanta school system.

But this scandal reaches now here into Texas and the Dallas area. Last night -- or yesterday, a deputy superintendent from former Atlanta schools was supposed to have her first day on the job, and her first day on the job ended with her being put on paid administrative leave.

This is Kathy Augustine, she was a deputy superintendent in Atlanta. Her name appears prominently in that scathing report that the Georgia state investigators put out last week. And because of that, the DeSoto school board kind of -- not quite backtracking fully on her hiring, but they put her on paid administrative leave. Buys them some more time to figure out just what the fallout is going to be from the investigation.

BALDWIN: Mm-mmm. Ed Lavandera, a lot of people are following this one. Involves so many people changing those answers to correct. Thank you very much Next here on "Reporter Roulette," Gustavo Valdes in Columbia, South Carolina. Gustavo, Governor Haley there, she first signs this tough anti-immigrant law. Now we're learning the state has a Spanish language hotline to report crime. What's the purpose? Why do this?

GUSTAVO VALDES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, law enforcement officials tell me (AUDIO GAP) law enforcement agencies in the state because of the booming Spanish speaking population. They hope to bridge the gap, the language barrier so the Hispanic community feels more comfortable reaching out to the police in case of an emergency or a crime when a crime is committed. So they hope that this line helps ease those fears created by the recent immigration law.

BALDWIN: Have they gotten any calls yet?

VALDES: They did. This morning, they got their first call. They said it was a lady from elsewhere in the state whose cousin had been arrested, accused of not being in the country legally. She called the line saying I have his papers. So, they were able to locate this gentleman in jail and they were able to bail him out.

BALDWIN: Hmm. Gustavo Valdes, thank you very much in Columbia, South Carolina. And that's your "Reporter Roulette."

Now coming up -

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are at the scene last night and, you know, when you see something like this and just a very gruesome scene.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: We are hearing the heartbreaking words of a young boy who was beaten and buried in cement allegedly by his own family. You will hear what it was he wrote with just a piece of paper and a pencil while he was kept in this cage.

Also just a short time ago, there was some testimony on Capitol Hill that reveals some shocking truths, some numbers here about child abuse in this country. It's something you need to hear. Sunny Hostin is "On the Case." Sunny's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: "I'm hungry, I'm thirsty, why doesn't anyone come check on me?" Those are the kind of questions young investigators say a young Indiana boy asked while he was sitting in a dog cage logged up allegedly by his own parents. I'm talking about 13-year-old Christian Choate. He died of blunt force trauma two years ago. They just found his body this past May. His father, his stepmother are charged with murder. And they have pled not guilty.

"On the Case" with us today as always is Sunny Hostin. And Sunny, we're getting some of these new details today, including the fact that these letters - investigators say Christian wrote he was locked up in this dog cage. His stepmother would allegedly hand him a piece of paper and pencil and say, you know, write about why you don't feel like you're liked.

I mean, have you read these letters? They're heart breaking.

SUNNY HOSTIN, LEGAL CONTRIBUTOR, "IN SESSION": I have. And I have to tell you, I prosecuted child sex crimes. I prosecuted people who harm children. And this case got to me. It brought me to tears --

BALDWIN: How could it not?

HOSTIN: -- actually, especially as a mom. And I did read those letters.

But when I put my prosecutor hat back on, Brooke, I think that those letters will become the undoing to these people who did these horrible things to little Christian. I think that they are prima facie evidence of the horrors that he suffered.

And so, while this case is probably one of the worst cases that I've seen and one of the cases that has affected me the most, I think that we're going to see justice.

BALDWIN: We know that the judge in this case has issued a gag order so no one can talk about it. But we do know that Christian's father and stepmother are charged with not just murders I mentioned but battery, neglect of a dependent, criminal confinement. Talk to me about how the case will be built against them.

HOSTIN: This is a significant case, and a lot of people I think are questioning whether or not justice will be served here especially in light of the Casey Anthony case.

But this is not a circumstantial case, Brooke. This is a direct evidence case. And that is because there were witnesses to this abuse. Neighbors talked about the abuse and also reported it. We've got teachers that can be put on the witness stand. We have his sisters, who witnessed the abuse and who told the authorities that he had been murdered and then buried under concrete.

And we have, I think, what's going to be most important, are those letters that you just referred to. The letters from Christian himself coming from the grave and telling his story. And so this is going to be a different case than cases we've seen. This is a direct evidence case, not a circumstantial case. And I'm certain that the prosecution is going to try a very streamlined case and show this jury what happened to this little boy.

I mean, this abuse stems back from, I think, to 1999. So, there is documented abuse and murder here.

BALDWIN: We know -- you know, you talk about the case that will be brought against them because of these letters, but what else do we know about this father and this stepmother? When are evidence could be brought against them? HOSTIN: You know, what we do know is the DCS, Department of Child Services investigated this family for years again since 1999. I'm told that the case file is this think and so I think we know this just a macabre situation for this little boy.

That this stepmom used to allegedly home school's him and one of her assignments was to give him pen and paper explain as you mentioned things like why do you still want to see your mother?

Why aren't you liked and so we have at least that file of abuse that has been documented. Of course, people are saying well, the system failed this little boy and I tend to agree because if you have that much documented abuse. Why is the little boy still in their care? I think that we are going to have a lot of answers to those questions at trial.

BALDWIN: You know, we talk about the system failing this little boy. People talk about the system failing little Jaycee Dugard. I think it's important just to mention one more number and that's from Michael Petite. He's with Every Child Matters.

I spoke with him. He actually testified on Capitol Hill about this kind of abuse just this morning and he told me 2,500 children die from this kind of abuse each and every year and so many of them just voiceless.

Sunny Hostin, I appreciate you coming on and putting on your prosecutor hat as always for me. Thank you.

You know, it's not every day we get to salute an American hero on this program, but today we're going to bring you the most proud moment of Sergeant Leroy Petry's Army career. He received the Medal of Honor just this afternoon. The ceremony and how he became a hero is next.

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BALDWIN: At 32 years of age, Sergeant First Class Leroy Arthur Petry is only the second living recipient of the Medal of Honor since Vietnam. President Obama gave Petry the award today for his bravery in Afghanistan.

He lost a hand there back in 2008 as he threw a live grenade out of the way of his fellow soldiers. And we hope soldiers, Airmen, sailors and Marines watching this newscast right now around the world on the Armed Forces Network will pause with us as we honor this American hero.

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Welcome to the White House as we present our nation's highest military decoration, the Medal of Honor to an extraordinary American soldier, Sergeant First Class Leroy Petry.

Leroy was hit in both legs. He's bleeding badly, but he summons the strength to lead the other ranger to cover behind a chicken coop. He radios for support. He hurls a grenade at the enemy, giving cover to a third ranger who rushes to their aid.

An enemy grenade explodes nearby, wounding Leroy's two comrades and then a second grenade lands this time only a few feet away. As Leroy puts it, these are my brothers, family. Just like my wife and kids and you protect the ones you love. And that's what he did that day.

When he picked up that grenade and threw it back, just as it exploded. With that selfless act, Leroy saved his two ranger brothers. The force of the blast took Leroy's right hand. Shrapnel riddled his body.

Said one of his teammates, I have never seen someone hurt so badly. So even his fellow rangers were amazed at what Leroy did next. Despite his grievous wounds, he remained calm. He actually put on his own tourniquet and he continued to lead, directing his team, giving orders, even telling the medics how to treat his wounds.

When the fight was won, as he lay in a stretcher being loaded on to a helicopter, one of his teammates came up to shake the hand that Leroy had left. That was the first time I shook the hand of someone I considered to be a true American hero, that ranger said.

Leroy Petry showed that true heroes still exist and that they're closer than you think.

BALDWIN: Sergeant Petry, we thank you. Still to come, the president just wants us to eat our peas, but the first lady wants s to eat a good burger.

Food filled "Political Pop" on this Tuesday. Joe Johns is next with that.

Plus, we are just getting some news here, getting some word that a legendary Hollywood giant has died of Brady Bunch fame. That's next.

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BALDWIN: For 50 years, the theme song has been stuck in our heads and they definitely are this afternoon, right? Who doesn't have a favorite episode of "Gilligan's Island" or "Brady Bunch" or "I Dream of Jeannie."

Those are just a couple of the creations of Sherwood Schwartz who passed away this morning at the age of 94. In letters, he left to be read only after his death. Schwartz reaching the pearly gates and talking to a voice and writes that the voice that writing isn't a profession, it's a disease and it's accompanied by disease even worst. He called rewriting.

A gifted storyteller even in death he went on to write that he realized heaven was the place he had always been since the day he was born. Sherwood Schwartz leaves behind a wife, Mildred with whom he had four children.

And now for your daily serving of "Political Pop," and it's all about food today. Joe Johns is here with that. Joe, tell you what when I lived in D.C., I had probably one too many Five Guys burgers, but it sounds like shake shack is in town and Michelle Obama likes it.

JOE JOHNS, CNN ANCHOR AND CORRESPONDENT: That's for sure. You know, the president actually has been The Five Guy - pictures of him.

BALDWIN: I know.

JOHNS: It sounds like she and Mrs. Obama actually did get a pretty good burger. She got it at D.C's hottest new burger joint and this is called "Shake Shack."

It's been around for years mostly in New York, but it's new here in town and they're people who swear by it so there's no surprise that Mrs. Obama, who kind of keeps up with the trends with what real people are doing stop by and checkout herself.

She orders a shake shack, fries, chocolate shake and get this -- diet coke.

BALDWIN: Of course, to counteract.

JOHNS: Right. Probably between 1,500 and 1,700 calories and suddenly we have what happens in D.C. when things are slow. You know, you can say some immediate types and people in social media even --

BALDWIN: Joe Johns, forgive me, I have to interrupt you because we're getting some live pictures. There he is George W. Bush walking former first lady Nancy Reagan down the aisle here. This is the Episcopal Church in Palm Desert, California.

This is a packed house for former first lady Betty Ford who died recently at the age of 93. Watching these dignitaries extreme and I understand Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will be in assistance.

Her husband, former President Bill Clinton will not because of some issues with his airplane. Rosalyn Carter will be giving one of the eulogies as well Cookie Roberts and here as they sit down moments before this memorial service begins.

Joe Johns, what do you make of this? We have Rosalyn Carter giving the eulogy. I talked to Cookie Roberts. You know, she talked about how President Ford came into the White House. This is post- Watergate. I'm talking about she really, she was just very real.

JOHNS: She was an icon. She was a contemporary of people who were facing things at the same time. She really made a name for herself in this country for being that person who looked out for others, who were having difficulties in their lives particularly, you know, we associate her so much with the Betty Ford Center, and with other things.

BALDWIN: Breast cancer. JOHNS: Yes, right, breast cancer, exactly. She was very close with Rosalyn Carter, sort of larger than life figure here in Washington, D.C., Brooke.

BALDWIN: Yes, and we just wanted to bring those pictures to our audience as we're getting them live and now, Joe Johns, let me just pick up where you left off. So we know the first lady was eating a burger. It's highly caloric. People are none too pleased, right? Go ahead.

JOHNS: Sure, you know, and people in social media started having fun with that. You could call it manufactured because she's an advocate for healthy ending and ending childhood obesity and there she is eating this big old burger, right?

I guess, the point and really the take away of all of this though, at the end of the day, nutritionists sort of joined with her. If you eat healthy and in moderation most of the time and you work out and you look like Michelle Obama does, then sure, you can have a big burger and get away with it. You know?

BALDWIN: Yes, I kind of agree with you, you know. Run it off, be healthy, indulge every so often like perhaps myself and my team and my chocolate birthday cake today.

JOHNS: Before you go, let me be -- I can't be the first, so I'm going to have to be the last to say happy birthday to you from the whole team.

BALDWIN: Joe Johns, thank you so much. Thanks to all of you guys. Thank you for bringing in that wicked chocolate cake. I'm not counting the calories on that. Thanks to everyone for the birthday wishes, my whole team. I truly appreciate it and Roger, thanks for the music.

And that is it for me, thank you all so much. Let's go to Wolf Blitzer. "THE SITUATION ROOM" starts right now.

WOLF BLITZER, THE SITUATION ROOM: All right, thanks very much, Brooke.