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Price Tag of President Obama's Jobs Plan; GOP Candidates Face Off; Jury Selection in Conrad Murray Case; Breaking Down the Obama Jobs Plan; NASA is Going Back to the Moon
Aired September 08, 2011 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DREW GRIFFIN, CNN ANCHOR: Drew Griffin here, in Studio 7, for Suzanne Malveaux, who's over in Afghanistan. We hope to hear from her some time.
But let's get you up to speed for this Thursday, September 8th.
New numbers out today provide more evidence of a very weak job market. The number of Americans filing first-time claims for unemployment benefits, that rose. It was up to 414,000 last week, up 2,000 from the week before.
Why is that important? Economists say the number needs to fall below 400,000 to reduce the unemployment rate, which is stuck at 9.1 percent.
President Obama lays out his jobs plan tonight. And our special coverage, of course, begins at 6:00 p.m. Eastern.
Republican front-runner Rick Perry made his debate debut last night at the Ronald Reagan Library in Simi Valley, California. Quickly, it became clear that he and former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney were willing to slug it out for the nomination.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOV. RICK PERRY (R-TX), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We created more jobs in the last three months in Texas than he created in four yeast in Massachusetts.
MITT ROMNEY (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Texas is a great state. Texas has zero income tax. Texas has a right-to-work state. But Governor Perry doesn't believe that he created those things. If he tried to stay that, why, it would be like Al Gore saying he invented the internet.
PERRY: Michael Dukakis created jobs three times faster than you did, Mitt.
ROMNEY: As a matter of fact, George Bush and his predecessor created jobs at a faster rate than you did, Governor.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GRIFFIN: Well, they did spar back and forth, but overall, the Republicans directed the lion's share of their attention to President Obama, criticizing his policies on energy and health care reform.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If the gentleman will suspend until the disturbance is taken care of?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GRIFFIN: Want to tell you what you're looking at. This just happened up in Washington, D.C.
This was the first meeting of that super committee, the committee that's trying to cut the deficit. People were chanting "Jobs, jobs, jobs!" as they tried to meet for the first time in their effort to reduce the nation's debt.
Boy, this was already going to be tough with a panel of six Democrats and six Republicans trying to come up with $1.5 trillion in savings. Add some protesters to that, it's going to get even worse.
If they can't do it, or Congress doesn't pass their plan, remember this -- the automatic spending cuts are going to kick in. And their deadline is Thanksgiving.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. JEB HENSARLING (R), TEXAS: Our task to achieve $1.5 trillion of bipartisan deficit reduction will not be easy, but it is essential.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GRIFFIN: German police today arrest two men they suspect of plotting a bomb attack, both in their 20s. One is a German of Lebanese descent. The other is from Gaza. Police say they came under suspicion after trying to buy chemicals that can be used to build explosives. Officers are searching an Islamic cultural institution and two other addresses in Berlin.
Meanwhile, Libyan fighters advancing on one of Moammar Gadhafi's last strongholds have come under fire from Gadhafi loyalists. A spokesman for the new government tells CNN the former dictator is surrounded within a 40-mile radius with no way to escape, but he's not saying where.
Meanwhile, a man purporting to be Gadhafi denies he has fled to Niger. His audio message was aired on a Syrian television station.
Up to 125,000 people in central Pennsylvania are being ordered to leave their homes. What is left of this former Tropical Storm Lee is triggering dangerous flooding in the central part of that state. Three people have died. The Susquehanna River near Wilks-Barre is already above flood stage for low-lying areas and it's rising fast.
In Texas, the opposite problem. Wildfires burning continuously now for almost 300 days. Four people have died. And in the Bastrop County fire alone, almost 1,400 homes are gone. Thousands have been forced out of their homes. They don't know when they're going to find when they're going to return.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BILL LUDWIG, WILDFIRE VICTIM: Not knowing what the end result is going to be, I'm pretty convinced in my mind that it's not going to be good. But, you know, trying to figure out where we go from here.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GRIFFIN: A sad reality for so many people there.
One hour from now, jury selection begins in Los Angeles for the man accused of causing Michael Jackson's death. Dr. Conrad Murray is charged with involuntary manslaughter. He's accused of administering a powerful anesthetic to Jackson to help Jackson fall asleep, then failing to properly monitor him.
Well, are you ready for some football? The NFL season kicks off tonight with a terrific match-up in Green Bay between the last two champs, the Packers, in Green Bay, and the Saints.
Also tonight, the big speech on jobs from President Obama. With unemployment stuck above 9 percent, and the economy stalled, the president lays out his plan to stimulate job growth and strengthen the economy. He'll do it before a joint session of Congress in a live address to the nation.
White House Correspondent Brianna Keilar joins us with a preview.
Brianna, we know some of the elements of the plan. And now we're hearing new estimates about the price tag of that plan.
What is it?
BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Drew. The new price tag, $400 billion. That is a working number, I should tell you, according to Democratic sources familiar with the president's speech.
A couple big chunks of it in terms of cost, one is something we have talked about before, that payroll tax extension. A lot of Americans getting that tax cut on the payroll taxes they normally pay. They're not paying as much this year. The president has voiced a desire to extend that and also give it to the employers as well to put more money in their pockets.
The other thing, according to these sources, $100 billion in infrastructure spending. We knew that was going to be a priority in the speech.
And also, expect the president to talk about aid to states to help them do things like hire teachers that they've had to lay off, as well as incentives to hire those who are chronically unemployed, more so than the national average, like the elderly and like veterans. And you mentioned football, Drew. I think pre-game starts at 7:30. The president is going to be addressing a joint session of Congress tonight at 7:00 p.m. Eastern.
GRIFFIN: All right. Brianna Keilar, we'll be watching, along with you.
CNN's live coverage of the president's speech begins with a special preview on "THE SITUATION ROOM" at 6:00 Eastern, followed by the speech, as Brianna said, at 7:00. And then Stay tuned for insight and analysis on "AC 360" at 8:00, right here, all on CNN.
Here's your chance to "Talk Back" on one of the big stories of the day. And today's question: Will you watch the president's speech? Why or why not?
Carol Costello, joining us from New York -- Carol.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Drew.
Talk about pressure. Tonight, the president will ask a joint session of Congress to listen to his idea for a bipartisan jobs bill. Good luck with that. They may sit in the same room together, but they are bitterly divided.
I mean, unless you've become numb to it all, you've heard it loud and clear, the vicious partisan attacks coming from both parties.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NEWT GINGRICH (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: He's the most effective food stamp president in American history.
REP. MAXINE WATERS (D), CALIFORNIA: The Tea Party can go straight to hell.
RUSH LIMBAUGH, RADIO TALK SHOW HOST: That's what we have witnessed since Friday, Obamageddon, Barackalypse Now.
JAMES HOFFA, PRESIDENT, TEAMSTERS UNION: Let's take these son of a bitches out and give America back to America, where we belong.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: So why bother with a bipartisan speech? As "New York Times" columnist Paul Krugman writes, "What will Republicans agree to? That's easy: nothing. They will oppose anything Mr. Obama proposes."
Still, Republican leaders John Boehner and Eric Cantor say they want to work with the president on "areas of common ground." They will be listening tonight, but not Republicans will.
Congressman Joe Walsh is skipping the president's speech because, he says, "I don't see the point in being a prop for another of the president's speeches asking for more failed stimulus spending." And Louisiana Republican Senator David Vitter, he won't be there either. He's hosting an NFL football party.
What about you? I know, it's crazy. What about you?
The "Talk Back" question today: Will you watch the president's speech? And tell us why or why not.
Facebook.com/CarolCNN. I'll read your comments later this hour -- Drew.
GRIFFIN: Carol, what about you? I was thinking, I've seen this game before. And I think I've heard this speech before. So I don't know what to do. It sounds like two reruns.
COSTELLO: Well, there is something different though. The president says that he has a plan written out in the form of legislation, that he is going to give to lawmakers so they can consider it and maybe vote on it right away.
So he's done what the Republicans have asked him to do. He's put it all in writing. And he says there's bipartisan stuff in there that both sides should be able to agree to easily.
So we'll see.
GRIFFIN: OK. And the two teams are going to play the same game they played last year. So I'll go with the president.
COSTELLO: The president needs a Hail Mary pass. I was going to do it all in football metaphors, but I thought that was too cliched.
GRIFFIN: Yes, that would be a little cheesy. All right. Thanks, Carol. We'll see you. I look forward to the responses later on.
(NEWSBREAK)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GRIFFIN: Eight candidates took to the stage last night in a Republican debate at the Ronald Reagan Library in California, but the two front-runners seemed to steal the show. Rick Perry and Mitt Romney taking aim at each other and President Obama.
Jim Acosta has the recap for us.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JIM ACOSTA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Rick Perry and Mitt Romney stood side by side at the Reagan debate, close enough for the fur to fly, first on the question of which governor created more jobs.
PERRY: We created more jobs in the last three months in Texas than he created in four years in Massachusetts.
ROMNEY: Texas is a great state. Texas has zero income tax. Texas has a right-to-work state. But Governor Perry doesn't believe that he created those things. If he tried to stay that, why, it would be like Al Gore saying he invented the internet.
PERRY: Michael Dukakis created jobs three times faster than you did, Mitt.
ROMNEY: As a matter of fact, George Bush and his predecessor created jobs at a faster rate than you did, Governor.
ACOSTA: Jumping into the mix was a newly aggressive Jon Huntsman.
JON HUNTSMAN (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I hate to rain on the parade of the great Lone Star governor, but as governor of Utah, we were the number one job creator in this country.
ACOSTA: The debate soon switched to the Romney health care plan in Massachusetts and its individual mandate that requires residents to have medical insurance, what some Republicans now call Obamneycare.
JOHN HARRIS, MODERATOR: Anyone else on this stage agrees that the Massachusetts example was a great opportunity for the rest of the country? No?
PERRY: It was a great opportunity for us as a people to see what will not work, and that is an individual mandate in this country.
ACOSTA: Ron Paul later noted Perry was once a Democrat who showed some of his own support for government health care.
REP. RON PAUL (R-TX), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The governor of Texas criticized the governor of Massachusetts for Romneycare, but he wrote a really fancy letter supporting Hillarycare.
PERRY: Speaking of letters, I was more interested in the one that you wrote to Ronald Reagan back and said I want to quit the party because of the things you believe in.
ACOSTA: Newt Gingrich tried to bring the Republican rumble to a halt.
NEWT GINGRICH (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I, for one, and I hope all of my friends up here, are going to repudiate every effort of the news media to get Republicans to fight each other to protect Barack Obama, who deserves to be defeated. And all of us are committed as a team. Whoever the nominee is, we are all for defeating Barack Obama.
ACOSTA: Contrast that roaring applause with the crickets that followed Paul's comment that a fence along the U.S. border with Mexico could be used to keep Americans caged in.
PAUL: So every time you think of a fence keeping all those bad people out, think about those fences maybe being used against us, keeping us in.
ACOSTA: But it was Perry who was on the defense, take his anti- Washington book "Fed Up" in which he refers to Social Security as a Ponzi scheme.
PERRY: It is a monstrous lie. It is a Ponzi scheme to tell our kids that are 25 or 30 years old today you paying into a program that's going to be there.
ACOSTA: Romney couldn't resist.
ROMNEY: You say by any measure Social Security is a failure. You can't say that to tens of millions of Americans who live on Social Security and those who have lived on it.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GRIFFIN: Jim Acosta out in Los Angeles right now.
And Jim, we're talking about Romney and Perry, Perry and Romney. Is this -- no votes have been cast in this primary yet. Is this already a two-person race, or do the other six have a chance, or somebody else?
ACOSTA: Well, you know, you can look at how both of those candidates prepared for last night's debate. If anybody out there thinks for a moment that Mitt Romney had that George W. Bush line, you know, sort of on the tip of his tongue just as soon as he thought of it, that that wasn't rehearsed well in advance, that Rick Perry's line about Michael Dukakis was not rehearsed well in advance, you've got another thing coming to you.
Both of these campaigns prepared to go after each other. And as soon as the opportunity presented itself, that's what they did. And moments after that melee ensued, Drew, the Romney campaign was firing off e-mails, calling Rick Perry a career politician.
So these two campaigns are ready to go toe to toe. They're shields are up, and they're ready to rumble. These two campaigns, unlike all of the others in this race, seem to be ready for a two-man race at this point.
GRIFFIN: Yes. We heard from both of those candidates about job creation. Anybody else have some interesting things to say about how they would or could or have created jobs?
ACOSTA: Well, you heard Jon Huntsman talk about it there. If there was anybody who kind of got an edge over the rest of the field, it might have been Jon Huntsman. He was quick to point out that when he was governor in Utah, his state was first in the country in job creation.
He just released an economic plan that was endorsed by "The Wall Street Journal." So, Huntsman had a chance last night to improve on his performance at the last debate, which was a little spotty, and look a little sharper, look a little edgier.
He also went after the Republicans on the debate stage for questioning climate change, saying that, look, we can't run against science here, guys. And so, you know, he is presenting himself sort of as the un- Perry. If Romney's not going to work for those establishment Republicans out there, perhaps Huntsman might. And I think his campaign was pretty happy with his performance last night.
GRIFFIN: All right.
Jim Acosta in Los Angeles.
Thanks, Jim.
And don't forget, Monday, CNN, along with the Tea Party Express and several other Tea Party groups will host a debate with the Republican candidates. That will be in Tampa, Florida. It's the site of the 2012 Republican National Convention.
So tune in for the CNN Tea Party Republican debate Monday, 8:00 p.m. Eastern, right here on CNN.
(NEWSBREAK)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GRIFFIN: Next hour out on the West Coast, the search begins for an unbiased juror, 12 of them, to hear the case against Michael Jackson's personal physician, Conrad Murray. He's charged with involuntary manslaughter in the death of the pop star.
Our Ted Rowlands looks at the process that attorneys will follow during this jury selection phase.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): What's your opinion of Michael Jackson? What's your opinion of Dr. Conrad Murray, the physician accused in his death?
CONRAD MURRAY, ACCUSED OF INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER: I'm an innocent man.
ROWLANDS: Those are among the questions jurors will be asked on a lengthy questionnaire today as the involuntary manslaughter case kicks off. But legal experts say the questionnaire alone won't be the only way that prospective jurors in such a high-profile case will get screened.
SHEPARD KOPP, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: You make an effort to find out whatever information you can about jurors.
ROWLANDS: That may conjure up images like these from the movie "Runaway Jury," where an unscrupulous consultant does intrusive background checks on jurors, including surveillance.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "RUNAWAY JURY")
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She's a card-carrying member of the Sierra Club and a registered Democrat.
(END VIDEO CLIP, "RUNAWAY JURY")
KOPP: I think it's safe to say that was a little bit of Hollywood embellishment. ROWLANDS: Criminal defense attorney Shepard Kopp says since jurors in a majority of cases are pulled from voter rolls, that's where he starts his screening process.
KOPP: I personally make it a practice to know what the voter registration is of every juror who's on a case that I may try. Republicans tend to be more law and order and tend to favor prosecution. Democrats may tend to side with defendants.
ROWLANDS: Jury consultant Richard Gabriel has been advising attorneys for 25 years with cases like O.J. Simpson and Casey Anthony under his belt. He says screening jurors today is easier because of how much people share on the Internet.
RICHARD GABRIEL, DECISION ANALYSIS TRIAL CONSULTANTS: On Facebook, do a Google search, if they've got a Twitter account. It can give you a little bit more about how they interact with the rest of the world and not just in a formalized courtroom setting. That's helpful.
ROWLANDS: More importantly, attorneys can find out if prospective jurors have already posted opinions about the case at hand.
Thomas Mesereau knows the potential difficulties in finding a jury in a well-publicized case. He secured an acquittal of Michael Jackson during his molestation trial.
THOMAS MESEREAU, JACKSON'S FMR. ATTORNEY: I have no doubt that both sides will hire competent people to explore every aspect of social media to try and find out whatever they can about these jurors.
ROWLANDS: Especially to uncover the so-called stealth jurors, who seem to provide all the right answers at the courthouse, but have a hidden agenda, which might include trying to grab the spotlight for themselves after a verdict.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROWLANDS: And today we're going to see the first of three batches of about 180 prospective jurors come in. They'll fill out a questionnaire. Some of them will be dismissed.
This is a four-to-six-week trial. Opening statements start in a few weeks, September 27th.
You can see outside the courtroom, Drew, the circus members are starting to assemble already. Michael Jackson fans and of course the media here in force. The entire trial will be live throughout from start to finish -- Drew.
GRIFFIN: Boy, Ted, the site of so many circuses. Thanks. Appreciate that.
Well, here are the choices for today's "Choose the News." Text "22360" for the story you want to see.
First, the Japanese energy crisis. Blackouts so common after the Fukushima nuclear accident, that it's forcing everyone there to use less energy, so workers are ditching jackets, ties, turning up the temperature in the office, and changing their workdays.
Second, rhino rescue. You know, there are only seven northern white rhinos left in the world, but science may help save the animals from extinction. Stem-cell research offering some hope there.
Or third, Gumby robber. Big, green, and bendable. And now wanted for attempted robbery. A guy dressed as Gumby tries to knock off a convenience store.
Well, you can vote by texting "22360" -- "1" for the "Japan Energy Crisis"; "2" for the "Rhino Rescue"; or "3" for "Gumby Robber."
The winning story airs next hour.
(STOCK MARKET REPORT)
GRIFFIN: President Obama's jobs plan already under fire from Republicans opposed to any new spending, but we're going to talk in depth with a former labor secretary who says the president should go bigger. Here what else Robert Reich has to say.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GRIFFIN: Here's what's ahead on the rundown.
Next, CNN goes in depth of President Obama's job plan. We're going to take an interactive look at how it might help people who are right now out of work.
Then, Lee just won't let up. As many as 125,000 people in central Pennsylvania are told to leave their homes for higher ground. This is still going on.
NASA presses the reset button on its next moon mission. They're going to try to launch again tomorrow. But we are going to get details on what they want to do up there.
Let's go in depth now on the jobs plan that President Obama is going to outline tonight. It's designed to stimulate new job growth and jump start a stalled economy.
For a look at what the plan would do and who it would help the most, let's bring in CNN's Karen Caifa in Washington.
Karen, walk us through what the president is expected to propose.
KARIN CAIFA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Drew. Right now, we are looking at a $400 billion package that the president is expected to talk about when he speaks to a joint session of congress tonight.
Let's look at some highlights -- $120 billion for an extension of a payroll extension, $100 billion for infrastructure improvements, improving roads and bridges which would put people back to work. $50 billion for unemployment benefits for those who have been suffering in this labor market for a while now. Now, those are just some of the major highlights. The White House says that once it is all unveiled, there should be something for everybody.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JAY CARNEY, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: There will be a variety of proposals, reforms within these baskets that will be new and we believe we'll have broad, bipartisan support in Congress and the community.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CAIFA: Now, Drew, let's look at why we need this in the first place. A lot of Americans who have been suffering, looking for work for a while, probably don't need to look at the numbers. They know this already. We're certainly not losing jobs from the economy, like we might have been at this time a year ago, but the problem is, we're still not adding any.
When that Labor Department report came out on Friday, zero jobs added during the month of August. Right now, the unemployment rate at 9.1 percent. And what that amounts to 14 million American who is are out of work. Now, who could benefit the most from the president's plan tonight? Well, hopefully, it will be those who have been hit the hardest.
Now, if you look at this chart right here, this red and yellow represents African-American workers. Latino workers have been suffering double digit unemployment for a while now. So, another area that looks for improvement from tonight's speech, young workers. Young workers ages 16 to 24. And this is a key demographic for the president, of course, in his re-election efforts. They have suffered during this unemployment crisis. This was the worst summer on record for teenagers looking for jobs. And tight now, the teenage unemployment rate stands at about 25 percent.
And one number more that I do want to leave you with before we go, that number is 16.2 percent, Drew. And what that number is what's called the real unemployment rate. When you take that 9.1 percent number and you add in all the part-time workers who would like to be working full time or people who have simply stopped looking for work, you get that 16 percent real unemployment number, which is about 25 million Americans. So, that audience tonight will extend well beyond the capital, Drew.
GRIFFIN: Karin, thanks for that. That's very interesting. We'll see what the president has to say tonight and if he can get it passed.
Next, we're going to talk in depth with a former labor secretary who says the president should spend even more to create jobs.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GRIFFIN: The flooding in New York is really getting bad. In fact, we expect to hear from the governor, Governor Cuomo, there sometime in the next probably half hour or so. But we wanted to get to Rob Marciano to explain what is happening. I can't believe Lee is still hanging around.
ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: It is. It's sitting and spinning and interacting with a front that's up there. The last time we saw this kind of flooding was another tropical system back in 1972. And what's remarkable and the radar has been showing this the past couple hours, just how intense the rainfall has been right over that flood area. But it has begun to weaken just a little bit. And that's good news.
But the amount of rainfall they've had -- and this is the area that's suspect. From Binghamton, New York, back to through Scranton and Wilkes-Barre, this is valley, and there's pre-rupturing in there. So, all that water gets funneled down fairly quickly and you can get flooding in a hurry, especially when you get 15 inches of rainfall. We saw that in Elizabeth town, over 10 inches in Binghamton, New York, where evacuations are ongoing. And in Wilkes-Barre, upwards 100,000 people potentially evacuated with this situation that's happening right now.
I want to show you beyond the flood warnings what's going on with the rivers themselves. Susquehanna at Binghamton, we're at record stage right now. It will rise another few feet and begin to recede slowly over the next 48 hours. But right now is certainly a critical time.
And then further downstream towards Wilkes-Barre where -- and also, around Hershey, Pennsylvania, we're approaching record stage. This forecast is actually gone up in the last couple hours because of all the heavy rainfall that we've seen there. Obviously, flash flood watches and warnings have been posted for this area.
All right. We got a couple other systems we want to talk about. Katia, that's still a hurricane. It's right now between -- it's just abreast of, say, Cape Hatteras. It's going to go out to sea. Maria, that's something we might have to deal with come next week. But it's way out there. Nate, on the other hand, that's something we may have to deal with earlier than that as this system makes its way towards -- well, not close to anywhere right now.
Here's the latest forecast from the National Hurricane Center. We're looking at this thing potentially now drifting a little farther to the north. That may be good for Texas, if it goes north toward Louisiana. Then it will be bad for everybody else.
So, this thing, we really don't know what's going to happen. It could become a hurricane over the weekend. We're going to have to watch it carefully. The waters continue to rise across the Northeast. It's been a crazy last couple weeks.
GRIFFIN: All right, Rob. Thanks a lot. And, again, we're waiting for the governor of New York. He's apparently going to be talking about the flooding pretty soon.
But, right now, we go to the former labor secretary, Robert Reich, who is now a public policy professor at U.C. Berkeley. Interesting, he says that the president should go bigger. A $500 billion jobs package. In fact, in a recent CNN interview, this is what you said, sir. "I want his jobs plan to be big and bold enough and commensurate with the size of the jobs crisis we now have.
Brianna Keilar was just on Capitol Hill saying it's up to $400 billion.
Mr. Secretary, from what you've seen and what we know the president is going to say tonight, is it enough in your view?
ROBERT REICH, FORMER LABOR SECRETARY: Look, the jobs crisis is so large that we have to have probably at least $500 billion.
You see? Extension of the unemployment insurance and extension of the Social Security tax break that both are now being experienced by most people. They're now part of the economy. They don't really count. They don't add to aggregate demand because aggregate demand is exactly what it is right now. And it is not enough to get new jobs, to get new employment, to get the economy going.
So, you need, on to top of an extension of unemployment benefits and on top of an extension of Social Security tax breaks, you need more. And that more has got to be given the shortfall we have in consumer spending and in private investment. That more is probably going to have to be about $500 billion this year.
GRIFFIN: Mr. Secretary, I want you to listen to this interview that the president gave to NBC News. If we could just roll that right now, guys.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We anticipated that the recovery was slowing. The economy is still growing, but it's not growing as fast as it needs to. I've got things right now before Congress that we should move immediately. I've said so before I went on vacation. I'll keep on saying it now that I'm back.
We should be passing legislation that helps small businesses get credit. That eliminates capital gains taxes so they have more incentive to invest right now. There are a whole host of measures we could take -- no single element of which is a magic bullet, but cumulatively, can start building momentum for the recovery.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GRIFFIN: Mr. Reich, that interview was done August 29th, 2010. That was last year.
As the former labor secretary, I'm going to ask you, what can we expect from the president to do to create jobs? Are we expecting too much from him? And is the answer not found in Washington?
REICH: Look, consumer spending is 70 percent of the economy.
Consumers are pulling back because they don't have jobs. They're worried about not having jobs. Their wages are going down. They have a huge mortgage debt overhang. They are worried about the future.
So consumers are pulling back. Businesses are not going to spend and not going to invest and not going to create new jobs unless they have consumers. So the private sector is not doing it. Who is the spender of last resort? Where is the spender of last resort?
Regardless of your ideology, regardless of whether you like government or don't like government, it has got to be government. This is economics 101. This is just common sense.
So government has got to help right now generate enough demand to get people back into jobs.
GRIFFIN: Let me ask you real quick. Is what the president proposing tonight going to be enough to do much of anything?
REICH: Well, if the net additional proposed spending, that is above what we are doing right now with regard to extended unemployment benefits and extended Social Security tax cuts, if that net additional spending is not up to about $500 billion this year and $500 billion next year, I don't think it's enough. It doesn't close the gap between what the private sector is able and willing to spend to create jobs and what we need in terms of a full employment or near full employment economy.
GRIFFIN: Mr. Reich, thank you for joining us. Former labor secretary Robert Reich from Iowa today. Thank you, sir. Appreciate it.
REICH: Thanks very much.
GRIFFIN: You can watch President Obama's speech here on CNN. Our live coverage of the address begins with a special preview on "THE SITUATION ROOM" at 6:00 Eastern. At 7:00, you'll hear the speech. And insight and analysis on "A.C. 360" right after.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GRIFFIN: OK. The top Republican candidates debated last night, but it's not what they said that has comedians talking.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIPS)
JIMMY KIMMEL, COMEDIAN: It's hard to keep track of what all these candidates stand for, even for them. There are a lot of them right now. Look at this.
ANNOUNCER: Tonight from the Ronald Reagan library, a Republican presidential debate. Michele Bachmann, Newt Gingrich, this guy, there he is, yes. He might be one. And Mitt Romney.
(END VIDEO CLIPS)
GRIFFIN: A Rudy Giuliani, not there. He didn't exactly dominate the field the last time he tried running for president. But apparently, he's not ruling it out in 2012. Sort of.
Paul Steinhauser, part of "The Best Political Team on Television" live from the political desk.
Paul, America's mayor still has it if the Republicans want it, right?
PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Yes, it's pretty much just talking. He's been flirting with it all year, but earlier this week right here in Washington, D.C., he said you know what, they'd have to be desperate to have me.
He was on "PIERS MORGAN," Drew, last night. He said that if he thinks the other guys and ladies who are already in the race couldn't beat President Obama, hey, he'd jump in. And, you know what? He thinks maybe he could do well. Take a listen, Drew.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PIERS MORGAN, HOST, PIERS MORGAN TONIGHT: Do you think you could beat Barack Obama?
RUDY GIULIANI (R), FORMER NYC MAYOR: Who knows? I mean, Barack Obama could be very different a year from now. He could be much more popular. He could be much more unpopular. It could go either direction.
If Barack Obama remained where he roughly is now, sure, I think I could beat him.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
STEINHAUSER: Hey, listen, anything could happen in politics, right? So, let's not say never. I'm not putting any money on Rudy Giuliani jumping in for the nomination.
GRIFFIN: Yes, that's not a stirring endorsement. If you're desperate, call me.
STEINHAUSER: Yes.
GRIFFIN: Hey, Michele Bachmann, you know, what a difference a couple weeks makes. She was the leader, getting a lot of the big press. In the debate last night, not much at all.
STEINHAUSER: Yes, in fact, there wasn't a question to her for the first 14 minutes. She didn't get a lot of air time last night.
But she may get a lot of air time tonight. We have learned Bachmann's office says the congresswoman from Minnesota will hold a news conference after the president's address. She'll do it up on Capitol Hill. And she'll speak to reporters and give her reaction to the president's speech on jobs.
Listen, no surprise, she's a Tea Party favorite. And she doesn't like what the president's done on jobs. So, we assume she'll be pretty critical.
We will see Bachmann again Monday night as well at our debate, Drew, at 8:00 Eastern. That's the CNN/Tea Party Express debate. That's the CNN/Republican Party, Tea Party debate, 8:00 Eastern, Tampa, Florida. So, we'll see her again then.
GRIFFIN: Are you going to give her a question within the first 14 minutes?
STEINHAUSER: I think that could happen, yes.
GRIFFIN: OK, good. Thanks, Paul.
Hey, for the latest political news, CNNPolitics.com. A great page, lots of stuff on it, interactive, very good.
Today's "Talk Back" question, are you going to watch the president's speech? Michael says, "Not sure I see the point in watching. Same old blah blah. Neither Democrats nor Republicans care about anything or anyone."
More of your responses ahead. Boy!
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GRIFFIN: You have been sounding off on the "Talk Back" question.
Carol Costello is here with the responses.
Carol, that last one from Michael was kind of depressing-sounding?
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, it was depressing in an answer to such a simple question -- will you watch the president's speech tonight? Why or why not?
This from Earl, "I am going to watch because I want to have my own interpretations of his actual words. Not the slice and dice version we will see from the various responses."
This from Michael, "Another campaign speech. Good grief!!!"
This from Jesse, "I will watch because I care, and I hope he can light a fire in the Republicans who publicly have done nothing but make attempts to ensure he's a one-term president."
And this from Dawn, "No, it's a little more than a campaign event and I won't support it by watching it. We don't need more speeches from a failed president."
And this from Rhonda, "Shame on the elected officials not listening to their president. This is their job and they're saying a football game, a football party is more important. They are basically saying they don't care about the nations unemployed. Keep it up and you will be unemployed, too."
Keep the conversation going at Facebook.com/CarolCNN. I'll be back with you in 20 minutes.
GRIFFIN: But we should point out, Carol, it's a pretty good football game.
COSTELLO: But it's coming on after the president's speech.
GRIFFIN: I'm joking. You can read the speech, too, you know? There are other ways. You don't have to watch it.
COSTELLO: That's true.
GRIFFIN: But if you do watch it, you should watch it right here. And we're going to get more responses later on, right?
COSTELLO: Yes, sir.
GRIFFIN: All right. Good. Carol, thanks.
I apologize to anybody who I offended.
NASA wants to go back to the moon. They may not be sending astronauts this time around, but it's still a fascinating mission. I'm going to tell you about that.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GRIFFIN: Still time to "Choose the News." Text 22360 for the story you want to see.
Here's your choices: text "1" for the Japanese energy crisis. You know, the energy shortage in Japan means companies have to cut back power by 15 percent. Text "2" for rhino rescues. Stem cells could save the northern white rhino from extinction. Or text "3" for the gumby robber, a robber like you've never seen before. The crook actually losing money.
The winning story airs next hour.
Well, the weather did not cooperate. So, NASA is going to try tomorrow to launch its latest mission to the moon. CNN's John Zarrella explains what the space agency wants to know and how they are going to find out.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The moon. OK. So we have established it's not really made of green cheese. The Apollo astronauts bagged up more than 800 pounds of rock and dirt.
What about all that stuff? Isn't that what the moon is made of? Well, that's just what is on top. The fact is we really don't know what's beneath the surface.
MARIA ZUBER, GREAIL PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: The part of lunar understanding that we don't yet have is what's inside the moon. So to really understand the moon and understand what makes it special, we need to study what's inside.
ZARRELLA: To do that, NASA is embarking on a unique mission called Grail. Two space probes will fly one behind the other in identical orbits around the moon. The gravitational tug on the probes changes as they fly over various features, mountain, valleys or masses hidden below the surface.
Measuring the change gives scientists in essence a lunar CAT scan. That's right, imagine a CAT scan of the moon.
ZUBER: It provides us essentially with a picture of the lunar inferior just like you would make a picture of the inside of your body.
ZARRELLA: It's theorized that the moon was formed from the debris released after a collision between the earth and another giant body. If that's the case, it will give scientists a better idea of how the interplanets of solar system were formed.
And first, NASA will dedicate instruments, in this case, cameras on the probes, exclusively to education. Middle school students and teachers can go to the moon cam Web site and request a lunar surface location to be photographed.
LEESA HUBBARD, SALLY RIDE SCIENCE TEACHER IN RESIDENCE: And I think once they begin to look at detailed images, when they go out in the backyard and look at the moon, they're going to look at it in a whole new way, and I think that's priceless.
ZARRELLA: The pictures will be posted in a photo gallery on the Internet.
John Zarrella, CNN, at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
