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Herman Cain Talks 9-9-9; Tough Road Ahead in Libya; Allied Air Strikes Led to Gadhafi's Death
Aired October 21, 2011 - 10:56 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN LIVE COVERAGE)
HERMAN CAIN, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Thank you for being here today. Because this is a day that we have an opportunity to explain 9-9-9 without six attacks at one time, if you know what I mean. Some people have asked me, how did you come up with this? What do you know about economics?
Earlier in my career, when I was at the Pillsbury Company, one of my jobs at one point was director of business analysis where I oversaw economic analysis for the Pillsbury Company. Some people think there's just pepperoni between these two ears, but I used to work doing economic analyses. In the early 1990s, I was asked to serve on a commission with Jack Kemp, the Economic Growth and Tax Reform Commission.
We studied the fair tax, we studied the flat tax, and came to some wonderful conclusions about what a good tax structure ought to be. Let me introduce before I go any further my senior economic adviser, the co-architect of 9-9-9, Mr. Rich Lowrie out of Cleveland, Ohio.
(APPLAUSE)
I am happy to be in Detroit, but more importantly, I'm happy to be in America with this is where opportunity is born. And this is where dreams can be achieved.
(APPLAUSE)
CAIN: I know that you heard a lot of disinformation about 9-9-9. Don't believe it. Look it up for yourself. This is why I want to review that before I get to the opportunity zone. First, 9-9-9, we have five simple principles that we wanted to dissatisfy. We wanted it to be simple. We wanted it to be transparent. So, that you would know when and how you were going to be taxed.
We wanted it to be efficient. How many people here like spending money to get your tax returns filled out? That's not very efficient. It costs us $438 billion a year to file and comply. We wanted it to be fair. Not according to Washington's definition of fair, but Webster's definition of fair, which means everybody gets treated the same. That's fair.
(APPLAUSE) CAIN: And we wanted it to be revenue neutral. The 9-9-9 plan throws out the current tax code. That's where we start. We have been complaining about it for decades. We know it's messed up. And so, because we put a bold solution on the table, some of my fellow contenders have accused me of being too bold.
This economy cannot wait. It is on life support. We need a bold solution, which is why we put together 9-9-9. The other thing that 9- 9-9 does, it levels the competitive playing field. You see on that first nine, a business can deduct purchases, capital investments, and net exports. What that means essentially is it makes goods and products produced in the United States on a level playing field with everybody else in the world, because we take out many of these embedded taxes.
The third thing that this approach does, it expands the tax base by adding in the national sales tax of 9 percent, the third 9. Some of my opponents in this Republican race have said, why do you want to give government another mechanism to tax us? My response is, I want to take away the 10 million ways they have now to tax us.
(APPLAUSE)
CAIN: I'm not worried about one. I'm worried about the 10 million in the current tax code. And one of reasons that they aren't going to turn 9-9-9 into something else any time soon, you can never say that they will never change it. There are two reasons why. They're not going to change it anytime soon. Number one, I'm going to be the president, and I'm not going to sign it.
(APPLAUSE)
CAIN: They keep forgetting that. And number two, because it's visible. You know what it is. You understand it. And if they start talking about raising it for no reason other than they are still overspending, you are going to let your voices be heard. Visibility of this plan is one of biggest deterrents we have to keep the politicians honest.
Now, the opportunity zone feature has been in our analysis all along. But just like I accused some of my opponents the other night of not having read the plan, we now have proof they didn't read it. If their staffs had done the proper job and read it all the way through, they would have discovered what I'm about to share with you, because, first of all, 9-9-9, captures revenue to equal existing tax revenue from five sources.
The payroll tax, you don't have to pay that anymore. Corporate income taxes, to be captured it in the first nine. Personal income taxes, everybody rates can go anywhere from 10, 15, 20, 25 to 35 percent, you capture that in the second nine. It also replaces capital gains taxes and the debt tax. Capital gains.
What if an investor wanted to do something with this building behind us, and what if they wanted to spend $10 million to turn it into a mall or a restaurant facility or destination facility in this city? Under 9-9-9, they would be able to deduct that capital investment in the year that they make it and not have to deal with depreciation schedules that they call it, which are punitive to businesses.
The fact that capital gains goes away, it allows that entrepreneurial spirit in this country to be financed by people with money, to get together with people with ideas. Imagine everyone of these facilities that we are surrounded by having an entrepreneur and an investor getting creative in order to be able to do something with these depressed economic properties. That's what built America.
(APPLAUSE)
CAIN: We need to renew and unleash that same spirit. So, here, too, are the features that my competitors didn't get to when they didn't read the plan. Number one, how to we deal with the poor? Those that are at or below the poverty level. We already had this provision in there and we still raised the same amount of money.
If you're at or below the poverty level, your plan isn't 9-9-9. It's 9-0-9. Say amen, y' all.
(CHANTING) Amen!
CAIN: 9-0-9. In other words, if you are at or below the poverty level based upon family size, because it's a different number for each one, then you don't pay that middle nine tax on your income. This is how we help the poor.
Another way we help the poor is that we get this economy going so we can let people find jobs for economically distressed cities. Detroit as an unemployment rate over 20 percent, and there are other cities just like that, and it's getting worse.
So the opportunity zones will allow cities like Detroit to qualify for additional exemptions relative to the first 9. Right now, in the first 9, you can deduct purchases if you're a business. You can deduct capital expenditures, net exports. But for those cities that qualify as opportunity zones, you will also be able to deduct a certain amount of your payroll expenses. So you will be incented to put people to work.
The other thing about the opportunity zone is that it just doesn't apply to certain kinds of businesses located in the zone. All businesses would qualify for those kinds of extra exemptions.
(APPLAUSE)
CAIN: Now, one of the things that I believe in is empowering cities to help themselves, empowering workers and individuals to help themselves. This is not an entitlement program. And so the cities will have to step up and remove some of the barriers that are within their city limits, such that if the cities do what they can do to help themselves, we will have the 9-9-9 legislation so structured, that they will get additional benefits. And so it starts with the national opportunity zone, that if you're at or below poverty, your plan is 9-0-9. Now, some people will say, if you're at poverty, then you're not concerned about that first 9 anyway. That's not true. I know a lot of business people that are barely making it -- barely making it -- and so, yes, they will get zero for the middle 9 and, yes, they will get special deductions if they are in an opportunity zone.
So all of the critics who want to say that this plan is not this and not that, I invite them to take a look at an article that was published just a couple of days ago by one of the most renowned economists on the planet. He worked with President Reagan during the Reagan administration. He is currently head of his own company.
I'm talking about Dr. Art Laffer. He's currently head of Laffer Associates and the Laffer Center for Supply Side Economics, co-author with Stephen Moore of "Return to Prosperity." And he wrote an article that was published in "The Wall Street Journal" the other day that refuted all of the false claims made against 9-9-9 the other night during the debate.
And before I tell you what he concluded, with his own analysis, it never felt so good being shot at. It never felt so good being shot at, because as Alveda King said, it's because they didn't think of it first and they don't have a credible plan.
To the accusation that a new sales tax could be raised in the future, not the Laffer response, so could any other tax. So what makes that one any different?
To the accusation that it is not revenue-neutral, Dr. Laffer concludes, "I believe his plan" -- Herman Cain -- "would indeed be static-revenue-neutral, and with the boost it would give to the economic growth, it would bring in even more revenue than expected."
And to the accusation that this will not generate economic growth, Dr. Laffer points out, "Output will soar, as will jobs. Tax revenues will also increase enormously, not because tax rates have increased, but because marginal tax rates will decrease under the 9-9- 9 plan."
Bottom line, folks, 9-9-9 means jobs, jobs, jobs. Let's renew the economy of this nation.
(APPLAUSE)
CAIN: This is the greatest country in the world. And we have people that are apologizing for America's greatness. As your president, I will never apologize for the greatness of America because of the spirit of America that built this great country.
Ronald Reagan, one of our greatest presidents, used to describe this nation as that shining city on a hill, but in the last several years, that shining city on a hill has slid down to the side of the hill because of the struggling economy, because this administration is weakening our military, because of foggy foreign policy around the world, and because of a severe deficiency of leadership. I believe that the American people are saying loud and clear that they want to move this shining city on the hill back to the top of the hill, where it belongs. And I believe that we can do that in November of 2012.
(APPLAUSE)
CAIN: There are two things that some people having figured out yet. Some of them are still trying to answer the question, why is Herman cain doing so well in the polls? He doesn't have the greatest amount of money. A lot of people didn't even know who he was.
I can tell you what's happening that they don't get yet.
Number one, the voice of the people is more powerful than the voice of the media. You are the people, and you are listening.
(APPLAUSE)
CAIN: Secondly, message is more powerful than money. America is hungry for solutions and not more rhetoric. That's what they are paying attention to, not only our 9-9-9, jobs, jobs, jobs plan, but also our approach to many of the other crises we face.
And we have the culmination of crises. But the good news, we can fix things.
The American dream has been hijacked, but we can take it back. I know that, because I have lived my American dreams, and then some. And so have many of you. And ever since my first grandchild was born in 1999, and I looked into that little face for the very first time, and the thought that went through my head, which had to be coming from God Almighty, what do I do to make this a better nation and a better world?
This journey has unfolded for the last 12 years, and I am convinced that the spirit of America is going to renew America. And I am convinced that the American people are ready for a problem solver in the White House and not another politician.
Ronald Reagan, who I refer to again, describes this thing we call freedom as something very fragile, very delicate. And if we allow it to get away from us, we might not be able to get it back.
(END LIVE COVERAGE)
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN ANCHOR: Herman Cain. You've been listening to him.
He is speaking to a group in Detroit. He's defending his 9-9-9 jobs program, his tax plan that's 9 percent business tax, 9 percent individual tax, 9 percent national sales tax.
He's been getting a lot of criticism about it, that it is an unrealistic plan. Republican candidates going after him, as well as we've heard from President Obama as well. All of them saying they don't think it's realistic, that it's actually going to make taxes go up, mostly for the middle class, as well as those who are below or at the poverty line.
We want to bring in Paul Steinhauser out of Washington.
And Paul, it was interesting what he said, right? Because now he says it's a 9-0-9 plan, the zero being if you are at or below the poverty line, you're not going to have to pay those income taxes.
What do you make of that change? Does it make any sense to you?
PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Well, you're absolutely right, he came under a lot of attack, including at our Republican presidential debate in Las Vegas just earlier this week. And one of the reasons why was just that, yes, for middle class Americans and mainly for lower class Americans, they would pay more under his plan.
He said at that time, after the debate -- he told reporters asking him that he would have more details later this week, and here it is, this 9-0-9, which besides being an area code in southern California, is a new part of his plan. And yes, it means no income tax whatsoever for those at or below the poverty line, the poverty level. So I guess he was responding to the critics of his plan.
He also introduced these opportunity zones. He gave us a heads up last night he would be doing that, which are kind of supposed to spur growth because they would include zero capital gains tax, immediate expensing of business equipment, and no payroll taxes. So kind of like entitlement zones.
So, yes, Suzanne, there is responding to some of the critiques of his 9-9-9 plan.
Remember, it was 9-9-9 that helped Herman Cain, the former Godfather's Pizza CEO, go from almost an afterthought in the polls to right near the top, to being a frontrunner with Mitt Romney. And thanks to that plan, it really has boosted him, but now it's coming under a lot of scrutiny -- Suzanne.
MALVEAUX: All right. Paul, thanks. We'll run it by the economists as well and see what they think about this 9-0-9 aspect of the plan, whether it's just a catchy phrase or it really means something.
Thank you, Paul.
Live from Studio 7, I'm Suzanne Malveaux.
I want to get you up to speed for Friday, October 21st.
We're going to begin with new video out of Misrata, Libya.
Now, I have to warn you, this is very disturbing to see, some of it. It shows Moammar Gadhafi's body in a big cooler here. This is -- Libya's new leaders say that the DNA tests confirming that this is Gadhafi.
They say he is being buried today according to Islamic customs. The United Nations Human Rights Office and Amnesty International, they want Gadhafi's death investigated.
This video, as well, quite graphic that we see here. This is scenes posted on the Internet showing Gadhafi bloodied, but alive, after a firefight. Now, the Libyan government says the dictator was killed by crossfire during a gun battle. Some, however, say that Gadhafi's head wounds raise the possibility that he was executed point blank.
Well, NATO ambassadors are meeting in Brussels right now. Officials are widely expected to announce that NATO will end military action in Libya. With the Libyan people free and celebrating Gadhafi's death, one official says that NATO has fulfilled its mandate to protect Libya's civilians.
We've got more coming up with Pentagon correspondent Chris Lawrence.
All 47 Republicans in the Senate stood together, blocked a key element of President Obama's jobs package. Now, the bill would have given local governments money to hire teachers, police officers, firefighters. Republicans called it a bailout. They didn't like the surtax actually on the millionaires to cover the bill's $35 billion price tag either.
A Russian rocket hauled two European satellites into space today. Now, the satellites eventually are going to be part of a group of satellites that will make up Europe's global positioning system. It's going to be a commercial rival to the American GPS system.
A new biography of Steve Jobs says the Apple chairman came to regret his decision to put off cancer surgery for nine months. During that time, Jobs treated a pancreatic tumor with acupuncture, herbal remedies, other alternative medicines.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WALTER ISAACSON, AUTHOR, "STEVE JOBS": I think that he kind of felt that if you ignore something, if you don't want something to exist, you can have magical thinking. And it had worked for him in the past. He regretted some of the decisions he made, and certainly I think he felt he should have been operated on sooner.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: Jobs had the DNA in his tumor sequenced at a cost of $100,000, and that allowed doctors to tailor drugs to his specific cancer. Jobs died earlier this month.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is in Islamabad today, pressuring Pakistan's leaders to crack down on the Haqqani network. Now, U.S. officials say that Pakistan's spy agency is helping Haqqani militants launch attacks in Afghanistan, and that accusation has deepened the chill in America's partnership with Pakistan.
Thailand's leaders are telling people who live in Bangkok to move now to higher ground. The city plans to open floodgates to divert high waters to the sea. Now, that means eastern parts of Bangkok are certain to flood, but this maneuver could spare major parts of the capital from high water.
More jubilation in Libya today over the death of Moammar Gadhafi. But once the celebrations end, the country is facing a pretty tough road ahead.
The National Transitional Council has to chart a new course for Libya. And that's not going to be easy. Analysts say that the leaders have to respond quickly to people's basic needs. We're talking about providing water, power, repairing, even rebuilding the infrastructure.
The new government is also going to have to overcome some differences, including tribal tensions, regional tensions. And there's the question of how you incorporate former Gadhafi supporters into a new Libya.
The leadership is going to need to secure all the weapons still circulating around the country to make sure they don't ends up in the hangs of criminals, as well as gangs. But for now, Libya is celebrating.
And Ben Farmer, he's joining us on the phone from Sirte. That is Gadhafi's -- once his hometown.
Ben, describe for us what it's like to be there.
BEN FARMER, "DAILY TELEGRAPH" REPORTER (on the phone): Well, it's full of rebels still celebrating, but it's quieter than yesterday. There's still happy fire, still celebratory fire in the air, machine guns and the odd rockets and rocket-propelled grenade. But also, there's a kind of a relaxed sightseeing feel to it.
People are driving around, taking photographs of the bombed buildings and the bombed streets, which have seen so much blood shed in the past two weeks. There's also a lot of rebels who are starting to make their way home. These aren't professional soldiers, these are teachers, engineers, a lot of students, and they fought now for eight months, some of them. And after the success of yesterday, they've started to pack up and make their way back to their families.
MALVEAUX: Ben, there's been a lot of curiosity around Gadhafi, and particularly the way he was killed, and now his body. We are looking at more pictures now of people who are just lining up to get a glimpse, to get a chance to see his body.
We're taking a look. Those are the pictures there. We saw those pictures earlier. It looked like it was a supermarket refrigeration unit where he was brought forward, and people who were just standing around, milling around.
Do we know anything more about what will happen with Gadhafi's body?
FARMER: All we know is that the National Transitional Council has said that he will be buried according to Islamic ritual. But we believe he will be buried secretly in Misrata. I think they are attempting to prevent creating an event which could be a focus for any Gadhafi loyalists that are still around. And also, they don't want to create a scene or grave which could become a focus for pilgrimage in the future.
MALVEAUX: All right. Ben Farmer, thank you very much.
Here's a rundown of some of the stories that we are covering.
First, how exactly did Gadhafi die? We're going to take a look at some conflicting accounts.
And NATO spent months launching air strikes in Libya. So, now that Gadhafi is gone, what is next?
Then, why people from other countries are buying up so many houses here. We're going to show you where the most foreign investment is taking place.
And later, Michael Jackson's doctor watches as an anesthesiologist expert does a show-and-tell during the trial.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MALVEAUX: The United Nations is calling in for an investigation into exactly how Libya's leader, Moammar Gadhafi, died. And NATO is meeting to map up its next moves in Libya.
Our Pentagon correspondent Chris Lawrence, he's following that part of the story.
So, Chris, what are we learning about the role of NATO, the air strikes in Gadhafi's death? How do we know -- do we know anything at all in terms of how he actually died?
CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Up to a point, Suzanne.
What we know now is that NATO was monitoring this group of Gadhafi loyalists who were isolated in one area of the city of Sirte. About 8:30 in the morning, the drone noticed that this convoy made a break for it, driving very, very fast. You're talking about 75 cars, and NATO officials tell us that a lot of these vehicles were very heavily armed.
They scrambled the drone and also a French fighter jet, took out one of those vehicles. That dispersed the convoy.
Some of the people got out and ran away on foot. About 20 vehicles kept speeding out of the city. And then the jet reengaged with them and took out about another 10 of those vehicles. Now, we know from officials that Gadhafi and some of his fighters were sort of cornered or found by the rebels in that drainage pipe, but that's where the story sort of diverges. There was some sort of shootout between Gadhafi forces and these rebels there.
But as we take a look at some of this very, very graphic video, the story starts to split. The NTC and the rebels say that Gadhafi was killed in sort of crossfire between his forces and the rebels fighting him, but the video clearly shows a bloody, wounded Gadhafi being manhandled, dragged across the roof of a car, but still very much alive.
And so exactly how and when Gadhafi was killed, still up in the air.
MALVEAUX: And Chris, did NATO realize who they actually had when they were going after that convoy? Did they realize that Gadhafi was in that convoy, or was it just kind of a lucky shot there?
LAWRENCE: Well, NATO officials say they knew that this these were Gadhafi loyalists, that they had been keeping an eye on them for some time. They say that they did not know that Gadhafi himself was in that convoy. The strike that took out the vehicle is not believed to have hit Gadhafi's vehicle, but, again, it was enough to disperse the convoy and send some people running away on foot.
MALVEAUX: Sure. And there's still questions. Those questions remain whether or not -- the circumstances around his death, whether or not somebody actually shot him or he got caught in crossfire. Is that correct?
LAWRENCE: Yes, we don't know. Again, the official way he died from what we are getting from the NTC and from some of the Libyan officials is that he was killed in a crossfire when his men started firing at and firing back and forth with some of the rebels. But our own eyes -- you look at some of the images and some of the video -- shows that he was still very much alive, if not -- he was definitely wounded.
MALVEAUX: Right. Sure.
LAWRENCE: You could see blood on him. But he was still very much alive at the point at which he was captured.
MALVEAUX: And just moving ahead, do we know when the NATO mission will end, or is that something that is still being talked about and worked about behind the scenes?
LAWRENCE: Still being worked on, but it could very well end here in the next few hours.
A meeting of the NATO ambassadors started about a little less than an hour ago. It's expected to last another hour or so. And at that point, they could decide how and when to end the military mission in Libya. A big part of that going forward will be, what will be NATO's role? How much assistance will they give sort of the new Libyan government with securing its borders or training forces to sort of rebuild Libya's army?
MALVEAUX: Sure. OK.
Well, Chris, give us any details, any information if that comes out in the next hour or so. We'll certainly bring it to folks to find out just how quickly the mission will end in Libya, the NATO mission.
Thanks, Chris.
LAWRENCE: Sure.
MALVEAUX: Well, talk about a unique plan to jump-start the housing market. Two senators, they've got a new proposal that would give foreigners visas if they buy a house here in the United States. We've got details next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MALVEAUX: The U.S. economy owes a big thank you to thousands of people who don't live in this country. Foreign buyers are snapping up homes, condos now in record numbers, and what's happening is actually boosting the weak housing market.
Alison Kosik, she's with us from the New York Stock Exchange.
So, Alison, how much money are we talking?
ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Well, if you talk percentage-wise, Suzanne, actually foreigners only make up about eight percent of U.S. home sales. But if you're talking dollars and cents, I'm talking about big money, $80 billion a year put into U.S. housing. And that number has actually been growing.
And you know why? Because foreigners are more confident in U.S. real estate than Americans are. The National Association of Realtors says -- they went ahead and looked at half of foreign buyers who said the reason that they bought is because they think that U.S. real estate is safer and more profitable -- Suzanne.
MALVEAUX: Wow. A lot of people don't believe that here.
Where in the country are they attracting most of these international folks?
KOSIK: Well, it's the areas that you would guess, those big foreclosure areas like south Florida, California, Arizona. Of course, the big attraction there is the lower prices. And also, no matter how the economy is doing, they are always the favorites of Hawaii and New York.
What's helping them also is good currency exchange rates. I'm talking about the weak dollar -- Suzanne. MALVEAUX: And Alison, a Senate bill would also give visas to some foreign buyers. How does that work?
KOSIK: This is an interesting and creative way to try to kind of rev up the housing industry right now. It's a bipartisan bill that's looking to bring in more foreign investors.
So, what it would offer foreigners is a three-year residential visa if they spend a $500,000 to buy houses here in the U.S. This is a bill that's being cosponsored by New York Senator Chuck Schumer, Utah Senator Mike Lee.
So this is all about bringing money into our economy and supporting home prices, you know, and just really reviving the struggling housing market, which these days, Suzanne, really can't seem to catch a break -- Suzanne.
MALVEAUX: All right. Alison, thank you. Have a great weekend.
KOSIK: You too.
MALVEAUX: Well, all year we've been introducing you to everyday people who are changing the world. We call them CNN Heroes.
I'd like you to meet one of them. This is Top 10 CNN Heroes.
Millions of children in Sub-Saharan Africa are left orphaned by AIDS, and they don't have adults to mentor them. Well, Amy Stokes, she helps connect teenagers in South Africa with caring adults all around the world on the Internet.
She joins us from Johannesburg, South Africa.
Amy, first of all, congratulations on already the amazing work that you do as one of our top 10 CNN Heroes. We're all very excited, very proud of you.
Tell us a little bit about your organization, Infinite Family, how it works and what it's like to -- the experience for these kids and these mentors.
AMY STOKES, INFINITE FAMILY: Sure. Suzanne, it's nice to speak with you.
And, yes, I just left the kids about an hour ago. So, the children are incredibly excited to share their worlds, their days, their communities.
And they do it with mentors through Infinite Family around the world. We set them up with -- in computer labs. And they log on. They turn on the computer and, boom, they are looking at their mentor once a week and they have a very deep and profound relationship.
They work on homework. They solve problems together. And they laugh and have a very good time.
MALVEAUX: What do they think of being named, that this organization, your group, is being named a CNN top 10 Hero?
STOKES: Oh, they are ecstatic.
These children are incredibly proud of the work that they are doing, and what they are doing to invest in themselves and get ready for their futures. And they are very happy to share what's special about themselves, what's special about their communities and their countries. And it's a very exciting process for them. They are thrilled to have the world know about what they are doing.
MALVEAUX: And what do these kids need the most? How can people help?
STOKES: Well, people can help in several ways.
We are very excited to have this light shine upon the work that we're doing. And we really do want to invite everyone to get involved, to join the family, to help us give every child a mentor, to help us make sure that every child's village includes the world, to help them learn everything they need to know to grow up to be very happy and healthy adults.
MALVEAUX: Well, Amy, congratulations already. Good luck to you. And simply, you know, again, we thank you just for the work that you have already done. And congratulations on being a top 10 CNN Hero.
Best of luck to you and the kids.
STOKES: Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
MALVEAUX: Go to CNNHeroes.com now online on your local device to vote for the CNN hero who inspires you the most. All 10 will be honored live at "CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute," hosted by our own Anderson Cooper on Sunday, December 11.
Moammar Gadhafi always said he was willing to die before stepping down from power. Well, he got his wish. So, what does that mean for the other dictators of the Arab world? We are going to bring a live report from Beirut.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MALVEAUX: Want to show you live pictures from Sirte, Libya.
We are on the ground. Dan Rivers, our own Dan Rivers, is on the ground there and these are live pictures from his vehicle. He is driving. This is two miles from where Gadhafi was found. And you can just -- if you take a look, it is unbelievable. The streets are deserted. You can see these buildings just kind of blown out. A lot of this evidence of the aftermath of this fighting that has been taking place inside of Libya for the last six months or so. And the damage that has been done as some of these areas, some of these towns completely abandoned, just not able to -- the folks to even live in some of these homes and these areas.
The aftermath and the evidence of really a war-torn country that has seen tremendous change over the last couple of months and comes right after Gadhafi was killed.
And so this is our own Dan Rivers from his vantage point inside of the vehicle, live pictures on the ground just a couple miles from where Gadhafi was found. And you can see just this desolate area of the country. He's pointing forward there and I think he's moving -- moving the car forward to try to get a better view, a better vantage point, a beautiful sunset there.
But folks who have left the area, this is a place where people are going to have to remake their lives and figure out what kind of society they are going to have and whether or not it will be a democratic one. They have a lot of problems. They have a lot of challenges in terms of providing electricity, providing water, providing jobs, and how this country will move forward in a time of peace after months of conflict and the end of the dictator Moammar Gadhafi.
Here's what's ahead on the rundown next -- Libya after Moammar Gadhafi. We are going to take you live to Tripoli.
And then how might the dictator's death affect uprisings in Syria? We're going to have a live report from Beirut.
And a young woman sold for drugs as a baby, well, she is reunited now with two sisters she didn't even know she had.
So what does Gadhafi's down fall mean for the uprising in Syria?
Want to bring in Arwa Damon. She is live from neighboring Lebanon to talk about what is taking place in Syria.
And, Arwa, first of all, there are a lot of different scenarios that are playing out in this Arab spring here. We saw in Egypt Hosni Mubarak, the leader there, step down unharmed. He's going through trial. He's a prisoner now. He's facing the death penalty if convicted.
Gadhafi, on the other hand, killed, seemingly shot in the head. What do we expect when you take a look at its Syria and its leader Bashar al-Assad? Is he willing essentially to stay in power until somebody takes him out? What is taking place now in Syria? Because he must be looking at the situation and thinking, I have got no good alternatives here.
ARWA DAMON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: That is the assumption. One can only imagine what is possibly going through President Bashar Assad and his family and his supporters' minds as they were watching that video.
But one also has to realize that this is a regime that at this point in time pretty much believes that it is winning. It realizes that its own situation is starkly different than that in Libya and in the other countries where we have seen these dictators fall.
The pillars that are propping up the regime are still pretty much intact when it comes to the business class, the merchant middle class, the security forces.
And let's just look at the international community. It's divided over Syria. Russia and China still basically support the regime. And it always knows that it can rely on Iran.
So, despite the fact that the death of Gadhafi most certainly sends a very direct message that no one is immune, at this point in time, the Assad regime seems fairly confident in its position, Suzanne.
MALVEAUX: How are the Syrians reacting to Gadhafi's demise?
DAMON: Well, the opposition is full-on in support of it. We have seen them taking to the streets demonstrating and chanting in celebration, congratulating the Libyans on their success and sending out a warning saying that President Bashar Assad needed to be careful because he was going to be next.
What's interesting, though, Suzanne, is that on Syrian state television, for example, there has been no mention -- and I have been watching it for hours -- of what is happening in Libya, nor is there any mention of it in the online Web site of the Syrian Arab News Agency. And it seems as if the government is avoiding that issue deliberately altogether.
MALVEAUX: And, Arwa, very quickly, if you can, we know that NATO played a direct role in the airstrikes in taking out the Libya, the forces that were loyal to Gadhafi and ultimately Gadhafi himself.
Do we expect international intervention? Is there any discussion, consideration of that in Syria?
DAMON: Well, the opposition is reluctantly beginning to ask for it, realizing that after eight months of trying to peacefully bring down the regime they are quite simply not getting anywhere. But one also has to look at the factors that allowed for NATO intervention.
The Arab League was united in calling for Gadhafi to step down and in calling for NATO to intervene. The international community was united. And within Libya, you had a huge part of the country, the east, Benghazi, that was controlled by the opposition so you had a very clear front line. These dynamics don't exist in Syria.
MALVEAUX: All right, Arwa, thank you very much for putting it all into perspective. We really appreciate it.
How much do you think you know about Republican candidate Herman Cain? Hear from his friends and neighbors up next.
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MALVEAUX: Our CNN "In Depth" today focuses on presidential candidate Herman Cain. Did you know he grew up, attended college in Atlanta, where he still lives?
Well, George Howell talked to some of Cain's friends and neighbors.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GEORGE HOWELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): If you didn't know Herman Cain before his run for president, you probably know him now. The former CEO of Godfather's Pizza, now GOP front-runner.
HERMAN CAIN (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: But my point is this.
HOWELL: Known for being a straight talker like this comment about protesters on Wall Street.
CAIN: If you don't have a job and you are not rich, blame yourself.
JOE BEASLEY, HERMAN CAIN'S FRIEND: Let me just say this, I know where Herman Cain was born and where he was raised. And which was in public housing.
HOWELL: Many of Cain's political views are quite to the contrary of his friend and fellow church member Joe Beasley, an Atlanta activist and supporter of the worldwide Occupy Movement who believes more should be done to help the poor, despite their differences --
BEASLEY: He might very well get my vote.
HOWELL: Beasley say he's keeping an open mind.
CAIN: Simply because I --
HOWELL: Cain has taken issue with the notion that running as a conservative will cost him African-American voters.
CAIN: Many African-Americans have been brainwashed into not being open-minded and not even considering a conservative point of view.
HOWELL: It's a question even in his own Atlanta church, church leaders never returned our calls seeking comment about their long-time member, Reverend Gerald Durley of a nearby Atlanta church doesn't mind speaking out.
REV. GERALD DURLEY, PROVIDENCE MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH: I think they see him as one that's carrying the banner for a party that has not been particularly favorable to the African-American community.
MATT TOWERY, POLLSTER, INSIDER ADVANTAGE: Herman may be able to take not a large slice of the African-American vote -- no Republican is going to do that, I don't care who it is. But perhaps a sizable amount.
HOWELL: Pollster and friend Matt Towery believes Cain could take up to 10 percent of the African-American vote along with his big base of support from the Tea Party.
CAIN: Welcome back. HOWELL: Towery believes the businessman turned radio talk show host became much more confident about his political calling after surviving colon cancer.
TOWERY: And then he got into this presidential race and he just kept continuing to have that positive attitude.
HOWELL: Experts at Cain's alma mater, Morehouse College, are watching his rise closely.
PROF. AARON PARKER, MOREHOUSE COLLEGE: I really think the majority of the African-American community is going to examine policies.
HOWELL (on camera): Herman Cain's friends tell us they respect his accomplishments. Now they are waiting to see if the differences that resonate in his hometown will make a difference on the national stage.
George Howell, CNN, Atlanta.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MALVEAUX: Up next: an amazing and heartbreaking family reunion in Georgia. A young woman who was sold as a baby by her mother meets two sisters she never knew she had.
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(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: How are you doing?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: Two sisters in Georgia meet the baby sister they lost 22 years ago. It's a complicated family reunion.
Crystal Smith and Teesha Jenkins were children when their sister Tiera Rice was brought home from the hospital and then disappeared.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CRYSTAL SMITH, REUNITED WITH SISTER: I said, where's the baby? And they just -- they said, we don't know.
TIERA RICE, REUNITED WITH SISTERS: They have been looking for me for a lifetime. And I never knew that I was lost in the first place.
SMITH: So I thought that she was so much better of. And then when I found out she wasn't, it broke my heart.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: Oh, so Tiera learned when she was 15 that she was sold by her mother for drugs. Her mother died in prison while serving time for murder. Tiera hired a private detective and quickly found two sisters she didn't even know she had. All three women say they have forgiven their mother. It's an amazing story.
Well, he's the prosecution's star witness in the trial of Michael Jackson's doctor, even demonstrating how he believes Dr. Conrad Murray caused Michael Jackson's death.
But, today, the defense goes after him, and they're changing tactics in a big way. We're going to tell you how coming up next.
But, first, each week, we profile ordinary folks who have come extraordinary obstacles. In today's "Human Factor," Dr. Sanjay Gupta introduces us to a young man who, through sheer will, with the support of his family, overcame morbid obesity. He lost -- get this -- half his body weight. Now he is on a mission to help others.
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DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): At 18, Taylor LeBaron is already an accomplished author. Last year, he wrote a book called "Cutting Myself in Half." It's about his battle with childhood obesity.
You see, LeBaron was always a chubby kid. In grade school, he was constantly teased and picked on.
TAYLOR LEBARON, AUTHOR, "CUTTING MYSELF IN HALF": People just, they put me down for no real reason, other than the fact that I have a weight issue.
GUPTA: As a teen, a walk to the mailbox left him short of breath, lightheaded. He already had high blood pressure.
One day, he stepped on a scale and got what he says was the shock of his life.
LEBARON: And the numbers went up, 297 pounds, and I'm 14 years old, and I'm alone in this room, and I'm like, oh, my goodness, I'm not even an adult and I weigh nearly 300 pounds.
GUPTA: Frightened, he immediately stopped eating junk food and he began to count his calories. He started exercising at home, taking long walks.
An avid video gamer, he made up a game to track how much he was eating and how much he was exercising. Four months later unhappy with his progress, he started going to the YMCA to work out. Eventually, the weight started coming off.
LEBARON: The gym membership was really what made everything just click together. And that the other half of what I was -- what I needed to do in order to change my life.
GUPTA: And the payoff was big. In 18 months, Taylor shed 150 pounds.
LEBARON: I thought Terry (ph) did a pretty good job.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK.
GUPTA: Today, Taylor is a freshman at Washington College in Maryland. He's healthy. He's fit. But it was a long, hard-fought battle, one that he now shares with kids while speaking at schools about obesity.
LEBARON: My goal is to be able to help other kids get their weight under control. Everyone deserves to be amazingly amazing. And I really think that if you believe in yourself -- that's the key part, is to believe in yourself -- then you can make it happen.
GUPTA: Taylor says he's determined to keep the weight off. He no longer has high blood pressure. He still counts calories, exercises five days a week, and is happy to be just another student on campus.
Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN, reporting.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
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MALVEAUX: So, Michael Jackson's doctor was visibly shaken as the prosecution's star witness showed jurors how an I.V. drip of propofol, an anesthetic, could likely, likely killed Jackson.
Dr. Steven Shafer testified for a second full day yesterday in the involuntary manslaughter trial of Dr. Conrad Murray, telling jurors Murray -- and Murray alone -- is responsible for -- quote here -- "every drop of propofol in Jackson's room."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. STEVEN SHAFER, ANESTHESIOLOGIST: When Dr. Murray agreed to treat insomnia with propofol, he put Dr. Murray first, not Michael Jackson. This is the fundamental violation. The patient comes first. That did not happen here.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: He's not done yet. Dr. Shafer is going to be back on the stand today for cross-examination, set to get under way later this afternoon.
Criminal defense attorney and former prosecutor Holly Hughes is here with us.
Holly, good to see you again.
The anesthesiologist, how significant was that? How damaging was that, that testimony?
HOLLY HUGHES, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: This is incredibly damaging because it goes directly to the heart of the matter. The administering of propofol, was it done safely and was that administering below the standard of care? This is the prosecution's entire case. Very effective witness, Suzanne.
MALVEAUX: What can we expect from the cross-examination?
HUGHES: Very interesting point for our viewers. Up until now, we have seen defense attorney Flanagan crossing all of the medical experts.
There was a little loud going on in the hall yesterday, little loud talking between lead defense attorney Chernoff and his own anesthesiologist. Suddenly, we get the announcement that Ed Chernoff is going to step in and do the cross of Dr. Steven Shafer, which is really unusual, because Flanagan is considered to be the propofol expert out of all the attorneys on that team.
So we have to wonder what's coming. And you better believe Chernoff is going to have some real fireworks. He wouldn't have stepped in and taken over if he wasn't really prepared to go hard after Dr. Steven Shafer.
MALVEAUX: So is that good or bad for the doctor here?
HUGHES: Well, for the doctor, he's a professional. He knows what he's doing, he's going to be just fine.
And, interestingly enough, a lot of the points that a good defense attorney will be able to make on cross, they can't do with this fellow because Dr. Shafer has already said: I'm not getting paid. I'm doing this because I think it is the right thing to do. I don't want patients to be scared of propofol. I don't want other doctors to get a bad rap who use it, when they are using it responsibly.
MALVEAUX: So the prosecution is pretty much done. What grade would you give them? How have they performed so far?
HUGHES: I think they have hit all of their marks. You can't give 100 percent in a criminal prosecution, but I would say they're 95 percent. When they wrap it up in close, they will hit their 100 percent mark.
MALVEAUX: And what's going to be the biggest challenge, do you think, the next stage of this?
HUGHES: The next stage, the biggest challenge for the defense will be to get their experts to come out with what they need and say this is not below the standard of care. The prosecution is going to have to come back on rebuttal.
The biggest challenge both of them are going to face, is taking all of this medical testimony that's been going on for the past three, four weeks, wrapping it up into a closing argument that is absolutely understandable for this jury, breaking it down. Each side has to make their points, say they met their burden and this is why. Defense has to say they didn't and this is why. MALVEAUX: All right, Holly Hughes, thanks. We will be watching closely.
HUGHES: Thank you.
MALVEAUX: Appreciate it. Have a good weekend.
HUGHES: You, too.
