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A Bumpy Ride for Stocks; Sex Abuse Charges Rock Penn State; New York Opens First Casino; Sex Abuse Charges Rock Penn State; Murray Verdict Expected Soon; Kardashian Divorce Good for Laughs; Obama's Anti-Rose Garden Strategy
Aired November 07, 2011 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Live from Studio 7, I'm Don Lemon. Suzanne is off today.
Let's get you up to speed for this Monday, November 7th.
Two Penn State officials walked away from their jobs today, and in three hours, well, they walk into a courtroom.
Athletic director Tim Curley and finance VP Gary Schultz are accused of covering up a sex abuse scandal. Former Penn State defense coach Jerry Sandusky is charged with molesting eight boys over a 15-year period. Sandusky, through his attorney, says he is innocent.
Prosecutors claim Sandusky met the victims through his charity, The Second Mile, which helps troubled boys. And Second Mile released a statement just a short time ago, and it's saying they immediately made the decision to separate Sandusky from the program activities in 2008. That's when Sandusky told the organization that he was under investigation.
We'll have more on that.
We're watching Wall Street as well, and your money, on what's shaping up to be a volatile day on Wall Street right now. Investors are worried about the financial and political uncertainty in Greece and Italy. Stocks have been in and out of positive territory so far, and right now you can see the Dow down 47 points, trading at 11,900 -- trading around there.
So we're going to have a live report from the stock exchange just a few minutes away, right here on CNN.
The political drama in Greece moves to its next act today. Prime Minister George Papandreou meets with opposition leader to discuss who will be the next prime minister. Papandreou says he'll step down if the government approves a European bailout deal. Investors worry that without the bailout, Greece will default on its debt and hurt other economies, including the U.S.
Rumors are flying, but Italy's prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi, is waving them off. He says he is not resigning. Mr. Berlusconi may face a vote of confidence in parliament this week, and analysts say his government could fall. Over the weekend, thousands of Italians protested Mr. Berlusconi and his proposed economic reforms. Italy is looking at belt-tightening moves to avoid a crippling crisis like the one in Greece.
You know, you're paying a little bit less to fill up your gas tank. Gas prices dipped almost 4 cents a gallon over the past two weeks. That is according to the Lundberg Survey. It puts the average price for a gallon of regular at just under $3.43 a gallon. And the AAA fuel gauge puts it a lower this morning. It's at $3.41 a gallon.
This hour, jurors in the Michael Jackson death trial begin their second day of deliberations. They have to reach a unanimous verdict, either convict or acquit Dr. Conrad Murray of involuntary manslaughter in Jackson's death from a Propofol overdose in 2009. Jackson's dermatologist tells our sister network truTV that Jackson was totally addicted to the drug.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. ARNOLD KLEIN, MICHAEL JACKSON'S DERMATOLOGIST: I knew he had a dependency to Propofol because he felt he couldn't sleep without it. And when he was in Hawaii, I and myself and my nurse slept on the floor of his room. The plastic surgeon was there (INAUDIBLE) Propofol.
I knew this problem existed. I did my best to prevent it.
Whenever I could, I prevented it, but I'm only one man. And I have to sort out my own life and take care of myself, but I knew the problem existed. We had long discussions about it. Trust me on this.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: In other news, battle lines are drawn in Mississippi over when life begins. Tomorrow, voters decide on Initiative 25. It seeks to define a fertilized human egg as a person. If passed, the measure would likely ban abortions and make it difficult to get some forms of birth control.
Another woman is ready to come forward with allegations of sexual harassment against presidential candidate Herman Cain. Three women have accused Cain of inappropriate behavior when he was the head of the National Restaurant Association. Now attorney Glory Allred says a fourth woman will go public with her allegations in a news conference later on today.
Buckle up for what's likely to be a bumpy ride on Wall Street today. The debt crisis in Europe is keeping investors on edge and the markets volatile.
I want to bring in Alison Kosik at the New York Stock Exchange right now.
Alison, good morning to you. We expected a drop at the open, but it didn't materialize. What happened? ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: It finally materialized, actually. We started in the green. Yes, now we have dropped. You look at the Dow, it's down 31 points.
You know what? At this point, Don, traders just don't really know what to make of Europe anymore.
There are so many rumors out there to go through. Last week, the Greek prime minister said that he wanted the public to vote on a debt plan, then he backed down. This week we got talk that Italy's prime minister is stepping down. Then he goes on Facebook denying it.
So, yes, that's why you've got stocks going either way at any minute during the day. And this, of course, comes after a two percent decline last week. So it's anyone's guess which way the market will go now -- Don.
LEMON: We mentioned this earlier. Let's talk about Italy. I'm wondering if the focus -- is it shifting away from Greece and is it now more over the problems in Italy?
KOSIK: Well, Greece is still a concern because the debt problems, clearly, they haven't gone away. But Greece at this point is sort of moving to the back burner, at least for now, because Greek's prime minister, Papandreou, he is stepping down. Everybody is just waiting on the official word.
And now we've got some new political drama to contend with. We're talking about Italy.
And Italy, Don, is a much bigger player than Greece. So, until all of this is sorted out, the government can't move forward on fixing the economy.
And you are really seeing this nervousness play out in the Italian bond market. Interest rates there are at record highs. The truth is, with this, no one wants to take a chance on buying their dead. It's risky. And to make matters worse, it's more expensive for Italy to borrow money, and that's just making their economic problems that much worse -- Don.
LEMON: Alison Kosik, we'll see you throughout the day. Thank you very much for that.
Here's your chance to "Talk Back" on one of the big stories of the day. With people still waiting for their power to be restored in Connecticut, today's question: Should utility companies be penalized for not restoring power in a timely manner?
Carol Costello, live in New York.
If you are having to deal with it, you're probably saying yes, Carol.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Oh, yes, probably an emphatic "yes." We've all been there, though, right, Don? A monster storm, trees down, power out. Our friends in Connecticut experienced that one week ago, and still 50,000 of them are without power.
And they're angry. No, they're furious.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm running out of words to describe how furious I am about it. This has been hideous.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm furious. This is ridiculous.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And she should be.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes. We've been without heat since Saturday. The house is cold. And where are the trucks? Where are they?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Connecticut Light and Power is apologizing profusely, but a big old "I'm sorry" doesn't really cut it when you're living in a cold, dark room.
Connecticut's governor is now calling for an investigation. Other states who can certainly relate are calling for something more. That would be accountability.
Maryland's Public Service Commission is now developing new standards for reliable service after power outages. I mean, how long is too long to be without power? Should consumers have to pay for electricity they're not getting, or are we coming down too hard on utility companies? After all, who can control Mother Nature's wrath on all those trees?
So, the "Talk Back" question today: Should utility companies be penalized for not restoring power in a timely manner?
Facebook.com/CarolCNN. I'll read your comments later this hour.
LEMON: Yes, the people who probably want to vote most on this, Carol, they don't have power.
COSTELLO: So sad, but so true.
LEMON: Thank you, Carol. See you a little bit later on.
Here's a rundown of some of the stories straight ahead on CNN.
First, a sex abuse scandal rocking Penn State. A former defensive coach accused of preying on young boys.
Then, police make more Occupy arrests, but the movement won't quit. How protesters are not backing down.
Plus, the president running against Washington. And driving into a city near you. It's a new White House re-election strategy.
And damaged buildings, rattled nerves in Oklahoma. We'll see how they're coping after the worst earthquake on record there.
Also this --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I love the slots. I just love it here. And I'm so glad it came to New York.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: You heard her. New York looking to cash in by opening a casino in Queens.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Two Penn State officials go to court this afternoon, accused of covering up the sexual abuse of boys on campus. The man prosecutors claim did the abusing, former defensive coach Jerry Sandusky. He is out on bail.
CNN's Jason Carroll is on the story -- Jason.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): He's a legend in the world of college football. For 23 years, Jerry Sandusky served as defensive coordinator for the Penn State Nittany Lions. Now he's out on bail and defending himself against charges he sexually abused young boys, one as young as 8 years old.
Two other Penn State officials accused of covering up one of the alleged incidents resigned in the wake of the scandal. Sandusky's lawyer says his client is innocent.
JOE AMENDOLA, SANDUSKY'S ATTORNEY: Jerry's very, very depressed. He's very upset. He's very distraught about the charges, the allegations, and the knowledge that, regardless of whether he is eventually proves his guilt or innocence, people are going to think that he did this stuff.
CARROLL: Pennsylvania's attorney general calls Sandusky a, quote, "sexual predator." A 23-page grand jury report lays out in graphic detail how he allegedly targeted eight boys ranging in ages from 8 to 14.
Prosecutors say the boys were victimized between 1994 and 2009. In one case, a graduate student testified he discovered Sandusky sexually abusing a boy estimated to be 10 years old in the shower of the Penn State football building.
The student reported it to Penn State's head football coach, Joe Paterno, who in turn told his immediate supervisor, the athletic director Timothy Curly. It was also brought to the attention of Gary Schultz, a university senior vice president.
Prosecutors questioned why none of the men reported the incident to police, which is required under Pennsylvania law. Both Schultz and Curly are charged with perjury for allegedly lying to the grand jury.
The two men testified they were under the impression Sandusky was, quote, "horsing around" with the boy in the shower. Both men resigned late Sunday. The board of trustees releasing a statement saying "under no circumstances does the university tolerate behavior that would put children at risk."
JEFFREY TOOBIN, CNN SENIOR LEGAL ANALYST: Let me just say something about it. You know, there is a big thing about the behavior of Penn State here, about their failure to act. But the legal issue is whether they lied.
CARROLL: According to the grand jury report, all of the alleged victims came into contact with Sandusky through his charity, the Second Mile.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Second Mile is a non-profit organization that reaches out to certain young people throughout the state of Pennsylvania.
CARROLL: Sandusky and his wife formed the Second Mile in 1977 to help troubled boys. He retired from coaching in 1999, but still had access to Penn State's facilities. So popular, he wrote an autobiography in 2001 entitled "Touched: The Jerry Sandusky Story."
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CARROLL: And Don, this morning, Sandusky's organization released a statement saying that the allegations bring shock, sadness and concern to them, also adding, "Our prayers, care and compassion go out to all of those impacted."
Later today, the attorney general is expected to give a press conference. She will answer questions and give more details about this investigation -- Don.
LEMON: Jason Carroll, thank you very much.
The Pennsylvania attorney general plans a news conference today to discuss the sex abuse allegations on the Penn State campus. CNN will have live coverage, 1:00 p.m. Eastern. That's 10:00 on the West Coast for you.
Let's check some other stories across the country right now.
More Occupy Atlanta protesters get arrested, five early this morning, 19 over the weekend. They're charged with refusing to leave a city park after the 11:00 p.m. curfew and blocking traffic.
Thousands more protested outside of the White House yesterday. They want President Obama to stop the proposed building of an oil pipeline from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico. Protesters say the jobs created are not worth the environmental cost.
(WEATHER REPORT)
LEMON: Gamblers in New York no longer need to hit the New Jersey Turnpike. The city now has a casino of its own, and you won't believe the turnout.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: It is time now for our weekly segment we call "Politicians Say What?!" We put together some of the more interesting and unusual comments from Capitol Hill to the campaign trail.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
REP. JARED POLIS (D), COLORADO: They could go to Las Vegas. They could bet it all on number 6. They could lose it all there. They could respond to a full-page ad in a paper and buy gold with all their money. That doesn't create any jobs.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I love the accent, by the way, 9-9-9. We don't say it like that --
(LAUGHTER)
HERMAN CAIN (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I like yours also, 9-9-9. It's mutual.
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We've been -- in the House of Representatives, what have you guys been debating? John, you have been debating a commemorative coin for baseball?
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), ARIZONA: I refer to my colleagues to take a look at this book, and I recommend taking blood pressure medicine before you read it.
REP. JOE COURTNEY (D), CONNECTICUT: My hometown, Vernon, is completely 100 percent out. My wife and I and my daughter have been camping at home, because that's really what your lifestyle is. I shaved with melted snow yesterday morning.
JON HUNTSMAN (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: You want to take a look at someone who is crazy enough to run for president of the United States. I can see it in your faces. And then you'll hear me out for a little bit, and you'll say, you know, he seems pretty normal.
REP. AL GREEN (D), TEXAS: Let's talk about this. And I hate to use this term, "apples and oranges," because it's become sort of a term that's not in good standing right now after some recent events and debates.
RICK SANTORUM (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I'm running the kind of campaign that I always say for Iowa, and for eastern Iowa in particular, running the Field of Dreams campaign, which is if you build it, they will come.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: Say what?
New York is betting on gambling to bring in millions of tax dollars. The city opened its first-ever casino this weekend in Queens. Sixty- five thousand people feeling lucky defied the cold to try their hand.
And our Richard Roth has all the details for you.
We're open!
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're open!
RICHARD ROTH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Start spreading the news. New York City's first-ever casino is now open for gambling business. The city that never sleeps has also been the city that you never could spin a slot machine.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I love the slots. I just love it here, and I'm so glad it came to New York.
ROTH: The Genting Group, largest gambling operator in England and the Southeast Asia, brought Resorts World Casino to New York.
MICHAEL SPELLER, PRESIDENT, RESORTS WORLD CASINO: This is a landmark decision for us to come into the United States.
ROTH: Thousands lined up in the cold on opening day.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: But it's worth it. First one in New York. Hey, if we have to wait two hours, we'll be here.
ROTH: It took much longer for this casino to start rolling. Political squabbles and scandal caused lengthy delays.
The crowds feel the casino opened not a moment too soon.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're happy.
ROTH: There is the random New York City reference, but once inside, gamblers could be anywhere. The casino is a long subway ride from Manhattan, but easy driving distance for millions of residents.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I hit it again. I'm so excited.
ROTH: The goal, though, is to bring another $50 million in taxes to the state by keeping customers and cash from going to Atlantic City, Vegas, and other casino cities.
GORDON MEDENICA, DIRECTOR, NEW YORK STATE LOTTERY: We intend to keep some of the New York gaming dollars that are leaking out of state right here in New York.
ROTH: At the same time, casino backers hope out-of-towners landing at the nearby airport will be tempted, too.
DEAN MURRAY, NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLYMAN: So, when people do come from out of state, or even out of the country, right next door, at JFK, they land, they're looking for a place to have a good time.
ROTH: It's called a "racino," because it's next to Aqueduct Racetrack, where bets have been taken since 1894. Gambling success isn't guaranteed in New York. OTB, the now shuttered off-track horse betting operation, was a giant failure. More effective agreements between the company and state may mean success.
CHARLES BRESHER, N.Y. CITIZENS BUDGET COMMISSION: What they have decided is to put these racinos near racetracks because it's more acceptable to have gambling where gambling already was.
ROTH: One problem, unlike Las Vegas, this place has only video machines for slots and other games. This woman is nice, but she's a cyber roulette dealer. State law, for now, prohibits human blackjack and craps dealers.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's an addict and I'm just a watcher.
UNIDENTIFIED GROUP (singing): Happy trails to you.
ROTH: In a rough economy, gamblers will have to make sure that they don't lose money in a casino they so desperately waited for.
Richard Roth, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: The Penn State sex abuse investigation, a former big-time college football coach accused of molesting boys. We'll talk about authority, trust and children.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Here's a rundown of some of the stories straight ahead.
Up next, the alleged victims in the Penn State sex abuse scandal. Eight young men may have to live with their memory all their lives. We look at the long-term effects of molestation.
Then, waiting on a verdict in the manslaughter case against Michael Jackson's personal physician. It may come soon. We're live in Los Angeles for you.
And then, later, the new plan to keep the president and the White House by staying away from it. We're going to explain the anti-Rose Garden strategy.
All right. Penn State's athletic director and vice president of finance are due in court in just a few hours. The two stepped aside from their duties just today. Authorities charged them with lying to a grand jury and looking the other way while a coach sexually abused boys on campus. Prosecutors say former defensive coach Jerry Sandusky molested eight children over a 15-year period. Sandusky says through his attorneys he is innocent. Prosecutors claim Sandusky met the victims through his charity, the Second Mile, which helps troubled boys.
Now, Second Mile released a statement just a short time ago, saying they immediately made the decision to separate Sandusky from program activities in 2008. That's when Second Mile says Sandusky told them he was under investigation.
So let's go to Boston now. David Lisak is a clinical psychologist at the University of Massachusetts. He's also on the board of One in Six, an organization that helps men who were sexually abused as children.
David, we appreciate you joining us. Let's talk about the power and authority figures that they have over children in these type of sex abuse cases. In particular, a football coach.
DAVID LISAK, CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST, UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS: Well, there's the inherent power of a coach, of course, and there's also in a case like this, when somebody's associated with a powerful football program.
He can be seen as the ticket into a future in college sports. There are just so many ways in which an individual like this has just enormous power over these young kids.
LEMON: Innocent until proven guilty of course. He's not been tried in a court of law. But when someone is in that authority figure as a coach or in this hyper masculine environment when you are dealing with athletics, is this possibly one reason why this may have gone on so long and that the investigation took so long for the allegations to come to light?
LISAK: Well, we'll find out I think more from the investigation as to why it took so long, but certainly in sports like this, there's a sense in which the men involved and boys involved are all raised in the same culture of masculinity.
And maybe hyper masculinity and of course, to be sexually abused and to be victimized or helpless or powerless is such a contradiction of masculine norms at least the way they are perceived.
That I think it increases the disbelief and increases the -- or decreases likelihood that people will believe this is going on and of course, it may make it harder also for the victims to disclose what's happening.
LEMON: Because Sandusky was an authority figure, parents appeared to trust him with their children overnight, sleepovers, that sort of thing. What do you say to parents?
LISAK: Well, of course parents will go through a grieving process of just feeling like they are at fault for not being able to protect their children. The tragedy is that sexual predators groom parents along with the children who they target.
The way they groom parents is by doing exactly what you just described is telling the parents and indicating to parents that they are completely trustworthy and they have the best interest of the child at heart,
In fact, they are going to take care of their kids. They're going to give these kids more opportunities and parents, how can they not believe this?
We saw the same thing occurring in the Catholic Church with clergy abuse scandal where predatory priests could groom mothers in exactly that same way.
So, of course, parents they feel guilty about it, but it is hard to blame parents for trusting an authority figure like that.
LEMON: And many times these kids who come from a humble environment and very humble environment that look up to these figures and think this is a father figure to me. I can get help from this person.
This person can help me with my career and what I want to do. It's sad that these are already troubled kids when you think about the charity allegedly that he sort of groomed these boys from.
LISAK: Yes, and tragically sexual predators will target children from these kinds of backgrounds specifically and deliberately because predators understand that these kids are more vulnerable. They have more needs.
Very often they are neglected or they come from broken homes and don't have fathers in the homes and don't have opportunities. They don't have access to material things.
There are all kinds of ways in which a predator takes advantage of those vulnerabilities and they do and that's why they target kids specifically from those kinds of backgrounds.
LEMON: David Lisak, clinical psychologist, University of Massachusetts and it's called 1and6.org for more information. Thank you very much.
LISAK: Thank you.
LEMON: The Pennsylvania attorney general plans a news conference today to discuss the sex abuse allegations on the Penn State campus. CNN will have live coverage 1:00 p.m. Eastern, 10:00 out west.
The jury is back for day two of deliberations in the trial of Michael Jackson's doctor and we are back on verdict watch today. A decision in the Conrad Murray case is expected soon. We're going to take you to Los Angeles.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: The verdict watch resumes now in the Michael Jackson death trial. Jurors are back at the downtown Los Angeles County Courthouse for their second day of deliberations. They must decide if Jackson's doctor, Conrad Murray, administered a fatal dose of the powerful anesthetic Propofol.
Ted Rowlands is following this since the very beginning. He is standing by for us in Los Angeles. So, Ted, tell us what's happening today and what to expect regarding procedure if the verdict is reached.
TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Don, right now we have just been informed by the court that deliberations in day two began at 8:30 local time. So about five minutes ago. They were at it for 7-1/2 hours on Friday.
When the jury reaches a verdict, they will buzz in the courtroom. There's a system in the courtroom where they can either do one buzz, two buzzes or three buzzes. One basically says they are in there and they're doing their job.
Two means they want a break or they have a question. But when they buzz three times in the courtroom that means they have reached a verdict. Everything will go into action. The judge has given the parties two hours maximum to get to the courthouse and assemble for the verdict.
That's taking into consideration the Jackson family who are scattered around the Los Angeles area and the attorneys and Dr. Conrad Murray as well who we understand is in Santa Monica.
So once that three buzz is hit, the wheels begin and while there's a two-hour window, Don, if everyone assembles after an hour. It will be televised live and the judge is also allowing the cameras to continue to roll after he dismisses the jury.
So we'll be able to find out instantly whether or not this judge if there's a guilty verdict remands Dr. Murray to custody. We'll know that right away.
LEMON: All right, Ted Rowlands joining us from Los Angeles. We apologize for a little bit of breakup there with the signal. You can hear the protesters out there every day and out there today. Thank you, Ted. We'll get back. We'll be checking in with you.
The issue that just won't go away for Herman Cain now. A new accuser is ready to come forward with her allegations of harassment. Details ahead in our political ticker update.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Just as presidential candidate Herman Cain tries to get back on message, he's about to face new accusations of harassment. CNN's Mark Preston live now from the political desk in Washington.
Mark, good morning to you. Where are these new claims coming from?
MARK PRESTON, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL EDITOR: Well, Don, just in the last couple hours, we learned that Glory Allred who is that famed lawyer who seems to be involved in any of these high profile sexual harassment cases is going to hold a 1:30 p.m. Eastern Time news conference.
She's going to have yet another woman by her side who says she was sexually harassment by Herman Cain during his time at the National Restaurant Association. Now this is the first time we actually have name and a face of one of these accusers.
These women who have said that Mr. Cain acted inappropriately when he headed that organization so we'll have that live here at 1:30, Don. But certainly as you said, as we head into break, this is a story that is not going away for Herman Cain.
LEMON: And many people are not, as you say, some people are not taking the allegations seriously because they say these are unanimous. Now that there's a face and a name, I'm wondering if that's going to change.
Because Cain denied the allegations all along saying he won't answer anymore questions, but this is going to force him at least force reporters to ask more questions. And he will probably have to answer that. I'm not going to answer the strategy probably won't work for him any longer.
LEMON: I think you're right. We're also going to have a lot of questions that will be lobbed at this fourth accuser, somebody that we haven't heard from before.
But what it's done, this whole episode has taken Herman Cain off his message certainly at a time, when he was rising in the polls. In fact, when he was at a candidates' forum on Saturday in Texas, he got a little bit angry when he was continually asked about it. Let's listen to what he had to say, Don.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. Cain, an attorney for one of the women who filed a sexual harassment complaint against --
HERMAN CAIN (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Don't even go there.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Can I ask my question?
CAIN: No.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Can I ask a brief question?
CAIN: Where's my chief of staff? Please send him the journalistic code of ethics.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PRESTON: There you are, Don. Herman Cain is passing out the Journalistic Code of Ethics at that news conference when he was frustrated by the repeated questions by the reporters. Now he is trying to stay on message on Sunday. Our own Steve Rusk is reporting that he met with George H.W. Bush, the former president who is at the pro football game that day in Houston.
And tonight, Don, he's going to be on "Jimmy Kimball Live." So it will be interesting to see what he says during that interview. But clearly Herman Cain is being rattled by these allegations at this point -- Don.
LEMON: It's going to be interesting to hear what he says and also the spoof that happens before the actual interview that Jimmy Kimball does at the top of the show. I'm sure that's going to be interesting.
No gossip. Thank you very much for that, Mark Preston. We appreciate it. For the latest political news, you know where to go cnnpolitics.com.
Tens thousands of people are still without power in Connecticut more than a week after that October storm, that surprised snowstorm.
Well, today's "Talk Back" question, should utility companies be penalized for not restoring power in a timely manner?
Robert says, "Sure, why not? We fine airlines for stranding us on a runway because of weather. What's the difference? More of your responses next.
The economy is making it harder for recent graduates to find work and that's preventing a lot of young adults from moving out of the house, specifically young men.
Here's a question. What percentage of American men ages 25 to 34 still live at home with their parents? The answer in a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: We asked you what percentage of American men ages 25 to 34 still live at home with their parents. Is it 11 percent, which is B? B, 16 percent or c, 19 percent? The answer is 19 percent of all 25 to 34-year-old men haven't moved out of their parents' house. Wow.
All right, you've been sounding off on our "Talkback" question. Carol Costello joins us now with more from New York. We should talk about those guys. You know, dad, is like get out of here, son.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I know. That's crazy, isn't it?
LEMON: Yes, probably has a lot to do with the economy but still. It's time to get out once you get to be that age.
COSTELLO: I bet it's hard for them to find a woman. That's all I have to say.
LEMON: OK, power company, what's going on?
COSTELLO: Let's talk about the utility companies, shall we? Because the "Talkback" question today, should utility companies be penalized for not restoring power in a timely manner.
This is from Tom, "Heck, yes, they should. Do you ever notice how they hound their customers the day after their bill is due? Make them pay. They have the money."
This from Sarah, "No, they do the best they can with an outdated power grid and the resources they have." This is from Angel, "they shouldn't be penalized but consumers should not have to pay for a product they are not receiving."
This is from Vernon, "Seriously, no more than a homeowner should be than whose roof is blown off during a tornado. The company's employees all share the same hardships as home as well. We should be thanking them for getting out there and restoring the power as soon as they do."
And this is from Ken, "I can understand the circumstances if they are short staffed, but we're talking about people's lives here. Yes, they should be fined for tardiness."
Keep the conversation flowing, Facebook.com/carolcnn. I'll be back with you in about 20 minutes.
LEMON: I got your "Talkback" question. Do you think Kim Kardashian should get back with her husband?
COSTELLO: I'm so sick of Kim Kardashian. Is she in counseling now? Come on. She's in counseling and there is a camera in the counseling session.
LEMON: It's going to be one of the episodes. Probably like, what do you call this, season-ender finale.
The reason I ask you that, Carol, is because celebrity web sites say Kim Kardashian is in Minneapolis today huddling with hubby Kris Humphries. Is a reconciliation in the works?
Well, stay tuned because Kardashian filed for divorce 72 days into her marriage earning her the "Saturday Night" treatment. It's today's punchline.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Can you believe I'm old enough to have a daughter that's getting divorced in no, you can't because my surgeries worked.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's been really hard. All week we've just been crying and crying and posing and crying.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When I heard she was getting married I was so happy my face was like -- when I heard she was getting divorced, it broke my heart. My face was like --
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Carol, when you heard about this, did you spend all week crying and crying and posing and crying?
COSTELLO: Yes, and I had real tears. I didn't have those like fake tears. That Bruce whatever his name is now --
LEMON: That was hilarious. The funniest thing I found out about this, I didn't realize his name was Kris with a "k" because they all have the "k" in their name. How interesting.
COSTELLO: I didn't realize that either. It has a whole new meaning now. Thanks.
LEMON: I know, funny we're spending this much time talking about it. They've got good PR, don't they? Thank you very much, Carol Costello.
By the way, "People" magazine reportedly paid $2.5 million for her wedding photos. Nice money if you can get it. Some are wondering if the marriage was a sham just to cash in.
Moving on now, the power of the presidency can be an advantage in a re-election campaign, but President Obama is running more like candidate Obama. The reason behind his anti-Rose Garden strategy in- depth just ahead.
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LEMON: CNN "In-Depth" right now. You would think running for re- election as president would give you certain advantages over your opponents, the image and trappings of the office provide a platform the other contenders don't have.
But what the bitter partisan climate in Washington these days, President Obama is taking a different approach. The story now from CNN's Jessica Yellin.
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JESSICA YELLIN, CNN CHIEF WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Whether it's Air Force One, "Hail to the Chief," or even the White House itself --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: -- crisp, cool day in the Rose Garden.
YELLIN: Part of the re-election playbook is leveraging the power and prestige of the presidency to overshadow your opponent. Though it hasn't always worked, the so-called Rose Garden strategy has been deployed by most modern presidents.
DOUGLAS BRINKLEY, PRESIDENTIAL HISTORIAN: Most of the predecessors of Barack Obama would use the White House as a staging platform. They want to remind people that they are the commander in chief, that there's just an inherent power of seeing the great seal of the United States behind you in the White House.
YELLIN: Burned by Washington gridlock, President Obama is taking a different approach. ANITA DUNN, FORMER WHITE HOUSE COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR: Washington right now is politically as toxic as you can get and as most people can remember it being. I think the president enjoys going out and talking to the American people.
YELLIN: So over the past three months, he's repeatedly hit the roads to small towns, looking more like candidate Obama than commander in chief. Often ditching Air Force One for a bus. Rolling up his shirt sleeves. Sometimes skipping "Hail to the Chief" all together. The image mirrors the message.
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It was time to get out of Washington!
YELLIN: The president wants to distance himself from Washington and the partisan politics that he promised, but failed to fix.
OBAMA: Some folks in Washington don't seem to be listening. What's broken is our politics. The problem is that we've got the kind of partisan brinksmanship that is willing to put party ahead of country.
YELLIN: You'll hear him say throughout the campaign that he's tried to fight the gridlock, something he explained at a recent press conference.
OBAMA: I used up a lot of political capital and I got the dings and bruises to prove it.
YELLIN: Democrats say this message can work.
PAUL BEGALA, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: He can go out there and say I've been trying to change the system, I've been fighting the established order, I'm pushing my jobs bill, which is really I think the best thing he's got going for him right now.
YELLIN: But Republicans are already building a case against it.
WHIT AYERS, REPUBLICAN POLLSTER: The problem is that he's the head of the government in Washington and his party controls half the Congress in Washington.
It just becomes a very, very difficult sell to the American people to persuade them that the head of the Democratic Party that controls the senate and the head of the entire government is running against the government that he heads.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: It's interesting. Jessica Yellin joins us now live from the White House. I say it is interesting because a politician in Washington separating himself from politics in Washington. Does the Obama campaign think this anti-Rose Garden strategy is working for them?
YELLIN: Well, Don, in some polls, one poll in particular, the Quinnipiac poll, you do see his numbers inching up already over the last month. Others polls are mixed.
But they argue it will take time for the message to break through, but they do think it works. Their argument is that through repetition of his message, distancing himself from Washington, both physically and through his words.
And through repeating his vision for the future, that he can make the case to voters that his project to break the gridlock in Washington is not a failure, it's just still in the works and that voters should give him more time to let him finish the project -- Don.
LEMON: All right, Jessica, despite the anti-Rose Garden strategy, we expect to hear from the president in the Rose Garden at the top of the hour. What's he talking about?
YELLIN: Perfect timing, right? Yes. You know, he can't disown the presidency because he is president so you do see him using the building and he will be here and today in the Rose Garden.
But his primary strategy of reaching the voters is out there in the field. That's why he's going to Philadelphia tomorrow. When he's here at the Rose Garden today, he'll be talking about executive actions he's taking to help veterans.
I'll point out that these are actions that he can take without Congress. So even when he's in the Rose Garden, he's actually distancing himself from the other power center in Washington -- Congress. So, yes, the Rose Garden, but again separating himself in some ways from the other power center in Washington.
LEMON: It's like if a tree falls in the woods, it's OK. Actually in the woods --
YELLIN: President against Washington.
LEMON: Yes, all right. Thank you, Jess. We appreciate it.
