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Sandusky: "I'm Not A Pedophile"; Sandusky's Attorney Speaks Out; NYPD Evicts "Occupy Wall Street"; NYC Judge Rules Protesters Can Return; Health Risks at "Occupy Wall Street"; Cain's Awkward Answer on Libya; New Fighting in Syria; Residents Want Wisconsin Governor Out; Girl Survived Off Pop Tarts, Gatorade; Freed Hikers Thank Supporters; NBA Season Now in Jeopardy; Volcano Shoots Lava Nearly 1,000 Ft.; Ads Pulled from Penn State Games; Rep. Gifford's Road to Recovery; NASA Looking for the Right Stuff; Cain Holds Lead in New Poll
Aired November 15, 2011 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: And it's the top of the hour. Thanks for joining us here in the CNN NEWSROOM.
This morning Jerry Sandusky admits that he horsed around but insists he's innocent. His first public comments may leave people even more sickened and more outraged.
The former Penn State football coach says he is not sexually attracted to young boys even though he admits to showering with them. He says it was just poor judgment.
Listen to Sandusky in his own words with Bob Costas.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JERRY SANDUSKY, CHARGED WITH SEXUALLY ABUSING CHILDREN: In retrospect, you know, I shouldn't have showered with those kids.
BOB COSTAS, NBC SPORTS: That's it?
SANDUSKY: Yes, that's what hits me the most.
COSTAS: Are you a pedophile?
SANDUSKY: No.
COSTAS: Are you sexually attracted to young boys, to underage boys?
SANDUSKY: Am I sexually attracted to underage boys?
COSTAS: Yes.
SANDUSKY: Sexually attracted, no. I enjoy young people. I love to be around them. I -- but, no, I'm not sexually attracted to young boys.
(END VIDEO CLIP) PHILLIPS: Jason Carroll was at the Penn State campus. He actually spoke with Sandusky's lawyer.
JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, as you know, I spoke to Sandusky's attorney for a lengthy period of time. He says that, yes, Sandusky admits to showering with young boys on several occasions. Yes, now he has come to regret that, but he also says that Sandusky did not sexually assault anyone.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Jerry Sandusky is a big overgrown kid. He's a jock. For anybody who's ever played sports, you get showers after you workout. When people hear he got showers with kids, my goodness, you know, he got showers with kids.
That makes him guilty, right? Obviously, anybody who gets a shower with a kid who's an adult has to be guilty of something, but the bottom line is jocks do that. They kid around. They horse around.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CARROLL: Kyra, a bit of a follow-up here. Back in 1998, Sandusky did shower with a boy here at Penn State. That was brought to the attention of university police. Sandusky promised not to do it again.
But then he followed that up with repeated behavior, doing it again in 2000 and again in 2002. So I asked his attorney, why, after getting in trouble in 1998, would he repeat that behavior?
And he told me, quote, "Well, that was pretty stupid." But once again, Kyra, he says that does not mean he sexually assaulted anyone -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Our Jason Carroll at Penn State. Jason, thanks. We're going to talk to the managing editor of the "Altoona Mirror" and hear how Pennsylvania is reacting to this interview. That's coming up in just about 10 minutes.
All right, let's talk about the "Occupy Wall Street" movement. Just minutes ago, a New York judge issued a restraining order that would seem to benefit the protesters.
It not only allows actually their return to Zuccotti Park just hours after being evicted, it also means they'll be able to rebuild the tent city.
Poppy Harlow of CNNMoney.com is there. Poppy, you've been there through the night and the morning. What's the reaction to this news?
POPPY HARLOW, CNNMONEY.COM CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, there aren't a lot of protesters around Zuccotti Park right now, Kyra. They're marching down a little bit of ways, but I can tell you that this ruling coming down from New York Judge Lucy Billings.
If this is upheld at the next hearing at 11:30 a.m., this is a huge win, at least in the near term, for the protesters down here. As you said, it not only says that the police and also the private company that owns Zuccotti Park cannot evict them.
It also says that they do not have to abide by the rules. The rules that have been posted here saying there's a 10:00 curfew. They can't bring sleeping bags. They can't bring tents. You can imagine the reaction from protesters would be absolutely huge. It is relatively calm down here right now.
You hear one protester yelling, but it's relatively calm compared to what happened last night. If we can bring up some video throughout the night as we were reporting live, starting at 2:00 a.m. in the morning, as the evictions were taking place.
There were 100 arrests overnight according to the New York City Police Department. They said no police officers were injured, that said, there were physical clashes. We were caught in the middle of some of them, Kyra, between protesters and between police officers that were throughout the streets here, right between Ground Zero and Wall Street.
Those went on until about 6:00 in the morning. That's when the protesters moved a few blocks away to congregate elsewhere. One of the protesters was arrested last night that I spoke with, Kyra. He told me that he just got out of jail.
He is planning to stay here even if they can't stay in Zuccotti Park. He says, this movement will continue. You certainly feel they are not giving up, not slowing down. If anything, they are mustering more support.
PHILLIPS: All right, Poppy Harlow in New York for us.
You know, one of the many reasons for clearing the park is health concerns. Not just for those who lived among these mountains of trash and filth, but also the people who live nearby.
CNN senior medical correspondent, Elizabeth Cohen joining us now. Pretty serious health risks, right, Elizabeth?
ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, yes. Serious health risks for the people who are in these "Occupy" movements. We've been speaking with infectious disease experts, and they say with winter coming, it's a perfect storm because with winter comes flu and other viral illnesses. You have that many people packed together in a small area, and that is just a recipe for illness.
In addition, you have not great sanitation garbage, feces, it is just not a great situation. So the experts we talked to were concerned, if something wasn't done, you definitely could have people getting sick. PHILLIPS: All right, so what could be done to keep people and these protests from getting ill?
COHEN: You know, one thing is flu shots. In some places, they have had folks go in and try to give people flu shots. But the other thing is that people need to -- some of the folks who were in these movements need to realize that their liberties might be curtailed by public health concerns.
If someone said to them, look, you look sick, we want you out here. Please go home. Please go away, you know, that may have to happen in order to keep everyone healthy.
PHILLIPS: So, is there any risk of diseases starting in the occupiers and moving into the rest of the public?
COHEN: You know, the experts we talked to said, no. They said, the risks are really for the people who are right there in the movement, not for people who are living any distance away.
PHILLIPS: Got it. Elizabeth Cohen, appreciate it. Thanks.
Seven weeks from today, Iowa voters helped shape the presidential field. With those caucuses inching even closer, it's no surprise that candidates are on the campaign trail.
This morning, Rick Perry holds a town meeting in Bettendorf. Fellow Republican Herman Cain holds a rally in Dubuque. This morning, Herman Cain has something else in common with Rick Perry.
An embarrassing memory lapse over his own policies just one week after the Perry's blunder in the GOP debate, Cain also stumbled and struggled. He was actually meeting with the editorial board of the Milwaukee Wisconsin Journal Sentinel. Here it is.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do you agree with President Obama on Libya or not?
HERMAN CAIN (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: OK. Libya. President Obama supported the uprising, correct? President Obama called for the removal of Gadhafi. Just want to make sure we're talking about the same thing before I say, yes, I agree, or, no, I don't agree. I do not agree with the way he handled it for the following reasons.
No, that's a different one. I got to go back and see. Got all this stuff twirling around in my head specifically what are you asking me did I agree or not disagree with Obama?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Deputy political director, Paul Steinhauser in Washington. It makes you sort of uncomfortable kind of wondering what's going on because that's not the Herman Cain we usually hear, Paul. PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Exactly. It is a little uncomfortable, a little disturbing to watch. I guess, you could say, it was tough timing for the candidate as his poll numbers in our most recent national survey are dropping.
That video, Kyra, that went viral online and that was the talk of Twitter. The campaign soon put out a statement yesterday saying, listen, Herman Cain eventually, he did get the answer right. It took him a little while to get his bearings.
Here's what the candidate himself said last night while campaigning in Wisconsin. He was trying to down play it. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CAIN: I mean, they asked me a question about Libya, and I paused so I could gather my thoughts. It's really complimentary when people start documenting my pauses. It's one thing to document every word. It was a pause. That's all it was. Good grief.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
STEINHAUSER: All right, two things come to my mind. First of all, this is Libya. This is a story that's been in the news here in the U.S. nonstop this year. That wasn't an obscure thing they're asking him about.
Secondly, listen, foreign policy, we know it's not Herman Cain's wheel house. The economy and that 9-9-9 tax plan are. In fact, one of the big stories about Cain a few weeks ago, was did he know or not on whether China had nuclear weapons.
Kyra, he gets another chance on foreign policy a week from tonight with our CNN Debate.
PHILLIPS: Yes, another debate and also today's another day, another poll. Let's talk about where the Republican candidates actually stand right now.
STEINHAUSER: Yes, and you mentioned it's seven weeks today until those Iowa caucuses. Those are the first contest in the primary caucus calendar. Take a look at this, a brand new poll out this morning from Bloomberg in Iowa among people likely to vote in those Republican caucuses.
Basically a four-way battle for the top with Cain, Ron Paul, the congressman from Texas, Mitt Romney, the former Massachusetts governor, and Newt Gingrich, whose numbers have been on the rise.
So, Kyra, anything could happen between now and seven weeks from now on January 3rd in Iowa.
PHILLIPS: I mean, just look at how things have changed in the past couple of weeks, Paul. STEINHAUSER: Hold on. Hold on.
PHILLIPS: That's right. We're on the edge of our seats. Thanks, Paul.
As Paul just mentioned, you need to mark your calendars right now for next Tuesday, November 22nd. CNN is going to bring you that debate focusing exclusively on national security and foreign policy next Tuesday 8:00 p.m. Eastern on CNN.
Well, there are reports of new fighting between Syrian forces and anti-government protesters. It's coming a day before the country's suspension of the Arab league over its violent crackdown on the oppositions.
Zain Verjee has been following this for us for a number weeks. Zain, what do we know about today?
ZAIN VERJEE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Kyra. Let's take a look at what the international papers are saying. Let's go straight to "The Guardian" here in the U.K., a simple solid headline that says "Losing Friends."
It's a common piece that says "Syria's expulsion from the Arab league tomorrow marks a change for an organization whose more traditional posture is astride a fence. The move is largely symbolic, but symbolism matters."
The "Globe and Mail" in Canada, "Assad's regime has few friends left." This is an analysis that says all signs are basically pointing to the end of the line for the Syrian regime of Bashar Al-Assad. The overwhelming majority of Arab states now openly oppose the Syrian leader, and even Iran is now hedging its bets."
Finally, from the UAE "The National." Its headline "On Syria, rare Arab-West Rapprochement." It says, "This surprising alliance evolved to its full extent with the unfolding events in Syria and now the Arab and Western positions are completely consistent in supporting the uprising and calling upon President Bashar Al-Assad to step down."
Some analysts though, Kyra, are warning hold on just a minute. Assad isn't going anywhere just yet. He still has a lot of really important cards that he can play. For example, he still has a strong solid base of support.
He has a very powerful military machine. Also, Russia on the Security Council would have to support any decision that the U.N. makes, and Iran and Hezbollah still wild cards. Some analysts say they do still fully back him -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right, Zain, appreciate it. Coming up, a 9-year- old girl survives being pinned upside down in a car for two days. We'll tell you what she did to stay alive.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) PHILLIPS: Taking news cross country now. In Wisconsin, an effort to get Governor Scott Walker removed from office. Thousands of residents are upset about changes to collective bargaining rights and the state's new voter I.D. law. So they've started a petition to force a recall election, 500,000 signatures are needed.
Pop-tarts and Gatorade, that's what kept a 9-year-old North Carolina girl alive for two days while she was pinned upside down in a car after an accident. Her father did not survive that crash, by the way.
In Minnesota, three Americans once jailed in Iran on spy charges got a chance to personally thank the friends and strangers who supported them financially and emotionally during their prison time. The event was organized by a support group on Facebook.
As you know, this morning, Jerry Sandusky in this interview that he gave to Bob Costas has made headlines. The former Penn State football coach admitted that he showered with young boys, but he insists that he's not a pedophile.
He did the interview with ABC News and Bob Costas, adding to the shock in a community that is unaccustomed to scandal. Joining us by phone to discuss the local reaction, Neil Rudel. He's the managing editor of the "Altoona Mirror" newspaper.
Neil, let's go ahead and start with some part of Sandusky's interview. Let's take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BOB COSTAS, ANCHOR, ABC NEWS: To your knowledge, did Joe Paterno have any information regarding objectionable activities on your part prior to that report in 2002?
JERRY SANDUSKY, CHARGED WITH SEXUALLY ABUSING CHILDREN (via telephone): My -- I can't totally answer that question. My answer would be no.
COSTAS: Did Joe Paterno at any time ever speak to you directly about your behavior?
SANDUSKY: No.
COSTAS: Never?
SANDUSKY: No.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Neil, what do you make of that?
NEIL RUDEL, MANAGING EDITOR, "THE ALTOONA MIRROR" (via telephone): Well, I think that this is -- you know, we've said that this is the end of the beginning may have taken place last week. And now we're going to be in another lengthy phase of who's going to say what and what is going to be believable and how many other people, particularly university officials, will be implicated in some sort of testimony.
There was -- the district attorney in 1998, as we know, looked into an allegation against Jerry Sandusky from the mother of an alleged victim, and it was ultimately unfounded. It started with university police and then went to the district attorney.
I can't believe that Joe wouldn't have known that or that university officials wouldn't have known that if a district attorney in a very small town is looking into your top assistant coach on that level of a charge.
But as Jerry got on there last night and is presenting his perspective, I'm guessing Joe will have that same opportunity as these progresses.
PHILLIPS: Well, and you evidently, your web site, once this interview came out, you said has just been flooded with comments. What are people saying in the community?
RUDEL: Well, every story on this subject has been flooded with comments not only in our paper, but every paper. There are some people that say there's been a rush to judgment. Other people say everybody had to go the minute this story came.
So there really is not a lot of middle ground of taking a wait and see. I think the court of public opinion ultimately convicted Paterno, Graham Spannier, and the board of trustees acted, and they have a national crisis on their hands. Whether they're guilty or not, they had to stop the bleeding, in their estimation.
PHILLIPS: So Neil, you've had a chance to talk with so many players within this story, and you've talked with friends of Jerry Sandusky. Does he have any supporters left? Does he still have friends there that are saying we're standing by him?
RUDEL: You know, that's a good question. His home has been vandalized. I can't imagine what it's like to be him right now. Listening to the interview last night -- and I've interviewed him for many years -- he clearly sounds totally shaken and even much older than the 67 that he is.
I can't imagine. I think his circle is very small. I know that one former Letterman reached out to him and sent him some money and the one former Letterman encouraged other people to do it. I don't know that anybody else has done that.
But I know some former teammates are all crushed because nobody -- none of his former teammates saw this coming.
PHILLIPS: Neil Rudel, managing editor of "The Altoona Mirror" newspaper. I know you'll be working this story day and night, Neil. We'll keep reading. Thanks for calling in. RUDEL: Thank you.
PHILLIPS: You bet. Well, NBA players and owners apparently can't agree at the negotiating table. So it looks like they're going to face each other in court. So will there be an NBA season? It's not looking so good. More on that straight ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: If you're an NBA fan, prepare yourself because this could sting. The regular season is one step closer to being a giant air ball. The players union has turned down the league's latest offer in a dispute over collective bargaining and might take the league to court.
Charles Grantham is the former head of the NBA Players Association. So what do you think? Is there any hope for a regular season here?
CHARLES GRANTHAM, FORMER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, NBA PLAYERS ASSOCIATION: Well, there is hope, but it's definitely diminishing. There's no question that this latest move by the players will jeopardize this season.
PHILLIPS: So Charles, what is the advantage of filing an antitrust suit against the league?
GRANTHAM: Well, clearly, an effort to gain a little leverage at the bargaining table. But the process will be very timely and cost- consuming. So the idea here is to add a little bit of leverage at a time when they feel the deal on the table is not acceptable.
PHILLIPS: So if the lawsuit goes forward then does that mean the negotiations stop?
GRANTHAM: Well, the negotiations will not formally stop. I mean, they're still allowed to have discussions, but it does add a little bit more pressure, and it does create an environment that will probably make the process a little longer.
PHILLIPS: Now you and I well know that when it comes down to it, fans don't care about all the legal stuff. They just want to be able to cheer on their favorite teams, have a beer and have some fun. So how do you keep, you know, players in the league from alienating fans through all of this?
GRANTHAM: Well, it's unfortunate, but his is the worst nightmare for the fans because clearly they've got to sit and watch the agony of the season disappearing, on the one hand.
On the other hand, it could very well be sort of the last effort and could very well end up in an agreement sometimes between now and early January.
PHILLIPS: So what is your take? Why can't the NBA and its players resolve this like the NFL did? GRANTHAM: Well, it's -- as you know, it's all about money, and it's an economic pie here, and it's got to be divided. Quite frankly, the players don't believe that it's being divided evenly. Of course, this is just a dispute that will always end probably unfavorably for one side.
PHILLIPS: What do you think, before I let you go, just personally and with your background? What's the most disappointing part of all of this for you?
GRANTHAM: Well, the disappointing part for me as a former director is to see the potential loss of income for the players and their families. Clearly, this is not a good time for anyone to be out of work, on the one hand.
On the other hand, it's doing damage to a sport that we all love. It's been a very prosperous business and we're just hopeful that they could come to some resolution here.
PHILLIPS: Charles Grantham, thanks for joining me this morning. I appreciate it.
Newt Gingrich's double digit leap in the polls. We're going to talk about that with our "Political Buzz" panelists. What's behind the big surge? They've got an opinion.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Checking top stories now. Former Penn State coach Jerry Sandusky denies abusing any young boys, but he does admit to hugging, horsing around, and showering with them. Sandusky talked to NBC's Bob Costas by phone.
In a few hours, President Obama will leave Hawaii for Australia. He will address parliament then head to the military stronghold of Darwin. He's expected to announce a plan for a more pronounced military presence in that country.
Check out the newest tourist attraction in Congo. The volcano is in national park. It's been erupting since last week and it's shooting lava nearly 1,000 feet into the air. The government wants tourists to camp out and watch the show.
All right, "Political Buzz," your rapid fire look at the best political topics of the day. Three questions, 30 seconds on the clock.
And playing today, Democratic National Committee Member Robert Zimmerman, Georgetown University professor, Chris Metzler and Patricia Murphy, founder and editor of Citizen Jane Politics.
All right, guys, first question. Newt Gingrich surging in the latest CNN poll, Now basically tied with Mitt Romney. It's a double digit leap. What's he doing right -- Chris.
CHRIS METZLER, PROFESSOR, GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY: A couple of things. First, I think what you're seeing with Newt is he's not Herman Cain. So he's doing that right.
Secondly, Newt is coming across in the debate actually going after the moderators with their questions and so people are actually loving that. And, third, he's coming across as the conservative intellectual that he is with a serious grasp of the issues.
As a result of that, Republican voters are saying, well, maybe we'll take another look at him. If you also notice, he didn't go after his -- despite the baiting. He didn't go after his opponents directly. So as a result of that, he's doing well.
PHILLIPS: Robert?
ROBERT ZIMMERMAN, DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE MEMBER: What he's doing right is avoiding scrutiny. Let's remember, when he launched his national campaign, he was vilified by the Republican Party because he condemned the Medicare plan.
And when he discussed his personal life, he became an object of scorn amongst his own party for those reasons. Now you've seen him turn his un-favorables around, and the improvement is because it speaks to how astute and strategic Newt Gingrich is and his understanding of national politics.
I'm not suggesting his surge is going to last long and he'll be the nominee, it's going to last longer than the others who have surged against Mitt Romney.
PHILLIPS: Patricia?
PATRICIA MURPHY, FOUNDER, CITIZEN JANE POLITICS: Well, he did a couple of things right. The first thing is he's not even doing, he's just looking good next to his competition.
And as the professor said, he is not committing a lot of the problems. He doesn't have a lot of the same problems that Rick Perry has. He's able to complete sentences, for example. He also just has an incredible depth of experience. That's really coming across in these debates.
And he may have had many scandals in the past in terms of spending too much money on his wife's jewelry, but compared to what Herman Cain's going through, that doesn't really look like much of a problem. So he really is surging forward because of who he is. He also has a reputation for not being so disciplined. He has to keep that together if he wants to stay ahead.
PHILLIPS: All right. Second question guys, President Obama's health care law, now before the U.S. Supreme Court. So what do you think? How's it going to impact the 2012 election? Chris?
CHRIS METZLER, PROFESSOR, GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY: Well, I think, if in fact -- I believe that there's going to be a 5-4 decision, and the court's going to strike it down. But if that in fact, happens, it works for both sides. Both sides can then run against the establishment Supreme Court. And they can, in fact, say, listen, this is why you need the Republican in office, or this is why you need to keep the Democrat in office. Because to the extent that there is an opening, we can change that.
The Supreme Court is unelected. But in fact, it is running your life. So I think it's going to have a tremendous impact. The question is how both sides are going to play it.
PHILLIPS: OK. Robert?
ROBERT ZIMMERMAN, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: You know the standard partisan line you'll hear from my party, the Democratic Party, is that this will energize the base. Yes, you can have someone else recite the talking points for you because politically, analyzing this issue, I have never seen an election yet or a contest yet where the supporters of Obama's health care reform -- and I'm one of them -- has shown more energy or more ability to pull the vote than the adversaries, the opponents of the Obama health care reform act.
So I'm very concerned about what this means in terms of mobilizing our Democratic electorate, and it also takes us away from the jobs issue, and that is -- that is the defining issue in 2012.
PHILLIPS: Patricia?
MURPHY: This well -- this health care decision will have a huge impact, no doubt about it. This is going to come down more than likely in June of 2012, right in the heat of these elections. And I think that, if this comes down and it is upheld -- Obama really needs this to be upheld. He cannot have his signature issue -- what he spent all of his political capital on -- he cannot have it be struck down as unconstitutional when he is a constitutional professor.
For the Republicans, if it's upheld, that will really energize their base, and they're already energized already. But if this is upheld, the only way they can get rid of it is to repeal it by having a president who will sign it into law.
PHILLIPS: All right, guys. Your "Buzzer Beater" 20 seconds each on this one. First there was Rick Perry, now Herman Cain and his oops moment.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So you agree with President Obama on Libya or not?
HERMAN CAIN (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Ok. Libya. I got to go back to see -- I got a lot of stuff twirling around in my head.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: OK, guys. What else is twirling around in Cain's head? Robert? ZIMMERMAN: Well, we know it's not public policy issues. In addition to not being able to speak to the issue of Libya, he also was not able to discuss his own 9-9-9 plan adequately, often times redefining it and acknowledging it didn't quite add up, and of course he didn't know that China had nuclear weapons.
So I'm only thinking and the only maybe twirling around in his head is how he can get out of this and land a reality TV show. Because that's his only gig coming up.
PHILLIPS: Patricia?
MURPHY: I have no idea what's twirling around in that head of his. I hope it is Newt Gingrich's phone number. Those two need to get together, and Newt Gingrich and he can sit down and go over the finer points of foreign policy, domestic policy. They can do it over pizza. I think it's high time.
PHILLIPS: All right, Chris, bring it home.
METZLER: OK so there are three things. The first of -- the first of which is, why didn't I get Condoleezza Rice to be my foreign policy tutor? The second is thin crust or thick crust? And the third is what does a guy have to do to win the nomination? Occupy Godfather's Pizza? I mean those are the things that are twirling around in his head at this point, or at least that's how it seems.
PHILLIPS: Thanks, guys.
And twirling around now in Rick Perry's head, we're going to find out because we're going on the ground in Iowa. He's making a speech called "Uproot and Overhaul Washington". Let's listen in.
RICK PERRY (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: -- the monuments of bureaucratic failure and put in place a smaller, more efficient federal government that puts the American people first. Washington insiders won't address Beltway decay. They won't try a totally new way. The reason is because they kind of like it the way it is.
The lobbyists making their living on protecting corporate loopholes. Securing those earmarks for the special interests that they represent. Status quo is good for Washington insiders. It's good for overpaid bureaucrats. It's good for the power players who trade favors to build fiefdoms of influence.
While the rest of America remains mired in the ruins of this economic recession that we're in, and it's been caused -- the recession's been caused by Washington's out of touch, big government economic policies.
That area up there is doing just fine economically. In fact, Washington metro area is the most affluent metropolitan area in the country. And that's because all the lobbyists and the contractors and the overpaid czars and bureaucrats haven't suffered one bit during this worst recession that we've had in 70 years in this country. You know, while Main Street's windows are getting boarded up, cash continues to flow to those Wall Street financiers and Beltway profiteers.
Let me ask you a question. If you build a house and the walls, when you moved in, were crumbling down and had faulty wiring, had a leaky roof, would you -- would you call the original incompetent builder to fix it? And if it was fundamentally flawed, would you add on to the same faulty structure, or would you tear it down and rebuild again with a totally new crew? I think I know what your answer is.
Our country's foundation, the American people, United States Constitution, there's nothing wrong with them. They're still strong. It's what the politicians and the bureaucrats have built on the backs of the American taxpayers that's got to be replaced and rebuilt.
Those who got us into this mess cannot get us out. Those who increased the debt by $4 trillion in the last three years cannot be trusted to bring in a new era of fiscal austerity. Those who made the economic crisis worse don't have the capacity to make it better.
You know in recent weeks, our President has taken to pointing the finger of blame instead of taking responsibility. He's called us soft and lazy. We said Americans lack ambition and imagination.
Mr. President, Americans aren't soft or lazy. Americans don't lack ambition or imagination. It's Washington that has failed us.
We need a new leadership, we need a new builder. We need a Washington outsider. I'm unique in this Republican field. I've never been an establishment figure. I've never served in Congress. I've never been a part of an administration. I've never been a paid lobbyist. My career has been that of a Washington outsider.
And here's my plan to fix three broken branches of government. Part one of my plan is to reform the federal judiciary by ending term limits -- or I should say putting term limits on unelected federal judges.
PHILLIPS: Rick Perry live in Bettendorf, Iowa, giving a speech there that we will continue to follow, "Uprooting and Overhauling Washington" is the topic. We'll monitor it.
And also mark your calendars now for next Tuesday, November 22nd. That night CNN will bring you a debate focusing exclusively on national security and foreign policy next Tuesday, 8:00 p.m., right here on CNN.
Well, the fallout has started for Penn State. We're talking about the financial fallout from the alleged sex abuse scandal. Alison Kosik has the numbers coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Penn State University takes its first financial hit. One major advertiser's jumping ship. Alison Kosik is watching all that for us. It could be a sign of what's to come.
ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Exactly, Kyra. You now, this was expected, and, yes, others could follow. Cars.com pulled its ads from Penn State games that air on ESPN, with cars.com saying it's because of the sex abuse scandal that's rocking that university.
Here's the thing. It's not going to wind up hitting ESPN because what the network is going to wind up doing is moving those commercials to other games. But so far cars.com is the first and only one to pull its ads.
Nike says it's monitoring the situation. Sherwin Williams, AT&T, Comcast right now aren't commenting. But experts are saying these criminal investigations and possible lawsuits will wind up keeping Penn State in the news for a while, and that could wind up keeping sponsors from coming back if that. In fact, happens, Kyra, it could wind up being a huge hit for the second richest team in college football -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Yes. Speaking of numbers, the markets are having a hard time getting going today. What's going on?
KOSIK: Yes. They're still very worried about Europe. There's a new report that shows growth in Europe has slowed to a crawl. Its GDP was 0.2 percent in the third quarter; it's a sign a recession could hit Europe.
Here in the U.S. we got decent retail sales numbers, pretty decent manufacturing report. That's kind of keeping those losses in check. Right now the Dow only down about two points -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right. Alison, thanks.
Let's check some stories that are making news later today.
NASA is announcing its process for selecting the next class of astronauts; that's at 1:00 Eastern in Washington.
President Obama is leaving for Honolulu at 1:30 Eastern time. He's heading to Australia. He's going to address the parliament there tomorrow.
Then in Los Angeles at 2:00 p.m., the stars of the movie "West Side Story" will be getting their hands and footprints in front of the Chinese Grauman theater.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Gabrielle Giffords in her own words. She spoke to ABC's Diane Sawyer in her first full interview since the January shooting rampage in Tucson. She says she hopes to return to Congress someday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. GABRIELLE GIFFORDS (D), ARIZONA: No, better.
DIANE SAWYER, ABC HOST: It's better?
GIFFORDS: I -- oh.
MARK KELLY, HUSBAND OF GABRIELLE GIFFORDS: She wants to get better.
GIFFORDS: Better.
SAWYER: You want to get better?
GIFFORDS: Better.
SAWYER: And so you think to yourself, I'll go back to Congress if I get better?
GIFFORDS: Yes, yes, yes.
SAWYER: And that's where you are right now?
GIFFORDS: Yes, yes, yes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Giffords' husband Mark Kelly, sitting right next to her says that she's too tough to let this beat her.
Let's check the news cross country now, a judge in New York has issued a restraining order allowing protesters to return to Zuccotti Park. The park was closed last night as police in full riot gear rushed in and evicted the protesters. More than 100 people were arrested.
And then in "Occupy Oakland" protesters and police are still at odds there. On Monday, 33 people were taken into custody after police tore down tents at their encampment near city hall. The city's emergency management says that "Occupy Oakland" has cost them $2.4 million now.
Then "Occupy Portland" movement is in limbo. Camps where protesters once gathered are fenced up. They must find a new place to assemble.
Are you looking for a job, adventure, how about a trip into space? Get your resume ready because in about two hours, NASA reveals its process for selecting the next class of astronauts. We've got details after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Job alert here. Must be willing to travel, though; and I do mean travel. The International Space Station, maybe Mars, perhaps an asteroid? Rob Marciano, it sounds like your dream job, my friend. ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: You and me both. You know what? We just may qualify. All right. Listen up to some of these requirements.
First of all, all you have do is go online if you want to apply. Do it today. Go to usajobs.gov and search in the search bar, "astronauts", and you'll get right to the application. You might say, well, you know, the space shuttle is done. So what are they going to do?
Well, new astronauts are going to have to advance research on board the ISS, International Space Station, and use some of that obviously for earth. But also learn how to develop those skills and go beyond that. Search for asteroids and maybe go to Mars one day.
All right. They're looking for 9 to 15 astronauts. Currently, there's 59 active. So they might add as much as 15. You got to be a U.S. Citizen. Look at the salary there. $64,000 to $141,000. This is all commercial -- or government grade pay grade there. So not too shabby on the pay grade.
Bachelor's degree in a physical science, check. Vision 20/20. Correctible. You can get Lasik. Blood pressure's got to be 140/90 or less. And height restrictions anywhere from 5'2 to 6'3. So that, I think, includes Kyra.
Here's what I think is hilarious, Kyra. All right. On the Web site, they actually have a recruiting video. I mean, like you actually need this.
PHILLIPS: You have to convince us to do it?
MARCIANO: Yes. You have to convince people to do this? Seriously?
PHILLIPS: Hey. Just let me fly. I want to go in space. End of story.
MARCIANO: It's like having a recruiting video to become a Major League Baseball player or football. You either have the goods or you don't. Most everybody wants to do it.
PHILLIPS: You know what's a bummer, though? Because during the war, you know my relationship with the Navy, and a lot of my buddies are fighter pilots. One of them actually became an astronaut. And it's changed because there aren't shuttles anymore. He said, OK, it was still amazing. I loved being able to do it for a couple of years, but it's not what it used to be. A lot of those young men that dreamed about, hey, walking on the moon, the program's changed a lot.
MARCIANO: Yes. But you know, now astronauts are going up, like just yesterday they went up in that Soyuz rocket, which is an old school one, and it crashes from time to time. It's kind of old school astronauts, more risk takers.
PHILLIPS: What the heck? Astronauts go old school. MARCIANO: Apply today. Help wanted: astronauts.
PHILLIPS: You'd be great working for NASA.
MARCIANO: Yes, I don't think they want me.
PHILLIPS: Driving people right in. Thanks, Rob.
All right. We're going to check sports.
It's looking more and more like a nuclear winter for the NBA season. The players have once again turned down the owners' latest offer. The players' union is looking at filing an antitrust suit against the league. The players hope that the threat of the lawsuit will get the owners to give in.
Monday night football featuring the undefeated Super Bowl champs, Green Bay Packers toying with the Minnesota Vikings. Rookie Randall Cobb, like Green Bay needed another offensive weapon, returns the punt for the touchdown. Aaron Rodgers was his typical self, in one word, awesome. Four more touchdown passes -- this one to Greg Jennings. The final score 45-7. Right now there's a big gap between the Packers and everybody else.
Coming up in the NEWSROOM with Suzanne Malveaux, major developments in New York's "Occupy Wall Street" protest. The city's forced to keep -- actually forced people in Zuccotti Park to get out of that area overnight. At 11:30, a judge is going to hear arguments from protesters about why they should be allowed to use that park.
Plus former Penn State assistant coach Jerry Sandusky denied being a pedophile during an interview that aired on primetime TV last night. We asked a lawyer if Sandusky did the right thing by talking about the allegations publicly.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Well, despite some polls showing support is fading for Herman Cain in the wake of a sexual harassment scandal, a new survey suggests the opposite. The Bloomberg News survey actually indicates 20 percent of Iowans polled plan to support businessman Herman Cain for the nomination. 19 percent say they'll back Ron Paul. And 18 percent said support for Massachusetts governor, Mitt Romney. 17 percent backing former House speaker Newt Gingrich.
Senior political reporter Mark Preston joining us now. All right, Mark. The poll is out. Just seven weeks before Iowa's January 3 caucus. Cain on top here. Perry lagging far behind, and he's unveiling a new plan today, right now, in Iowa.
MARK PRESTON, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL EDITOR: Yes, no doubt. Look, Herman Cain -- good news for Herman Cain, especially since this poll was conducted after all of the news of allegations of sexual harassment have hit Herman Cain.
The problem for Herman Cain right now in Iowa is that fact he has no real ground operation. In order to win the Iowa caucuses, you need to have a ground operation. Kyra, I should tell you as well that Herman Cain is using Iowa to raise money. In fact they've been sending an e-mail out over the past week to try to raise $1 million that they said they would focus entirely on Iowa.
But as you said, Rick Perry there at 7 percent in Iowa, which is a terrible number for the Texas governor. He is unveiling a new plan to, what he says, dismantle Washington, D.C., as we know it. A couple of those proposals Kyra, would include cutting Congressmen and Senators' pay in half, making Congress a part-time legislature, much like we see in many states. Also put a moratorium on federal regulations as we know it right now.
Not only is Herman Cain holding events right now in Iowa, but Rick Perry is as well, which just goes to show you how important the state is -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Yes. And it's interesting. Rick Perry had his brain freeze moment during the debate. Herman Cain had it with this discussion in Wisconsin. The polls up and down, Newt Gingrich gaining numbers. Mark Preston stand by for the anything goes this political season.
PRESTON: Yes. No doubt. No doubt, Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Thanks, Mark. All right. We're going to have our next political update in just about an hour. And a reminder for all the political news, you can always go to our Web site, 24/7, CNNpolitics.com.
It really is turning out to be an interesting political season.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN ANCHOR: And the great thing about this Kyra is like we still have almost a year left to go. So there's so many other things that could happen.
PHILLIPS: That's right. It's just getting started, right.
MALVEAUX: It's just getting started.
All right. Thanks Kyra.
PHILLIPS: You bet.
