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Occupy Protesters Back in NYC Park; 7 Days to Cut $1.2 Trillion; The Two Jerry Sanduskys; Sandusky Charged with Molesting 8 Boys; Penn State Not Under Open Records Act; Miley Cyrus Says Women Have Curves; Romney Riding High in Polls; Tornado Warning in Montgomery, Alabama; Atlanta Creates Jobs Plan
Aired November 16, 2011 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN ANCHOR: Live from Studio 7, I'm Suzanne Malveaux.
Want to get you up to speed for this Wednesday, November 16th.
Mike McQueary is speaking out and he's fighting back. He is the Penn State assistant coach who is cited in the grand jury report for witnessing coach Jerry Sandusky sodomizing a boy in the showers in 2002, but not going to police. McQueary,, in an e-mail obtained by "The Morning Call" newspaper, writes, "He did have discussions with police and the official at the university in charge of police."
McQueary spoke briefly with CBS News.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do you have any idea when you think you might be ready to talk?
MIKE MCQUEARY, PENN STATE ASSISTANT COACH: This process has to play out. I just don't have anything else to say. That's all.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. And then just one last thing. Just describe your emotions right now.
MCQUEARY: All over the place. Just kind of shaken.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Crazy?
MCQUEARY: Crazy.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You said what, like a --
MCQUEARY: Snow globe.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: Next hour, I'm going to talk with a reporter from "The Morning Call" about that e-mail.
Penn State is not required to let reporters see e-mails, incident reports, or other documents that are actually related to the scandal. That is because the Pennsylvania legislature exempted the university and other schools from the state's open records law back in 2008. The university's president said that Penn State needed the exemption to stay competitive.
So, how do you Occupy Wall Street if you can't camp out? Well, that is the question New York protesters are struggling with after police raided Zuccotti Park yesterday. More than 100 people were arrested. The protest site got a thorough power washing, as well, but now the protesters are back and they're angry. A New York judge is backing up Mayor Mike Bloomberg, who says the demonstrators are free to stay their ground, they just can't set up those tents.
We're going to go live to the park with the very latest.
And Secret Service agents making a disturbing discovery, a bullet fired at the White House. Agents say the round was stopped by special bulletproof glass.
They're now investigating whether the bullet that was found and others found on the grounds are actually connected to shots that were fired nearby. That happened last Friday. The Secret Service says there's no specific concern for President Obama's safety.
Well, the U.S. is now beefing up its military presence in the Pacific region. During his visit to Australia today, President Obama announced expanded cooperation now between U.S. troops and Australian military. Concern over China's rising influence in the region seen as a major reason for the troop expansion. Well, the number of U.S. troops will start around 250 and increase over the next several years.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Our U.S. Marines will begin rotating through Darwan for joint training and exercises. Our Air Force will rotate additional aircraft through more airfields in northern Australia. And these rotations, which are going to be taking place on Australian bases, will bring our militaries even closer and make them even more effective.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: So, the drawdown of U.S. troops from Afghanistan is now entering a new phase. NATO is now preparing a transfer of two of the most volatile areas in the country over to Afghan security forces.
Our Nick Paton Walsh, he's explaining why many consider this to be a very big risk.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NICK PATON WALSH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): First, in Helmand, there's the district of Nad-e-Ali, where many British troops have died over the years. But also, in Kandahar, the Arghandab Valley, recently a hotbed of insurgent violence where many Americans have also died. Now an Afghan official in Arghandab tells us security is a lot better, but that's because the Americans are there in force. If they leave, he tells us things may get worse, and fast.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: A final decision about which regions will be handed over to Afghan forces rests with Afghanistan's president.
Well, if you've got a good head on your shoulders, love to travel, we've got a job for you. NASA is recruiting now the next astronaut class.
Competition is pretty tough though. You're going to need degrees in math, science and engineering. You're also going to have to learn Russian for trips to the International Space Station. Pilots who can fly high-performance aircraft are also preferred.
Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski has the most wins in men's college basketball. He is known as "Coach K" by fans and players, and his team knocked off Michigan State last night, handing him his 903rd win. He had been tied with Bobby Knight. "TIME" magazine and CNN named Coach K America's best coach back in 2001.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MIKE KRZYZEWSKI, DUKE MEN'S BASKETBALL COACH: This has become bigger with time on our hands, you know. And I just -- to me, it's more relief to get on now to the next thing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: Here's a rundown some of the stories that we are covering.
First, Occupy Wall Street. Well, it can protest at Zuccotti Park, but they have to leave the camping gear at home now.
And deadline time. Can the super committee find $1.2 trillion in spending cuts by next week?
Then, I'm going to ask a sportswriter if he now regrets once saying that Penn State's Jerry Sandusky should be canonized "Saint Sandusky."
Also, a mayor throws down a challenge to 150,000 employers: hire just one new employee.
And later, was this guy -- was he practicing to be Santa, or did he get stuck in the chimney because he was trying to break in? We're thinking break-in.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MALVEAUX: Here's your chance to "Talk Back" on one of the big stories of the day. Everyone is talking about Gabrielle Giffords' incredible recovery. Some are saying that is not enough.
Carol Costello, she is joining us from New York with today's "Talk Back" question.
So, Carol, we've seen amazing pictures, we've seen her speak lately with her husband. What is this all about?
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: This is such a tough one, Suzanne, but it's an issue that's been hanging in the air for months. Is Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords effectively serving her constituents?
Questions like that have popped up again because of Giffords' appearance on ABC's "20/20." When asked if she was going to go back to Congress, this was her response --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARK KELLY, GABRIELLE GIFFORDS: She wants to get better.
REP. GABRIELLE GIFFORDS (D), ARIZONA: Better.
DIANE SAWYER, ABC: 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. Yes.
SAWYER: And that's where you are right now.
GIFFORDS: Yes, yes, yes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Earl de Berge of the Behavior Research Center, a nonpartisan polling company in Phoenix, says in "The Christian Science Monitor," "While voters are rooting for Giffords, I think people have an interest in this very competitive and hostile Congress that they have representation they can depend on."
After Giffords' "20/20" interview aired, the congresswoman seemed to want to reassure voters via Facebook.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
GIFFORDS: I want to get back to work. Representing Arizona is my honor. My staff is there to help you. They keep me informed on your behalf.
I miss you. I miss home.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Perhaps the real problem lies in the Constitution. There simply is no provision that allows lawmakers to step aside, recover, and then return to the job. It's either recover while on the job or resign. In May, Giffords must declare whether she will run for another term.
So, the "Talk Back" question today: Should Congresswoman Giffords run again in 2012?
Facebook.com/CarolCNN. I'll read your comments later this hour.
MALVEAUX: Carol, I'm just curious -- these calls about whether or not she can serve her constituents, are they coming from folks who are considered partisan, or are these people who support her? Do we know?
COSTELLO: No, no. This man I quoted, he's from a nonpartisan group, and he's just wondering. And it's a valid question. Can she serve her constituents effectively?
Now, I just talked to her press person, Mark Kimble, and he said they check in with Gabrielle Giffords all the time, every day. She's still the boss, she's just not well enough to actually physically go into Congress and cast a vote.
As you know, she cast that one vote, right, back on August 1st?
MALVEAUX: Right.
COSTELLO: Remember that famous picture?
MALVEAUX: That's right, yes.
COSTELLO: But she hasn't cast any votes since then, and she's not likely to, unless, of course, the issue is so important that she feels she must.
MALVEAUX: OK. Carol, thank you.
COSTELLO: Sure.
MALVEAUX: More developments for Occupy Wall Street around the world today.
So, in Texas, it's another blow to the movement. A federal judge in Dallas is denying the group's request for a temporary restraining order that would allow demonstrators to stay camped out on City Hall property. Officials are meeting today to discuss what's going to happen next.
In California, the '60s all over again. Thousands of students took part in a daylong protest, a teach-in as well, on campus at UC Berkeley. That happened yesterday.
And it could be the last call for Occupiers in London. That is right. Officials plan to serve notice to protesters there today, asking them, clear out of the city's financial district.
In New York, where the Occupy movement started two months ago, protesters, they are now back at Zuccotti Park. They can't stay in their tents. There are police in riot gear. They cleared the park yesterday after a judge's order.
Our CNN's Deborah Feyerick, she is there for us.
So, Deborah, tell us -- give us a sense of what the mood is like today. What kind of equipment do these folks have? How many people are there?
DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, they don't have a lot of equipment. As a matter of fact, they're not allowed to bring in tents, they're not allowed to bring in generators. They were not allowed to set up any sort of a food stand which they had before.
Remember, there was a tent city that was behind me. Now what you're seeing is you're seeing private security guards dressed in yellow. They are interacting with the demonstrators and the protesters much more than they ever were in the past because they simply weren't here.
And you don't have the numbers of protesters that characterized this protest over the last two months. It is a very, very different feeling.
We were just told a few minutes ago that now somebody was barred from bringing in a sign, another person banned from bringing in a guitar. So there really seems to be a crackdown.
And you have to remember, the leaders, or the organizers of this, they're trying to regroup. They're trying to capture the momentum that they had even just 24 hours ago. That momentum, really destroyed when police gave them 30 minutes to gather up their things and get out.
Well, now, looking around, you can tell who is in control of this park. It is not Occupy Wall Street anymore, although they are here, although they are determined, although they are convinced of their determination in terms of that they changed the national dialogue. Right now, very much, the dynamic is very, very different -- Suzanne.
MALVEAUX: Deborah, where did they go? Do you have any idea? Are they regrouping somewhere else? How are they getting their message out? How are they moving forward?
FEYERICK: And we've been trying to find that out.
They are in touch with people through their Web site. Also, we're told a number that went home to sleep -- remember, they were up really for the vast majority of yesterday. There were a number of people who were arrested, they were in prison. So that has sort of chipped away at the numbers.
But right now, whether there's another place that they're all meeting at, not really. Like I said, there are about 100 people here. Those are the people that we're seeing, and really a mix of people, but some who say they will stay the course, that they're going to make sure that this movement continues, and that it has the energy to make change, really, come elections -- Suzanne. MALVEAUX: OK. Deborah, thank you.
(NEWSBREAK)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MALVEAUX: Want to bring you some news that we're getting just now here.
This is out of Greenville, North Carolina. This is East Carolina University, which is now on lockdown. That is because a report came into the police department, a call about 10:15 or so, somebody witnessing a man on the campus with what appeared to be an assault rifle.
There were some cameras, truck cameras, in the area that were able to pull up some images of this man. He had a backpack and what looked to be an assault rifle in his right hand. The campus right now is on lockdown, as the police try to search for this armed man.
Now, so far, police say there are no reports of any shots fired. But right now, that campus, East Carolina University, on lockdown as they search for a man they believe who is carrying what could be an assault rifle.
Well, it's a monumental job, right? Reduce the federal deficit by $1.2 trillion to avoid automatic, across-the-board spending cuts.
Well, a Super Committee of six Republicans, six Democrats was chosen to take on that task. Some of those members are meeting right now, but time, as you know, is running out. The deadline for them to come up with this plan, just one week from today.
So, what's at stake? What are the possible outcomes?
I want to bring in our Alison Kosik. She's at the New York Stock Exchange.
Alison, There are a number of things that could happen. It could go very badly. Perhaps not. There are some options for this Super Committee, but all eyes are on these 12 to get something done.
What does this mean for us?
ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Oh, exactly. And you talk about those options, and the best way to tell you about them is to kind of play deal or no deal.
So, let's say if there's a deal. The Super Committee's debt plan would then go to Congress. Then it would go to the president for his signature.
Now, if there's no deal, automatic spending cuts that you mentioned, those would kick in, in 2013. They also could come up with a partial deal. Say they agree to $600 billion in cuts. That $600 billion would then go to Congress for approval, and then the remaining $600 billion would be made up by those automatic spending cuts -- Suzanne.
MALVEAUX: So, Alison, if no deal, if they don't have a deal here, what are these automatic cuts that are going to kick in?
KOSIK: OK. So, details of what would be cut and by how much, that's actually left up to the Appropriations Committees that are in the House and the Senate. But here's what would happen.
Defense spending would essentially be cut by 16 percent. And that's talking about the military.
And then there's the non-defense discretionary spending that would be slashed by 15 percent, and this is really this kind of big kitchen sink, because non-defense discretionary spending can mean anything from education to infrastructure like highways, national parks, federal courts. Even the Smithsonian. Medicare cuts though would be capped at two percent -- Suzanne.
MALVEAUX: And overall, do we have any sense of how this would affect the economy?
KOSIK: It would have a big effect. You know, you think about the U.S. credit rating. It could be hit with another downgrade, and if that happens, you can see consumer confidence take a big hit as well.
Think back. Who can forget Standard & Poor's. It already did the first U.S. downgrade back in August.
We watched the markets tumble. The Dow tumbled 600 points in one day.
And at the same time, S&P warned, we're putting you on probation, we could downgrade the U.S. credit rating again if the Super Committee doesn't reach a deal. And we're hearing similar thoughts from Moody's and Fitch. So, yes, that dysfunctional tone that is sort of coming over these discussions, definitely hitting a little bit harder now that we're only a week away -- Suzanne.
MALVEAUX: And Alison, with all the deals that we have, there are always loopholes involved. Are there ways that they can actually get around actually making a decision?
KOSIK: You're talking about Congress, so of course. Of course there are big loopholes. And there is one big loophole to tell you about.
It's Congress who came up with these rules in the first place. So guess what? They can change those rules, too. These cuts would not kick in until 2013, so that essentially leaves one year for Congress to repeal them or dial them back -- Suzanne.
MALVEAUX: All right. Thank you, Alison. We'll be watching to see what they do in the next seven days.
Well, if the Super Committee members are counting on public confidence to get the job done, they're in some pretty trouble. A new CNN/ORC international poll shows that only 21 percent of Americans think that it is likely that this committee is going to agree on a deficit plan. A whopping 78 percent say it is unlikely that they're going to reach a deal.
But one member of the panel tells our Erin Burnett that he does see this as an opportunity. He thinks the committee should go big.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. XAVIER BECERRA (D), CALIFORNIA: You have to come out with a balanced approach. It makes no sense, for example, to tell seniors their Social security benefits are going to be cut to pay for deficits when Social Security didn't contribute a sense to these deficits.
But if you're going to come out with a big package that's farsighted, that really goes into the future, then certainly you can ask everyone to participate in that. But it's simply a matter of making decisions about your priorities. And in this case, if you want to really get the country back on track, you really do want to go big, be bold, but certainly tell the American people that it will be fair, it will be balanced.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: Congressman Becerra says this could be a "magical week," in his words, if the committee actually gets this done.
Well, a "Sports Illustrated" writer says he got duped. I'm going to talk with him about his 1999 article on Jerry Sandusky and how his words and the article have come back to haunt him.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(NEWSBREAK)
MALVEAUX: Well, Mike McQueary says he did go to the police to report former assistant Penn State coach Jerry Sandusky. McQueary -- he was a grad assistant at the time -- told the grand jury he walked in on Sandusky raping a boy in the showers back in 2002.
In an e-mail obtained by "The Morning Call" newspaper, McQueary writes he "did have discussions with police and with the official at the university in charge of police." Well, that contradicts the grand jury report.
Referring to the alleged assault, he continues, "I did stop it, not physically, but made sure it was stopped when I left that locker room."
McQueary spoke to CBS News.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do you have any idea when you think you might be ready to talk?
MCQUEARY: This process has to play out. I just don't have anything else to say. That's all.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. And then just one last thing. Just describe your emotions right now.
MCQUEARY: All over the place. Just kind of shaken.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Crazy?
MCQUEARY: Crazy.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You said what, like a --
MCQUEARY: Snow globe.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: Like a snow globe.
Well, Jerry Sandusky is charged with 40 counts related to the sexual abuse of children. He denies any of the allegations made by the eight boys. He says they are not true.
Well, here's what Sandusky told NBC's Bob Costas on Monday night.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JERRY SANDUSKY, PENN STATE FORMER ASSISTANT COACH: I have horsed around with kids. I have showered after workouts. I have hugged them and I have touched their leg without intent of sexual contact. But -- so if you look at it that way, there are things that would be accurate.
BOB COSTAS, NBC: Are you denying that you had any inappropriate sexual contact with any of these underage boys?
SANDUSKY: Yes, I am.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: So, Jerry Sandusky retired from Penn State in 1999. And this video was shot during his last game at Beaver Stadium. And fans, they gave Sandusky a standing ovation.
Jack McCallum wrote a glowing article for "Sports Illustrated" that day. He's joining us from Allentown, Pennsylvania.
And Jack, you wrote back then there was almost this sense that Sandusky should be canonized "Saint Sandusky." You said "leader of linebackers, molders of men."
So, now,, learning about the child molestation charges, I mean, those words that you wrote, it's got to hurt. Do you wish you dug a little deeper into who this guy was? MIKE MCCALLUM, "SPORTS ILLUSTRATED": Oh, sure. I mean, I've been on this kind of self-flagellation tour, you know, since realizing that I wrote this thing. Obviously, I did not literally think he should be canonized. You do these quick hits in journalism. I'd probably call him St. Sandusky because it was a nice alliteration.
However, there's no doubt that I fell for the big parameters of this story, the big-hearted linebacker coach who helps kids. This Happy Valley atmosphere in Happy Valley that sort of takes care of its own. So the big dimensions of the story, not only myself, but thousands of other people who gave money, who believed in Sandusky, all fell for this outward look at what this organization was without knowing what was going on outside.
MALVEAUX: Jack, why do you suppose he was able to do that and do it so well? Even hide this other alleged side?
MCCALLUM: Well, number one, I'm not an expert in analyzing pedophilia, but obviously, one of those things these guys become experts in is secrecy. Number two, one of the things I wrote later in this column, I wrote last week for si.com, kind of fessing up to my role in this, was that how this atmosphere here at Penn State, this kind of football complex that's off on its own secret world -- it's not monitored. It's very easy for a -- you know, a predator to get away. And that was apparently Jerry Sandusky's kind of ground, where he took these -- a lot of kids. The third reason would be, Suzanne, that how we believe in this kind of stereo typical qualities of the big coach with the big heart.
MALVEAUX: Yes. After the scandal broke, you wrote this. You say, "I didn't remember I particularly liked the man. He seemed a little strange and detached and not at all joyful about what he was doing, but none of that tipped by cynical 'believe the worst about someone until proven otherwise' journalist dial towards high alert. Hindsight is everything. What do you think would have alerted you that there was something wrong about him?
MCCALLUM: You know, I've been beating myself up about that. If I would have seen him in contact -- as I recall the story -- and it was 12 years ago. And obviously, I don't -- I wish I had sharper memories of it. Had I seen kind of this horsing around type of behavior, coming up behind young kids, as a father myself, obviously, something would have alerted me, but it didn't.
What haunts me is the timing of this thing because I wrote it right around, we believe, the timeline these things were starting to happen. The first incident was probably 1998. I wrote this in '99. The incident of which Mike McQueary saw was 2002. This seemed to be right around the time all this was breaking.
MALVEAUX: Jack, we appreciate your time. And you don't have to continue to beat yourself up over this.
(LAUGHTER)
MALVEAUX: If it is true. There are a lot of people who were fooled, if these allegations prove true after all.
Thank you so much for spending the time and giving us a larger picture of who this man was and who you believed he was at the time.
Reporters are trying to get their hands now on e-mails, other documents that are related to this Penn State scandal. Well, it turns out though that the university, they don't have to hand over these documents. Here's why.
CNN's Drew Griffin.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DREW GRIFFIN, CNN INVESTIGATIVE CORRESPONDENT: It's the type of information we would normally get in the United States from any public institution, especially a police department, the records, the incident reports, all the information you rely on to get the facts to know who, when and where. But Penn State, you will not find that, because Penn State got itself an exemption from this state's Open Records Act. at the same time, 2000, 2009, when the legislature was discussing this new law, Penn State president personally went to the legislature and asked to be exempt to make sure the records were kept private.
TERRY MUTCHLER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, PENNSYLVANIA OPEN RECORDS: What that means, in essence, is that while every other Commonwealth agency, governor's office, police departments, townships, school districts are subject to this law and will be required to provide public record, Penn State is exempt. That came as a result of a series of lobbying efforts through the House of Representatives that was taking a look at rewriting Pennsylvania's right to know law, which was really among the worst in the nation. And at that juncture, the president of Penn State was one of the key lobbyists testifying before the House Committee, on August 7th, 2007, seeking an exception for Penn State.
GRIFFIN: We did try to reach Graham Spanier at his home. We did not get an answer from the former Penn State president. But we know what he told the legislature when he was seeking this exemption. He said he wanted Penn State to be except from the records because he needed to protect the competiveness of the university, that he was concerned about the cost of compliance and that a huge bureaucracy would have to be built to answer questions and open those public records. Looking back on it now, it has a whole different look.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MALVEAUX: The Pennsylvania legislature exempted three other colleges and universities.
Miley Cyrus is defending herself against critics and fans who say she is getting fat. We're going to show you the provocative tweets she's been sending out and how it's reigniting the debate over society's obsession with young girls' weight. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MALVEAUX: Teen star, Miley Cyrus, is lashing back at her critics who say she has put on a little weight lately. And it's shining a spotlight on a serious problem, maybe even an obsession in our culture, focusing on young girl's weight and their body image.
The 18-year-old started tweeting about it after people began posting cruel videos on YouTube, making fun of her weight gain on YouTube. Then the media got in on the act. The "Sun's" headline reads, "Miles Cyrus shows off her fuller figure." And the caption says, "Her face appears rounder and that she was wearing a large shawl to hide her curves." So Miley tweeted this picture of Marilyn Monroe. Beneath, it says, "Proof you can be adored by thousands of men even when your thighs touch."
(LAUGHTER)
MALVEUAX: Then tweeted out this disturbing picture of an emaciated girl apparently suffering from anorexia, and wrote this: "By calling girls like me fat, this is what you're doing to other people. I love myself. And if you could say the same, you wouldn't be sitting on your computer trying to hurt others. I don't want to be shaped like a girl. I love being shaped like a woman. And trust me, ladies, your man won't mind either."
So Miley Cyrus handling this criticism about her weight very well.
But she's very confident, right, Elizabeth? And you're a mother of four young girls. How do you think she handled this, those tweets that she put out there, first of all?
ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: I would like to give her a round of applause.
MALVEAUX: And a sense of humor, too.
COHEN: Really, I thought that was terrific. Yes. And a sense of humor and just talking back to these people.
She is not fat. She looks terrific. She has a woman's body, not some emaciated girl's body. And she's saying this is what I look like and it's terrific. So as the mother of four girls, I would like to say, thank you, Miley Cyrus.
(LAUGHTER)
Because I don't my girls to think they need to be skinny.
MALVEAUX: So what do you do? If you are the mother of a girl and she's being teased or picked on in some way for her weight and she's not even overweight and she's not -- and this isn't even a problem, what do you say to her? COHEN: Right. If your daughter is not taking teasing as well as Miley Cyrus is -- and, of course, she's Miley Cyrus, so she can --
MALVEAUX: She can push back.
COHEN: Right, she can push back a little bit, right. Your daughter might not be able to. So you need to sit down with your daughter. First of all, I would show her those tweets. It's a wonderful public-health thing Miley Cyrus has done. And say to her, look, when women go from being girls, you go through puberty, you become a woman. Your figure's not going to be like this. It's not supposed to be like this. You are supposed to have curves. That's good. That's the way that it's supposed to be. You can talk about how perhaps too many of her friends have adopted this media image that we all need to be sticks. You can explain to her that many of these photos have been Photoshopped and spanked to death.
(LAUGHTER)
COHEN: And this women probably don't even look like that. And it explain to her that she looks normal, even if she didn't like the photos of certain celebrities.
MALVEAUX: How do you know if your daughter is in trouble? If she is having a weight issue? If it's actually real?
COHEN: Right. There's trouble in two different directions. There's trouble meaning that someone is too heavy. In which case, you need to talk to them about exercise and eating right and go in that direction. Then there's the trouble in the opposite direction, where a girl might be becoming too thin. Where she's taking all this criticism to heart and is perhaps developing an eating disorder. We've seen that with celebrities over and over again.
MALVEAUX: And that photo is just heartbreaking.
COHEN: It is heartbreaking.
(CROSSTALK)
COHEN: It is heartbreaking. So there are a couple of things that will tell you that your daughter is headed towards an eating disorder. The first one to look for is signs of depression, just like you would look for depression in any other situation. Also, if a girl is covering up her body, that's something you should pay attention to, or if she's not caring about her looks at all. If she's isolating herself, if she's not having fun with her friends, or avoiding other athletics. That's another one. If she doesn't want to be seen in workout clothes, that can be another sign that she's not happy with her body image.
MALVEAUX: Right. OK. Elizabeth, thank you so much.
COHEN: Thank you. MALVEAUX: And you know, it just got all of us talking this morning to see this, what Miley was able to do is bring the discussion to another level.
Other celebrities --
(CROSSTALK)
COHEN: -- such, such problems with this.
MALVEAUX: Because other celebrities when they get teased for being fat, they lose weight.
COHEN: Yes. And I think it's great that she said, no, I'm fine the way I am.
MALVEAUX: All right good. Good for her.
Thanks.
Mitt Romney riding high in New Hampshire. New poll numbers from the crucial primary state giving Romney something to smile about. Details in our political update.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MITT ROMNEY, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Hey, how are you doing?
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MALVEAUX: Presidential candidate, Herman Cain. You're looking at live pictures there out of Miami, Florida, the campaign trail. This is an event going on right now. It's about to get underway. Cain is trying to get his campaign back on solid ground after his recent foreign policy stumble, as well as the sexual harassment allegations. He's visiting a restaurant in Miami's Little Havana and Cain also has stops in Coral Strings and West Palm Beach. That is today.
Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney is riding high in New Hampshire. The state's holding its first-in-the-nation primary. That is happening January 10th.
Paul Steinhauser is at the political desk in Washington.
So, Paul, tell us a little bit about the latest poll numbers about New Hampshire and where does that leave Romney?
PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN POLITICAL DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: It's night and day between New Hampshire and Iowa. Iowa goes first, on the 3rd, New Hampshire a week later. In Iowa, it's basically a four-way battle for the top spot. Let's look at these brand new numbers, Suzanne, out of New Hampshire. As you mentioned, the first-in-the-nation primary state. Look at Mitt Romney. Romney was the former governor of Massachusetts. That borders with New Hampshire. Boston media market blankets most of southern New Hampshire. 40 percent in this new poll. He was pretty much at the same place in our poll, our CNN poll a few weeks ago. He's been up there for a year now as the frontrunner in New Hampshire. Ron Paul, the congressman from Texas, at 17 percent. Newt Gingrich's numbers are rising in New Hampshire, 11 percent. Herman Cain dropping in New Hampshire at 8 percent -- Suzanne?
MALVEAUX: That's a huge lead there, Paul. Pretty significant. Tell us about Jon Huntsman. I understand, he had to explain a comment that he made during a rally in New Hampshire?
STEINHAUSER: Yes, in fact, Huntsman, not on that list. Not in the number four. He's at number five in that poll with 7 percent. He's basically putting all his money on New Hampshire, campaigning there nonstop. Last night, he did his 100th event in New Hampshire.
Take a listen to what he said at this event. He had to walk this comment back. Take a listen.
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JON HUNTSMAN, (R), FORMER UTAH GOVERNOR & POLITICAL CANDIDATE: I don't care what the rest of the country thinks or feels. That's not important. I do care about what the people of New Hampshire because this is important.
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STEINHAUSER: Well, that's what the former Utah governor former U.S. ambassador to China said last night. Soon after, he had to walk those backs, saying he was basically talking about my national poll numbers. He went on to say, quote, "Of course, I care what people think in the rest of the country." Jon Huntsman placing all those chips in New Hampshire -- Suzanne?
MALVEAUX: Is he ready?
All right, thank you, Paul. Appreciate it.
I understand that there is news about a possible tornado out of -- I believe it's Montgomery, Alabama, headed to Montgomery, Alabama. We've got breaking news here.
I want to bring in our Chad Myers to explain what we are seeing.
Chad, if you are ready for us, can you tell us what's going on?
CHAD MYERS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yes. Yes. Coming up the Selma Highway, it's called U.S. Highway 80, Suzanne. That is the road right in to Montgomery, Alabama, from the west. We do have significant potential for rotation. This is on the ground. The National Weather Service out of Birmingham is saying do not go out and look at it. This is probably wrapped in rain. This is not a tornado that you can see or go take pictures.
If you are in Montgomery, Alabama, head to the safest place in your home. Get away from the windows.
There's Selma (ph), Montgomery, coming right up the Selma Highway. I have another picture to show you how significant this is. We have at different colors. We look at green and red, right next to each other. That tells us the storm is spinning significantly and moving into downtown Montgomery.
People in Alabama have been hard hit this year with tornados. No sense of taking any chances now. Everybody to the middle or lowest level of the house away from windows. Montgomery, Alabama, a tornado warning for you -- Susanne?
MALVEAUX: Thank you, Chad.
Her recovery has been nothing short of a miracle. But people are asking, should Congresswoman Giffords run again in 2012? We'll have you responses in today's sensitive "Talk Back" question. That's up next.
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MALVEAUX: You've been sounding off on our "Talk Back" question. Carol Costello, live with your responses.
Hi, Carol.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Suzanne.
The "Talk Back" question today, should Congresswoman Giffords run again in 2012?
This from Rich, "Yes, she should. Do these people have no heart? She's recovering. She'll serve as well as before. Give her a chance. What happened to humanity"?
This from Ed, "In the military, when a leader is wounded, you do what's best for them medically. But it's up to the second in command to take over. Someone else must lead in her stead until and unless she can return again."
This from Heidi, "Yes, she should. I will definitely vote for her. We shouldn't discriminate against people with disabilities. She's come a long way in a short time and will improve more."
This from Alonzo, "She should run. I love her spirit and will push forward. Her presence, though, limited shows a softer, yet civil side of government. Let's not forget it was the gunman's goal to take her out. Why should she bow out? Keep going, Gabby. Love you."
This from Eric, "No, she should not run again. I think her real success story should be to concentrate on her recovery and getting better rather than working to return to Congress. There's no hurry. Congress will still be there."
Keep the conversation flowing. Facebook.com/carolCNN. I'll be back with you in about 20 minutes.
MALVEAUX: Thank you, Carol.
Faced with double-digit unemployment, one city's mayor has started a first-of-its-kind program to get more people back to work one job at a time.
But first, the holiday shopping season is closing in. But which cities do you think have the most shoppers year round, New York, Los Angeles? Good guesses? They didn't even make the list. Number five is Dallas. Residents spent an average of $225 at month on clothes. Scottsdale, Arizona, that is the fourth on the bundle.com survey. That's $243 a month. And Nashville, Tennessee, places third. Residents there spend $251 on average. We're going to tell you which two cities have the most shopaholics, after this.
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MALVEAUX: All right. Before the break, we showed you three of the top five cities with the most shopaholics. The group bundle.com pulled in info from the census and credit card reports. Did you guess the top two cities? They are Arlington, Virginia, where residents spent $254 a month on average on clothes, and, yes, Washington, D.C., number one. People live there average spending $253 a month on clothes. They're pretty sharp there in D.C.
Two Senators from opposite sides of the aisle have come up with a new jobs bill. And the plan is by Senators Marco Rubio of Florida and Chris Coons of Delaware. It's a more modest plan. It's called the Agree Act. It stands for American growth, recovery, empowerment and entrepreneurship. It includes provisions for encouraging manufacturers to hire American workers and helping veterans create businesses.
Also on the jobs front, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed has found a creative way to battle the city's staggering unemployment rate. It is called the Hire One campaign. What's the goal? To encourage Atlanta's 150,000 employers to each hirer just one new employee.
George Howell has the story.
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GEORGE HOWELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): There are many different faces, people of all ages with resumes in hand looking for work, like Whitney Poole. WHITNEY POOLE, JOB SEEKER: I feel like it's harder for us who have just graduated from college. One, being the economy. Two being, you know, we have to be taught everything that there is to know in the companies.
HOWELL: There are also people with plenty of experience.
(CROSSTALK)
HOWELL: Making their best pitches.
KEVIN WEEKLY, JOB SEEKER: My name's Kevin Weekly, and I have a variety of experiences, and with those, I want to concentrate on human resources, payroll, and even customer service.
HOWELL: Weekly is hopeful this job fair will be a turning point for him as well as others out of work. More than 70 companies took part in what Atlanta's mayor announced as the Hire One campaign, a public-private initiative that reaches out to the city's 150,000-plus businesses with a simple suggestion.
KASIM REED, (D), MAYOR OF ATLANTA: It is to encourage employers to make one full time hire. And so far, 15,000 have been hired, 1,500 businesses.
HOWELL: Atlanta has a 10.3 percent unemployment rate. and Georgia's rate has been higher than the national average for 50 consecutive months. So the city is counting on local and national companies to help, like Georgia Pacific.
WANDA BOWMAN, GEORGIA PACIFIC RECRUITER: Here in the Atlanta area, we have a little over 100 openings. Collectively, we have over 600 salaried professional type positions and hourly manufacturing positions, as well, so well over 1,000 across the U.S.
HOWELL (on camera): In an economy where layoffs have been the prevailing headlines, employers want people to know there are positions to be filled and they encourage job seekers to stay optimistic and leverage all of their skills, including volunteer work.
RAYNARD JOHNSON, JOB SEEKER: Although I have an I.T.- specific background and a degree in computer sciences from Boston College, I've also been using my off-time to do volunteer work throughout the community.
HOWELL (voice-over): Raynard Johnson says it not only fills the gaps in his resume, but also shows employers his broad range of expertise, an edge he believes will help him get someone's attention to hopefully get a job.
George Howell, CNN, Atlanta.
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