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Ron Paul Attacks Gingrich; New Sandusky Accuser; Syria's Assad Defiant In Interview; Record Breaking Cold in Southwest; Cannonball Hits House; Blagojevich Sentencing Today; Downed Drone's Secrets Could Be Out; Remembering Pearl Harbor
Aired December 07, 2011 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Here's top of the hour, we're going to start this hour by talking politics. There's less than a month until the first votes are cast and Newt Gingrich is the new man on top.
That is Mitt Romney ready to reboot his campaign? Gingrich is now the comfortable frontrunner, 15 points ahead in a new Gallup poll.
Deputy political director, Paul Steinhauser joins us. So Paul, how is the Romney campaign readjusting to this?
PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: It is a whole new world. We've seen so many people go up and down in these polls. As you show, the national pole has Gingrich as the frontrunner. He's also the frontrunner in most of those early voting states.
Iowa, two polls out in the last 24 hours. Take a look at this one. This is from CBS/"New York Times," Romney 14 points behind Gingrich right there in Iowa, same story in a lot of those other early voting states.
One thing, Don, about these polls, a lot of people in these polls say they may be changing their minds even with just four weeks to go until the Iowa caucuses. So as you asked, what's Romney doing?
Well, he talked to reporters yesterday on the campaign trail in Arizona. He said a couple of things. He said he's going to be more aggressive in pointing out the differences between himself and Gingrich.
He also said once he's done some fundraising in the next few days, you're going to see more of Mitt Romney on TV and on the campaign trail -- Don.
LEMON: So Paul, Romney isn't the only Republican targeting Newt. Who else is going after him probably all of them?
STEINHAUSER: Yes, you know, when you're the frontrunner now, you come under a lot more scrutiny and attack from your rivals. Check out this brand-new ad by Ron Paul.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NEWT GINGRIGH (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: You want to put people in jail? Let's look at the politicians who created the environment, the politicians who brought the environment.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Newt Gingrich on the defense for taking $1.5 million.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
STEINHAUSER: There you go. Ron Paul's new ad kind of pointing out that Newt Gingrich that he took some money maybe from Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, consulting money.
That was a big story over the last couple of weeks. No surprise it's in a new Ron Paul ad. You're going to see a lot more of that over the next four weeks -- Don.
LEMON: Yes, and a lot more over the next year, a ton of it. We'll be covering it. Thank you, Paul Steinhauser. CNN has the best political coverage on television. Make sure you stay with us all day for these interviews.
Congressman Ron Paul will be in the "CNN NEWSROOM" at 3 p.m. Eastern that's with my friend, Brooke Baldwin. Newt Gingrich and Texas Governor Rick Perry will join Wolf Blitzer in "THE SITUATION ROOM."
Congresswoman Michele Bachmann is going to be John King's guest at 7 p.m. Eastern and then real estate mogul, debate moderator now, Donald Trump joins Piers Morgan at 9 p.m. Eastern only on CNN.
A 19-year-old man claims former Penn State assistant football coach, Jerry Sandusky, gave him whiskey and then sexually abused him. An attorney for the accuser says the alleged incident happened on the Penn State campus in 2004 when the accuser was 12.
Joining us now to talk about the new development is "Patriot News" reporter and CNN contributor, Sarah Ganim. What do you know about the newest victims and his claims?
SARAH GANIM, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Don, what we know is that this man is now 19 years old. He was 12 in 2004 and a Second Mile child staying at the facilities in state college.
He went to a swimming event with Jerry Sandusky and other children, but was separated by Sandusky, taken on a tour of the football building on Penn State's campus.
And eventually taken into an office where he alleges that Jerry Sandusky gave him whiskey, started talking to him about his life, how he ended up with the Second Mile charity, and then assaulted him.
LEMON: So these claims now, because Jerry Sandusky has so many charges against him, do we know at this point, are there going to be additional charges? Because people are saying they're speculating there's going to be many more victims coming forward. Does that mean the number of charges are raised then?
GANIM: Well, you know, that's unclear. I think we'll have a better idea next week when we get to the preliminary hearing. But Don, you know, by my count, five people have come forward and made publicl allegations against Jerry Sandusky since his November 5th arrest.
So we know we know that those people are talking to the police. They're talking to the attorney general's office. In some cases lawsuits have been filed. So, you know, we know this is an ongoing investigation.
I think by the preliminary hearing next Tuesday we might have a better idea of if we're going to be having another preliminary hearing in the future with a new set of charges. At this point, he only faces charges in criminal court for those original eight.
LEMON: Sarah, appreciate it. Thank you so much for joining us.
Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad is defending himself against global criticism of his government's bloody crackdown against protesters. In an interview with ABC News, Mr. Assad rejected reports that his troops are attacking civilians.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PRESIDENT BASHAR AL-ASSAD, SYRIA: There was no command to kill or to be brutal.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: People went from houses to houses. Children were arrested. I saw those pictures.
ASSAD: To be frank with you, Barbara, I don't care if you have video of this. We have to see. We don't see this so it depends on what you hear.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I saw it reported. A reporter who brought back pictures.
ASSAD: How did you verify those pictures? That's why we are talking about false allegations and distortion of reality.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: So whatever you see in front of your very eyes you're not supposed to believe. It really denies it. Zain Verjee live with more on this. So what you see, you shouldn't believe it?
ZAIN VERJEE, CNN ANCHOR AND CORRESPONDENT, CNNI: Well, that's according to Bashar Al-Assad and his world view of the United Nations and the international.
The Syrian people themselves are painting a very different picture. Bashar Al-Assad telling Barbara Walters he did absolutely not order a crackdown and in fact, it was his troops and his supporters that have been killed. Listen to what else he had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ASSAD: We don't kill our people. No government in the world kill its people unless it's led by crazy person. For me as president, I became president because of the public support. It's impossible for anyone in this state to give order to kill.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you feel guilty?
ASSAD: I did my best to protect the people. You do not feel guilty when you do your best.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VERJEE: So what his argument there, Don, is that I'm the president. I'm the one that decides policy, and he insists that he's not the one that actually gives the security forces and the army any kind of specific order.
The State Department reacted pretty quickly to this. The spokesperson put it this way. I find it ludicrous that he is attempting to hide behind some kind of shell game, but also some sort of claim that he doesn't exercise authority in his own country.
Last week, there was a U.N. report that came out saying that 4,000 people, Don, have been killed in Syria and Syria is in fact in an undeclared civil war.
Basher Al-Assad was asked that question. He said this, who said the U.N. is a credible institution -- Don.
LEMON: OK, Zain Verjee, it's great reporting. Thank you so much. Really appreciate it.
Back here in the U.S., we have travel delays with snow and subfreezing temperatures gripping parts of the south this morning. Folks, in Springfield, Missouri, are waking up to temperatures in the upper teens after the season's first snowfall yesterday.
Even the southwest is seeing snowflakes and brutal temperatures that bottomed out below zero. Rob Marciano and the CNN Severe Weather Center, what's going on, below zero?
ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Not just below zero, but as low as minus 21 degrees in New Mexico, Los Vegas, New Mexico seeing minus 9. These are yesterday record lows. These are today's or this morning's snowfalls across the mid south.
Tennessee seeing 4 inches. Just near Memphis seeing 3 inches and Little Rock last night and Jones Borough seeing just under 3 inches. Here's where the snow is now. It's heading towards Nashville. The rain will be changing to snow.
It's snowing in parts of northern Mississippi. Most will be rain across parts of the northeast. As it turns -- as the heavy rains move out, the cold air will move in. Tonight's going to be a mess on the I-95 corridor from Boston back through D.C.
Heavy, heavy rain and then heavy snow mostly away from the I-95 Corridor. New York and points north and westward could see anywhere from one to two to six to eight inches of snow as this thing turns over to snow tomorrow morning. So, yet, another early season snowstorm. This will be nothing compared to what we saw a couple of weeks ago that knocked out all of the power. But nonetheless, it starting down the south with record breaking temperatures there. Even in places in southern California this morning are experiencing some chilly temps.
LEMON: Congratulations. It's a little girl, right?
MARCIANO: Yes. Gorgeous. Healthy. Thank you very much.
LEMON: That is great. What a Christmas present for the holidays. All right, Rob, good to see you.
When a myth buster stunt goes wrong, it really goes wrong. Look what happened when a cannonball miss fired for the taping of the reality show. More on that next.
Rod Blagojevich back in court this morning. The former Illinois governor is about to be sentenced for corruption, but first he's expected to personally address the judge. We'll go live to Chicago for you.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: News across country right now. Indiana's attorney general is offering money to victims of this stage collapse at the state fair. Families of the seven people killed would get at least $300,000. The 61 survivors would get 65 percent of their medical expenses paid. The stage collapsed after a storm hit during a Sugarland concert.
Check out the holes in this house near Oakland. All right, they're from a cannonball. You don't see that every day. The reality show "Myth Busters" was taping a stunt nearby. It apparently involved a cannon. Obviously, it didn't go as planned. Luckily nobody was hurt.
Someone in Spokane, well, it dropped a big surprise into that red kettle there. Salvation Army workers found a diamond ring wrapped up in a dollar bill. The ring is worth $5,000.
In just a matter of hours, Rod Blagojevich will know his fate. The former Illinois governor is due back in court this morning to be sentenced on federal corruption charges. Among other things, he was convicted of trying to sell President Obama's old Senate seat.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROD BLAGOJEVICH (via telephone): I've got this thing, and (inaudible). I'm not giving it up for nothing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Remember that. The feds want him to do some hard time here. His lawyers and families have pleaded for leniency. Ted Rowlands live from Chicago now. Ted, what can we expect today in court?
TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Don, if yesterday was any indication, it doesn't look good for Rod Blagojevich. The judge made a ruling yesterday on enhancements and ruled in favor of the prosecution.
The prosecution in this case is asking for 15 to 20 years. The defense is asking for three years. It's expected the judge will come somewhere in the middle. Now yesterday, Rod Blagojevich's lawyers basically took turns.
It was a tag team match. All three lawyers addressed the judge. They argued. They said, the crimes here don't dictate a 15 to 20-year sentence. What he did was wrong, but he shouldn't be put away for that period of time.
They also talked about his family. They said, this is a guy with two young daughters and a wife that will miss him dearly. At one point, Aaron Goldstein, the lead defense attorney said he doesn't deserve mercy because he has a family.
His family deserves mercy. They also read a small portion of a letter that Rod Blagojevich's teenage daughter wrote to the judge saying in part, I need my father. I need him here.
Today we expect, Don, when the hearing begins at 10:00 Central Time that prosecutors will argue the direct opposite. They'll say, listen, we feel bad that he's got a family. According to the law, that should not come into sentencing unless there is some extenuating circumstance, which they'll argue there isn't.
Then we do expect that Rod Blagojevich will go face to face with this judge. The judge has warned him that he plans on interrupting him and asking him questions if he does choose to address the court. We expect that to happen in just a few hours.
LEMON: Tell us more about that because that's a question I wanted to ask you. This is the first time we're going to hear from Rod Blagojevich during this process of the trial, and he most likely will be a bit more mumbled than he usually is. I didn't know about the questioning part here, Ted.
ROWLANDS: Yes. Well, we expect that he'll be a different Rod Blagojevich. Even after the guilty verdict, he came down and said this is wrong. I did nothing wrong. I did nothing wrong.
We expect a much different scenario today. We do expect this judge to be hard on him, interrupting him, going back and forth with questions that this judge will have for him.
It will be almost like being cross examined, this time though you're being questioned by the man that really, literally holds your freedom in his hands, riveting day ahead here.
A little side note here. They're having this hearing in the spectator courtroom. It is packed. People in Chicago very interested in this. There's a huge line of spectators from the public that will be in court today. LEMON: Yes. As you're talking, we're looking at live pictures from Rod Blagojevich's house on the north side of Chicago there. We are keeping watch because he's expected to leave and go to court real soon.
Our Ted Rowlands is in, again, he's going to hear his fate today. He is going to speak today and as Ted just informed us, the judge says, I'm going to interrupt you and ask you some questions.
So we're on Rod Blagojevich watch here on CNN. Make sure you stay tuned. Thank you, Ted. It looks like chilly Chicago this morning. We'll be getting back to you.
Coming up, we'll talk more about the missing U.S. spy drone. Iran claims it shot the aircraft down. The U.S. claims it crashed because of technical failure. Either way, the drone could be spilling its secrets.
Bank fees, many people hate them. Most of us do. Now one company has a solution for you, a way to avoid ATM fees. We'll go to the New York Stock Exchange for all the details on that.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Iran claims it shot down a U.S. spy drone. Officials in Washington say it went down because its guided system failed. Either way, the drone's secrets might be out now.
Analysts say the technology could be in Russian or Chinese hands. Here's CNN's Pentagon's correspondent, Chris Lawrence.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): When the U.S.' newest stealth drone crashed on the wrong side of the Afghanistan/Iran border, it may have sparked a shopping spree for America's potential adversaries.
PETER SINGER, BROOKINGS INSTITUTION: I'm guessing there were several people tried to buy airline tickets to Tehran from Moscow and Beijing in the last couple days.
LAWRENCE: Analyst, Peter Singer says if the RQ-170 is relatively intact the Iranians will likely give the drone to China who can unlock its secrets and sell the completed technology back to Iran.
COLONEL CEDRIC LEIGHTON, RETIRED AIR FORCE INTELLIGENCE OFFICER: The Chinese probably have one of the best technology gathering espionage services in the world, if not the best.
LAWRENCE: Retired Air Force Intelligence Officer Colonel Cedric Leighton says the missing drone is faster, smarter and stealthier than commonly used drones like the "Predator." On radar, the "Sentinel" comes across as being something other than it actually is.
LEIGHTON: They show up very briefly if at all. They show up perhaps in something that could be disguised, let's say as a flock of birds or something like that or another type of aircraft.
LAWRENCE: The "Sentinel" flew surveillance over Osama Bin Laden's compound in Pakistan. Military officials say if the drone's technology is compromised, other nations will likely device better defenses against it.
LEIGHTON: And if they emulate us, we will find it much more difficult to go after them and to go after their air defenses as well as the assets they're trying to protect. In the case of Iran, it would perhaps be their nuclear weapons system.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: So Chris Lawrence joins us now from Washington. Chris, we're now hearing the U.S. believes the drone was badly damaged. So how much can Iran really do with it if it's damaged badly?
LAWRENCE: Yes, Don. I mean, think of it, if it's just fragments, how much could they really get out of that? But again, when you consider that even the coating, the paint, so to speak, of this drone is very valuable, it's not so farfetched.
Remember, back in 1999 one of the U.S.' first stealth planes was shot down over Serbia. Balkan military officials say Chinese agents came in and bought pieces of that plane.
And then when China unveiled its own stealth plane earlier this year, some experts saw some American technology in that design.
LEMON: What sort of mission was this drone on?
LAWRENCE: U.S. official says it was a CIA mission. It was strictly to look for insurgents on the Afghanistan side of the border. They say there was no intent to spy into Iran. Some experts dispute that saying this plane is specifically designed to operate where, say, reapers and predators, commonly used drones can't.
It's designed to evade certain radar. We don't have radar and air defenses in Afghanistan so they question why a plane of such sophistication would be used on the Afghanistan side of the border just to look for insurgents.
LEMON: Pentagon correspondent, Chris Lawrence. Thank you very much, Chris.
High on the list of things people hate most, bank fees. But a new company has an idea for a free ATM. Alison Kosik at the New York Stock Exchange with the details. There's a catch, but I'm listening. I'm sure a lot of people are. What is it?
ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: There's always a catch, Don. But many people may say, you know what, this is worth it. So if you want to get money out of an ATM and you don't want to be charged that fee, guess what, you'll have to watch a little, little commercial. It's kind of like what happens at gas stations where you're pumping your gas. A little ad comes on. With this ATM machine, this commercial actually plays while your transaction is processing, while your money is kind of coming out.
But it won't make this process any longer. We're going to put a picture up here for you. You're also going to get a receipt. It will have a coupon on it to of what the ad was just so you can take it with you.
The company that came up with this idea is called "Free ATMs NYC." There's only one ATM so far in Brooklyn. I know that doesn't help the rest of the population in the country out, but you know, you've got to start somewhere with an idea.
The plan here for this company is to add more, at least in the New York City area, within the next month, but this is a big but, don, so listen. These "free ATMs" in New York City, they won't charge you even if it is another bank's machine, but your bank still might.
So you want to check those rules out first. You know what, at least it gets rid of one side of that nasty, nasty fee.
LEMON: It might be cheaper to go to Brooklyn than it is to go to the regular ATM. Sometimes I look, whoa, how much was that? Crazy. All right, thanks, Alison. Appreciate it.
Mitt Romney says he's going to be aggressive with Newt Gingrich. Maybe that's why he picked a Kid Rock song to be his campaign song. Romney and Rock, that's an interesting duo, isn't it? We're talking about that in our "Political Buzz" coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Here are your top stories. We now know one American was among the dead in the bombing of a Shiite shrine in Kabul. It was one of two suicide attacks in Afghanistan that killed 60 people yesterday.
A 19-year-old man accuses former Penn State assistant foot ball coach Jerry Sandusky of giving his whiskey and then sexually abusing him. An attorney for the accuser says the alleged incident happened on the Penn State campus in 2004 when the accuser was 12.
There is a Medicare open enrolment deadline today. Medicare beneficiaries have until the end of the day to make changes to their prescription drug or private health plan.
"Political Buzz" is your rapid fire look at the best political topics of the day. Three questions, 30 seconds on the clock. Playing today, CNN contributor Maria Cardona, Sirius XM talk show host and comedian, Pete Dominick and Republican strategist and columnist Cheri Jacobus.
You know I'm having a little fun with you, Pete because you're always just out there. All right, first question, it's not always easy being the frontrunner. I want you to listen to Glenn Beck's take on Newt Gingrich. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NEWT GINGRICH (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE (via telephone): Would you rather have health insurance or post a bond? In some way you indicate you'll be accountable.
GLENN BECK, RADIO PERSONALITY: But that is the individual mandate?
GINGRICH: It's a variation.
BECK: You seem to be very interested in the government finding the solution.
GINGRICH: Let's go back to what I just said. What I was asked was if a program is unpopular, should the Republicans impose it anyway? Go back and listen to exactly what I was asked on that show and what I said I'll stand by.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: All right, so Newt Gingrich is on top. Time for the scrutiny. Can he survive it from the right? First up, Maria.
MARIA CARDONA, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: I hope so, Don, because as a Democrat, I would love to have Gingrich as the GOP nominee for president and have him go up against Barack Obama. I hope that they will be able to overlook his support of cap and trade, his sitting down on the couch with Nancy Pelosi and doing an ad together on it. I hope that they'll be able to overlook the fact that he went up against and criticized the Republican economic Bible, the Paul Ryan plan calling it social right-wing engineering.
And I hope that they'll be able to overlook his stance on immigration where he is calling for legalization of the 12 million. I hope so Don.
LEMON: All right, that's it. That's it all right, Sherry, can he survive the scrutiny on the right?
CHERI JACOBUS, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: You know I think that this is actually a great gift for either Newt Gingrich or Mitt Romney, whoever the nominee is going to be. I think it will be one of the two of them because the Democrats are going to immediately try and take what you them and make them seem like this ultra conservative. And here's why. You've got all of these Democrats that came into the Democratic Party in 2008 in key battle ground states that are now switching to become Independents.
So you have a Republican nominee who's going to be considered somewhat Independent. You know conservatives might be a little wary but they'll vote for him anyway. And then the Democrats have to turn around and claim that they're conservatives. It's going to be hilarious.
LEMON: All right, Peter? PETE DOMINICK, SIRIUS XM TALK SHOW HOST: Can Newt Gingrich survive the scrutiny from the right? You could argue, Don Lemon, that he didn't in 1998 when he said as Speaker when he resigned in disgrace that he didn't want to preside over cannibals, calling Republicans cannibals, look it up.
But you know I hate to -- to generalize, but American voters don't really remember what happened yesterday, unfortunately. And what are they going to do, ask Mitt Romney to the prom or go alone? They're going to ask Newt Gingrich and I think people like Glenn Beck will probably be singing a different tune if Gingrich is the nominee.
LEMON: Wow and you had seconds to spare. You usually just go on and on and on and you didn't. Good job there, Peter. You're learning. You're maturing and becoming an adult.
Conan O'Brien had a little fun with President Obama's job speech. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CONAN O'BRIEN, TALK SHOW HOST: I saw the speech that he made earlier today on the economy, and I just got that feeling that he's kind of just, he's run out of ideas. Take a look.
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Take whatever you can from whomever you can.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: All right. That was good. That was good stuff, as they say. All right, jokes aside though, is this focus now on the middle class, is it enough to get voters excited about President Obama in 2012? Sherry?
JACOBUS: You know I think that the message from the beginning has been wrong. The whole redistribute the wealth. And now he's telling people, you're on your own. Go redistribute your own wealth. And what he should have been doing from the beginning and what all Republicans want to do and most Americans is create wealth so you don't have to redistribute it. Let everybody have a shot at the American dream rather than playing this game of class warfare and pitting one group against another.
Let everybody have a shot. So his message has failed. He's a failed presidency. His presidency has failed. And I think that become clear and that's looking pretty good for Republicans.
LEMON: There you go. Maria?
CARDONA: It's the Republicans who have been saying time and again that the middle class is on their own, so I think President Obama's message is right on. If you're part of the middle class, if you're part of the working class, which a majority of Americans are, you're going to be excited about his campaign because he's going to be very starkly drawing the differences between a party that wants to protect the middle class and create jobs and a party who only wants to protect millionaires and billionaires and big corporations at the expense of middle class workers, seniors, students and the most vulnerable in our societies.
That's not the way to create prosperity. Ask President Clinton who created 20 million jobs with the same policies that President Obama wants to push right now.
LEMON: Listen on my show on the weekends we have a segment called no talking points. This one should be called "Talking Points". That's what I'm hearing from the right, I'm hearing from the left here and I want to go what?
CARDONA: It happens to be the truth. I have no talking points.
LEMON: And that's not what this segment is built for. But we should try to do that at some point. Go ahead Pete?
DOMINICK: Well, I don't -- I don't -- I'm not good enough to do talking points because I can't memorize them Don. I will say this about Conan. He is one of the greatest ever and he shows that you can truncate a speech to make it look like somebody is saying anything you want them to.
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: As we saw on the clip there. Go ahead, sorry.
DOMINICK: Right I'm glad the President made the speech. His harshest critic from the left has been former labor secretary for Clinton, Robert Reich who said yesterday. This is the most important economic speech the President has ever given. A little too late.
But this -- this whole right, left, Democrat, Republican thing, divisive, it's about the system. That's what the Tea Party is in the Occupy movement it's the system. And unless you've change the system, it doesn't matter. Strike at the root, Don, strike at the root.
LEMON: See I'll let you go. I'm a nice guy. Because I cut you off there in the middle, see.
(CROSSTALK)
DOMINICK: But no talking points, Don.
LEMON: Yes now -- well, listen. You don't want to go there. I'll get in trouble for that. But the truth is not ideological.
All right so listen, now your "Buzzer Beater" 20 seconds each. Mitt Romney announces his campaign song, Kid Rock's "Born Free." Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(MUSIC)
(END VIDEO CLIP) LEMON: Ok. Excuse me Maria, you first. What should Newt Gingrich's theme song be?
CARDONA: Well, first I came up with "Changes" by David Bowie. But I thought that that would be better suited for Romney. So I that my song for New Gingrich is a song by the rock band Deep Blue something called "Breakfast at Tiffany's".
LEMON: Ok, Sherry, what should President Obama's song be? President Obama's song?
JACOBUS: Oh President Obama's song -- yes President Obama's song should be the movie Sound of Music where the kids sing that "So Long, Farewell" song as they back up the stairs. Because they are not ready, you know they are not big enough and grown up enough to hang out with the grownups at the party. Even the one who is 16, going on 17. I think that's Barack Obama's song. Everybody is looking at this movie during the holiday season so that good-bye, farewell song with the von Trapp family children leaving the party of the grownups.
LEMON: All right, Pete, what should Ron Paul's song be?
DOMINICK: Ron Paul's song? Well, whatever song we choose for Ron Paul, it's got to be available to listen to on the victrola. So maybe -- maybe "Don't You Forget About Me" by Simple Minds or maybe Neil Young's "Old Man." Those are my suggestions.
LEMON: That was just cruel, that was mean, you mean, the guy who has the 78, remember the old 78 records? That's how old I am. None of you guys remember that. You're too young to remember 78.
DOMINICK: Do you have a Victrola?
LEMON: No but anyway.
DOMINICK: We'll see about that.
LEMON: I had a snarky remark but it might get me thrown off TV.
DOMINICK: Do it on Twitter, take it to Twitter.
LEMON: This segment is over. Thank you guys I really appreciate it. Have a great day.
CARDONA: Thanks Don you too.
LEMON: He is no stranger to controversial headlines. Actor Alec Baldwin was kicked off an airplane last night. We'll tell you why next in our "Showbiz Headlines".
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Actor Alec Baldwin is making headlines again for what he's doing off screen instead of on camera. He got kicked off a plane for apparently refusing to stop playing a game on his cell phone. So let's get the rest of the story now from entertainment correspondent, Kareen Wynter. So Kareen, it's interesting. When I first heard this, I didn't believe it. I said, is this some sort of secret advertisement for "Words with Friends" that Alec is not telling us about? It seems like overkill. It seems like much ado about nothing.
KAREEN WYNTER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: Well, anything that Alec does because he's sometimes a lightning rod, ok oftentimes, it makes headlines. In this case, you know, Don, Alec he just wasn't ready. Give him an hour or two, he would have been good to go. But Alec wasn't ready to stop playing "Words with Friends".
An American airlines flight attendant told Baldwin he had to turn off his electronic device which would have ended his game. Well, he refused and was forced to get off his flight from LA to New York. And we know via Twitter that his fellow passengers, they were not too pleased at being held up by this Don.
But Baldwin who is not afraid to sound off when he's fighting mad about something did some twitting himself. He wrote "Flight attendant on American reamed me out for playing "Words with Friends" while we sat at the gate, not moving. #NowonderAmericanAirisbankrupt."
There doesn't seem to be any real fallout from this thought Don. American Airlines, they rebooked him on another flight a short time later. But Baldwin wasn't done. Oh, no, he fired off a few more scathing tweets about American airlines and their employees. Yes, he just had to get it out there. Again, everything he does makes headlines.
I have to ask you, ok, so the last hour we chatted. You said that you had to get your "Words with Friends" password fixed. You mentioned that you had a little bit of technical issues there. Is it all good? Are you going to challenge Alec now? Because I'm sure he'll be up for it Don.
LEMON: I have it all good. I'm going to challenge Alec and go back to my old games, with Britney and Geneva, some of the guys out in L.A., who work for CNN in LA and then I'll send you a request as well.
You're supposed to do what the flight attendants say, I understand that. But it just seems like overkill, you know. It's just like, ok, enough. Let's all just be --
WYNTER: And all the paparazzi and everyone getting him coming off. Love the story, though, it's Alec.
LEMON: Alec, And he's an actor so it'll be fine. Thank you. Appreciate it Kareen Wynter.
Want more information on everything breaking in the entertainment world. More headlines this evening on "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" 11:00 eastern on HLN. Quarterback Cam Newton sets an NFL record and the football he carried has a place in the hall of fame. One problem them though, Newton gave the ball it a fan. We'll tell you how the problem was solved next.
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LEMON: NFL players sometimes toss a football into the stands after scoring a touchdown. But when Cam Newton did it on Sunday it led to a very awkward moment. The other Don is here, Don Riddell is in London with that story. What happened, Don?
DON RIDDELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey Don, you'll know that many people live in suburban America will be very familiar with the phrase, can I have my ball back? It usually involves a little kid standing at your door having booted his ball across the fence.
It was slightly different when it happened in the NFL over the weekend. Cam Newton scored a touchdown and he went to the crowd and handed a 16-year-old girl, Peggy Brown, the ball. Except it wasn't just any old ball, Don, he just scored his 13th rushing touchdown of the season which was an NFL record.
He may or may not have realized that at the time, but the equipment team of the Panthers did realize this was actually quite a special ball. So they decided to go to this girl and say, can we have our ball back? Because it's rather special. Cam would probably want it.
Fortunately, she was really good about it. I think she was still just so touched that he gave her the thing in the first place that she accepted. She says, you know what, it's his achievement. He deserves it.
In return she got a kicking tea, a ball, four hats and she's going to get something in the mail. I think everybody's hoping Cam will have signed it.
LEMON: That's very nice. All's well that ends well, Don. Let's talk about another running quarterback, a high school player who learned a very tough lesson, didn't he?
RIDDELL: I don't think he'll ever forget this lesson until the day he dies. This is just incredible. We're talking about Cathedral High School here playing in what was effectively their Super Bowl championship game. Matt Owens who no less was celebrating his 18th birthday runs in what he thought was the game-winning touchdown just a few minutes from the end.
Do you notice anything unusual about this, Don? That looks pretty standard. A player running towards the touchdown, towards the end zone. He's going to score. He raised his hand to celebrate and would you believe the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association has a rule which bans any unsportsmanlike conduct including taunting. The referee at that game thought that he was taunting the opposition. He red flagged it, he disallowed the touchdown and it didn't count and they lost the game.
LEMON: Yes.
RIDDELL: I think that's outrageous, personally.
LEMON: Yes. And you know what. I think that you have a perfect season, you're scoring a touchdown, you can be excited about it. Who wouldn't, right? Thank you, Don.
RIDDELL: Absolutely.
LEMON: Appreciate it, sir. Great name, by the way.
Hey, don't read too much into President Obama's graying hair. A new study undercuts a popular notion of President Obama aging while in office. The story ahead in our "Daily Dose".
Coming up, on the 70th anniversary of the attack on pearl harbor, we're going to talk with a World War II veteran. His name is Jimmie Kanaya, a great guy. A decorated U.S. Army medic and the son of Japanese immigrants.
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LEMON: This next story we're going to do deserves your attention so please pay attention. Whatever you're doing, if you're at work, put down the work. If you're at home, just pay attention.
Today marks the 70th anniversary of the date that will live in infamy. In about two hours, ceremonies will be held at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii to remember the more than 2,400 people killed in the Japanese attack. We're going to go live there.
December 7th, 1941 was a day Jimmie Kanaya will never forget. As a U.S. Army medic and the son of Japanese immigrants, he was caught in the middle of the chaos that erupted. Jimmie Kanaya served in World War II, Korea and Vietnam, retiring as a colonel.
He joins us now from Washington State. Thank you, sir. It is an honor to be able to speak with you today. You're 91, going on 92. Amazing.
So, Colonel Kanaya, you enlisted in April of 1941 and just months later Pearl Harbor was attacked. Tell us about that day.
COLONEL JIMMIE KANAYA, U.S. ARMY: Well, that was a day in infamy as our President stated. For me, it changed my whole life. It changed the life of my parents and brothers and sisters. That was the day that I started my whole real career in the military.
LEMON: Yes. Do you think that people today appreciate the military men and women, what they went through during World War II?
KANAYA: Yes, I think they really appreciate it. We were recently awarded the congressional medal for our achievement in World War II to put up with all the persecution and the pressure that were placed upon us.
LEMON: Colonel Kanaya, do you feel like a hero, silver, bronze stars among other decorations?
KANAYA: Yes, I received the silver star and three bronze stars. And of course, that was for my combat medical service during the war. I might add that it's no more than any other combat medic and I did in our unit there. We all did our job and the old saying goes, we conserved the fighting strength.
LEMON: Yes. I ask you because most people went off and served their country back in that time, you had to do it. We were at war. A lot of people are doing it now. What I asked before, do you feel like a hero by doing that?
KANAYA: No, I don't consider myself a hero. Didn't do any more than what anybody else would have done. I was a career man and I really had to perform to the best of my ability and that's what I did. It was something that came natural, I think, after being indoctrinated through basic training and all the medical training I had. It came real natural to me.
And I'm certainly appreciating the fact that I was given the opportunity and to be able to live through it was quite a fete myself. I find myself still alive and kicking at this old age.
LEMON: Right. It's great that you are. Listen, time on the planet. There's nothing like it. There's nothing like that wisdom that goes along with that. You've had 91, almost 92 years of it.
What are your words of advice, wisdom, not only to today's military men and women, but to Americans in general?
KANAYA: I would say that most important of all, stay clean, stay loyal to your unit, and secondly, gain all of the education you can. If you want to stay in the service, you need the credentials of educational degrees and qualifications. That will prove to the military that you want to stay in and to prove yourself. Most importantly, again, stay clean. Don't get involved in some of the off-duty activities that many of our men get involved in. Be loyal to your unit.
LEMON: Colonel Jimmie Kanaya, I am honored that you are here. We appreciate your sacrifice. Best of luck to you and your wife. Thank you again for your sacrifice.
KANAYA: Thank you for having me on.
LEMON: We'll be right back.
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LEMON: Time now for today's "Daily Dose". Don't believe everything you see especially when it comes to the obvious gray hair and wrinkles that come with being the President of the United States. A new study suggests presidents tend to live longer, sometimes significantly longer than the average American man. Two-thirds of our commanders- in-chief lived past their projected life spans. Well, wealth, education, and access to health care are cited as factors for longevity. Live a long time.
And speaking of the President now. One of the most popular pop artist -- I'm sorry, another story -- popular post artist on the planet managed to sneak into the White House for a meeting yesterday with no paparazzi in tow.
White House correspondent Brianna Keilar is going to tell us about the meeting with Lady Gaga. I thought we were going to talk about something else with the President. But hey, this is cool too.
BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Yes, no, it's all Gaga. I wanted to tell you first, Don, why Lady Gaga was here. But let's cut to the chase, I know you want to talk about what she was wearing. We actually did catch some video of her as she left this meeting at the White House.
It was pretty sedate, actually. A white skirt suit. She had pretty low key hair and makeup. Clearly, a very long, blond wig. The kicker, I know we have a picture of this coming up here, were her shoes. I think they were 7-inch platform heels. You can't see them. If you were to sort of go down on that photo you would see 7-inch Christian Louboutin heels which were pretty difficult to walk on, on the D.C. sidewalk. But Lady Gaga was here at the White House. She met with White House officials, not the President, because he was in Kansas giving his economic speech.
She was here to talk about her pet cause, which is bullying. She's obviously against bullying in schools and she was working really to discuss the topic with the White House and their anti-bullying campaign that they're putting forth.
Valerie Jarrett, one of the president's top advisers met with Gaga, and actually put on the blog that she was sort of inspired by Gaga's message which is that she, herself was bullied. And that's really her inspiration for pursuing this topic and why it's so near and dear to her heart Don.
LEMON: All right. Thank you very much, Brianna. Next update in one hour, cnnpolitics.com.
And the person who will be getting to that will be Suzanne Malveaux. Hello, Suzanne.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN ANCHOR: Such good news out of the white house and this Lady Gaga, You know what I mean?
