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Newt Gingrich Makes Controversial Statement About Palestinians; Child Sexual Abuse Allegations Surface Against Head Of Amateur Athletic Union; Protests Continue In Russia; Green Monday Sees Record Shipping; Movie Critic Evaluates Some Holiday Films; Sexual Abuse Victim Discusses Her Case; Former Occupy Wall Street Protester Working For Wall Street
Aired December 10, 2011 - 14:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: You're in the CNN NEWSROOM where the news unfolds live this Saturday December 10th. I'm Fredricka Whitfield.
New child sex abuse allegations involving a sports figure surfacing today, this time against the head of the Amateur Athletic Union. Two men tell ESPN that Robert "Bobby" Dodd molested them back in the 1980s when they were playing on Dodd's AAU basketball team. Police in Memphis, Tennessee have opened an investigation. One of the men tells Reuters News Agency that Dodd drugged him and offered him $1,000 for oral sex. No comment from Dodd, who is battling colon cancer.
And the fight over payroll tax cut is facing a new year's deadline. The trouble is each party has a different idea on how to achieve it. In an interview with CBS, President Barack Obama admits there's no quick fix for the American economy.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did you overpromise? Did you underestimate how difficult this was going to be?
BARACK OBAMA, (D) PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I didn't overpromise and I didn't underestimate how tough this was going to be. I always believed that this was a long term project. This wasn't a short term project. And, you know, for individual Americans who are struggling right now, they have every reason to be impatient. Reversing structural problems in our economy that had been building up for two decades, that's going to take time. It's going to take more than a year. It's going to take more than two years. It's going to take more than one term. It probably takes more than one president.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Both parties are under pressure to come to a deal or millions of voters will face a tax hike in an election year.
Outrage in the Arab world over controversial comments by GOP presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich. Gingrich called the Palestinians, quote, "an invented people." He made the remark during an interview on the Jewish Channel on U.S. cable stations. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NEWT GINGRICH, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I believe the Jewish people have the right to have a state. I believe the commitments that were made at the time -- remember, there was no Palestine as a state. It was part of the Ottoman Empire. I think we've had an invented Palestinian people who are in fact Arabs and are historically part of the Arab community.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Gingrich's campaign is trying to do some damage control. They released this statement, saying, quote, "Gingrich supports a negotiated peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians." The statement adds "However, to understand what is being proposed and negotiated, you have to understand decades of complex history." That from the campaign statement.
Saeb Erakat, a top Palestinian peace negotiator is firing back.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SAEB ERAKAT, PALESTINIAN EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE: I believe this is a very, very wrong statement. This is a racist statement. And we condemn it with the strongest possible term. And such statements is really inciting for bloodshed of Muslims, Christians and Jews in that region, and we don't need such low level of political statements.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: And now to that investigation out of Memphis. Sexual abuse allegations are now surfacing against the head of the Amateur Athletic Union. Two men tell ESPN that Robert "Bobby" Dodd molested them back in the 1980s when they were playing on Dodd's AAU basketball team. CNN's George Howell is in Memphis joining us on the phone right now. What more is being said about this investigation?
GEORGE HOWELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (via telephone): Fredricka, both men said they decided to speak out, basically, start talking to family members and then speak publicly in light of the sex scandals at Penn State and Syracuse universities. And Memphis police tell us there's an active investigation into the alleged actions of Robert "Bobby" Dodd, the now former president and CEO of the Amateur Athletic Union which is one of the largest nonprofit organizations in sports.
The investigation comes after two former players now grown men came forward to ESPN's "Outside the Line" alleging that Dodd touched them inappropriately when they were teenagers playing for one of his teams here in Memphis. One of the men spoke anonymously to ESPN. But 43- year-old Ralph West in Miami spoke publicly. West claims the youth sports exec sexually abused exactly six times in the 1980s, allegedly sneaking into the team's hotel room when the team traveled out of town. The person who spoke anonymously claims that Dodd drugged him and suggested to pay him $1,000 to perform a sex act.
Since the story broke the AAU contacted Memphis police about these allegations and Dodd's former nonprofit released a statement basically saying that they launched their own investigation after these allegations and that the organization named a new leader saying Dodd has cancer and has been planning to retire. But, again, the full story on this, set to air on ESPN at 10:00 a.m. eastern Sunday and again an active investigation here in Memphis.
WHITFIELD: And, George, so Bobby Dodd, he is suffering from colon cancer. Where is he? Is he in a facility? Is he at home? Has there been any response from him or anyone close to him?
HOWELL: Well, we asked police about that. They said they are not sure about his whereabouts. Again, this is part of their investigation. They are looking into the allegations. And we also checked several addresses here in Memphis and addresses in Orlando where he also has a home with the AAU. But at this point it's still unclear exactly his whereabouts.
WHITFIELD: George Howell, thanks so much from Memphis.
HOWELL: Bloodshed across Syria now as security force continue a brutal eight month crackdown against protesters there. Women and children are reportedly among the dead. We go live to the Middle East right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Security forces reportedly killed at least 60 people across Syria today. I want to warn you, some of the video you're about to see is very graphic. CNN's Jim Clancy is in Tripoli, Lebanon. He has the latest on this eight month Syrian crackdown. I understand one of yesterday's -- among those dead was a small child, a 10-year-old, right?
JIM CLANCY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A 10-year-old child sitting in his own home by a window hit by a single round that was fired penetrated that window frame. He bled to death in his own home, a very sad case certainly, and indicative of the way the violence has been spiraling downwards in Syria and especially in the city of Homs.
Then came his funeral, and at his funeral the people who were carrying his body in a procession actually came under fire from snipers. We talked to Abdul (ph) Faras (ph), who is a member of the revolutionary council in Homs today, and he said that he pointed a finger at snipers that worked for the Syrian government. Listen to what he had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Now we are trying to bury our dead members, but it's very dangerous also to go to funerals because the checkpoints are shooting at us.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CLANCY: Gunfire sent people ducking and running for cover at the funeral. The sad part is according to the people who are from Homs, both current residents and former residents who talked to me today, it would appear the situation is only going to get worse with more shooting, with more funerals, sadly. Fredricka?
WHITFIELD: Jim, tomorrow there is a scheduled strike called by the anti-Assad activists. What is expected out of that?
CLANCY: Well, certainly in cities like Homs you're going to see a lot of people participating, not going work, not going school, staging sit-ins if they can.
But the question is, and to make this work, they need to be in cities like Damascus. They need to see people come out there and stage these sit-ins, cities like Aleppo, cities where the government still has some strong showings of support. That is from, you know, their own analysis. So we're going to have to wait and watch how this develops over the next 24 hours.
Remember, somebody does something against the government in Syria, they can lose their place in college, they can lose their job. So this is no light commitment that's being asked of the people in Syria tomorrow, a sit-in for dignity.
WHITFIELD: Jim Clancy, thanks so much in Tripoli, Lebanon.
Angry Russian voters, tens of thousands of them packed public spaces in Moscow today. They have a problem with last weekend's parliamentary election. The crowd chanted "Putin out," referring to the prime minister whose party lost seats but kept a majority in the powerful lower house. Protesters say the vote was rigged and they want a new one.
Argentina's president Christine Fernandez begins her second term. She was sworn in again today in Buenos Aries. Fernandez is not only Argentina's woman president, she's also the first-ever woman president in Latin America to win reelection.
And the three women who share this year's Nobel Peace prize receive their medals today in Oslo. They were recognized for their fight to win women's right in West Africa and in the Arab world.
WHITFIELD: All right, the holiday movies are out, and one film is jam packed with stars and plots.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, my gosh, my water broke.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All of it?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, what do you think?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's too early. Can you turn it off?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: From giving birth to going to Times Square, it's all part of "New Year's Eve." Our movie reviewer Grae Drake gives this romantic comedy her grade later on this hour. But first, just two weeks left until Christmas. So what percentage of people are already done with their holiday shopping? Is it a, 18 percent, b, 28 percent, c, 38 percent, or 48 percent, d? I'll have an answer and what it all means to you in a few minutes.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: All right, I asked you before the break if you could guess the percentage of people who have already finished their holiday shopping. According to a recent survey, 38 percent of Americans had their holiday shopping finished by the end of the first week of December. And then listen to this -- 32 percent were already done by November. They really took advantage of those black Friday and cyber Monday deals. Experts say stores need to offer more deals now that they have a smaller list of potential customers.
OK, so, it is the number one issue in American homes, getting your financial house in order. Today in our weekly financial fix, how to make some extra money this holiday season, perhaps to finish that holiday shopping. Let's bring in the author of "It's Just Money, so why does it cause so many problems?" Financial consultant Karen Lee is with us now.
I know you're hoping that if people are going to make extra money they won't go out and spend it on shopping and maybe save it.
KAREN LEE, FINANCIAL PLANNER: Better to do that than to go into debt, right?
WHITFIELD: That's true. So how do we do this? People may set aside some money for holiday shopping just as you instructed earlier in this season, or maybe they are short on cash and they want to make some money.
LEE: This isn't just for the holidays, but I've been hearing for a year or two people wanting to develop multiple streams of income to diversify for future recessions. This is an all through the year good idea. We want to talk a little bit about now to monetize your skills and how the Internet has made it much easier. So our first tip is to take a look at what you already do for a living and see if you can add some freelance work.
WHITFIELD: Identify your skill set.
LEE: Let's say you're a landscaper, you work for a company, maybe you can do some-odd jobs on the weekend. If you're a graphic artist, you can freelance in the evenings. What's neat about the Internet it made it so much easier to put our skills out there. So check out some of these sites -- elance.com, freelancer.com. There's always Craigslist for posting things that you can do versus the sites where you're looking for the job.
WHITFIELD: OK. Then sometimes maybe you're somebody who is just good at offering advice.
LEE: I notice that there are people -- their friends always go to them forced a vice. The buzz word now is coaching. But it's really just consulting. If you're that person that people come and ask how do you always stay in shape, why don't you start a running club or cycling club and charge for it?
WHITFIELD: And use the internet as your way.
LEE: Absolutely.
WHITFIELD: Advertise.
LEE: Absolutely.
WHITFIELD: If not word-of-mouth.
LEE: It's about coaching people. One of the things people are coaching how to use social media to boost your presence. This is something we all need help with, right?
WHITFIELD: Right. We can't have too much of that.
LEE: Right.
We talked about garage sales.
WHITFIELD: Virtual garage sales. I've done the real thing before. Forget about it. I'm not doing it ever again. But tell me about this virtual garage sale.
LEE: It's too cold right now for garage sales. This is the time the year when a lot of people start clearing out the basement, out with the old in with the new. The idea here is start posting these items on eBay, Craigslist, and other sites that are also available. The trick with that is you got to write some really good product descriptions and take some good high quality photos.
WHITFIELD: The other trick too is sometimes you want to limit your contact, right, with people as you're trying to sell the products. There's been a lot of concerns that people have had --
LEE: I wish I could say I was an expert.
WHITFIELD: Or exchanging the product.
LEE: There are some websites we're going mention that actually help on that in the final tip, which is so now if I'm offering services or items on the internet, how do I pay for it and get it to you. So check out e-Junky, and of course PayPal.
WHITFIELD: For the transaction.
LEE: The transaction, but also the shipping and the process it. So everybody is looking at how they can also step into making a little piece of the pie. The one I'm using is called Square. So when I'm out giving a talk and selling my books I can take a credit card swipe just using a smartphone.
WHITFIELD: That's incredible. It's portable.
LEE: It is. So, Fred, we always talk about ways to get people out of their financial troubles they are in. We focus a lot on how to spend less. There are only two things you can do. Spend less, earn more, combination of each. We wanted to focus today on how to earn more.
WHITFIELD: Karen, thanks so much. Happy holidays.
LEE: Happy holidays to you too.
WHITFIELD: Get more information by reading Karen's new book, "It's Just Money, so why does it cause so many problems" or you can reach Karen at KarenLeeandAssociates.com.
Our Josh Levs is standing by to tell us why this coming Monday is being called "green Monday."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: All right, Monday will be a big day for the economy particularly in retail. In fact, it is up there with cyber Monday. But it's called "green Monday." Our Josh Levs is here with details on this one. Why is this new to me? I didn't know about green Monday.
JOSH LEVS, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: It's like every day during the holiday shopping season now has to have name. This one actually has a huge economic impact. And it's not what it sounds like. It sound like it's about the environment. In this case green refers to cash, cha- ching kind of green, just what you and Karen were talking about.
Cyber Monday gets a lot of attention. Green Monday is huge day for online sales and shipping companies. We visited a major carrier to give you behind-the-scenes glimpse of how all those holiday shipments will ultimately reach their destinations.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're not trying to overwork you, but it is going to be heavy and expect the load to be heavy. Does everyone understand?
LEVS: A lot of people in the industry call it green Monday. It's two Mondays before Christmas. It's always a huge day for shipping. Why is that?
PAUL BRADLEY, DHL AREA SALES MANAGER: Typically what we find is customers go shopping a couple weeks before Christmas on the weekends, and they just give up. So then they go online, they order online, the packages get processed throughout the weekend and the pickups are made, the deliveries are made on that Monday. We have increased the number of routes that we have on the streets by over 100 routes. We hired additional part-time workers.
LEVS: So we're seeing all kinds of boxes travel along this conveyor belt here. Sometimes you see things shipped well and some cases not so much. BRAKE: This to us is a perfect package, very solid material, good corrugation on here. So we definitely want to make sure that our customers are utilizing new boxes if at all possible and the strongest type of tape. Don't use regular masking tape or cheap tape you may get at your local drugstore.
LEVS: Do you see how all the packages get moved through here and then to ultimately get to you, you need a person, a courier. How do you prepare? Do you have to do some extra workouts?
DARONE JONES, DHL COURIER: I stop by Krispy Kreme doughnuts and get some Krispy Kreme sugar, a Red Bull, I'm ready to go.
LEVS: These are heavy, but these are big and bulky, too. I'm 6'1" and I'm pretty sure they're bigger than me. I'm trying to lift it up. Jimmy, come on here. I need your help. We have been watching you this morning. You lift more by 8:00 a.m. than most body builders do in a week. Are you the strongest one around here?
JIMMY DAVIDSON, DHL COURIER: I'm pretty sure I am. Everyone wants me to help them lift their heavies. They call me "Popcorn" around here.
BRADY: It's very gratifying knowing that a grandmother over in China is sending their grandchild maybe their first Christmas present. So we're excited to do that and our couriers experience that on a daily basis.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEVS: We saw some packages there that were falling apart and DHS folks had re-taped them to fix them up. But there are important tips that you should know to make sure your goods are packed well so actually arrive. We have tips for you from all the major carriers. I put them up for you on Facebook and twitter, and also on my blog at CNN.com/Josh.
WHITFIELD: This will make a significant impact on the economy?
LEVS: It is.
WHITFIELD: When it's all said and done?
LEVS: We're looking at a difficult economy. Any time you see an injection that's helpful. Last year on green Monday $954 million dollars in online sales that day alone according to Com-Score. Analysts explained to me this year upwards of $1 billion. The add that to everything people like you are buying this weekend and will be shipping out on Monday, it all makes it a massive day.
WHITFIELD: Incredible. We got to come up with some other names to fill, you know, the remaining days of the holiday season because, you know, black Friday, cyber Monday, and now green Monday.
LEVS: Within the next five years there will be at least 10 named days for major retailers to take advantage throughout the season.
WHITFIELD: We'll need a chart. Thanks, Josh. Appreciate that.
Allegations against a former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky had put a spotlight on child sexual abuse cases. So do you know how many cases are reported each year? Is it 20,000, 50,000, 80,000, perhaps 100,000? We'll have the answer after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Before the break we asked how many child sexual abuse cases are reported each year. According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent psychiatry, the answer is 80,000. But the number of unreported cases is much higher because children are afraid to speak out.
And you'll hear from a woman who was molested in her childhood home. Details on this right after a look at the top stories.
Volunteers fanned out across Arlington National Cemetery today to put wreaths on about 100,000 head stones. For the past 20 years the group Wreaths Across America has organized wreath layings at cemeteries and veterans memorials across the country.
President Barack Obama now knows what it's like to enter a White House security checkpoint. He was walking back from a holiday party at the Blair House when he set off a metal detector. Apparently the president's cell phone caused it to beep. He joked that he just wanted to see what it would be like.
The Obama administration says it is still working to bring a retired FBI agent home. Robert Levinson went missing in Iran nearly five years ago. He may be in Afghanistan or Pakistan. His family posted this video from his captors online this week. It is the first evidence that Levinson may still be alive.
Police in south Florida are investigating a shooting recorded on the victim's iPhone. The victim is OK, but we want to warn you what you're about to hear is graphic. Here is that recording.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(SHOUTING)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: This allegedly took place during a confrontation between a man and his mother-in-law. The mother-in-law faces charges. The man was treated at a local hospital and released.
WHITFIELD: The next story is about an adult subject matter and it may not be suitable for all audiences, especially younger children. The charges against former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky have many people telling their own stories about sexual abuse. CNN's Julie Peterson talked exclusively with a woman office molested in her childhood home.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) JULIE PETERSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Married a year and a half --
HEIDI KNOBLETT, SEXUAL ABUSE VICTIM: We should go again.
PETERSON: -- college graduate Heidi Knoblett likes her life. Not even her hearing impairment gets in her way. But the 26-year-old has a devastating past. For several years beginning at eight-year-old Knoblett says she quietly suffered sexual abuse by her stepfather.
KNOBLETT: Like every other incident, I just close my eyes, and the only thing that I can think or say in my mind was, Jesus, Jesus. Even though he didn't say no right then, I knew he would get me through it.
PETERSON: When she was 12 the abuse stopped, but when she was 21 her stepfather tried to sexually assault her again. This time it was different. She told someone, a co-worker. The case went to court. Her step father was convicted of child molestation in 2007. He's in prison serving a 40 year term. Assistant district attorney Kevin McMurry prosecuted the case.
(on camera): Why was Heidi's case hard to prosecute?
KEVIN MCMURRY, ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY, COWETA COUNTY, GEORGIA: Heidi's case was particularly hard to prosecute because of the age of the allegations. We didn't have the ability to go back 10 years ago and try to gather other evidence. There's a search warrant taken in that search warrant we found incest pornography in the defendants home, which was obviously helpful to the prosecution.
Heidi was a great witness. She had a very detailed recollection, which was helpful. There are certain things that I recall about her testimony that she articulated and she did it from the perspective of an eight-year-old, which I point out to the jury that that's hard to fake.
PETERSON: Knoblett worked hard to overcome her memories and to learn how trust a man, specifically her husband.
KNOBLETT: You live with this man and he wants to be intimate with you. He'll just take whatever he wants and leave it whatever it and you're left feel like you're used and you're nothing. That was really, really hard for me to overcome.
PETERSON: Her strategy for recovery, her deep faith and talking about her ordeal.
KNOBLETT: And now I've gotten to the point where I let Jesus be in my mind to where I can tell myself Heidi, this is your husband who loves you very much.
PETERSON: Despite the conviction, Knoblett says many in her family still don't believe the abuse ever happened, and she says her relationship with them is destroyed as a result.
MCMURRY: She had no support. Still to this day I don't believe she has a lot of family support regarding this. I think the family just had a very, very difficult time believing that this could happen or would happen under their roof while they were there, and they just refused to believe it.
PETERSON: McMurry says he often sees denial in molestation cases.
MCMURRY: It's not at all unusual. To some degree I can understand it, and I think you can too, in that if somebody came to you and said your husband was abusing your child, your initial reaction will be no, I know him. That couldn't happen. It's a very deep, dark hidden thing. And that's the way it works. That's the dynamics behind it. That's the power behind it.
PETERSON: After years of anonymity, Knoblett says the recent Penn State sexual abuse allegations are one reason she's going public now. Her stepfather was in a high-profile and well-respected position in the community.
KNOBLETT: He had a position of authority where he had to enforce the law, and really he was supposed to be keeping guys like himself trying to hurt kids.
PETERSON: Knoblett says she will deal with these memories. Still, by going public she wants to give other abuse victims hope.
KNOBLETT: They can overcome this and there's life beyond abuse.
PETERSON: Julie Peterson, CNN, Atlanta.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: As Julie Peterson's report pointed out, families often are in denial about sexual abuse. Next hour we'll hear from a woman who stuck with her husband for months before she accepted the truth.
But next I'm going to talk with an attorney who specializes in representing the victims of child sexual abuse. She's going to talk about the statute of limitations and how it can affect adult victims who come forward years later.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: The recent spate of reported child sex abuse cases is revealing the difficulties in trying to get these kinds of allegations prosecuted. Too often the alleged victims tell someone many years later after the statute of limitations has run out.
Let's bring in B.J. Bernstein. She's an attorney who represents victims of sexual abuse. B.J. oftentimes it really is a matter of jurisdiction. But knowing alleged victims need time, take time, why would so many states have statutes of limitations on these kinds of offenses?
B.J. BERNSTEIN, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Well, it's been historically there. It was actually a fairly recent development where we extended the statutes to sue someone or to go after them for years later to add time until the time reaches, the person reaches the age of majority and then add anywhere from six to nine years in different states. And only now I think with obviously the recent news of Penn State, the situation with Bernie fine in Syracuse, causing all of us to rethink, you know, really why are we cutting off an opportunity to find out the truth, particularly with an offense that has such a high re-offense rate.
WHITFIELD: So, B.J., some Georgia lawmakers are actually pushing to abolish statute of limitations as it pertains to child sexual abuse cases. How would this help in the prosecution, and, at the same time, how might it hurt in these investigations?
BERNSTEIN: Well, it would give the opportunity for prosecutors to criminally go after someone for much longer. But as your piece just a few moments ago it doesn't mean convictions will be easier. These are very difficult cases because it is the child's word against the adult's.
The longer someone waits for the abuse, for the victim it's harder to get corroborating evidence. Although it's not required but very helpful. In all candor for someone who is accused, some people are wrongfully accused of this offense, it's hard to defend yourself, particularly with alibi evidence if someone comes back after you've heard 20 years ago.
So it may or may not increase the criminal. It may actually make more civil happen because there's a different burden of proof, a lesser burden of proof than required by criminal. And that's important because holding institutions responsible for, you know, knowing about something and just hiding it is really jumping to the forefront as a way of stopping the abuse.
WHITFIELD: Do you ever see that there would be some uniformity in the way in which states either have or do not have statutes of limitations as it pertains to child abuse cases?
BERNSTEIN: Well, most states aren't lined up on much of anything. I think what will be surprising to folks is right now there's a public concern to extend these statute of limitations. In 2009, for instance, when the state of New York tried to make their statute of limitations longer, it was interesting. People lobbying against it were actually churches and organizations who feared their liability.
So something that on its face, I think everybody in their living room right now saying well extend it and then let the proof play out as to whether the case should go forward may be surprised that there are some powerful lobbying that's going to go against it in Georgia and other states that are, you know, looking at this issue.
WHITFIELD: All right, B.J. Bernstein, thanks so much for your time.
BERNSTEIN: Thanks, Fred.
WHITFIELD: We have much more straight ahead here in the NEWSROOM. And then this evening my colleague Don Lemon will be talking politics and culture with one of America's most influential religious leaders.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Don Lemon. Coming up tonight on CNN "Weekend Prime," mega-church pastor T.D. Jakes talks to me about politics and religion. Is there a political war on Christmas? Also his take on the ending of gridlock in Washington, the Occupy movement, recent sex abuse scandals, and Bishop Eddie Long. That interview and more coming up tonight at 7:00 p.m. eastern on CNN "Weekend Prime."
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: And tomorrow we're staying on the political trail. Newt Gingrich is at the top of the political polls. Gingrich has had three marriages and is accused of flip flopping. He converted to Catholicism a few years ago. So tomorrow we'll look at Gingrich's faith. Join us Sunday, 2:30 eastern time right here in the NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Perhaps you plan to go to the movies this weekend. We have a couple of flicks you might want to see from the movie version of a spy novel to plain old fun. Our movie critic Grae Drake from Fandango and Movies.com joining us right now. Good to see you. Hello. Let's start with "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy." What's this one all about?
GRAE DRAKE, CRITIC, MOVIES.COM: Like you mentioned, it's an adaptation of a novel and it's also been a BBC miniseries. It's all about the Cold War, all about spies, and takes place mostly in Great Britain and is a really dense film, like more dense than a 10-year-old fruitcake dense. You have to pay attention to keep up with this one.
WHITFIELD: Let's peek then. See if we can keep up.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Some time ago before control came to me with a similar suggestion, that there is a mole.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: OK, that's Gary Oldman. He's so versatile. He can do anything. Collin First is in this too, Tom Hardy. OK. You pick up the rest. What was intriguing about it to you?
DRAKE: This movie is absolutely a who's who. The performances across the board are incredible. Now, you never know where this movie is going unless you've read the book. It's impossible to keep up with it. And you really have to pay close attention, as I was saying. Like I would recommend not seeing this at a late show and instead resting up, eating your Wheaties, take a multivitamin.
WHITFIELD: You really need to pay attention.
DRAKE: You need to do a lot of, truly. There's so much going on. So many characters, so many countries. For anybody who thinks James bond is too sexy or too dangerous, this is definitely the spy movie four. WHITFIELD: That wouldn't be me.
DRAKE: I know, right. Me neither. This is a bunch of guys in trench coat. Cigarette smoke hanging in the air staring at each other and a lot of double crosses.
WHITFIELD: Your grade then?
DRAKE: This movie I gave a B because I had a tough time deciphering all it. I barely made it out alive. But smart movies are a great thing.
WHITFIELD: OK, then, I don't know, I have a feeling you're not going to say the "New Year's Eve" movie is a smart movie. From a smart movie to a fun one. It's a busy movie, right?
DRAKE: Right. Just because you have more than three major stars in a film doesn't automatically make it good.
WHITFIELD: Oh, boy.
DRAKE: For everybody who saw Gary Marshall's last film "Valentine's Day," he makes movies about love. It's all kind of half-hearted. In fact I think it's completely tired. It's like -- Gary Marshall must be stopped. I'm telling you. I'm begging people not to see this film.
WHITFIELD: From dense to making you tired. Let's check it out. Let's look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You came all the way here to bring me my rubber bracelet.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sort of, and to say happy New Year.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: OK. So here are the big stars. Ashton Kutcher. You have Sara Jessica Parker, Jessica Biel, Hillary Swank, Robert De Niro. How do you go wrong?
DRAKE: It's like that clip. You're sort of like what? A rubber bracelet? What are they talking about? Like that's the whole movie. In needed to drink an entire bottle of champagne just to make it true. I wonder what the holidays ever did to Gary Marshall to be mistreated by him like this. First its "Valentine's Day," now it's "New Year's Eve."
WHITFIELD: What's your grade?
DRAKE: This movie had all the depth of something scribbled on a cocktail napkin. I give it an F.
WHITFIELD: My goodness, you say don't bother. DRAKE: I'm saying absolutely don't bother. Please, in fact, don't support this movie so that way we don't have to sit through any more of these holiday beatings.
WHITFIELD: Grae, telling it like you see it. All right.
DRAKE: Ho, ho, ho, you have a happy holiday.
WHITFIELD: On that lovely, festive note --
DRAKE: 'Tis the season.
WHITFIELD: Thanks so much, Grae. Remember you can catch all of Grae's movie grades at Fandango and Movies.com, the good ones and the not so good once.
There's a different type of political theater playing on Capitol Hill right now, the battle to extend the payroll tax cut. It's heating up. We'll look at why one plan could impact the environment.
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WHITFIELD: Time for a CNN = Politics update. We're keeping an eye on all the latest headlines at the CNNpolitics.com desk. Here's what's crossing right now.
Six Republican presidential hopefuls are preparing themselves to square off tonight in Iowa. Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney are the front runners heading into the debate in Des Moines. It comes less than three weeks before the Iowa caucus.
Lawmakers on Capitol Hill are still focused on the payroll tax cut. It is set to expire at the end the year. Both Democrats and Republicans have plans to extend the cuts, but the plans let common ground, and a GOP House plan ties the extension to a provision clearing a path for approving the Keystone XL pipeline.
President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden are attending a gridiron tradition today. They are at the 112th annual Army-Navy football game in Maryland. The game started a short time ago. Last year the Navy emerged victorious.
And for all the latest political news, you know exactly where to go, CNNpolitics.com.
And join us every Sunday afternoon at 4:00 eastern time when we dedicate an entire hour to the presidential contenders in the 2012 election.
From desperation comes inspiration -- how an Occupy Wall Street protester landed her dream job on Wall Street.
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WHITFIELD: Occupy Wall Street and its spinoff protests are fueled by anger and frustration. But here's an Occupy success story that is a testament to good timing, a protester who got herself hired on Wall Street. CNN's Chris Knowles has her story.
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CHRIS KNOWLES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Somewhere in this gathering of the so-called 99 percent, there is one who would soon join the one. She just didn't know it yet.
TRACY POSTERT, FORMER "OCCUPY" PROTESTOR: There were some days when it was a carnival, lots of music, drumming, costumes, marching, protesting.
KNOWLES: Tracy Postert said she jumped right into the Occupy Wall Street movement all in, banging drums and washing paint and dirt covered sidewalks. In the past few years the biochemist says she found herself at times unemployed and underemployed until a few weeks ago when she says she decided to change her protest sign to a job wanted sign and bunkered down with a handful of resumes.
POSTERT: Passersby would say get a job. I wouldn't have a really good response to that. I wanted to say, well, I'm trying to get a job, but you can't prove it. So I said why don't I make a sign and handout my resume at Occupy Wall Street. That is proving I'm actively looking for a job.
KNOWLES: In two days she said someone spotted her, exchanged emails, and a job offer followed. That someone, a top executive at a Wall Street financial firm, in other words, the enemy.
WAYNE KAUFMAN, MARKET ANALYST, JOHN THOMAS FINANCIAL: It might sound like it's a fish out of water story or a square peg in a round hole, but it's really not.
KNOWLES: Tracy, how is your new boss?
POSTERT: I like him.
KNOWLES: For now Tracy is researching early stage biotech companies for firm. She says she plans to take a test that would allow her to become a broker and a full fledge member of the one percent. So, what are her former occupiers saying?
POSTERT: I have been accused of being a traitor to both sides. Some people are saying that the whole time I was at Occupy Wall Street I was really a Wall Street insider.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: Tracy says she will keep that sign of hers and promises to protest again when she finds something, well, in her words, "worth protesting."
A new child sex abuse allegation involving a sports figure surfacing today, this time against the head of the Amateur Athletic Union. Two men tell ESPN that Robert "Bobby" Dodd molested them back in the 1980 when they were playing on Dodd's AAU basketball team. Police in Memphis, Tennessee opened an investigation. No comment from Dodd who is battling colon cancer.
In Oslo, Norway today, three women took center stage accepting the Nobel Peace prize. The women are being honored for their individual fights against injustice, dictatorship, and sexual violence in Liberia and Yemen.
