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Tyler Brem Shooting into Cars on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood Friday; Four Cincinnati and Four Xavier Basketball Players Suspended; McQueary Changing His Statement Again for Penn State Child Sex Abuse Scandal
Aired December 11, 2011 - 17:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, HOST: Alright, thanks so much for tuning into this special hour of politics. Join us every Sunday 4:00 Eastern time. Now, stay right here for the latest news right here in the NEWSROOM.
Former Panamanian leader Manuel Noriega is on a flight now - destination, Panama to face jail time for the killing of two political opponents in the 1980s. Noriega spent 22 years in prison in the United States and France for drug trafficking and money laundering. Today, France turned Noriega over to Panamanian authorities before boarding the plane.
Iran will not hand over the unmanned American spy plane it claims to have. An Iranian news agency quote a general as saying nobody returns spy equipment to the country of its origin. U.S. officials have not officially confirmed the drone shown in this video is American. Although the Pentagon does say a CIA drone is missing and not yet recovered.
Los Angeles police have identified the man in this terrifying video. It shows 26-year-old Tyler Brem shooting into cars on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood Friday, apparently at random. They still don't know what motivated this rampage in which Brem wounded three people. Responding police officers shot Brem, who later died at a hospital.
Was it basketball night or fight night? A cross town rivalry in Cincinnati turned violent on the court with just seconds left at last night's university of Cincinnati/Xavier basketball game. A huge brawl broke out. Cincinnati player threw a punch at a Xavier player, drawing blood and then there was this comment from Xavier player after the game.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TU HOLLOWAY, XAVIER BASKETBALL PLAYER: You know that's what you're going to see from Xavier and Cincinnati. And we got disrespected a little bit before the game. Guys calling us out. We're a tougher team. We're grown men over here. We got a whole bunch of gangsters in the locker room, not thugs but tough guys on the court. And we went out there and zipped them up at the end of the game. That's our motto. Zip them up and that's what we just did to them.
(END VIDEO CLIP) WHITFIELD: And within the last hour, Tu Holloway apologized for the gangster comment. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HOLLOWAY: And I really apologize for what took place. And, you know, the choice of words I used, you know, idolize guys like Kevin Garnett, and Ray Lewis And things like that, and I love what they stand for in their sports and on the field and that's what I was trying to say after the game as far as the way I play and my team plates play on the court. We're not thugs. We're not bad kissers in every university. We're all going to get degrees and we're incredible young men. So, I really apologize for what took place yesterday.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Because of NCAA rules, there may be several suspensions after officials review the game tape.
Alright, some better college sports stories to tell you about right now. Baylor University junior quarterback Robert Griffin III is the 77th Heisman trophy winner. He beat out Stanford quarter back Andrew Luck, who was named runner up for the second consecutive year.
2011 has been a year of nonstop breaking news and CNN covered all of it. Go to CNN.com/topstories to cast your vote for the top ten stories of 2011 and then join us December 30th to find out whether your picks made the final cut as NEWSROOM and CNN.com unveil the top ten stories of the year.
Alright, meantime, new developments now in the Penn State child sex abuse case. Two days away from former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky facing his accusers in court and we're learning a key witness, Mike McQueary, is changing his story again.
Sara Ganim has been following the Sandusky case since the beginning for Harris for Pennsylvania Patriot News. And she is joining us right now on the phone from State College.
So Sara, how is McQueary changing the story?
SARA GANIM, REPORTER, THE PATRIOT NEWS (via telephone): Well, this is the first account we have come up across. The first witness account of what McQueary saw back in 2002, that night in March when he stumbled upon something in the Penn State locker room late at night between Jerry Sandusky and a young boy.
But how this differs from what we read in the grand jury report and what is in Mike McQueary's handwritten police statement is that he told this man, this doctor who was at his father's house, where he went seeking advice after he stumbled upon this incident, he told his doctor he didn't see anything, that he only heard some sexual acts and that a young boy peered around the corner of the shower stall and was grabbed by a man's waist, pulled back behind out of view, and then a few minutes later, he saw Jerry Sandusky leaving a towel. None of that is ever mentioned in the grand jury summary or in the handwritten statement.
In both, that handwritten statement and the grand jury summary, a summary of his testimony, both given in 2010, he said that he saw this young boy standing up against the wall being sodomized by Jerry Sandusky. So, it appears to be very different testimony, although you have to remember that that grand jury -- that grand jury report is a summary of testimony, and this is the testimony of a man who was there the night that he went to his father's house.
WHITFIELD: So what does this mean for the case? How might this impact the preliminary hearing that is scheduled for Tuesday?
GANIM: Well, you know, it is unclear because we don't know what prosecutors have. This is all related to victim two, and we don't know if prosecutors have found victim two since that November 4th arrest.
What this could really have an impact on is the Friday preliminary hearing for Gary Schultz and Tim Curley, the vice president and the athletic director who have been charged with perjury and failure to report a crime, because their case hinges solely on the credibility of Mike McQueary. It is basically Mike McQueary versus them.
And the version of the story that has been told now by this doctor, this witness, seems to be more in line with Gary Schultz and Tim Curley, than it does with Mike McQueary and that case hinges completely on the fact that the grand jury found Mike McQueary to be more credible than Tim Curley and Gary Schultz.
WHITFIELD: Alright, Sara Ganim, thank you for that account. Appreciate that. All of this taking place while we're also learning about former Penn State head football coach Joe Paterno. And that he may be back in the hospital.
A source close to the family says Paterno slipped and fell at his home last night and has a fractured pelvis. Paterno lost his job after Sandusky was charged with child sex abuse.
And during this week, when the preliminary hearing is scheduled now, our Susan Candiotti had a candid conversation with the attorney representing one of the accusers.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Wearing his court ordered ankle bracelet, Jerry Sandusky will leave his home Tuesday to face his accusers for the first time, a potentially explosive moment in this courtroom, when his alleged victims take the stand, outlining dramatic charges of rape and molestation.
What do you think the atmosphere will be like in the courtroom?
MIKE BONI, ATTORNEY FOR VICTIM NUMBER ONE: I think it will be electric.
CANDIOTTI: Sandusky is charged with performing oral sex on the teenager known as alleged victim number one more than 20 times in 2007 and 2008. The boy's attorney says the teen is ready to testify.
How is your client trying to prepare himself for this?
BONI: He is committed himself to assisting the prosecution in any way the prosecution needs him for. And he has been thoroughly prepared on several occasions by the lead prosecutor. And he has been told to essentially tell the truth, and prepare by simply trying to relax as best as he can.
CANDIOTTI: What is it going to be like for him to face coach Sandusky?
BONI: I'm sure it comes as no surprise that he hasn't seen him in, you know, face to face in several years. I believe it is going to be a very difficult, difficult experience for him.
CANDIOTTI: And for each alleged victim at the preliminary hearing, prosecutors must convince a judge there is enough evidence to go to trial.
JEFFREY TOOBIN, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: This is going to be a very serious moment for these victims because it is going to be the first time that they have told their story in public. It is a very embarrassing situation for most of them to be sure, and they're going to be cross- examined by someone who is determined to show they're lying.
CANDIOTTI: With two more alleged victims coming forward last week. Sandusky now faces more than 50 charges of sexual assault. He denies all of them.
BONI: Sandusky didn't call them liars, but that's the necessary implication that these victims who came forward are liars by denying that he did anything, was like a punch in the stomach for my client, both my clients, victim one and his mother.
CANDIOTTI: Sandusky's wife Dottie has issued a statement defending her husband adding she never heard alleged cries for help from their basement.
His wife is emphatic in saying that these things did not happen, they did not happen at their home, those boys, one of whom claims yelled, she said I would have heard something if that had happened. She is standing by him.
BONI: There are two kinds of wives in this situation like this. There is the good wife, like the television show, who will stand by her man and that's what Dottie Sandusky has chosen to do.
CANDIOTTI: For victim one, the choice is clear.
BONI: I think he'll be fine. I think that you're absolutely right, he's 18 years old, just turned 18, and this would be stressful for anybody at any age and particularly given the nature of these crimes. But I know victim one, he is determined to help the prosecution. He wants nothing more than to see this man behind bars and he will do whatever he can to assist in that process. CANDIOTTI: He's prepared to see this is the whole way through; no matter how long it goes?
BONI: Absolutely right.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CANDIOTTI: Apparently so is Sandusky. His attorney says the former coach is doing his homework to help prepare his defense. Fred?
WHITFIELD: Alright, Susan. Thanks so much.
Alright now, to the child sex scandal hitting a sports organization, this one in Memphis, where the head of the amateur athletic union is accused of molesting boys on a basketball team.
Let's go to George Howell, who is following this story. George?
GEORGE HOWELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, we are learning some new information as we examine the timeline of events, how long did the amateur athletic union know about these allegations of sex abuse against its former leader, Bobby Dodd.
What we do know is that two men came forward to share their stories on ESPN's "Outside the Lines," claiming that Dodd sexually abused them back in the 1980s when they were teenagers. Today we confirmed through the AAU that there may also be a third person who complained to that group with similar allegations.
Now, back to the timeline of events, what we were able to confirm today through the AAU is that the group knew about these allegations starting on November 7th. November 7th and 8th when they received anonymous e-mails from a source only identified in the messages as shrimp breath.
Also they received phone calls. Again, it took a little more than a month before they contacted police on December 8th. So today I contacted the spokesperson, the hired spokesperson for the AAU, Robert Sacks, to ask him why it took so long to contact police. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDE CLIP)
RON SACHS, AAU SPOKESMAN: There was no specificity about an individual that they could contact. No name, no phone number, no hard address, neither was there an offer in those e-mails or phone messages to be contacted. They did what they thought was responsible and in retrospect, anybody could armchair quarterback and second guess it. Perhaps if they knew more, they would have called the police sooner. They're very comfortable that they called the police when they believed they had adequate information to verify there was a need for a police investigation.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOWELL: And, again, keep in mind that show, outside the lines aired this bombshell interview, this bombshell story just today. But Sachs was clear to make the point that this board convened very quickly. They moved just a few days after getting these e-mails and phone calls to confront Dodd. Dodd apparently denied it repeatedly, denied being connected to any of these allegations. But the board decided to remove him from the position of president, hired an interim president, and, again, they say they have no contact with Bobby Dodd at this point, Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: Alright. Thanks so much, George Howell, in Memphis.
Of course, all of these allegations have a lot of parents concerned about their kids and their safety. And they want to know what kind of questions they need to be asking and what kinds of standards need to be imposed on these organizations that are designed to help out kids.
We'll be talking live with executive director of the national children's advocacy center who will have some of the answers to many of the questions that you have right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Alright, checking news overseas now. An earthquake struck southern Mexico overnight. It was felt in Mexico City, about hundred miles north of the center of the quake. Officials say the 6.5 magnitude quake killed at least two people and damaged dozens of homes.
And Syrian military commanders are warning protesters in the city of Holmes to hand in their weapons and stop protesting by Monday night or they will face bombardment. That's according to an opposition leader. That deadline has not been verified by the Syrian government.
And Russia's president promises to look into allegations of election fraud that comes one day after tens of thousands of Russian voters filled public spaces in Moscow; furious at what they call a rigged parliamentary election last weekend.
We have much more in the NEWSROOM right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: All right this latest spate of child sex molestation cases has a lot of parents and families wondering how to best protect their children. Teresa Huizar, the executive director of the National Children's Advocacy Center, has a few suggestions.
So Teresa, you know parents are entrusting that organizations that have had long-standing reputations of sports programs or arts, et cetera, that they are going to be the safest places for their kids. What are some of the items on the checklist, perhaps, that parents should go through?
TERESA HUIZAR, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, NATIONAL CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTER: Well, I think it is very important for parents to always ask the question of what sort of background screening is being done of volunteers and staff by these camps. So, while that's not a feel safe, it is a good for a start. I think the other thing that they need to ask about are what are the policies and procedures about one adult, one child contact, because we know that most child sexual abuse occurs in situations in which one adult is alone with one child.
So, beginning with those two things, I think it can help parents feel empowered to ask hard questions before deciding whether or not to send their children to these camps.
WHITFIELD: And then we -- we have all been told to tell our kids, you know, that no one should touch you in an inappropriate way. But it seems as though we have to have that conversation with our kids about what they need to be sharing with their parents because so often we're hearing that an alleged abuser might threaten the child or tell them, don't tell anyone because then we'll hurt your family.
But, how do you tell or instruct kids what they need to share, how they need to convey information to their loved ones?
HUIZAR: Well, I think parents can start out just by having conversations with their children about their own bodies, about private parts, about the proper names for private parts, and about the fact that there are rules about who can and can't touch those.
And to make sure that the children are aware if someone touches them inappropriately, they are supposed to tell and right away. And that as a parent, you're not going to be angry with the child, you're not going to be upset, that's not being a tattle tale, it is important to come forward right away and tell.
Most children don't disclose because they're afraid that someone won't believe them, or that their parent will be mad at them. And so if parents can assure their children that that won't be the case, I think you can see children come forward and disclose things more readily.
WHITFIELD: Earlier, you mentioned organizations should do background checks, but there isn't a standard set on how organization should be going about screening volunteers or employees, et cetera.
Do you think there will ever be a time or might this be the impetus now that standards ought to be set, that every organization has to have the same kind of checklist as they pursue volunteers or employees?
HUIZAR: Well, I think that any youth serving organization has to start with doing a criminal background check. But as you know, those do not cover every situation. Lots of individuals who are later convicted of child sexual abuse have no criminal past at all. So, that's only the first start. I think doing reference checks is important. I think it is also important to follow up and do central registry checks, such as child abuse registry checks, where that is possible.
Sadly, in some states there is very limited access to that. And so, an employer can hire somebody who may have a civil child sexual abuse case, and be entirely unaware of it because in some states they're into the permitted to have access to that information.
WHITFIELD: Teresa Huizar, thank you for your time. Appreciate that.
HUIZAR: Thank you very much.
WHITFIELD: Alright, time for a check of what is happening in the week ahead.
Chelsea Clinton is making her television debut tomorrow. The daughter of Hillary and Bill Clinton is now a news correspondent for the NBC news magazine show "Rock Center," with Brian Williams.
And former senator and former head of MF Global Jon Corzine returns to the hot seat this week. He's expected to face more tough questions about the collapse of his brokerage firm. He faces a Senate subcommittee on Tuesday and house subcommittee on Wednesday.
And the Screen Actors Guild is preparing to honor its own. Sag nominations are to be announced on Wednesday morning. The Sag Awards will be handed out in late January.
Alright, if you posted something to your twitter account this year, and then you lent your voice to a 60 billion kind of comment roster that flew around the world on that social media service alone. Twitter programmers counted the hash tags used to group comments together. And released this week, the most tweeted about world news stories of 2011. More twitter users commented about the upheaval in Egypt than anything else.
Ralitsa Vassileva is here from CNN International to give us an idea all the -- I guess the popular items.
RALITSA VASSILEVA, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Yes. What got people talking?
WHITFIELD: In the world of twitter.
VASSILEVA: It was hands down the Arab spring and Egypt. That was the number one revolution we witnessed this year. People kept talking about it. Anything that had to do with Egypt, Cairo, twitter -- anything that had to do with Mubarak's resignation, people exploded, congratulating themselves once he resigned and he was ousted.
So, Egypt hands down and anything that had to do with Egypt's revolution. Number two was the raid that killed Osama bin Laden. That was also very high. People were talking about that a lot. And also Japan's earthquake and also the tsunami that too, was a lot of hash tags, a lot of people talking about it. So these are the three main news topics that people were excited about, interested in, and expressed their opinions.
WHITFIELD: So, social media made a huge impact that we know?
VASSILEVA: Absolutely. And it continues to do so. Just today we were talking in the NEWSROOM about Syria. We would not know what is happening inside Syria if it is not for twitter, social media, you tube. News reporters are not allowed in. Of course, we cannot verify exactly whether the information is authentic. But we see all these videos uploaded to you tube.
People are tweeting, managing to give their information out. So, ordinary people will not stand for repression. They will find ways to organize themselves. They will find ways to tell the world and ask for help.
WHITFIELD: It is happening on a very big way. And then you mentioned there is some food. What is the food connection here?
VASSILEVA: Actually, we -- people were tweeting about food, that doesn't even exist in the United States. The McLobster that was the number one hash tag about food. People kept tweeting about the McLobster that is coming to the United States.
WHITFIELD: They wanted it to happen they were wishing.
VASSILEVA: They burst their bubble and said, no, it is not going to happen.
WHITFIELD: No one knows where that came from, how that got started?
VASSILEVA: No. Maybe somebody said they feel like eating a McLobster, why not? And so, people say they will find out. Maybe, maybe McDonald's will come up with it.
WHITFIELD: But they quashed that?
VASSILEVA: Well, they quashed it, but you know what, twitter helped topple dictators, why not starts a food trend?
WHITFIELD: My! Interesting, I mean, could be yummy.
VASSILEVA: We will be talking next year.
(LAUGHTER)
WHITFIELD: Maybe. All right, thanks Ralitsa. Appreciate that.
Alright, just over three weeks to go before the Iowa caucuses and the Republican candidates for president have a pretty busy week ahead. We'll take a look at how the campaign trail is shaping up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: With the Iowa caucuses just three weeks away, it is going to be a pretty busy week on the campaign trail for the Republican candidates. CNN deputy political director Paul Steinhauser is live in Des Moines, Iowa.
So Paul, it is going to be a busy week. Many are spending time in Iowa and then they are moving on too, right?
PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: It is going to be a busy week here. But Fred, actually the week starts pretty -- more busy in New Hampshire. Remember, that's the second state to vote. They come one week after the Iowa caucuses.
Tomorrow you'll see Newt Gingrich, the front-runner now in the battle for the GOP nomination, and Jon Huntsman, they're going to be teaming up in a Lincoln Douglas style debate in New Hampshire tomorrow afternoon. We'll have a lot of coverage of that, sending our Jim Acosta to that.
On Tuesday you mentioned, that's three weeks until the caucuses. It is first contest in the primary and caucus calendar. Later in the week, all of the candidates except for Huntsman right back here in Iowa.
On Thursday, another presidential debate, this time in the western part of the state. And I tell you, Fred, with the clock ticking, you are going to see a lot of campaigning right here in Iowa and New Hampshire, of course, between now and the beginning of the primaries. Fred?
WHITFIELD: All right. And then, we have got a debate and people will be watching for a debate on Thursday and then there is still a talk on whether there will be a debate that Trump is moderating. That's still up in the air, isn't it?
STEINHAUSER: Yes. That Trump debate is up in the air because as of now, only two candidates have said yes to that, Gingrich and Rick Santorum, the former senator from Pennsylvania. So, we will see if it takes place. If it does, the debate is scheduled to take place on the 27th two days after Christmas, right here in Des Moines, Iowa.
And you know, Fred, for these candidates with the clock ticking, this is the time, especially for some of the candidates who have so much on the line right here in Iowa, kind a do or die in Iowa, this is where they spend their money. Maybe put up some ads. Get out the vote efforts.
WHITFIELD: Yes.
STEINHAUSER: It's been so crucial the last three weeks before the caucus, Fred.
WHITFIELD: Alright, Paul Steinhauser, thanks so much, in a very blustery, it appears, Des Moines, looks chilly.
(LAUGHTER)
WHITFIELD: Alright, an actress heads to prison to honor one of CNN's top ten heroes as we get ready for live tribute show in Los Angeles. You can see the live pictures right now of the red carpet in place. Boy, the stars and the moon being aligned there in Los Angeles for the CNN all-star tribute. We'll have much more on that in a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Alright, checking the top stories now, United Airlines flight made an emergency landing in Colorado today after losing one of its engines. A spokesman says united airlines flight 321 was flying from Denver to Los Angeles when its right engine shut down. The 757 landed safely at an airport in western Colorado. There were 125 people on board the plane.
Former Panamanian leader Manuel Noriega is on a flight now, destination panama, to face jail time for the killings of two political opponents in the 1980s. Noriega spent 22 year in prison in the United States and France for drug trafficking and money laundering. Today, France turned Noriega over to Panamanian authorities before boarding that plane.
And national league most -- the national leagues rather, most valuable player Ryan Braun could miss the first 50 games of next year. ESPN reports that he tested positive for a banned substance in October, synthetic testosterone. The Milwaukee Brewer denies any intentional violation of major league baseball rules.
And three university of Cincinnati players received a six-game suspension over last night's kind of brawl at the end of the game with Xavier. One player suspended for one game. A cross town rivalry in Cincinnati turned violent on the court with just seconds left at last night's university of Cincinnati/Xavier basketball game. That huge brawl broke out. A Cincinnati player threw a punch at a Xavier play, drawing blood and then there was this comment from a Xavier player after the game.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HOLLOWAY: You know that's what you're going to see from Xavier and Cincinnati. And we got disrespected a little bit before the game, guys calling us out. We're a tougher team. We're grown men over here. We got a whole bunch of gangsters in the locker room, not thugs but tough guys on the court. We went out and zipped them up at the end of the game. That's our not motto, zip them up and that's just what we did.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Within the last hour, Tu Holloway apologized for that gangster comment. This is what he said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HOLLOWAY: I apologize for what took place. The words I use, I idolize guys like Kevin Garnett and Ray Lewis and things like that. And I love what they stand for in their sports and on the field and that's what I was trying to say after the game as far as the way I play and my teammates play on the court. We're not thugs. We're all going to get degrees and we're incredible young men. I really apologize for what took place yesterday.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CANDIOTTI: The three suspensions were made by the University of Cincinnati. We're still waiting for word of any more disciplinary action.
President Barack Obama handled the coin toss at yesterday's Army/Navy game.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: President Obama, would you do us the honor and flip the coin. Don't let it hit the ground. Tails is the call. It is tails.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: So the army may have won the toss, but not much else. The Navy won, 27-21. It is the Navy's tenth consecutive win over the black knights in a rivalry game that dates back to the 1890s.
And in Howell, Michigan, northwest of Detroit, a shoplifter who took a glass fireplace door 30 years ago has a change of heart. He or she sent a letter to country squire fireplace and lighting with $200 on it, enough to cover the cost of the door, plus interest.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When I opened up the letter, the money fell out first and I just assumed it was, like a deposit for something they wanted to order. Two crisp $100 bills.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm sorry to say I took that glass door and left.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: The letter was signed remorseful. The store's owner says the money will go to charity.
We're counting down to tonight's live broadcast of the CNN heroes, an all-star tribute, our annual event saluting the top ten heroes of the year. Actress Holly Robinson Peete is a long time fan of the Heroes program. She is among many celebrities who are going to be there, live pictures there right now. The red carpet there for the all-star tribute. That airs tonight 8:00 Eastern time. Of course, you will see it right here on CNN. Take a look at this preview.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HOLLY ROBINSON PEETE, ACTRESS: When I was involved with heroes in 2008, Carolyn Smith's project just touched my heart. You think about the people in this world that need help, the last people on that list are the children of the incarcerated parents. That, to me, is why I'm coming out here today.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Approaching destination on the left.
PEETE: So, since I met you in 2008, how many institutions have you been able to bring the message of this project to?
CAROLYN SMITH, CNN HONOREE: When we received the award, we were doing six prisons just in Virginia. We have institutions now in Nebraska and Oklahoma and Missouri.
PEETE: So, what are the total numbers of messages delivered by the messages project now?
SMITH: We're right at 9,000.
PEETE: Wow! That's a lot of children that have this opportunity.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Gate, please.
PEETE: So, tell me about this facility.
SMITH: This is a maximum security prison. And it is the pilot for California.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thanks.
SMITH: Good morning. How are you? I'm Carolyn. Talk from your heart. 15 minutes. We're going to give you a signal.
PEETE: Are we ready to roll? Here we go.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hi, kids. I know that you're angry with me. And you should be angry with me. The difficulties you faced over the years; that's my fault. Hold on a second. Man.
PEETE: You can see that sadness, that guilt that they had for whatever decision they made that has impacted their children their entire lives.
SMITH: When you set these fathers down in front of that camera, they're dad.
PEETE: I felt like I was in a room with some men that were desperate to convey to their children that they loved them. I can't imagine with all of the things going on in these children's lives what this means to them. On behalf of all of them, thank you so much.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: Tonight is a big night. We're honoring all of our top ten heroes and revealing the hero of the year. Who you selected?
Watch CNN heroes, an all-star tribute, at 8:00 Eastern. Right now, the red carpet has been rolled out. You're looking at live pictures now, people getting into position, lots of reporters, cameras and soon stars will be gracing that red carpet as well. You want to join Anderson Cooper and a lineup of celebrity presenters this evening for the all-star tribute. It will inspire you. You don't want to miss it. 8:00 Eastern time here on CNN.
Religion, politics and personal baggage, Newt Gingrich has become the darling of evangelical Christians, but has he repented enough to become president? A religion editor weighs in.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: All right, there were some pretty contentious moments at the Republican debate in Iowa last night. The moderator asked should voters consider marital fidelity when making their choice for president. Here is how Rick Perry and Newt Gingrich responded.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RICK PERRY (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: If you will cheat on your wife, if you will cheat on your spouse, then why wouldn't you cheat on your business partner or why wouldn't you cheat on anybody for that matter.
NEWT GINGRICH (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I made mistakes at times. I had to go to God for forgiveness. I had to seek reconciliation. But I'm also a 68-year-old grandfather and I think people have to measure who I am now, and whether I'm a person they can trust.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Earlier I spoke with Dan Gillgoff, religious editor for CNN.com and I asked whether Gingrich repented enough for his past sins to satisfy Christian conservatives that he could be president.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAN GILLGOFF, CNN.COM RELIGIOUS EDITOR: There was an open letter by a very prominent evangelical, the head of public policy for the southern Baptist convention calling on Newt Gingrich to repent more, give a public speech about his three marriages, about his affair with his current wife when he was married to his second wife, and to apologize for it.
And I think what was kind of surprising about the letter is that as opposed to galvanizing evangelical support for a big speech like that from Gingrich, all of these prominent evangelicals across the country came out in defense of Gingrich and said, hey, wait a minute, he's repented enough already and it is a real testament to how much bridge building Gingrich has done in recent years with evangelical leaders and apologizing too. You saw that in last night's debate.
WHITFIELD: So do you suppose those who spoke before last night's debate who said they wanted to see him come out more publicly; he kind of did that at that debate last night. Is it enough he would say it, I'm paraphrasing, he said, you know, people said I made mistakes, I've made some mistakes, you know, they -- it will be up to voters to measure now who I am and whether I am someone they can trust. Is that a public statement enough?
GILLGOFF: I think so far it is actually proving to be, yes. And, you know, last night you saw in the debate with that clip you played of Rick Perry. You know, Rick Perry is really trying to capitalize on his connection to evangelicals. He practices an evangelical style of Christianity himself.
And so, I went to church this morning here in Iowa and saw Rick Perry there and trying to connect and kind of giving a confessional about his faith. And it really hasn't worked yet. He hasn't broken through evangelicals. And one of the reasons why that is the case, is because Newt Gingrich has. And he seems to have a lot of those kind of voters, evangelical values voters here in Iowa on his side, which is kind of surprising, but part of it is because he's apologized and apologized a lot in the last three or four or five year and continues to do so.
WHITFIELD: How has his Catholicism, whether among evangelicals or anyone else who is trying to uphold some sort of standard of religion as it relates to a candidate for presidency?
GILLGOFF: Well, it is kind of ironic because you think someone like Gingrich, who was himself an evangelical for 25 years. He converts to Catholicism in 2009. His wife is a catholic and brought him into the church.
And you would think this might take a lot of evangelicals off, him leaving the faith, but it is had the opposite effect. And it's being interpreted as a kind of born again experience. And I talked to a number of evangelicals close to Gingrich and said he was a shabby or sloppy evangelical and coming to the Catholic Church has made him more serious about his faith and he's kind a changed him as a person. So surprisingly it is actually raised his stock in the eyes of a lot of evangelical leaders in this country.
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WHITFIELD: Alright, Dan Gillgoff, there. You can read Dan's article on the CNN belief blog. It's titled Newt Gingrich's faith journey, how a thrice married catholic became an evangelical darling. Just go to CNN.com/belief.
A real life drama in the movie capital, a man brazenly walks down a Hollywood street shooting at cars. A witness captures it all on video.
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WHITFIELD: All right, less than 24 hours after that Iowa debate last night, the candidates are out. They are moving and shaking in different states. Not just in Iowa. Mitt Romney right here, he's made his way to Hudson, New Hampshire, where he's talking to potential supporters there. We're going to monitor his remarks there out of Hudson, New Hampshire, and bring them to you momentarily.
Meantime, we know that the other candidates are also hitting the states of New Hampshire and then later on in the week, they're going to be returning back to Iowa.
Lots going on as we're just about three weeks away from the Iowa caucus, Don.
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: This is meant to be a compliment. He looks like a catalog model. Do you see him there, the hair is perfect. He's got the shirt. He looks like he should be -- I guess it wouldn't be --
WHITFIELD: Wouldn't you like that? I want to see it one more time. There you go.
LEMON: He looks like a catalog model, you know.
WHITFIELD: He's talking to what his -- his hoping to his constituents or his supporters.
LEMON: Yes.
WHITFIELD: You know draw enough support New Hampshire even though - you know when is the first primary state. So it's important for them to go back and forth, Iowa and New Hampshire. What have you got going on?
LEMON: And that was a compliment. So, don't send the e-mail saying, he's a good looking man.
WHITFIELD: Alright, what do you have foe us?
LEMON: We have got a lot going on. Fred, remember, I told you about the man that confronted the gunman in Hollywood, that crazy gunman? I spoke with him. Let's play a little bit of this and then we'll talk more.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: But I wasn't at any moment afraid of somehow being shot or killed or wounded. I had a much better opportunity to avoid death from my vantage point.
LEMON: He actually did engage you in conversation, even asked you for ammunition? And did he ask you for another gun, or you know, he wanted you to call for an ambulance and he is asking you for more ammo.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, because I told him to kill me. I said, please kill me right now. I'm prepared to die.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: And Fred, it's interesting because this is number one on dotcom all day long to hear why this guy confronted this man and I spoke with the L.A.P.D. yesterday and he said he actually did save lives because he distracted that guy. Because the guy would be focusing possibly --
WHITFIELD: A really bold move. Yes, he put his own life potentially on the line. What should do that?
LEMON: He certainly did. So, more on that.
Also, the fallout from the bench clearing basketball brawl, Xavier, Fred, has suspended four players, Cincinnati also suspended four players. But, comments after the game have people talking. We are following up.
WHITFIELD: The comments from the player, particularly one player?
LEMON: Yes, there you go. WHITFIELD: Who described the motivation behind it all?
LEMON: Yes.
WHITFIELD: OK.
LEMON: Remember we were talking yesterday about this?
WHITFIELD: I know it. I like the side burns. He's got the shaft going on. I like it. Still looks good.
LEMON: Can you dig it?
(LAUGHTER)
WHITFIELD: All right, Don. We'll look to see more of you and the side burns later on this evening.
LEMON: All right.
WHITFIELD: Alright, straight ahead, brace yourselves if you live in the southwest, in particularly, Jacqui Jeras would be along to say some big wind gusts are coming that way. If you have side burns, you might want to take them down. It will be very windy.
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WHITFIELD: All right. The countdown is on. Just about two hours away before the big event tonight. CNN will be honoring heroes. They are going to be honoring ten incredible heroes for 2011. But, one in particular, who you at home voted to be the hero of the year.
Jacqui Jeras is with me now, taking a look at the red carpet, all the activity. You could see --
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WHITFIELD: OK. You'll get kind of a view there of the red carpet that stars will be walking down. They stop there before the cameras, people get shots of them. They interview them as well. Our own Kareen Wynter, of course there on the red carpet talking to a number of the news. There will be a pre preview show that will be this evening to be hosted by A.J. Hammer.
JACQUI JERAS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: It's so exciting.
WHITFIELD: Yes.
JERAS: One of my favorite things that CNN does. So, weather is very cooperative, by the way, but by 10:00. If it goes late, they are going to need some umbrellas because there is some rain moving in.
So, if you can see it in our satellite picture right there, a big rush of moisture is starting to move in along with the really cold core system. So, we're going to see heavy snow in the mountains. We are going to see heavy rail in the valley. We are talking hail for thunderstorms for tomorrow for you.
In Los Angeles, a little concern about the potential for flash- flooding. This is going to be huge impact storm certainly from the beginning of the week. It will be a slow mover through the day tomorrow into Tuesday. But then by Wednesday, it's going to start to pick up forward speed. Also bringing in heavy snow across the mountains in Arizona and New Mexico more a foot can be expected in a few locations. So, very difficult travel, eventually make its way to the nation's midsection by the middle of the week. So, we'll have to track that all the way across the country.
WHITFIELD: Alright, fantastic. Well, hopefully when the rain does rolled through the southern California area; everybody is going to be inside the auditorium and enjoying the festivities.
That's right. We can't have bad hair. Not on a great night like this. Alright, Jacqui. Thanks so much.
Let's look at the red carpet there as we close out this hour. There you go. Very soon all of the stars will be here, all of the heroes being honored as well. Two hours from now, the CNN All-star tribute honoring all of the CNN Heroes.
I'm Fredricka Whitfield. Thanks for being with me this afternoon. Much more of the NEWSROOM, straight ahead with Don Lemon.
Have a great week.
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