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Melody Barnes Interview; Census: More Americans in Poverty; Foreclosures Dim, but Grim Outlook; What's Next for Iraq?; Typical Worker Could Lose $1,000 if Payroll Tax Not Extended; Mitt Romney Attacks Newt Gingrich; Strange Objects Hover Above Protests; Florida A&M President Discusses Hazing; Possible Government Shutdown Over Payroll Tax Cuts.
Aired December 15, 2011 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN ANCHOR: Live from Studio 7, I'm Suzanne Malveaux.
I want to get you up to speed for this Thursday, December 15th.
The war in Iraq is officially over. A ceremony in Baghdad today officially brought the war to a close. American troops lowered the flag of command that had flown over the Iraqi capital. It has been almost nine years since the war started.
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta flew into Baghdad for the ceremony.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LEON PANETTA, U.S SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: We remember the nearly 4,500 brave Americans who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country, as well as the more than 30,000 wounded warriors, many of whom still struggle with serious, life-altering injuries.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: It's estimated more than 150,000 Iraqis lost their lives in the war, most of them civilians.
Sixteen days to go before the typical American worker gets hit with a $1,000-a-year tax increase. But there are some signs now Republicans, Democrats, might break their logjam over extending the payroll tax cut. A Democratic source says that President Obama may drop his plan for a millionaire surtax to cover the cost of extending it. Republicans oppose any new taxes on the wealthy. They would like to pay for the extension primarily by freezing federal pay.
Mitt Romney rolling out an aggressive new strategy to stop Newt Gingrich. Romney, in a flurry of interviews, says that Gingrich and his policy ideas are zany. That's right. He says that we don't need zany in a president. He labels Gingrich an "unreliable conservative."
Now, Gingrich climbed to the top of national presidential polls after Herman Cain's campaign went into a tailspin. You remember that.
He scoffed at Romney's new blitz. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NEWT GINGRICH (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I understand what all their consultants are doing. That's fine. They should run their campaign the way they want to. I'm going to run my campaign the way I want to.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: So, Gingrich leads Romney Iowa, but Romney still holds the top spot in the New Hampshire polls -- two very important states.
A new measure now of poverty by the Census Bureau finds that almost half of all Americans are now struggling. That's 146 million folks. Ninety-seven million fall into the low-income category. Another 49 million fall below the poverty line.
More than 100 people have died after drinking moonshine in eastern India. At least 100 more have been hospitalized. Most of the victims were poor villagers who paid only 10 cents for the liquor. Now, police say they have arrested four people they believe were involved in making the illegal brew.
So, before it was suspected hazing. Well, now authorities are looking into financial problems at Florida A&M University. Law enforcement officials say that they found evidence of possible fraud while investigating the death of the school's drum major. They say the financial irregularities are not directly related to Robert Champion's death, but they do involve the school's band and other departments.
A fraternity at the University of Vermont is now on suspension after a survey was circulated asking members who they would like to rape. That's right.
Sigma Phi Epsilon was already on probation for alcohol violations. Well, now the national organization has ordered the campus chapter to shut down all operations. Both the university and fraternity's national leadership are investigating.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TYLER BOGGESS, SIGMA PHI EPSILON FRATERNITY: It is not something that we stand for in terms of the values that our members pledge ourselves to, that our organization pledges itself to.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANNIE STEVENS, ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT FOR STUDENT AND CAMPUS LIFE: It is technically free speech, and yet it is deplorable and just absolutely inappropriate and offensive.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: A 41-year-old woman has died in a tragic and bizarre elevator accident in New York. Now, investigators say she was getting on the elevator when it suddenly shot up and pinned her between two floors.
Our affiliate New York 1 spoke to a witness.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The elevator was either next to me or one over. I heard this, like, loud boom, crash, and the whole thing kind of shook. It was pretty extreme. Like, a couple of the girls on my floor were, like, crying and really panicked.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: Two people in the elevator who saw this horrific accident, they were taken to the hospital to be checked out for psychological trauma.
Well, the French silent era film "The Artist" leads this year's Golden Globes with six nominations, including Best Comedy or Musical. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association gave five nominations each this morning to "The Descendents" starring George Clooney and the civil rights movie "The Help." The Golden Globe Awards will be handed out January 15th.
Here's your chance to "Talk Back" on one of the big stories of the day, the war in Iraq. As we mark the end of the war, we want to ask you, was it worth it?
We want to hear from you. Put your response on my page. It is Facebook.com/SuzanneCNN. We're going to post those responses later this hour.
And here's what's ahead "On the Rundown."
Census figures paint a stunning picture of the growing number of Americans now struggling just to get by.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You think of a homeless person, you think of some wino out on the corner. But it can happen to anyone -- anyone at any time.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: We're going to talk about that with President Obama's outgoing domestic policy adviser, Melody Barnes.
Also, there are now signs of a possible compromise to extend a payroll tax break for 160 million working Americans before it expires. We're talking about January 1st.
Plus, foreclosures dropping, but some say it is just the calm before a new storm. And the Iraq War officially ended today. We're going to look at what is next for those who live in Iraq and for the servicemen and women who are coming home.
And finally, Florida A&M University's president talks about the deadly alleged hazing incident involving the school's band.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MALVEAUX: The president's right-hand woman for domestic policy, Melody Barnes, is saying good-bye to the White House to consider opportunities in the private sector. And she is leaving at a time when more Americans are struggling to stay afloat.
A new measure of poverty by the Census Bureau today shows that almost half -- half of Americans are low income or living in poverty. An extraordinary figure. One of two Americans, low income, living in poverty.
So, Melody, first of all, great to see you. I know you're counting down the days here. A couple weeks you have before you leave.
But as someone who is in the trenches here, working on the president's domestic policy, what is your reaction to that figure? Does that really seem real to you, that that many people are now suffering?
MELODY BARNES, WHITE HOUSE DOMESTIC POLICY ADVISER: Well, first of all, Suzanne, thank you so much for having me. It's a pleasure to be with you.
And it does. I mean, what we know is that while the effects of this recent downturn in the economy have been devastating for so many people, there are people who were already hurting prior to 2008, prior to what has been the Great Recession. And that's why we started tackling these issues when we first came into the White House.
If you look at the stimulus bill that the president passed, we did a lot to try and support people, and actually keep several million people from descending further into poverty, or into poverty at all. But then we also recently put out a report, our "Pathways to Opportunity" report, that recounts some of the more innovative things we've done over the course of the administration to try and keep those in the middle class in the middle class and create a pathway for those who are struggling to get out of poverty to climb into the middle class.
These numbers are certainly quite devastating.
MALVEAUX: What do you think is the single biggest thing that needs to happen to turn it around? Is it something that President Obama or the government should be doing, or does it have to come from the private sector?
BARNES: Well, it's really a cross-sector. This is an all-hands-on- deck moment. I mean, the president has obviously been focused on job creation. That's one of the number one things that you can do for people, create jobs and make sure that people are prepared for those jobs. So important job training initiatives. If you look at his American Jobs Act, it is chockfull of ways that we can make sure people are prepared for jobs while we're also trying to create them.
Also, education, making sure that we've got young adults and adults, whether they are shifting in transition because of jobs that may not exist anymore, or coming out of college, that they are prepared and they have the tools and the skills needed. The president has a jobs council. We've been talking to those CEOs of medium and large businesses about what kinds of jobs are available and how to prepare people for them. And then looking down the pike and making sure our kids are ready for the jobs of the future as well.
MALVEAUX: OK. Let's turn the corner to Iraq. Officially, it is the end of the war in Iraq today.
BARNES: Yes.
MALVEAUX: And President Obama fulfilled that campaign promise. Here's what he told veterans.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: But our commitment doesn't end when you take of the uniform. You're the finest our nation has to offer, and after years of rebuilding Iraq, we want to enlist our veterans in the work of rebuilding America. And that's why we're committed to doing everything we can to extend more opportunities to those who have served.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: Melody, specifically, what does the administration need to do right now to make sure that those veterans come back and they are part of an economic recovery?
BARNES: Absolutely. And it's veterans and their families. I mean, so many people have made -- there are 4,500 who made the ultimate sacrifice, tens of thousands who were harmed, and millions who have served. So there's several things we've done and we've put in place.
First of all, if you look at the American Jobs Act, it includes a tax credit to make sure that those who have served and are coming back, we're encouraging employers to hire them, and including those who have service-related disabilities, one.
Two, earlier, a few months ago we put in place plans to make sure that those who are caring for veterans who are coming home, that their caregivers have the necessary support so that they can do that, and we can blunt, we can buffer the economic hardship to those families.
Then you've got the first lady and Dr. Biden in their Joining Forces effort. And that's to make sure that we're looking at those families and supporting them across the board. And that's consistent with what the president asked for across the administration, how their kids are doing as they have had to shift schools, how spouses are doing when they need jobs, and public/private partnerships to make sure those jobs are available.
MALVEAUX: All right. And let's talk a little bit about your tenure now that you're on your way out.
You were one of the powerhouses in the White House, one of the few women who was really in the inner circle. And a lot was made at the time when you were at the White House about whether or not there was an old boy's network, the president playing basketball with the guys. And then I think we have the picture, because you were the first woman to get the invite to play golf with the president.
So, tell us, now that you're on your way out, is there kind of this all boys guy culture there? Has it changed a little bit? What was your experience?
BARNES: One of the things that I will miss most, and I said this to my colleagues just two days ago, is the camaraderie and this bond. I mean, we -- in serving the American people who are struggling -- and we want to create opportunity for them -- there's a fire that you go through with a group of people, and it makes you stronger and the fabric of the White House stronger. And I certainly feel that and will miss that.
I've had wonderful colleagues, men and women. We've had vigorous and vibrant debates. That's what the president wants. That's what the president needs.
But I know that I have felt respected in that way, and I think my female colleagues do as well. We have all benefited and been enriched by this experience of being in the White House.
MALVEAUX: As someone who's a close friend of the president, can you tell us anything we don't know about him? Can you share?
BARNES: You know, people often say to me, what's he really like? I'll say, what you see is what you get, which is wonderful. There is no pretense.
He is steady. He has his eye on a vision for America that is one of opportunity for all people. He cares deeply.
He walks around with those 10 letters that he reads every day. And he often comes to us and says, "How are we going to fix this? Is what you're doing and suggesting going to fix this person's problem?" Or he'll chide us and say, "That's a policy idea a wonk would love. Is this going to help in the real world?"
He has been a wonderful leader to follow by virtue of who he is.
MALVEAUX: OK. Well, Melody, can you share any of your plans about moving forward? BARNES: The first thing I'm going to do is I'm going to sleep in. I start my day with a 7:30 meeting. I end my day around 9:30 every night. I'm going to sleep in, and I'm going to allow my husband -- we're going to have dinner before 9:45 or 10:00 every night.
(LAUGHTER)
MALVEAUX: Good for you, Melody. Well, it's been a pleasure. Congratulations. Wish you all the best.
Thanks, Melody.
BARNES: Great. Thank you so much, Suzanne.
MALVEAUX: Sure.
We're going to hear from President Obama at the top of the hour, noon Eastern. He's going to help unveil a plan to give federal pay protections to home health care workers. The president is also likely to comment on this battle that is taking place to extend the payroll tax cut.
Well, fewer foreclosures, and new numbers are out this morning. But there are signs of trouble now for the new year. We're going to check in with Alison Kosik at the New York Stock Exchange.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(NEWSBREAK)
MALVEAUX: And a bright spot in the housing market, but experts now say it could be a sign of bad things to come.
Want to bring in Alison Kosik at the New York Stock Exchange.
First of all, so how do the numbers look today? What do we make of what we're seeing here at the market?
ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Suzanne, you know what? If you look at the headline number, it looks pretty good.
Foreclosures for November are actually down three percent. And then if you compare this November to last November, foreclosures are actually down 14 percent.
But guess what? We've seen this kind of thing at this time of year, and we're seeing it again where lenders like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, they have put a moratorium out. They basically don't serve notices around the holidays for obvious reasons. They don't want to bring bad news during the holidays. But there's a harsh reality that remains.
Nevada continues to lead in defaults. California, Arizona are also up there. In those states, a lot of people are out of work, they're falling behind on their mortgage payments. Many have stopped making payments altogether because they're under water, meaning their homes -- they owe more on their homes than it's worth. So this could set up for an interesting 2012 -- Suzanne.
MALVEAUX: And following November's figures, what does it say about what we are expecting moving forward here?
KOSIK: Exactly. So consider this the calm before the storm, because these filings are down, but it actually sets the stage for more foreclosures to come in the new year.
The big reason is because the number of homes scheduled to go to bank auction actually grew significantly. These filings had been down because of paperwork issues after that robo-signing scandal. But now banks are cleaning up their books, they're catching up, and that could mean that repos are likely to come roaring back in 2012.
A brighter picture though today for the markets even though stocks are off their best levels of the day. The Dow right now is up 54 points. The Nasdaq is up as well. So looking like a pretty good day for the markets thanks to some pretty positive economic reports here in the U.S. -- Suzanne.
MALVEAUX: All right. Great. Thank you, Alison.
It's a historic day for the United States and Iraq. After almost nine years, the war in Iraq is officially over. We're going to find out what this day means for the country and its people. We're also going to check in on American troops in Kuwait.
But first, memorable images from the Iraq War. "Shock and Awe" over Baghdad as the war begins in March, 2003. Iraqi kids caught in the middle of the violence in their homeland. They're on the street as a car burns.
Former dictator Saddam Hussein getting a medical exam after he was captured and later executed.
And charred bodies of U.S. contractors hanging from a bridge over the Euphrates River in Fallujah.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MALVEAUX: Here's what's ahead "On the Rundown."
Next, the Iraq War is officially over. We're going to look ahead to what is next.
And then, signs of compromise perhaps on extending the payroll tax break for millions of working Americans.
And CNN's Jason Carroll confronts the president of Florida's A&M University over a deadly alleged deadly hazing incident.
So we're going to go in depth now to Iraq.
After almost nine years, the war is over. It officially ended today in Baghdad during a ceremony known as the Casing of the Colors. From the beginning to now, almost 4,500 Americans have lost their lives in Iraq. More than 30,000 wounded. And tens of thousands of Iraqis have been killed, most of them civilians.
CNN's Barbara Starr is in Baghdad with more on the war's end and what it means to Iraq.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: At the height of the surge, more than 170,000 U.S. troops served here in Iraq. But as we count down the final days and hours, just a few thousand are left, perhaps just a few hundred here in Baghdad.
This has been the end of mission ceremony. That's what they're calling it, putting away the flag that U.S. forces in Iraq have flown here for so long. That flag, never to come out again.
Today, Defense Secretary Panetta, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dempsey, all here to pay tribute to those who have served. And, of course, more than 4,000 U.S. forces lost their lives here. More than 30,000 wounded.
This is the place where America came to know the phrase "IED," improvised explosive device, the weapon that has proved to be so deadly both here in Iraq, and of course continues to kill and wound U.S. troops in Afghanistan.
We've spoken to commanders here, and what they tell us is, now that the mission is wrapping up here in Iraq, they are looking at the broader picture for U.S. military presence here in this region. Expect to see U.S. troops continue to serve in Kuwait. Expect to see a beefed-up presence in the Persian Gulf. The U.S. military wants to make sure it has that continuing presence here in the region.
But as far as Iraq goes, it was back in May of 2003 when President George W. Bush stood on that aircraft carrier next to the banner that said "Mission Accomplished." Today, whether the mission is accomplished or not remains, perhaps, a debate, but for U.S. troops, the mission is over.
Barbara Starr, CNN, Baghdad.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MALVEAUX: Well, before heading home, the last American troops pulling out of Iraq, they're moving next door to Kuwait. That's where CNN's Martin Savidge, he is with them at Camp Virginia, Kuwait.
Martin, I understand that there's somewhat of a party atmosphere going on there behind you.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, there is, Suzanne. This is a rock performance that's happening right now. This is not a celebration, it just happens to work out coincidentally that the date that this band was scheduled to perform here falls on what is a very historic day when it comes to the withdrawal of U.S. forces coming out of Iraq.
And, you know, when you talk to many of the troops here, and you begin to get into their mindset about whether it's their first deployment or whether it's their fifth or sixth, they all have the same sense that this is history, that being here at the end of this conflict and seeing the U.S. finally out of Iraq is a major milestone in the history books. And they all think about that.
I had a conversation with a chaplain, and he talks about seeing other soldiers returning. Here's some of what he said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CAPT. CARSON JUMP, U.S. ARMY: I think it's awesome -- I mean, the fact that we're bringing something to the close. As the chaplain, I get to go out, and we watch the guys cross the border and kind of say, "Hey, welcome to Kuwait. You're on your way home."
And it's an exciting time. You see guys jumping out of the vehicles, giving hugs, and just saying, "Hey, we made it. We did it. We're safe."
And for a chaplain, that's a cool thing, because we also do the other side of it as well. And so seeing this is important to us.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SAVIDGE: And it's interesting, because I've talked to a number of soldiers, and they all express a similar kind of theme there, that as they come across the border there, they at first don't think it's going to be that big of a deal. But when they cross from Iraq into Kuwait, which is, of course, going from the cessation of hostilities into a place that's safe, they describe a very emotional moment.
They describe the fact that it really does strike them that now they're safe, but also that this is the end, that their war ended the moment that border crossing was made. So a lot of deep thoughts here even as they're excited to be heading home.
MALVEAUX: Sure. And Martin, tell us a little bit about these American troops. They're in Kuwait, but some of them are not going to be leaving Kuwait for home. They're going to be staying there.
What is the mission there?
SAVIDGE: Well, most of the troops that have come out of Iraq will be headed home. There are some units that are actually being deployed, small Navy units that are going directly to Afghanistan. But then there is a major body of tens of thousands of troops that are going to stay in the region.
And this is part of an effort on the United States to say that, look, just because we're leaving Iraq does not mean we are leaving the entire region. This is, of course, strategically, still a very important area to the United States. And whether it be keeping an eye on Iran, whether it be keeping an eye on things in Iraq, or maybe elsewhere, the U.S. presence is going to be very strong and Kuwait is still significant as a base for those operations.
MALVEAUX: All right. Martin Savidge, thank you.
We want to hear from you as we mark the end of the war in Iraq. So here's the "Talk Back" question: Was it even worth it?
Put your response on my Facebook page. That's Facebook.com/SuzanneCNN. We're going to have your responses later this hour.
Well, it is a political brawl that's going to hit every single American worker come January, and we're talking about your paycheck. The White House and Congress, they're wheeling and dealing on the payroll tax cut extension. The clock is ticking. We're going to go live from the center of the fight.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MALVEAUX: For many Americans, January is going to mean bigger credit card bills, perhaps a tax increase from Washington's gridlock Grinch. That's right. A typical worker will lose about $1,000 from his or her paycheck over 2012. That is unless Congress extends the payroll tax cut. Both parties say they want the extension. What's the problem? They can't agree on a way to pay for this.
Kate Bolduan is on Capitol Hill.
Kate, maybe we're finally seeing some sense that they're giving ground? Tell us what's going on.
KATE BOLDUAN, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: What we're talking about here, there could be some giving of ground, if you will, Suzanne, is that it has to do with the millionaire surtax. Democrats and the president, kind of all throughout this process, had been demanding that this so-called millionaire surtax be part of any final deal to extend the payroll tax cut, and this would be the way to cover the cost of the payroll tax extension. So that's a significant give on their part, a significant concession.
I'll tell you, just from the looks and what we heard from the two Republican and Democratic leader on the Senate floor this morning, Suzanne, there was a noteworthy change in tone. Much more upbeat and optimistic than I've really heard them throughout this whole battle. This doesn't necessarily mean they're at a deal, but we do know, on the staff level, talks are continuing today and they are working.
MALVEAUX: All right. The payroll tax cut extension, that's just one fight that's playing out in the days ahead. Where does Congress stand now on providing benefits for the unemployed?
BOLDUAN: For the unemployment assistance, there is kind of a general understanding that, as part of any final deal to extend the payroll tax cut, that would also include a package to extend benefits to the long-term unemployed, also some other tax extenders that expire at the end of the year as well. As a final deal, many anticipate that extending unemployment benefits will be part of that as well. There's a big dispute on just how long they would be extended between Democrats and Republicans. That's one element that also needs to be worked out in these final days.
MALVEAUX: I understand, again, they are talking about a possible government shutdown?
BOLDUAN: I know. It's almost a bad joke obviously. It's part of this fight. It really wasn't part of this fight until about last week. There is a possible -- they're facing a possible government shutdown because the last short-term spending bill that they were fighting over previously, that runs out Friday. That has nothing to do really with extending the payroll tax cut, but it's kind of gotten thrown into this end-of-year fight. So approving a massive funding bill to keep the government funded through fiscal year 2012, that's gotten caught up in this fight over the payroll tax as well as unemployment assistance. All of that has been looped together in this big fight. Something has to break the log jam.
I don't want to lean too far on what I heard from the leaders this morning, but they did seem more upbeat. There was a marked shift in tone from the past couple of days. We'll have to see how things develop today.
MALVEAUX: Reading the tea leaves there.
BOLDUAN: Trying.
MALVEAUX: Thank you. Appreciate it, Kate.
(LAUGHTER)
Mitt Romney taking off the gloves now in his attacks against Newt Gingrich. But is it a strategy that's going to work? That's up next in our "Political Ticker."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MALVEAUX: Time for politics. It means Joe Johns, live from the political desk in Washington.
Hi, Joe, great to see you. Mitt Romney ramping up his attacks on Newt Gingrich?
JOHNS: OK.
MALVEAUX: Hey, can you hear me? Joe, you got me?
JOE JOHNS, CNN SENIOR CORRESPONDENT: Yes, I've got you.
How's it going? I was having a little problem with --
(CROSSTALK)
MALVEAUX: That's all right. It's live TV, you know?
JOHNS: Yes, exactly. (LAUGHTER)
We're talking about Newt Gingrich?
MALVEAUX: Yes.
JOHNS: This is a guy who is sort of singing the holiday blues right now. It's all thanks to Mitt Romney's recent barrage of negative ads. Gingrich told Iowa Public Television that the onslaught coming from Romney headquarters has really jarred the holiday spirit. He says he thinks it's counterintuitive.
And Gingrich has said he has an ad that's coming up over the next week where he and his wife, Calista, are wishing people a merry Christmas. He says he thinks negative advertising is running counter to the spirit of Christmas. He called his stated intention, if you will, to try to remain positive is uncharted territory, he says, for presidential politics.
He's not predicting whether that strategy will be successful, calling it an experiment. He says political professionals are advising him to go negative because that's what you do when somebody goes negative on you. But he' speaking to voters in Iowa. He says he's convinced the right way to go is to stay above the fray. Sow we'll have to see how that works for him.
MALVEAUX: You know, somewhere I doubt how long that's going to last. We'll see how long it's going to survive.
JOHNS: Yes, exactly.
(CROSSTALK)
JOHNS: He's always said he's going to respond in the event his record is distorted. So he's left wiggle room to come back at Romney. And I wouldn't be surprised if he does a few times.
MALVEAUX: Yes. There will be a lot of back and forth.
I understand that Vice President Joe Biden, he is now backing Mitt Romney in some way? Tell us a little bit about reading between the lines of this.
JOHNS: Right. You know how politics goes in things like that. To be clear --
(LAUGHTER)
-- Biden is not endorsing Romney's politics. The administration's even gone after Romney more than once, thinking he's probably the biggest potential problem should Romney end up getting the Republican nomination. Though, in the latest issue of "Esquire," Vice President Biden does give Romney his props, if you will. He says he's angry about the way people are treating Romney over his religion. Biden says he himself is a practicing Catholic. He says it's nobody's business how he practices religion. He thinks it's unfair that Romney's religion even matters.
As you know, we've reported as recently as yesterday, a lot of white protestant evangelicals, particularly in the early caucus state of Iowa, have said, in their view, Mormonism, which is Romney's religion, is not Christianity. So that's a big issue for people who are going to be voting there.
MALVEAUX: Joe Johns, thank you. Good to see you.
Want to remind everybody we'll be hearing from President Obama. That's happening at the top of the hour, noon eastern. He'll help unveil a plan to give federal pay protections to home health care workers. The president may also comment on this battle that we've been talking about to extend the payroll tax cut. We'll bring the comments to you live when it gets underway.
Also some protesters in Russia thought they saw a UFO in the sky. Others thought the government might be spying on them. We're going to tell you what it really was.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MALVEAUX: It's safe to say Occupy and other demonstrators, used to having news cameras, right, pointed at their rallies. Jeanne Moos tells us about the latest gadget they might see hovering above.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Up in the sky is it a UFO, is it a surveillance drone?
(CROSSTALK)
MOOS: Over the heads of tens of thousands of Russian protesters it flew. This video flew on to sites like UFOsightingsdaily, where they pondered this possible alien probe.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Could the craft capturing this video be one of these probes?
MOOS: You really think?
Many protesters figured it was their own government keeping them under surveillance with a drone. But it wasn't aliens looking down on the crowd and it wasn't the Russian government spying on demonstrators. It was this.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's a radio controlled hexacopter.
MOOS: A hexacopter. Hex meaning six rotors with a wide-angle camera attached. And look at the beautiful pictures it took of the biggest protest Moscow has seen in decades.
(SHOUTING)
MOOS: When they edited together, the panoramic views, they got this. They call themselves Air Pano, a group of eight or so Russians who do this for fun. A two-man team operates the hexacopter, a pilot and a camera operator. These days you don't know where your drone is going to land. And, no, it did not end up in Iran.
(on camera): Still, the hexacopter pilot wasn't taking any chances. No point in crash landing on the crowd.
(voice-over): The hexacopter stayed over the crowd. Twice, somebody in the crowd aimed fireworks rockets at it.
SERGEY SEMENOV, AIRPANO.COM: To shoot the device with this stuff.
MOOS: No damage done.
You can buy something like this. A Canadian company sells the Dragonflier x 8.
(MUSIC)
MOOS: Camera and chopper sell for between $10,000 and $50,000. CNN is using something similar for a nature special with Philippe Cousteau.
PHILIPPE COUSTEAU, PRESIDENT, ECHOEARTH INTERNATIONAL: A quadra- copter. Just the name is cool.
MOOS: They've been used at other recent protests, for instance, in Warsaw, getting a view of the action. Occupy Wall Street even has an Occucopter.
The Russians bought parts to build their own hexacopter. They've been shooting beautiful places over the world.
MOOS (on camera): Do you believe in UFOs?
SEMENOV: Yes, I do believe. We've seen one.
MOOS (voice-over): And if you're ever tempted to fly a remote controlled chopper, try not to chop up your son.
(CRYING)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oops, sorry.
UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: Uh-oh.
MOOS: Jeanne Moos, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MALVEAUX: You've been sounding off on our "Talk Back" question. As we mark the end of the almost nine-year war in Iraq, was it was worth it?
Brandon writes, "Thanks to all the men and women who have served in our armed forces and continue to serve. I would say the war in Iraq was worth it because we rid the world of a ruthless dictator named Saddam Hussein. Yes, a lot of lives were lost, but we took a stand against tyranny and terrorism."
Ryan says, "No war is ever worth it. The U.S. did not end this war. We were asked to leave. Probably not a good indicator of success"
Daniel says, "We don't know. We are still paying for it. My guess would be no. At least made the best out of a bad situation."
Kim writes, "I don't feel it was worth what the American people have had to endure. What have they resolved? These soldiers in my community can't get their arms and legs back. And others don't or either can't find a job. It's a mess in my opinion."
Thanks to all of you for writing in. Please be a part of the conversation at facebook.com/SuzanneCNN. We'll have more of your responses in the next hour. A famous band is now on the sidelines and a school under scrutiny. We're going to catch up with the president of Florida A&M University to talk about the alleged hazing incidents, including the death of the band's drum major.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MALVEAUX: The president of Florida A&M University talks with CNN about allegations of hazing at the school. Authorities are investigating the death of drum major, Robert Champion, in a suspected hazing incident. Since Champion's death, other alleged beatings involving the band have now come to light.
CNN's Jason Carroll caught up with the president to find out what is the school doing.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JASON CARROLL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): James Ammons, that man in the car there, is Florida A&M's president.
(on camera): Hi, how are you. I'm Jason Carroll with CNN.
JAMES AMMONS, PRESIDENT, FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY: hey, Jason. How are you doing this morning?
CARROLL: I'm well, thank you.
(voice-over): As university president, the buck, so to speak, stops with him.
(on camera): We've reached out to you, as you know, several times in the past but have not been successful in terms of getting you to respond.
(voice-over): Despite numerous phone calls and e-mails, Ammons had not responded to our questions about hazing. So we caught up with him on campus.
(on camera): Do you believe though in any way, shape or form the university has done enough to stop what has happened at the school in the past?
AMMONS: Let me just say this. Our number-one priority is the health, safety and well being of our students. And with this tragic situation that we have involving the death of Robert Champion, our hearts just go out to his family.
CARROLL: As you know, before Robert Champion's death, you had another situation with another young woman here at the university. She was hazed. As a result, three young men have now been arrested. That was before his death. So the question is, why wasn't something done before?
AMMONS: We have policies, procedures. And every instance of hazing that we've had had, has gone through the investigatory process.
CARROLL: But isn't it clear that the policies --
(CROSSTALK)
CARROLL: -- that you have in place aren't working and that those policies need to be changed?
AMMONS: One of the things that we have found with hazing is that there is a -- there is a veil of secrecy. This is a culture, not just here at Florida A&M University, it is on colleges and university campuses all across America.
CARROLL: Have you made any headway into making some changes here at the university, things that you can tell us? Some tangible things.
AMMONS: There have been people incarcerated as a result of hazing. So, I mean, there is a stiff law. There are legal consequences for anyone engaged in hazing. We have adopted policies, procedures. But what I think you --
(CROSSTALK)
CARROLL: But none of it seems to be working.
AMMONS: Well, but the other thing -- the other thing is that when you look at the number of cases that we have had on our campus and you look at cases on other campuses, there is not a rampant kind of behavior.
CARROLL: Do you believe you bear personally any responsibility for what has happened to any of these students here?
AMMONS: Personal responsibility? I have done everything in accordance to the law here in the state of Florida.
CARROLL: About three hours after that interview we received this document from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, which says, "During the course of their investigation, they uncovered possible fraud and/or misconduct by employees here at the university."
(voice-over): The document reads, "The department has initiated a separate criminal investigation to examine these matters."
So to find out more about the new investigation we wanted to talk to Mr. Ammons again.
We just wanted to follow up with you about that possible follow- up interview with Mr. Ammons.
CARROLL: Ammon's spokeswoman said she would get back to us. She never did.
Shortly after that, an interview scheduled with the chairman of the university's board of trustees, Solomon Badger, was canceled.
Students and band members we spoke to disagree on how the problem has been addressed and whether it can be solved.
RYAN RICHARDS, FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY BAND MEMBER: We definitely realize our faults and where we went wrong. And we're just trying to move forward from there and take steps necessary to move forward.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yesterday, my friend -- (INAUDIBLE). But he was telling me it still goes on. I mean, no one's anymore afraid than they were before.
(on camera): Why do you think that is? The university says they're trying to do everything they can to change the policy here.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It is up to us.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We have to make change.
CARROLL (voice-over): Jason Carroll, CNN, Tallahassee, Florida.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MALVEAUX: So should the Florida A&M band be suspended for years because of hazing? In the next hour, we'll hear from a guest who says yes. Author and college president, Walter Kimbrough, joins us to talk about the hazing issue.
President Obama is about to go around Congress again and unveil a new pay protection for home health care workers. He's going to appear at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building shortly. You are seeing a picture there as we wait.
The government has long classified home health care workers as companions for elderly and disabled Americans. What does that mean? It means they are excluded from federal wage and overtime rules. But with the coming surge in the elderly population, the president wants to change that. Almost two million people now work as home health care providers, and will be impacted by today's action. They earn an average of $17,000 to $20,000 a year, putting many of those folks below the poverty line.
I want to bring in Gloria Borger, who is joining us from Washington.
Gloria, obviously, it is a significant announcement here. But it is set against this backdrop of Washington gridlock. We are talking about the payroll tax cuts. We're talking about a possible government shutdown here. In looking at what we are seeing play out over the next couple of weeks, do we think that anything is going to get done?
GLORIA BORGER, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, they have to get something done. They have to get something done if they want to avert a shutdown of the government. And they have to get something done, quite honestly, Suzanne, if they want to get re-elected.
I mean, these members of Congress understand that the public is incredibly unhappy with them. I just got a new poll this morning from the Pew Research Center which says the public discontent with Congress has reached record levels and that two in three voters say that you ought to throw all incumbents out. That's pretty bad. The Republicans are getting most of the blame for it. But the Democrats had better watch out also. So they'd better figure out a way to avoid shutting down the government, to extend the payroll tax cuts and to go home. Because at least at home they can't do any harm, right?
(LAUGHTER)
MALVEAUX: Yes. That's one way of looking at it.
What do you think --
(CROSSTALK)
BORGER: Yes.
MALVEAUX: How effective do you think the strategy is for the White House that's been so frustrated of not being able to see Congress move forward on this very specific and critical legislation? Now you've got the president issuing all these executive orders, going around Congress.
BORGER: Right. Look, it is very clear what his campaign strategy is. He's going to run against a do-nothing Congress. The problem for him is that there are also Democrats in Congress, as well as Republicans.
But Republicans in the House the other day really inoculated themselves on the payroll tax cut because they passed a version of the payroll tax cut. They included in it a provision that says you can start building that controversial Keystone Pipeline, which the Democrats don't like. The Democrats in the Senate yesterday gave a little and said, OK, we don't want to pay for the payroll tax cut by taxing millionaires, we're giving that up. But they still can't seem to get together and the clock is ticking. At some point, the American public is going to say, "why do we always have to stand at the edge of a cliff before we can get anything done?" This is not the way to run the government and, quite honestly, it does give the president a good line to say when he's campaigning.
MALVEAUX: All right. Gloria, I feel you, I understand, and standing on the edge of the cliff is how we all tend to feel this way now.
BORGER: We keep walking up to it.
MALVEAUX: Yes, absolutely, every single time now.
And we're going to keep an eye out on the White House. The president's going to be making a statement very shortly, so we'll keep our eye on that event and bring it to you as it becomes available live.
