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Deal Reached On Payroll Tax Cut; House Votes On Tax Cut Extension; Bachmann Slams Payroll Tax Cut; Biden, Romney In War Of Words; State Media: Blasts Rock Damascus; Extreme Winter Weather In the Rockies; Quakes Rattle New Zealand
Aired December 23, 2011 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: All right. Reaching the top of the hour. At any moment American workers may breathe a bit easier. Just minutes after Senators approved a two-month extension of the payroll tax cut, members of the house are about to do the same. The compromise took shape only yesterday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. JOHN BOEHNER (R-OH), SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE: Senator Reid and I have reached an agreement on payroll tax relief on behalf of the American people. Key parts of this agreement are that on January 1st no American worker will see an increase in their taxes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Kate Bolduan's on the hill. Dan Lothian at the White House. Kate, let's start with you. We're talking about days of paralysis. It's been a pretty busy morning on Capitol Hill. Let's go ahead and bring our viewers up to date.
KATE BOLDUAN, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely. What's happened this morning after this bruising battle that we've been following that's been marked with much stalemate and much digging in, not a lot of talking or movement, this morning there's been a lot of action, actually.
After the leaders were able to strike a deal yesterday afternoon into the evening, this morning there's action on the legislative side, the Senate this morning taking up a vote just about half an hour ago.
They call it a unanimous consent agreement. It's basically a procedural way to be able to pass legislation without having to call all of the members back in, that is if everyone agrees. That also means if no one's on the floor to object.
It passed easily. It was agreed to easily in the Senate about a half hour ago. Now we're waiting as we're watching the doors on the House floor right now, watching for the same to happen in the House.
It could take all of one to two minutes, Kyra, that is how long it took in the Senate this morning. What we're going to be watching for is it could almost sound like nothing. If you blink, you might miss it.
We'll be keeping our ears and eyes out there for, my colleague is with Paul Corsin over there at the House chamber keeping their eyes out to see if there is possibly any member that could take to the House floor to object.
It takes one member to object, Kyra. If they do, it stalls this process. It doesn't mean that this deal has been scuttled as House Speaker Boehner warned last night.
That if someone stood up to object today, he would almost absolutely bring it up for a full House vote next week. But I spoke to a top House Republican leadership aid this morning who said leaders do expect that this is basically a done deal, that it will pass, which means it will be headed to the president's desk by lunchtime today.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Kate, we've got all ears on that moment. Kate, thanks so much. There you go. Stay with us. OK, I know you're monitoring it for us.
Let's go over to the White House while we're waiting. Dan Lothian, definitely a win for the White House.
DAN LOTHIAN, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: This is a win for the White House although you have not seen the president come out and stand in front of the camera to declare victory although he did send a tweet late last night saying, quote, "thanks to all who shared $40 stories. Today's victory is yours. Keep making your voices heard. It makes all the difference."
This victory does allow the pres to do two things. First of all, going forward when he is pushing his agenda here at the White House or pushing for job creation. The president can say to the American people, I stood up for you. I held on. I held my ground so that 160 million Americans would not see their taxes go up.
But the president also on the campaign trail out there next year will be able to point the finger back at Republicans and say, look, they are the ones who are responsible for setting up a lot of these hurdles, for setting up this partisan gridlock.
I stood my ground and was able to get something done, deliver something for you so certainly a big victory here for the president. But you won't hear that from the White House. What they are saying is that this is a victory for the American people.
PHILLIPS: OK. Dan, hold on for just a second here. As you can see, live pictures now from the floor, the prayer happening at this moment. Kate Bolduan, any second now we're expecting the House to approve.
BOLDUAN: Any second now. The latest guidance that we have from my colleagues is that at the moment we do -- they're telling me that there are members that are walking about.
PHILLIPS: All right, let's listen in.
(BEGIN LIVE SPEECH)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: -- will be led today by the gentlemen lady from Missouri. Ms. Emerson --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Will all those in the gallery please join in. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, invisible with liberty and justice for all.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The gentlemen lady from Missouri rise.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the committees of referral be discharged from further consideration of HR 3765 and ask for its immediate consideration in the house.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The clerk will report the title.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: HR 3765. A bill to extend the payroll tax holiday, unemployment compensation, Medicare physician payment, provide for the consideration of the Keystone XL pipeline and for other purposes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is there objection to the bill?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. Speaker.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Gentleman from Maryland.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Reserving the right to object and I will not object.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Gentleman is recognized.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I thank the gentleman. I know that the American people are pleased that we have come together to agree on this extension to give certainty and peace of mind to the 160 million Americans who are concerned about losing their tax cut.
The 48 million seniors who are concerned about their Medicare and the 2.3 million people who are unemployed and seeking work who were fearful of losing their benefits. I thank the speaker and I thank the gentleman lady from Missouri and I withdraw my objection.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Without objection, the bill is engrossed, for a third time and passed. The motion to reconsider is laid on the table. Chairman before the House of communication.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The honorable, the speaker, House of Representatives, sir, pursuant to section 1238 B3 of the Floyd D. Spens National Defense Authorization Act of fiscal year 2001, 22 USC 7002, amended by the Division P of the Consolidated Appropriations Resolution 2003, 22 USC 6901.
I am pleased to reappoint the following individuals to the United States China economic and Security Review Commission. Ms. Carolyn Bartholomew of Washington, D.C. Mr. Jeffrey - (END LIVE SPEECH)
PHILLIPS: Kate Bolduan, are you still on the Hill there with us?
BOLDUAN: I'm right here. Now people see what we deal with every day listening to all of this fun stuff.
PHILLIPS: Exactly.
BOLDUAN: The headline here as I was looking at my Blackberry clock. It took 5 minutes. While you may have missed it because it doesn't sound what you think it is. The unanimous consent, that's that procedural move to pass this bill through and that did occur.
So you had a Republican, Joanne Emerson, a Republican from Missouri, a moderate Republican bringing forth this unanimous consent agreement. For a moment there was a bit of a heart stopper, I'll tell you, when I saw the number two Democrat in the House, Steny Hoyer from Maryland stand up.
But as you can see, he was more obviously just willing to take to the floor to express his sentiment that he's glad it's passing. House Speaker John Boehner presiding in the chair. That doesn't happen on a daily basis.
It happens often on important votes. Maybe he wanted to be in there to keep an eye on the House floor to make sure things were going as he wants them to at this point, Kyra.
But with that both chambers as far as I know have passed this payroll tax cut and it will be moving onto the White House now.
PHILLIPS: Well, for full disclosure, we had the same reaction. As soon as we saw Steny Hoyer step up, we were like, wait a minute.
BOLDUAN: That would be a twist.
PHILLIPS: Yes, it would. All right, very good. So, Kate, you're going to keep eyes on this for us.
BOLDUAN: Absolutely.
PHILLIPS: It appears right now the House has passed the tax cut extension. Of course, that means it will go back to the Senate for final passage.
Dan Lothian, quickly from the White House there. A win for the White House, yes?
LOTHIAN: It is a win for the White House. You know, the president, he stayed behind. His family went to Hawaii earlier. The big question was whether or not the president would be going on vacation.
He wanted to make sure that all of these matters had been taken care of, that he wasn't leaving American voters with this cloud of uncertainty. So now that this business has been taken care of, we're waiting to find out what the president's travel plans will be.
The schedule remains very fluid. In fact, no times on the typical overnight schedule that's sent out about the president's various meetings. They're not time stamped today for the first time.
So it could happen at any moment now. We do expect that he will be going, but so far nothing official yet.
PHILLIPS: So Dan, it's now heading straight for the president. It's made it past the Senate, the House. Now it goes right to the president's desk?
LOTHIAN: That's right. It would go to the president but, again, we don't have -- in fact, I sent an e-mail here to one White House official to find out about whether or not the president intends to sign something before he leaves and when he will be leaving. So far I haven't gotten an answer to that, but certainly the expectation is that the president would sign it before leaving.
PHILLIPS: Got it. All right, politics never easy to understand, right? Someone always throws us for a loop.
LOTHIAN: Absolutely.
PHILLIPS: Dan Lothian at the White House. Dan, thanks.
All right, here's a measure of just how divided some Republican sentiments remain on the payroll tax cut. One presidential candidate seeking the GOP nomination actually calls the two-month extension a temporary gimmick. Here's what Michele Bachmann had to say on CNN last night.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REPRESENTATIVE MICHELE BACHMANN (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Well, the real problem is that this is one more temporary gimmick. It's not a permanent solution. That's been the problem from the beginning. President Obama is unwilling to lead to get the country back on the track of job creation. This isn't going to create jobs.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: And this morning a new glimpse into what American voters are thinking as the nation inches towards the 2012 elections. Our latest CNN/ORC poll, we asked Americans what the most important issue is facing the country.
Well, 57 percent chose the economy from our list. The national deficit and health care came in a distant second and third. The poll then asked people to focus specifically on the economy. More than half chose unemployment as the biggest problem, 27 percent said the deficit.
Vice President Joe Biden launching an attack on Mitt Romney and the GOP candidate, of course, hitting back. Political editor Paul Steinhauser has the blow by blow. Hi, Paul. PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN POLITICAL EDITOR: Yes, it's like a prize fight here, Kyra. Listen, the Democratic National Committee, Obama re- election campaign, they've been going after Mitt Romney for a while and nothing new there.
What is new, Vice President Joe Biden jumping into the frame, jumping into the ring I guess you could say. In an op-ed this morning, in the "Des Moines Register," remember, we're just 11 days away now from the Iowa caucuses.
The vice president basically says that Romney's economic philosophy's proposals are the same old stuff we saw from Bush and the same old stuff we got into a mess the first time. Here's specifically what he said in this op-ed.
Romney appears satisfied to settle for an economy in which fewer people succeed while the majority of Americans are going to tread water or fall behind. His proposal would actually double down on the policies that had caused the greatest calamity since the great depression and accelerated a decade's long assault on the middle class.
All right, so that was earlier this morning. Well, Kyra, do you think Mitt Romney would let that stand without a rebuttal? No, not at all. He was up in New Hampshire this morning campaigning. Rachel Strikefeld, our political producer was covering the event. Here's what she tells us he said.
He said you wonder in some respects what fantasy land he lives in. I guess Romney was talking about the vice president there. He goes on to say, this president and his policies have made it harder on the American people and the middle class and I don't think they get it.
Just a little taste -- you know, we're still in the primaries. We still don't have a Republican nominee yet. Regardless of who it is, this is a little taste of the back and forth you're going to hear all throughout 2012 -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right, Paul, thanks so much. We'll have more politics coming up in just about 20 minutes.
Could New Jersey Governor Chris Christie land on the GOP ticket? Our "Political Buzz" folks weigh in.
And in international news, two suicide car bombs exploded in the Syrian capital of Damascus. State-run media is reporting that bombers targeted the offices of two security branches. The Syrian government says this looks like the work of al Qaeda.
Mohammed Jamjoom live in Cairo with the latest -- Mohammed.
MOHAMMED JAMJOOM, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, the Syrian regime blaming these attacks on al Qaeda. The attacks come one day after the arrival of an advance team of Arab league members. They're there to try to set the parameters for a number of observers in the Arab league that would come into Syria next week to try to help implement some sort of peace there.
To make sure the military is withdrawn from the towns and villages, and that the crackdown ceases in Syria. Now while the regime is blaming this attack on al Qaeda, opposition figures and members of the free Syrian army in Syria telling us they don't believe him.
They say al Qaeda does not exist in Syria. They suggest that it's awfully convenient the timing of this, that it really fits a narrative that Al-Assad is trying to give to the world that he is battling terrorism in his country.
When, in fact, he is just implementing a brutal crackdown against his peaceful -- against the peaceful protesters in that country that are demanding he step aside -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: So are there still protests going on right now?
JAMJOOM: According to the opposition figures we speak with, there are many demonstrations going on across Syria today, many villages, many cities. In fact, I want to point your attention to some video. We found amateur video. We can't authenticate this video.
It purports to show the town of Idlib where there are activists out there that are upset about the Arab league having come into Syria. They don't trust the Arab league. They don't think that these team members will be able to cease the violence there and they have huge banners even in English.
This is a direct message to the international community. One of them reads civilized world, the Syrian regime's massacres put your credibility about human rights at stake. This is a key message that members of the opposition in Syria have been trying to get out. They want international intervention.
They want help. They don't think that the Arab league is going to be effective. They think it's just going to help Bashar Al-Assad delay and continue his brutal crackdown that has killed, according to the U.N., at least 5,000 people these past 10 months -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Mohammed Jamjoom in Cairo. Mohammed, thanks.
It's a collision course of extreme weather and holiday travel plans. We're going to have a live update from Atlanta Hartsfield- Jackson Airport, one of the nation's busiest airports.
And in just a few minutes, the Russian space craft hooks up with the ISS. We'll have it live.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What if there was a mom sitting there, there was something wrong with my baby. No mother, child should ever have to go through that.
(END VIDEO CLIP) PHILLIPS: Pop star, J. Lo opens up about how a health scare involving one of her twins inspired her to give back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Democrat Steny Hoyer now holding a live Q and A with reporters with regard to the passing of the two-month extension of the payroll tax cut. Let's listen in.
(BEGIN LIVE SPEECH)
REP. STENY HOYER (D), MARYLAND: Everybody said they wanted. We're looking forward to making sure that the unemployed are not put at risk by falling off the rolls.
And we are very pleased that 48 million seniors will have the confidence that their Medicare will continue to compensate their doctors so they'll be available for them. This is a good day for the American people.
The American people's voice was heard. Their concerns were heard and we have responded. I also want to congratulate President Obama who showed great leadership in this effort and articulated to the American people what was at issue here in the Congress of the United States.
I am pleased that we have come together to make this agreement. This is a good Christmas present and good Kwanza present, good Hanukkah present for America. We will go forward from this point on understanding that our work is not yet done and we intend to do it in a constructive, bipartisan fashion.
I will now yield to Mr. Basara who's the vice chairman of our caucus for comments.
PHILLIPS: Now you're seeing the live reaction there from Democrats. You just heard from Steny Hoyer a moment ago hitting all of the holidays, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, Christmas a great present for all as he was saying as the House passed the extension of the payroll tax cut.
We'll continue to follow all of the reaction, of course, on the Hill as we follow up on that breaking news that happened just about 7 minutes ago. Quick break. More from the CNN NEWSROOM straight ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Well, it's tough going in parts of Colorado this morning. Temperatures in the single digits along with the 8 to 14 inches of snow that fell in and around Denver yesterday.
It's got plenty of motorists either stuck or left with that slippery feeling. Extreme weather in the deep south as well much of Alabama and Georgia under tornado watches or warnings yesterday. Right here in Atlanta, straight line winds blamed for damaging several buildings and homes, downed trees meant power outages for thousands of people. Plenty of holiday travel plans are in jeopardy on this day before Christmas as well. Because of all of this, coverage with meteorologist, Reynolds Wolf watching the forecast and CNN's Holly Firfer live at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson airport. Holly, let's start with you.
HOLLY FIRFER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, you know, things are pretty normal today. What a difference a day makes, but this morning we've seen crowds come and go. It hasn't been really bad.
You know, here at the nation's busiest airport they get about 243,000 passengers a day, so really they're saying today is kind of business as usual except the crowds seem to be more families, people carrying packages, and a lot of smiles.
I would imagine there are not so many smiles when people are going on business trips. People know they're going on a holiday vacation. It wasn't the case yesterday. They shut down the airport for almost three hours yesterday because of bad weather.
The 5,200 flights were affected. They were grounded. You couldn't get in. You couldn't get out. A lot of people missed their connections and ended up spending the night at the airport. We talked to one guy who slept here. He said this morning he wasn't taking any chances.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HIRFER: So did you have to spend the night here? What happened?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. Actually, my wife is driving over from Tulsa to pick me up because the first two flights out this morning were both full, they said.
HIRFER: Wow. She's doing a ten-hour round trip to come get you?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, yes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HIRFER: And you can imagine, he should be maybe almost halfway there, but at least he'll be there for the holidays. The security lines are moving. They're no longer than usual.
But airport officials say if you're going to come, come at least 90 minutes early and one tip. It is the holidays. People traveling with present and packages for families, they say keep them unwrapped because it will just clog up the security line because they're probably going to have to unwrap them unless you like unwrapping presents and rewrapping them. They say, leave those open -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Yes. No, I think -- I don't think that would be fun for anybody. Holly, thank you so much. Reynolds, apparently delays are already happening. Yes? REYNOLDS WOLF, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yes. We're going to see a lot more. It seems like the worst place in terms of delays, the bull's eye is going to be in New York. You could have delays up to an hour. We're not speaking about one airport around the big apple.
We're talking about all of them. You could have some backups not necessarily due to the rain, which we expect could be gone by mid- day, but the wind is going to pile in. Right behind the delays will begin to stack up.
Boston, same situation, mostly the rain the issue. Philadelphia, wind just like in New York. D.C. metros, all of them and back in Minneapolis, you have the snow that's going to pile up into the afternoon. That where we can see those issues begin to really stock up.
Let's fast forward, if we can, into Christmas day. We do anticipate is a chance of rain for much of the southeast into the northeast and for the central and eastern great lakes. Expect scattered showers. Rain for the Pacific Northwest. Sunny and warm for much of the desert southwest.
One exception will be parts of New Mexico where we expect the snow to continue at least in the morning hours. Speaking of the snow, get this, up to three feet of snow in the parts of the boulder area just yesterday alone.
We're talking, again, not three inches, but three feet of snow. Great for the skiers. Awful for people to drive through -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Yes, no doubt. All right, Reynolds, thanks.
Ruled out running for president, but New Jersey Governor Chris Christie thinks that the number two spot just might do. So could it be what Mitt Romney needs to get elected?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Checking top stories now.
That was the precise moment when three powerful earthquakes struck New Zealand. The video is from TVNZ newsroom. They were near the same area still recovering from that quake in February. Two injuries are reported. The airport in Christchurch is now closed.
Syrian state TV says that two suicide car bombs have exploded in the capitol of Damascus. Thirty eight people are reported dead. But CNN can't confirm that number. According to the state run media the casualties include civilians and military personnel.
Republican controlled House of Representatives just approved a two-month extension of the payroll tax cut. That sends the measure right to President Obama and ends a heated standoff over that issue.
All right, it's time for "Political Buzz," your rapid fire look at the best political topics of the day. Three questions, 30 seconds on the clock.
Playing today CNN contributor and Democratic strategist, Maria Cardona, award winning comedian, Dean Obeidallah and Georgetown professor, Chris Metzler.
First question, guys, the House just approved this two-month extension of the payroll tax cut. So did Speaker Boehner cave to President Obama and who comes out winning? Maria?
MARIA CARDONA, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Yes, he certainly did, Kyra. What we have seen is that this, that John Boehner as the speaker is probably one of the worst speakers in history because he doesn't know how to control his caucus.
He could have avoided this by cracking the whip the way he did at the very end and ensuring that the Republicans put the needs of the working class and middle class families first before their ideology.
We certainly saw that President Obama has done that thus far. The real people who come out winning here though are the 160 million Americans who are not going to see their taxes go up thanks to the fight that President Obama and the Democrats have taken to the mat for them.
PHILLIPS: Chris?
CHRIZ METZLER, GEORGETOWN PROFESSOR: Well, yes. He did cave. Look, I think he's right on the policy. The problem here is that he was wrong on the politics.
You know, in an election year just before the holiday season, probably not a good time to do this. I think in terms of the American people though, I think actually the American people are the ones who are going to lose.
This is but a two-month extension, and once again it proves that Washington is run by a bunch of drama queens. So there you have it.
PHILLIPS: Ok. Take note on that vocabulary. Dean, help us out.
DEAN OBEIDALLAH, COMEDIAN: I think that actually I agree that I think President Obama actually comes out the winner on some level. And Congress couldn't look any worse, not just John Boehner, the entire Congress.
At this point Congress is at 9 percent approval rating. To put it in perspective, herpes is more popular than U.S. Congress at this point. So anything they can do against President Obama is going to make President Obama look better. He came out for the middle class.
And unfortunately, the Republicans in the house just seem to be worried about the wealthy. And that's the way it plays out. (INAUDIBLE), that's the way it plays out. We'll see how long that lasts out there in the American psyche.
PHILLIPS: All right guys.
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie leaving open the possibility of serving as vice president. Here's what he told Fox News in an interview last night, quote, "The fact is if Governor Romney comes to me and wants to talk to me about that, we'll have a full conversation about it and then Mary Pat and I will have the conversation about what we want to do with our future."
As you know, Christie has endorsed Mitt Romney. So would a Romney-Christie seal the deal for Romney, Chris?
METZLER: Yes, actually, I think it will because I have said consistently that what Mitt Romney wants for Christmas is, oh, I don't know, some swag. And so as a result of that what you will have is Chris Christie with street cred and swag and you have Mitt Romney.
So I think that probably for purposes of Romney will actually, barring a swag transplant, I actually think that this will do. Swag by proxy, yes, I think that'll help.
PHILLIPS: Maria?
CARDONA: If Chris Christie can give Mitt Romney some sort of a core, some sort of principle, then maybe he can come out on top. The fact of the matter is that as a ticket, the people who will be losers if they become the winning ticket are the American people because regardless of who the vice president is, the nominee, it's going to be the top of the ticket that's going to be the one that is putting forth the policies.
And as far as Mitt Romney's concerned, he, again, will put millionaires and billionaires first before the middle class. He himself is a millionaire 200 times over. Has no clue what middle class families go through. And ultimately, the middle class will end up losing if they win.
PHILLIPS: Dean?
OBEIDALLAH: I don't think this solves Mitt Romney's problems. I think he has two problems, one within the Republican Party, the Evangelical base looks at him with suspicion. I think he needs an Evangelical running mate like Mike Huckabee or maybe Tim Tebow; that's the guy he should get.
Secondly, Romney's biggest problem in the general election is the flip-flopping on major issues: pro-life, pro-choice; pro health care, anti-health care; pro gay marriage, anti-gay marriage. His slogan should be me, too, I think in the general election. I don't think Chris Christie solves that problem.
PHILLIPS: All right. Time for your buzzer beater. 20 seconds each on this one.
Matt Damon, not so excited about president Obama and how he's done after supporting him, by the way, in the last election. Here's what he told "Elle" magazine. Here's the quote. You know, a one-term president with some (EXPLETIVE DELETED) who actually got stuff done would have been much better. What did we decide to say, Maria, instead huevos (ph)?
CARDONA: That's it Kyra, exactly.
PHILLIPS: Ok. I had to watch myself on that one. I think chutzpah might have worked as well. So here's my question guys. Do voters really care what celebrities have to say? Particularly Matt Damon in this case. Maria?
CARDONA: I don't think so Kyra. I mean you see a lot of celebrities getting up on their soap box. I think Matt Damon might have a little bit more credibility than others because he is an activist. But I'll have to say to Matt Damon, I think this President has shown a lot of that word because of what he has done in foreign policy and terrorism. Osama bin laden, the decision to go after him was not an easy one and he took it.
I think that that shows that he has what it takes to keep America safe.
PHILLIPS: Chris?
METZLER: Well, actually, I think except for my six and seven- year-old nieces, nobody cares about celebrities anymore. Who cares what they have to say? What do they do, play presidents on TV, blah, blah, blah, blah. I don't really think that it matters. I don't think that any celebrity has any credibility on these issues.
Guys, stick to being celebrities. If you want to do drama, as I said before, go to the House. You can be a drama queen.
PHILLIPS: I have a feeling Dean is going to have some fun with this one.
OBEIDALLAH: Well, I must be a six or seven-year-old niece because I love celebrities. I listen to everything they say. I'm waiting for the Kardashians to come out and support someone. I want, whoever is the "Dancing with the Stars" winner is -- that person knows how to win a campaign. I'm supporting them.
Or finally, if all else fails, Charlie Sheen. This guy knows about winning. And I'm going to be with a winner like Charlie Sheen. So whenever Charlie comes up with, I'm with him. That's it.
PHILLIPS: Thanks, guys. Happy weekend; have a great, great holiday.
CARDONA: Thanks Kyra. Happy Holidays.
OBEIDALLAH: Thank you Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right. We're going to have more on governor Christie and the possibility of a Romney-Christie ticket coming up later with CNN's Joe Johns with our political ticker. That's just a little later in this hour. All right. Also, straight ahead --
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A love story so true it couldn't have been written.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I know how much she means to me. I know how much you love her. I know she was your heart.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Sounds like the beginning of a mushy, romantic comedy, right? But really, it was the beginning of their new life together. And we're actually going to talk to the now married couple at the center of this now viral video.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Well, he raised the bar for any guy planning a big proposal.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MATT STILL, CREATED "GREATEST WEDDING PROPOSAL EVER": I didn't even know what real love is, but she is showing me and teaching me every day. It might be old-fashioned. It might not even be necessary, but it's important to me and I know it's important to your daughter that I do this as well. I'd like to have your blessing, sir. May I have your daughter's hand in marriage?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You have my permission for her hand in marriage. I would love to have you as a son-in-law.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Coming this winter from universal studios, "Making the Movies Jealous".
STILL: What are you waiting for?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Well, Matt still produces incredible mock movie trailer. And he just sprung it on his unsuspecting girlfriend Ginny. As she watched it in the movie theater in shock -- that's right -- he sprinted into the theater and he popped the question.
I think you know what happened. Matt and Ginny, they got married last month. And the newlyweds join us for a follow up in studio. Look at you, all mushy, kissing each other. The Christmas sweaters. I think I'm going to puke.
STILL: That was our intention.
PHILLIPS: Exactly, right? You want to go over the top. STILL: Always.
GINNY STILL, NEWLYWED: Always.
PHILLIPS: All right. So, Matt, you have now intimidated every single man that wants to propose. I just want to know how you're going to top it. How are you going to do anniversaries, birthdays, Christmas this weekend?
STILL: I know. Christmas is going to be fun. I don't know what exactly I'm doing, but she'll be surprised.
PHILLIPS: All right. We have to have another follow up then.
G. STILL: Exactly. We can do it.
PHILLIPS: Yes.
All right. Even the wedding was unique, right? You got involved on many personal levels. You designed your own shoes. Tell me what was unique about the wedding that followed the unique proposal.
G. STILL: Well, everything was done. Everything had a sentimental value, just about. My aunt and mother were fantastic. They actually made my bouquet out of old jewelry from my grandmothers and great grandmothers. My shoes were handmade. I did those with a friend of mine.
KYRA: Are these the shoes?
G. STILL: No.
PHILLIPS: Oh, ok. They're cute shoes. Apparently we're looking at the wedding video now which was also very nicely produced. Keep going. Tell me more.
G. STILL: Yes. The dress was custom made by Annette Shivonia Couture (ph) I guess that's how -- I can't ever pronounce it.
PHILLIPS: She's got that cute little southern twang. There you go.
G. STILL: Yes. She custom did the dress for me. She put a little M and G with the date of our wedding in it with the rhinestones. Everything was done. (INAUDIBLE) got little touches on there that were sentimentally. You know, you think --- my families and stuff. The whole thing was just very special. It was a dream come true. It was a perfect wedding.
PHILLIPS: All right. So, Matt, you guys have now started this business to help other people with epic proposals?
M. STILL: Yes. We haven't started the business yet, but it's something that I've got so many requests for people to ask me to help them.
PHILLIPS: Brother, help me out. I need a creative idea.
M. STILL: Yes. So we really enjoy getting al those e-mails and so, yes, that's what we want to do. We want to try to start helping people do proposals or announce a baby. Just all kinds of fun, creative things. Just be real positive and bring happiness to people.
All right. So here's my next question since you're such a pro at this. How are you guys going to keep the spark going, keep the love going? The whole thing here, ok? How are you going to not get the seven-year itch? Ginny, you want to start?
G. STILL: I don't think it'll be hard. I just don't think we'll ever have -- I'm sure everybody goes through ups and downs and whatnot, but if anybody can do it, me and him have got it to do it.
PHILLIPS: Matt?
M. STILL: Definitely. She keeps me on my toes. She's just as stubborn and feisty as I am.
KYRA: I understand she was on time to the wedding. She's never on time.
M. STILL: Yes. She was on time to the wedding.
G. STILL: I was.
M. STILL: She might have some time management issues, but the wedding, she was on time. I didn't have to lie and tell her a wrong time.
PHILLIPS: I think the next business should be a marriage counseling business. What do you guys say?
G. STILL: We could do that maybe.
M. STILL: After some time maybe. Right now we're rookies.
PHILLIPS: Oh, yes. Congratulations.
G. STILL: Thank you.
PHILLIPS: And you know, When it's time to announce the birth, let us know. We'll be waiting for something very unique and special. Ok.
G. STILL: We'll do it.
M. STILL: That will be a blast. Thank you.
PHILLIPS: Ok. Guys, have a great Christmas.
G. STILL: Thank you.
PHILLIPS: Well, Russia's Soyuz spacecraft is actually knocking on the door of the International Space Station right now. We're bringing you these live pictures. It arrived just a few minutes ago. We'll talk more about it right after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: All right. You thought you had a long way to travel for Christmas. We just lost our live pictures. This is tape but we're going to try and get it back up. Just let me know, Eddie, if we get it.
Ok. We've got it back. There we go. From controls. There we go. Russia's Soyuz spacecraft has docked with the ISS, International Space Station. And apparently there's going to be a hatch opening. Holiday welcome ceremony about 1:00 p.m. Eastern time. We're going to take that live for you as well.
As you know, the Soyuz is bringing three new crew members; a Russian, a Dutchman, and an American. And they're actually going to join the American and two Russians there. Six of them will work on the station until March, we're told. There you go. There's a shot of them all.
Russia is the only station transporting crew as you know, the ISS because NASA retired the space shuttle program in July. But a lot of exciting things happening there on the ISS. We actually got to talk to one of our buddies, one of the younger astronauts out of Moscow last week saying that they actually think they're close to discovering a vaccine for salmonella. That's what's happening up in space right now.
We'll watch the live pictures.
Ok. let's check other stories making news today.
12:30 Eastern, Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich holding a town hall meeting and Christmas lunch in Columbia, South Carolina.
Then at 12:30 Eastern fellow Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann travels to Iowa to host a meet and greet.
Then at 9:30 Pacific the Los Angeles Mission will begin handing out toys and other gifts to some of L.A.'s neediest families there on Skid Row. That event actually includes appearances from celebrities, even Santa himself.
Ok, megastar Jennifer Lopez using her wealth and fame to help mothers and their babies.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JENNIFER LOPEZ, ACTRESS: There was a mom just sitting there and there was something wrong with my baby. No mother, child should ever have to go through that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: How a health scare with one of her twins inspired her to give back. J-Lo, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(JENNIFER LOPEZ MUSIC VIDEO)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: T.J., you want to add to that? You want to -- T.J. Holmes in the house, by the way. He's going to give us little J. Lo moves in a sec. Tomorrow CNN is actually going to bring you our Christmas special, "BIG STARS, BIG GIVING". And one of the celebrities that we're featuring J. Lo.
CNN's Alina Cho, live in New York. I wish you could see T.J. right now. With more on her interview --
(CROSSTALK)
PHILLIPS: Alina, oh, my gosh. You know T.J. Holmes.
ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Oh, I do. Yes, I do. And I can only imagine, Kyra.
You have twins. You have a boy and a girl. You know Jennifer Lopez also has twins, a boy and a girl. The thing about Jennifer Lopez is from "Jenny from the Block", to fashion designer, to "American Idol" judge, she does it all.
But she does say that it was a health scare with her twin daughter that inspired her to give back to all the women and children who are less fortunate. And just like she's done with her career, she's dreaming big.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHO (voice-over): She's Hollywood's triple threat. She sings, dances, acts.
JENNIFER LOPEZ, SINGER/ACTRESS: You did not just poke me.
CHO: And now she's a judge on "American Idol".
LOPEZ: You're going to Hollywood.
CHO: She's Jennifer Lopez.
(on camera): You're a mother, you're a philanthropist, you're an actress, you're a singer, you're a dancer, you're a judge on "American Idol".
LOPEZ: I'm tired. What I am is I'm tired.
CHO: How do you do it all?
LOPEZ: I don't know. I don't know. One day at a time.
One step at a time.
CHO (voice-over): The theme song of her life and also the Maribel Foundation a (ph) non-profit Lopez started with her sister Linda in 2008. It was a health scare with her newborn daughter, Emmy (ph) that motivated her to act.
LOPEZ: She had this lump on her head all of a sudden, you know. And it was kind of soft and felt like water a little bit.
CHO (on camera): What did you think?
LOPEZ: I didn't know what it was. I showed it to Marc and I was like if this baby -- if this baby is not ok, I'm not going to be ok. We called the doctor in the middle of the night. We had access to the best health care.
We had all this privilege and I realized that when I went home and I was lying there at like 4:00 in the morning and I was like, what if I didn't have that? What if I was a mom just sitting there and there was something wrong with my baby? No mother or child should ever have to go through that. Luckily for us it turned out ok.
CHO: So Lopez went to the world-renowned Children's Hospital Los Angeles and asked them, how can I help?
LOPEZ: And they were like, well, there's a very new program called a telemedicine program.
CHO: When they said telemedicine did you know what it was?
LOPEZ: Not really, no. I didn't. It's a technology, basically, where doctors from anywhere in the world can talk to each other.
CHO: Through video conferencing. The first telemedicine center sponsored by the Maribel Foundation opened this year in Puerto Rico. Panama is next.
LOPEZ: Are you cute?
I mean, that's the great part of being in the position I'm in.
That we can actually make a difference and really, really help people. The same dreamer in me that wanted to sing and dance and do all that is the same dreamer in me that wants to do something amazing for the world.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHO: You know you hear telemedicine and you might think, oh, what a great idea. Why isn't this practice more widespread? Well, Kyra, the reality is that it's expensive, as you might imagine. Just to build that telemedicine center in Puerto Rico it costs $300,000 to $400,000 to maintain it. It's $200,000 to $300,000; But what Jennifer Lopez is doing step by step is raising awareness and money, a lot of it, and she is making a difference -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: And that's what counts. Thanks so much, Alina.
Don't miss our holiday special, "BIG STARS, BIG GIVING". it airs this Saturday December 24th, Christmas eve 2:00 p.m. Eastern and again On Sunday Christmas day 4 p.m. Eastern time.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Well, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is backing Mitt Romney for president but says Romney still has work to do to get the GOP nomination.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOV. CHRIS CHRISTIE (R), NEW JERSEY: I think he'll start to connect as people start to vote. They're going to look and say who's the person who's going to give us the best chance to beat Barack Obama? Who's the person who I believe is going to help our country grow jobs again and I think he'll then connect.
But listen, it's on him. And I told him that. All of us sat there working for him, we can only do so much. In the end the American people have to look him in the eye and believe in him.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: CNN's Joe Johns joining us from Washington. So Joe, if Romney does win the nomination does Christy get anything for his support like special invitation?
JOE JOHNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Well, you know, I mean -- this is a whole bunch of political what ifs. What if Mitt Romney wins the nomination and what if Chris Christie gets asked to be the vice president? It would be really interesting for Romney because he would certainly be reaching out to try to get most of the Republican votes in the corridor between Newark and Boston which, you know, that's something to be said for the geography there.
But New Jersey Chris Christie leaving the door open on Thursday to serving as the vice presidential candidate on the republican ticket in 2012. Christy has actually endorsed Mitt Romney and he decided against a White House bid of his own after a lot of thought.
The number two spot though he predicts he will still be the governor in 2012. We have a graphic of what he said there. "The fact is, if Governor Romney comes to me and wants to talk to me about that, we'll have a full conversation about that and then Mary Pat and I, meaning his wife, will make that decision about what we do with our future." He said this on Fox News.
But he also says his view is if you fast forward the tape to a year from now, it's going to be president-elect Romney and some other VP elect and Chris Christie, the governor of new jersey. He's a first-term governor and, Kyra, it may be certainly way too early in the nominating process to discuss potential running mates as we said before.
PHILLIPS: Joe Johns, thanks so much. We'll have your next political update in just about an hour. A reminder for all the latest political news go to our Web site, cnnpolitics.com; that's 24/7.
How do I say good-bye to T.J. Holmes in 45 seconds. That is absolutely impossible.
T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: Is it time?
PHILLIPS: This is the moment.
This is it.
HOLMES: Say something profound. This is it for us on the air here. Come up with something. Come on. Give me something good. No? Nothing?
PHILLIPS: Anything I say will just get you and me in trouble.
HOLMES: No, that was the old us over the past five years.
PHILLIPS: That's right.
HOLMES: Let's end on a different note here, Kyra.
PHILLIPS: You're one of the classiest men I've ever met. You know I love you. You're going to be awesome. I'll be watching BET now every day.
H1LL: I'm going to hold you to that.
PHILLIPS: That's the deal.
HOLMES: All right. Kyra. Thank you for everything over the past five years, really. I have another show.
PHILLIPS: Love you.
HOLMES: Love you. Thanks so much Kyra.
