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His Fellow Democrats; Cruise Ship Passengers To Get $14,400; Death Penalty For Connecticut Killer; Twitter May Censor Tweets; Tampa Bay Lightning Mascot Fired; X-Games Snowmobiler Falls 120 Feet; The Real Obamas; Pitching In For Mom And Pop Stores; Interview With "The Obamas" Author Jodi Kantor
Aired January 27, 2012 - 13:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
RANDI KAYE, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, everyone. I am Randi Kaye. It's 1:00. We've got a busy hour ahead. Let's get straight to the news.
Michigan this morning, Maryland moments from now. President Obama wrapped up his five state port State of the Union road trip with an education speech in Ann Arbor. He called on government to keep college within the grasp of every American family and called on colleges to keep tuition in check.
Later in this hour, the president speaks to the Democratic issues conference on Maryland's eastern shore, and we'll bring you some of those remarks.
With just four days to go until the biggest Republican contest to date, Mitt Romney appears to be getting traction and Newt Gingrich appears to be slipping. (INAUDIBLE) surveyed likely Florida voters from Tuesday to yesterday, and 38 percent back Romney. Gingrich is 9 points behind him. Rick Santorum and Ron Paul are still fighting for third, but Paul isn't even campaigning in Florida, unless you count the debate.
In the 19th debate of the season and the last before Florida votes next Tuesday, the front-runners tangled over immigration, personal investments and campaign rhetoric. Much more on that in Fair Game later this hour.
A day after the captain admitted he made a mistake and wrecked the Costa Concordia off the Italian coast, passengers are now being offered what amounts to $14,400 in compensation. The decision was reached between the cruise ship owner and consumer groups, but this ordeal is far from over for many. A 16th body was recovered on Tuesday, while another 16 passengers are still missing. The rescue operations chief says crews are trying to open up new passages in the ship's hull so rescuers can access more areas.
A surreal experience to be condemned to die. Those were the ominous words of Joshua Komisarjevsky before a Connecticut judge formerly sentenced him to death less than two hours ago. You may remember, Komisarjevsky was convicted in October for brutally robbing, raping and murdering Jennifer Hawke-Petit along with her two young daughters back in 2007. The victims husband and dad, Dr. William Petit managed to escape from the basement during the home invasion. He spoke in court this morning as well. Dr. Petit said, I miss my entire family. I had 26 years with Jennifer, 17 with Haley and 11 with Michaela. We were robbed of this in a hanis manner. For what? Money. We'll bring you a live update from Connecticut and more details about Komisarjevsky defiant words in court in just about 15 minutes.
Social media, in including Twitter, played a critical role during recent historic events, like the Arab uprising. But your tweet could soon be censored, depending on where you are. Twitter now can sensor tweets or accounts, but it varies on the countries and its logs. What exactly does that mean? Twitter will begin deleting users' tweets in countries that require it, but tweet will still be visible for the rest of the world. Until now, if Twitter deleted your post, it would be erased globally, meaning nobody could see it in any country.
If silly string teaches you anything, let it teach you to do not do this. You can see ThunderBug, the Tampa Bay hockey mascot got a Boston Bruins fan pretty good there. Well, the video went viral on YouTube. Let's just say her bosses from the Tampa Bay Lightning got wind of it and according to the "Tampa Bay Times," Kelly Frank, the woman inside the bug suit, got axed (INAUDIBLE) for this. But the Tampa Bay Lightening spokesman says, the silly string incident wasn't the only reason for firing Frank. CNN has calls out to Frank but we haven't yet heard back.
We all know the X Games are extreme but what happened at the winter X Games in Aspen left many horrified. Before we show you this, be warned, it is hard to watch. This is Colton Moore attempting a freestyle jump on his snowmobile when, just watch, amazing stuff. Moore is OK and walks away. Not only that he advanced to the finals and won the gold. Yes, well, set your watches because Colton Moore will be speaking with Brooke Baldwin at 2:50 p.m. about the crash and his win.
The breakup of Heidi Klum and Seal's story (ph) marriage seemed sudden and unexpected, it certainly left many of us wondering and talking. Well, Seal opens up to Pier Morgan about their separation.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEAL, SINGER: How can two people who have it all, as I described, have the careers, have the love for each other, have the beautiful family, have the respect and the honor and the friendship for each other, how can it all of a sudden take a left turn? So, no, it doesn't really make sense.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAYE: You can catch Piers' entire interview at 9:00 p.m. Eastern time.
The first family, a picture of perfection or are they? We'll ask the author of the new book, "The Obamas," Jodi Kantor. And what she has to say about the first family may surprise you. Plus, she dishes on what it's like inside the White House, that is all coming up with Jodi.
But first, an amazing story of the community coming together. (INAUDIBLE) hardware store in Ohio fell in hard times like so many other mom and pop places nowadays. It was on the brink of closing after more than 150 years, but that all changed after a resident posted an online rallying cry, asking members of the community to come to the store and spend at least $20. He called it a cash mob. Little did he know his idea would save that store. Not only did people flood in, so too did calls from out of towners wanting to pitch in. To all those who gave, you are today's Rock Stars.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAYE: When it comes to the first family, Americans really only get to see the exterior, the polished presentation and perfection, it so often seems. But my next guest says that's far from the reality. In fact, life inside the White House is not only ridiculously demanding, it can be downright grueling. In her new book, "The Obamas," author in "New York Times" reported Jodi Kantor reveals a behind the scenes look at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. And the famous first couple who live inside. Jodi Kantor joins me now from New York.
Jodi, nice to have you on the program. Read the book, really interesting -- a really interesting read. I understand that you interviewed about 200 people, many top White House staff, to write this book. What surprised you most about the Obamas in all of your research?
JODI KANTOR, AUTHOR, "THE OBAMAS": Well, I think the most compelling thing was watching these two regular people from Chicago, very talented, very ambitious, but ultimately regular Chicagoans, turn themselves into president and first lady of the United States. I really wrote the book to answer voters' questions that I thought they would have coming up to 2012. What happened to the couple we met in 2008? What has the effect been on them of being in power, of living in the White House? What is their true experience and behind the scenes adjustment been like?
KAYE: And in the book, you describe the Obamas as pretty much isolated, sort of introverted in a way. They don't socialize very much. Why do you think that is and does that surprise you?
KANTOR: Well, part of it is I think the isolating effect of being in the White House. You know, President Obama revolutionized online campaigning in 2008, and yet in the White House, he can't even have a regular Blackberry and e-mail with more than a few people. Michelle Obama used to be a real neighborhood person, now her movements are so restricted. You know, when she went to a Corcoran Gallery of Art, a beautiful art museum in Washington, she was shocked to discover it was only a block from the White House, because she doesn't get to walk around the neighborhood.
KAYE: And how would you say their relationship has changed since they entered the White House, if at all?
KANTOR: Well, I think what's interesting is that their relationship means so much politically. When I talked to them in 2009 in the Oval Office, I said to them, we see all of these beautiful images of the two of you together, are you in any way marketing your marriage for political gain? And they really pushed back, they really disagreed with even the premise of the question. But in the book we see that a year later, they're sitting in a meeting in the Oval Office and the President approval ratings are way down, the mid-term elections in 2010 were very tough for Democrats, and they were basically told Democrats love seeing you together and it has a positive effect on elections.
KAYE: I mean, there's no question the president has the toughest job in America, but if you look at the first lady, that can't be easy either. And I know you write a little bit about how Michelle Obama struggled with that.
KANTOR: You know, the scrutiny is incredible. The first summer the Obamas were in office, they went to the Grand Canyon, very typical first family thing to do. And they were warned about the high temperatures on the Canyon floor and told to dress very lightly for safety.
So, Michelle Obama wore a pair of shorts, just a regular pair of mom shorts, and an uproar ensued days of video commentary and pictures and debate about whether it's OK for a first lady to wear shorts. And she actually went to Robert Gibbs, the former press secretary, and she was very contrite. She was worried that she had caused days of negative headlines simply by wearing shorts. And he assured her, no matter what you do, people will pick you apart.
KAYE: Let's talk about some of the reviews of the book. I've seen some, they're certainly mixed, some are very positive, some are quite negative. You say that you've been shocked by what you call tabloid treatment of this.
KANTOR: Well, maybe not shocked but a little bit surprised. The sort of book review (INAUDIBLE) have generally been very good. And the thing that I think I've been surprised by is that I have been covering the Obamas for a long time, often writing these kinds of sensitive stories, and what I think that has never happened before is this story really blew up and there was a lot of tabloidy sensationalized treatment. There were some reports that kind of skewed some of the facts that I reported. So, you know, as an author, I don't want to complain about attention exactly, but that was a little strange to watch.
KAYE: You write a lot, and this story got me. There's this window in the White House that apparently Laura Bush pointed out to Michelle Obama, and I guess other first ladies have sat as this window. What is the significance of it, where is it?
KANTOR: It's upstairs in the private residence and it's in a sitting room. And it's a very inconspicuous little window. And Laura Bush took Michelle Obama there when they toured the White House together after the 2008 election, and Laura Bush said, my mother-in- law, Barbara Bush, showed this window to Hillary Clinton who showed it to me, and I'll show it to you and one day you'll point out to your successor.
And the window looks out on the Oval Office in the Rose Garden, and Mrs. Bush talked about how she used to just stand slightly to the side so nobody could see her and look out. And to me, it was such a powerful metaphor for what first ladyhood is because these women experience the presidency so intensely and yet they are hidden in a way as well.
KAYE: Have you heard from the president or the first lady since the book came out?
KANTOR: Reporters almost never do. You sometimes hear through aides and inter-media areas.
KAYE: Well, keep us posted if you get an invitation to the White House to talk about the book or maybe you'll have a little book signing there, you let us know.
KANTOR: Thank you so much.
KAYE: Thank you, Jodi Kantor. Appreciate it. And again, the book is called "The Obamas."
He's been convicted of killing two young girls and their mother before setting their house on fire. But what drove him to commit such a heart wrenching crime? A look at Joshua Komisarjevsky plus the latest from his sentencing.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAYE: Joshua Komisarjevsky, convicted in a brutal home invasion in Connecticut, was sentenced to death just a short time ago. In 2007, he and another man raped and killed Jennifer Hawke-Petit, then tied up her two daughters and set the house on fire, leaving them to die. He now joins his accomplice, Steven Hayes, on death row. The only survivor of the attack, Dr. William Petit, said in court today, I lost my wife and my home, my wife, my friend, my partner. We were robbed of this in a heinous manner for what? Money.
So why did Komisarjevsky do it? I got some insight when the murders first happened back in 2007 from one of Komisarjevsky's friends.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KAYE (voice-over): A hint of violence. A disturbing prediction of what might come buried in this letter from prison.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I need someone like you who knows a little about my past to keep me grounded in the future when my criminal demon starts to wander.
KAYE: Days after the attack, we interviewed this woman who told us she was a close friend. She asked us not to show her face, but shared the letter he says he sent her from prison years before.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Prison was a hard pill for me to swallow. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't get angry. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't feel the pain of being taken from my daughter.
KAYE: He writes about his dreams of becoming a real estate developer.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My daughter needs me and I can't accomplish my goals when I am locked up.
KAYE: Police say Komisarjevsky followed Mrs. Hawke-Petit and one of her daughters home from the grocery store in July 2007 and chose them as his next victims.
KAYE (on camera): Neither suspect has ever been arrested for murder before, though they are hardly strangers to crime. In fact, between the two of them, they've been arrested nearly 50 times. On Hayes' rap sheet, 27 arrests, including illegal possession of a firearm, burglary, and forgery. Komisarjevsky's past is just as ugly. Twenty arrests for burglary and larceny. Police say he sometimes used night vision goggles.
KAYE (voice-over): Both have served time in prison. But it was here at the Silliman halfway house in Hartford, Connecticut, where they first met. They were roommates for four months. What might have driven them to sexually assault and strangle Jennifer Hawke-Petit and leave her two beautiful daughters to die in a fire they had set? Forensic psychiatrist Helen Morrison has studied cases like this.
HELEN MORRISON, FORENSIC PSYCHIATRIST: It appears that both of them were really consumed with rage at the unfairness of their lives, so to speak.
KAYE (on camera): Komisarjevsky was adopted as an infant. His grandfather was a leading Russian theatrical director and the son of a princess. His grandmother, a well-known modern dancer. A family friend told us his parents, born again Christians, had trouble controlling him.
KAYE (voice-over): His friend told us that just five days before the murders, Komisarjevsky was distraught over a breakup.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He was really, really depressed.
KAYE: She said, if he did kill Jennifer Hawke-Petit and her girls, something snapped.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He put the terror into these poor girls hearts and he was the person that they spent their last hours in fear for their lives. And he left them to burn.
KAYE: A senseless act, not even a history of crime can explain.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAYE: Now let's go straight to the Connecticut court where Komisarjevsky was sentenced. Our Brian Vitagliano is there. Brian, I covered this story, as you just saw there, you know, all those years ago. It was so disturbing. So I can hardly imagine what that atmosphere was like in that courtroom today. Can you tell us?
BRIAN VITAGLIANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Randi. Hi.
Yes, the courtroom ran high with emotion. Obviously it was a very somber hour and 45 minutes. Joshua Komisarjevsky at 10:00 a.m. was led into courtroom in an orange prison jumpsuit and shackles. He had to sit there and listen to Jennifer Hawke-Petit's father, and mother, and sister speak via video for victim impact statements. And then Dr. Petit got up and spoke. And it was extremely, extremely emotional. Afterwards, Dr. Petit and the entire Petit family and friends left the courtroom. They did not want to hear anything that Joshua Komisarjevsky had to say.
And he did, in fact, speak for roughly about eight minutes. He said that he, quote, "was honest in my confession, then and now." He knew that the result is the same one that they -- that he did it and he was going to spend his life in prison. He didn't want those innocent women to die. And he didn't need 12 people to tell him what his motivation was.
So, I've covered the Steven Hayes' verdict as well and it was extremely emotional. When you sit in court and listen to a judge basically say your fate is now in the hands of others, may God have mercy on your soul, it's extremely powerful.
KAYE: Do you think the family -- you know, I don't like to use the word closure, and I know Dr. Petit certainly didn't, but this is sort of finally coming to an end for them. How much would you say that means to this family?
VITAGLIANO: I think it means a lot. I mean they have -- they've had to endure two trials now and sit through evidence and sit through horrific testimony about what happened to his wife and seventeen year old daughter and 11 year old daughter. And see photographs of the remains of charred and burned bodies. And it's just -- you know, that is taxing on anyone. And, you know, during last October, when Dr. Petit came out, someone asked him about closure and he says, quote, "it's not clear to me that time heals all wounds, but you form some form of scars."
So, you know, there is a sense that he's moving on. He just recently did get engaged over the holidays. So, you know, he seems to be moving on. But this, by no means, will ever be forgotten for the family or the people of Connecticut, in Cheshire.
KAYE: Yes, certainly not. Not a crime that brutal. Brian Vigtaliano there in court for us in Connecticut. Brian, thank you.
We've been talking about the impact of concussions all week. Coming up, we'll explain how brain injuries are detected. Dr. Sanjay Gupta is even going to put me to the test. Really?
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: I am. KAYE: All right.
GUPTA: I'm here for it (ph).
KAYE: You'll see it live, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAYE: Police in a suburb of Pittsburgh are investigating a high school accused of putting football ahead of students' safety. Trainers and at least one parent say coaches at Peters Township pressure kids to play hurt. A broken wrist, in one case. Concussion in another. The district disagrees and no one's been charged with anything. Still, it shouldn't come as news that young athletes face many of the same risks as the pros. And getting hit in the head hard can cause some serious problems. CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta has looked at those risks and problems for years now. He's reported on them all week. And today, we are talking solutions.
So my first question to you is, how can parents continue to let their kids play sports while still protecting their brains? Is it possible?
GUPTA: Yes. Well, and I don't like to hear stories like that because the athletic trainers, obviously, need to be on the side of the kids' safety and not pressuring the kids to get back in the game. Athletic trainers are one of the solutions. Hopefully having them present at every practice and every game because they can diagnose and recognize concussions so players don't get back into the game hurt.
Now, a concussion is a bad problem. But if someone has a second concussion while healing from the first, it can turn into a terrible, a catastrophic problem.
There are things -- just simple things. Like you think about practices, just so many repetitive head injuries and practices because of the drills. Coaches and staff alike saying, look, do we need to be having a kid hit their head that many times during practice in football, or in soccer, or lots of different sports.
Also, you know, you watch football. The three-point stance. You've got your head down. And that was sort of designed so that people could sort of move quickly with their head first. Focusing on a two-point stance instead, so you're focusing on your chest, your arms and your hands to do the tackling.
You know, a lot of people focus on helmets, for example. And a helmets, obviously, important, but it can also be a false sense of comfort. These cannot prevent concussions necessarily. If you think specifically about what a helmet does versus a -- what is happening to the brain. When someone takes a hit, the brain is moving back and forth within the skull. And that's what really causes a concussion, is the brain sort of stretches, twists and all that. And a helmet can't prevent that from happening. So, you know, those are some specific things that I think -- low hanging fruit, so to speak, in terms of trying to address this problem. KAYE: And is it possible that some players don't even know when they've been hit hard enough to have a concussion? I mean is there any way for the coaches to know? Or parents?
GUPTA: I think there is. Yes. You know, and this is an important point because the players themselves may not be the best judge at the time. I mean they have just had a brain injury, which is what a concussion is. And even if they do know, there's plenty of evidence to suggest that because of the culture of football, they want to get back in the game. More than half of players tend to, quote/unquote, lie about this so they can get back in the game. And that's obviously the wrong thing.
KAYE: Wow.
GUPTA: So one thing that's interesting is, they've been trying to do a lot of things to try and standardize the playing field. You know, they do these cognitive exams at the beginning of a season and then if someone has a head injury, they can test them again.
So let me just give you a quick example, Randi. We'll put you to the test and everybody else watching at home as well.
KAYE: Oh, this is where I come in. OK. Good luck.
GUPTA: If you just take a look at -- I think we have a list of words. Just take a look at that list for a few seconds there, Randi. This is just part of what a cognitive test would be like. You try and remember those, obviously. And keep in mind, again, if you had a head injury, if you were playing a sport and you got a concussion or something and you said, look, I'm fine. Everything is resolved. I'm good to go. They might actually put you through one of these cognitive exams again and see if, in fact, you are fine and if you're performing just as well.
So you remember those words?
KAYE: That was a long time ago. Mirror.
GUPTA: Well, look at this list over here.
KAYE: Oh, I'm allowed to look. OK.
GUPTA: So, this is a list of more words. And now pick out the words that you think are on the list.
KAYE: OK. So this is easier. OK. Ladder, parent, mirror, forest, stove.
GUPTA: You did go.
KAYE: Thank you.
GUPTA: Go ahead and show those --
KAYE: I thought I was going to have to remember them just off the top of my head. GUPTA: There you go.
KAYE: Years of doing stand-ups.
GUPTA: But you look at some of that. If you look -- like they got the word hot in there because people may confuse hot with stove. Tree instead of forest. You know, those sorts of things. And again, this is a much more sophisticated test than you might think because people are actually remembering things differently if they've had a brain injury.
Just one example. But that's what we're seeing nowadays. That's a trend in terms of trying to not always give the player the benefit of the doubt, but rather, you know, really test them.
KAYE: Yes, it's really -- I mean it's frightening because obviously they do want to keep playing. I understand that. But it is scary that the parents and others really might not have any idea unless they gave them the test. But they might not even know to give them that test.
GUPTA: Right. And hopefully, you know, in 35 states and the District of Columbia, you're seeing rules like this being -- taking effect. So hopefully it will become more common.
KAYE: Well, I know we've talked a lot about this all week. You've done some incredible reporting on it.
GUPTA: Thank you.
KAYE: Such a serious issue. Sanjay, thank you very much.
GUPTA: Thank you.
KAYE: And a reminder, Sanjay's new documentary, "Big Hits, Broken Dreams" airs this Sunday, 8:00 p.m. Eastern on CNN. You should definitely tune in for that one.
The gloves were off in Florida at last night's debate. Romney was relentless and Gingrich took most of the hits. So is the battle for the sunshine state Gingrich's last stand? That is "Fair Game" next.
But first, a political junkie question. Which party won Florida when the state voted in its first presidential election in 1848? A long time ago. I'll give a shout-out to the first person who tweets the right answer to me @randikayecnn.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAYE Before the break I asked which party won Florida when the state voted in its first presidential election in 1848. The correct answer? The Whig party. And its winning candidate that year? Zachary Taylor.
Congratulations to Charles from Columbia. You were first to Tweet the right answer. Very nicely done.
By most accounts, Newt Gingrich was outperformed in our Florida primary debate last night and it is fair game today. Take a look at this new poll with me, which we want to point out was taken before the debate.
With the Florida GOP primary just four days away, Mitt Romney has opened up a nine-point lead over Gingrich, according to a Quinnipiac University survey of likely, Florida Republican primary voters.
Trailing behind them are Ron Paul and Rick Santorum. You see it there.
Joining us now, CNN political analyst, Roland Martin, and CNN contributor, Will Cain. Great to have you guys with us on this Friday.
Oh, boy.
ROLAND MARTIN, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Hey, Randi, what if we had the "We Party? What if today we had the "We Party?"
KAYE: That's a good idea, Roland. Start it.
MARTIN: Yeah, there's lots of "we's" out there.
KAYE: OK, could we back to what we were doing, though, now? OK?
MARTIN: OK, I'm sorry.
KAYE: You had your time. Now, we're moving on.
MARTIN: Now, the Whig Party? I was just having a good time.
KAYE: Well, you know what? I'm just going to start with Will here.
Will, to you, first. This new poll that we showed before Roland chimed in there doesn't bode well for Gingrich, right? Your take on this?
WILL CAIN, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: It doesn't bode well for Gingrich, no. Not many things are boding well for Gingrich right now.
I think last night kind of exposed him as a fancy boxer with a glass jaw. If you're going to live and die by the debate, be prepared for that.
He really got whooped last night. That's just plain and clear.
KAYE: Roland, I know you want to say something.
MARTIN: OK, look, first of all, Mitt Romney, we saw his tax returns on Tuesday. Dude got paid. Whoever was his debate coach, he needs to give them a serious bonus for hooking them up with his performance last night.
But, Randi, here's the piece where I'm always saying, "Folks, call down." This is only the fourth state. Here's what you have coming up next. You've got Nevada caucuses then Colorado, Minnesota, Missouri, Maine, Arizona, Michigan. Might be a tough month for Newt Gingrich, but the key is going to be what happens on "Super Tuesday," March 6th, and then what happens a week later.
We have a lot more Southern states, as well, and, so, I'm not one of these folks saying, "Oh, he's out." Maybe. He's likely going to lose Florida. You never know, but there's always states after that. We've got 46 to go.
KAYE: Well, listen, Wolf Blitzer asked some great questions last night. There were some great moments during the debate.
I want to replay one very sharp exchange between Gingrich and Romney.
MARTIN: Sure.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NEWT GINGRICH, REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Governor Romney owns shares of both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Governor Romney made a million dollars off of selling some of that.
MITT ROMNEY, REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Mr. Speaker, I know that sounds like an enormous revelation, but have you checked your own investments? You also have investments through mutual funds that also invest in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAYE: As they say in that commercial, the look on Gingrich's face was priceless, wasn't it, Will?
CAIN: Absolutely. So, here's the deal. I appreciate Roland's patience in his political analysis and he's right. You know, Newt Gingrich is still sitting on $10 million of Sheldon Adelson's money, which means he's going to stick around for a while.
But, if you sell yourself and if you've been sold and the public has bought you as this premier debater, well then, you better keep winning debates and last night Mitt Romney hit him right there on that clip you played, Randi.
He told him immigration's not about 11 million grandmas -- another great moment. He turned Newt Gingrich's ambition and big ideas about the space program into pandering and said you shouldn't go to every state promising that state their own little particular interest.
He got him so many times last night, the end result is if that's how Newt Gingrich is going to live by the debate then the future does not look bright.
MARTIN: I got you, but, again, though, we don't know. At the end of the day, Randi, this is still -- what people don't want to own up to -- this is a delegate game. You still have to get 1,144. So, you might not do well in one state. You might do well in another. This is going to go on for a long time and we've already seen in these four states ups and downs, Mitt real hot, Newt losing. Newt wins and Mitt down.
So, you never know what's going to happen. Chalk it up as one state this week. It is one to the next one.
KAYE: Well, a lot of people are weighing in. Former senator and presidential candidate, Bob Dole, who we should mention is a Romney supporter, blasted Gingrich yesterday for being, quote, "one man band who rarely took advice."
In a letter to conservatives handed out by Romney's campaign, Dole goes on to say, quote, "if Gingrich is the nominee, it will have an adverse impact on Republican candidates running for county, state, and federal offices.
Will, what do you think?
CAIN: I think you need to add Bob Dole to the line of conservatives that are saying such things. It includes people like Joe Scarborough, who served with Newt Gingrich. It includes esteemed members of conservative circles, like Senator Tom Coburn, who have nothing nice to say about Newt Gingrich.
The closer you have been to Newt Gingrich, the more negative things you have to say about him.
KAYE: Roland, I want to ask you quickly about Rick Santorum.
MARTIN: Sure.
KAYE: I mean, he came on pretty strong last night. He's getting a lot of credit for that. Will it make a difference?
MARTIN: No, I think Rick Santorum will always be the third or fourth candidate, but this is the key. Mitt Romney and the GOP establishment, they need Santorum in this race because, again, if he gets out, then Gingrich can say, "I am the true conservative."
And, so, if Santorum gets 10, 12, 14 percent, that's potentially a number that does not go to Gingrich. Remember, it still comes down to delegates and, so, if you're Romney, you need people pulling votes away from Gingrich to help you out.
KAYE: And, Will, to you very quickly before we go. People, as you know, can vote early in Florida, so if they've done that -- many of them have -- who does it benefit, do you think?
CAIN: You know, Randi, the other morning, Roland and I on the morning program interviewed former congressman, Alan Grayson, who he and I are big fans of each other.
He pointed out ...
MARTIN: You all love each other.
CAIN: He pointed out that 25 percent of the Florida vote came in early and before the South Carolina primary, meaning before Newt Gingrich ever had a bump, when Mitt Romney was flying high.
So, if 25 percent of the vote came in that early, you have to guess that helped Romney a lot.
KAYE: Oh, I'm sure. Roland, you agree, I take it?
MARTIN: Oh, absolutely. And, again, though, this is why you work it beforehand.
2008, then Senator Obama did the exact same thing when it came to the (inaudible) election. This is why you have to have a full program, if you will, a full campaign where you are working before you arrive there.
Remember, on March 6th, Gingrich not on the ballot in Virginia. Couldn't make it. Several other things, the same way.
And, so, Mitt Romney's infrastructure could be the difference when it comes to getting those delegates.
KAYE: I love having you guys on, on a Friday. It makes for a very nice end of the week.
Roland Martin, Will Cain, that was fun and that was "Fair Game."
MARTIN: Get that "We Party" going.
CAIN: Have a good weekend, Randi.
KAYE: The "We Party." I'm all over it, Roland.
MARTIN: All right. Get it going, Randi.
KAYE: All right.
Just days after their rescue from Somali pirates, more on who may have been behind the kidnapping of these two aid workers. The new stunning details of a compromised officer in just a couple of minutes.
(COMMERICIAL BREAK)
KAYE: Two days after U.S. special forces swept into Somalia and rescued aid workers, Jessica Buchanan and Poul Thisted, we're just getting new details about who may have been behind their kidnapping.
So, let's go straight to Brian Todd. He's been digging into this.
Brian, we're getting word this was an inside job by the very people that were hired to protect them. What more can you tell us?
BRIAN TODD, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Well, that's right, Randi. Some disturbing details, we're getting on that kidnapping of American aid worker, Jessica Buchanan, and her colleague, Poul Hagen Thisted. This was, of course, back in Somalia in October.
We have spoken actually with a gentleman named Fredrik Palsson, head of security for the aid group, the Danish Refugee Counsel.
According to Mr. Palsson, Buchanan and Thisted were being guarded by a group of possibly seven or eight policemen affiliated with the Somali government at the time of their capture. They were from what he called the SPU, the Special Protection Unit.
He said they were all armed with AK-47s at the time and says they were moving between regions of Somalia controlled by different clans. They were changing vehicles as they moved from one area to another.
Palsson says the leader of that police unit was compromised, that he was paid by the kidnappers to turn on Buchanan and Thisted and to aid in their capture.
I spoke with Palsson over Skype this morning from his home in Sweden.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FREDRIK PALSSON, THE DANISH REFUGEE COUNSEL: One of the guards, he was sold out and he had as a mission to capture expatriates and he had exchanged some of the ordinary SPU guards that we utilized into guards that were just not a part of our outfit.
And, as they came close to the changeover position, then they were stopped and then they were moving into other vehicles and they were driven away.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TODD: Palsson would not give us that police officer's name. He says that at this time they believe that one other officer, the lead officer there, was the only person involved in the kidnapping plot.
He said the man is still at large, has essentially disappeared. We pressed him repeatedly on whether other members of that unit were in on the plan, whether they resisted, if they ran away. Palsson said that that is unclear.
Randi?
KAYE: And any more details? I mean, not only who was involved, but just any more details on how they actually were able to pull this off?
TODD: Well, he said that they were actually transiting from one region of Somalia to another and when they do that they often are going from an area controlled by one clan to an area patrolled by another clan. At that time he said they were switching vehicles.
It's not really clear whether that is part of the practice in that region or not, but we are told that it sometimes is part of the practice that you do have to switch vehicles as you're switching areas to let the one clan know that you're coming into their territory.
He said they were in that kind of a transition period when that happened. They were getting out of one vehicle when the operation essentially turned and the picture that we're getting is that it was very, very fast, that they essentially shuttled them into one vehicle and drove away. It was that quick. They probably had little or no time to react.
KAYE: Well, it's incredible and they're so lucky to be free and alive now, as well.
Brian Todd, nice work. Thank you very much.
TODD: Thank you.
KAYE: Special delivery, the Connecticut mayor getting national attention for making an insensitive comment gets a big surprise from the Latino community. Wait till you see what showed up at city hall, next.
But, first, in case you missed it, last night's CNN debate went where no debate had gone before, a space odyssey.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KAYE: Echoes of 2001 in 2012 with the candidates launching an attack on Newt Gingrich's idea to colonize the moon.
Gingrich called it bold thinking, but his critics were quick to point out the dark side.
ROMNEY: I've spent 25 years in business. If I had a business executive that wanted to put a colony on the moon, I'd say, "You're fired."
REP. RON PAUL, REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I don't think we should go to the moon. I think we maybe should send some politicians up there at times.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAYE: Talk about a giant leap backyards. Sorry, Newt, unless you are president, sounds like the moon colony idea's 15 minutes might have to play out in the movies.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAYE: Time now to check stories making news at "Street Level."
In Cincinnati, part of a casino under construction collapsed this morning. At least 20 people were injured when the second floor caved in, but none of the injuries are life threatening.
Police say they don't know what caused the collapse. An investigation is underway.
East Haven's mayor got a surprise lunch delivery, oh, just about 500 warm, soft tacos. They were hand-delivered to Joseph Maturo's office by a group of protesters after he told a reporter that he would eat tacos to improve relations with the Latino community after four police officers were accused of mistreating Latinos.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNKNOWN: What are you doing for the Latino community today?
MAYOR JOSEPH MATURO, EAST HAVEN, CONNECTICUT: I might have tacos when I go home. I'm not quite sure yet.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAYE: He later issued an apology and promised to deal sensitively and compassionately with the challenges currently facing "our town." That's a quote.
Maturo's office donated the tacos to local soup kitchens and pantries.
In Chicago today, a sad end to Hull House, an institution started by Jane Addams in 1889 to service immigrants, is closing its door in financial ruin.
Over the generations, Hull House evolved to offer foster care, pre-school education, family counseling, and job training to some 60,000 Chicagoans a year.
But, lately, its funding took a severe hit while the need for its services kept rising. Its 300 employees now have to look for work.
In Utah, two high school students were arrested after a chilling plot came to light. The boys, aged 18 and 16, are accused of planning to explode bombs during a school assembly and then escape on a plane.
The 16-year-old apparently told police he was fascinated by the 1999 shootings at Columbine High School. Both boys are students at the school.
A college fraternity at the University of Memphis is making waves and for all the right reasons. The historically black community now has a white member.
Christian Moskovitz says he did it to get the full, college experience and his friend says this is a move in the right direction.
In Ocala, Florida, authorities say a girl was beaten by seven students on a school bus. They are formerly charged with battery and disorderly conduct in the case and facing expulsion from school.
The girl's mother says she apparently just asked them to scoot over so she could sit down when she was attacked. School officials said they are conducting an investigation. In Rochester, New Hampshire, a school principal showed what true dedication to her students means. A 10-year-old autistic boy from her school was out for a walk with his teacher when he ran away.
When he rushed out onto a frozen river and fell through the ice, Principal Gwen Rhodes jumped right in and rescued him. His parents are extremely grateful and say she is their hero.
Finally, police in Modesto, California, have an answer to the age-old question, how hard is it to corral a Shetland pony? Well, pretty hard. Watch it here.
This guy kept cops on the run for two hours yesterday, loping, hiding, and snacking in a residential neighborhood. Oh, yeah, he was having a field day.
Finally, after lots of snacks and some sweet talk, the pony boarded a trailer and rode off into the sunset. We don't know where it came from, but for now it's at the county shelter. Do call if you recognize that Shetland pony on the loose.
Well, Lego's in space? Yes, that's legit. So, what does this have to do with last night's debate? Stick around. We're heading up, way up, next.
First, a question, though, for our political junkies. Barack Obama won Florida in the 2008 presidential election. Who was the last Democratic presidential candidate to win Florida prior to 2008?
Be the first person to Tweet me the right answer to @randikayecnn and you will get a shout-out right after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAYE: Before the break, I asked who was the last Democratic presidential candidate to win Florida prior to the 2008 election. The answer? Bill Clinton in 1996, who was re-elected to a second term.
Congratulations to A.T. for Tweeting me the right answer, first.
Many of those watching last night's debate right here on CNN were scratching their heads when Newt Gingrich started talking about putting a colony on the moon.
But this Lego man has beaten him to the punch. Sort of. Thanks to a couple of Canadian students, Lego man soared 144 miles above earth, attached to a weather balloon. The cost? Just $400.
So, is there a lesson here? Joining us now in Jacksonville, Florida, Peter Hamby.
Peter, there you see it, Lego man. I mean, what do you think? Could Lego man give Gingrich a tip or two on this moon colony?
PETER HAMBY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, if a moon colony could cost $400, that would be huge for Newt Gingrich because last night his opponents totally throttled him for this moon colony idea because, quite frankly, it would cost way too much for the budget that NASA has right now, Randi.
So, maybe. Maybe.
KAYE: Yeah, it made for some good TV, though, that discussion, for sure.
You wrote a great column for CNN.com on the five things that we learned from this Florida debate. I want to go over a couple with you.
One of the things that you said we really learned from this debate was that Romney came to play. Can you expand on that a little bit?
HAMBY: Yeah, absolutely. He hired a new debate coach after South Carolina when he stumbled through a couple debates. It really showed last night.
He came prepared. He had a one-two punch early, really hitting Gingrich quickly on the immigration topic and brushing him back.
And then, also, as Gingrich tried to attack Romney for being a hypocrite and sort of, you know, making money off of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, Romney hit back and said, "Hey, guess what? Speaker Gingrich, you also have investments in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac."
You know there were kudos last night in Boston to the Romney research team for that one. Romney really did his research and came in with a real air of confidence last nigh, Randi.
It was a big night for him early and it set the tone for the rest of the evening.
KAYE: Yeah, it sure did. Another thing that you say that we learned is that Gingrich stepped in immigration quicksand.
HAMBY: Yeah, that's interesting. You know, Hispanic voters make up about a tenth of the Republican vote here and you really noticed the candidates soften their hard-line immigration rhetoric in Florida.
But here's the reality. This is a state that really sunk Rick Perry's presidential hopes way back in October when he came here into Florida at a debate and said that people that don't favor sort of more humane immigration policy don't have a heart.
He sunk in the polls immediately after that. Look, you don't want to drift too far to the left of the conservative base, which, despite the Hispanic voters in this state, you know, most Republicans voters here in this Republican base have really tough views on illegal immigration.
And Gingrich staked out of position to the left of Mitt Romney last night and that really made Romney look like the conservative. So, that was a loss for Gingrich right there, Randi.
KAYE: And just real quickly, that debate coach, you think it certainly helped Romney in the end?0
HAMBY: Absolutely. Absolutely. He came in last night with a comfortable lead and I think he cemented it last night.
You know, you could tell it was a bad night for Gingrich when in the spin room last night even Gingrich supporters and advisers couldn't explain what he did and they admitted openly that he did not have a very good debate.
That's a win for Mitt Romney right there.
KAYE: All right, Peter Hamby, live from Jacksonville, for us. Peter, thank you very much.
Thank you, everybody, for watching.
If you want to continue the conversation, I'm on Facebook and Twitter at randikayecnn and I will hand it off now to Brooke Baldwin.
Hi, Brooke.
BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: Randi, have a wonderful weekend. Thank you so much.
