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How to Retire Successfully; D.C. Cracking Down on Occupy Protesters; Priest Takes on Discrimination; Countdown to Florida Primary; Florida Voters Focus on the Economy; Panetta Airs Suspicions on Pakistan; U.N. seek outsider of Syrian President; Candidates Court Retirees in Florida; Priest Takes on Discrimination; Prepping for the Super Bowl; Canada, Yes the Country, for President
Aired January 30, 2012 - 09:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Hey, Soledad. Thanks so much.
Happy Monday. It's the top of the hour. And we begin this hour with presidential politics. And tomorrow's Republican primary in Florida. The clock counts down, and of course the gloves come off.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MITT ROMNEY (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: If you've ever tried to hire someone for a job, you look at not just what they say, but also what they have done. And what their record is. And his record was one of failed leadership. We don't need someone who can speak well, perhaps, or who can say the things we agree with but does not have the experience of being an effective leader.
NEWT GINGRICH (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I am in fact the legitimate heir of the Reagan movement. Not some liberal from Massachusetts.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Well, Mitt Romney has surged ahead in this sea-saw race. And a win in Florida could be pretty critical.
CNN political editor Paul Steinhauser is in Tampa.
So, Paul, let's talk about the latest polls and what are they showing this morning.
PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN POLITICAL EDITOR: Kyra, we've got four polls out over the last 36 hours, and they all indicate the same thing, that Mitt Romney is up by double digits over Newt Gingrich right here among people likely to vote in that primary tomorrow.
Take a look at the most recent, just out about two hours ago. This is from Quinnipiac University. You can see right there Mitt Romney with about a 14-point lead, 43 percent say they're backing him, 29 percent say they are backing Gingrich. You could see Santorum and Paul both far further down at 11 percent. And Kyra, when you break that poll down, that Quinnipiac poll, it's interesting. Among Tea Party supporters, among social conservatives, these are the base voters for Gingrich. But Romney has the edge there.
One more poll I want to share with you. And take a look at this. It came out yesterday afternoon. American Research Group. And pretty much the same story. There's Romney with an 11-point advantage.
Kyra, both these surveys conducted after our explosive debate on Thursday night in Jacksonville, which was of course the final debate, the final showdown, before tomorrow's primary -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: And Rick Santorum. Tough time with his daughter right now. What exactly do we know, Paul, and he's back on the campaign trail, right, but not in Florida?
STEINHAUSER: He is back on the campaign trail today. But you're right father comes before candidate for anybody. And that is definitely the case with Rick Santorum.
If you're not familiar, a lot of our viewers may not be familiar with this, his 3-year-old daughter, Bella, she suffers from a chromosomal condition, very serious, called Trisomy 18. She was rushed to the hospital in Philadelphia over the weekend. Santorum stopped his campaign events, was home with her or at the hospital with her.
Take a listen to what he said last night. He was on a conference call to supporters here in Florida, he talked about her condition. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RICK SANTORUM (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: She is on the mend and really miraculously on the mend. She was -- she went through a very, very tough time the last 48 hours. And this afternoon, she made really a remarkable turn, and I'm just feeling so blessed.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
STEINHAUSER: So because of that, now Rick Santorum is going to resume campaigning. But, Kyra, as you said, not here in Florida. Look at the schedule. Missouri, Minnesota, Colorado, and Nevada. Today and tomorrow. What's up with those states? Well, they vote next. All of those states go in early February.
Somebody else who's not here, Ron Paul. The candidate down today, but he'll be in Nevada and Colorado tomorrow. Why both these candidates are not here? Listen, Florida is winner-take-all. All 50 delegates. Both these candidates know they are not going to win here in Florida so they are looking ahead to the next contest -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right. We'll talk more about that, Paul. Thanks so much. And for Florida voters, the economy is issue number one. The hard-hit state is still lagging behind much of the country in bouncing back from the recession.
Christine Romans was in Florida last week. She talked to a lot of voters about issues and what's driving them to the polls.
What did you find out, Christine?
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Well, I found out that housing is still a really big problem there. And there's this real chicken and the egg argument going on about how can recovery before jobs or -- and jobs get better first, will housing follows or if the housing gets a little better then maybe that'll create some jobs.
So people are really hopeful for the future but still stick in a real problem for foreclosures. I mean you've got a 50/50 chance of being underwater on your loan if you live in Florida, on your home loan. You've got a pretty good chance of having lost half of the value of your investment from peak to trough.
We talked to one realtor who said, look, they're still looking for real concrete answers, and that's been hard to come by.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STAN BISHOP, FLORIDA REAL ESTATE BROKER: We need somebody to step up who's going to have a voice, that's going to say, this is a solution. And unfortunately there are so many different situations from why are they not making the payment, what's going on with the values. To me, it's the economy needs to pick up. The jobs need to be up. And it's not just the jobs. It's the higher paying jobs.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: And that's the key for Florida. They need jobs, they need higher paying jobs. And they need a housing market to stabilize.
And Kyra, I think that very few people are going to be able to vote in that primary on Tuesday without having jobs and housing right there with them in the voting booth. Nine hundred thousand people are unemployed in the state of Florida. So these are very two key issues that Romney right now is polling better on quite frankly than Newt Gingrich.
PHILLIPS: What about other battleground states? I know you've been looking outside of Florida as well.
ROMANS: Yes. And housing again and again. You look at the battleground states, they've got major housing woes. In fact, five of the top six battleground states, you can see they are the worst housing markets. California is not a battleground. But look, over the past year, it's how -- home prices down almost 6 percent. Look at Nevada, Arizona, Michigan. Still down. A little more stable, but they have had a horrible run of housing. And then Florida, houses prices down about 3.7 percent in Florida over the past year.
So in any of the really important contests it is housing. In the voting booth, people are going in there with their housing baggage. No question.
PHILLIPS: All right. Christine, thanks.
ROMANS: You're welcome.
PHILLIPS: And tomorrow, you can join the best political team on television for live coverage of the Florida primary. Wolf leads our coverage, along with Erin and Anderson, Candy and John. It all begins tomorrow night at 6:00 Eastern, starting with "JOHN KING, USA."
PHILLIPS: Well, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta is creating some international buzz. He says he remains convinced that someone in Pakistan's government must have known that Osama bin Laden was hiding in that country. Just a mile from Pakistan's military academy.
Take a listen to what he said on "60 Minutes."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LEON PANETTA, DEFENSE SECRETARY: Don't forget this compound had 18-foot walls around it, 12-foot walls in some areas. It was the largest compound in the area. So you would have thought that somebody would have asked the question, what the hell is going on there?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Our Reza Sayah is in Islamabad.
Reza, Pakistan was pretty outraged that the U.S. carried out this raid without telling the Pakistani government. So now we're seeing this interview with Leon Penetta. What do you know about the rifts between our country and Pakistan, and is it getting any better?
REZA SAYAH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, there have been rifts, although things are getting better. These types of statements from U.S. officials like Defense Secretary Leon Panetta certainly won't help, especially statements that can't be substantiated. And it looks like that's what we have here.
Defense Secretary Leom Panetta over the weekend saying he's convinced that someone in a position of authority in Pakistan knew bin Laden's whereabouts. Obviously, the Pakistani government and the military leadership have said all along that they didn't know he was there. They deny the accusations.
We should point out that in the interview, Mr. Panetta himself said, look, this is only my opinion. I don't have any facts to back it up. But certainly a man in this position, if he makes a statement like that, it's going to create a lot of buzz. And that's what is happening.
We should also point out that the Pentagon came out with a statement after this interview, clarifying what Mr. Panetta said, saying that the defense secretary said they're seeing no evidence that bin Laden was supported by the Pakistani government. The Pentagon also saying since the bin Laden operation, Secretary Panetta and his colleagues in the U.S. government have been working hard to improve U.S.-Pakistani relations.
So some signs there that Mr. Panetta and the Pentagon are backing off from that statement in an effort to mend these very fragile relations between Islamabad and Washington -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Reza, thanks.
And in Syria, an activist tells CNN the government's crackdown on protesters has left streets littered with dead bodies and wounded.
And that video was posted online supposedly shows troops opening fire on demonstrators in the capital. Now in recent weeks, hundreds of people have reportedly been killed, and now the United Nations is stepping in.
Zain Verjee is in London following this for us.
So Zain, what exactly is going to happen this week?
ZAIN VERJEE, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Well, what we are hearing from opposition groups, first of all, is that they are saying 64 people were killed in Syria just on Sunday. There's a huge amount of political pressure from the United Nations on Syria, as well as the Arab League.
Now the Arab League, Kyra, is saying they're leaving. There's too much violence, and they are pulling out their monitoring mission, which was supposed to protect people from more violence.
There have been more clashes today as well in different suburbs, Kyra, outside of Damascus. And many people on the ground are reporting that the government troops are cracking down and they've also cut off things like communications, water, and electricity.
Let me just give you an idea of what some of the newspaper headlines are saying around the world. The "Guardian" here in the UK says this, Kyra. "Hopes pinned on U.N. as fears of bloodier crisis grows." It says, "Syria's uprising stands poised between intensifying international diplomacy that may achieve little and escalating violence that is taking events on the ground to a new and menacing level."
You saw that with the video that we just looked at.
Take a look at today's "Zaman" in Turkey. Its headline was, "Responsibility while Protecting" It says the Security Council is paralyzed over Syria, unable to agree not only on the extreme steps of military force, but even on lesser coercive measures like targeted sanctions, an arms embargo or a referral to the International Criminal Court." And finally, take a look at the "Gulf News" in the UAE. "Syrian people deserve better than al-Assad." It's says, "It's incumbent on al-Assad to let Syria take the peaceful route and he should take the initiative to persuade his generals and other senior figures in the establishment that their regime is coming to an end."
It seems, though, Syria has made a strategic choice. The government that they've chosen a path and they are going to push ahead with it. A lot of demonstrators were asked, too, why are you doing this? Are you going to keep being defiant in spite of the pressure from the government? And they said there's no turning back, even if things get tougher -- Kyra?
PHILLIPS: Zain Verjee out of London for us. Zain, thanks.
Well, D.C. cops threaten to start arresting occupy protesters. They have been there for months. So why crack down now? We'll go live to D.C.
And candidates making their final push for votes in Florida. One key constituency, retirees. So who is going after their vote? We're live in Florida.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: In as early as 36 hours, we could know who voters in Florida wanted their Republican nominee to challenge President Obama. Retirees are a significant voting bloc in that state.
And our Brooke Baldwin is there. So, Broke, who are they getting behind?
BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, let me just say this, and I think you as a fellow golfer would appreciate it. When you come to Florida, where do you talk to retirees? You go to the golf course. So I was rolling around on a golf cart all day yesterday in the Florida sunshine, and I talked to a number of people.
But I talked to one couple in particular, and they don't even talk politics over dinner. And I said well, perfect, we're talking about it on the golf cart. The husband says -- he's a registered independent. He likes Barack Obama. Says he's earned for another four years. So if he as able to vote in the primary, he would vote for Romney, really likes his business acumen. His beau, though, sort of says, sorry, honey, I really Newt Gingrich. She says all kinds of candidates have baggage, what's new? She says he really speaks to real people and can unite both parties.
Bottom line, when you talk to these folks, we're talking 70s and 80s, they're Depression-era babies. They were born to be frugal and they say issue number one, the economy and paying down the debt.
Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) JOYCE GIARD, RETIREE: We have never been in debt, ever. We bought our first automobile, paid cash. We bought our first home and we paid cash.
BALDWIN: Joyce Giard retired to Florida from Grosse Point, Michigan, nearly 20 years ago. The septuagenarian and mother of six calls herself a Depression baby, meaning she learned to be frugal from birth. Giard has a little advice for the younger or as she's dubbed them, "the spender generation".
GIARD: To take part of their salary and not live up to their full income, to tear up your credit cards.
BALDWIN (on camera): What do you mean by that?
GIARD: I don't think they realize when they are putting money onto a credit card how much it's mounting up.
BALDWIN (voice-over): But there's an alarming disparity between her generation and their kids, the baby boomers, says this financial planner Robin Payant.
ROBIN PAYANT, FINANCIAL PLANNER: Today, with layoffs and things happening, people might have five or six jobs in their working life. They didn't save for their retirement. They didn't -- a lot of them don't put money in their 401(k)s.
BALDWIN (on camera): But why? Like when the economy is different, we're in a different place in so many ways.
PAYANT: They can't afford it.
BALDWIN: They can't afford.
PAYANT: They can't afford that $500 a month.
BALDWIN: They can't pay cash for their homes.
PAYANT: Right. They cannot. They cannot pay for their homes.
BALDWIN: Still, there are steps you can take now to live worry- free in your golden years. What three pieces of advice would you tell a 35-year-old today?
KEN MYERS, RETIRED V.P., FLA. LEISURE COMMUNITIES: First thing I would say is, you know, don't give up. Persevere.
The second thing is, you've got to find a career that you like, that you enjoy.
And the third thing is, have a plan. You have to have a plan not only for your family, but also for your personal income and your personal growth -- what you're doing today but also what you will be or where you're going to be in 20 years.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BALDWIN: I got to tell you, after spending even just 15 minutes with some of these amazing men and women I met on the golf course, it made me want to hire a financial adviser, that first and foremost.
And also, just quickly, Kyra, lay of the land, this is beautiful Tampa, downtown skyline behind me. The Tampa Convention Center is just over my right shoulder, and that's where Mitt Romney is going to have his headquarters tomorrow night where he is hoping, given the latest polls we have seen, double-digit margin, he's hoping it will be a victorious party.
Obviously, we are here in Tampa for the next three days. Live from my show, 2:00 to 4:00 Eastern.
Today, we're going to be talking to Bill McCollum, the Florida chair for Gingrich's camp here in Florida. We'll be talking to him about Gingrich strategy.
And also, you can't quite see it, but there is a pirate ship over my right shoulder, just a little further down that way. So we're having a little fun, political pomp in the show, talking pirates and politics. Don't miss it. See you at 2:00.
PHILLIPS: Sounds good. Thanks so much, Brooke.
And checking stories across the country now. I-75 is back open after smoke from nearby brush fires made it impossible for drivers to see. Ten people were killed yesterday when about a dozen cars and trucks crashed into one another. Police are now trying to figure out if those brush fires were manmade.
Joplin, Missouri, taking a giant step toward recovery. The town was decimated by a tornado that killed 161 people last May. That hospital was just about the only building left standing, but now it's coming down because a new hospital will be built just two miles away.
And in Oakland, California, police using tear gas and rubber bullets to break up a massive crowd of Occupy protesters. That group even broke into city hall and trashed it. About 400 people were arrested there.
In Washington, D.C., Occupy protesters have been camped out since October, but park police say it's time to pack up your things and go home. CNN's Brian Todd is actually at one of those camps.
So, Brian, what exactly is happening there right now?
BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, there's been a lot of activity here since the predawn hours. Scenes like this, people starting to pack up their belongings. At least trying to get them out of sight for when the National Park Service police start to move in here and maybe about three hours or less.
What we're told they're going to be looking for when they do come in are signs of bedding, personal effects, any signs of camping because that's the ordinance they're going to be enforcing -- the ordinance against camping in these public areas here. These protesters have been here since October. And now is the time when the park police have said they are going to come in here and try to target the people who they believe are here on a, quote, "semi-permanent basis," I guess.
But, you know, there are signs of that already. You have a lot of protesters gathered here. Some of the protesters gathered here around that. There is kind of an information center over here, where there is, you know, that's been set up for months now.
So when that confrontation happens, we're going to see who gets targeted. We are told this is not going to be a massive sweep. They are not going to arrest everybody and break down all the tents and move everybody out of here.
But the protesters who are here say they have told us almost to a person they are not going leave. They are going to resist this. And we'll see what kind of confrontation brews here.
There has been a confrontation already. Last night, one of the protesters started to go around and remove posted letters from the National Parks Service saying they essentially were going to move in here. When that guy did that, he was essentially tased by park police.
And we're not sure exactly what has happened to that individual, whether he is in custody now or whether he's in the hospital, or how badly injured he was, but he was tased. He did drop to the ground. So that was a bit of an ugly scene here last night.
And again, we're told three hours or less. The National Parks Service police are going to start to move into this spot. We're going to see how much of a confrontation it is, Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right. Well, we'll check in with you. That's for sure. Brian, thanks so much.
And we are just minutes from the opening bell on Wall Street. Investors keeping an eye on Facebook. The company is on the verge of a major move that could bring in billions of dollars. We'll have details straight ahead.
And Prince William adored by royal watchers every were. Well, almost everywhere. Protests over his new military post, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Well, normally, Prince William is greeted by adoring royal fans. Not so much with this next military assignment.
CNN's Max Foster is watching this story for us out of London.
So, Max, history not working in the prince's favor on this one.
MAX FOSTER, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: No. He is taking a posting as an RAF search and rescue co-pilot. He's taking posting to Falkland, which is fairly standard. They do go through this. And he wants to become a pilot, a fully qualified one. So, it will work towards that.
But this isn't any other ordinary serviceman. This is the future king of England. And the Falklands, there was a war there of course nearly 30 years ago, going up to the anniversary. And it's become a big diplomatic dispute again in light of the anniversary between Argentina and Britain who were fighting over the islands years ago.
Now, Britain says the sovereignty of those islands is nonnegotiable. Argentina says, these islands called Las Malvinas, and they are part of our territory. And they want to negotiate on this.
But the British prime minister making it clear no negotiations on the islands. And actually, there won't be any change in the future sovereignty unless the Falklanders decide that, and they are al mainly British. So that's not going to work that way.
So, the debate is whether or not there should be negotiations. Britain saying there won't be. When this was announced about Prince William going over there, Kyra, Argentina called it a provocative act, so lots of very sensitive language and a former senior military man in Britain said over the weekend, if there was another war, Britain wouldn't be able to fight it.
PHILLIPS: All right, Max. Max Foster out of London, I thought we're going to hear from sound there, Max. And I apologize. We'll follow the protests indeed. Appreciate it.
Well, Facebook IPO. It may be one step closer.
Felicia Taylor at the New York Stock Exchange.
Is it actually going to happen, Felicia?
FELICIA TAYLOR, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Well, that's the rumor. I mean, if I was a betting woman, I would say probably. Rumors have been heating up that the Facebook is going to file the paperwork needed to launch an IPO and go public as soon as this week.
Now, this is coming from the "Wall Street Journal," and the timing is still a little bit uncertain. But we have been hearing that an IPO could happen this year. So it's not exactly unexpected. It is said to be certainly one of the biggest tech IPOs in U.S. history, and among the top five biggest IPOs of the last 30 years.
Reports say that Facebook is looking to raise about $10 billion in the offering, and that could value the company at about $100 billion. Keep in mind, this company is only seven years old. Whenever it does file the paperwork, we might learn a few things -- like what the ticker symbol could be, which exchange it might trade on.
But for the moment, Facebook is not saying anything. And so, therefore, we can't confirm it until it happens. But rumor is, it could happen by mid-week -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: OK. We'll follow it. About five minutes away from the opening bell. Felicia, thanks so much.
Well, Herman Cain makes his endorsement, but does it really matter? We'll ask L.Z. Granderson and Will Cain, coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Checking top stories now:
Thirty-four people were killed across Syria today according to anti-government protesters. Clashes between the army and the opposition forces continue outside the nation's capital.
And a senior U.S. official says that an American aide worker freed in a daring rescue in Somalia is now on her way home. Somali kidnappers held Jessica Buchanan for three months. The aid group says that a crooked cop may have made her kidnapping possible.
He shot President Reagan in 1981. Now, another hearing for John Hinckley, Jr. will start this hour. His attorneys are hoping that he will be allowed to spend more time at his mother's home and that he'll eventually be set free.
All right. Let's talk endorsements. How much do they really matter, especially from candidates that have dropped out of the race?
Jon Huntsman endorsed Mitt Romney. Rick Perry endorsed Newt Gingrich.
And last week, I tried to press Herman Cain on an endorsement. This is what he told me.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: But when it comes to an actual candidate, who do you prefer?
HERMAN CAIN (R), FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I prefer the American people.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: But he decided to wait until he left the studio and make an endorsement in Florida over the weekend. Figures.
Here's what he told CNN this morning.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HERMAN CAIN (via telephone): Well, I made the decision because Newt and I have been talking for the past several weeks. And when we finally -- when he finally understood the 9-9-9 plan well enough to say that he can give that some serious consideration, that was the first point.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: L.Z. Granderson and Will Cain join me.
I tried, guys. I think I asked the question four different ways. And I couldn't get him to do it. He obviously wanted to do it on Saturday.
Will his endorsement help Gingrich or not? L.Z.?
L.Z. GRANDERSON, CNN.COM CONTRIBUTOR: I'm still laughing because I can't believe he's still trying to push 9-9-9. The guy is hilarious.
After the Stephen Colbert incident, moment, scenario, however you want to describe it -- to think there are American voters who are waiting for him to tell them which direction they should go with is absolutely hilarious to me. It has taken this primary -- it has gone from reality TV to like a (INAUDIBLE) sitcom now. It's just absolutely slapstick hilarious.
PHILLIPS: Will?
WILL CAIN, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: I disagree. I mean, Herman Cain still carries an audience. I don't know how big it, is but it's still there. There are some people who are really passionate about not only Herman Cain but 9-9-9.
The question is not will it help Newt Gingrich? The answer is obviously yes. The question is how much and I can't speak to that.
We know that Rick Perry endorsed Newt Gingrich right before he won South Carolina. We don't know how much that contributed to his win. But it doesn't hurt to have these endorsements.
PHILLIPS: All right. Well, let's talk about Florida governor -- OK, L.Z. I've got to get L.Z. to stop laughing here. Maybe this was the perfect --
(CROSSTALK)
PHILLIPS: Yes, this subject matter, obviously.
All right. Let's talk about Florida Governor Rick Scott, OK? He made a prediction yesterday with our Candy Crowley on "STATE OF THE UNION." Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOV. RICK SCOTT (R), FLORIDA: Well, it sure looks like Governor Romney is going to win.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: All right. He was straight to the point there.
Guys, predictions for tomorrow's primary? L.Z.?
GRANDERSON: Well, he really wasn't stepping out on a limb.
CAIN: No, he wasn't. That's what I'm saying.
GRANDERSON: I think at this point, you know, I spent most of last week in Florida. And I can't even remember seeing an ad put out there by Newt Gingrich's people. So, I think it's a pretty safe bet that he's going to win, and he was smart in not endorsing him himself seeing how his approval ratings as governor is one of the worst in the country. So, that might have been a kiss of death. But pointing out the obvious is a pretty safe move for him.
PHILLIPS: Will?
CAIN: Well, I'm not going to give Governor Scott a lot of credit. Just like L.Z. I don't know how bold that prediction was, walking out on that thin limb of seeing a poll with a 10-point lead for Mitt Romney.
I will make a similar prediction for you, Kyra, now. Yes, Mitt Romney will win Florida. How about that?
PHILLIPS: Plain and simple, smart Alec.
All right, guys. We'll do this again. I promise.
Meanwhile, we're all going to be looking to Florida, definitely L.Z. and Will.
Wolf Blitzer, Erin Burnett, Anderson Cooper, Candy Crowley, John King, all looking at the live coverage of the Florida primary CNN tomorrow night beginning at 6:00 Eastern.
And a few surprise wins for the Screen Actors Guild Awards. Oscar favorites missed out on some big help. Showbiz headlines are next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Another big night in Hollywood. "The Help" wins big at the Screen Actors Guild Awards.
"Showbiz Tonight" correspondent Kareen Wynter has all of the details -- Kareen.
KAREEN WYNTER, CNN SHOWBIZ CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, it was a huge, huge night for the cast of "The Help." You know, the entire group took home the award for outstanding performance by at cast in a motion picture. Viola Davis, she won for the outstanding performance as an actress in a leading role. And Octavia Spencer, she took home the trophy for supporting actress.
You know, Kyra, I spoke with Viola and she was on her way into the awards. And it may surprise many folks that this is actually her first time as a leading lady. That's right. Boy, did she shine in this role, though.
Now, some of the other big winners last night -- "The Artist," Jean Dujardin, he won for lead actor in the movie.
And on the TV side, Kyra, well, we saw two of your favorites win for the second time in a row. We're talking about "Hot in Cleveland's" Betty White. She was named for outstanding performance by a female actor in a comedy. And the cast of "Modern Family," they won as best ensemble for a comedy series. So the whole gang, Sofia Vergara, Ed O'Neill, they're on quite a winning streak, Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Yes, you're so right. Two of our favorites, right?
All right. Let's talk --
WYNTER: Yes.
PHILLIPS: Of course. Now, actors always tell you that winning a SAG award means the most to them, right? Talk about why that is.
WYNTER: Of course, because this is after all an award voted on by your peers. So it makes it extra special, Kyra, for all of the stars who come out. The actors, they feel a sense of ownership of this show that you don't see at something like the Golden Globes, for example.
And you can see the sort of emotion that really comes through during the ceremony as Mary Tyler Moore, what an icon. She was honored with a lifetime achievement award. She got such a nice standing ovation. And so did her presenter and former co-star Dick Van Dyke.
But as for the Oscar race, Kyra -- well, winning a trophy here for your film work is usually a pretty good indication you're at least a favorite for the Oscars. Last year, every film winner at the SAG awards took home the corresponding Oscar. So, that could mean Viola Davis would upset Meryl Streep on Oscar night. And Jean Dujardin could upset George Clooney.
You know, Viola told me last night that she has her bets on her great buddy, Meryl, who's also a close friend. You never know. They've had quite a year, both of them. So, they could steal the spotlight on the big Academy Award night -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Talking about stealing the spotlight, President Obama singing a little Al Green. I know you're going to talk about that next hour, helping with a little record sales boost.
WYNTER: Oh, you bet. You wait until you see what we have in store for you, Kyra.
PHILLIPS: We can't wait.
WYNTER: It will be a good one.
PHILLIPS: Oh, I'm sure. We'll see you next hour, Kareen.
Well, he risked his life to save others. Meet this 93-year-old vet who finally gets his Purple Heart 70 years later.
Also ahead, a Connecticut priest who doesn't believe in turning the other cheek.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FATHER JAMES MANSHIP, ST. ROSE OF LIMA: Any affront to somebody's dignity, to somebody's safety, is an affront to God.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: With video camera in hand, he took on a group of local cops accused of terrorizing his community.
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PHILLIPS: They were cops sworn to protect the East Haven community. But now, the Feds say they were just a gang of badges known for targeting and terrorizing Latinos -- excessive force that a local priest tried so hard to document.
Susan Candiotti introduces to this brave Father James Manship who just wanted to end the discrimination.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Serving his parishioners is something that Father James Manship takes from his office to the streets.
FATHER JAMES MANSHIP, ST. ROSE OF LIMA: Any affront to somebody's dignity, to somebody's safety, is an affront to God. And it required a response.
CANDIOTTI: So respond he did.
Long before four East Haven, Connecticut, police officers were indicted for systemically targeting and arresting Latinos, Father Manship picked up a camera to document alleged abuse in his own backyard.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Father, what are you doing? Is there a reason why you have a camera?
CANDIOTTI: A store security camera also was rolling in this Latino convenience store when the priest also saw police ordered that some old decorative license plates be taken off the wall.
MANSHIP: I began to videotape what was -- what was going on, and then I was arrested.
CANDIOTTI: The priest's camera kept rolling on police.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is there a reason why you have a camera?
MANSHIP: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why is that?
MANSHIP: I'm taking a video of what's going on here.
CANDIOTTI: The store's camera shows what happened next. Father Manship is arrested and charged with disturbing the peace and interfering with police.
JOSHUA ROSENTHAL, YALE LAW STUDENT: He definitely played a critical role in helping people come forward and helping people really stand up.
CANDIOTTI: The FBI used Manship's video to help establish what the Justice Department called discriminatory policing of Latinos. Authorities say more arrests are expected.
East Haven's mayor, who himself has been criticized for insensitive comments about the Latino community, said he stands behind the police department.
Father Manship's parishioners say they are blessed to have him speaking out.
"If it weren't for him," she says, "we wouldn't know what to do. He's the best."
MANSHIP: This is not -- was not for us just simply about a few bad apples. This was a serious deep cultural issue within the police department that need to be transformed.
CANDIOTTI: Among Latinos, fear of police remains rampant.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What is the reason why you stopped me? No reason at all. It is because you are Latino, you look Latino.
MANSHIP: My hope is that one day, that we'll have a police department in East Haven that we can be proud of.
CANDIOTTI: The priest who holds an engineering degree and once designed brakes for a living now finds himself trying to put a stop to alleged racial profiling.
Susan Candiotti, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: Checking stories across the country now, a University of Utah student killed in an avalanche is remembered as an avid outdoorsman and thrill seeker. Investigators say that the snowboarder slid 2,400 feet down a slope and was buried under three feet of snow. His death marks the ninth avalanche death in the West this season. And experts say the risk of additional slides could remain high all winter. It took nearly 70 years, but a World War II vet finally receives his Purple Heart. Aaron Narville was wounded in combat while trying to help another soldier. He received his long awaited honor on his 93rd birthday.
Former President Gerald Ford's California home is up for sale; $1.7 million. It sits on the 13th Fairway of the Thunderbird Country Club. The Fords built this ranch home in 1979 after leaving the White House.
Well, the Super Bowl is set for Sunday night. And this is the prize. The Lombardi Trophy. We'll take you to Indianapolis for a preview.
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PHILLIPS: And stories happening later today.
At 11:15, First Lady Michelle Obama pushes for new rules that would expand the Family and Medical Leave Act.
At 1:00, Janet Napolitano delivers her state of America's Homeland Security Address.
And at 5:30 President Obama answers questions in a live virtual interview on Google Plus hangout. He's also going stream live on WhiteHouse.gov and YouTube.com/WhiteHouse.
We're following lots of developments for you in the next hour of the CNN NEWSROOM. Let's start with our Rob Marciano -- Rob.
ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Hi Kyra. Well, yes as you know that deadly car crash yesterday along I-75 was caused by smoke and fog in the morning, same conditions this morning. We'll go over why it happened and how long it will persist in the next hour.
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENTT: I'm Barbara Starr at the Pentagon. Nuclear inspectors on the ground in Iran. How soon could Tehran have a nuclear bomb? We'll have new details coming up at the top of the hour.
MARK PRESTON, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL EDITOR: And I'm Mark Preston in the CNN Election Center. Things are getting down right acidic between Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich on the campaign trail. And Herman Cain has made an endorsement. I'll have more at the top of the hour.
PHILLIPS: All right, thanks, guys.
Also coming up, the Tea Party Movement: Still deciding which GOP candidate to endorse. Will the Florida primary help them decide? Dana Loesch joins us on that next hour.
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PHILLIPS: Well, the countdown is on to the Patriots facing off against the Giants. But can the Super Bowl, a rematch from four years ago measure up? HLN's Carlos Diaz is live in Indianapolis with a preview.
Carlos, let's talk about how Indy is getting ready for one of the biggest events in our country, no doubt.
CARLOS DIAZ, HLN SPORTS: Yes, Kyra it's a little more than saying, hey, let's put together a nice bean and cheese dip and have a Super Bowl. It takes years and years of preparation, millions of dollars, and ironically, the Giants and the Patriots met in the Super Bowl four years ago. And it was four years ago that Indianapolis learned that it would have this Super Bowl.
So it's been four years of preparation, millions and millions of dollars. And Kyra I can tell you I grew up right here in Indianapolis and spend a lot of time downtown growing up, and this city is so much different than it was 15 years ago when it was called India-no place because there's so much to do downtown. They have spent millions of dollars making this the world's largest tailgate party.
And a big difference between this Super Bowl and other Super Bowl -- Super Bowls Kyra, is that everything is centrally located downtown. So they really -- they've ripped up the streets, they've put everything back together to make it so Super Bowl-friendly for the thousands of fans coming in from all over the world.
PHILLIPS: Look, Carlos, you know this is a place that knows sports. Come on, if you want to see some of the greatest car races in the world, you go to Indianapolis, right?
DIAZ: Oh now.
PHILLIPS: They can do cars, they can do football.
DIAZ: Trust me. Trust me -- they -- and they've hosted the NCAA's final four here, they've hosted the NBA finals, they do the Indianapolis 500. So they know their sports here. And what I'm saying is, about 20 years ago downtown after 5:00 p.m. was a ghost town. So now they -- they're really ready for this big game.
PHILLIPS: All right, well, the game pits two of the NFL's best quarterbacks against each other, right? Which one do you think is more popular with the ladies?
DIAZ: Well, you would think it would be Tom Brady, but a new online survey says that married women, married women who were polled said that they'd most likely have an affair with Eli Manning.
A majority of married women polled by ashleymadison.com which is a Web site for, you know, that kind of thing, basically said that they would cheat on their husband with Eli Manning before Tom Brady because they liked Eli Manning's boy next door good looks and they think that Eli Manning would be less of a hot head than Tom Brady.
Of course Tom Brady is married to supermodel Giselle Bundchen; Eli Manning married his college sweetheart from Ole Miss. Maybe they can relate to Eli Manning a little bit more. That's one big victory so far for Eli Manning.
There you go.
PHILLIPS: Leave it to you to turn a football super bowl story into what the ladies think about the quarterbacks. All right.
Well, now you talk about being from there. This is your hood. All right? I'm a Green Bay girl, I've got to talk about the Lombardi trophy, a lot of history there, all-time great coach.
DIAZ: Yes. Yes. Vince Lombardi, of course, you know with Green Bay. A lot of people are expecting the Patriots, their favorite -- they're the team that people are expecting to raise the trophy as they didn't do four years ago when the two teams met in Glendale, Arizona.
But that's the big thing. They're really going for that Lombardi trophy. We'll find out on Sunday, Kyra, and they're already expecting it to be the most-watched TV event in the history of TV coming up this Sunday. A huge audience expected from around the world on TV.
PHILLIPS: All right. Carlos Diaz, we'll be watching, that's for sure. Thanks so much.
All right. About what? 27 minutes or so past the opening bell. Felicia Taylor hoe's it looking>
FELICIA TAYLOR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Not looking great, Kyra, unfortunately, we've had some comments out of Europe particularly in Germany where the finance minister said that Greece may not get a bailout if they don't get their finances in order.
This is something that we've heard before but once again, the markets are taking their cue from Europe and Asia and really focusing on another EU summit that's taking place in Brussels. So we've got the Dow down four-fifths of one percent, a loss right now of 103 points. Both the NASDAQ and the S&P are down about one percent. The uncertainty that surrounds Europe is really what's going to be the focus of trade today with very little U.S. economic indicators coming out.
Look to see the financials continue to be under pressure, particularly Bank of America which is down about 2.5 percent, Citigroup down about 1.5 percent, JP Morgan down about two percent. Again, the financials are under pressure because of what is not happening in Greece. And that is we need to see a resolution sooner rather than later -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Felicia, Thanks.
The country of Canada running for president of the United States. Okay. A whacky idea for some, but not necessarily to the duo who thought of the idea.
CNN's Jeanne Moos on the Canada for president campaign.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You're looking at the latest candidate for president of the united states.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hello, America. It's us, Canada.
MOOS: Canada has announced its canadacy.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We've seen your candidates, and frankly they scare the (INAUDIBLE) out of us, so we're volunteering our country to lead your country.
MOOS: Americans may think of Canada as mountains, Mounties, maple syrup, and chipmunks --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why do we want to be your president? Two words -- these guys.
HERMAN CAIN, FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Who's the president of u-becky-becky-stan-stan --
RICK PERRY, FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: What's the third one there?
MITT ROMNEY (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I'm speaking. I'm speaking.
MARIANNE GINGRICH, 2ND WIFE OF NEWT GINGRICH: He was asking to have an open marriage.
NEWT GINGRICH (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Is as close to despicable --
ROMNEY: All right, let's do it again.
But who needs the Republican or Democratic parties when there's now --
The Canada party. America, but better.
MOOS: It better be a parody --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is not an invasion, it's an intervention.
MOOS: By two Canadian residents, an actor and a writer.
Us Americans, you seem to be mocking us.
BRIAN CALVERT, ACTOR/COMEDIAN: If your neighbor's house on fire and it's peeling your paint, you can either grab some marshmallows or grab a hose. And well, we're here to hose America.
CHRIS CANNON, ACTOR COMEDIAN: We're here to hose America. MOOS: Chris Cannon, the writer doing the hosing is a former U.S. America, still an American citizen who plays championship level, Frisbee. The two have created a campaign poster and two videos with more to come tweaking the U.S.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And we have the same problem you do with illiterate our southern borders to steal our jobs.
MOOS: The creators face the wrath of an American servicewoman.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Suggesting that I put the video up my backside --
Reporter: Among the Canada party's campaign promises, we will build the keystone oil pipeline, but it will carry maple syrup, eh? It's the Republican race that inspired the parodies.
ROMNEY: Are you just going to keep talking?
GINGRICH: No, but I will.
CAIN: Got all this stuff twirling around in my head.
MOOS: But they poked the President, as well.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. Obama, we're Canada, and even we think you're too polite.
MOOS: At least if Canada is ever inaugurated --
Maybe it will get the oath right. I, Canada do solemnly swear to faithfully execute the office of president of the United States.
Jeanne Moos CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
