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Occupy Protests Resurface; Deadly Crashes in Florida; Treason Possible in Osama bin Laden Case; Counting Down To Florida Primary; Big Winners At SAG Awards; Truth-O-Meter

Aired January 30, 2012 - 12:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

ISHA SESAY, CNN ANCHOR: Top of the hour. I'm Isha Sesay.

Let's get you up to speed.

The Occupy movement rising again. This video is from Saturday in Oakland, California.

Police fired tear gas and rubber bullets into the massive crowd. About 400 people were taken into custody in what authorities call the biggest mass arrest in city history.

And that's not the only place where protesters are standing their ground. We're going to take you live to Washington in just a few minutes, where another showdown is playing out as we speak.

In Florida right now, a lot of questions and even more grief. Investigators are trying to figure out what caused a series of deadly crashes in the predawn hours Sunday. Ten people lost their lives in this horrible incident.

A police officer who helped with rescue efforts says visibility was about zero because of smoke from a nearby fire. One driver describes a terrifying scene.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BERT THOMAS, CRASH SURVIVOR: I rolled my window down and actually started hearing thuds and crashes. And it was so thick, I couldn't even tell you where they were coming from. And then slowly after that, started hearing what I thought were explosions.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SESAY: Forty more people have been killed in Syria today alone. That's according to an opposition group.

The person who uploaded this video says it shows a protester who was shot by government forces. More than 5,000 people have died since the start of a fierce government crackdown against protesters. The U.N. Security Council will take up a draft resolution this week, calling on Syrian president Bashar al-Assad to step down.

Almost nine months after the U.S. raid that killed Osama bin Laden, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta says he is convinced someone in Pakistan's government knew the terrorist leader was hiding in a huge compound near Pakistan's military academy. In a CBS "60 Minutes" interview, Panetta also discussed a local doctor who played a key role in helping the U.S. verify Bin Laden's presence. Pakistan is considering putting that doctor on trial for treason.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LEON PANETTA, DEFENSE SECRETARY: I'm very concerned about what the Pakistanis did with this individual. This was an individual who, in fact, helped provide intelligence on -- that was very helpful with regards to this operation.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SESAY: An American aid worker freed in a daring rescue in Somalia is now on her way home. Somali kidnappers held Jessica Buchanan and a humanitarian worker from Denmark for three months.

There is a standoff playing out right now between the Occupy movement and authorities in Washington. The noon deadline for protesters to decamp has just passed. It is a very tense situation.

Brian Todd is there live for us.

Brian, what's going on?

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Isha, it's coming to a crescendo here in McPherson Square. Look at this.

They just put a huge tarp sign over the statue of James McPherson. The protesters are here. They're waiting in anticipation for the police to possibly move in at this hour and target protesters who they believe are camping out.

They are going to -- the police are going to be looking for signs of bedding, of personal effects, and other things, and they're going to target those protesters, we're told, for arrests. They might shut down some of the tents.

These people are in here in anticipation of that because it is supposed to possibly happen at this hour. So you have got here people here chanting, putting up this massive tarp and sign.

We haven't really seen the likes of this in this square since the protesters moved in, in October. We are hearing sirens. Hold on a second.

Let's see if I can see anything. Some of the protesters have told us, here they come. So, some people are moving around here. We may see some police action coming in here momentarily -- Isha.

SESAY: Brian, we hear the chanting and the drumming. What are the protesters saying they'll do if and when the park police service arrive there? Are they going to resist the clearance of that encampment? TODD: Most of them have said they are not going anywhere. Whether that means resist or not, we're not quite sure. A lot of them may just offer passive resistance and just sit there and allow themselves to be arrested, or stand there.

The police did do a walkthrough here about an hour and a half ago, taking pictures and kind of taking the lay of the land here. And at the time, the protesters kind of taunted them. They walked alongside them, yelling at them, blowing whistles and things like that, saying they are not going to be cowed by the police.

The police didn't take the bait at that time, but we're going to see what happens here momentarily. I'm not seeing any signs of police activity at the moment. Maybe our photojournalist Oliver Janney (ph) can take a picture of some of the crowds buzzing over there.

There were some police cars over there a short time ago, but again, they were just sitting in their squad cars not doing anything. No indication right now that they are moving in right now.

We're going to keep, obviously, a close eye on this because protesters are kind of getting agitated at this point.

SESAY: And for our viewers, just explain for us why the police have chosen to make this stand now, because some of our viewers may be aware that they have been there in these two squares, in these two areas since October of last year. So why now?

TODD: Well, it kind of came to a head in recent days, Isha, because there was a congressional hearing last Tuesday. And at that hearing, the park service got some pressure from Congressman Darrell Issa, of the House Government Oversight Reform Committee to do something about these protests.

And the park service has been a little bit reluctant to do that because they don't want to be seen as infringing on free speech. But Congressman Issa and the D.C. government have been pressuring the National Park Service to send the police in here to at least try to take away some of the tents that they deem are unsanitary.

There have been complaints about petty crime in this area, but it kind of has come to a head since that congressional hearing last Tuesday. And the park service is feeling some pressure now to move on the protesters.

SESAY: Brian Todd is there on the seen there in D.C.

Brian, we will, of course, continue to check in with you. The noon deadline has passed for park service officials to move in and try to clear that encampment.

Brian, we'll check back with you in a short while. Thank you.

Here's your chance to "Talk Back" on one of the big stories of the day.

Today's question: Do we need an anti-establishment president?

Carol Costello joins us from Washington with more on this.

Hey, Carol.

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Isha.

You hear it all the time, we need a president who is not part of the Washington establishment, a leader who is not swayed by lobbyists or special interests, a president who can change the way Washington works.

Democrats thought that man was Barack Obama. Herman Cain thinks that man is Newt Gingrich.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HERMAN CAIN (R), FMR. PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Speaker Gingrich is a patriot. Speaker Gingrich is not afraid of bold ideas.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Cain and other conservatives say despite Gingrich's decades in Congress, his post as Speaker of the House and his consultant work in D.C., Gingrich is more into change than candidate Obama ever was.

Sarah Palin put it this way on Fox --

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SARAH PALIN (R), FMR. ALASKA GOVERNOR: We need somebody who is engaged in sudden and relentless reform and isn't afraid to shake it up, shake up that establishment. So, if for no other reason, rage against the machine, vote for Newt. Annoy a liberal, vote Newt.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: As political opinion contributor Keith Koffler puts it, he, Gingrich, has weird ideas, and he's unpredictable. "The conservative figures while Romney, who is the establishment candidate, will do a modest job reining in the budget, Gingrich might just whack the thing until it begs for mercy and releases all its wasteful programs."

But perhaps the real question is, does the country really need an anti-establishment president to get things done? How many times have you heard Democrats wish Hillary Clinton had been elected president? Could she, they wonder, as a Washington insider have more effectively dealt with a hostile Congress?

So, the "Talk Back" question today: Do we need an anti-establishment president?

Facebook.com/CarolCNN. I'll read your comments later this hour.

SESAY: Looking forward to it. Thanks, Carol.

COSTELLO: Sure.

(NEWSBREAK)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SESAY: A young man tells us he's grateful to be alive this morning. And after you see what he went through, you'll know exactly why.

Steven Camps survived what local law enforcement is calling the worst interstate tragedy in decades. Ten people lost their lives in a series of crashes along Interstate 75. This happened near Gainesville, Florida.

And Steven Camps joins me now by phone.

Steven, so pleased you could speak to us today.

You said you never thought you'd get out alive, out of this accident. But also, the thing that struck me in your comments is that you said this seemed to come out of nowhere.

Walk us through what happened.

STEVEN CAMPS, CRASH SURVIVOR: Basically, me and my friend were coming north on 75 when there was blinding smoke. There were other people that stopped and everyone was waiting for the smoke to go away. And just out of nowhere, like, a couple cars, they didn't slow down, and it just started straight chaos. They hit us, and they hit a couple other people, and pretty much caused the situation that you saw.

SESAY: You said that -- again, one of the things that really stood out for me is once the accident happened, you still couldn't see anything. But there were all these sounds.

CAMPS: Yes.

SESAY: Take us back to the scene.

CAMPS: Yes. Like, you know, it was so crazy because it was so blinding outside, that you could have someone literally standing next to you and you wouldn't be able to se them. And really, all you could hear was the cars just hitting each other, people screaming, and you couldn't see anything. Like, it was like blinding. You never knew what was coming from where, and I think that was the scariest part, because there was so much going on, but you couldn't see any of it.

SESAY: And you and your friend -- you were the passenger in the car. The car was hit twice and you were both injured. Talk to me about the condition you guys are in.

CAMPS: Well, I have to say that me and my friend were very blessed, because a lot of people went through worse. But to be completely honest with you, my friend made it out with a bruised lung and I made it out with a couple stitches in my leg and a bruised knee. And I can honestly say that we are blessed that we left such a crazy situation with only those injuries. SESAY: And to bring home for our viewers just how sudden this all was, and the fact that you guys were actually talking to a driver in another car when your vehicle was suddenly hit --

CAMPS: Yes, ma'am. We were -- when we came to a stop, there were a couple other people stopped, and there was a guy right across from us, and he let his window down. And actually, my friend James McGill (ph) was actually sitting there talking to him. And I half leaned over, you know, to just made small talk with them, then out of nowhere -- well, I can't say the darkness, but the blinding light -- just a car comes and smashes this guy literally almost under the semi truck. It was crazy to be sitting there talking to somebody and just see them get smashed within a semi truck within seconds. It was crazy.

SESAY: How long did it take for rescue workers to make it to you guys?

CAMPS: Well, you can't really -- it took us about an hour to really get help. But they had people out there -- I mean, you can't really talk about the time with them because the situation was so crazy.

You've got two sides of the interstate blocked up. How do you make a route of that? And the other routes were closed, too, because of the same situation. But I have to say, for the situation and the time, and that it took for them to get there, I think they did the best job that they could. It was about a good hour.

SESAY: And I've got to ask about that guy that you were talking to who was in the car next to you. Do you know whether he walked away from this accident?

CAMPS: A lot of people have asked me that question, and I can't honestly sit here and say I know what happened to him. But if I had to (INAUDIBLE), I would not say he made it out of that, but I pray that he did though.

SESAY: Yes. It was a terrible situation, terrible scenes for you to witness.

Steven, we hope that you and your friend have a quick recovery. We appreciate you just sharing your thoughts and your memories of what happened on that day.

Thanks so much. Take care.

CAMPS: You're very welcome.

SESAY: He helped the CIA in the hunt for Osama bin Laden, but instead of being hailed as a hero, he may be looking at treason charges in Pakistan. Find out what the Pakistanis are saying in a live report.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SESAY: Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has confirmed publicly for the first time that a Pakistani doctor was working with the CIA to nail Osama bin Laden, and that helped land the doctor behind bars. Here is Panetta on "60 Minutes."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PANETTA: I'm very concerned about what the Pakistanis did with this individual. This was an individual who, in fact, helped provide intelligence that was very helpful with regards to this operation.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SESAY: Well, CNN's Reza Sayah joins us live from the Pakistani capital, Islamabad.

Reza, Panetta's interview aired just last night on CBS. What have you been able to find out about the doctor's fate?

REZA SAYAH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Isha, it's not clear what is going to happen to this doctor. We know he's been in custody for roughly eight months without being charged, and he's really become a sore spot when it comes to U.S.-Pakistani relations.

The U.S. says this is a good guy. Pakistan says this is a bad guy. And so far, they have treated him as a suspected criminal.

His name is Dr. Shakil Afridi, as you heard over the weekend. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta coming out and saying this man played a key role in the operation that led to the killing of Osama bin Laden.

It's not clear what he did. What we do know is that he tried to set up a vaccination campaign in Abbottabad, the town Bin Laden was hiding out in, and the plan was for some nurses to infiltrate the compound, extract some DNA samples from Bin Laden's kids in an effort to verify his identity.

The plan failed, it didn't work. Even so, Pakistani authorities were outraged. They arrested the doctor for helping the CIA.

And late last year, a commission here in Pakistan charged with investigating the Bin Laden raid suggested that he be tried for treason. Again, for eight months he's been in prison. And over the weekend, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta called for his release, and that's where we stand at this point.

SESAY: Reza, also notable, the fact that Panetta says he's convinced that someone in Pakistan's government knew Bin Laden was hiding in that huge compound near Pakistan's military academy.

Any reaction from Pakistani officials to that?

SAYAH: All along, Pakistani officials, the military leadership here, the civilian government have denied knowing that Bin Laden was in this compound. They certainly deny that they helped him.

Some here say perhaps some rogue elements within the security establishment, perhaps some retired officers knew his whereabouts and helped him. But there's absolutely no evidence so far to substantiate that.

And it's important to point out that in his interview over the weekend, Leon Panetta himself pointed out that, look, this is only my opinion. He said he doesn't have any facts to back it up. But he's convinced that someone in a position of authority must have known he was there.

SESAY: Reza Sayah, joining us there from Islamabad, Pakistan.

Thanks, Reza.

You may have noticed credit card companies sending you more offers than ever, promising zero interest rates and rewards. But should you bite?

Christine Romans has today's "Smart is the New Rich."

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: A lot of people are telling me that they are starting to get credit card offers again for the first time in three or four years. What's your advice to people who maybe were in trouble with credit card debt before and are now -- banks are reaching out to them again?

GREG MCBRIDE, SR. FINANCIAL ANALYST, BANKRATE.COM: Look, if you've gotten in trouble with credit card debt in the recent past, you need to just walk those right over to the shredder. It's a one-way trip.

Now, for the disciplined consumer who pays the balance in full every month, is not tempted to go out and spend money that they don't have, but instead looks at these reward card programs as a way to get paid for transactions they are going to make any way, now is the time to be shopping around, because there are a lot of very attractive offers. Many of them have introductory bonuses to get you to sign up. So there is cash available for the taking for that disciplined consumer who is going to refrain from running up debt.

ROMANS: But I always say the credit card companies aren't doing it because they like you.

MCBRIDE: No, no. Hey, look, it's a business. And so, as a consumer, you have got to make a business decision for yourself.

This is the time to be shopping around and looking at getting a lower rate on that credit card. It's the consumer that has top-notch credit that the card issuers are really drawn to. That's the customer that they want. So, if you've got strong credit, and you're looking to get that debt paid off here in 2012, now is the time to shop around for a lower rate.

ROMANS: For "Smart is the New Rich," I'm Christine Romans.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SESAY: We are just one day away from the biggest contest so far in the presidential race. The latest on how the Gingrich-Romney battle is shaping up and a little why the Florida primary is likely to be a game-changer.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SESAY: While the stakes are high in tomorrow's Florida's primary -- and we're not just talking about the 50 Republican delegates up for grabs -- Florida is likely to be a game-changer. But the four surviving GOP candidates are also looking ahead to the upcoming races.

The story now form Candy Crowley.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CANDY CROWLEY, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Florida will break the tie, but it won't end the game. The four survivors of the Republican primary process intend to keep on keeping on. They can all see the White House from their campaign headquarters.

NEWT GINGRICH (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We will beat Barack Obama.

CROWLEY: Newt Gingrich thinks he can muddy up Mitt Romney's prospects by doing well in states that divvy up delegates by percentages.

GINGRICH: The fact is, once you get beyond Florida, these are proportional representation states, and he's not going to be anywhere near a majority by April. And so this is going to go on all the way to the convention.

REP. RON PAUL (R-TX), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Thank you for coming.

CROWLEY: Looking to caucus states where dedicated followers might produce outsized results, Ron Paul also depends on the law of political gravity.

PAUL: We're going to stay in and see what comes of it. And who knows what will come of the other two candidates? You know, there's been lots of ups and downs, so maybe there will be some downs and we might be able to pick up the pieces.

RICK SANTORUM (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I don't come from, you know, a background of wealth.

CROWLEY: Steady, sure and under-funded, Rick Santorum needs a miracle like Iowa, but on time and bigger. He needs a tumble from the top, leaving space for him to step in as Newt without the baggage.

SANTORUM: We're doing great, and we -- but we're in this for the long haul. We just weren't going to go out and spend every dime in a hug state like Florida.

MITT ROMNEY (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I want to get America working again by --

CROWLEY: Ever the CEO, Romney is a numbers cruncher. Figuring in the highs and lows, he patiently awaits a return on his investment.

ROMNEY: This is a campaign that's going to go the distance. I'm confident we're going to get the delegates we need and that, despite all the ups and downs of a campaign, in the final analysis, if I do my job right and get our supporters motivated, well, we'll be able to take the prize.

CROWLEY: Even if the Florida results do not change the players, they will surely change the game.

SANTORUM: Game on.

(APPLAUSE)

CROWLEY: Florida is not Rick Santorum's Iowa, dismissed as too white, too rural, with a lousy record of choosing winners.

ROMNEY: Thank you, New Hampshire!

CROWLEY: Nor is Florida Romney's New Hampshire, discounted by critics as a hometown win.

And Florida is not Gingrich's South Carolina, diluted by naysayers as an over-sampling of Evangelicals.

Florida is nobody's home state. It is populous, diverse, and hard hit by the economic downturn. There is a constituency for everyone. Florida is the no excuses state.

(on camera): A good win for Romney would reestablish him as the front-runner, the better for his bruises. And a nice win for Gingrich would make him more than a one-state wonder. Florida will change everything, even if we don't notice at first.

Candy Crowley, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SESAY: The latest polls show Mitt Romney leading going into tomorrow's Florida primary, but Newt Gingrich says don't count him out.

Paul Steinhauser joins us live from Tampa. Paul, give us the latest on how this race is shaping up.

PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN POLITICAL EDITOR: Well, we have four polls out now, Isha, basically in the last 36 hours. They all indicate the same thing. Mitt Romney with a double digit lead over Gingrich among people likely to vote in the primary here tomorrow.

Take a look at this from the latest. This is from Quinnipiac University. It came out just a few hours ago. There is Mitt Romney on the top at 43 percent of people likely to vote in the GOP primary say they're backing Romney.

You can see he's 14 points ahead of Newt Gingrich with former Senator Rick Santorum and Congressman Ron Paul each at 11 percent. Go to the next screen. This is interesting, too.

Before you think it's over, wait, look at that, 7 percent say they are unsure and 24 percent say I'm backing this candidate or that candidate, but I could change my mind.

So, Isha, we have a day to go before the voting begins in earnest, but one out of four people say that they could change their minds.

SESAY: Yes, that's an important figure. A lot of Florida voters have already cast their ballots. How is early voting going and how is that going to affect this race?

STEINHAUSER: Yes, it is interesting because we didn't see this kind of stuff. There was no early voting in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina. Here are the numbers from the Department of State here in Florida as of the end of last week.

And you can see right there, 250,000, over a quarter of a million people have already returned their absentee ballots and after 150,000 who took part in early voting, which began nine days ago.

And as of the end of last week, you have over 400,000 people, they have already voted and they've already cast their ballots. That's interesting because a lot of these people sent their absentee ballots in before the Gingrich victory in the surge in South Carolina.

Polling indicates that Romney may be doing better with Gingrich with this early voting and that would mean for Gingrich to win, he would have to have a pretty big victory probably at least 5 percent or 6 percent tomorrow on primary day -- Isha.

SESAY: Important point for our viewers, Florida is winner take all when it comes to those 50 Republican delegates that are up for grabs. Is that influencing the candidates and how they mount their campaigns?

STEINHAUSER: Yes, it makes a big difference. As you mentioned, this is the biggest haul, 50 delegates, which is a lot bigger than what we saw in the first three states. But you have to win to get those 50 delegates.

Because of that, Rick Santorum and Ron Paul, you saw they are pretty low in the polls. They are not even campaigning here anymore, Isha. They have moved on. They are now campaigning in Nevada, which they vote on Saturday.

And they're also going to Missouri, Minnesota and Colorado caucus states as well. They hold their caucuses a week from tomorrow. So those two candidates realizing they're not going to win him. They're not going to get any delegates here.

They are moving on with hopes of doing better in these states in early February -- Isha.

SESAY: Paul Steinhauser, joining us there from Tampa, Florida. Thank you. One actress may give Merly Streep and Michele Williams a run for their money on Oscar day. We're going take you to L.A. for a look at the Screen Actors Guild Awards. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SESAY: Well, Hollywood's waking up a bit sleepy this morning after another big award show. And some leading ladies aren't getting new competition.

Kareen Wynter joins me from L.A. where SAG Awards were given out last night. Kareen, good to see you. Who was the big winner?

KAREEN WYNTER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: Well, I have to say "The Artist." It's been a frontrunner for the Best Picture Oscar prize, but after last night's Screen Actor Guild's Award, it may need a little help.

That's right, the drama, "The Help." It was a huge winner at the SAG Awards. The entire cast took home the award for Outstanding Performance by A Cast in a Motion Picture, which is the top prize in the film category.

Viola Davis, we've been hearing her name a lot this award season. She won for Outstanding Performance as an Actress in a Leading Role and Octavia Spencer took home the trophy for Supporting Actress.

You know, I spoke with Viola as she was on her way into the awards and it may surprise so many folks out there, Isha, that this is actually her first time as a leading lady and boy did she shine in this role.

Now some of the other big winners last night, "The Artist," Jean Dujardin. He won for a Lead Actor in a Movie and Christopher Plumber took home the prize for Best Supporting Actor. These stars have a whole lot of momentum going into the Oscar's.

SESAY: They certainly do. But I know, Kareen, the SAG Awards also recognize top TV shows and performers. Who took home trophies from the small screen?

WYNTER: That's right. Not as many surprises on the TV and "Modern Family" won for Best Cast in a Comedy Series while HBO's "Boardwalk Empire" won in the drama category. Both were winners last year as well, Isha.

Also making back to back wins are "30 Rock's" Alec Baldwin for Best Actor in a Comedy Series and Betty White who recently turned 90, looking stunning. She also won for Best Actress in a Comedy Series.

This Golden Girl also won in the same category last year as well. Quite a night for her and you know, winning a trophy here for your film work is usually a pretty good indication, Isha, 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 will upset Meryl Streep on Oscar night and Jean Dujardin could upset George Clooney. As far as the best picture category, well, it looks like it could be a tight race between "The Artist" and "The Help". So there you go a lot of big winners last night.

SESAY: And you know, for the women it means that they will stepping up their wardrobe choices for the Oscar's.

WYNTER: Viola Davis told me she already has her gown picked out?

SESAY: She does?

WYNTER: Yes. I can't wait to see it.

SESAY: I'm excited too. I could be watching Oscar night. Kareen, thanks so much for the run up on what happened in the SAG Awards last night. Thank you.

You can get your entertainment news on our sister station on HLN. "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" begins at 11:00 p.m. Eastern.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SESAY: Welcome back, everyone. We want to take you straight to Washington, D.C., from McPherson Square. What you are looking at are "Occupy D.C" protesters. They are being gathered there in McPherson Square since last October, but on Friday, they were given a deadline of noon today by National Park Service.

Officials basically were told that they have to remove all camping materials from the site. And in fact they were told that any temporary structures that were there in McPherson Square, they must leave one side of the temporary structures opened.

Officials say it's all about taking necessary steps to ensure public health and safety. So at noon today, they were told by noon today they were to have removed all of those camping materials. Otherwise, officials would move in and clear them.

We were told by some of those camping out in McPherson Square that they would peacefully resist if they went in to make that move. We haven't seen that happen yet.

We do have our Brian Todd there on the scene. He's carefully monitoring what is going on. He did say when we spoke to him at the top of the hour that it was rather tense there. They had erected some kind of canopy over the statue in McPherson Square.

So they seemed to be (inaudible), but there had been no confrontations from what we can't make out that from this vantage point. We are, of course, going to continue to monitor what is taking place there in Washington, D.C.

It's 42 minutes past noon. The deadline was noon to move out their camping materials. We're going to continue to watch the situation there in D.C. for you so stay with us for that.

Now, the clock is counting down and accusations are heating up in the Florida primary. But we want to separate political facts from campaign fiction.

To help us to do that, let's bring in Bill Adair. He's the Washington Bureau chief of the "Tampa Bay Times" and Pulitzer Prize winning editor of politifact.com. He joins us with a look at how some of the recent claims are measuring up.

Bill, good to see you. Let's start with this. From the pro Gingrich "Super PAC, Winning Our Future." It says, Romneycare sent costs spiraling out of control in Massachusetts hiking premiums, squeezing household budgets. True or false?

BILL ADAIR, WASHINGTON BUREAU CHIEF, TAMPA BAY TIMES: We gave that a false on our Truth-O-Meter. The reason is that the claim is suggesting that this is something that Romneycare is responsible for.

Romneycare being the Massachusetts health care plan. But, in fact, costs have gone up all across the country. There's nothing specific in Massachusetts that makes the rates any higher in that state, according to the statistics that have been looked at. We give that a false.

SESAY: All right, what about this, from one of Romney's radio ads. He said Newt Gingrich said Spanish is the language of the ghetto. Is that true or false, Bill?

ADAIR: We gave that a mostly true. It's referring to a speech that Gingrich gave in 2007. Gingrich never exactly said it, but it was interpreted by many people as a reference to Spanish and Gingrich later came out and explained his comment in a Spanish language message. So mostly true for that one.

SESAY: Yes, and it was in fact an issue that came out in the CNN debate last week between the candidates. Finally, Bill, what about this, Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels and the Republican response of the "State of the Union" address. He said, nearly half of all persons under 30 did not go to work today. How does that rate?

ADAIR: Well, that one got our lowest rating, pants on fire. The -- his suggestion there seems to be -- at least many people would interpret that to mean that the unemployment rate was nearly 50 percent for that age group. And that's just not the case. Of course, a lot of people in that age group are in school. They're in high school. They're in college. And so it's -- the unemployment rate for people that age is actually about 13.6 percent. So far short of the 50 percent that Mitch Daniels said. So, pants on fire for that one.

SESAY: So false, mostly true, and pants on fire. All right, we got that. Bill Adair, thank you.

A deadly game of cat and mouse. We'll show you the Syrian protest movement like you've never seen it before.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SESAY: Forty more people have been killed in Syria today alone. That's according to an opposition group. CNN's Arwa Damon gives us an inside view of the protest movement in Damascus.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ARWA DAMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): We drive in tense silence. The opposition activists we are with, check to make sure we're not being followed. Down a dark alleyway, we change vehicles.

We're in Carthusa (ph), in the heart of Damascus. This 21-year-old goes by the pseudonym of Umar Wan (ph). He's a first-year medical student. What he's witnessed, haunt.

UMAR WAN: A lot of horrible things, and (INAUDIBLE) my friend and you know what does it mean when your friends are hurting and you can't do anything. So some people dead, between my two hands, and that was really very hard to me, especially my friends, my friends which I brought up with them since I was one year old. And he died because I couldn't do anything, because I have nothing to do.

DAMON: The loss has fueled his determination. Eleven months into the uprising, the activists have it down to a science. Spotters are prepositioned.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: More than 20 people, we put them around all the area, in the neighborhood, to watch is any polices are coming here.

DAMON: There are posters and other materials hidden in a safe house, along with tiny printed leaflets ready to be scattered.

DAMON (on camera): So this is your message to the people that have basically been staying silent, saying, isn't it about time, haven't they, the regime, filled the land with enough bad things?

DAMON (voice-over): Demonstrators move in groups of two or three to avoid attracting attention.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They come very carefully, now they will go to the other streets and hide.

DAMON: At the signal, the street erupts into activity. Everyone has a duty. The revolution's flag ripples above the crowd. It's the Syrian flag before the Baath party took over more than 40 years ago. The leaflets rain down like confetti.

DAMON (on camera): One of the chants that we have been here is (SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE), which loosely translates to mean, "we are slaves for you, oh Lord." That chant, the activists were saying, has become especially prominent because they feel as if the Arab league, the United Nations, the international community has all abandoned them. They say at this stage, all that they have left is their courage, their determination, and their faith in God.

DAMON (voice-over): Every night the protesters do this. Their numbers are small. Their determination is not.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is not just people think a symbol or raw (ph) demonstration. This is a very big deal. We are facing bad regime so we have to do this. And this -- one of the hardest things that we have to do daily.

DAMON: "Oh how nice is freedom," the crowd chants. But every night the protest is short-lived. Just 10 minutes after it started --

DAMON (on camera): That the government might actually be coming in. So now everyone, obviously, is rushing away as fast as possible.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have to go (INAUDIBLE).

DAMON (voice-over): They leave the flag behind to make a point, that even if just for a while they did it.

DAMON (on camera): They are just telling us that we have to go faster. The government is moving in from all sides right now.

DAMON (voice-over): Another deadly game of cat and mouse in the Syrian capital.

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SESAY: Incredible scenes there. Arwa Damon reporting from Damascus area.

Well, you've been sounding off on our "Talk Back" question. Carol Costello is here with your responses.

Carol.

COSTELLO: Hi, Isha.

The "Talk Back" question today, do we need an anti-establishment president?

This from Adam. "I think what people truly desire is a leader. Someone who isn't always making moves to get re-elected. People want someone who will do what's right regardless of the consequences of their political career."

This from Jessalyn. "How about someone who has been faithfully working among the establishments since 1976 without ever caving into it. You know, someone with ideological integrity who actually fights for our country's Constitution to be obeyed and thus restricting the establishments power. I'm not going to say who that would be, but I'm sure you could easily guess." Hmm, I'm thinking Ron Paul.

This from Nick. "We need someone who sees the decay in Washington and wants it out. Not someone who is as much a part of the decay as the next smiling face in a fancy suit."

This from Karen. "There's no such thing. Our system does not allow for it." And this from Robert. "Ron Paul is the only anti-establishment candidate and his record proves it."

One more from Jackie. She says, "no elected official today is anti- establishment. They would never get into the establishment if they were."

Keep the conversation going, facebook.com/carolcnn. And thanks, as always, for your comments.

SESAY: Carol, appreciate it. Thank you.

High school girls suddenly getting sick and no one is sure why. Now environmental activist Erin Brockovich is on the case and she's got some theories about what's going on.

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SESAY: Checking stories our affiliates are covering across the country.

First, to Joplin, Missouri, where eight months after the worst tornado in U.S. history devastated the town, what's left of St. Johns Mercy Hospital is being demolished. The hospital took a direct hit. It's now being rebuilt two miles from the old location. The hospital has been part of the community since the late 1800 at three different sites.

And looking for some new digs in California? Well, listen up. Why not live like a president? Gerald Ford's former home in Rancho Mirage is up for sale, but it will cost you almost $1.7 million. But you can't beat the location. On the 13th fairway of the famous Thunderbird Country Club. Something to consider.

High school girls in upstate New York suddenly and mysteriously getting sick. Now as the school system takes action, a familiar face is adding to the debate. Environmental activist Erin Brockovich. First, let me give you some background about exactly what's happening to these girls. Our Jason Carroll has been investigating.

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THERA SANCHEZ, HAS MYSTERIOUS ILLNESS: I couldn't stop stuttering.

MELISA PHILLIPS, THERA SANCHEZ'S MOTHER: The stuttering had -- I mean it took over. You know, really contorting on the left side of, you know, with her mouth and her neck.

JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Doctors told Thera her condition was brought on by stress and she would get better. But once the stuttering ended, it soon gave way to uncontrollable twitching.

CARROLL (on camera): And this goes on all day long, Thera?

SANCHEZ: Yes. Yes.

CARROLL: All day long? SANCHEZ: All day long.

CARROLL (voice-over): This video was taken in the hospital in mid October by Thera's mother soon after she brought her daughter in for twitching. It was on that day she says a nurse told her Thera wasn't the only one who had been brought to the hospital with the condition.

PHILLIPS: She had said, not to alarm you, you know, but somebody needs to contact somebody because you're the fourth girl in a week to come in with this.

CARROLL: In all, health officials say 12 girls from Le Roy Junior Senior High School have exhibited similar symptoms. The girls were from different grades and some didn't know each other, but many did, including Thera's friend, Lydia Parker.

LYDIA PARKER, HAS MYSTERIOUS ILLNESS: The last time I went to a neurologist, they said that they're not sure and that they'll keep looking into it.

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SESAY: you can see how devastated these girls and their families are. The school system has now hired a company to review environmental testing of the school and community. Meanwhile, Erin Brockovich says she thinks she knows what's causing the girls' problems. She talked to Dr. Drew Pinsky on his HLN show.

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ERIN BROCKOVICH, ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVIST: In 1971, there was a very serious train derailment that caused one ton of cyanide to spill and 45,000 gallons of TCE.

DR. DREW PINSKY, HLN: OK, TCE is trichloroethylene.

BROCKOVICH: Trichloroethylene.

PINSKY: Is that the same thing that was in your story that became a movie?

BROCKOVICH: No, Hinkley was hexavalent chromium.

PINSKY: Trichloroethylene is a well-known carcinogen.

BROCKOVICH: Yes.

PINSKY: Can it also cause these sorts of neurological problems?

BROCKOVICH: I have read and been involved in cases that we have that TCE can be associated with neurological disorders.

PINSKY: OK. So here we have a train derailment 40 years ago, right? How does a train derailment 40 years ago, nearby this school, right? Nearby this community?

BROCKOVICH: Right.

PINSKY: How far away?

BROCKOVICH: Well, the train -- the train -- the actual location of the site of the derailment is four miles from the school.

PINSKY: Four miles from the school. There's a massive train derailment with spectacular exposure of known carcinogens and toxins. There is the -- there's a map of where this happened right now. How did that then become an issue for the high school?

BROCKOVICH: Well, this is what we're looking into. And the agencies for toxic substances and disease registry did not get out to this spill site until the '90s, as did the EPA.

PINSKY: So it happened and it took them 20 years to go out there and investigate this?

BROCKOVICH: It took them 20 years to go out and investigate.

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SESAY: Well, we are going to stay right on top of this story and keep you updated as that investigation moves ahead.

CNN NEWSROOM continues right now with our own Randi Kaye.

RANDI KAYE, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, Isha.