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Three More GOP Contents Today; Death Toll, Violence Spike In Syria; Gulf States Pull Representatives From Syria; World Watches Syria's Crisis; Dad Hit Kids With Hatchet Before Fire; Police Clash With Protesters; Going Nuts For Pecans; Santorum Looks For Minnesota Momentum; Foreclosure Deal Has 40 States' OK, Obama Reverses on Super PACs; Former Intern Alleges Affair With JFK
Aired February 07, 2012 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: And it's the top of the hour. Thanks so much for joining us here in the CNN NEWSROOM.
Let's talk about presidential politics, shall we? Three more Republican contests today, 70 delegates at stake. None will be awarded today. So the big prize really is momentum. Mitt Romney already racked up wins in Nevada, Florida, New Hampshire; Newt Gingrich captured South Carolina; and Rick Santorum, well, he had the surprising victory in Iowa.
CNN political director Mark Preston joining us here in Atlanta. We'll get to the whole Rick Santorum factor in a second here and see what you think about can we see any surprises.
But let's go ahead and start with this nonbinding election. No delegates, so really what's the story here?
MARK PRESTON, CNN POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Well, let's break it up. Let's take a look at Missouri first. That's really a beauty contest today. Newt Gingrich is not even on the ballot. Did not try to get on the ballot. But it's a state that Rick Santorum thinks that he can win. And in fact, Mitt Romney has been taking some pokes at him and we'll get to that in a moment. But Rick Santorum really focusing on Missouri.
Going up to Colorado now, Mitt Romney's out there as is Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum but that really is the stronghold right now for Mitt Romney today.
And then shoot up to Minnesota which a lot of people view as a liberal state in many ways. However, for these caucuses, conservative voters play a big role in them. So Rick Santorum, Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul has spent a lot of time up there to try to win those caucuses.
PHILLIPS: Well, Mitt Romney is getting really aggressive, his campaign getting really aggressive. PRESTON: He is -- you know, I had a conversation with the Romney official yesterday and said, wow, you guys have turned on the fire hose so to speak. They said, no, that's not the case, we've always been this way.
But just yesterday alone we saw them go directly at Rick Santorum. They put Tim Pawlenty, the former governor of Minnesota, on the phone to criticize Rick Santorum suggesting that he's a pork barrel spender.
At the same time, they were putting out research paper to us in the media suggesting that the attacks by Rick Santorum against Mitt Romney on health care were in fact false.
And today, they go after Newt Gingrich. In just a couple of hours, they'll put a Georgia legislator on the phone and will have the legislator say that Newt Gingrich is not a true leader.
PHILLIPS: Now Rick Santorum a bit of a wild card, yes?
PRESTON: He is a wild card. And his role in this race now is for Newt Gingrich to falter and fall aside and then he becomes a conservative alternative.
Right now, there's no question about it. Mitt Romney is the frontrunner in this race, and of course, Ron Paul who tells us he will stay until the very end. He has a very loyal support.
PHILLIPS: Mark Preston, thanks so much.
PRESTON: Thanks, Kyra.
PHILLIPS: OK, and of course, CNN tonight, live coverage of state primaries and caucuses beginning at 6:00 Eastern with a special edition of "JOHN KING USA," followed by live complete coverage of the results at 7:00 Eastern with the best political team on television.
The president is turning his attention from politics to science. He's hosting a science fair right now at the White House. And next hour he's going to discuss just how important it is for the U.S. to regain its standing in math and sciences, that speech, 11:25 Eastern. It's going to also -- he will unveil a new plan to prepare teachers to hopefully help more students excel in those areas. We're going carry the speech live.
Let's talk more about the heartbreaking violence that we're seeing in Syria and a crisis that's both political and all too human.
What you're seeing, innocent civilians caught up in the crossfire right there between the government and rebel fighters. Some 6,000 people have now died since the uprising began less than a year ago.
But an exact number is really impossible to give you because Syria is banning foreign journalists from getting there. Syrians are pleading for international help. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ZAIDOUN, SYRIAN ACTIVIST (via telephone): We are getting killed every moment. We are not able to get even basic medicine to injured people. Children are really hungry, I swear, children are hungry. No power. No fuel. It's too cold. It's too much. For God's sakes, this is too much.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Wow. As we hear the heart wrenching calls with people, by the way, risking their lives do that. Earlier this morning, Russia's foreign minister arrived in Syria as world leaders are saying that Moscow's just ignoring the slaughter of civilians by its ally.
He is meeting with President Assad. Jill Doughtery is live at the State Department for us. Jill, you know, the international condemnation seems to be growing. Tell us about the latest diplomatic efforts to rein in this violence.
JILL DOUGHERTY, CNN FOREIGN AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: Well, I guess the very latest is that we now have the GCC, the Gulf Cooperation Council, pulling out its ambassadors. Now there are a number of countries in that.
The UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, and Kuwait, all of those in the GCC, and they are pulling their ambassadors just as the U.K. did and also as we've been reporting the United States pulled back its ambassador and staff here in Washington shuttering the embassy.
And it's really -- you'd have to say, an international walkout right now on Syria. Whether that is going to do anything is really a question because one of the problems is that diplomacy, at least in the United States -- at the United Nations, has failed.
So what they're trying to do is now muster the international community outside of the U.N. to put as much pressure on Assad as possible. And you also have the Russian there, whether he can accomplish something we'll have to see.
PHILLIPS: And I mean, I know you're covering the diplomatic side to this for all of us. We can't help but talk about the military, as well. And we have been talking to former generals, trying to get word out of the Pentagon.
Obviously, it's laying all kinds of options on the table there. What are you hearing at the State Department, Jill? Is that even coming up in the conversations that are you a part of?
DOUGHERTY: It's a natural thing that people would want to discuss. There is no question that military action might be a possibility. But President Obama has already ruled that out.
And one of the reasons is that Syria is a very, very complicated country. It has a lot of grave implications for the region. It's a lot stickier and a lot more complicated than Libya ever was.
So to do that, to take military action at this point, it appears no appetite even internationally. Arming, let's say, the opposition? Some countries are already doing it. There are some soldiers that have come over and have gone with the opposition.
And that might be something. Obviously, it's happening in some cases, but would the U.S. actually do it? At this point that's not likely.
So the push is really to put the pressure on and try to get the people who are supporting Assad to peel away, drop him, and realize that eventually pressure is going to grow, and that he will fall. But in the meantime, you can look at those pictures.
PHILLIPS: Right. Jill Dougherty at the State Department. Jill, thanks so much.
Well, the world is paying close attention to the crisis in Syria. CNN's Max Foster is following the global reaction for us. Hi, Max?
MAX FOSTER, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, it's interesting because there's so much sympathy really for these -- the ordinary Syrians really complaining about being abandoned by the United Nations.
It's reflected in the newspapers, actually. The "South China Morning Post" under a headline saying after Libya, no vote is no surprise. China and Russia went along with the rest of the Security Council on Libya and then had to watch as western governments overstepped their mandate to protect civilians.
It's a surprise they're not compliant this time. Giving the sympathetic view, but not necessarily saying it's OK for ordinary civilians. Today, Zaman writes, Arab League got it all wrong. A civil war in Syria is likely to cause much trouble for Turkey.
Clearly, it would be to the benefit of all players in the region if Russia finds a foreigner that can secure its own strategic position. The "Wall Street Journal" in Asia, the Asia edition writes, "Obama falls into a U.N. trap. Americans are preoccupied by domestic issues, but Syria is a good test of President Obama's foreign policy.
With each week of Mr. Assad's brutality, the cost in lives and odds of civil war will rise unless Mr. Obama does more than bow before the false moral authority of the U.N." If indeed, Kyra, he goes through the U.N. there are other discussions going on, of course.
PHILLIPS: Max Foster out of London. Max, thanks.
And chilling new evidence in the murder/suicide investigation of Josh Powell. Police say this may be one of the last messages that Powell left before he killed his two sons then took his own life in a house explosion.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hello, this is Josh. And I'm calling to say goodbye. I am not able to live without my sons and I am not able to go on anymore. I'm sorry to everyone I've hurt. Goodbye.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Thelma Gutierrez has been following the story for us from the beginning. Thelma, what more can you tell us about this voicemail?
THELMA GUTIERREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, I can say that with everything that we know now about this terrible crime, it is a chilling voice message. It was left by Josh Powell. He sent it to family members shortly before this explosion.
He also sent a text message to his attorney shortly before the explosion saying "I'm sorry, goodbye." and investigators say that this is evidence that Josh Powell had planned this terrible crime for a long time.
In fact, if you take a look right behind me, Kyra, you can see what's left this house. Inside, investigators found two five-gallon gas cans that he had used to burn down this home.
Also in the days leading up to the crime, he gave away the children's toys, donated them. And he made calls to his pastor and his friends, and he spelled out directives saying what to do with his money and what to do after his death -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: And you actually talked with family members that are speaking out about this tragedy. What -- what did they tell you, Thelma?
GUTIERREZ: Kyra, the family members have been speaking out, and the grandparents who are just heartbroken over this terrible situation have said that they knew all along that he was capable of committing such a crime.
They had worried about these children, and the grandparents had custody at the time that they allowed these children to come to this home for supervised visit.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHUCK COX, SUSAN POWELL'S FATHER: We were doing everything we could to keep them safe and healthy. And, you know -- that was all taken away, too, by a selfish, cowardly act in my mind. Just the slaughter two of innocent children.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GUTIERREZ: And you can see right outside of this home a memorial, stuffed animals and balloons, people here in this neighborhood devastated over what happened. Both Charlie, who turned 7, and Braden, who just turned 5 years old, had celebrated their birthdays this past January -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Thelma Gutierrez in Pierce County for us. Thelma, thanks.
If you're one of the million Americans who have foreclosed on your home, stay with us. You may be eligible for as much as $20,000. We've got the details straight ahead.
And think you pay a lot in taxes? Mark Zuckerberg's tax bill could hit $2 billion, yes, that's billion with a "B." Coming up, we'll tell you why the IRS is smacking the Facebook founder.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Checking stories cross country now. In Portland, Oregon, "Occupy" demonstrators are marching against what they call police brutality. Police warned them to stay off the street. When they didn't, ten people were arrested for allegedly harassing and interfering with an officer.
In Fort Smith, Arkansas, cops are having a tough time getting a description this local bank robber caught on surveillance tape. He's wearing a pillowcase over his head. A couple of holes there so he could see and socks on his hands to try not to leave any fingerprints.
And in Georgia, people are going nut for pecans. As prices soar, police are reporting a huge spike in pecan thefts. Some farmers have actually set up surveillance cameras around their orchards and hired security guards to patrol their properties 24 hours a day.
Today could be a big day for Rick Santorum's campaign in Minnesota. He's got some Evangelical help, too, from Gary Borgandale of Twin Cities Christian talk radio. He's not always been a Santorum guy, though.
First he supported former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, then Rick Perry, then Herman Cain, and now Santorum. Notice who's not on the list -- Minnesota's own, Congresswoman Michele Bachmann. Former candidate who says she was the perfect candidate. So Gary, why didn't you back Bachmann?
GARY BORGENDALE, LOCAL MINISTRY DIRECTOR, KKMS-AM: Well, I had an interesting choice, I got to work with Governor Pawlenty and Congresswoman Bachmann. It was really just at this time the guidance that the lord directed me to work with Tim Pawlenty as he began his presidential bid.
PHILLIPS: So let me ask you this. What are your listeners talking about? What is it about Santorum that they like, that you like?
BORGENDALE: Well, the listeners are really listening to who has a -- a sincere faith message, and also along with that, what is the values that they represent?
Senator Santorum has been one of the only candidates that has brought the family the importance of uplifting the institution of marriage into the economic debate. And that's one of the things that resonates very well with our listeners.
PHILLIPS: So let me ask you this -- many pundits think that Mitt Romney will face Obama in the fall. Could you support Mitt Romney?
BORGENDALE: Yes, if he is the endorsed candidate. I very much can support Mitt Romney.
PHILLIPS: And you do say that our country has continued to walk away from God. I saw that quote in one of the articles that I read about you. You know, Mormons believe in Christ divinity as you do. If Romney were president, how do you think that his faith would impact his ability to govern?
BORGENDALE: Well, I think it would be very impactful, as well as he has very strong morals and guides from his faith. Even though I believe that there is a specific difference between the Christianity and Mormon faith that Governor Romney does support his faith.
PHILLIPS: Now you say you were intrigued by Newt Gingrich, as well. What happened there?
BORGENDALE: Well, Newt has great ideas, but one of the things is that he has incredible baggage. And what we've seen is in both in Iowa and Florida, when the heavy guns came out against Newt Gingrich, he wasn't able to respond.
And he was flat in the last couple of debates and that's kind of where his stellar performances. So I kind of look at he has enough baggage for two suitcases.
PHILLIPS: Gary Borgendale, Christian talk radio. Thanks for weighing in today. Appreciate it. We'll see how it goes in your state.
BORGENDALE: Game on, Santorum for Minnesota.
PHILLIPS: All right. Well, Tim Tebow says that he won't rule out a run for political office somewhere down the road. And the campaign slogan could write itself. I'll ask the political panel to weigh in just ahead.
And Facebook founder, Mark Zuckerberg may be hit with the biggest tax bill on record -- as much as $2 billion. We'll tell you what's triggering that gigantic sum.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: If you were approved for a mortgage that you couldn't afford and foreclosed, that lending bank could actually be shelling out some pretty big bucks to get you off their back.
Let's bring in Christine Romans. So, Christine, how much money are we talking about and is it just 40 states that have agreed to this deal?
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Yes, it's 40 states that have agreed to a draft of this big deal, which would be this huge foreclosure relief agreement, right.
What is means is a million people, a million people who are under water on their loans would see according to Sean Donovan from Housing Urban Development up to $20,000 in principle write down on their mortgage. Meaning you're under water, this house, you owe more than it will ever be worth.
If you're part of this, this big mortgage settlement, it would be a $20,000 write down for underwater mortgages, $25 billion in total coming from the banks, five or six big banks. The hope is there would be up to a million qualified homeowners.
But you pointed out it was 40 states. Yesterday was the deadline to sign on, the attorneys general from the states to sign on. And some of the big states didn't, Nevada, California, Florida, New York, a lot of foreclosures there.
Some of these attorneys general don't want to necessarily give up the right to pursue these banks in their big investigations that they have. So still, 40 states, the biggest so far.
PHILLIPS: Would this settlement repair the damage that's done from the foreclosure crisis? I mean, is it even enough?
ROMANS: If you could write down, really write down the mortgages of a million people that would provide relief and it would provide, you know, money moving into the economy.
But I want to point, Kyra, there are have been numerous housing rescue plan none as big as this one, numerous housing rescue plans that have not really provided the relief to everyone that it was advertised for.
About one in four people from the government's plan so far have actually been helped, who thought they would be helped. This also would be interesting too because this as Jen Laberto at CNN Money said the banks have to promise to give a fairer shake to people under water or in the foreclosure process.
There are some critics, consumer advocacy -- advocates who say they should be given a fair shake anyway. It should be not so difficult to be in the foreclosure process. Some folks aren't ready to give the banks a clean break or immunity from the bad acting of the past years. But a million homeowners, that would be something, wouldn't it?
PHILLIPS: Yes, it sure would. Christine, thanks.
So how's this for a tax bill? Facebook's CEO Mark Zuckerberg could pay $2 billion. Alison Kosik at the New York Stock Exchange, that's a lot of money. Then again, he's a really wealthy guy.
ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Yes, put it in perspective, right? You know, what -- this is why it's going to be, his tax bill could be so much. It's because he's going to be exercising his stock options. And those options are taxed as regular income, Kyra. So you know, we got this juicy detail from Facebook's IPO filing that came out last week. So basically, Zuckerberg is going to plan to buy more Facebook shares.
And it will give him a bigger stake of his company. And you know what, he's going to buy 120 million shares at six cents each. Facebook's indicates its shares are valued at least $30 or more.
So you do the math here, Kyra, with me. Zuckerberg's options could be worth anywhere, you know, $5 billion, say, so that $2 billion tax bill, ain't so bad.
If you're going to, say, buy an Astin Martin, if you have to ask how much the car insurance is, maybe you shouldn't be buying it anyway. So, you know, it's all relative, that $2 billion -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: That's the line of the day. Alison Kosik, a hell of a deal. All right, so with $2 billion in a tax cut bill, would this actually make him the biggest taxpayer?
KOSIK: OK, well, that's a good question. We don't know for sure because the IRS doesn't comment on individual taxpayers. But analysts say his $2 billion bill could be a record.
Because you look at the 1 percent right now, the 1 percent, they pay an average of $49 million in taxes -- just a little tiny fraction of Zuckerberg's $2 billion.
So once again, it's all about perspective. Real fast, as we talk about money, seeing more money going out of the market today. The Dow is down 24 points. We're looking at investors on edge still about what's going to happen with Greece.
Everybody is still waiting for Greece to agree on terms of a new bailout. Greece, Kyra, needs to pay its bills and get the next big loan. So that is really the focus of the day -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right, Alison, thanks.
The president is doing a big reversal on "Super PACs." He's ready to use them. I'll ask the political panel on what's behind the shift and how it will change his campaign for re-election.
We want to know what makes you an American. Share a video, a photo, your story of what makes you an American and you could end up on CNN. Just go to cnnireport.com. Be sure to include your name and the words, "I am America."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Checking top stories now. Gulf Cooperation Council nations just announced they are calling their ambassadors out of Syria. An opposition activist was saying that 21 people were killed just today. Global leaders are slamming Russia for failing to back a U.N. draft resolution halting the regime-led violence. And the captain of that shipwrecked Italian cruiseliner must remain under house arrest. An Italian judge made the ruling today, but he denied a prosecution request for the captain to be sent back to jail in a defense motion that he be set free.
And we could hear a ruling today Prop 8. An appeals court is expected to decide whether California's same-sex marriage ban is unconstitutional. The case may ultimately wind up before the Supreme Court.
All right, "Political Buzz," your rapid-fire look at the best political topics of the day. Three questions, 30 seconds on the clock and playing today, Republican strategist, Boris Epshteyn, Robert Zimmerman, Democratic strategist.
And for the comedic take, co-founder of the Arab-American comedy festival. OK, first question, guys. Three primaries today. Not so many delegates at stake, but some bragging rights and momentum on the line. What are you watching for, and could there be any surprises, Boris?
BORIS EPSHTEYN, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: I'm watching from Minnesota, Rick Santorum has put all his chips into Minnesota. He's gone out there and he say, listen, I'm the guy for you. Well, Minnesota's voted for Jesse Debody in the past.
It's also voted for Walter Mondale, the only state in 1984. So they've done strange things before. I'm watching that, watching Missouri. And if Romney winds all three, well, then it's off to the races for him.
I refer to February as the dog days. Basically the dog days of summer, these are the dog days of the election. Romney's the frontrunner, a division leader. He can't give it up to the --
PHILLIPS: Robert?
ROBERT ZIMMERMAN, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: It's easy to write the contests off as beauty contests. Hard truths could be revealed. If Rick Santorum is to have any rationale to continue his candidacy, he's going to have score impressively or win Minnesota and Missouri because of the Republican strong religious base in those states.
Likewise, Romney's got to duplicate his 2008 numbers in Colorado and win big there. And Ron Paul, if he's going to have any rational for continuing has to show he can be competitive in caucuses.
Bottom line is, I want to see them all succeed so this contest can keep going. But get -- get the dramamine out, there's going to be -- there's going to be a lot of spinning tonight. So get the dramamine out.
PHILLIPS: Dean?
DEAN OBEIDALLAH, CO-FOUNDER ARAB-AMERICAN COMEDY FESTIVAL: Well, Kyra I think like a lot of American since the debates haven't been on, we've moved on. We're watching "American Idol's" back on, Kim Kardashian's dating and that's taken our focus.
But I think regardless who wins these primaries in Minnesota, Colorado, Missouri, Mitt Romney's the nominee unless he begins dating one of the Kardashians. Barring that, it's Romney's race.
Santorum has moved up only because Newt Gingrich has descended. It's not because Santorum has done anything better. So honestly if Santorum gets the nomination it will be like 1964, Barry Goldwater all over. The Republican Party devastated. They don't want Santorum, they want Mitt Romney, that's it. And I think it's over. Back to "American Idol".
PHILLIPS: There's Dean, one more guy obsessed with the Kardashians. Imagine that.
All right, the President is reversing himself on Super PACs guys and now sending donors that way. Is the power of the Super PAC just too much to ignore? Robert, I want to start with you because you have the quote of the day in "The New York Times" on this, what was that line?
ZIMMERMAN: Look, I simply -- I just pointed out that it's very difficult -- it's very difficult to pass the plate for Super PACs if you're going to be preaching from the Democratic leadership preaching the evils of it. It sounded better in print.
Anyway, the point simply is as much as I'm profoundly committed to campaign finance reform because you can't begin to change our governmental process or our system of government until you change how we fund the campaigns, the reality is that the President had to take these steps and move forward because ultimately he can't compete with one arm tied behind his back. And there can't be two sets of rules.
That being said, the President and the Democrats --that being said, the President -- the Democratic Congress has got to show leadership for campaign finance reform by supporting Senator Schumer's constitutional amendments --
PHILLIPS: Boris is going to come in on you on this one.
ZIMMERMAN: Ok.
BORIS: No there is no buzz there at all. We're sitting here right next to each other. From my perspective, President Obama is like that parent that keeps telling his kids, don't go in the cookies jar, don't go in the cookie jar. And then finally when he gets really hungry, what does he do, he's going in the cookie jar.
Let's not make it seem like President Obama was lagging in finance or campaign fundraising. He was still above the Republicans. Democrats were $5 million above the Republicans. So it's not like they needed the money.
This is the President who attacked the Supreme Court during the State of the Union which was completely unacceptable. And now he's going back on his word. This is some of the worst flip-flopping since that famous flip-flopper John Kerry.
PHILLIPS: Dean.
ZIMMERMAN: Can I ask one question?
PHILLIPS: Wait, wait, you're breaking the rules, Robert.
BORIS: Oh this is my time -- the rules are out the window now.
ZIMMERMAN: I got put in my place.
OBEIDALLAH: That's not my buzzer.
PHILLIPS: Go ahead, Dean.
OBEIDALLAH: I hope that's not for me, Kyra. This is the most flip-flopping since Mitt Romney yesterday. Are you kidding me? But you know what, I'm a comic. But let's be serious, the Super PACs are scary, they're a threat to our democracy. We should have an "Occupy Super PAC Movement". So people can see what they're about, they're slush funds.
There's a reason there was campaign reform after Watergate. The stock is going to be millions of dollars.
If you look at it, Mitt Romney raised $30 million from 200 people last year. This is scary. I'm not kidding, it's not Republican/Democrat it's a threat to our democracy. And we should look at Super PACs.
This isn't the decision by the Supreme Court established them, it was a mistake and something has to be done about it.
BORIS: We've had a democracy for a long time before campaign finance reform.
PHILLIPS: You're buzz -- ok. Look at you guys throwing in your extra little thoughts for five seconds. Now, come on. Play by the rules, boys.
ZIMMERMAN: Not that I'm -- not that I'm interrupting boys, but we'll give up our Super PAC, boys, if your Republicans give up their Super PACs. How about that.
BORIS: Why would we do that?
PHILLIPS: All right "Buzzer Beater" time guys, I'm going to ring you in; 20 seconds each on this one -- could this man be the future President of the United States? I'm talking about Tim Tebow. He actually said in an interview that he isn't ruling out a run for political office sometime in the future. In fact, he says "Politics is definitely something", that's a quote, that he prays for.
So let me ask you this -- if you're his campaign manager, what are you putting out there as his campaign slogan? Boris?
BORIS: If Arnold Schwarzenegger could do it, so can I.
PHILLIPS: Robert?
ZIMMERMAN: Tim Tebow is one of the most inspiring figures in public life today. He really is inspirational. And hopefully he'll look beyond politics maybe to a nongovernmental organization like the Clinton Global Initiative. But if he were to run the slogan in my opinion should be simply "Believe again, Tim Tebow."
PHILLIPS: Dean?
OBEIDALLAH: I have three slogans, Kyra. If you allow me. The first is -- "Vote Tebow or Jesus will hate you". That's my first one. The second, "Vote Team Tebow or Enjoy the Apocalypse". Or finally, my favorite one, "Team Tebow, He can Pray for You or Against You".
BORIS: I have one more Kyra, -- I have one more, what about "It takes one knee to raise a country"?
PHILLIPS: Oh. Boy I tell you what, Tim Tebow, I'll be curious to see who he's going to call out of you three. We will do this again.
BORIS: I've got him on speed dial.
PHILLIPS: You want five extra seconds, Robert you're being so quiet.
ZIMMERMAN: No, I'm actually, I'm bailing out of this on the Tebow slogans.
PHILLIPS: Bye, guys.
BORIS: Bye.
DEAN: Thanks so much Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Well, the Occupy Movement seems to be almost everywhere.
Now it's not just in the street or the park. It's in the classroom. Kids are writing papers on it, too. That's later.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Well, Beyonce stepped out on the town to attend her husband's concert. And someone snapped a picture. The first one since mom gave birth. And boy, does she look fabulous, A.J.
A.J. HAMMER, HLN HOST, "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT": Oh, yes Kyra. This is Beyonce's first public appearance since having a baby. She had her daughter Blue Ivy exactly a month ago. It was on January 7th. But she felt that an important charity event with her hubby, Jay-Z, was exactly the right time to you know put on a sexy outfit, have her picture taken for the world. Now this concert event took place at Carnegie Hall, in New York City. It was a benefit for the United Way. Her husband, Sean Carter's Scholarship Foundation and for all we know it was her first full night out of the house since giving birth. So she really maximized the experience. She actually stayed out after the show, she went to the after party at a club owned by Jay-Z.
But what we didn't see Kyra was a picture of Beyonce inevitably on her phone all night checking in on Blue Ivy. Because you remember what that first night out was like, right?
PHILLIPS: Yes. And you're constantly panicking, yes, indeed.
HAMMER: It's hard to be relaxed I'm sure.
PHILLIPS: It is, it is not easy.
All right, let's segue to the Super Bowl. Apparently we're hearing from MIA now and the whole drama moment, flipping the bird. What's the deal?
HAMMER: Yes. Well, officially we haven't heard anything directly from MIA yet. We did reach out to her because of course we wanted to know why she decided to give Super Bowl fans the finger. But a source close to MIA who's not authorized to speak on the record is telling "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" that MIA knows she messed up.
Here's what the source is telling us, she was amped up and in performance mode. She was nervous and not thinking and adrenaline took over. It wasn't meant to the gesture or a statement of any kind, it was an artist who had a mishap. And she feels horrible for putting Madonna in that position. She messed up.
And I would think Kyra that Madonna's not happy with MIA either because look Madonna put on a great show. Everybody keeps talking about MIA's middle finger. I think it will die down, but at least that's what the headline is now.
PHILLIPS: That's just tacky -- no class. A.J., thanks.
If you want all information on everything breaking in the entertainment world, A.J.'s got it every night, "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" on HLN.
Coming up, Occupy the classroom. The movement that started on Wall Street and spread across the nation is now a college course. I'll talk with the professor who's teaching it.
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PHILLIPS: Well, the Occupy Movement began on "Wall Street" and spread out from there.
Now it's spreading beyond the streets, the parks and courthouses. "Occupy Wall Street" is actually a college course and political science professor Jeff Edwards is teaching it at the Chicago Campus of Roosevelt University. Ameshia Cross is a grad student that's taking it. We'll talk about her grade in a moment. My guess is she's doing very well.
Jeff, your expertise is social movement. What is it about Occupy that made you think it was worthy of a college course?
JEFF EDWARDS, PROFESSOR, ROOSEVELT UNIVERSITY: Well, I think number one, all analysts agree that this has really changed the discourse of American politics already. And it seems to me it's a movement that's going to have staying power, that's going to be around for a long time and have some impact. It was playing out right across the street from our campus. And it's a youth-led movement. So I thought it would be perfect for our students.
PHILLIPS: Did you get any resistance, Jeff?
EDWARDS: No, none at all. My department chair, my dean, the students, were all enthusiastic. Students joined me last fall to start to plan the class.
PHILLIPS: So Ameshia, why did you want to take the course?
AMESHIA CROSS, GRAD STUDENT: I wanted to take the course because I'm highly interested in social movements, but one thing that struck me, I'm a grad student in the course. As an undergraduate student, I had a professor tell me that my generation was no longer interested in social movements and that young people would not get involved in movements or activism anymore.
And seeing something like what's happening right now in the midst of the current economic crisis, I think, is a really big deal in understanding how it actually it works, why it started, and what are the goals and where are the movements going. I wanted to get to know those things.
PHILLIPS: And what made the biggest impact on you so far?
CROSS: What's probably made the biggest impact for me is a lot of the course material that we've had thus far. I've got the opportunity to read things from the Occupy newsletters as well as watch videos in regards to social movements in the Middle East versus social movements here, and also relate things historically based on social movements that have occurred in America in the past.
And just like Dr. Edwards said earlier, knowing that occupy happened for us across the street from the university. And having students actually in the class who are active Occupy protesters.
PHILLIPS: Interesting. So then when you look at historic movements like you just mentioned, right, that have changed the world like the civil rights movement, the sexual revolution, things you probably studied already, do you think this Occupy Movement, Ameshia, lives up to that kind of standard?
CROSS: I think that Occupy Movement definitely does. I think that the movement itself, just being based out of such a need to see some sort of change and to bring together people from diverse backgrounds and diverse beliefs and come together in a sense that they are a unified movement and believe in having this type of change and pushing for it and understanding that they must do these things together.
And having on the grounds forces in a lot of areas where they've actually, you know, come to make an organization and a belief system that is something that I think has a national presence.
PHILLIPS: Interesting. Jeff, what do you think with regard to that question? And do you actually think that this Occupy Movement course will be a course five years from now?
EDWARDS: I think it will be a course five years from now. But I do think movements play out -- effective movements play out over a long period of time. So the Montgomery Bus Boycott was 1955. And African-Americans were not registered to vote at the same rate as whites in the south until the 1980s. So that movement took decades to fully play out.
And I expect that this will play out -- if it's going to be effective, it will have to play out over such an extended period of time because this movement is tackling huge issues in our society.
PHILLIPS: Wow. That's fascinating that there's now a course. And I thank you both for joining me. And on the record, Jeff, is Ameshia going to get an A? I'm putting you on the spot.
EDWARDS: It's looking that way. It's looking that way.
PHILLIPS: Ok. That's pretty good Ameshia. You keep me posted. You let me know what happens.
Thanks, guys, so much. Appreciate it.
EDWARDS: Sure.
PHILLIPS: Searching for your soul mate on line. Lots of singles are doing it. But is it really the best way to go.
Coming up, a new report on the benefits and pitfalls of online dating.
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PHILLIPS: Well, this morning a reminder of just how powerful Super PACs are when it comes to fundraising. President Obama is actually reversing course, dropping his opposition to the shadowy fundraising tactics of Super PACs and now nudging his donors toward an outside group. Priorities USA is run by two former Obama aides.
Let's bring in our political director, Mark Preston to talk about this and why the reversal.
MARK PRESTON, CNN POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Well, you know, some would say that the Republicans are playing by one set of rules, Democrats now believe they need to play by the same set of rules.
You know, this is a very difficult thing for the Obama campaign to do Kyra, because President Obama has made such a big deal about decrying the use of Super PACs and the supreme court ruling back in 2010 that allowed them to come into play.
And basically for our viewers who are not up to all the details of the Super PACs, Super PACs allow people to give unlimited donations to these organizations, who can then go out and run campaign activities, namely television advertising to support or to take down one of their opponents.
We've seen that play in the Republican arena --
PHILLIPS: What does this tell us about the fact that he's backing Super PAC now?
PRESTON: That they're concerned that Republicans, when they settle on a nominee, will be able to get a certain chunk of money for that nominee; let's assume that it's Mitt Romney. But it's really the outside money. It's going to be --
PHILLIPS: Coming down to dollars and cents?
PRESTON: Very deep-pocketed Republican donors who want to see President Obama defeated and not just individuals, perhaps corporations.
PHILLIPS: Got you. Mark thanks.
PRESTON: Thanks Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right. CNN tonight live coverage of the state primaries and caucuses. Don't forget, 6:00 Eastern with a special edition of "JOHN KING USA", then that's followed by CNN's complete live coverage of all the results at 7:00 Eastern with the best political team on television.
Well, next hour, in the CNN NEWSROOM with Suzanne Malveaux, a desperate situation playing out right now in Syria. Protesters being slaughtered by their own government and women and children among the victims.
Now that conflict has spread to the world stage and it's causing a heated battle at the U.N. We're going to have the latest when CNN NEWSROOM continues.
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PHILLIPS: And this just in to CNN. We're told that a high- ranking official for the Susan G. Komen Foundation has resigned amidst the controversy over whether the group should give funding to Planned Parenthood. Karen Handle is the charity's vice president for public policy. We are told she has now resigned.
The breast cancer charity reversed course about its funding decision after it created a three-day firestorm of criticism. We've got more details coming in. We'll continue to follow this story for you later in the CNN NEWSROOM.
All right. "Daily Dose". Online dating -- it may offer singles a bigger dating pool, but a new review actually suggests that the benefits don't go much further than that. According to a team of psychologists who went searching for the pros and cons of online dating, profiles are the biggest pitfall. The study says that browsing through too many of them can overwhelm people or encourage them to treat their search like shopping.
It's been decades since JFK's death, but the rumors of the affairs he had in office have never been laid to rest. Now there's a new book that claims that he had an affair with a White House intern.
CNN's Mary Snow has the story.
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SNOW (voice-over): Her name is Mimi Beardsley Alford, and the 69-year-grandmother writes in a new book, "Once Upon a Secret", that she began an 18-month affair with President Kennedy in the summer of 1962. Four days after starting as a White House intern, she says she met the president in the White House swimming pool after being invited by a presidential aide.
"The president slid into the pool and floated up to me," she writes. "It's Mimi, isn't it," he said. "Yes, sir," I said, "Mimi Beardsley." "And you're in the press office this summer, right?" "Yes, sir, I am," I replied."
In an exclusive interview with NBC Alford says she didn't consider the invitation unusual.
MIMI BEARDSLEY ALFORD, "ONCE UPON A SECRET": It really didn't seem unnatural just because everybody was friendly and I went back to work afterwards.
MEREDITH VIEIRA, NBC: You just dried off and went back and nobody blinked?
ALFORD: No. No one said anything.
SNOW: Later that day Alford says she had sex for the first time in her life with the 45-year-old president in Mrs. Kennedy's bedroom. She claimed she stayed over at the White House on many occasions as Mrs. Kennedy was away that summer.
Alford says the two raced rubber ducks in a White House bathtub and that the president taught her how to make scrambled eggs the way he liked them. She claims to have traveled with the president on several occasions and writes that after returning to college, she was still flown back to see the president. And that includes a visit, she claims, in October of 1962, during the Cuban missile crisis.
The last time she says she saw the president was on November 15, at the Carlisle Hotel in New York, just days before he was assassinated. "He took me in his arm for a long embrace and said, I wish you were coming with me to Texas. Then he added, I'll call you when I get back."
Alford says she reminded the president she was to be married in just months, but she claims he said, "I know that. But I'll call you anyway."
Mimi writes that presidential aide Dave Powers was the one person who knew about the relationship. But whatever he knew, he took to the grave, dying in 1998.
Mimi Beardsley Alford first spoke of the affair in 2003 issuing a statement after being tracked down by a "New York Daily" news reporter. It came after historian Robert Dallek wrote that it was rumored President Kennedy had an affair with a young intern.
And then there's this account from a White House press aide during the Kennedy years found at the Kennedy Library. It's a transcript from 1964, in which he talks about Mimi having a special relationship with President Kennedy. She talks about the press inquiring why Mimi was on presidential trips and she talks about girls in the White House going swimming with the president and Dave Powers.
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SNOW: The big question is, why is she talking now? Beyond the book deal, it's not exactly clear. But Alford writes that she didn't want to continue keeping these secrets anymore.
Mary Snow, CNN, New York.
PHILLIPS: All right. Stories that we're working on for you a little later today.
In just a few minutes, in New York, a ticker tape parade for Super Bowl champs, the New York Giants. You're looking at live pictures right now. That parade scheduled to start at 11:00.
Then at 11:25, President Obama speaks at the second White House science fair, celebrating winners in science, technology, engineering, and math.
And then at 1:00, Ohio Governor John Kasich gives a historic address at Wells Academy. It's the first state of the state speech given by an Ohio governor outside the Capitol.
Suzanne Malveaux, a little excited about that ticker tape parade. I didn't know you were a Giants fan.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN ANCHOR: Oh, I just like a good parade.
I would have rooted for the other team, too, truth be told.
PHILLIPS: Very good. You've got the spirit. Outstanding. Well, it's all yours, my dear. MALVEAUX: All right. Good to see you.
PHILLIPS: All right.
