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Santorum Sweeps Three GOP Contests; Romney Seeks Rebound; Gingrich Stumps In Ohio; Death Toll Surges In Syria; Syrian Activist Speaks To CNN; Vicious Beating Caught On Cam; Obama May Back Off Contraception Rule; First Lady Beats Fallon in Challenge; Romney Has Big Lead in Delegate Count

Aired February 08, 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: Good morning, everybody. It's the top of the hour. Thanks so much for joining us.

This morning, Republicans awaken to a reshaped presidential race. Rick Santorum working on a shoestring budget and a skeleton staff swept the last three votes. This hour, he's in Texas meeting with church pastors. That's his core base, by the way.

But last night's trifecta suggests that his popularity is growing. His biggest win, Colorado, a state that Mitt Romney easily won just four years ago. In Minnesota and Missouri, well, Santorum won even more decisively.

And the money followed. A quarter million dollars in online donations poured in last night and Santorum says his campaign is building some mojo.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RICK SANTORUM (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Even as we were not doing particularly well in Florida and Nevada, we saw our contributions online just continue to go up.

This last couple of weeks have been frankly the best two weeks we've had of the campaign fundraising wise. So it's not just those three states, which we're most appreciative of.

But you know, I believe conservatives are beginning to get it that we provide the best opportunity to beat President Obama.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Our political director, Mark Preston with me. I'm going to give you major kudos. You said yesterday do not forget Rick Santorum. This is the wild card. He may pull off some surprises. Did you have some insight?

MARK PRESTON, CNN POLITICAL DIRECTOR: You know, here's the thing about Rick Santorum. I spent a lot of time covering him in Congress and he is somebody who is a fighter.

You might not necessarily agree with his politics and you fight not like how he acts sometimes. But God, he is a fighter and you wouldn't want someone like him in the foxhole.

PHILLIPS: So does this revive his campaign?

PRESTON: It absolutely does. I mean, what we should say is Mitt Romney in many ways is still the frontrunner. He has the money. He has the organization. He's spread all across the country as you accurately just portrayed right there.

Rick Santorum running on a shoestring budget. We will see an influx of money in the next 24 hours. No question about that. You will start to see social conservatives perhaps very prominent social conservatives rally to his candidacy and Rick Santorum how can say he is the viable alternative to Mitt Romney.

PHILLIPS: And you layout the lee states that he won, OK, Colorado, Minnesota, Missouri. Do we care some does it matter?

PRESTON: Let's put it in golf terms, right? You know, for someone like who loves golf. A birdie is a birdie is a birdie, right? When you get into the clubhouse and you look at the scorecard, you don't say, wow, I was in the woods, but I got it out, got it on the green and potted it in. Bottom line is he won. He won three victories last night. Nobody can take that away from him.

PHILLIPS: OK. We're keeping our eye on him. All these surprises keep coming in to the fold, don't they? Thanks, Mark.

Well, here's a look at where the other candidates are today. Newt Gingrich is in Cleveland, Ohio where the primary is nearly a month away. Ohio, a key battleground state in presidential locations.

And then Mitt Romney is campaigning right here in Atlanta. He's actually going to be attending a fundraiser. Mark Preston, I think you can bring him into the studio. That will be great.

CNN political editor, Paul Steinhauser live in Washington. So, Paul, why don't we go ahead and begin with Mitt Romney. He down played expectations in these states. Still way ahead in delegates, but is this another chink in the armor as we move forward?

PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN POLITICAL EDITOR: It is to a degree. Listen, Kyra, you're absolutely right. We saw it yesterday the Romney campaign even before these results coming out and saying not that big a deal.

Listen, Missouri, they didn't even campaign there. It's a beauty contest they said. But let's be honest, Mitt Romney did go to Minnesota. It was his first stop after his big victory in Florida and he spent the last two days in Colorado.

He was hoping for a big victory celebration there last night, didn't get it. I was talking to a Romney adviser this morning and they're saying, listen, we will talk a little bit more about Rick Santorum now.

Maybe not to the degree they went after Newt Gingrich after Romney's loss in South Carolina, but it was telling in Romney's speech last night, he didn't mention any other Republican, but he did highlight that he was the only candidate on either party that has never, never worked in Washington.

So they'll try to paint Santorum as a Washington insider, but for the Romney campaign, yes, this is all about delegates. They're still ahead in the delegate count. They're looking ahead. A bump in the road they say. But listen, let's be honest, it hurt.

PHILLIPS: Well, Newt Gingrich definitely put all his eggs in the South Carolina basket and he won, but has not had much success since then. (INAUDIBLE) debates. What do you think he can do to rebound and can he?

STEINHAUSER: This is tough for him, as well. He is trying for say that I'm the conservative alternative to Mitt Romney not Rick Santorum. Well, last night, that didn't help one bit.

But he tells our Wolf Blitzer again that he plans to march ahead. He's looking towards the Super Tuesday contest on March 6, 10 states including a number of southern states where he thinks he can do well and he says he'll go all the way to the convention.

But Kyra, another showing like tonight down the road is not going to help him one bit. It is tough for him and if this hurts his fundraising, it gets even more difficult -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right, Paul Steinhauser in Washington. Paul, thanks so much.

And much more throughout the day on Rick Santorum's triple win. A reminder, for last night's full results and all the latest political news, you just go to our web site as well cnnpolitics.com.

Now Syria and a pledge to end the violence shattered within hours. Government forces bombarding residential areas and activists say that they're storming homes there, searching for rebel fighters. One opposition group even says troops killed three unarmed families.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

"DANNY," SYRIAN ACTIVIST: From yesterday to today, I've seen terrible bodies in the street and still body has we can't move, they've been shot by snipers. If we try to move the body, you get shot by the same sniper a shot the first person. They have been bombarding us with rockets, mortar bombs, tank shells, hitting us with anti-air tanks.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Well, the escalating violence seems to fly in the face of an assurance from Syria's key ally, Russia, had reported that Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad promised to end the bloodshed. Now patience is running thin across the world and in particular Washington. U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice says it is time for Assad to step down.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) SUSAN RICE, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO U.N.: Your days are numbered and it is time and past time for you to transfer power responsibly and peacefully. The longer you hang on, the more damage you do yourself, your family, your interests and indeed your country.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: CNN's Ivan Watson in Istanbul, Turkey for us. Ivan, is there any realistic hope for a diplomatic resolution here? What's your take?

IVAN WATSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, the incredible thing is that while the Russian foreign minister was meeting with Bashar Al-Assad yesterday, the artillery assault on this residential neighborhood in the city of Homs was continuing.

And the residents there that we spoke to, they said they were woken up at 5:00 a.m. this morning with more of the artillery assault. The video we've seen coming out of that shows apartment blocks, houses being pounded by mortar shells, by artillery that is not well directed.

That is indiscriminate artillery fire in to densely populated residential communities with locals telling us that more than 50 people have been killed today alone. So do we think there could be negotiated settlement or an end to the conflict some it does not look like that?

That is only one of several cities in Syria where we are hearing reports of the Syrian army using artillery against residential civilian communities in their offensive. It does not look like any negotiated settlement or any way out of this is possible.

I spoke with one activist in Damascus, she said both supporters and opponents of the regime right now, Kyra, are getting guns themselves. They are arming themselves. She warned that a disaster is rapidly coming to this country.

PHILLIPS: Ivan Watson there in Istanbul, Turkey for us. Ivan, thank you.

Well, as you know, the world is paying close attention to the crisis in Syria. CNN's Max Foster is following that for us in London. Max, just to let you know, at times, we are able to, I guess, connect with activists there in Syria. So it's possible as we're talking that we may get connected to a phone call if one of these activists does call in. So I just want to give you a heads up.

MAX FOSTER, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Thank you. That's the important story really. In the meantime, we can look at the commentary really in the international press because they're trying to grapple particularly with this decision by Russia and China to block action at the United Nations.

Whether or not it's backfiring, "The Moscow Times," a Russian paper, Real politics without realism. Russia aims to block anymore military interventions, but none will be needed because Assad's regime will eventually be overthrown. That will leave Moscow mourning it lost influence in the region as well as the end of its lucrative military contracts.

Thus Putin's real politics has lost its most important attribute, which is realism. "The International Harold Tribune" focusing on the China story, why Beijing votes with Moscow. In the eyes of the Chinese, the Assad regime is not worth a veto. China apparently decided it was better not to jeopardize relations with Russians and risk losing Russian support when Beijing might need it in the future.

So it's an interesting perspective there. And "The National" in United Arab Emirates looking at the bigger picture here, great game in the Middle East plays Syria like a pawn. Syria's conflict and the standoff over Iran's nuclear program are unfolding against a backdrop of intensified regional and global strategic rivalry so why the story for them -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: And Max, as I told you, we did get one of the activists on the line out of Homs. If you want to hold on and you want ask a question, by all means, feel free because you've been following the global reaction here.

Abu Rami is actually in Homs. He has called into us. He's on the phone right now. Abu, we appreciate you so much calling in. Could you just describe the scene for us right now in Homs?

ABU RAMI, SYRIAN OPPOSITION ACTIVIST (via telephone): OK. I'm glad to have the opportunity to describe to what you we are facing here in Homs City and in the area in general -- in particular, sorry. This city is under shelling for the fourth day in a row.

And no one knows nothing from else because the regime here are cutting off the city and every kind of connection, all of this kind of connection. The situation here, the explosions every 5 minutes we have at least three explosions.

They are targeted, the (INAUDIBLE) in particular. They are shelling from far distance. They are using many kinds of weapons, have weapons, anti-aircraft also. They are using nail bombs. We have at this moment more than 60 people were killed.

We have five children are infants. They were killed because -- the conditions of medical is so bad, too. Yesterday, they targeted the hospital and they killed three doctors of this hospital.

So it is very difficult to rescue these people. We have limited supplies. More than 100 wounded people. We can't rescue them or give them any necessary assistance.

PHILLIPS: Abu, let me ask you about some particulars. We've been reporting that Syrian troops are storming a number of the homes there, pulling families out and killing them right on the spot.

We've had reports that you just aren't able to count the dead anymore. There are so many dead bodies on the streets. And if indeed someone tries to go and rescue somebody that has been shot or injured, that they are shot in the process.

Can you confirm any of that and give me a sense for how bad it is right now to be living there and are you afraid to open your door?

RAMI: Yes, yes. Everything that you said is correct. I just wanted to make sure that the Homs City are surrounded and each neighborhood inside the city are surrounded, too. So any person who is trying to go out and escape from this neighborhood to another, they may be shot or maybe die because of the explosions because of the bombings.

Yesterday, two families tried to escape from their neighborhood. They were successful. They escaped, but they were waiting by the security and shot and they captured them and killed them by using the knives and machine guns to kill them. Every person who is trying to go out from the area will be captured or killed.

FOSTER: Abu, can I just ask and you question quickly about the -- Homs is the opposition strong hold and there's an effort here to try to damage the opposition and weaken the opposition.

How much is your position being weakened and are you actually getting any support, any arms from outside the country, what support are you getting?

RAMI: Yes, OK. Well, about the support. We have army in the area, but this is no arm resistance. This shelling were from outside. They throw bombs in area from outside area. So the army is useless in this case.

Can't protect civilians from bombing. Who can protect anyone from the bombs coming outside from the skies. We don't know where these bombings are coming into this area. The people here are feeling so panicked. They don't know what to do. They are still in their home trying to hide in the basement or any area far from the explosion.

PHILLIPS: Has President Assad addressed your people?

RAMI: Sorry?

PHILLIPS: Abu, are you still with me?

RAMI: Yes, I'm with you.

PHILLIPS: Can you tell me if President Assad has addressed you and the people?

RAMI: No, he just say that outside world that everything is OK and that he wants to try to make negotiation between the opposition. And we have him here a month ago go when he say to CNN that I am not responsible of what's going on in Syria.

Who is going to believe him and he is the leader of army in Syria. He's responsible of every kind of violence against civilians here. Every people who goes out to the streets is calling they love him, they were paid, they have money from regime.

You have to look for Homs City. All of the cities don't want Assad to still continue in his rule. We need to call Assad a criminal. We need the people here in Homs in particular. They won't stop until Assad be banished.

PHILLIPS: Abu Rami, an activist there in Homs. Calling in to us. Abu, please keep us posted. And any details you may have, as you know, we have limited access. We've been banned from that area.

So either's hard to confirm exactly what's happening in your country. All we have are people like you calling in and activists like you posting video so we can get a firsthand look what is happening inside of Syria.

We'll continue to follow the crisis in Syria for you. More here in the CNN NEWSROOM. A quick break, we'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: A vicious beating in broad daylight in Atlanta, Georgia and it was all caught on video and posted on the internet. Now the victim is coming forward.

CNN's George Howell has been following the story for us. What's the latest?

GEORGE HOWELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, today at noon Eastern Time, we will hear from the victim for the first time since this video surfaced. Before we show this video, I just want to warn you at home, if you have children in the room, you may want to ask will them to leave. It is a very violent piece of video that we're going to show you. But this is the video that we're talking about. And police believe that this video was put up online on Saturday.

You see here several men, three men in the video, beating, kicking the victim here, the young man who went into the store. On this surveillance video, take a look. They throw a tire at him afterward and he walks away -- he gets away from this.

But again, a very vicious beating that the men apparently uploaded on YouTube wanting people to see what they did and again, all the while laughing, making derogatory comments about the victim's sexual orientation.

Now we also saw police yesterday and we have crime scene video that police went back to the scene yesterday to look for evidence. Again, this is several days after police believe that this beating happened, but they're looking for evidence.

Atlanta police is involved, also the FBI looking in to what happened. And they believe that the victim got away, but it took a long time to track him down. He has been in hiding basically since the video surfaced.

PHILLIPS: Let me clarify something because we'll talk about it after the break. It was posted on World Star Hip Hop, not YouTube, right? Or you said YouTube, is it on YouTube, as well?

HOWELL: No, it's World Star Hip Hop, it's a popular site that's known for posting videos like this.

PHILLIPS: Fight videos, right? I mean, we've gone to that web site before. We've talked about this web site before and you've been reading about this web site.

Nothing really confirmed, but from the research that you've done, this is a web site that has been gone after before with regard to lawsuits because of what it posts, is that right?

HOWELL: It's a very contentious web site and people monitor the web site. The reason police found out about the site is after the affiliates here in Atlanta started covering the story. They found the video, they covered the story, aired the video. Then police got involved.

PHILLIPS: It's being investigated as a hate crime now, right?

HOWELL: It could very well be investigated as a hate crime. In fact, this statement from the U.S. Attorney Sally Yates, combating gang activity in our district is a priority and as potential civil rights violations are based on a person's sexual orientation. Meaning that they are looking in to this and it could very well be a hate crime.

PHILLIPS: Racial slurs were heard as this young man was being beaten.

HOWELL: Yes.

PHILLIPS: All right, stay with us because we're going to talk more about this web site, other web sites and why it is you're able to go online and actually see video like this, George.

We're going to talk about these types of videos. How they get posted to these web sites? We're going to talk to a legal expert actually who says the answer isn't so simple.

When it comes to the question of can you have these videos taken off these Web sites and hold these individuals accountable, the publishers of these web sites. So stay with us. We're going to have that conversation next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: I want to stay with this story that we've been talking about just before the break, a 30-second video clip of a brutal beating. A group of men ambushing and taking down a young man while shouting gay slurs.

Now if you wanted to watch the video, it's easy. All you have to do is just click on it and there it is, unedited and uncensored. So what is a web site's legal responsibility with videos like this?

Paul Callan is our legal contributor. Is it always protected by the first amendment, Paul? PAUL CALLAN, CNN LEGAL CONTRIBUTOR: Well, you know, Kyra, I think a lot of people would be surprised by this, but, yes, generally is protected by the first amendment.

And what I find to be very disturbing about this video in particular is -- and this particular web site that published it, almost looks like it's creating a competition by lawless people, by gangs, to post the most violent video because you'll get published on this particular Web site.

And it strikes me that most people would think there must be something illegal about that. But the first amendment protects expression. And it protects publication of such a video.

And frankly in the end, CNN now is publishing it. So if you had a law saying you couldn't publish this, all of the broadcast networks even the legitimate ones could be subject to government censorship.

PHILLIPS: But, Paul, you publish child porn, you're toast, OK. These are beatings of innocent people, these are racial slurs. It's being investigated as a hate crime. I mean, this is -- why are you able to publish a web site and be able to put this on without any recourse?

CALLAN: Well, you know, because the U.S. constitution, which ensures freedom of speech and free publication of even controversial ideas has been interpreted by the Supreme Court and by the way. the last time they really made a decision in this area was 1964 involving publication of a Ku Klux Klan rally.

And a claim against an individual who spoke at that rally that he was inciting violence. And the court has said unless you can prove that the person involved in the publication and the person making the speech knew that what they were doing was going to cause imminent violence, there's no crime and you cannot be prosecuted.

So in the case of the web site here, they're going to say we're not trying to inspire violence. And as a matter of fact, our publication of this has given the police evidence to investigate. So they're going to say we're actually helping law enforcement.

That would be a hard defense to get around. And the other thought I would leave you with having watched your coverage of what's going on in Syria.

You know, the Syrian government would probably love to come in and say publication of those videos are inspiring rebels to attack legitimate soldiers of the Syrian government. And that's exactly the kind of suppression of free speech I think that we try avoid in the United States.

PHILLIPS: You would wish there would be an ethical responsibility, though. I mean, YouTube says it doesn't post graphic violence, disturbing footage or video that contains hate speech.

At least that's out there and there's an effort to have a conscience when it comes to this. It will be interesting to see how this all unfolds, Paul. We'll keep talking about it.

CALLAN: It's called journalistic ethics and unfortunately, you don't see too much of it out there anymore with the free willing internet.

PHILLIPS: But we did reach out to the web site that posted this video. We have not heard back. We'll stay on the story. Paul, thanks.

Rick Santorum had a sweep of three primaries last night. The political panel is next. We'll find out just how much celebrating he should be doing today in their opinion.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: "Political Buzz", your rapid fire look at the best political topics of the day. Three questions, 30 seconds on the clock and playing today: CNN contributor, Maria Cardona; Chris Moody, political reporter for Yahoo News; and Chris Metzler, a Georgetown University professor.

First question guys, Rick Santorum sweeping three primaries. What do you think, is it a game changer? Maria?

MARIA CARDONA, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: I think it could be for Santorum because clearly he did a lot better than anybody expected. He can raise a lot of money now. And now really he's got to prove that he can be the one to consolidate social conservatives.

It's a red herring for the whole Republican Party and especially Mitt Romney who got less votes than he did in 2008 by a third. And clearly it continues to indicate that he cannot only not consolidate social conservatives, but the more Americans hear about him, the less they like about him. That's not a quality that you want in a general election with your candidate.

PHILLIPS: Chris Metzler?

CHRIS METZLER, PROFESSOR, GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY: Well yes, it is a game changer for the three M's. So money, mojo and momentum. So at this point from Santorum's standpoint, he's got the mojo. He's trying to get the money and he's got some momentum. I think, though, what this shows relative to Romney in particular is Romney has not sealed the deal.

Look, Romney has been running on the fact that he is the inevitable candidate; that he has this biography and people have pretty much been saying march to the nomination. I think what this says is not so fast, Mitt. And not to mention the fact that he is a very weak front-runner.

PHILLIPS: Chris Moody.

CHRIS MOODY, REPORTER, YAHOO NEWS: We have to look back to Iowa when Rick Santorum was in my opinion cheated out of what you get out of winning Iowa. You don't get any delegate votes from the caucuses there, but you do get the momentum and you do get the media push. Rick Santorum didn't get any of that, so this is somewhat of a redo for him. He finally gets the media attention; he finally gets that momentum that can carry him on towards Super Tuesday. This also gives the anti-Romney insurgency that perhaps is now embodied in Rick Santorum, the ability to have the money to go on through the doldrums of February.

We don't have very many elections until Super Tuesday. So now we're going to have this fight stretched out.

PHILLIPS: All right. Yesterday's Prop 8 ruling, does it give President Obama a break by keeping same-sex marriage right off the table as a major national debate in an election year? Chris Metzler?

METZLER: Yes it does because if you look at the ruling, what the ruling stopped short of doing is saying that there is a federal constitutional right to same-sex marriage. Had the ruling done that, then that would have been something for Obama to then explain what his position is.

But there's a larger issue here relative to the courts and how the courts are going to factor in to this election. I think you've got the Supreme Court of the United States deciding the health care law; you had this, you have the Citizens United case. You've got all of these cases.

So I think in part what Obama is going to do is he's going to run against the courts and overreaching.

PHILLIPS: Maria?

CARDONA: I actually think this decision puts all of these issues front and center in a way that they didn't before. But I think the issue here is that these are not issues that Americans are overly concerned about in the year when the economy and jobs is the major thing that Independent voters which are the voters that both sides need to get in order to win the White House are what they're worried about.

Independent voters are focused on job creation, and by the way, this administration has created more than three million jobs. And we've had 22 straight months of private sector job creation. The unemployment numbers are going in the right direction. That's what -- those are the issues that Americans are going to care about.

PHILLIPS: Chris Moody.

MOODY: I don't think it takes it off the table at all. I think it puts it back on the table. One thing a lot of people forget is that Barack Obama opposes gay marriage. This is something that people -- a lot of people don't mention, that he stands with a lot of the Republican presidential candidates right now in his opposition to this.

I doubt you'll see him getting angry over the decision. He'll probably stay fairly quiet, but this also gives the Republican nominees and the Republicans in the House and Senate an opportunity to lambaste the so-called activist judges from making a decision like this for overturning the will of the people in California. So I think it gives them more to talk about rather than less.

PHILLIPS: All right, guys. Remember this gal?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I got a crush on Obama

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: The Obama girl. Yes, she isn't sure, though that she's going to support President Obama this time around because she said he never personally thanked her. But he is getting another endorsement, guys, from actress Scarlett Johansson.

So let me ask the three of you. Who is the one woman if she endorsed Obama that would put him over the top? Maria?

CARDONA: I got to do a little eye rolling here for sister Obama girl. Oh, my God, a little self important there, sister. But let's see, women. Let's see, he's already got Oprah in his corner. He's got Hillary Clinton in his corner. He's got Betty White in his corner. So I think that maybe --

PHILLIPS: Who else is there?

CARDONA: Right. I think maybe he needs my mother and all other Latina mothers because I got to tell you, there's nothing like the network of Latina mothers out there.

PHILLIPS: What is it Ricky Martin says about music, you have to have the duende (ph).

CARDONA: There you go, exactly.

PHILLIPS: Ok Chris Metzler, what do you say?

METZLER: There is only one woman on the face of this entire earth who can actually put Obama over the top. Ready? Margaret Thatcher, she is the only one who can do it. I mean, you know --

PHILLIPS: Chris is obsessed with Margaret Thatcher. This is the third time he's brought her up in our conversation.

CARDONA: Oh my. I don't -- I'm not going to ask why?

METZLER: I am. But barring -- barring that, he can get Meryl Streep who played Margaret Thatcher. That will be close enough.

PHILLIPS: All right Chris Moody, what do you think? What's the one woman endorsement?

MOODY: Well, the game changer is definitely not Scarlett Johansson I think we know that. One thing about, Obama is that -- the entirety of Hollywood supported him in 2008. So I think the best you can do is get them all back on board, and hopefully they don't pull Obama girls on him this time and kind of show a lacking in their support.

But I'm a little disappointed because I was going to say Margaret Thatcher, too. I agree with Chris completely. So you know what, let's make it American. Sarah Palin. That'll change it. That will change it.

PHILLIPS: All right. We -- we shall continue.

METZLER: It's not going to happen.

PHILLIPS: Thanks, guys.

CARDONA: Thanks Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Well, President Obama may be ready to compromise on a controversial new rule requiring religious institutions to cover birth control in their health plans. Let's get to CNN's Brianna Keilar, she's live at the White House.

So Brianna let's go ahead and remind people first about what this rule is and then why it's gotten a lot of people upset?

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Yes Kyra, this is about insurance coverage for FDA-approved contraception. We're talking about birth control pills, the morning after pill, intrauterine devices. And about two and a half weeks ago, the Obama administration said employers must provide coverage for these things.

They exempted churches themselves, but what caused the firestorm is that religiously affiliated employers -- we're talking hospitals, universities, charities -- they must comply, although they get an year to do it, they would have not this summer when most employers do, but they would have until next summer.

But still this has left particularly Catholic leaders irate. They say it's an issue of religious freedom and there's a big concern here at the White House that they're mobilizing some Catholic voters who normally would support President Obama. In -- in the midst of this firestorm, there's some softening language from the White House.

Listen to what Jay Carney said yesterday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAY CARNEY, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: There are ways to I think help resolve this issue that ensures that we provide that important preventive service, that health care coverage, to all women and it tries -- in a way that also tries to allay some of the concerns.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KEILAR: Now, they're trying to find Kyra obviously some middle ground here. This is the new change. But there is a huge open question and that is what is the middle ground going to look like? We don't know at this point. But expect for it to come to be here in the next few days maybe because this is something that the White House really wants to move past. This has been brewing now for a couple of weeks.

PHILLIPS: Brianna Keilar at the White House. Brianna, thanks so much.

So what kind of person throws some attitude at the commander of all Special Ops Forces? The guy who commands the Navy Seals, yells at him even? We'll tell you later.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Apparently "Soul Train" creator Don Cornelius had a secret regret. "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" host, A.J. Hammer with the scoop, live out of New York. A.J., what was it?

A.J. HAMMER, HLN HOST, "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT": Well, Kyra, last night just after Don Cornelius's death was officially ruled a suicide, our own Kareen Wynter sat down with Don's son Tony for an exclusive interview. I'll be playing that interview for you tonight on "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT".

But Tony -- excuse me -- really opened up sharing some amazing stories about his father. He talked about how the legendary Don Cornelius didn't even realize the impact he had on people and how no one really saw the signs that he was so depressed that he was going to take his own life.

And, yes, he did also reveal a story about one of his dad's biggest professional regrets. And that regret is that he passed on having Madonna on "Soul Train". He said he had no idea that she would be as big as she became and Tony was surprised that anybody could even miss that. But from our perspective, Don Cornelius didn't miss much. However, he did miss that.

PHILLIPS: Wow.

HAMMER: You can see our exclusive interview with Don Cornelius' son Tony in its entirety tonight on "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" at 11:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific. And Madonna did ok. Don broke a lot of stars, but Madonna, I think she'll be around for a while.

PHILLIPS: Well, I'll tell you what; we'll use some of those clips from your interview tomorrow, A.J. in our "Showbiz Hits" if that sounds good to you.

All right. Let's talk about this big showdown between Michelle Obama and Jimmy Fallon. Unbelievable. He gets access to the White House and it's all for a potato sack race.

HAMMER: Yes. He's getting some exercise while hanging out in the White House with the First Lady. Michelle Obama has been getting the word out about her Let's Move initiative which is all about getting kids being physically active, something very important to her. And apparently getting Jimmy Fallon active was important as well.

Look at this competition that is going on. It involved a hula hoop contest, a tug of war, dodge ball and as you see a potato sack race in the White House, Kyra.

Not so good, Jimmy Fallon. When it was all over, the First Lady had cleaned Jimmy's clock. So of course being Jimmy Fallon, he tried to make the best of it. Let's watch what he said about it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICHELLE OBAMA, FIRST LADY OF THE UNITED STATES: Well, Jimmy, that was fun. Thank you so much for coming to the White House and raising awareness for Let's Move.

JIMMY FALLON, TALK SHOW HOST: It was my pleasure. I think, you know, the most important thing for the kids to learn is that it's all about being active and having fun. Doesn't matter if you won or if you lost, you know.

OBAMA: It matters.

FALLON: Double or nothing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HAMMER: That hurts. And Kyra from my perspective, Jimmy Fallon against our First Lady didn't have a chance.

PHILLIPS: I just can't get over the spandex. I'm going to have nightmares about that tonight.

A.J. thank you so much.

And if you want all information on everything breaking in the entertainment world, A.J.'s got it every night, "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" 11:00 Eastern on HLN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: All right. U.S. Special Operations Forces are supposed to keep a low profile or no profile at all. That's what makes them special. And let's not forget they can sweep in and take out the most wanted men in the world like Osama bin Laden.

But one retired general says hold on. The SEALs are getting way too much attention now. In fact, he kind of yelled at the head SEAL, the man who oversaw the raid.

Barbara Starr with us from the Pentagon. Barbara, what happened?

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, this was a seminar here in Washington yesterday. And Admiral William McRaven who did oversee the bin Laden raid and now is the head of all special operations, was briefing the audience about what special operations are up to when he encountered a question from an elderly retired general, a man quite on in years -- don't count him out yet -- a man with plenty of opinions. Have a listen.

GEN. JAMES VAUGHT, U.S. ARMY (RET.): One of these days if you keep publishing how you do this, the other guys going to be there ready for you. And you're going to fly in and he's going to shoot down every damn helicopter and kill every one of your SEALs. Now, watch it happen. Mark my words. Get the hell out of the media.

ADM. WILLIAM MCRAVEN, U.S. SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMANDER: But I take your point, sir. We don't ever want to get to the point where our sensitive tactics, techniques and procedures are open for everybody to take a look at so the next time we come in on a target we're exposed.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

STARR: Admiral William McRaven, this country's top commando being lectured by a Retired Lt. Gen. William Vaught (SIC). But I want to tell you about Vaught, Kyra, this is a guy with an extraordinary record, a veteran of World War II, Korea, Vietnam and a special operator himself. He led the task force back in 1979 that tried and failed to rescue the Iran hostages.

This is a man on in years, who has tremendous fire in his belly still for what he believes is the right thing to do in his era. You did not get up and talk to the news media about what you were doing.

William McRaven, the current guy, he's living in a bit of different world. He knows he has to talk about it, but he was very differential to this older gentleman who has a very respected opinion still these days in many quarters.

PHILLIPS: Yes. And Barbara, we should probably make the point that there is so much that goes on behind the scenes with the Navy SEALs that we will never, never know.

STARR: Oh, you bet. We think we see it. We see less than a fraction of it.

PHILLIPS: Exactly. Barbara Starr at the Pentagon. Barbara, thanks.

And you can read more on this story and others from our national security team at cnn.com/security.

All right. Let's check out some stories from across the country.

In Baltimore, Barry Landau who fancied himself as a presidential historian is busted for stealing historical documents worth more than $1 million. He pleaded guilty to taking thousands of documents from museums including some signed pieces by George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, even Napoleon. He could get five years in prison.

And if you were lucky enough to be in Indianapolis last week for the Super Bowl, you might want to see your doctor. That's because a person infected with measles actually visited the Super Bowl village during last week's late party. There's now two confirmed cases of the disease in that state.

And Saginaw, Michigan, the motorcycle stunt man who broke his leg, wrist, elbow and shoulder with this stunt went horribly wrong at the circus, says he is going to ride again. Here's what he said about the crash.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOSH HEADFORD, MOTORCYCLIST: I really thought I was going to die at that point. I was flying through the air.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Well, Headford says that the cable that he hit should have been removed by circus staff right before that stunt.

Mitt Romney may have lost three contests last night, but he didn't lose ground in the delegate count. More after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Time for stories we're working on for later today.

1:30 Eastern, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton meets with Haiti's prime minister at the State Department; he's asking for better coordination and faster aid distribution in Haiti.

At 2:00 President Obama attends a retreat with the Senate Democrats at the home of the Washington Nationals baseball team.

And tonight at 10:00, and Essence woman and music event honors Kelly Rowland of Destiny's Child and former head of Motown Records, Sylvia Rhone.

Today's "Daily Dose" eating too much salt: 90 percent of us are guilty of it and the food that's responsible for most of our sodium intake may surprise you. It's bread. CDC says that while bread may not contain a lot of salt, eating too much of it will push your sodium intake to unhealthy levels.

Any parent can relate to the horror of trying to bring your kids to a restaurant and actually have them behave. It just doesn't happen or does it. One author says that we might be able to learn a thing or two from French parents.

Suzanne Malveaux will talk to her live at 12:00 p.m. Eastern and we'll find out are the French really better at parenting?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Well, if you're just tuning in, you probably already know this. Rick Santorum winning the latest three contests but with no delegates handed out Tuesday, Mitt Romney lost no ground.

Our political editor, Paul Steinhauser looking forward to that all-important delegate count. STEINHAUSER: Let's take a look. And Kyra this really, really illustrates how far we have to go. Go to the delegate board, let's take a look at this right now. This is our CNN estimate. You can see right up there on the top -- this is just about an hour old now -- Mitt Romney 115 delegates. Newt Gingrich 38. There's Santorum, he was in last place, now he's just four delegates shy of Newt Gingrich according to our CNN estimates, and Ron Paul at 20.

But Kyra, the real number is 1,144, that's the amount of delegates you need to clinch the nomination. Nobody, nobody anywhere close to that Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Ok. And Ron Paul, is he sort of the forgotten man in this race now?

STEINHAUSER: No, no. We have not been talking about Ron Paul this hour. Let's talk about Ron Paul. He's actually pretty happy with what happened last night. He had a second place finish in Minnesota. And the congressman from Texas says, you know what; I'm in this for the delegates. And here's what he said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RON PAUL (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We do have to remember, you know, the straw vote is one thing, but then there's one other thing called delegates. And that is where we excel. We know what to do about getting delegates.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

STEINHAUSER: Ron Paul looks like a happy man, Kyra. This definitely remain as four-person field -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Thanks, Paul.

We'll have your next political update in just about an hour. And a reminder for all the latest political news, you can always go to our Web site, cnnpolitics.com.

It's the top of the hour. You know what that means. Suzanne Malveaux in Studio 7.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN ANCHOR: I'm really not will short.

PHILLIPS: Here, I'll come down.

MALVEAUX: There you go.

PHILLIPS: I'll come down to your level.

MALVEAUX: Is politics not exciting or what? I mean this is really fascinating.

PHILLIPS: I did say to Mark Preston, I'm giving him a shout-out all day today.

MALVEAUX: Did he predict this?

PHILLIPS: He said you've got to pay attention to Rick Santorum. This is the wildcard, and you never know what can happen. And then we wake up this morning and he takes all three states.

MALVEAUX: Unbelievable. I mean, people were tweeting at 1:30, 2:00 in the morning. It was fantastic.

PHILLIPS: Yes.

MALVEAUX: I was not one of those people though. I'm sorry. I was sleeping at that hour.

PHILLIPS: You saw it all when you woke up.

MALVEAUX: Exactly. Good to see you.

PHILLIPS: Good to see you, too.