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Interview With Syrian Activist; Deciding the Fate of the Pardoned; 4-Year-Old Forced Outside in Snow; Arab League Proposal Calls for Teamwork on Syria; Life Imitates Sports; Glen Campbell Says Good-Bye; Can Conservatives Come Together on Presidential Nominee
Aired February 09, 2012 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN ANCHOR: Live from Studio 7, I'm Suzanne Malveaux. I want to get you up to speed for this Thursday, February 9th.
At least 126 more people have been killed in Syria already today. Now, that is according to opposition activists on the front lines.
This is the day five of the government's brutal onslaught in Homs, day five, where neighborhoods are now raging battlegrounds. A doctor there says bodies began coming in before the sunrise. He also says everyone is waiting to die.
An activist echoed that feeling earlier on CNN.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What keeps you going?
ABU ABDO, SYRIAN ACTIVIST: We have no choice, no other choice. We are dying slightly, and we try to save each other. At least, I mean, to keep somebody alive, because we believe that we are all going to die here.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: With the death toll rising by the day, the U.N. is expected to take up an Arab League proposal calling for a joint monitoring mission in Syria. Now, neighboring Turkey, which has been critical of the crackdown in Syria, may offer to host a conference on what to do next.
Republican Senator John McCain wants to help the Syrian rebels.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), ARIZONA: We can work with other countries to provide assistance in a broad variety of ways. And by the way, military equipment should not be an option, it should not be -- is an option that should be considered, but maybe not directly. We can give them communications, they need equipment, they need medical help very badly.
(END VIDEO CLIP) (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is about the children! But we're talking about -- we're talking about --
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: The California school at the center of a shocking child abuse scandal that sparked angry protests by parents reopens today with an all new staff. The Los Angeles School District replaced everyone at Miramonte Elementary, including the principal, teachers, administrators, and janitors.
A former teacher is accused of taking bondage photos of more than two dozen students. A second teacher is charged with lewd acts with a young girl.
The brother of Tyler Clementi says he is still grieving. Clementi was the Rutgers University freshman who killed himself after his roommate allegedly taped him with another man. His suicide in 2010 brought national attention to the struggles of gay youth.
His brother James says Tyler's death did not need to happen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JAMES CLEMENTI, BROTHER OF TYLER: I just think about, you know, the epidemic that suicide has really become amongst gay youth, and it breaks my heart. And every child that I've seen on the news since and before my brother's death, I mean, he's one of many, unfortunately, and this needs to stop. This is not the answer.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: Same-sex marriage is on the verge of becoming legal in Washington State. Lawmakers there have passed the bill that the governor promises to sign. That would make Washington the seventh state where gay couples can legally marry.
All right. So, if your home is in foreclosure, you could see some relief paid for by the banks.
Several states and the federal government just signed on to a $26 billion deal with five of the largest home lenders. At least $17 billion will go to reducing the principle owed by homeowners who are now under water and behind on their mortgages. The settlement comes after allegations of improper foreclosures and robo-signing without the required paperwork.
The House, just moments ago, passed its version of the STOP Act. The bill bans members of Congress from trading stocks based on inside information they learn on the job. Well, House Democrats complained that Republicans weakened the Senate bill which passed last week, but they went along. The House bill approved by a vote of 417-2.
That's the city of Homs. This is now the fifth straight day of brutal attacks by Syrian government forces.
Just watch those pictures. A young activist there, he has been risking his life by sending us these videos from the front line. Just listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
"DANNY," SYRIAN ACTIVIST: That was another rocket that landed over there. See, this is happening every day. This is happening -- where's the U.N.? Where's the humanity? Where's America?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: We are calling him "Danny" for his own protection. He joins us via Skype from Homs.
Danny, thanks again for joining us again today.
You and I talked yesterday, and when we did, you were surrounded by snipers. We could hear gunfire in the background.
Have you moved? Are you in a safe place?
DANNY: No, I'm still in the same building. There's not one safe place in this area.
The army is surrounding us. The army is surrounding us in big numbers. Lots of tanks, lots of footmen, lots of troops, anti-air tanks, BNB (ph) tanks. They are just hitting us with tank shells, rockets, nonstop from 4:00 a.m.
The same building I'm in, they hit it with a rocket. Three women they killed, and they were in pieces. That was, like, 7:00 a.m. We had to take them -- we had to put them inside and take them, just bury them.
We don't know how many causalities we have got. I am sure there's 93 people dead. We have their names. But there's more than another 100 underneath the destruction of the buildings.
They have helicopters over this area, hitting us with helicopters, and they are using human shields in their checkpoints. So the Free Army can't hit the checkpoints.
We don't have any medication, we have only one field hospital left. We have only about six doctors now, and that's not enough.
MALVEAUX: Danny, we saw you, that video clip of you on the street there. Can you tell us what you saw, what you were experiencing when you actually left your building and went outside?
DANNY: Not (ph) something normal. Look, anyone who walks the street is in a risk that he might get hit by a rocket or a tank shell. Anyone who goes out in the street will be hit by a sniper or a tank shell or a rocket. Even if you sit in your house you're not safe. You might get hit by a tank shell or you might get hit by a rocket.
Now, the Syrian army is surrounding this area. The Free Army can't fight that hard. The Syrian army is getting really close.
We expect tomorrow the Syrian army will be in this area, it will arrest lots of people, it will kill people here. We have no idea what to do. We cannot leave this area. No one can come in, no one can go out. They've shot all the ways.
MALVEAUX: Danny, I understand that the building where you are now was actually fired upon, that there are parts of your building that are crumbled. Is that true? Can you tell us what happened to your building?
DANNY: More than 10 rockets, the 15 rockets, rockets and tank shells, landed on in the street I live in. This street is only about 50 meters long.
The building, my building, was hit by tank shells and rockets. Underneath my building were three women that were killed. We found them in pieces about 7:00 a.m. Four guys in the same house as me were injured. The situation is really bad.
MALVEAUX: Where have those -- where have your friends been taken? Are they getting any kind of medical help? I mean, you say that these women died in the building and now your friends are injured as well?
DANNY: Yes. The women died, children died. We have more than 30 children dead from four days ago until now. We have loads of children injured.
My friends are in a hospital. I hope they'll be OK. Lots of them have been hit by snipers from yesterday until today, just because of trying to cross the street. Snipers hit them.
They hit children, women, men, kids. It doesn't matter. The Syrian army -- I'm not going to call it the Syrian army. The Assad army has no humanity in them. They kill anything in front of them. They are just hitting civilian houses.
MALVEAUX: Danny, do you think that the Arab League can do anything to help you? They are calling for a joint mission, a monitoring mission, inside where you are. Do you think that they can save you?
DANNY: We don't want the monitors anymore. They sent the monitors last time, and we did not win anything out of it.
We wanted the U.N. to take this case. We wanted the U.N. to interfere in this, or armies. If we get the airplanes here, bombard the regime.
We want someone to do something about this. We're going to get killed. I'm sure I might get killed tomorrow if the army gets in here.
No one's doing anything about this. We don't want the monitors. We don't want the Arab League. The Arab League is going to do nothing about this.
We wanted the U.N. to interfere. We want the U.N. to do something. MALVEAUX: And Danny, finally --
DANNY: All these people are being killed.
MALVEAUX: -- can you tell me how you are living? Do you have food? Do you have water? Clearly, you are in a building, so there is some shelter there.
DANNY: There's no water. There's no water -- they hit all the main water tanks. We have some bread, the bread is hard.
We have some -- what do you call it -- lunch meat, some boxed lunch meat, some -- what do you call it -- oh, lunch meat, bread. That's it. We don't have that much food here.
MALVEAUX: OK.
DANNY: If it stays like here for another two days, our food resource is finished, our medication is finished. Anyway, we're sure the army will come in tomorrow.
MALVEAUX: Danny, we --
DANNY: If the army gets in here tomorrow, this is over. There's not one house that hasn't been hit here. All of the houses have been hit here. Not one house has survived this attack.
MALVEAUX: Danny, we certainly hope that you remain safe, and we appreciate your courage, as always, to talk to us and take us to the ground where everything is happening where you are in your community. We're going to keep up with you and find out how things are going.
Danny, thanks again. We appreciate it, as always.
And we are going to take a look at possible solutions for Syria, you know. That's going to happen at the bottom of the hour. We're going to have a live report from Turkey on what the leaders there -- what they want to do, what they plan to do, as well as efforts that are under way at the U.N.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MALVEAUX: Here's a rundown of some of the stories we're covering.
First, the prisoners pardoned by Mississippi's governor may not stay that way. The state Supreme Court is hearing challenges right now.
And outrage over a video on YouTube. A father records his 4-year-old son running almost naked in the snow. He says he's trying to toughen him up.
And then, a judge gives a bizarre sentence to a man accused of domestic violence.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) JUDGE JOHN HURLEY, BROWARD COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT: He's going to get a card, he's going to get flowers, and then he's going to go home, pick up his wife, get dressed, take her to Red Lobster. And then, after they have Red Lobster, they are going to go bowling.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: The rules are catching up with the reality of women serving in combat roles in the military. Today, the Pentagon is expected to lift some of the restrictions on what women can and cannot do.
Now, current policy prevents them from serving in small infantry or ground units involved directly in combat, but the definition of the front line has changed. Women are already serving close to combat action and putting their lives on the line.
The Pentagon says more than 140 women have died in Iraq and Afghanistan. More than 860 have been wounded.
So it brings us to our "Talk Back" question. Should women in the military be allowed to serve closer to the front lines?
The move is getting mixed reactions. Retired Army Lieutenant Colonel Robert Maginnis tells "TIME" magazine, "This does not dismiss the sexual tension issues, nor does it dismiss the difference psychologically between men and women in terms of cardiovascular fitness."
But a family former Marine captain says the rule changes do not go far enough and still prevent women from getting promoted to the highest ranks. Anu Baghwati, who is with the Service Women's Action Network, says qualified women should be able to serve in full combat roles. She says, "It's time military leadership establish the same level playing field to qualified women to enter the infantry, Special Forces, and other all-male units."
So, what do you think? Should women in the military be allowed to serve closer to the front lines?
Leave your comments at Facebook.com/SuzanneCNN. We're going to air some of your responses later in the hour.
And now, the Mississippi Supreme Court is hearing arguments over pardons granted to 200 criminals. A hearing is under way on those controversial pardons made by the former governor, Haley Barbour, during his last days.
Now, those he pardon included four convicted killers who had worked at the governor's mansion in an inmate program. David Gatlin shot his estranged wife in the head while she held their baby in her arms. Anthony McCray was also convicted of killing his wife. Charles Hooker was a middle school teacher convicted of murdering his school's principal. And Joseph Ozment shot to death a store clerk.
In all, Barbour pardoned 14 murderers. Others had been convicted of rape, armed robbery, drunk driving, and numerous drug-related offenses.
Well, the Mississippi attorney general, he calls the pardons a slap in the face to everyone in law enforcement.
Martin Savidge joins us live from outside the court in Jackson, Mississippi.
Martin, I understand the arguments are under way. Do we expect a decision?
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We do expect a decision at some point, but it isn't going to happen today. That's already been announced by the court.
The proceedings got under way a little over an hour ago, and it's quite clear from the questions that are coming from the nine judges that they had read it well, they understood the questions and what is at stake here at this case, and there is a lot at stake. It is simply not just whether the pardons are valid or not, it goes to the heart of the Constitution of the state of Mississippi. It also goes to the power of clemency for the governor of Mississippi, and could it possibly be overruled?
It gets into the fate of 10 people now who were convicted and their freedom is at stake. It also goes to 173 other people who were pardoned. Their records were expunged. Well, at also goes to the victims' families, who have suffered throughout this whole ordeal as they fear the punishment was not just in this particular case.
So a lot is on the line, which is why even though the judges are probably going to render in their heads a verdict, we won't get it for probably a couple of days -- Suzanne.
MALVEAUX: Martin, have you seen any of the victims' families in the courthouse today? Is there a gathering?
SAVIDGE: Yes, they are there. And some of them got there long before the proceedings actually began, because they are the ones that really feel that they have been victimized again.
There was a tremendous amount of public outrage, especially pertaining to the murderers that you talked about there. These were murderers that worked in the governor's mansion, and many of the families felt that they got the favor, they won over the heart and mind of the governor, when in fact they really didn't deserve to be pardoned at all. So that's why the families feel heavily invested. They are waiting to find out what happens, as is everyone else.
And should these pardons be deemed invalid, well, then the next question is, what really happens next? Do you re-arrest these people? And if they've already left the state, how will you find them? Could they be on the run once more?
MALVEAUX: Yes. Very confusing case there.
Martin, thank you so much. We appreciate it. SAVIDGE: It is.
MALVEAUX: Well, this guy, he calls himself "Eagle Dad." A Chinese businessman forces his 4-year-old son to run outside in the snow in New York wearing only his underwear. Now, the father captures this on video and he posts it online. And he says in his quote, "No pain, no gain." That's his approach to parenting.
Our Eunice Yoon, she picks up the story from Beijing.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
EUNICE YOON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: A video of a Chinese boy crying while running in the snow has sparked a firestorm here in China. A father who calls himself "Eagle Dad" for his tough parenting skills shot and posted a clip of his 4-year-old son running nearly naked in freezing weather in New York during the family's lunar new year holiday.
The father, who lived in eastern China, told us the exercise where the parents instruct little Dua-Dua (ph) to lie in the snow was meant to toughen up his son as part of an intense training regimen that he designed. His son was born prematurely, with health problems.
The video is reigniting debate here about how Chinese should parent their children after a controversial book about "Tiger" mothers raised questions about Chinese parenting skills. On Weibo, China's version of Twitter, one user says, "I can't agree with this educational style. It's so cruel and sensational. Eagle Dad might publish his own book. Shame on him."
Another writes, "Why don't we have a law against this abnormal behavior? If we allow these things to happen, before long there will be all sorts of lion dads and snake moms who feel justified abusing their children."
Dua-Dua's (ph) father told us that he doesn't care about this criticism. He said that he and his wife always ensured that their son is happy and that their parenting philosophy is no pain, no gain.
Eunice Yoon, CNN, Beijing.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MALVEAUX: An estimated one million U.S. homeowners are under water on their mortgages. Find out how a settlement with the nation's biggest banks are going to free up billions of dollars to help.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MALVEAUX: Some relief for struggling homeowners. The Justice Department announces a multibillion-dollar deal with some of the nation's biggest banks.
I want to bring in Alison Kosik at the New York Stock Exchange.
So, Alison, break it down for us. What does this do? Who's it going to help?
ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: OK. So it really helps three groups of people, and we went ahead and broke it down into these three groups to really make it easy to understand.
So, first of all, it helps those people who are under water and late on their payments. I'm talking about their mortgages. These are the people who are really going to get the most relief.
This is the one million homeowners who owe much more on their homes than their homes are worth. These people are going to be getting about $17,000 of a reduction on their principle in their mortgages.
OK. So, then there's a second group of people that this settlement could potentially help. This includes up to 750,000 other homeowners who are also under water, but are current on their mortgages. They are going to be able to finance their current homes at lower rates, so by refinancing at these lower rates, there's going to be a savings there.
Now, there's a third group of people that this settlement helps, and these are people who were wrongfully foreclosed on. They are going to be getting cash payments of $2,000.
Now, an administration official does say that banks are going to be figuring out a plan on how to contact people who are eligible in this settlement -- Suzanne.
MALVEAUX: So, $26 billion, a lot of money there. Is this deal as sweet as it seems?
KOSIK: What's interesting is I talked with one securities attorney, Andrew Saltman (ph), and he says, "Wait a minute. I'm taking a critical view on this plan," he says. He says, "You know what? It's a bad deal for consumers, it winds up being a great deal for banks," he says, and gives a nice headline to regulators, because his problem with it is that he says it doesn't do enough for the people who were hurt the most.
That $2,000 goes to people who were foreclosed on. Some of those people lost their homes, yet they are only going to be given a $2,000 check.
He also says this plan only helps one million of the 11 million people who are currently under water on their mortgages. And then he says there's a third problem. Almost the biggest problem, he says, is that it doesn't provide enough of a deterrent to keep banks from not doing this again. Without a criminal indictment, he says it's worthless.
But keep in mind, Suzanne, that states can still pursue criminal investigations even though they've entered into this agreement -- Suzanne.
(STOCK MARKET REPORT)
MALVEAUX: All right. Alison, thank you. Well, fewer adults than ever before have jobs today. A Pew Research Center report found that only 54 percent of people between the ages of 18 and 24 are actually employed, 46 percent are not.
Many of them are in college, but even so, the unemployment rate for this age group is about double than the rest of the population. But here's the catch -- young people haven't lost their positive outlook. A whopping 88 percent say they expect to earn enough to lead the kind of life they'd like in the future.
Good for them.
Well, from doing a little salsa to a new trend called "Bradying," I want you to see how the NFL players like Victor Cruz are winning over fans off the field. Nice moves there.
But, before that, time to get to "Travel Insider," as we CNN reporters, producers, we often have the inside scoop on great places to go.
Reynolds Wolf traveled about an hour north of Atlanta to Dahlonega, Georgia -- I believe that's how you pronounce it -- where he found one of the oldest -- Dahlonega, I'm told. Thank you -- oldest gold mines in the country.
Check it out.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN CORRESPONDENT: At first impression, you see this beautiful building here in the parking lot, but it's what's below ground that really captures the imagination.
You know, this wasn't dug just yesterday. It's been around since 1898.
And this D Harbert, the general manager of the mine.
D, how long have people been digging for gold in this part of the world?
DATHAN "D" HARBERT, MANAGER, CONSOLIDATED GOLD MINE: Well, gold was first discovered in 1828, and in just one year, over 15,000 people showed up all looking for gold. And it became the first major U.S. gold rush.
WOLF: Now, what type of mining is this?
HARBERT: This right here is hard rock goal mining.
WOLF: But there are other types, too?
HARBERT: Oh, absolutely. We can grab a gold pan and head out to the rivers and streams.
WOLF: All right, D. Show me how this is done. HARBERT: Fill it up with water, and heavy gold is falling to the bottom. If you do your job right, you should find right there --
WOLF: Gold. Check it out. And I've got sand.
HARBERT: You better keep your day job.
WOLF: Unbelievable. D, thanks for your time.
HARBERT: Thanks for coming. Come back to Dahlonega.
WOLF: All right. We've got to hit the road.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MALVEAUX: Here's a rundown of some of the stories we're working on. Up next, the death toll mounts in Syria. Will leaders, meeting in Turkey, step in? We're going to have a live report from Istanbul.
A judge sentences a man to a date night after being accused of abusing his wife.
And later, doing the salsa like Victor Cruz and being dejected like Tom Brady. Copying the moves of the NFL. Our Jeanne Moos, she tries her hand.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(GUNFIRE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
(GUNFIRE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: "Everyone is waiting to die in the Syrian city of Homs." That statement coming today from one of the few doctors who is still there. Homs is being pounded with bombs and shells for a fifth straight day.
CNN's Ivan Watson is joining us from neighboring Turkey.
Ivan, the death toll is astounding, really, when you see what is taking place there. Turkey is now holding this conference about the crisis. The U.N. wants it to take up another Arab League mission. What is happening on the ground? How do the Syrians feel about this? What do they need from Turkey?
IVAN WATSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: They are furious right now. The Syrians continue to die as foreign governments talk about possibly sending another observer mission to Syria or arranging some kind of a conference.
The Syrians I've been talking to that are living in siege conditions in the city of Homs, where more than 90 people have been killed just today, are saying we don't need observers, we need food, medicine, we need blankets.
In some cases, people are saying they need guns to protect themselves from the Syrian Army, which for more than 10 months has been killing its own people, according to the United Nations high commissioner for human rights, who's repeatedly accused the Syrian government of committing crimes against humanity.
MALVEAUX: What is Turkey trying to do now?
WATSON: The Turks have called for some kind of a new initiative on Syria to bring countries together. What's clear is that, from my diplomatic sources, many see the United Nations Security Council is a dead end after Russia and China vetoed a resolution Saturday to put more pressure on Syria. Now the Turks are trying to reach out. They've reached out to the Russians. We know that other western governments want to do something. The Arab League wants to do something.
One of the scenarios being proposed is some kind of group, perhaps a friends of Syria group, that can start to gather, perhaps even this month. According to one diplomatic source, perhaps somewhere in North Africa, to talk about new measures, perhaps new sanctions. But this is still in the drawing stages. Meanwhile, the people in Syria continue to bleed and die.
MALVEAUX: Ivan, are people in Syria fleeing to Turkey? Is there a group in Turkey trying to organize and live their lives?
WATSON: This is not a new problem. There have been around 10,000 Syrian refugees living in camps along the Turkish border for the better part of a year now. Also, the Turks have been hosting a number of exiled opposition groups that are constantly shuttling around the region and holding meetings and coming up with statements denouncing the Syrian government. So that's taking place now. More substantial help?
So far -- I talked to one Syrian activist in Jordan, another one of Syria's neighbors. He said they are trying to get a container of blankets and medicine into Syria and the Jordanian government stopped it from going. So they are resorting to smuggling basic things like medicine across borders. One doctor we talked to in the besieged city of Homs today, he said he didn't even have antibiotics to treat wounded people who walked into his makeshift clinics with wounds from falling rockets and mortars lobbed into a densely packed residential neighborhood by the Syrian army.
MALVEAUX: A serious problem.
Ivan, thank you so much. Ivan Watson there in neighboring Turkey.
Next hour, we'll be joined live by our own Nic Robertson. He's been on the front lines with the activists in Syria.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: The level of anger and passion here is absolutely palpable. We're a few miles from the central Damascus. This crowd here --
(SHOUTING)
This is a crowd here of perhaps several thousand people. They've taken over this whole area. They've put rocks in the road to prevent the police coming in here.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: An on the ground look with Nic Robertson in the next hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MALVEAUX: Tim Tebow, Tom Brady, Victor Cruz, whether they win or lose, the on-the-field moves of these high-profile NFL players now inspired a nation of fans off the field.
Jeanne Moos, she's got the story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The salsa of Victory.
(SINGING)
MOOS: The mockery of defeat. The Super Bowl may be over, but the Patriots and the Giants left behind two moves we can't quite move beyond.
Giant's wide receiver, Victor Cruz, celebrated touchdowns with the salsa.
(CHEERING)
MOOS: Now the salsa is spreading like an Internet virus.
(MUSIC)
MOOS: It infected a weatherman in Michigan.
UNIDENTIFIED METEOROLOGIST: I'm going to do my salsa dance right off the stage.
MOOS: Even Madonna wasn't immune.
MADONNA, SINGER: She's inspired me.
MOOS: She volunteered a demonstration. MADONNA: This is Madonna with the Silk City Salsa. I'm going to say, she's rooting for the New York Giants. I have to say it.
MOOS: But the most courageous salsa was performed by a Giant's fan, surrounded by Patriot's fans, what turned out to be a near riot. Just a few seconds of salsa, then as the dancer continued to taunt the crowd, he got sucker punched.
(SHOUTING)
MOOS: The guy had to be rescued and danced right out of there.
The Giant's Super Bowl Victory party is a safer place to salsa.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are the Cruz dancers. Come on!
(SHOUTING)
MOOS: This Cruz T-shirt, with how to salsa steps on the back, sold out.
(on camera): Don't even think of using me as a dance floor.
(MUSIC)
MOOS: But salsaing has given way to Bradying.
(MUSIC)
MOOS: Bradying is the new Tebowing. You know how everyone was mimicking the prayerful attitude of Bronco's quarterback, Tim Tebow, even in snow. But there was nothing grateful about Patriot's quarterback, Tom Brady, after he was decked while being intercepted at the Super Bowl.
Imitation is not always flattery. There is Bradying on top of a table, Bradying in the dog house. It's easy to be depressed and dejected anywhere.
Even a sports anchor can be reduced to Bradying.
UNIDENTIFIED SPORTS ANCHOR: I was really unhappy with my performance at the show at 6:00.
UNIDENTIFIED NEWS ANCHOR: And you should have been.
MOOS: It's enough to make you want to drown your sorrows in salsa.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Move your hips a little bit. Feel the Latino inside you.
MOOS: Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MALVEAUX: That's a fun one.
A country music legend bids farewell to fans as he enters the fight of his life. A conversation with Glen Campbell.
(SINGING)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MALVEAUX: The Defense Department is notifying Congress today, it's going to open up more military jobs to women and put them closer to combat.
You've been sounding off on our "Talk Back" question: Should women in the military be allowed to serve closer to the front lines.
Andrew writes, "If they are qualified, absolutely. However, we also can't start lowering the physical qualifications to accommodate more unqualified women in these duties. In this day and age, we need the most qualified people to do these important jobs, regardless of gender"
Craig says, "They should have the same rights and responsibilities as men do. If that means being in combat, then I have no problem with that. When you're in a FOX hole taking fire, you don't ask the gender of the person next to you, do you"?
Lonnie writes, "If, like men, they can make it through the training, they should be allowed to be Navy SEALs."
Alvin doesn't agree. He writes, "Women do not belong in combat. They don't have the mental capacity to kill somebody."
Interesting.
Keep the conversation going at facebook.com/SuzanneCNN. We'll have more of your comments in the next hour.
This Sunday, the Grammys will honor singer, Glen Campbell for decades of success in country music. But that career, now coming to a close following a diagnosis of Alzheimer's.
Nischelle Turner talked to Campbell and his family about the struggle.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(SINGING)
NISCHELLE TURNER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Last summer, Glen Campbell made a stunning announcement.
GLEN CAMPBELL, SINGER: What did they diagnose me as?
ASHLEY CAMPBELL, DAUGHTER OF GLEN CAMPBELL: Alzheimer's.
GLEN CAMPBELL: Alzheimer's? What's Alzheimer? ASHLEY CAMPBELL: You start losing your memory and your ability to reason.
(SINGING)
TURNER: This isn't Campbell's first bump in the road. He's weathered career ups and downs and successfully battled drug and alcohol addiction.
GLEN CAMPBELL: I was forgiven for being a dummy, literally.
TURNER: But now after five decades as a music icon, the 75-year- old entertainer says he's calling it a day.
(SINGING)
TURNER: In August, Campbell released his final album, "Ghost on the Canvas." Now he's in the midst of his farewell tour with a backing band that features three of his kids, including daughter, Ashley.
ASHLEY CAMPBELL: He looks at me sometimes if he's confused and I will just smile at him. I just make him feel like he's surrounded by people that love him on stage.
(SINGING)
TURNER: The Recording Academy is honoring Campbell with a Lifetime Achievement Award. And he'll be performing at the 54th annual Grammy telecast.
GLEN CAMPBELL: I'm flattered. I really am. All I wanted to do, ever since I could remember, was play my guitar and sing.
(SINGING)
GLEN CAMPBELL: Don't cry with spilt milk. Get up and be a man and do what you've got to do.
(MUSIC)
TURNER: Michelle Turner, CNN, Los Angeles.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MALVEAUX: And we wish him well.
Conservatives from near and far converge on the nation's capitol. We're going to get the latest buzz about the race for the Republican presidential nomination and whether the party can come together.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MALVEAUX: Conservatives from around the country have converged on Washington. It is CPAC, the annual Conservative Political Action Conference. Peter Hamby is joining us live from the conference.
So, a lot of folks there, important folks. Race for the Republican nomination front and center. What are folks saying about the potential of who's going to take the lead?
PETER HAMBY, CNN POLITICAL PRODUCER: Yes, Suzanne, this is annually a conference of conservatives from around the country. There's lots of Senators Congressmen here. But you're right, the presidential race is the main focus here. Conservatives still not sold on the presidential field. The candidates themselves are battling each other every day, lobbing attacks against east other.
Some of the speakers here have tried to put as best a face on it as they can, saying the party will come together in the end, no matter what.
Listen to what Senator Jim DeMint, of South Carolina, a conservative leader, had to say earlier this morning when he addressed the conference -- Suzanne?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JIM DEMINT, (R), SOUTH CAROLINA: I just hope whoever our nominee is recognizes every one of these four candidates have large followings because they're saying very important things and we need to pull all of these things together that whoever our nominee carries. We can't ignore any of them. And it's good to see them all doing well at different points because it scares them all, and it makes them all realize that that other guy has got something I don't have. And when we bring that together as a party, we'll have a good president.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMBY: That's an optimistic assessment from Senator DeMint, basically saying that the primaries are making these candidates better.
Senator Marco Rubio, of Florida, spoke earlier and said something similar. Privately though, Republicans in Washington are concerned that this race will take on too negative of a tone and it's going on too long. But we haven't heard that yet from the speakers. They're cheerleading for the conservative cause here today -- Suzanne?
MALVEAUX: And, Peter, tomorrow is the main event, the big event. What are we watching for?
HAMBY: Tomorrow is a big, big day here. Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum, just a few days after Santorum had that February 7th sweep, riding high on a lot of momentum, they're all speaking here.
Remember, four years ago, Mitt Romney came here as the conservative alternative to the establishment frontrunner, John McCain. And Romney got a very warm reception here. The crowed really loved him. He dropped out here at CPAC after giving a pretty good speech. Now, this time, of course, Mitt Romney is that establishment, sort of moderate, centrist frontrunner with two conservative insurgents, three, rather, on the side. So it will be interesting to see in this kind of conservative Petri dish how Mitt Romney is received and how his challengers are received, too -- Suzanne?
MALVEAUX: I love that. Conservative Petri dish. That's a great way to describe it.
We'll be watching out for all those speakers tomorrow. That's a big event that's taking place.
Thank you, Peter.
So how far can the momentum of this week's victories carry Rick Santorum? He's going to tell John King tonight. Don't miss "John King, USA" tonight, 6:00 p.m. eastern.
And for the latest political news, CNNpolitics.com.
So, a man is accused of domestic violence. The judge's solution? Take her to Red Lobster and go bowling. That up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MALVEAUX: A man accused of domestic violence, he's not going to jail. Instead, he's going to Red Lobster. That is the bizarre order from a judge in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Here's what the judge said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN HURLEY, JUDGE, BROWARD COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT: What we're going to do is, he's going to be out of jail by 3:00 today and he's going to stop by somewhere and he's going to get some flowers.
(CROSSTALK)
HURLEY: He's going to get --
(CROSSTALK)
HURLEY: No. Hold on. Hold on. He's going on get a card, he's going to get flowers, and then he's going to go home, pick up his wife, get dressed, take her to Red Lobster. And then after they have Red Lobster, they're going to go bowling. All right?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In lieu of posting a bond, right?
HURLEY: Right. In lieu of posting a bond.
Do you understand that?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, sir.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: Paul Callan joins us from New York. Paul, explain to us why the just made this ruling. He says this man didn't actually hurt his wife. He allegedly grabbed her by the neck, prepared to punch her. She gets upset because he didn't remember her birthday. Why this type of sentence.
PAUL CALLAN, CNN LEGAL CONTRIBUTOR: I think, in terms of how the thing started, it's probably not an unusual scenario, where there's a fight between a couple and, this time, over a birthday. It escalates to him putting a choke-hold on his wife. Then somebody calls the police.
In modern-day America, when you call the police in a domestic violence situation, you set off a whole set of things that can happen, including your spouse going to jail. And sometimes on a mandatory basis. And I think what Judge Hurley has done here, in Broward County, because he has so many of these cases -- I was looking, Suzanne, at the stats.
Over 2,000 of these cases come through Palm Beach every year. And I think he looked at this and said it's a pretty minor incident, and so he was a little inventive with his sentence, buy her flowers and take her to Red Lobster and go bowling. And she's happy, the husband is happy, and he avoids the expense of sending somebody to prison. Is it legal? That's another question.
MALVEAUX: And to be clear, those are things that she said she actually wanted and she enjoys and likes. So that's why he put that out there.
CALLAN: Yes.
MALVEAUX: Is there any risk of him looking like he's not really taking domestic violence charges that seriously?
CALLAN: There is that risk. He's not the first judge to do this unusual sentencing. Judges all over the country have gone outside the book and given punishment that might be more appropriate for school kids.
Is it legal? It's probably not legal. We have laws and you're supposed to abide by the law. The judge is supposed to dismiss the charges or impose a sentence. But you know what, the sentence is in Florida, it's a mandatory five days in jail, even if the woman wants to drop the charges. So the judge is left with a really difficult situation when a woman comes in and says, you know, I didn't want him to be arrested. I never thought it was going to escalate to that. I remember when I was a prosecutor myself, we used to see a lot of cases like this, but we had a lot more discretion than people have today.
MALVEAUX: And the judge also required the couple to go to marriage counseling. I suppose that he is trying to make sure this couple deals with their issues here. Do you think this was a miscarriage of justice?
CALLAN: I don't think it was in this case. I think probably this is what the couple wanted. It's probably going to work out for them in the long run. I do get back to your question, does it send the wrong message on domestic violence. Is there somebody out there who is going to think, gee, I can beat up my wife and the judge is going to tell me to take her to Red Lobster?
The reason these laws changed, by the way, was because women were brutally beaten. And when they would get into court, they would drop the charges, and then they would be beaten and hurt again. So, finally, the law changed and said, you know something? The courts have to take this stuff very seriously in all cases.
Now, this judge has kind of gone out of the statute book and taken a different approach, and we'll have to see how it works out.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN ANCHOR: OK. All right. We'll be following the story.
Thank you, Paul. Appreciate it.
CALLAN: OK. Thank you.
