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Maine Caucus Results Tonight; Romney Wins CPAC Straw Poll; Death Toll Rises in Syria as Crisis Shows Signs of Worsening
Aired February 11, 2012 - 17:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Hello everyone, I'm Don Lemon. Thank you so much for watching us. You're in the CNN NEWSROOM.
We begin tonight with politics. The political world looks to Maine tonight. We are going to learn the results of Maine's republican presidential caucuses in just a little while. It's all about momentum at this point. Mitt Romney is trying to avoid his fourth straight loss in a republican contest.
And CNN political reporter Shannon Travis standing by for us in Portland right now. So, Shannon, you know, they've been casting their votes for days. So, how is this announcement going to work?
SHANNON TRAVIS, CNN POLITICAL REPORTER: Well, it's going to work in about an-hour-and-a-half from now. The chairman of the Republican Party here in Maine is going to step up to the podium behind me and announce the results. All eyes are going to be watching. You know that Maine is loving this attention, Don. But he's going to announce who won between Ron Paul, Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum, Newt Gingrich. You know that Mitt Romney and Ron Paul are the only two actively campaigning here in Maine for this caucus. Mitt Romney and Ron Paul both went to caucus sites today. Mitt Romney's first time campaigning in Maine this cycle. So, they've been going hard after this win to avoid yet another loss as both of them suffered on Tuesday -- Don.
LEMON: So, is this a two-man race? Romney and Ron Paul?
TRAVIS: Yes. Essential. I mean, Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich essentially. It wasn't a part of their whole delegate calculation to come up here and campaign. I mean, you remember Don that a few weeks ago when the other three were in Florida, Ron Paul packed up his sweaters and headed north. I was with him here. I was cold with them. He came up here because, look, he has a strong young following here. Strong libertarian following. So, he figured those 21 delegates that up for state, maybe he could do really well if that end get his first win. You know, he is 0 for eight and all of the contest right now, but then Mitt Romney came along and said not so fast. He started campaigning here last night for the first time, the psycho as I mentioned in this morning at some caucus sites.
LEMON: All right. Thank you very much, CNN's Shannon Travis reporting. We appreciate that. You know, "THE SITUATION ROOM" is straight ahead with the special at 5:30. CNN's Wolf Blitzer and our political team will be joining us. So, Wolf is here now. So, Wolf, tell us about the coverage that you have of the Maine caucuses coming up.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Well, you know, we'll going to hear the results coming in live from Portland. The Republican Party is getting ready to release at I think around 6:20 p.m. Eastern. We'll get the actual results of the Maine caucuses. But it could be a little bit earlier. Could be a little bit later. They have had Don some significant snow in one of the counties in Maine up in Washington county. That's in the northern part of the state. And that could affect the results. They may have been delayed. I think they probably will delay the results of the caucuses in Washington County, Maine, until a week from today. They're going to have to redo it.
If it's really close in the rest of the state, we may not know the winner of the Maine caucuses tonight. In the other hand, if it's significant the Republican Party will announce a winner in the 6:00 p.m. Eastern hour. So, we are anxious to get that. And then we are anxious to look ahead after Maine. By the way, in Maine, we don't know who is going to win. No entrance polls, obviously no exit polls, no real polls going in. It's a state that, as you well know, Ron Paul has worked hard to cultivate over not just in recent days and weeks, but in recent years including four years ago. And Mitt Romney is from New England, so presumably he will do well. I suspect Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich are not going to do well in this Maine caucuses. But we'll see. We could be surprise.
LEMON: All right. We'll be watching. Wolf Blitzer in the best political team on television will have coverage for you starting at 5:30 just a few minutes here on CNN.
In the last hours, we learned the results of the presidential straw poll at the conservative political action conference offering us a glimpse into how CPAC activists are leaning in the republican race for the White House. It's a big victory for Mitt Romney who finished on top 38 percent. Thirty eight percent for Mitt Romney. Rick Santorum is second with 31 percent followed by Newt Gingrich at 15 percent and Ron Paul 12 percent.
CNN's Dana Bash standing by for us at CPAC. So, Dana, this poll is not binding, it's not binding but it's important for Mitt Romney, isn't it?
DANA BASH, SENIOR CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Oh, it's incredibly important for Mitt Romney. There is no question that there is a big, big sense of relief in Boston at the Romney headquarters right now because of the fact that he won this straw poll. Because he did not have a good week last week to say the least. And the whole concept of what he's been trying to do is make it clear that he is one of them. Meaning, a conservative. He is one of the people who are, the thousands of people who are standing behind me right now listening to Sarah Palin. So, the fact of the matter is that this is very, very good news for Mitt Romney. It is certainly not binding. It is very much symbolic. But symbolism right now for Mitt Romney trying to get his momentum back is the name of the game. Now, you mentioned that you can see over this shoulder I guess, Sarah Palin speaking. She is the grand finale here. Let's listen into what she's saying now live. SARAH PALIN (R), FORMER ALASKA GOVERNOR: You left your farm, you left your industry behind to serve, to serve the common good. But this Washington is a place where politicians, they arrive as men and women of modest means and they become plutocrats. The money-making opportunities for D.C. politicians there are really endless, but they don't just enrich themselves off you for themselves, they spread the wealth around to their pals. And this has a name. It's called crony capitalism.
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)
I said in a speech in America's breadbasket over the summer, I said this isn't the capitalism of free men and free markets, of risk and sacrifice, of innovation and hard work. No, it's the capitalism of connections and of government bailouts and handouts and waste and corporate welfare and corruption. This is the capitalism of Barack Obama and the permanent political class. And it's why I say to the occupy protestors, you're occupying the wrong place. You're protesting the wrong thing.
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)
This crony capitalism is a root of our economic problems. It has spurred the expansion of government, which diminishes, of course, freedom and opportunity for all to rise and to succeed. See, some politicians get elected by promising more programs and new freebies and new favors, and then government grows to accommodate their promises. It never shrinks. And that crowds out the liberating individual initiative and equal opportunity that America was built upon. It swallows up the work ethic that we try to teach our children. And it extinguishes that independent pioneering American spirit. Now, often they come to D.C. denouncing the place as now the cesspool of corruption, but after a year or two, they decide, it's not a cesspool. More like a hot tub. And they're hopping in, enjoying the Jacuzzi. Well, America, it is time that we dream the Jacuzzi and we throw the bums out with the bath water.
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)
BASH: And you hear a good example of the kind of things Sarah Palin has been saying here at the final speech of the CPAC conference. Really, she's been doing most of her hitting against Barack Obama, as you can imagine. Kind of having a twist on some of his greatest hits, yes we can, hope and change, winning the future. And there is one red meat line after another that she is throwing out to this crowd absolutely loving it here. This is a good way I think they know over these conservatives to end the conference, a lot of enthusiasm for this woman.
LEMON: Yes. We can hear it. We can hear the applause and we can hear the cheers. Hey, question for you, Dana. Is she going to endorse anyone? Is she spoken about that?
BASH: Our Peter Hamby actually caught up with Sarah Palin as she was coming into the building today and asked her that question. She says that she has not settled on any of the candidates. She has spoken quite warmly about Newt Gingrich, but has not formally endorsed him. She said that she's still thinking about it but she's not endorsing as of now. You know, she has a contract with another cable network, but she is not prohibited from endorsing. She said, she could but right now she is not doing it.
LEMON: All right. Thank you, Dana Bash. Reporting from CPAC, we appreciate it. And remember, join Wolf Blitzer at the bottom of the hour, 5:30 p.m. Eastern with a special edition of "THE SITUATION ROOM." We'll have complete results and analysis of the Maine caucuses. So, stay tuned here to CNN.
The crisis in Syria appears to be growing more dangerous by the minute. The gun fire, the destruction, new video from in country. That's next.
And rallying against bigotry and hate after a gay man is attacked for no reason in Atlanta. The support he's getting from the community. That's next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: We turn out to the crisis in Syria. They may be entering an even more dangerous chapter. The pounding of the City of Homs claimed a dozen lives today. That's according to activist. Eighteen more people were killed elsewhere around the country. Saudi Arabia is preparing to submit a resolution to the United Nations general assembly condemning the violence. But this won't be legally binding and would be a little more than a slap on Syria's wrist.
Turkey plans to work with the U.N. to improve the flow of humanitarian aid into Syria. Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan meantime have registered 20,000 refugees from Syria.
The regime has kept much of the unrest out of the public's view by keeping reporters out of Syria. That hasn't stopped video from leaking out into the internet. Now, Nick Paton Walsh looks at the turmoil unfolding across the country and what comes next.
NICK PATON WALSH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: On Saturday, the violence rumbled on together with the almost -- passive move by the international community to fashion some sort of message that may slow this 11-month-old conflict and unrest. Down, we saw again the violence directed towards what should be government loyal areas after the blasts yesterday in Aleppo. A hospital director according to the Syrian State News Agency shot dead outside his Damascus home. And of course, the onslaught against the opposition strong hold of Homs continued into its seventh day. Artillery, apparently even an air assault going against that city, killing six this morning. We see from these images exactly how ill matched these two sides are. These civilian cars seems run over by must be tank tracks, well equipped -- against this rock tank army known as the free Syrian army operating inside of Homs.
Really these cars, you can see crushed almost like cardboard. Five men we understand also killed by a tank in Daraa, another area where the opposition has a significant presence at the moment. But at the same time, the international community is trying to fashion some sort of response. The Saudi Arabians pushing forward a move in the U.N. general assembly to try and condemn this violence. That would require majority vote. And frankly, its wording is very similar to a bid recently at the U.N. Security Council to try and also have this violence condemned and demand change inside Syria. That one was vetoed by Russia and China. The Saudi Arabian move will legally be toothless to a certain extent, but may generate some sort of symbolism perhaps which may pressurize Damascus. But certainly, we are also seeing today moves by Turkey. Turkey's foreign ministers suggesting they may want to establish a humanitarian corridor into Syria and saying that we're talking to the U.N. head Ban Ki-moon tomorrow about how that maybe practically achieved. But really, all this rhetorical noise over the past few days not fashioning any particular cohesive practical response to this ongoing conflict as the violence continues to claim lives day after day in the City of Homs. Nick Paton Walsh, CNN, Beirut.
LEMON: All right. Nick, thank you very much. Protesters supporting the uprising in Syria took to the streets of Washington today waving Syrian flags, they chanted, free, free Syria and down, down to Assad. Several were seen holding signs, some of which called for the Assad regime to be prosecuted by the International Criminal Court.
Later tonight, CNN will air a special report on Syria's uprising. "Homs: City Under Siege." See it and hear firsthand accounts of the government crackdown from those living and suffering through it. CNN tonight, 10:30 Eastern Time.
In Egypt, an American student was arrested today during demonstrations in Cairo. Officials say, American Derek Ludovici and an Australian journalist and their translator have been detained, suspected of paying Egyptians to stage protests against the government. Police says, the three plotted their efforts over the internet. This comes on the same day as activists marked one year since the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak.
Budget cuts or bankruptcy? That's a choice in Greece as protestors staged a huge honeymoon demonstration today near parliament ahead of a crucial vote by law makers. They must decide whether to accept another round of punishing cuts. The Greek cabinet approved the cuts today. Without them, international lenders could withhold new bailout funds. That would lead to a messy default. One which could end with Greece's exist from the Eurozone.
Coming up, next, friends and family mourn the loss of two young kids, Charlie and Braden Powell, the two brothers who police say were brutally murdered by their father before their home exploded in Washington State.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: A solemn day in Takoma, Washington, as family and friends remembered 7-year-old Charlie and 5-year-old Braden Powell.
(MOURNERS SINGING AMAZING GRACE) Two little boys were killed Sunday in a home explosion set by their Father Josh Powell. CNN affiliate KOMO reports the boys' grandparents thank people of all faiths who prayed for their family. Their daughter Susan Cox Powell has been missing since December of 2009 and has presumed dead. Josh Powell who was also killed in the explosion has been the only suspect in her disappearance.
And tonight at 7:30 Eastern, more on the Josh Powell case. What led to the murder/suicide, and could anything have been done to stop it? I'll be joined by human behavior expert Dr. Wendy Walsh and criminal prosecutor Holly Hughes, 7:30 Eastern right here on CNN.
The video is shocking. Three attackers savagely beating a gay man on the street in Atlanta. Now, police say they've arrested one suspect and they know who the other two are. Sophia Choi from our affiliate WSB reports from a rally near the site of the beating led by civil rights leader Congressman John Lewis.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
REP. JOHN LEWIS (D), GEORGIA: When you see something doing wrong, you must do what you're doing here today.
SOPHIA CHOI, WSB-TV REPORTER (voice-over): What they're doing here today is coming together to force a community change where 20-year-old Brandon White was beaten outside of this store one week ago today. Like others here, Xochitl Bervera came to the rally to be a part of that change.
XOCHITL BERVERA, SOUTHERNERS ON NEW GROUND: The time is now. We really need to come together so that it doesn't happen again.
CHOI: Three men beat Brandon White as he walked out of the JVC Grocery in Deli in the Pittsburgh community of Southwest Atlanta and then posted this video on the internet. Investigators believe White was targeted because he's gay. Today, Atlanta police arrested 18- year-old Christopher Cain from DeKalb County. He's charged with aggravated assault and robbery.
KHAFRE ABIF, ATLANTA RESIDENT: I'm really happy that they were able to move quickly to get that accomplished.
CHOI: Police say, they know who the other two men in this video are and plan to arrest them soon. Those at the rally say police can help in short term with arrests and patrols, but it's really up to those who call this area home to stop the violence in the long run.
CLETA WINSLOW, ATLANTA CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: This is not a one day campaign. This is not a one week campaign. This is a lifetime campaign.
(APPLAUSE)
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: Sophia Choi reporting from our affiliate WSB-TV here in Atlanta. And Atlanta's Mayor Kasim Reed offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to arrests in this case.
Ahead, it's an edge of your seat Hollywood thriller starring real Navy SEALs.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MAN: Three, two, one --
UNIDENTIFIED MAN: Hold your fire.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: But some people aren't too happy about the movie or the secrets it reveals. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Courage. Determination. Sometimes you can see those rare qualities in the youngest of people. Here is CNN Dr. Sanjay Gupta with today's "Human Factor."
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): He can hit. Field the ball. Even slide into home plate.
UNIDENTIFIED MAN: Good job. Give me five.
REECE HOLLOWAY, BORN WITH NO LEFT HAND: All the way around the base.
GUPTA: Six-year-old Reece Holloway wants to play in the big league someday, just like his favorite player Chipper Jones of the Atlanta Braves. When Reese was born, his parents were shocked to discover that he didn't have a left hand. And baseball was the furthest thing from their minds.
BRYAN HOLLOWAY, REECE'S FATHER: Fifty thousand things rolling through my mind. You know, how is he going to tie shoes? How is he going to do this? How is he going to, you know, do everything? It was like, man.
MALOU HOLLOWAY, REECE'S MOTHER: It was a hard thing.
GUPTA: They weren't sure if he'd learn to crawl without a second hand. So, they got him a prosthesis. A little Reese didn't want it.
MALOU HOLLOWAY: He didn't like it at all. He cried and cried and cried. It was not a good thing.
GUPTA: He did learn to crawl and walk. And then something remarkable happened. Reese taught himself how to hit a ball when he was just two years old.
MALOU HOLLOWAY: He got plastic balls and he would hold them under his chin, and drop it and swing the bat and he would hit the ball. No problem. GUPTA: Reese is a fan of all sports, but baseball is still his favorite.
BRYAN HOLLOWAY: He loves playing baseball. I mean, that's all he does, 24/7.
GUPTA: On or off the field, Reese doesn't get an special treatment.
MALOU HOLLOWAY: We make him make his bed, or we make him pick this up or hold this. We make it a fun thing.
BRYAN HOLLOWAY: You know, we don't hold nothing back.
GUPTA: And as far as the Holloways are concerned, Reece doesn't have a disability.
REECE HOLLOWAY: I was born like that.
GUPTA: Like other boys his age, he can do lots of things. He does flips on the family trampoline. He can break dance. And even those snaps are a bit of a challenge. He gets dressed by himself.
BRYAN HOLLOWAY: Only thing he can't do is tie his shoe.
GUPTA: Nothing stands in the way of baseball for Reece. He is a natural talent. And his parents believe children like their son should never be held back.
MALOU HOLLOWAY: Let them do everything.
BRYAN HOLLOWAY: Let them try it.
GUPTA: Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN reporting.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: A Hollywood thriller about Navy SEALs. But these guys aren't actors, they're real Navy SEALs. Here is pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MAN: Three, two, one!
UNIDENTIFIED MAN: Hold your fire.
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The SEALs of Bandito Platoon are called into action. When a deadly terrorist plot against the U.S. is uncovered.
UNIDENTIFIED MAN: Proceed to personal recovery. Proceed to target. Recover the package and move to extract.
STARR: It's an edge of your seat Hollywood thriller, but wait, those are real SEALs acting in "Act of Valor."
LT. RORKE, ACTIVE-DUTY U.S. NAVY SEAL: The -- asked if participating the film, said no. Everyone to a man said no.
MIKE MCCOY, DIRECTOR: Initially all the guys turned us down. You know, they weren't about making movies.
STARR: But Director Mike McCoy convinced the Navy only SEALs could play SEALs.
MCCOY: We started to see a brotherhood of men that you didn't even know existed in the real world.
STARR: And together they embarked on a two-and-a-half year production schedule. Denver has been on classified SEAL missions to all over the world. This movie is as close as you get to what he really does. The combat is actually the crew filming SEALs on training missions.
UNIDENTIFIED MAN: We're talking why is he addressing this threat. You can see this guy move. Frag out.
UNIDENTIFIED MAN: Frag out.
RORKE: It is extremely authentic. And we were there at every turn with the production company and the directors during the filming of "Act of Valor." We could say, this is the way it actually happens.
STARR: The movie is not without controversy. The Navy originally wanted to make a SEAL recruiting film. The crew shot hundreds of hours, and suddenly it became a movie that never got the Pentagon's official stamp of approval. Navy officials say they know some will be critical of real commandos being used in a Hollywood thriller.
REAR ADM. DENNIS MOYNIHAN, CHIEF OF NAVY PUBLIC INFORMATION: It did not the follow the typical approval process, but the Navy did support the film and the SEALs were involved with the film every step of the way.
STARR: But to keep their secrets, some camera angles were adjusted on weapons. Classified procedures left out and there was a lighter side.
RORKE: We made fun of each other constantly. You know, you're running around trying to simulate combat. And you're going to take a fall and tumble and look silly. And that's now on camera where you can get away with that on the battlefield, only your buddies see that. So, it has moments.
MCCOY: These were some of the most compelling, dynamic men we ever met in our lives. And they were just really humble, good dudes. You just want to have a beer with, and maybe go surfing and hang out.
STARR: And what about a real SEAL becoming a real actor?
RORKE: If Clint Eastwood calls, I'm taking that phone call.
STARR: Barbara Starr, CNN, Washington. (END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: Very interesting. Make sure you stay tuned to CNN for the latest in political coverage. I'm Don Lemon at the CNN World Headquarters in Atlanta. You'll going to see me back here at 7 p.m. Eastern. And then again, at 10 p.m. Eastern, a special edition of CNN election coverage with Wolf Blitzer at the helm covering the Maine caucuses begins in just a few seconds right here on CNN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
