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Final Preparations for Whitney Houston's Funeral; Interview With Jesse Jackson; Opposition Fighters in Control of Syrian Town; Ashanti Remembers Whitney Houston; Stocks at Multi-year Highs; Newt Gingrich to Get Large Influx of Cash; New York Knicks Benefiting from Jeremy Lin
Aired February 17, 2012 - 10:59 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 Friday, February 17th.
Heavy shelling pounds the Syrian city of Homs for the 14th straight day. The explosion you just saw is said to have hit a civilian building. An opposition group says that nine bodies were found in Homs this morning.
Our Arwa Damon, she is in one of those neighborhoods hit the hardest.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ARWA DAMON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The streets are mostly deserted. The majority of residents are staying indoors or have already fled.
(on camera): Just the constant sound of gunfire nonstop.
They used to bury the dead in the old graveyard over there, but once government forces came in, they stopped being able to do that. And this, again, is another position where we can't actually move out into the road because, once again, you're exposed to sniper positions that are just around the corner on the other side of those buildings.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: Final preparations are under way for a farewell not to just a pop superstar, but a daughter, a mother, a friend. Whitney Houston's funeral is tomorrow in the church where she sang as a child. The pastor says the service will be personal and dignified. It will also be a gathering of celebrities, including Houston's godmother, Aretha Franklin.
On "The Today Show," she talked about the difficulty of singing at that service tomorrow.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ARETHA FRANKLIN, SINGER: It's not going to be easy, I can tell you that. It's not going to be easy. But Cissy asked me to, and I'm just going to try to do my best.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do you know what you're going to sing?
FRANKLIN: I'm not really sure right now. Not really sure.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: The Dow continues to flirt with the 13,000 mark, extending gains from yesterday's session. Alison Kosik, she is watching the action for us at the New York Stock Exchange.
And the president boarding Air Force One in about an hour to fly to Washington State. He's giving a speech at a Boeing assembly plant about increasing American exports.
The president is going to talk about his new plan to help U.S. companies compete internationally. The speech is going to build on what he calls his blueprint for an America built to last.
And the Republican presidential candidates all over the map today. Rick Santorum in Michigan right now, speaking at a faith forum. He heads to Ohio tonight for a dinner.
Mitt Romney is in Michigan, then flies to Idaho for a rally.
Ron Paul, he's is in Washington State, then he heads to Idaho for his rally. And Newt Gingrich holding a rally in Georgia today.
And Congress voting today on a bill to extend the payroll tax cut, keep money in your paychecks. So, for example, if you make $50,000 a year, that is $83 a month you get to keep. The bill extends the tax cut for the rest of the year, also prevents a cut in fees for Medicare doctors, and extends unemployment benefits.
Twenty-four hours from now, family, friends and a who's who from the entertainment world will gather to say good-bye to Whitney Houston. Among the celebrities taking part in tomorrow's funeral service, Kevin Costner, Houston's "Bodyguard" co-star; Alicia Keys; Stevie Wonder; Aretha Franklin, who is also Houston's godmother; also Houston's ex-husband, Bobby Brown, will also attend the service.
Susan Candiotti, she is outside the church in Newark, New Jersey.
And I understand that they are expecting a lot of people here, the security very, very tight, already being put in place. Set the scene for us, if you will, there.
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Suzanne.
It should be quite a sendoff for Whitney Houston. A lot of people love her, despite the many struggles she has had in her life.
And yes, police are already setting up perimeters around the church, starting to block off some of the streets here. And they have told people time and again the closest any fans will be able to get to this church is at least two blocks away. So a lot of disappointment for fans who are trying to see some of the big celebrities who are coming here and others who are going to pay their respects to Whitney Houston. But they won't get a close-up view of things at all. In fact, police are telling them you really shouldn't come by because you're not going to be able to see much.
Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SAMUEL A. DEMAIO, DIRECTOR, NEWARK POLICE: The best thing to do would be to stay home and watch the service on television. It is going to be aired over all the network channels, and that would be the best place to see it. The funeral is not going to be a traditional procession as we would normally have.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CANDIOTTI: So this may be the last day before the funeral service the fans will be able to come up and deliver to the church itself flowers and candles and all kinds of personal mementos.
Meantime, over at the funeral home, police have also set up a very strict security perimeter there. They have tape up. The funeral home itself has set up drapes to protect some of the entrances to the funeral home, presumably because of privacy -- Suzanne.
MALVEAUX: And Susan, what is the mood there now less than 24 hours away from this service?
CANDIOTTI: Oh, I would say it's anticipatory. For the most part, been talking to a lot of the fans who continue to come by, and they really understand why the family wants to keep this private. They're disappointed that they can't get closer, but they are coming here, nevertheless to show their support and their love for Whitney Houston.
MALVEAUX: All right. Susan, thank you.
We're going to bring you live coverage of the funeral for Whitney Houston beginning tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. Eastern. Join Soledad O'Brien, Piers Morgan and Don Lemon as the music legend is remembered.
And coming up in just a few minutes, I'm going to talk with Reverend Jesse Jackson -- he's a longtime family friend -- about his role in the funeral tomorrow, about Houston's incredible musical legacy, a legacy that also includes songs like this --
(MUSIC)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MALVEAUX: Her personal struggles made headlines, but her voice made her a legend. And tomorrow, other music legends are going to pay tribute to Whitney Houston. It was songs like "I'm Your Baby Tonight" that rocked Houston to the top of the charts. (MUSIC)
MALVEAUX: She makes you smile.
Houston's vocal coach and singer/songwriter, Valerie Simpson, say that it was her voice, not her troubles, that defined her.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VALERIE SIMPSON, SINGER/SONGWRITER: Some people, you know, might find fault with that idea, you know, and want to bring in her personal trials and tribulations, which have nothing to do with her art industry and her gift to the world. That is -- that is her record, not her personal trials. Her record is her music, that incredible voice.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GARY CATONA, WHITNEY HOUSTON'S VOCAL COACH: She was a pure artist. She wasn't an entertainer like other people, she was an artist. Her life was based upon her voice. She had a remarkable voice and could do anything, could sing with incredible excitement, it could be very beautiful and very seductive. She had the whole thing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: Well, the world's going to remember Whitney Houston for her musical legacy, but her family, friends, memories, of course, more personal.
Reverend Jesse Jackson, he's a longtime family friend who is going to be taking -- attending the funeral service tomorrow.
Thank you, Reverend, for being with us.
You know, every time I see pictures of her and videos, she just make me smile. She really makes me smile. How did you come to meet Whitney Houston?
REV. JESSE JACKSON, PRESIDENT, RAINBOW/PUSH COALITION: She had that special something.
You know, Dr. King was very much associated with that church. Reverend Thomas (ph), who was the pastor before Reverend Jokarda (ph) was on SCLC's board, so early on we got to know her mother, Cissy Houston, an outstanding singer in her own right. Cissy, of course, with the (INAUDIBLE) family, Sweet Inspiration. She sang with Aretha Franklin, her contemporary, with Elvis Presley.
And so she comes out of a great singing family and friends. And so she had her own unique talents, but from the time she was in the choir at New Hope, you knew she had that little special pep in her step, that little special something.
MALVEAUX: And tell me about the first time you met her.
JACKSON: Well, maybe she was a teen. I didn't meet her as such. I mean, I just could see her sing.
Much like when Aretha sang "Never Grow Old" (ph) as a teenager in her father's choir, you knew that Aretha had something a little different above the cut. She had that same something.
And later, I got to know her. And at my birthday party last year, Bobby Brown was there. So I got to know her and Bobby across the years.
She is easy to meet, very personable, but she is mostly known for this huge voice. I mean, "I Will Always Love You," "The Greatest Love," "The Star-Spangled Banner." I mean, the spine-tingling performance that night during the war. I mean, this is what we know her for and she will be remembered for.
MALVEAUX: You have counseled many high-profile, highly- accomplished people. Did you ever counsel Whitney Houston or members of her family?
JACKSON: We communicated, you know, but people like Reverend Martin Winans, who will give the eulogy on tomorrow, the Winans family -- the Houston family and the Winans are very close. They have that kind of relationship.
You know, you help, but you get close, but not too close. I was a counselor, per se, but always a friend, and always available to be with Whitney.
She was able to take that voice. And she always belonged to Newark. I mean, she was always Newark's daughter.
I mean, she was always the neighborhood girl who made good. And so her success, many people reveled in her success and found joy in her singing. And she always sang songs that uplifted and never degraded.
MALVEAUX: And we saw a picture of you, Reverend, the two of you together in 1989. What was she like then? That was really the peak of her career.
JACKSON: Well, on the rise. I mean, she and Don Cornelius, you know, with "Soul Train," he was the engineer who just left us this week, and she, of course, was a great passenger on this whole train. And she was just easy to meet.
And the joy of her singing, the powerful voice, and the choice of songs -- you know, there's a lot of debate about what artists -- what they should and shouldn't do with their artistry. We know her for her artistry and for her singing. And I might add, on the way to becoming a great actress as well.
There is a movie coming out, oh, in a few months from now. You're going to see another Whitney Houston even on screen as well. MALVEAUX: Well, we are looking forward to that. I know that is coming out soon.
And finally, Reverend, what is the one memory that you will take with you that you hope to leave the rest of us?
JACKSON: Well, I suppose praying with her, on the one hand. On the other hand, just listening to her sing.
I mean, when she hit the notes, that special note in "I Will Always Love You," or "The Star-Spangled Banner" that night during the war -- and wars is always controversial. Her singing "The Star- Spangled Banner" that night took the whole world to a different level.
And so an incredible voice, and she was easy to get to know, and really a loving person. We will not be there tomorrow because she died, but we will be there tomorrow because she lived, because we care so much for her, even now. For Cissy, her mother, her daughter and for her family, we reach out to them in a very special way.
MALVEAUX: All right. Reverend Jesse Jackson, thank you very much. I know you will be attending the funeral service. It will be a difficult day for many, but also a celebration of who she was.
Thank you, Reverend.
Whitney Houston's voice, her success, inspiring countless performers on their own journeys to stardom. In a few minutes, we're going to actually talk to Grammy winner Ashanti. She is going to join us live with her memories of Whitney Houston.
And tomorrow morning, beginning at 11:00 a.m. Eastern, CNN beginning live coverage of Whitney Houston's funeral. Join Piers Morgan, Soledad O'Brien, Don Lemon. "Whitney Houston: Her Life, Her Music," starting tomorrow morning at 11:00 Eastern.
The U.N. condemns Syria's government for slaughtering its own people, but the military keeps right on attacking. We're going to have two live reports from the region.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MALVEAUX: It's now 14 relentless days of this. We're talking about a constant barrage of shelling unleashed by Syrian forces in the city of Homs.
Our journalists say the streets there are deserted because people have either fled or they are too scared to come out. So those who do venture out risk being killed by snipers or government tanks.
As the carnage continues, the international community now struggling to find a way to stop this. This the U.N. General Assembly has passed a non-binding resolution calling for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to step down. Now, resistance to the Assad regime is spreading across northern Syria.
Our Ivan Watson reports from a town that is now held by the opposition.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
IVAN WATSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This is the last line of defense for an opposition enclave in northern Syria, a checkpoint manned by young volunteers searching cars by the light of a burning tire.
The leader here, 35-year-old Abdullah. Before the revolution, he made a living selling cars.
(on camera): What are you looking for? What are you protecting against here?
(voice-over): "We're on the lookout for Bashar al-Assad's thugs and Assad's army," Abdullah says.
Entire villages and towns here in northern Syria have broken free of the Syrian government. There's no Syrian military presence at all in this town. Instead, children walk to school, pass the flag of the opposition, which flies over Main Street. The green, black and whit flag a symbol worn by revolutionaries, making final preparations a day before their weekly show of defiance against the government.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are preparing for tomorrow. We have tomorrow a big demonstration.
WATSON: This Friday, the protest will include a message of support for the besieged city of Homs. If that opposition stronghold folds, Syrians here in the north know they may be the next to face the wrath of the Syrian security forces.
This 21-year-old university student doesn't expect help from the international community anytime soon.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have God helping, nothing more now.
WATSON: The Syrian government routinely denounces opposition activists, calling them armed terrorists. When they began demonstrating last spring, these young men chanted, "Hariya!" (ph), "Freedom!."
(SINGING)
WATSON: Now that thousands of Syrians have been killed, the chant is "Harbiya!" (ph). In English, that means "War!"
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MALVEAUX: Ivan Watson, he's joining us now from northern Syria.
Ivan, first of all, the French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, he's urging Syria's opposition to come together here. He says that revolution can only be brought from the inside.
Do the activists -- do they think that they can accomplish that from the inside on the ground where you are?
WATSON: They're certainly trying to, Suzanne, but their resources are limited because these are local activists, these are villages. This is the countryside, in many cases, that have risen up, but they're still facing overwhelming military power on the part of the Syrian security forces.
And though there are more weapons now in the hands of the rebels, if you will, they still don't stand any chance against Syrian tanks and the potential threat of Syrian air power. They are calling for some kind of help, desperately calling for help from the outside world.
MALVEAUX: Ivan, considering that they are so overwhelmed, outnumbered by government forces, what keeps them going here? What makes them think that they can actually turn things around there?
WATSON: Well, I think they do not believe that they are actually outnumbered, Suzanne. I think that they feel the numbers are on their side and that, if you will, they think that justice is on their side.
They are striking out against a dictatorship that has ruled this country for four decades that was passed on from father to son. And it's fundamentally undemocratic.
So they feel like they have right on their side, but they're facing a government that's been in power for so long that wields force and has a proven track record of using deadly force. So that's where the problem steps in.
They also seem to express that they have been backed up against a wall, that so many of their comrades have been killed, that they have no choice but to rebel, knowing full well that their homes can be destroyed, their family members can be locked up and massacred as well. And there's a certain sense of fatalism here in these communities that make up part of this very tenuous opposition enclave that we are exploring this week.
MALVEAUX: Ivan, please be safe where you are and continue the reporting that you do. It is such an important story.
I want to go to live to neighboring Lebanon now. Our Nick Paton Walsh, he's joining us from Beirut.
And Nick, there has been some reaction to this U.N. vote calling for the president, the Syrian president, to step down here. Is there any muscle, is there any teeth to this? And has there been any response?
NICK PATON WALSH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, there's no real legal kind of implication from this vote. It is symbolic. It's about pretty much the nations who condemned Bashar al-Assad ahead of the vote, putting it on a communal piece of paper and lodging that objection after much diplomatic wrangling.
Yes, it may have some impact in the longer term, it may ease humanitarian assistance. It may increase pressure, perhaps, upon the Syrian regime, although bear in mind, China and Russia, two key powers who blocked the original U.N. Security Council resolution, stood by them through this vote as well.
We have recently -- we recently suggested to Danny, an activist we spoke to -- people are familiar with him from his videos from inside of Homs -- we asked him what his feelings about the last few months of diplomacy were. This is what he said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
"DANNY," SYRIAN ACTIVIST: For the last few months, it's crimes against humanity. Russia and China will be (INAUDIBLE). What they did, they've got Syrian blood on their hands. This is all their fault.
The last time the U.N. did nothing, they gave the green light and the OK to Bashar al-Assad to kill more. It was the first time that he used rocket launchers, after the U.N. He felt safe.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WALSH: So that accusation really is that the U.N., through inaction, has been emboldening Bashar al-Assad, something I think you can see in evidence maybe on the ground today. Reports of a continued if not, in some cases, heightened crackdown.
And some video you're about to see from Homs shows a demonstration which, in fact, continued regardless of shelling in the area around it. So indications from many residents in the areas here that the crackdown continues, the onslaught is absolutely 100 percent in evidence.
In the east from me here, in a town called Zabadani, clashes breaking out again this morning, a death toll of about 40 today amid these demonstrations. So no real suggestion that yesterday's vote has done anything to sway the Syrian regime -- Suzanne.
MALVEAUX: Such a discouraging situation there on the ground. Clearly, people like Danny trying to bring attention to this story.
Thank you very much, Nick. We really appreciate it.
And another story we're following, Whitney Houston taking on a lot of up-and-coming artists under her wing. She inspired countless artists, and one of those inspired singers, Grammy winner Ashanti.
(MUSIC)
MALVEAUX: Ashanti describes Houston as an amazing talent and spirit. She's going to join us next about being inspired by that amazing talent.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MALVEAUX: We're beginning live coverage of Whitney Houston's funeral tomorrow morning at 11:00 Eastern, but right now I want to talk about how she inspired many performers, particularly young women.
(MUSIC)
MALVEAUX: Grammy winning artist Ashanti paid tribute to Whitney Houston this week on ABC's "Good Morning America."
Watch this.
(MUSIC)
MALVEAUX: Wow. That was Ashanti. She calls Whitney Houston a pioneer for female singers, and she is joining us live from New York.
Ashanti, I'm a big fan of yours, as well as Whitney's, so thank you very much for being here with us.
ASHANTI, SINGER: Thank you so much.
MALVEAUX: Sure.
Tell us, when did you first meet Whitney Houston?
ASHANTI: The very first time I met Whitney was in a hotel lobby somewhere in L.A. And she came up to me in this dress, bouncing and singing my song, "Always On Time," and I was completely blown away. I was like, "Oh, my gosh, she knows who I am. She's singing my song." I was just, like, in awe, and it was, like, the biggest moment for me.
MALVEAUX: You know, I mean, that must be so special, because she was someone who reached out to a lot of people, but I understand a lot of young artists like yourself.
Did you guys keep in touch over the years and develop into a relationship?
ASHANTI: We actually had a couple of interactions. I had the honor of having her and bobby in one of my videos, but was amazing. It was human for me, a song called "Down for You." She was like the epitome of the down girl that's going to ride --
(LAUGHTER)
-- you know what I mean, for your man and everything. And it was just so amazing to have her in the video. And I saw her at another event, obviously at Clive Davis's party and I saw her at a Christian Dior event. She was waving to me across the room, like, hey, Ashanti Girl.
(LAUGHTER)
She just always made you feel like extended family.
MALVEAUX: Oh, absolutely. Did she -- what did she give to you as an artist, as an inspiration? ASHANTI: She was such -- she had so much poise and grace and strength. You know, she was the epitome of a strong business woman with class, an amazing, amazing talent. and I think every little girl singing into a hairbrush one Whitney's songs. Every little girl wanted to, you know, sing and have a poise such as Whitney Houston. For me, she was just like that pioneer, that legendary woman, powerful woman, and classy and sensual all at once.
MALVEAUX: And you have really -- I mean, did you that song justice, when you sang that on ABC, that was very, very impressive.
ASHANTI: Thank you so much. Thank you.
MALVEAUX: What were you thinking? What were you feeling when you sang those words?
ASHANTI: I was just like this is so huge. She is such an icon. and for me to have the honor, you know, of being able to sing one of her most amazing songs and just thinking about her family and her daughter and what great loss they may be going through. And you know, it was a little emotional for me. You know, we have lost, it seems, like a huge family member to our music industry, you know? So it was very touching.
MALVEAUX: And, Ashanti, we wish you all the best and continued success with your own career as well.
ASHANTI: Thank you very much.
MALVEAUX: Thank you. We appreciate it.
We have live coverage of the funeral for Whitney Houston. It's starting tomorrow at 11 a.m. eastern. Join Soledad O'Brien, Piers Morgan and Don Lemon as a music legend is remembered.
Next hour, Debra Lee is joining us. She the CEO of BET, talking about the loss of her friend and the amazing artist who leaves behind classic songs like this one.
(SINGING)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MALVEAUX: Keeping an eye on Wall Street, where stocks were mixed, markets at multi-year highs. The Dow at levels not seen since May of 2008. So you have to go back more than a decade to December 2000 to find these levels on the NASDAQ. That what we are talking about.
Alison Kosik is joining us.
Put this into perspective for us. What does this mean? Are we in recovery because of the Dow?
ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: You look at the Dow from where it has been and where it is now, Suzanne, yes, the Dow made up a lot of ground. It's not just the Dow. The NASDAQ is at a multi- year high. Everyone wants to know what is going on here, why this run-up in the markets. what you are seeing is the markets reacting to the economic reports that have come out lately that are pretty much showing that a recovery here is picking up speed. The reports that we get every time we sit here and report them for you, like on jobs. The economy adding jobs. The housing numbers are getting better. GDP is weak but it is growing.
We do watch the Dow because what it is meant to do is be representative of the economy and it's made up of a pretty good mix of companies, leading banks, tech companies, retailers and insurance companies. And what's actually in the Dow are specially chosen companies that are expected to be around for a while, but it is only 30 stocks, Suzanne. And Wall Street pros, they say other indexes are a better reflection of the broader market. So let's say the S&P 500 is better indication of how the broader market is doing -- Suzanne?
MALVEAUX: Alison, how significant is the rally. The markets took a beating during the recession. What does this mean for us now?
KOSIK: You know is always comes does down, it comes down to perspective. The Dow is getting pretty darn close to 13,000. It's a lovely, nice, round number we like talking about and it is a psychologically important milestone but there is more to make up here. Before the recession, the Dow topped 14,000. Gosh, what a wild ride it has really been the past five years. The Dow hit that record 14,000 in 2007. It bottomed in 2009 at 6,000. That's a drop of more than 50 percent. So, since then, the Dow has really been clawing its way back.
You know what matters for investors? What matters for investors gaining back what was lost though, to at least break even and maybe, hey, even make a profit. So, when you look at it that way, the Dow still needs to gain another 9 percent to reach an all-time high. The S&P 500 has got even bigger ground to make up. It's got 13 percent to go. That's what you really want to watch as well because that's what most retirement accounts and mutual funds track. So besides watching the Dow, you've got keep your eye on the S&P 500 as well -- Suzanne?
MALVEAUX: Keeping our eyes on all things.
Thank you, Allison. Really appreciate that.
Also keeping an eye on what's taking place on Capitol Hill. This is just in here. Now, this, of course, the controversial payroll tax cut that they are cutting a deal essentially, the House and the Senate, Republicans. Democrats finally agreeing on something here. It looks like in the House, they have enough votes to pass this. The voting is not officially done. it does have to go to the Senate next. That's where we expect a lot of fireworks. but essentially what does this mean? The payroll tax bill mean? It's a compromise. Democrats and Republicans giving pretty much everybody a break. but for those of you, say, who make $50,000 a year, it means $83 a month that you get to keep.
So, it is a tax cut break for a lot of folks. It finally is being -- working its way through the House and the Senate. I've just been told that it officially passed in the House. So we're going to wait to see what happens in the Senate. That's where we expect to see a lot of back and forth, but this is a compromise. This is a rare compromise in Washington that very likely will benefit a lot of us. At the same time, Republicans still saying they don't know exactly how this is going to be paid for. Democrats, the Obama administration, as well as Republicans who are signing off on this, are saying, however it is going to help a lot of folks get through these hard times. We are going to keep our eye on that.
We are also watching the market. Others keeping a close eye on, what else, this basketball player.
(LAUGHTER)
Yes. We are going to tell you about the business Linpact of Jeremy Lin. That's up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MALVEAUX: Today, we introduce to you our latest "CNN Hero," Nancy Zuach (ph), a New York mother, who made it her mission to help children with cancer and her inspiration, her daughter, Morgan.
(CNN HERO)
MALVEAUX: "CNN Heroes" are all chosen from people you tell us about. So to nominate somebody making a difference in your community, go to CNNheroes.com. Your nomination could help them help others.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MALVEAUX: Newt Gingrich about to get a huge influx of cash for his campaign in time for Super Tuesday.
Mark Preston is live at the political desk in Washington.
What are we talking about here, big bucks?
MARK PRESTON, CNN POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Huge bucks, all coming from Sheldon Adelson, who is the casino mogul out in Las Vegas. He owns properties around the world. In fact, our own Kevin Vaughan dug this nugget out this morning. Sheldon Adelson, him and his family, have already given $11 million to the super PAC that has basically funded the ad war for Newt Gingrich over the past few primaries.
Well, there's some question whether Sheldon Adelson would continue to give money to Newt Gingrich as his campaign has slipped through, but Kevin has it from sources now that he will give another $10 million prior to Super Tuesday, which really will put Newt Gingrich at least back on the air. Big question is, will it put him back on the map, with the rise of Rick Santorum? And the question is, why is Sheldon Adelson doing this?
MALVEAUX: Yes. PRESTON: Well, one of the sources, Suzanne, is telling Kevin that, in fact, he doesn't want Rick Santorum to win the nomination. so he either wants Newt Gingrich to do it or he wants, get this, Mitt Romney to win it. Talk about divide and conquer there -- Suzanne?
MALVEAUX: Yes. That's for sure. Also, I guess these big backers, they can either support you or they can kind of get you into some trouble, too. Rick Santorum's billionaire backer, he makes this comment essentially that upsets a lot of folks, particularly women. I want you to listen to what Foster Friess has said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FOSTER FRIESS, RICK SANTORUM DONOR: And this contraceptive thing, my gosh, it is so inexpensive. Back in my days, they used Bayer aspirin for contraception. The gals put it between their knees and it wasn't that costly.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: Mark, the cringe factor that's just unbelievable, right? A lot of people just, ew. Just listening to it is kind of disturbing there. Does Santorum have any reaction to this?
PRESTON: He does. Yes, he does. And I have to tell you, what was he thinking? What was Foster Freiss thinking when he said that? But Rick Santorum has distanced himself from those comments. But just this morning, he also, in many ways, tried to turn the tables on the mid year. Let's take a quick listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RICK SANTORUM, (R), FORMER PENNSYLVANIA SENATOR & PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: When you quote a support of mine that tells a bad, off- color joke, and somehow I'm responsible for that, that's gotcha --
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED HOST: No one said that you were responsible. Nobody said you were responsible. They said, how would you characterize it, and what have you said to him? It's to understand how you differ from what this person said.
(CROSSTALK)
SANTORUM: respond to every -- every supporter who says something now, I'm going to have to respond to.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PRESTON: And there you have Rick Santorum right there. There's something to be said about a really strong offense, is having a good defense. And clearly what Rick Santorum is doing is trying to turn the tables on the media, saying it's a gotcha question. Foster Freiss has since apologized for those comments. MALVEAUX: We'll see if that puts it to rest. Clearly, he expects that he's going to be asked these questions. That guy is really doing an incredible job at funding his campaign there.
Mark, thank you. Appreciate it. Have a good weekend.
Just days before the Arizona primary, Republicans contenders are debating the issues again. Watch the Arizona Republican presidential debate on CNN Wednesday night at 8:00 eastern.
Just last month, free-style keying pioneer, Sarah Burke, died from a training injury she received in Utah. That sent shockwaves through the extreme sports community. It also hit a little too close to home for one snowboarder, Kevin Pearce, who received the same injury on the same course two years earlier. Dr. Sanjay Gupta caught up with him for this week's "Human Factor."
(HUMAN FACTOR)
MALVEAUX: This weekend on "Sanjay Gupta, M.D." one person dying every 19 minutes from prescription drugs. Sanjay will have a closer look at the silent epidemic of prescription drug overdose. That is this Saturday and Sunday at 7:30 a.m. eastern on CNN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MALVEAUX: New York Knicks have been reaping the benefits from their new star, Jeremy Lin. The point guard has led the team to seven straight win, taking the sports world by storm. But it's not just the team benefiting from his stardom.
Christine Romans shows us the business Linpact of his success.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(CHEERING)
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Rabid fans, adoring headlines and shout outs from late-night comics.
DAVID LETTERMAN, HOST, LATE NIGHT WITH DAVID LETTERMAN: We've collected for you the worst possible Jeremy Lin puns.
(LAUGHTER)
Newt Lingrich.
ROMANS: This is what, pardon the punt, Linsanity feels like in New York City right now.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Linsanity, baby. I'm loving it.
ROMANS: And sporting goods store, Modell's couldn't be happier.
MARK SAKS, STORE MANAGER, MODELL'S TIMES SQUARE: We've got a Lin shipment in an hour ago and it's already half way gone on the right. ROMANS: Modell's workers have been delivering loads of Lin apparel and fans are picking them up at point guard speed, including these tourists from Taiwan who, one afternoon alone, spent hundreds of dollars on Lin shirts to ship back home.
UNIDENTIFIED TOURIST: Oh, man, you guys aren't saving anything for us.
UNIDENTIFIED TOURIST: I have no money now.
UNIDENTIFIED TOURIST: Nor, me.
ROMANS: Lin now has the best-selling jersey in all of the NBA.
(on camera): But clothing sales are just part of the business. Shares in Madison Square Garden recently hit all-time highs. Knicks cable TV ratings are up 70 percent. And the price of a ticket to see the Knicks play here is through the roof.
DAVID ABRUTYN, SENIOR V.P. IMG CONSULTING: Knicks ticket sales are up over 100 percent. On the road, a couple of nights ago in Minnesota, we had the fourth largest crowd in the history of that franchise.
ROMANS: Long-suffering fans are already talking back.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I was a season ticket holder for about 20 years and they just weren't playing well so I had to give up the tickets. And now that they are playing well again, I think about doing it again now.
ROMANS: It's enthusiasm like this that has sports tallying up the potential for a player who only recently was passed over by two teams before landing with the Knicks.
SERGIO MORALES, SENIOR V.P. HILL & KNOWLTON STRATEGIES: If he becomes an individual that continues to transcend the NBA, who continues to influence the Asian-American community, those numbers could be into the $20 million range if not more
ROMANS: Lin's only known deal right now is with shoe maker Nike but new firms will be knocking on the doors not only in the U.S. but in massive global markets like China where Lin's shirts are already selling fast online.
ABURTYN: It's that all-American story of anything can happen if you work hard. From a marketing stand point, that's an unbelievable thing.
ROMANS: Marketers stress Lin must keep his game up to win the really big bucks.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We easily in our basketball stars in New York City but they're easily deflated as well.
ROMANS: Failure is farthest from their minds now. (SHOUTING)
ROMANS: At Modell's, tourist are back, paying cold hard cash for more Lin merchandise and earning the gratitude of the head of the company itself.
MITCHELL MODELL, CEO, MODELL'S: So ten days ago, you didn't know who Jeremy is, and everyone is in love with this guy. It's unbelievable.
ROMANS: A lot of people are hoping that the business of Lin has legs.
Christine Romans, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
