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Gas Prices Up 4 Cents In One Day; Romney Speaks On Jobs, Tax Cuts; Winter Returns To The Northeast; Report: Syrian Rebels Getting Weapons; Opposition: 42 Killed In Syria Today; World Leaders Discuss Plan For Syria; Trial Begins In Webcam Spying Case; Maryland Senate OK's Same-Sex Marriage; Romney, Santorum Battle For Michigan
Aired February 24, 2012 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: And it's the top of the hour. Thanks so much for joining us. We begin with your gas tank. Did you fill it up last night after work? It was pretty expensive, right?
Well, we have some more bad news, unfortunately, this morning, prices have risen even higher. Today's national average, $3.65, that's up 4 cents from yesterday.
That's the average. Prices in L.A., $5. Christine Romans, while this depends on where you live so why are prices so different from city to city?
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Because of taxes. I mean, different states have different kinds of taxes that they levy on a gallon of gasoline. A couple of different factors, but mostly it's taxes.
I want to look around the country where you are. If you're like in those mountain states, it's probably the lowest gas prices you're going to see. The average there in the mountain west is $3.11 a gallon.
But out on the west coast, you just showed that video from L.A., $3.97 is the average, some gas stations are already showing $5 a gallon. In the southeast, $3.58, where around where you are, but we've also seen, you know, some of these gas stations -- one gas station near Orlando, nearly Disney was $6.
Return the rental car and my gosh, leave your wallet on the dashboard, so where you live really makes a big difference here overall. And that is mostly because of the taxes, the tax differences around the country.
PHILLIPS: All right, so give us the big picture here. How did the prices that we're seeing compared to the past few years?
ROMANS: Well, you know, I'll tell you. Even a decade ago, prices were less than half this. I mean, we all remember that, less than half of this. Really since 2007, you've seen gas prices in a more comfortable or I guess uncomfortable zone of above $2.50 a gallon on average. You can see how in 2008, that was the year that we had record gas price in the summer average above $4 or almost about $4, but then look, 2009, 2010, the economy was very weak and gas prices were down.
Then last year, we had the Arab spring, the president, remember had to tap the strategic petroleum reserve to try to, you know, tamp down gas prices a little bit. But here we are in 2012, already at the highest we have been this early in the season.
That is troubling so many drivers, because you have the spring driving season when we're used to seeing the prices drift up in the spring, already we're starting from such a high base.
It's because of Iran, the tensions there. It's because of a very strong demand from very aggressively growing emerging economies. Even as demand is down a little bit in the U.S., Kyra, it's these other factors that when you look at a world oil market, people are still bidding up oil. Crude is up above $108 a barrel again today, still up.
PHILLIPS: All right, we'll keep watching the numbers. Thanks, Christine.
ROMANS: Sure.
PHILLIPS: Mitt Romney's talk about jobs in a tax cut plan in Detroit two hours from now, but UAW members are waiting for him and it's not really a warm welcome.
Joe Johns is covering that story for us. Joe, let's go ahead and start with the speech, what do you know about it?
JOE JOHNS, CNN SENIOR CORRESPONDENT: Well, the speech has been a long time in the making, Kyra. He has been going around the country talking about his economic policies, but also talking a lot about President Barack Obama and how he opposes President Obama's economic policies.
So some economists, business leaders have been telling Romney what he needs to do is not just say what he's against, also what he is for, put it all together. There's no better place they say than right here in the Detroit area where he grew up, an area that's had a lot of economic problems.
So he is going to talk about reducing tax rates perhaps, getting rid of the alternative minimum tax. He's also been to some degree appropriating some of the language of the "Occupy Movement" and he's taken some heat for that. An example last night in Milford, Michigan. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MITT ROMNEY (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: He will divide the 1 percent versus the 99 percent and that is very tempting to fall into that kind of attack. When you're in trouble finding a scape goat and attacking them has been used over the years by people in trouble. (END VIDEO CLIP)
JOHNS: One thing we're not expecting is a proposal to install some type of a flat tax. A lot of the other candidates on the Republican side running for president have actually proposed that, but apparently, Romney is just not going that far -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Joe Johns, all right, well, what about this protest?
JOHNS: OK. The protest is couple blocks down the street from here. It's the United Auto Workers on the top floor of a parking garage. I was over there a couple minutes ago, 100 people, maybe a couple hundred people, the crowd continues to grow.
They've set up a bunch of American made cars and they have letters on top of the cars that spell out "Let Detroit go bankrupt." Of course, this was the very famous headline of the op-ed in the "New York Times" that Romney wrote in 2008, which has gotten a lot of Democrats.
And even some independents upset here in Detroit because it was all about the auto industry bailout at that time, which Mitt Romney opposed. They are going to be protesting for a while. We're going to take our cameras down there and take a look when we get off the air.
PHILLIPS: All right, Joe, we'll keep check in with you then. Thanks so much.
Just in case you thought winter was on vacation, take a look at what happened. Giant storm hit the Dakotas yesterday stretched all the way into New England. Chicago could get eight or nine inches of white stuff before it's over.
And then O'Hare International has cancelled more than 350 flights so far. That could have a ripple effect across the country too. Take a look at Hartford, Connecticut, the system isn't just about snow. It's about the wind.
Rob Marciano has been watching this all morning for us. Rob, what's the latest?
ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: This is kind of a winter-spring, hybrid storm. We're getting into that time of the year and also has the (INAUDIBLE) snow you mentioned, airport delays, but also severe weather and some of that could be pretty intense.
Let's go over the snow totals and in and around the Chicago land area, now we're just actually getting some over the top of this, some even at 8.5 inches of snow. It's just beginning to wind down there.
In the Chicago proper, the streets are a little bit warmer, so not nearly as much snow, but anywhere from 2 to as much as 8 or so inches with this system. But it is also stretching towards the northeast, and in Hartford, like you saw on that video, we've had anywhere from 4 to 5 inches in this area. That's beginning to wind down and warmer air is beginning push in from the south.
With that warmer air though and you felt it yesterday. If you live anywhere on the east coast, we had record breaking temperatures 70 and 80s down south. That instability now is going to be triggered by that front that's coming through.
We got a couple tornado watches posted by the storm prediction center across the Deep South, across the Piedmont, and as we go through the afternoon, this will be shifted off towards the east.
The storm prediction center has issued a moderate risk for severe weather here. A good chance of seeing super cell development, at least, we're going to see some damaging winds out of these things and potentially some tornadoes as well.
And then lastly, the flights that were cancelled yesterday in Chicago, we have hour and 30-minute delays at O'Hare right now, an hour delays in Newark, New York and also in Atlanta, a wide-ranging storm affecting a lot of people -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right, Rob, thanks.
MARCIANO: You bet.
PHILLIPS: In Syria, CNN's learned that rebel forces might be getting weapons from other Arab countries now. The city of Homs enduring its 21st straight day of shelling. Syria's opposition says government forces are now shelling other cities, too.
At least 42 people reportedly have been killed across the country today. Now an opposition source tells Reuters that Syrian exiles are getting light weapons to the rebels and that they're trying to smuggle in bigger hardware as well like anti-aircraft weapons.
Leaders from the U.S. and dozens of other countries are in Tunisia right now trying to work on a plan to get things like food and medicine to the civilians in Syria.
CNN's Zain Verjee has been following that part of the story for us -- Zain.
ZAIN VERJEE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi, there. Good morning, Kyra. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is in Tunisia. There's this big conference going on and they're calling it the "Friends of Syria" conference.
There are a couple of major things among others on the agenda, number one is really to try and recognize the Syrian political opposition and also what they want to do is really pressure the Bashar Al-Assad regime to allow humanitarian aid into places like Homs and the Baba Amir neighborhood where there has been intense bombardment and shelling going on.
Let me just give you an idea, Kyra, what newspapers around the world have been saying. This is what "The Independence" in Britain has as its headline. It says, "If we can't intervene, at least, we can isolate Syria."
It goes on to say, there's no point in talking to a regime that has lost all credibility. What the Tunis gathering needs to make clear to the Syrian people more than anyone is that Assad's day is over and that the country's neighbors and the international community at large no longer recognizes it.
Take a look at "Gulf News," this is in the United Arab Emirates, safety of the Syrian people is paramount. The ground reality, it says, in Syria is the conflict has gone beyond the borders of government and that of the opposition.
It's now a bigger game that involves regional and international players so a lot of people around the world at this conference because it is so important. Syria is a country in the middle of the Middle East.
So whatever happens in Syria is going to affect the region. Interestingly though, Russia and China, Kyra, friends of Syria didn't show up.
PHILLIPS: We'll keep following it. Zain, thanks.
The battle for Michigan is heating up. Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum in a dead heat and duking it out. How hard is it to win over Michigan voters? We'll ask the guy who knows, former Congressman Pete Hoekstra.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Checking stories cross country now, this hour, the trial of former Rutgers University student Dharun Ravi, it begins. Ravi allegedly used a webcam to spy on his roommate, Tyler Clementi who later committed suicide after discovering that he was being watched in his dorm room. Ravi faces bias intimidation and invasion of privacy charges and could get 10 years in prison if convicted.
Maryland lawmakers have agreed to legalize same sex marriage. Governor Martin O'Malley says he will sign the Civil Marriage Protection Act. Opponents are pushing for the issue to be decided in a referendum in November.
Take a look carefully at this video. Pickup truck slams in a Massachusetts convenience store, three customers were standing in line. Well, the driver apparently lost control, as he was pulling into a parking spot. Police say it was an accident. The customers? They are OK.
Just a few days left for Michigan's Republican voters to make up their minds and the latest poll shows Rick Santorum ahead of Mitt Romney, but his lead is within the sampling error, so it's in a dead- heat.
Michigan voters apparently aren't in love with either of them, either. The state is a key prize and you can tell by the way the candidates are going after each other like this. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MITT ROMNEY (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: If you watch that debate, you saw one of the reasons why your work is so important. People go to Washington, and they vote for things they don't believe in.
One of the candidates last night spent most of the evening describing why it was he voted against his principles. He said, you know, you have to take it for the team now and then. Well, my team is the people of the United States of America.
RICK SANTORUM (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I take a little different position than Governor Romney. Governor Romney supported the bailout of Wall Street and decided not to support the bailout of Detroit. My feeling was that we should not support -- the government should not be involved in bailouts, period. I think that is a more consistent position.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: All right, so let's talk more about Michigan with the man who knows it very well, former Republican Congressman Pete Hoekstra, now running for the U.S. Senate.
As a matter of fact, he has been hanging out with Herman Cain. Herman endorsed Hoekstra and I bet you that's been an interesting journey -- Pete.
FORMER REP. PETE HOEKSTRA (R-MI), SENATORIAL CANDIDATE: It really was. Herman was in Michigan yesterday. We went across the state. This is a guy that really knows how to connect with voters. He's got a vision where he wants this country to go. We had a great day. I'm glad to have him as part of my team.
PHILLIPS: Well, let's talk about connecting with voters, shall we, there in the state. Does Michigan really see Romney as a native son right now?
HOEKSTRA: I think so. I mean, clearly, Mitt and Anne, this is their home turf. They have a home field advantage. They can talk to people from Michigan.
People recognize that they are Michiganians. Yes, this is a home field. You can tell it by the way that they talk about state and how they connect with the people of the state.
PHILLIPS: So do you think Michigan will respond to the negative ads and all the heat that Santorum and Romney have been throwing at each other right now? It's getting intense.
HOEKSTRA: It is getting intense. You know, as we've talked to Republican and independent voters across the state over the last couple months, one of the things they are frustrated about, they are frustrated about the negative ads.
They really want to have Republican candidates layout a positive vision as to where they are going to take America the direction and the vision that they see for the country.
They also want us to hold Debbie Stabenow accountable for the agendas that they have put in place. But the bottom line is right now, most of the advertising is negative.
They're going to have choose -- in Michigan, they're going to be choosing between Rick Santorum and Mitt Romney. I think he has the momentum. I expect that on Tuesday he will win.
PHILLIPS: Well, there has been a lot of criticism as well. I mean, this is the guy who stood up and said, you know, let Detroit go bankrupt. On the other hand, you've got the guy Santorum who just spoke to the Detroit Economic Club, saying that he hopes, quote, "inequality always exists" so what kind of choice is that?
HOEKSTRA: Well, I mean, the bottom line is the auto industry did go bankrupt. The question is whether that bankruptcy was going to be managed under traditional bankruptcy laws through the courts or whether it was going to be managed by the federal government.
The federal government gave it a little bit more certain that these companies would come out of bankruptcy, but some of the decisions that were made in terms of favoring certain bond holders versus the unions, what they did with dealerships.
You know, there are a lot of people who are saying we might have been better off going through the courts because it would have been fairer, would have been in accordance with the laws. The way it came down the industry did survive. That's good for Michigan.
I don't think that's going to be a deal breaker. But there is no doubt that Mitt Romney cares passionately about this state. There is no doubt that, you know, Rick Santorum cares passionately about restoring manufacturing in America.
It's going to be very interesting, but Mitt has the momentum, he has the home field advantage, he has the organization and then we have the unknown, Michigan is having a snow storm.
If the snow is still here Tuesday, it will be very interesting to see which candidate, whose voters have the most passion and actually will come through a snow storm and come out to vote.
PHILLIPS: So we'll see what happens and we'll see if you're right. We're going to follow up if you're wrong. Peter Hoekstra, thanks for joining me.
HOEKSTRA: Great, thank you.
PHILLIPS: For nearly a month, we have been asking an one million I- Reporters to weigh in what makes them uniquely American. Well, they shared their stories with us and now we're sharing them with you.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I am America. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I am America.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I teach English.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Football coach.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I speak three languages.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I am America and he is, too.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Today, we'll hear about a new hit sitcom that explores life with one of America's fastest growing demographics, middle class Latinos.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: We have new numbers out just a few minutes ago on the mood of the American consumer along with home sales last month. Alison Kosik at the New York Stock Exchange, how is it looking -- Alison.
ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Kyra. So yes, these numbers came out at the top of the hour. First, consumer sentiment, that's pretty much how consumers are feeling about how the economy is right now.
So those numbers actually improved in February more than expected that people reported that they are slightly more upbeat on their finances along with business conditions. And what this reading does is it really help gives a gauge of consumer spending, which is important to the economic recovery.
All right, but the housing market, that is still stuck in a slump. We learned sales of newly built homes fell almost 1 percent last month, that followed a solid rise in December. But interestingly enough this report is not watched as closely as sales of previously owned homes, which we found out jumped 4 percent the other day.
That's because new sales, which were just reported this morning make up just 10 percent of housing activity compared to 90 percent for existing, but these numbers still gives us a good idea of whether people are confident enough in their financial situation to build a home from the ground up.
So it's looks like they're more likely to just opt for those previously owned homes instead. All right, quick check on the numbers. The Dow is trading below that 13,000 level, was trading above it so it's kind of playing that little dance with that 13,000 level today -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right, Alison, thanks. In election year, politicians, pundits don't hesitate to tell us what is right for America. What defines us in 2012?
All this week, we're going in depth on "I Am America" taking a closer look at how our country changed ethnically, religiously and economically.
Today on "I Am America," a new hit TV sitcom with a mainly Latino cast stirred up some controversy. Show star, actor, Rob Schneider's says that the story of his character marries into a middle class Latino family mirror his own and the story of America in 2012, but not everyone sees it that way. Nischelle Turner explains.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NISCHELLE TURNER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The new CBS comedy "Rob" is a bonafide ratings hit. Loosely based on the real life of marriage of its star, Rob Schneider, to Mexican TV producer (INAUDIBLE). The show has been a top ten sitcom since it premiered in January.
(on camera): You meet your new wife's family and it's like oil and vinegar at the beginning. Was it like that in real life? Did you have to kind of really work?
ROB SCHNEIDER, ACTOR: She said you should have a family and meet and CBS liked the idea next thing you know we were shooting it.
TURNER: In reality, Schneider's in-laws live in Mexico and do not speak English, on the show they are middle class Mexican-Americans played Diane Marie Ariva and (INAUDIBLE).
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This dip is excellent, I believe called guacamole.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Very impressive. You know your stuff.
TURNER: But for many Rob's fish out of water humor lacks authenticity.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I would give them probably a "C."
TURNER: (INAUDIBLE) Martha Sarabia has been reporting on the show and watching it closely.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is a big family because you're all Catholic.
TURNER: Sarabia's greatest concern, stereotypes from the overt --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You don't use protection.
TURNER: -- To the more subtle.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I can't wait until we are spending time together. Sharing our deepest secrets, borrowed each other $7,200.
MARTHA SARABIA, ENTERTAINMENT REPORTER, "LA OPINION": The stereotypes that have offended people are the uncle, doesn't want to do anything, he might be illegal or undocumented, that hurts people.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm visiting from Mexico for the weekend.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That is nice. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm not leaving.
TURNER: Schneider admits knowing some would find the show offensive, but defends it as comedy.
SCHNEIDER: For me, it's -- trying to make ourselves laugh, but people might be offended by it.
TURNER: For their part CBS tells CNN, quote, "Rob is based on Rob Schneider's real live experience of marrying into a large Hispanic family. We are pleased with the positive feedback from several Hispanic groups and leaders, end quote."
One of those groups is the National Hispanic Media Coalition, which praises the show's casting saying it's not often that we get to see so many talented Latino regulars on a prime time television show and adds the show has potential.
Telling CNN the key at the time show's long time success will be if the voice of the Latino writers on the show are heard by the producers and show runners.
Also thrilled to see Latinos in prime time wishes the show success but hopes it finds ways to make people laugh without laughing at stereotypes. Nischelle Turner, CNN, Hollywood.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: For nearly a month we asked you to weigh in on what makes us uniquely American. You can see the amazing response. Check out ireport.com/iamamerica.
The last hour, we talked about how the Latino vote could swing upcoming primary results. Could it mean a landslide for Democrats? I'll put that question to our buzz panel in a few minutes.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Checking top stories, at least eight people killed have in Koran burning protests, the president called the burning an error.
Triple A reports gas prices have jumped 12 cents a week. Experts say speculators and uncertainly about Iran are feeling the increase.
There are new sign the feds may be conducting an investigation in the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse case. Penn state said the university got a subpoena from the U.S. attorney's office asking for information about Sandusky and his charity.
All right, it's time for political buzz, your rapid fire look at the best political topics of that day. Three questions, 30 seconds on the clock, playing today, Maria Cardona, CNN contributor, Patricia Murphy, founder and editor of Susan Jane Politics and "Daily Beast" contributor and Chris Metzler our favorite prof at Georgetown University. I wish I had you for a class, boy you and I probably would have got into it. But anyway let's get to the first --
(CROSSTALK)
CHRIS METZLER, PROFESSOR, GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY: We would have.
PHILLIPS: -- let's get in the first question. A CNN op-ed contributor actually told me this morning, I had him on talking about his piece that he thinks Obama could win by a landslide in November, all thanks to the Latino vote. Maria?
MARIA CARDONA, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: I saw it and he's absolutely right, Kyra. In 2008, Obama won the Latino vote by 67 percent, helped him win the presidency, in 2010 the GOP wave did not reach the West and let Harry Reid and the Democrats keep the Senate because of the Latino votes. In 2012 if Republicans continue with their anti- immigrant rhetoric on immigration it's going to happen again.
And I got to tell you it's a filter issue, immigration, if Latinos don't like what you're saying on immigration and they don't like what they're hearing from the GOP they're not going to listen to you on anything else.
But they continue -- they continue on that road they're going to -- never going to see the inside of La Casa Blanca -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: La Casa Blanca -- Chris?
METZLER: Well, I have to say that I agree with Maria. I think if you look at the Latino -- I mean, first of all I think we have to unpack the so-called Latino vote, though, I mean, it's not like every Latino votes the same. And I also think that this election is going to be decided by the swing states.
So the question is in those swing states, so you take for example, Nevada, you take Arizona would -- are the Republicans able to get a message across to Latinos that is an inclusive rather than an exclusive message. And to the extent that we're able to do that we win, otherwise, we lose.
PHILLIPS: Patricia?
PATRICIA MURPHY, FOUNDER/EDITOR, CITIZEN JANE POLITICS: I would never disagree with Maria on this particular topic, for a couple of reasons. I think Latino voters is just like all other voters, the economy is their number one issue. And the economy at least for now seems to be improving. You can just feel it lifting the President's chances of re-election.
The other reason because is because even though Obama I think has left the door open for some Latino voters, he has not followed through on his promises for comprehensive immigration reform, he did not really push the Dream Act the way he could have, but the Republicans have done nothing to walk through that door. So unless some Republican comes out of nowhere to be better it doesn't look like they're going to I think Obama is going to win by a big, big margin with Latinos.
PHILLIPS: I want to hear Patricia say La Casa Blanca.
MURPHY: La Casa Blanca.
PHILLIPS: There we go.
CARDONA: Very good.
PHILLIPS: All right, question two, gas prices skyrocketing, we've been talking about that all morning, it's an election year, so does this hurt the President or his opponents more, Chris.
METZLER: Well, I think it hurts the President more for the simple reason that what we're talking about is not just gas prices alone, what we're talking about the broader economy and to the extent that I'm spending more money on gas, there is less money for me to spend in other areas at the grocery store, et cetera.
And so I think if gas prices continue the way that they continue, it's going to then dim the economic recovery and as a result of that, people are going to end up blaming the President for that, because in fact he is in charge.
So it is his decision relative to that. So gas prices is part of the broader economy, yes, it hurts the President more.
PHILLIPS: Maria?
CARDONA: Well certainly rising gas prices is an issue of concern and that's exactly why the President is talking about it head-on. And when he talks about an all of the above approach in terms of -- of energy, talking about winds; talking about solar; talking about biodiesel; our first advanced bio-fuels, and when you have his opponents promising $2.50 a gallon per gas, Michelle Bachmann $2.00 a gas -- I think that makes them look ridiculous and it makes them look like they really don't understand how gas prices work and how the global -- and how the global economy works. And so in that sense I think it really hurts his opponents.
PHILLIPS: Patricia?
MURPHY: No I think it absolutely hurts the President for the simple reason that he's in charge and there's nothing that makes Americans feel squeeze in their pocket more than going to fill up for gas once or twice a week and saying oh my God, how much did that just cost, that happened to me four times in the last two weeks.
PHILLIPS: Yes.
MURPHY: And it hurts him because he's in charge and like every other president before him, there's almost nothing a president can do in the short term to change it. He can talk about it, he can't change the rise of China, he can't change the rise of India, he can't change the unrest in the Middle East, so he's got a bad situation that there's not much he can do in a short term to make better.
PHILLIPS: All right, your "Buzzer Beater" now, 20 seconds each on this one.
Comedian Bill Maher, $1 million and Obama Super PAC. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BILL MAHER, COMEDIAN: Yes I would like tonight announce a donation to the Obama Super PAC which has the very unfortunate tongue twister name, Priority USA Action. I know it was named by Borat. But tonight I would like to give that PAC, $1 million.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: He's not kidding. So what does this do for Obama? And what does this do for Maher as a comedian? Maria?
CARDONA: Well, I think for Maher the comedian it's going to continue to give him material to work with. But look, it certainly will help the Obama Super PAC in terms of making sure that the record is continued to be set straight. Because we know that the opposing Super PACs are going to continue to drill all of the misguided attempts to talk about Obama's record in a way that isn't true. So it's going to help the President.
PHILLIPS: Chris?
METZLER: Well, you know this is just more kind of pandering for Bill Maher you know whatever? Is it going to help? Well, yes, it's $1 million it's going to help. But it raises the interesting question, though, Obama was for Super PACs before he was against them and as a result of that, I think it brings that issue to light even more.
PHILLIPS: Final thoughts Patricia?
MURPHY: Yes a $1 million Obama will take it, who cares where it comes from but for Bill Maher, I think you would look to him to point that sure he's in politics, there's nothing more absurd than the President condemning Super PACs like Chris said and then taking $1 million from whoever give it to him. So I think it hurts Bill Maher, I don't think he's going to be able to very funny or satirical or helpful or effective condemning Super PACs and he just gave $1 million to win.
CARDONA: We'll see.
PHILLIPS: Thanks so much guys, have a great weekend.
CARDONA: Thanks Kyra.
MURPHY: Thank you. METZLER: Have a hot, hot yoga, everyone.
PHILLIPS: Metzler with these random thoughts. Random thoughts with Chris Metzler, happy Friday. Hot yoga.
METZLER: Thanks Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Ok.
So many stories at the Oscars, Billy Crystal is back. That's one of them and how about this, a nun might walk the red carpet because she's a nominee. We'll explain, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Well, this is what you would have to call an Oscar moment. A nun and by the way, former actress, could walk away a winner. That and a veiled warning not to turn the red carpet into a publicity stunt. Nischelle Turner has it all from Los Angeles. Hey Nischelle.
TURNER: It's all Hollywood, right Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Anything can happen.
TURNER: What would we have without Hollywood.
Absolutely. First of all you talked about kind of touched on what is going on with Sacha Baron Cohen, there was news that may be Sacha would be banned from the awards because he wants to walk the red carpet as "The Dictator", which is the character in his upcoming movie.
Now he's going because the movie that he currently starred in, "Hugo" is up for 11 nominations. He wanted to walk the red carpet to honor that movie as well. so there was this back and forth about what would happen.
Of course Sacha Baron Cohen has to come out and now he's put out a statement that we're seeing the video as the dictator and what he's saying is that the academy has until 12:00 p.m. on Sunday to give him, his tickets back or something is going to happen that is unimaginable.
He also mentioned that he paid Hillary Swank $2 million to be his date and she refuses to give any of the money back. So he wants to be able to walk the carpet as "The Dictator".
Now you know, this is great publicity, number one for him, for his new movie, "The Dictator" coming up and for the awards show itself because it's getting people to say I wonder what is going to happen.
And also Kyra, we heard that Sacha Baron Cohen could be worked into the show in some sort of way on Sunday. So I do not think this is the last that we will hear about this.
PHILLIPS: All right. Now, tell us about this mysterious nun. We have heard about her before but put it altogether, somehow tied with Elvis.
TURNER: Well, yes. This is no stunt, this is actual real life and we are talking about Mother Prior's Dolores Hart. She is up for an academy award for her nominated short film documentary "God is the Bigger Elvis" and you're seeing some video of that right now.
Now she was in the 1950's a big Hollywood star. And she actually starred in a movie with Elvis a few years before she decided to enter the convent. So she is going to be walking the red carpet on Sunday in her nun's habit. This is no publicity stunt. She can very well take home an Oscar for this. She gets out of the acting business, becomes a nun and now she wins an Oscar. How about that?
PHILLIPS: I love that. I would love to know about the conversations she and Elvis had. That is second part of the intrigue here. Nischelle --
TURNER: Yes, exactly.
PHILLIPS: Thanks so much.
All right. Well, the countdown is on to Hollywood's biggest night. Sunday, CNN is live at the Oscars with "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT", road to gold, A.J. Hammer reports live from the red carpet starting at 6:30 eastern.
Oscars aren't the only show this Sunday, Nascar fans are gearing up for the Daytona 500. So is our Rob Marciano.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARCIANO: That was fast. What is the goal here? How many seconds?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We can shoot from about 11:50 in practice.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Rob is giving it up no longer a meteorologist but part of the pit crew.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Racing fans gearing up for Sunday's Daytona 500. Our own Rob Marciano decided to take a hands-on approach. He spent the day embedded with a pit crew prepping cars for the big event.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARCIANO: We're at (INAUDIBLE) where they're prepping three teams for Daytona. Today we get to spend time with the Carl Edwards 99 pit crew to see how they make it happen.
That was fast. What is the goal here, how many seconds?
ANDY WARD, FENWAY RACING PIT CREW CRASH: We just shoot 11:50 in practice.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's going to be your instructor. You have your left hand here and then when he pulls it out -- how much does the tire weigh?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: 65 pounds. I have been changing diapers, if it's more than nine pounds, I can't lift it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You got the job already. Jack man leaves, run through traffic. Playing Frogger.
MARCIANO: Playing Frogger, good analogy.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: 25 seconds Rob. Very good.
You look a little intimidated running out in front of a race car.
MARCIANO: It's coming in hot. I was afraid he wouldn't stop.
17 team now in for pit practice, the 99 team in the waiting room. Hey, you're the strength guy?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I am the strength guy.
TODD: I need some help.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ok. Have a seat here.
MARCIANO: How often do these guys train?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They train twice a week doing full body strength training workouts and then they train two other times a week doing conditioning with us.
MARCIANO: First and foremost their best abilities are they abilities.
Obviously Nascar is a long season. They do a lot of pit stops
MARCIANO: I can see why you can build a championship team.
All right. This is one of the cars that Carl's going to be running down in Daytona. What are the things that we're working on today.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Today we're working on set up stuff. I'm going to have you check the air pressure. We're going to set the heights and we'll get the same (INAUDIBLE)
MARCIANO: All of what you're showing me here is this incredibly precise serious engineering. A lot of people stay and they're just driving around in circles. I mean that's got to drive you bananas.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: To make a 3400 pound car turn left at 200 miles an hour. I mean it takes a little bit to make that happen. MARCIANO: What kind of tricks do you have up your sleeve first for Daytona this year.?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Can't say.
MARCIANO: Come on.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: Ok. We're trying to figure out if that showed me how much of a stud you are or how much of a wussy you are.
MARCIANO: That's enough. My back still hurts. Those guys are really, really strong. And you know, not only are they athletes but especially with the Rush Fenway guys, after they do the pit practice, go to the gym, they go to the garage and actually work on the cars. Some of these guys are full-on mechanical engineers, so they are smart, too.
PHILLIPS: You know, I love things that go fast, jets, cars. Tell me how many horses are under that hood.
MARCIANO: I asked TK that, they don't really say. I mean it's upwards of 900 or so.
PHILLIPS: Really. they never confirmed, they go fast over 200 miles an hour, then they put a restricter plate for tracks like Daytona 500 to keep it more safe. But there is a lot of horses under the hood.
PHILLIPS: So what is the express you go over the wall?
MARCIANO: Right, the guys go over the wall.
PHILLIPS: Yes, go over the wall and then fast is an actual --
MARCIANO: Well, they're going for under 12 seconds. Mine was 25 and that was after I clocked the guy in the head with the tire.
PHILLIPS: You knocked out half the crew.
MARCIANO: They tried to change four, get some gas, maybe scrape the windshield and get them out of there in 12 seconds. And those guys are real good about. They have six guys that go over the wall and do that. But beyond that 21 -- over 20 guys in the pit during game day, and there is 70 guys, kind of like in a farm system.
These are the big leaguers, you like have triple A ball, double A ball behind these guys that are working their way to the top. So it's the best of the best.
PHILLIPS: Wow. How much do they make?
MARCIANO: Yes, I did ask, got a wide range of answers. But there's a lot of money involved and it costs millions to have one of these cars race in Daytona, the great American race this Sunday and we have this speed week happens all week long.
PHILLIPS: We'll be watching.
MARCIANO: Thanks for letting me do it.
PHILLIPS: You bet. Have fun. Thanks Rob.
Well, people sometimes do the impossible, and that helps make their mark. We have the story of a teen now who saved his grandfather's life, 15-year-old Austin Smith, was working on this 1991 Buick with his grandfather and it was up on cinder blocks in the garage.
Well, the Buick suddenly slipped off the blocks and it trapped his Grandfather, nearly crushing him. He's 74 years old. But without thinking Austin somehow lifted up the one-ton car to free his grandfather and doctors not say that smith's grandpa is going to make a full recovery. Brutal injuries but he made it.
Well, former senator Arlen Specter disputes Rick Santorum's account of his support. We're going to talk about it in the political ticker. That is just eight minutes away.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: All right. We've got some stories that we're working on later today in the CNN NEWSROOM.
12:30 Eastern, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney is in Detroit. Romney will unveil an economic plan that includes, what he calls a flatter, fairer and simpler tax code.
At 3:00 President Obama holds an oval office meeting with Denmark's Prime Minister. The President plans to thank Denmark for its commitment to the missions in Libya and Afghanistan.
Then tonight at 7:00 in South Florida, baseball hall of famer Garry carter is honored at a memorial Carter was an 11 time all star and he died last week of brain cancer at the age of 57.
Our "Daily Dose", a new report suggests that the bird flu virus may not be as virulent as previously thought. A study analyzed data from the World Health Organization showing that there may be millions of people with mild, undiagnosed infections. H5N1 is lethal to certain species of birds and rarely infects human. When it does infect the humans the potential for death is high.
Quick break, we will be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: All right. We're going to take a look at -- a new look rather at Rick Santorum and some comments that he made from the debate on Wednesday. And that's because a former senate colleague of Santorum is actually coming forward and disputing what he said.
Our political director, Mark Preston following that story for us, Mark?
MARK PRESTON, CNN POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Hey, you know Kyra, one of the perils of running for president if you have held elective offices that you have to -- you have to pay for your record so to speak and at the debate this past week out in Arizona, Rick Santorum came under fire for supporting the re-election of the liberal Republican Arlen Specter back in 2004. Let's hear what senator Santorum had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RICK SANTORUM (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I supported Arlen Specter, number one, because Arlen Specter was a senator who's going to be the chairman of the judiciary committee at a time when the most important issue that was coming up in the next session of congress was two to three supreme court nominees.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PRESTON: And there's Rick Santorum right there talking about at the time why he supported Arlen Specter who happened to be representing Pennsylvania a well. It was quite an odd couple I have to tell you Kyra, between Rick Santorum and Arlen Specter. Arlen Specter a liberal from the eastern part of the state and of course, Rick Santorum a very conservative north western part of the state.
Let's hear what Arlen Specter would on John King, U.S.A. last night.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN KING, CNN HOST: Did you have that conversation? Did you make that promise.
ARLEN SPECTER, FORMER U.S. SENATOR: No.
KING: No, never happened?.
SPECTER: I made no promise about supporting anybody. I wouldn't do it, it would be wrong to make a promise in advance of knowing who the nominee was and what the qualifications were.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PRESTON: So Kyra it's fair to say Arlen Specter will not be supporting Rick Santorum as he runs for the Republican presidential nomination. Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Mark Preston, thanks for straightening that out for us.
That does it for us. It's the top of the hour, hope you have a great weekend. We'll see you back here on Monday. Suzanne Malveaux taking it from here. (CROSSTALK)
