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U.S. Staff Sergeant Allegedly Kills 16 Civilians in Afghanistan; GOP Hopefuls Campaign Through the South; GOP Presidential Race Shifts to the Deep South; "Game Change" Re-Premiered on Friday; Ed Weiland Reveals His March Madness Picks; Romney Pairs Up with Jeff Foxworthy
Aired March 12, 2012 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, everyone. I'm Kyra Phillips. It's 11:00 on the East coast, 8:00 on the West. We've got a busy hour ahead. Let's get straight to the news.
The Taliban want blood for the killing of 16 Afghan civilians, allegedly by a U.S. Army staff sergeant who's now in military custody. A spokesperson for allied forces says the G.I. acted alone and turned himself in after the rampage.
Four Afghan men, three women, and nine children were killed. Afghanistan's president calls it an unforgivable crime and parliament demands a public trial in front of the Afghan people.
President Obama calls the killings tragic and shocking and vows to hold the killer responsible. The suspect is said to be on his first appointment in Afghanistan after several tours in Iraq. A live report from Kabul just moments for now.
And it's a rainy Monday in parts of Mississippi and Alabama, including the park where Mitt Romney appeared this morning with comedian, Jeff Foxworthy. Northern Romney is making one last play for Southern conservatives. He's learned how to say y'all. He says he likes grits. Now, he's side by side with the most famous redneck.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEFF FOXWORTHY, COMEDIAN: The fact that you would stand here in this pouring down rain to listen to the next president of the United States proves to me (INAUDIBLE) ...
(APPLAUSE)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Meanwhile, Rick Santorum is coming off a big win in the Kansas caucuses, aiming to stop Newt Gingrich from building on his win in Georgia on Super Tuesday. Both men are fighting to be the more conservative alternative to frontrunner Romney. Gingrich addresses an energy forum in Biloxi later this hour.
Gas prices heading back up again. AAA says the national price of self-serve regular shot up 3.5 cents over the weekend to $3.80 a gallon. A month ago, we paid a mere $3.51.
So, why drive when you can ride? The price of gas is said to be one reason Americans took almost 10.5 billion trips on mass transit last year. That's a 2 percent bump over 2010 and just short of the 2008 figure, when gas hit an all-time high. A pick-up in hiring also gets some of the credit since most people on buses and trains are commuters.
Another shocking report of a massacre in Syria. Opposition activists in the country say that 45 women and children have been stabbed and burned to death in the city of Homs. Activists say the children were killed in front of their mothers and women and young girls were sexually assaulted before being shot and killed.
This was in addition to the killing of 63 other people across the country yesterday. The latest carnage came after talks between the U.S. special envoy, Kofi Annan, and Syrian president, Bashir al-Assad, failed to come up with a plan for a ceasefire.
And the makers of the Kony 2012 film about the African warlord that's been viewed by more than 72 million people are releasing a new film in response to the criticism over their approach. Joseph Kony and his Lord's Resistance Army are accused of raping women and young girls and forcing boys to become child soldiers.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JASON RUSSELL, FOUNDER, "KONY 2012": There's nothing to hide. Invisible Children has been transparent since 2004 when we started. That's our intention and we want to show that this campaign is part of a strategy and model that's comprehensive and that we stand by it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: But critics have focused their attacks on Invisible Children, the nonprofit film that produced the film, raising questions about Invisible Children's intentions and its transparency.
More than 26 years after Space Shuttle "Challenger" blew up just after liftoff, another never before seen amateur video has surfaced. This one actually was shot on film, super-eight, by a Disney worker named Jeffrey Ault.
He remembers the incredible sense of anticipation, he says, and the grasping for some sort of hope that someone survived. As you know, none of the astronauts did. Ault dug out the film when another amateur video surfaced last month.
Now, the case of the freaked out flight attendant. An American Airlines flight was about to take off from Dallas/Ft. Worth when one of the cabin crew seemed confused about where she was and then told passengers the plane was going to crash.
A scuffle broke out. Two flight attendants were taken to the hospital. A passenger was spoke later with CNN.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STEPHEN TERMUNDE, AMERICAN AIRLINES PASSENGER: It wasn't until really she started trying to communicate with the other stewardesses and to the pilot that we knew there was a problem, and there was one instance where she actually started speaking in Spanish.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: No criminal charges have been filed.
And a new battle looms over government rules and religious liberty in Britain. The government there is said to be challenging a case brought by two British women before the European Court on Human Rights. The women claim their employers refusal to let them wear crosses on the job is a violation of European guarantees of freedom to manifest religion.
U.K. officials disagree, saying the public displays of the cross are not a requirement of Christianity.
And it's the interview that Whitney Houston's fans have been waiting for since the singer's death. Houston's daughter, Bobbi Kristina, opened up in an interview with Oprah Winfrey, her first interview since her mother died last month.
Bobbi Kristina Brown is the only child from Houston's marriage to singer, Bobby Brown. The teen says she's coping with her mother's death as best as she can and talks about all the rumors.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BOBBI KRISTINA BROWN, WHITNEY HOUSTON'S DAUGHTER: All that negativity, it's just garbage. That's not my mother:. That's not who she is. They just want to talk.
They can say what they want to say. They want to do whatever they want to do. But, in reality, I know who she was. Her family knows who she was. You know who she was.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Bobbi Kristina didn't mention her father, Bobby Brown, and says she wants to follow her mother's legacy and become a singer.
Coming up, a U.S. soldier's alleged rampage. What this could mean for the mission in Afghanistan. A live report from Kabul next.
But, first, two big moments in college sports. Florida State coach, Leonard Hamilton, has not only achieved basketball history with FSU's first ACC title, but he's also broken a racial barrier. It took 59 years, but Coach did it.
Leonard Hamilton is the first African-American to win the ACC tournament. He knocked off Duke and North Carolina, beating two powerhouse teams. But coach, you said it best, you cracked into the upper echelon of such a rich tradition in the league. And because of that you are today's rock star. Good luck in the big dance.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: A U.S. soldier is accused of going house to house, killing 16 Afghans, including women and children. The shooting rampage took place in the Panjwaii District, which is in southern Afghanistan. Among the murdered, four men, three women, and nine children.
The backlash from this could be deadly. The Taliban threatening revenge and Afghan president, Hamid Karzai, says what happened is unforgivable. Keep in mind, this follows the deadly protest that we watched unfold after U.S. troops burned Korans.
After a decade of war in Afghanistan, progress is being threatened there like never before. Let's get to Sara Sidner who is monitoring the situation from Kabul, Afghanistan. Sara, any possible motive?
SARA SIDNER, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: At this point, ISAF is not giving any information. There are some people talking about looking into the mental health of this particular individual, this soldier, an Army staff soldier, who left around 2:00 or 3:00 in the morning on Sunday and ended up opening fire on civilians in villages that were about a kilometer to two kilometers away from the base.
So, a lot of questions as to exactly how he got off the base, how he got that far, and then eventually came back to the base and turned himself in. That's the information that we have right now on that, but we have been seeing gruesome images come in from the villages that were affected.
We understand two villages were affected. And we're hearing now from villagers who were witnesses to all of this, some of them saying that the soldier came in and yanked them by the hair, dragged them out, shot them in the doorways. There was blood on the floors and walls of one of these homes.
We saw pictures of a baby that was lying in between two dead men, that baby also dead with blood splattered on that child's head. So, some gruesome images, and a lot of anger coming from the villages where this indeed happened.
PHILLIPS: So, how exactly is this going to move forward, Sara, with regard to justice? I know there are calls that this soldier, if indeed others were involved, be brought before the Afghan people and tried.
SIDNER: Yes. The Afghan lawmakers, a closed parliament today in protest of what has happened there in the Panjwaii District, which is in the Western part of Kandahar.
And they also called on the U.S. government to consider having this person or whoever is responsible for this tried right here on Afghan soil in a public setting so that it's a lesson to others. And that's the way they have put this.
Whether or not that would happen, it certainly wouldn't be protocol, but a full investigation is underway and that will include Afghan officials also looking into this.
We do know that both Afghans and the U.S. and NATO allies are on the ground trying to ascertain exactly what happened. We heard from ISAF that basically this was only one soldier acting alone, that there was no mission going on in the area.
However, villagers said that they heard more than one soldier in the area when this happened and are questioning the statement that there was only one person involved in this. So, there was a bit of conflicting information there, but the Afghan government is very, very upset about this and calling for a public trial the be held right here on Afghan soil.
PHILLIPS: Sara, a final thought. Could this impact the U.S. mission in Afghanistan?
SIDNER: Absolutely. There's a fear that there's going to be violence against both soft targets and perhaps bases. There's certainly been increased security at bases and other areas.
And there is a fear that this is going to further unravel or at least inflame the tensions that have already existed, especially after last month's burning of the Korans by U.S. troops. Said they did it mistakenly, but you saw what happened there. It exploded in violence where 40 people were killed, including several U.S. service members.
So, there is a fear this is going to cause some serious problems. And you saw President Obama coming out very quickly and saying how sad he was about this incident. But then you heard from President Hamid Karzai, who was calling this an act of terror and unforgivable.
PHILLIPS: Sara Sidner in Kabul. Sara, thanks.
So, as you just heard, the big questions right now are who and why. The military is not releasing the identity of this soldier yet, but what with do know is that he was assigned to a special forces unit out of Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state.
That's where Angela King with our affiliate, KCPQ, is standing by. So, Angela, you've been doing digging. What more do you know about this soldier? What can you tell us?
ANGELA KING, KCPQ CORRESPONDENT: Well, we've learned the staff sergeant has served overseas before, three tours in Iraq. This one to Afghanistan is actually his very first.
But it's the other information that's making this case even harder to take. He's 38 years old. He's married. He's a father of two children. And now he's accused of murdering nine children, three women, and four men in their homes as they slept early Sunday morning.
And there are also reports that this staff sergeant was a member of the special ops team whose job it is to befriend local villagers, see if they can help them find local Taliban members throughout the community.
And no doubt the Taliban is going to use the massacre to its advantage. And now everyone here at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state is waiting for any potential fallout.
As for any other details about this man, we are waiting for military officials here to release that information. As you can understand, details are coming out little by little, but we understand that U.S. military officials say there was no indication that the staff sergeant suffered from any type of mental disorder, things like post-traumatic stress disorder.
So, more questions than answers at the time here near Tacoma, Washington.
PHILLIPS: Angela, what is going there at this joint base? This is not the first time the soldier has been accused of killing Afghan civilians.
KING: I know. Unfortunately, it's not. Back in 2010, four Stryker Brigade soldiers were accused of killing civilians in Afghanistan for sport, actually cutting off parts of their bodies and saving them as trophies.
Well, last year those four servicemen were sentenced. Their terms range between three years to a life term, so this is the last thing anyone wants here. This community is definitely reeling over what's just happened, in light of what we saw the other four servicemen being sentenced to, or sentenced for, right here at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. A very troubling time for folks here.
PHILLIPS: Yes, no doubt. Angela King, thanks so much.
Well, people who fell on hard times in America are making a comeback. Coming up, how one man turned a hobby into a career. Next
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Well, the troubling economy has left millions of people jobless, but more and more of them are making a comeback. Susan Candiotti met up with one man who actually turned a hobby into a new career.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Sebastien Amy is friendly.
SEBASTIEN AMY, OWNER, A+ CHILDPROOFING: Good morning.
CANDIOTTI: He's handy. And he has a growing business, making homes safe for children. But four years ago things were a lot different for this father of two. Amy worked in the executive dining room of investment giant, Lehman Brothers. AMY: It was a good company that took care of its employees. We had really good benefits, vacations. So, I saw myself staying there for a lot more years.
CANDIOTTI: But when Lehman Brothers tanked in 2008, Amy, married, raising his first child, and paying a mortgage, was out of luck.
AMY: Just picked it up where you are and say, OK, let's move on.
CANDIOTTI: Amy was child-proofing his home for his baby, then helped friends with his place, and a light bulb went off.
AMY: It naturally become the business idea, which was, there's a need for this. I'm pretty good at it.
The door stood up.
CANDIOTTI: Word started to spread.
AMY: I went on the Internet, posted an ad on the forum for a mom's group and I had a phone call the next day. And I thought, well, this is a pretty good start.
CANDIOTTI: Three years later, Amy may hire his first employee. Customers like this mother of twins are finding him through mommy groups.
JUDY RACZ, AMY'S CLIENT: It was almost unanimous with everyone saying that Sebastian would be the one to call.
CANDIOTTI: His new calling gives Amy a lot of satisfaction, one safety-gadget at a time.
AMY: And for the parents to open, you just push right here. There you go.
CANDIOTTI: And you're able to get it out.
AMY: And very easily you get in with one finger.
CANDIOTTI: Nothing easy about starting over. But Amy says ...
AMY: You have to believe in yourself.
CANDIOTTI: Believe in yourself and don't give up.
Susan Candiotti, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: Well, the tax man is calling. There are ways to get a refund and it's all in the way you deduct. We'll have it for you next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) PHILLIPS: Well, it's that time of year again. Time to pull out that box of receipts, that large box of receipts, and start getting busy on your taxes. Obviously, we would all like to get a check, rather than send one to the IRS, right?
So, choosing the best way to file is key. Do you itemize or take the standard deduction? What's the best thing to do, Alison Kosik. I know you have a few tips on how to help us with a decision.
ALSION KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: It's a burning, burning question, isn't it, Kyra? You know, the goal for everybody doing their taxes is to reduce your taxable income and the amounts you can deduct are adjusted each year, so it's important to stay on top of the changes, whether you're a first-time filer or a pro at filing your own taxes.
The IRS says almost two-thirds of filers opt for the standard deductions. Single filers and married individuals filing separately can deduct $5,800. Married couples filing jointly and qualifying widows and widowers can deduct $11,600.
And heads of households can deduct $8,500. The IRS lists additional deductions for the blind as well as for filers who are 65 or older.
Kyra?
PHILLIPS: All right, so, which route do most people take then in filing their taxes?
KOSIK: OK, so, the IRS is going to allow you to deduct certain medical expenses, mortgage interest, taxes, charitable contributions as well as other miscellaneous expenses like tax preparation fees.
And when it comes to deducting donations, it's important to keep records. Consumer Reports recommends collecting all of your acknowledgements, all of your receipts and cancelled checks and putting it in one place.
For cash deductions or for cash donations rather, you're going to need a bank statement or written acknowledgment from the charity. Be especially careful if you donate clothing, furniture or other household items because the IRS has rules in place to stop filers from deducting junk donations.
Consumer Reports warns that you should only claim items that were in good condition when you donated them. But you may donate items in any condition that are worth more than $500 if you include a qualified appraisal with your tax return.
Kyra?
PHILLIPS: OK. Got it. Alison Kosik, thank you for the tips. Appreciate it.
Well, Rick Santorum picks a up win in Kansas. Will this make a difference? Plus Mitt Romney showing that he's willing to do anything to win the South. It's all fair game, next.
But, first, a question for you political question junkies. Which president had a dog in the White House named "Grits?"
Be the first to tweet me the right answer. I'll give you a shout-out after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: All right, just before the break I asked which president had a dog in the White House named "Grits." The answer? Jimmy Carter.
"Grits" was a gift to Amy Carter from her teacher. The Carters eventually gave the dog back and got a cat instead.
Not sure about the name of the cat. Maybe my next guest knows.
We're talking the fight for the Republican presidential nomination shift to the Deep South. Michigan and Alabama are the crucial primaries tomorrow. Rick Santorum boldly predicted he's going to catch Mitt Romney and win the Republican nomination. The latest polls show a tie between Santorum and Romney in Mississippi. That flies in the face of Romney's commanding lead in the delegate count.
Joining me now Democratic political consultant, Ed Espinoza, and Republican strategist and blogger, Doug Heye.
Quickly, do you know the cat's name, guys?
DOUG HEYE, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: Definitely not.
PHILLIPS: Neither one?
ED ESPINOZA, DEMOCRATIC POLITICAL CONSULTANT: No idea.
PHILLIPS: At a loss?
(LAUGHTER)
PHILLIPS: OK, to be continued. Maybe we'll tweet for that answer next.
I want to ask you about the new "Washington Post"/"ABC News" poll out today. It shows President Obama running even with Romney and Santorum among registered voters.
Ed, your take?
ESPINOZA: Well, it's early in the campaign season. Republicans are getting a lot of attention in their primaries. They should be getting a bump. But we still have at least six months to go. And there's time. We always expected this to be a competitive election. And it will be a competitive election.
PHILLIPS: Doug, Santorum takes a big win in Kansas. How does that impact tomorrow's contest in Alabama and Mississippi?
HEYE: Well, it gives them a little bit of momentum going forward. He's tried to bank well on doing good in the south that really propelled his campaign to catch Mitt Romney and catch Gingrich. For me, looking at our three candidates, we've heard the Democrats talk about how our field is weak and how Republicans are attacking each other. Yet, we're tied with President Obama. And when we focus on his record, it shows what those vulnerabilities are.
PHILLIPS: Let's have some fun shall we? Romney now said "y'all." He says he likes grits. Now we have redneck comedian, Jeff Foxworthy, joining Romney on the campaign trail. Let's take a listen.
(LAUGHTER)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEFF FOXWORTHY: I was able to avoid politics for 53 years.
(LAUGHTER)
And somebody said, why in the world would you get into it now? And the answer is it's too important. Because I love this country. As a comedian, I've been to all 50 states. I've been to every part.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(LAUGHTER)
PHILLIPS: All right. First of all, let me ask you guys, are you Jeff Foxworthy fans?
HEYE: Sure.
PHILLIPS: Yes?
Ed, do we have a yes, a no?
ESPINOZA: Yes, sure. Why not?
(LAUGHTER)
(CROSSTALK)
HEYE: I'm from one a stop-light town called Louisville, North Carolina. So I suppose I have to be.
(LAUGHTER)
PHILLIPS: Ed, where did you grow up?
HEYE: Well, I grew up in L.A. But I've seen lots of "Are you smarter than a 5th grader," so --
PHILLIPS: OK, there you go. Let me do this. I'm going to have you put on your Jeff Foxworthy hats for a minute. Here we go, dot, dot, dot. You may be the nominee if -- Ed?
ESPINOZA: If you manage to avoid a brokered convention.
PHILLIPS: OK. Doug? You may be the nominee if --
HEYE: If you put the best compelling case to defeat Barack Obama and can demonstrate you can win in November, which all our candidates are demonstrating now.
PHILLIPS: We had a little fun there. Let me ask you a serious question here. If you're looking at the tone that he's taking to try to win over these southern conservatives, is Jeff Foxworthy really the guy? Do you think this is a smart campaign move? Ed?
ESPINOZA: It does seem a little out of place. I guess it's where Blue Collar comedy meets Brooks Brother comedy.
(LAUGHTER)
ESPINOZA: Which is not, in my mind, a whole lot of overlap. But it could be a good news bump or it could be his Mike Dukakis sitting in a tank moment. I guess we'll find out tomorrow.
PHILLIPS: Doug, what do you think?
HEYE: I think any candidate wants somebody who supports him. We saw in the South in 2008, Mike Huckabee campaigned in South Carolina with the nature boy, Rick Flare, and that ginned up some excitement for his campaign. Barack Obama campaigns with celebrities almost every day. It raises a lot of money for him.
PHILLIPS: Let's move on to something I brought up this morning in our editorial meeting. Be honest with me. Did you see the HBO special "Game Change" over the weekend, so I know what I'm dealing with here? Ed?
(LAUGHTER)
ESPINOZA: I have seen enough excerpts to make me think I've seen this whole movie. But having worked in the 2008 campaign, I feel like I've lived it.
PHILLIPS: Hold that thought.
Doug, did you see it in its entirety? What am I dealing with here?
HEYE: I saw your segment about Florida State. I was at the basketball games. I was focused on ACC basketball over the weekend.
(LAUGHTER)
But I've seen so many clips, too, and have read the book. PHILLIPS: Full disclosure. With that said, "Game Change" re- premiered on Friday. Sarah Palin didn't come off looking too good. Here's a clip.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JULIANNE MOORE, ACTRESS (acting as Sarah Palin): You can actually see Russia from land here in Alaska.
WOODY HARRELSON, ACTOR (acting as Steve Schmidt): Oh my god. What have we done?
MOORE: It wasn't my fault. I wasn't properly prepped.
I miss my baby. I miss sitting with my baby.
HARRELSON: She's on the verge of a complete nervous breakdown.
MOORE: You tell me what to say, what to wear, how to talk. I am not your puppet!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Now that it's aired in the entirety -- and, of course, the book has been out for a while. But a lot of people don't read the book. They wait for the television movie or on the big screen.
Ed, could this change -- because this is the buzz out there now -- the way candidates are vetted?
ESPINOZA: I don't think it actually changes the way they're vetted. I think it reinforces they fully need to be vetted. In this case, it wasn't done. In the summer of 2008, McCain was down by a sizable amount. He needed a Hail-Mary pass. That's what the Palin nomination was.
PHILLIPS: Doug, what do you think?
HEYE: I agree with Ed. It demonstrates the importance of vetting all our candidates. Certainly, Republicans didn't think Barack Obama was fully vetted in 2008. That's still our job today.
PHILLIPS: OK. Now, were either of you -- Ed, you worked on the campaign. Were you surprised at what you saw? Obviously, you didn't see the entire program, but you say you saw enough to get a taste. Do you think it was fair?
ESPINOZA: Well, I do think there are a lot of elements that were exposed from the '08 campaign. There were a lot of things that we saw that we were really surprised by that appeared to be fairly conveyed in "Game Change." One thing I really appreciate is that, for the first time in a long time, political staffers are seen as the good guys, not the puppeteers behind the scenes trying to pull strings. Actually, people trying to do the right things. It was very refreshing to see.
PHILLIPS: Interesting.
Doug, your thoughts?
HEYE: Certainly, any campaign staffer on the ground is trying to do good work. Don't know that they need to be in the spotlight as much as they are even as there are right now. But certainly, moving forward --
(LAUGHTER)
-- I think we hope to see more vetting of candidates and more demonstrating the importance of the work that goes on.
PHILLIPS: Doug Heye, Ed Espinoza, thanks guys.
That's "Fair Game."
HEYE: Thank you.
PHILLIPS: From politics to a dance of a different kind, March Madness. We're turning to none other than Ed Weiland. Who you asked? Come on, he's the FedEx driver that predicted Jeremy Lin's success. So who is he picking to win it all? He joins me live next.
First Pulitzer Prize-winning Gary Trudeau, the man behind 42 years of the "Doonesbury" comic strip, he's made a career on polarizing issues. His latest, a week-long series on legislation mandating women get an ultrasound before terminating a pregnancy. And now newspapers across the country are actually pulling the comic this week, or placing it on op-ed pages, citing poor taste. But aren't comic strips, by their very nature, designed to provoke thought? Especially those of Gary Trudeau? Would editors expect anything less?
So is freedom of speech for the right to an opinion facing its 15 minutes? No question abortion is a sensitive issue. But does it require censorship? To quote the "Cleveland Plain Dealer," "Gary Trudeau's does (ph) political satire, so if we choose to carry "Doonesbury," we can't yank the strip every time it deals with a highly charged issue." Let me be clear, I'm not advocating choice or life here. But are newspapers editors making this a bigger issue by pulling Trudeau? Shouldn't the reader decide?
(SINGING)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: It's that time. We're talking March Madness. You have your brackets ready? You better because we do. We all have our favorites. I do. STSU, baby, go Aztecs. Yes, my parents taught there. I grew up watching Michael Cage. I have to support the family team.
But there's one guy who has serious street cred when it comes to predicting the unpredictable, like the rise of Jeremy Lin. If you know basketball, you know what FedEx deliver guy I'm talking about, basketball sage, Ed Weiland. His predictions are always delivered on time. He's with me now from Bend, Oregon, over Skype.
Ed, great to see you.
ED WEILAND, FEDEX DELIVERY DRIVER: Hi, Kyra. Good to be here.
PHILLIPS: Tell me what your bracket looks like.
WEILAND: My bracket is pretty much -- I have three number ones, Kentucky, North Carolina, Michigan State advancing to the final four. And I have Florida State also joining them.
PHILLIPS: Kentucky, Michigan State, Florida State and North Carolina. Why are these your picks?
WEILAND: Kentucky and North Carolina are probably the two best teams in the country. And I just don't see anyone beating them. Michigan State is up there with them. They're close. They also have a good coach. I'm a little wary about their road. They have a tough bracket. But I think they'll get there. And Florida State, I believe a sleeper is coming out of the east regional. I don't think Syracuse is going to make it past Kansas State in around two. And I could have just as easily picked Vanderbilt or Wisconsin or even Ohio State to make it, but I thought Florida State was the strongest and playing the best of that group.
PHILLIPS: You called it with Jeremy Lin. When you did your bracket and started thinking about the teams, tell me how it works here. How do you find your method to your madness?
(LAUGHTER)
WEILAND: I just look at history. I see what made historically an NCAA champion. It's always one of the winningest teams in the nations. Especially in the recent years there's been a rush to the pros by the prospects, sort of a one and done era of the best players. And recently teams that have won are teams that have been able to keep the core together for two or three years. And that would be good news for North Carolina and Michigan State. And also teams with a lot of size, enough size in the middle.
(CROSSTALK)
PHILLIPS: Now you're still with Fed-Ex, right?
WEILAND: Yes.
PHILLIPS: Are you the guy everybody turns to for the brackets and the pooling of the money? Are you the guru when it comes to sports? Does everybody go to you?
(LAUGHTER)
WEILAND: I've had a few people on the route ask for bracket help. This is such a random thing, picking brackets. Once you get past the top group and above the bottom group, the smaller colleges that get in, all the teams range between three and 14 are actually very close. And it's not surprising a lot of them get knocked out. There's a lot of upsets and drama. So it's really hard to be an expert at this.
PHILLIPS: You've picked your teams. But since you're the Jeremy Lin guy, is there a player that you are watching that you think may come out of the big dance as somebody we never expected to focus on?
WEILAND: I think people know about Jay Crowder because he's playing so well. I'm mentioned him once or twice. I'll give you a couple. Eli Holman and Kyle O'Quinn. Eli Holman plays for Detroit. O'Quinn is with Norfolk State. They're both good centers. They're both 15 cedes. While I didn't pick them to upset the number-two cedes -- I think Norfolk State is playing Missouri and Detroit is playing Kansas. I think they have a decent chance to do so. If either has a good game and upsets the two cede, which I think is possible, either one would put himself in the draft discussion.
PHILLIPS: OK. I missed the second one. You said Eli Holman. Right?
WEILAND: And Kyle O'Quinn of Norfolk State.
PHILLIPS: I have you on the record now. We'll keep an eye on these two players. I don't know, I'm starting to see maybe you should leave FedEx and become a recruiter or scout. What do you think?
WEILAND: I have my people working on it now, so.
(LAUGHTER)
PHILLIPS: I bet you are. You're people. When did you get your people? Did you get called and now you're being represented?
WEILAND: They're friends who are telling me what I should do. There's nothing is happening, though.
(LAUGHTER)
PHILLIPS: OK, It sure sounded good.
Ed Weiland, we'll check back with you sure on your predictions.
Great seeing you.
WEILAND: OK. And I did pick Michigan State to win it all.
PHILLIPS: We didn't say that. You're right. OK. Michigan State the big winner.
All right. Big Ed, thanks so much.
(LAUGHTER)
All right, Ed.
With all this March Madness talk, are you filling out your bracket? If so, why not go ahead and go head-to-head with me, or should I say the whole team? We got up very, very early. Stayed up late, got up early. Put all our picks in. Visit CNN.com/brackets and join the March Madness CNN group.
Right after the break, Facebook and privacy concerns. Nothing new, right? A sixth grader punished at school for Facebook comments made on her own time. Is it a violation of privacy? We'll talk about it.
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PHILLIPS: Time now to go to stories making "Street Level.
Center County, Pennsylvania, a hearing in the Kerry Sandusky case. At issue today, how much information about the alleged crimes and victims prosecutors have to give the defense. Former assistant football coach remains under house arrest and is not in court this hour.
Also in Pennsylvania, the capital city of Harrisburg at a fiscal dead end. The city faces its first-ever default on general obligation bonds worth more than $5 million. Harrisburg is more than $300 million in debt over upgrades and upkeep of its trash incinerator. The city plans to cell or lease assets including the incinerator to raise cash.
Portland, Oregon, a jury awards almost $3 million in what's being called a wrongful birth suit against an Oregon hospital. A couple have sued over a faulty prenatal test five years ago. It showed that the unborn child did not have Down's syndrome. It turns out she did, and does. The parents claim they would have ended the pregnancy had they known. The judgment is meant to cover the extra lifetime costs of the girl's care.
A Minnesota middle school student is suing her school district. She attends the Casha (ph)-area middle school where employees did a search of student Facebook accounts. They discovered several posts, including one where she said she hated a school hall monitor. The lawsuit alleges that school employees violated her First and Fourth Amendment rights. Her posts were punished by did I tension and suspension and a meeting with police where she claims she was forced to give away her Facebook password. The school district maintains that the girl's rights were not violated.
From the Turks and Caicos Islands to Boston, getting there isn't always half the fun. Just ask the Rhode Island family flying home from vacation last month when their 2-year-old refused to sit down for takeoff. The parents struggled, other passengers waited. Finally, she was buckled in but it was too late for the pilot. He turned the plane around and kicked the family off. The parents say they don't understand.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COLETTE VIEAU, MOTHER OF DISRUPTIVE TODDLER: We were just trying to control a 2-year-old child who was scared and wanted to be held by her mother.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: The airline, JetBlue, said that they did not comply with the crew members instructions so the captain removed the family for the safety of all customers and crew on board.
Austin, Texas, South by Southwest, the mecca for the so-called technoradi (ph) popular phone apps like Four Square and Twitter were debuted at South by Southwest before they even became popular. This year, everyone has their eyes on High Life, an app that shows users if friends are nearby. Even companies like Microsoft and Google are investing in the festival. Hope you can take advantage of all of the momentum.
A day after he said he felt great, Tiger Woods had to withdraw from the golf tournament Sunday with an injury. Woods started limping around the 10th hole and finally gave up at the 12th after complaining about his Achilles. Now the question is, what is next for Tiger Woods. Some wonder whether he will be able to play in the Masters next month.
Has Romney's southern strategy gone too far? First there was this --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MITT ROMNEY, (R), FORMER MASSACHUSETTS GOVERNOR & PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I'm learning to say ya'll and I like grits, and strange things are happening to me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Now he's pairing up with the most famous redneck, Jeff Foxworthy.
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PHILLIPS: Well, voters in Alabama and Mississippi have 24 hours to make their choice in the Republican primary. The candidates are trying to woo southern voters. Even adding comic relief to the mix. Jeff Foxworthy is joining Mitt Romney in Mobile today.
(LAUGHTER)
CNN Political Editor Paul Steinhauser is joining us with more on how that played out.
One of your favorite comedians?
PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: I saw Foxworthy in Atlanta about 20 years ago when he was starting so I'm dating myself here. Mitt Romney has been trying to downplay expectations in Alabama and Mississippi. He said it was an away game. Let's be honest, his campaign spent a long time away from there. He's got and endorsement from both state's governors and now Jeff Foxworthy. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FOXWORTHY: I avoided politics for 53 years and my friends would say, why would you get involved in this. And the answer is it's too important. While I don't like politics, I don't like big government, I love this country.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
STEINHAUSER: Now, I promise you that was Jeff Foxworthy and Mitt Romney. You couldn't see them because of the umbrella. There was a downpour. Where does the race stand in both states? Take a look. Brand-new numbers released in the last hour. Here's Alabama, and it looks like a dead heat to me. American Research Group, Gingrich, 34 percent. Romney, 31 percent. Santorum, 24 percent. Go to Mississippi, same story. Look at this. Romney on top of 34. In a dead heat with Gingrich. Santorum in the 20s. Ron Paul in the single digits here.
PHILLIPS: Speaking of Ron Paul, we haven't heard from him lately. What is his strategy?
STEINHAUSER: He's not been campaigning in Mississippi or Alabama. He was in Kansas over the weekend. Of course, Santorum won that event. And Santorum is maybe hoping that Newt Gingrich gives up. Listen to what he said in the Sunday talk shows.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RICK SANTORUM, (R), FORMER PENNSYLVANIA SENATOR & PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The speaker can stay as long as he wants but I think the better opportunity to make sure that we nominate a conservative is to give us an opportunity to go head to head with Governor Romney at some point and hopefully that will occur sooner rather than later. But we'll wait and see what the speaker decides.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
STEINHAUSER: As of now, the speaker doesn't sound like a candidate that is about to give up -- Kyra?
PHILLIPS: Sounds like it.
Paul Steinhauser, thank you so much.
Thank you for watching. Continue the conversation with me on Twitter at KyraCNN or on Facebook.
CNN NEWSROOM continues right now with our Suzanne Malveaux.
Hello there.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN ANCHOR: Nice to see you.
(CROSSTALK) (LAUGHTER)
PHILLIPS: Happy Monday, my friend.
(LAUGHTER)
MALVEAUX: Great to see you.
