Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Newsroom
New Video Raises Questions in Martin Killing; Obama Speaks About Oil Subsidies; Big Name Endorsements For Romney; Poll Shows Obama Leading Rivals; Trump On Hillary Clinton 2016; Animals Use Smartphones; Colorado Wildfire; Zimmerman Video Raises Questions
Aired March 29, 2012 - 12:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DON LEMON, ANCHOR, CNN NEWSROOM: Thank you very much, Ms. Phillips. Live from the CNN world headquarters in Atlanta, where it is 12:00 noon, 9:00 am on the West Coast, I'm Don Lemon. Suzanne Malveaux is on special assignment. Want to get you up to speed really quickly here this Thursday the 29th.
Surveillance video raising new questions about the killing of Trayvon Martin. The tape shows a handcuffed George Zimmerman at a police station just hours after he shot the unarmed teenager. Zimmerman does not appear to have any injuries consistent with a life- and-death struggle that his lawyer claims he had with the 17-year old.
A police report says Zimmerman was bleeding from the nose and the back of his head and was given first aid at the scene before this video was recorded. Zimmerman's father says his son pulled the trigger after Trayvon Martin severely beat and threatened him.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERT ZIMMERMAN, FATHER OF GEORGE ZIMMERMAN: Trayvon Martin said something to the effect of you're going to die now or you're going to die tonight, something to that effect. He continued to beat George, and at some point George pulled his pistol and did what he did.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: A Colorado family makes a desperate bid to escape a wildfire, the terrifying moments all caught on camera.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Where's mom? What's she stopping for?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's down there. It's down there. (Inaudible). (Inaudible).
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Whoa. (Inaudible).
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There it is. Right here, right here.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, my gosh. (Inaudible).
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's OK. We're out, we're out, we're out.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Man, can you imagine? As you just heard, the family is OK, but they say their home is still in danger. More than 500 firefighters are trying to tame this fire, which officials say began as a controlled burn. Two people have been killed. We'll monitor that.
President Barack Obama tries to tap into the anger over rising gas prices. In a speech just a short time ago, the president called on Congress to end tax breaks for the oil industry. The Senate could vote today on a bill to repeal the tax breaks. Republicans argue that would lead to even higher gas prices, but the president says big oil doesn't need subsidies.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It's not as if these companies can't stand on their own. Last year the three biggest U.S. oil companies took home more than $80 billion in profits. Exxon pocketed nearly $4.7 million every hour. And when the price of oil goes up, prices at the pump go up, and so do these companies' profits.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: The JetBlue captain at the center of this chaotic scene is now facing federal charges. A criminal complaint filed by a U.S. attorney in Texas says Clayton Osbon interfered with the flight crew. Osbon, who was removed from the plane after an emergency landing, has been suspended by JetBlue. No court date has been set.
Let's get more details now on the Trayvon Martin case. There's new surveillance video showing a handcuffed George Zimmerman in custody just after the shooting. Plus, his father is speaking out for the first time now. CNN's Martin Savidge is live for us in Florida.
Martin, let's focus, first, on this video. Many people are saying Zimmerman does not look like someone who has been in a fight for his life, but this video taken at a distance. But if you look at it just from, you know, from the naked eye, it doesn't look like it. What's going on?
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN REPORTER: Yes, hey, Don. You're right. I mean, first thing, when I saw this video, that I was struck by was the fact that there was no clear indication of these injuries that have been so talked about, and that is, of course, the broken nose, blood, according to police reports, streaming down his face, and then also blood and cuts on the back of George Zimmerman's head, as -- all the result of this altercation that allegedly took place between himself and Trayvon Martin.
So, yes, it's very striking to look at that. The attorney that represents George Zimmerman says, key, look, it's grainy video. He'd already been attended to by paramedics and a number of hours had passed and that's the reason that he does not look as badly beaten as you might expect.
LEMON: So he's saying a number of hours have passed. According to the reporter who got this video this morning, he's saying this was only 30 minutes or so after or even less than 30 minutes after he was taken into custody. Do you know what the discrepancy is? Was it hours after or was it just 30 minutes or so after? Because that would make a difference, right, if you're looking at this tape?
SAVIDGE: Sure, yes. Half hour seems a little quick, just given what we know from the initial police report as to what transpired at the original crime scene. It is actually Joe Oliver who is countering that -- this is the close friend, the very outspoken friend of George Zimmerman, who has said that it was actually hours later.
There was no time stamp on that video that we could see. We are pressing the City of Sanford to see if we can get some indication of the exact time frame.
LEMON: OK. Let's go now, Martin, to Zimmerman's father. What is he saying about what happened, and it's interesting that his father is speaking out.
SAVIDGE: Right. He's spoken out a couple of times in print. The first time he's gone and sat down for a formal interview, although he did not reveal his identify, he says they are very worried about possible retaliation.
But he describes in rather dramatic terms this life-and-death struggle between his son and Trayvon Martin. And in his depiction, he basically says that the aggressor was all Trayvon Martin here. Of course, it's a very one-sided account and very much in favor of his son, and we should keep in mind that Robert Zimmerman was not there. He's only retelling, apparently, the story he got from his son.
LEMON: Yes. And Robert Zimmerman, according to reports, is a former judge, but not in Florida. And it's -- that's making it more interesting, him speaking out, someone who's used to court proceedings. Indeed, he is a former judge from Virginia. The father is also expressing surprise at the country's reaction to the killing, Martin.
SAVIDGE: Right. Not just surprised, he's flat-out shocked, and he's really shocked over the level of hatred and where it is coming from. Here, take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ZIMMERMAN: I never foresaw so much hate coming from the president, the Congressional Black Caucus, the NAACP, every organization imaginable is trying to get notoriety or profit from this in some way, but there's so much hate. I have never been involved in hate, and George hasn't, and it's really unbelievable.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SAVIDGE: We should point out, Don, that, of course, George Zimmerman has not been charged with anything.
LEMON: Yes. All right. Martin Savidge following this story for us. Martin, thank you for your reporting.
Viewers, I want to tell you tomorrow night CNN's Soledad O'Brien leads a special town hall event about how this neighborhood tragedy became a nationwide story and what it says about racial tension in our country. don't miss "Beyond Trayvon, Race and Justice in America." That's tomorrow 8:00 pm Eastern, only here on CNN.
In other news now, we have an important new study to tell you about. It was just released by the Centers for Disease Control. It finds many more kids have autism than previously thought. Our chief medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, has the story.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Frankie Sanders is a ninth grader who loves to play chess on his iPad, and is trying to pass the test for his driver's permit. Frankie also has autism. As you may know, that's a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects language, behavior and social skills. Boys make up the vast majority of cases.
What you may not know is that 12 years ago the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention began to estimate the total number of cases in the United States. They based it on a count of eight-year- old children with autism in select communities.
If you look back in the years 2000 and 2002, it was about one child in 150 with autism. Two years later, one in 125. Then one in 110. And now the latest report as of 2008, the last time an estimate was performed, one in 88 children has autism. That's a 78 percent increase just over the last decade. And the question on a lot of people's minds is why.
DR. THOMAS FRIEDEN, CDC DIRECTOR: How much of that increase is a result of better tracking and how much of it is a result of an actual increase, we still don't know.
GUPTA (voice-over): Researchers have discovered many genes linked to autism, but in most cases genes are only one part of the equation, and genes alone wouldn't change that fast in just 10 years. There is something else that triggers the problem.
GARY GOLDSTEIN, PRESIDENT, KENNEDY KRIEGER INSTITUTE: We're talking about infections. We're talking about social conditions, and we're talking about exposures to toxicants, things in the environment.
GUPTA (voice-over): Researchers are still looking for answers, but what they do know is that diagnosing children early is critical, as was the case with Frankie Sanders.
ROY SANDERS, FATHER OF FRANKIE SANDERS: Frankie was diagnosed when he was 15 months old. He immediately began to get speech therapy and occupational therapy and physical therapy. He was placed in a group with kids who were typically developing.
GUPTA (voice-over): All that hard work is paying off. Frankie is now 15. He attends a regular high school and plays on the football team.
GOLDSTEIN: We can diagnose autism at two years of age almost always, but in 90 percent of the children; by three, certainly. And we actually can diagnose it at 18 months in many children.
GUPTA (voice-over): But according to this new report, most cases are diagnosed late, after age two or three. That's when therapy has been shown to help the most, especially with speech and communication.
R. SANDERS: Parents need to be aware of their children and how their children are interacting.
GUPTA (voice-over): And then they need to seek help.
FRIEDEN: If you as a parent are concerned about your child, talk to your doctor, talk to your school system, to see if they should be assessed, get them assessed.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Dr. Gupta is here now. Doctor, why do researchers think the number of cases is going up?
GUPTA: Well, you know, when they do studies like this, they're purely sort of making estimates on autism rates, based on looking at specific communities. They don't really look at cause and things like this, but a lot of people are asking that question, Don.
Everyone seems to believe it's a combination of genes and environment. That's the answer you hear for most things, but I would -- but I put forth this, that, you know, the numbers have really increased a lot over the last decade, 78 percent. Your genes don't change that fast. We as human beings, our genes don't change that fast.
So I think it puts more of the onus of this cause for the increase on the environment, and not just after a child is born, but also, you know, in the mother's womb. Are there certain toxins, are there infections, are there exposures that are leading this increase?
LEMON: Let's talk a little bit more about causes. So you said researchers are still looking for a cause. Is there anything a parent can do? You and I talked as this story was going on, is there a test that you can do prenatally or anything, nothing? Is there anything that a parent can do?
GUPTA: Well, you know, it's interesting because I'm used to being able to order a blood test or a scan other something like that. And, you know, we may get to the point where scanning, for example, the brain can make the diagnosis early.
We're not there yet. What everything seems to point to -- and I think it's more than just platitudes -- is that the early diagnosis does make a difference. So around 18 months even, which, you know, I have young children, you know, 18 months is very hard to pin down a child's behavior at that age for sure.
But a child who is not recognizing his or her name, a child who doesn't seem engaged with, he does not keep eye contact. Those types of things, those aren't exact sort of things in terms -- every kid is going to develop differently.
But you take a look at a list there, and you know, some of those things, you know, sort of make sense for your child at a young age, again, even before age one, it's imperative to get it checked out. Early intervention does make a difference, as you saw with Frankie Sanders.
LEMON: A child who doesn't reach out, doesn't require attention, because most children are very clingy. They want Mommy or Daddy, you know, most of the time.
GUPTA: That's right. But a lot of times those children don't even want that. They -- they're -- a lot -- the sort of a lot of self-awareness, a lot of it is directed inward. And that's why you see some of the symptoms that you just saw there on the screen.
LEMON: I think the list -- it's very important. Let's put the list back up there, Dr. Gupta, and we can go through it. These are the signs, you said, and it's usually 6-12 months. You said 18 months as well, right?
GUPTA: You want to make the diagnosis before 18 months.
LEMON: OK.
GUPTA: Yes. So look for these things early on. Again, you know, kids start to babble. They may not be saying exact words, certainly at this age, but they don't gesture. They don't -- they're not reaching up, asking to be hugged or asking to be lifted, poor eye contact. They really aren't seeking you out. That's one of the big cardinal symptoms.
And you know, when you're moving or walking around the room, they're not tracking you or paying attention.
LEMON: Yes. But if you have any inkling that something may be wrong, get it checked out.
GUPTA: Get it checked out. And again, the earlier the better.
LEMON: Thank you. Dr. Gupta, really appreciate it.
GUPTA: Thanks.
LEMON: All right. Here is a rundown of the stories that we are covering for you.
First, the Trayvon Martin case. We'll hear more from George Zimmerman's father about what pushed his son to pull the trigger in his deadly confrontation with the 17-year old. And we'll take a closer look at the tape of Zimmerman entering the police station the night of the shooting.
Then in politics, Mitt Romney racking up some big name endorsements. Could it finally signal the beginning of the end of the primary race? We'll get into it in our political panel coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: We're hearing for the first time from the father of George Zimmerman, the man who killed Trayvon Martin.
Orlando's WOFL sat down with Robert Zimmerman. The station says he asked not to appear on camera after receiving what he says were death threats. And we've decided to play an extended piece of Robert Zimmerman's interview, because we've heard a great deal from Trayvon Martin's parents over the past month since his death. So here is the other side of the story.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ZIMMERMAN: Trayvon Martin walked up to him, asked him do you have [ bleep ] problem? George said, no, I don't have a problem, and started to reach for his cell phone. At that point, he was punched in the nose. His nose was broken and he was knocked to the concrete. Trayvon Martin got on top of him and just started beating him in the face, in his nose, hitting his head on the concrete.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And did Trayvon Martin say anything to your son as this was going on?
ZIMMERMAN: After nearly a minute of being beaten, George was trying to get his head off of the concrete, trying to move with Trayvon on him into the grass. In doing so, his firearm was shown. Trayvon Martin said something to the effect of you're going to die now or you're going to die tonight, something to that effect. He continued to beat George, and at some point, George pulled his pistol and did what he did.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Robert Zimmerman is a former judge. He says he never expected the anger and hate that has erupted over the killing. Tonight at 9:00 Eastern, George Zimmerman's brother, Robert Zimmerman, joins Piers Morgan. He speaks out on the Trayvon Martin case, the treatment his brother is receiving and how he feels the case should be handled going forward. The Piers Morgan interview, CNN tonight, 9:00 Eastern.
Grocery prices are going down at one big chain in hopes that you'll buy other stuff while you're shopping. We'll tell you where.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Is the way to a shoppers heart through the stomach? That's what Walmart thinks. The world's biggest retailer says it's slashing grocery prices in an effort to get you to buy more stuff. Alison Kosik joins me now from the New York Stock Exchange.
So, Alison, hello. Give us the details. I'm sure Walmart decided to do this because they want to sell more things and --
ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: But, of course.
LEMON: When will it take effect?
KOSIK: OK. So that's a good question. So Walmart is actually already cutting prices it says. So what it's essentially doing, Don, it's going through all of those aisles in its grocery area and it's looking to cut up to $1 billion in grocery prices.
But, of course, as you said, you know what this is, is a business strategy. They're, you know, they're trying to get you in the door. The price cut is really an incentive because you know, once you're there, Walmart is hoping you'll buy other stuff. So if you came in, let's say, for a gallon of milk, maybe you'll wander off into the clothing area and buy some clothes, pick up a few toys, maybe a TV set.
So basically what they're doing is sacrificing their grocery business to try to boost sales in other parts of the store. Don?
LEMON: OK. So the economy hasn't totally recovered. So how can Walmart afford to cut prices so much? Well, I think if the strategy is -- and OK, you tell me if I'm wrong -- the strategy is to get -- they'll make it up because people will buy more and therefore spend more money because they think they're getting a better deal. Is that right?
KOSIK: Bingo. So keep in mind as well, you know, adding on to what you said, that Walmart is big and Walmart is strong, and you look at what they did in grocery sales just last year. They sold $145 billion just in groceries, so that $1 billion cut in those grocery prices, it ain't all that much.
Also, its grocery business is growing and growing. So in a tough economy, as you know, it's all that other ancillary stuff that people cut back on, the nonessentials. So since they're buying groceries anyway, what Walmart is doing is focusing on trying to boost sales in the extra stuff that's not necessarily selling as well -- Don.
LEMON: OK. And speaking of, you know, the economy and spending, because that all helps the economy, we got good reports on jobs and U.S. growth this morning, but the markets are falling. Why is that?
KOSIK: Yes. Exactly. The Dow down 70 points. Nasdaq, S&P in the red as well. We got some economic reports out today showing, you know, things are getting better, they're just not getting better fast enough. First-time unemployment claims fell by 5,000 last week, with 359,000 people signing up for benefits.
The worry here that Wall Street is seeing is that there really hasn't been a lot of movement off that range of the number of people filing for those first-time jobless claims. So the worry is that the improvement that we have been seeing in the job market, that it may be slowing.
Also, we got a number on how much the economy grew. We found out that the economy grew at 3 percent annual pace in October through December of last year. And that's good. It shows that the economy is growing. Things are moving forward. Growth is picking up, but, of course, Wall Street was holding out hope for a better number. Alas, it did not get it and that's why you're seeing stocks in the red today, Don.
LEMON: Looks like your odds of making money these days in the stock market are the same as that big Mega Millions.
KOSIK: Oh, yes. Buying my ticket.
LEMON: You read my mind. Thank you, Alison. See you soon.
KOSIK: You got it.
LEMON: Mitt Romney picks up two big endorsements. Our roundtable looks at whether the Republican Party is starting to unite behind him.
But first, in this week's edition of "THE NEXT LIST," a man uses toys to make affordable medical devices.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOSE GOMEZ-MARQUEZ, MIT PROFESSOR: My name is Jose Gomez- Marquez, and I use toys to make affordable medical devices. When you're using toys, it demystifies the process of medical technology. Often we look at these medical devices and we think that they're a black box and you need an expert to even take a screwdriver at it.
You may not have the courage to hack a $1,000 device but you definitely have the courage to hack something that's $5. And then if you add a little ingenuity, it becomes something as powerful as a $1,000 medical device.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Some stories on the rundown that we're working on for you. Next, the guy who pumped 15 million bucks into Newt Gingrich's campaign is saying it could be game over for the former Speaker of the House.
Then a family risks it all to escape a raging fire in Colorado.
And then later animals go wild for smartphones. All on the rundown for you. Stay tuned.
Mitt Romney picks up two more big-name endorsement, and there's a new call for Republicans to rally around him. That call is coming from Florida Senator Marco Rubio. He's one of the people endorsing Mitt Romney.
And then later today, former President George H.W. Bush will officially announce that he is backing the Republican front-runner. Let's bring in our political panel right now to talk about this and much, much more. Democratic strategist and county commissioner Lee May is in the studio for me.
And then the editor and blogger Crystal Wright of conservativeblackchick.com. That is such a clever name, I say it every time. I like that name, conservativeblackchick.com.
So, Crystal --
(CROSSTALK)
CRYSTAL WRIGHT, CONSERVATIVEBLACKCHICK.COM: Thank you, Don.
LEMON: -- the last time we talked, we -- you said, hey, if Newt Gingrich stays in for much longer, he's going to become a spoiler. I want to know, you were very honest with me, how significant are these endorsements? And are most Republicans finally ready to join hands and unite behind Romney, not Newt Gingrich, not Rick Santorum, Romney?
WRIGHT: Don, it's been evident for quite a while with Newt -- I mean, I'm sorry, with Romney winning all these contests and racking up the delegates that's he's the front-runner.
We had Jeb Bush come out after he won Illinois -- I think it was after or before he won Illinois -- and said, hey, guys, I endorse Romney. He's the man, he's earned the nomination, which some people don't seem to want to wrap their head around, because you have to earn nominations by winning contests.
So, yes, I think we have Senator Rubio and the elder George Bush endorsing Romney, very significant. And I think more and more, conservatives are coming around to the fact that Romney is our best choice. He has won this with sweat equity and, yes, money, because news flash, folks, money matters when you're running for president. So this is a good thing.
LEMON: And we always say -- we always say endorsements don't matter, but with the particular situation that Mitt Romney is in, with so many people saying, oh, you know, anyone -- that's the perception -- anyone --
WRIGHT: And I think --
LEMON: -- but Mitt Romney, to have the establishment come out, like George H.W. Bush and --
WRIGHT: Well, that's --
LEMON: -- Marco Rubio.
WRIGHT: Well, yes, but Rubio is not the establishment. Rubio was endorsed by Tea Party --
LEMON: But he's well liked by the establishment --
WRIGHT: Right, exactly. But I think it's critical that we -- you know -- Rubio is the fresh face. He's Latino, Hispanic vote. He represents the diversity in the party. He can really, you know, many people were say something he going to be the VP? He would be a superstar. He would sure pull a lot of minority votes to Mitt.
LEMON: OK, let's get to the Democrats now, the other side of the ticket. President Obama's approval rating has inched up above 50 percent now.
And a new poll shows him beating Mitt Romney 54 percent to 43 percent in a hypothetical match-up. He has a 55 percent, 42 percent lead over Rick Santorum, but there's still a long way to go until November.
So what does this mean, if anything, for the president, 55 to 42 when it comes to Rick Santorum and the odds were 55 to 43 for Mitt Romney? The interesting thing, Mitt Romney's likability ratings are -- it's weird. I'll talk to Chris about that. What do you think it means for the president?
LEE MAY, DEPUTY PRESIDING OFFICER, DEKALB COUNTY: Well, I think it means that the economy is headed in the right direction. If you look at the same ratings, it also shows that these same polling people blame the President Bush 43 for the economy as it is as well.
And about 30 percent blame the president for it. You see the unemployment numbers continuing to drop. It's progressive. It's not overnight, but they see these policies beginning to slowly change kind of the dynamic of the economy.
LEMON: So good news you say for the president.
MAY: Absolutely.
LEMON: But the interesting thing, too, if there's nothing -- if the economy is improving, people may not feel on the Democratic side that they have to go out. They may not be, you know, moved, inspired to go out because they feel he's coasting or whatever. That could actually work in reverse.
MAY: Well, it could work in reverse. Crystal has blackchick.com. I'm going to start www.newtgingrichrun.com. We have to keep him in the race because he's going to say the most outlandish things to keep himself in the race. As he continues to do those things, even Rick Santorum is jumping in the race. Just saying kind of the wildest things --
LEMON: Since you're talking about that, I know Crystal, that is an issue for you, isn't it? And are you still a Newt Gingrich delegate?
WRIGHT: You know, I was raised the right way, that you stick with the guy that took you to the dance and the prom and you leave with the guy that takes you there.
So I am a pledged delegate for Newt in the District of Columbia and I will vote for Newt Gingrich in the District of Columbia because I still believe he has the best messages about the economy, about energy, and he has a proven track record as speaker working with President Clinton to --
LEMON: Let's just be honest. Long story short, as I said, are you concerned about some of the things he's saying?
WRIGHT: Yes, I am. So while that is said and while I will continue to stand by Newt to the bitter end, I am really troubled by his new math that he wants to try to -- he seems to not understand that you have to win contests to get delegates.
Now he's talking about a convention plan where he wants to go to Tampa, which he can't do unless he wins three more contests. He wants to try to hijack delegates. Newt needs to earn this the right way.
LEMON: I want to get to another thing. I don't mean to cut you off. There's more speculation out today about Hillary Clinton making a run for the White House in 2016. This time it is coming from none other than Donald Trump. I want you to listen to what he told Greta Van Susteren on Fox News.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, REAL ESTATE MOGUL: I think assuming she's healthy, which I hope she will be, I think she probably runs after the next four years, I would imagine.
GRETA VAN SUSTEREN, HOST, FOX NEWS "ON THE RECORD": Would you support her?
TRUMP: I don't want to get into this because I'll get myself into trouble --
VAN SUSTEREN: That's why I asked you.
TRUMP: I just like her. I like her and I like her husband.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: He's not ruling it out, Crystal. He's not ruling it out. First to Crystal.
WRIGHT: Yes, I think Hillary should run in 2016. She had a chance in 2004 and she blew it. She decided to step to the side and let Kerry really lose the contest, if you will, and make a mockery of the party. He was a weak candidate. Nobody liked him.
They urged her to run then, and she wouldn't. And then she befriended Barack Obama, President Obama now, and that was a big mistake for her, too. So I think she should run in 2016.
I think it will be -- she would be a strong candidate. Let's face it. She's probably the biggest asset going right now for the Democrat Party I think.
LEMON: Lee -- you think, I mean.
MAY: You know, again, as her health is, she is older, but, look, why are we listening to Donald Trump?
LEMON: What do you mean she's older?
WRIGHT: What are you talking about?
MAY: As long as her health -- no, she's not an old lady, but as long as her health is -- she'll be in her 70s, which is -- there's nothing wrong with that but --
LEMON: Ronald Reagan --
WRIGHT: Thank you, Don.
MAY: You know --
WRIGHT: Let me get this straight, old ladies can't run.
MAY: So you called her an old lady.
WRIGHT: I don't think she's an old lady. She's 70.
MAY: I didn't call her an old lad lady.
LEMON: Hang on, Crystal.
MAY: Why are we talking about Donald Trump in this thing because he's a showmaker. He wants to just say anything. Look, let's focus on the election as it is right now. The Republicans need to coalesce around a candidate. They're trying to now, but it's gone a long way. The president is in great position now.
WRIGHT: No, he's not. Unemployment has been above 8 percent for the last three and a half years.
MAY: Continuing to put forth policies that are continuing to move this country forward period. He will be the president --
LEMON: Stop. Done here.
WRIGHT: Wait a minute, no president has gotten re-elected when the unemployment rate was 7 percent or above since Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
LEMON: We have to stop. Thank you very much. I want to say in some circles old lady is a good term. My old lady --
MAY: And Crystal gave her that term.
LEMON: Thank you very much. I appreciate it here. Lee and Crystal, good conversation.
We have seen babies using smartphones, but animals? This is like that water skiing squirrel video, isn't it? You see the pictures. We're going to talk about it.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Remember the water skiing squirrel video from "Anchorman?" By the way, "Anchorman Two" coming. It's going to be awesome. I'm Don Lemon. This next story reminds me of that.
Can you count how many times your fingers have touched the wrong key on your smartphone? Well, a certain elephant in Thailand is showing amazing dexterity with the device and the video has gone viral. Here is CNN's Jeanne Moos.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Imagine your caller ID showed "Peter, the Elephant" calling from his smartphone. Peter is the star of a viral ad from the Samsung Galaxy Note.
His favorites are the apps that make noise. Ed Robinson is co-finder of the ad agency, The Viral Factory, that dreamed up this ad to go along with Samsung's bigger is better slogan.
Look at him swipe. The ad was shot in Thailand with an actress holding the phone and the young elephant's Thai trainer alongside.
ED ROBINSON, COFOUNDER, THE VIRAL FACTORY: The elephant had no training in working the buttons. We literally turned up and presented the device to the elephant and he started interacting.
MOOS: They shot for three days. As Peter got more and more engaged, the ad agency was inspired by all those other web videos of animals using touch screens.
Who wouldn't find a tongue flicking bearded dragon lizard inspiring? Dogs are scratching like mad. Is this any way to treat an iPad? Make that an Ipaw.
Don't you sometimes feel like doing this to your device? During a morning talk show at radio station WMMR, monkey named "Bubba" went nuts on one guy's iPhone.
Who cares about the phone? Bubba's big sin was stepping on a button and disconnecting a live call from Ryan Seacrest.
Peter the elephant on the other hand was a gentle giant. They had to modify the stylus with a lump of wood so he could grip it. Is that a portrait of that other elephant?
At least all those creatures aren't dumb enough to do what we humans do. Excuse me. Texting while walking whether it be off this pier or into a shopping mall fountain. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's funny when it's not you.
MOOS: And if you think technology is intimidating, look what it did to this chameleon. These devices sure can take a licking though sometimes the owner isn't as smart as the smartphone. Jeanne moos, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: Boy, all right, onto more serious things now.
A wall of flames closes in on a family. They have only minutes to get out alive.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There it is. Right here, right here.
UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: My gosh.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's OK. We're out, we're out.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Their terror recorded as they escape the fire.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Day four of a devastating wildfire in Colorado has charred 4,000 acres outside of Denver. Look at that, man. That was all green grass and trees at one point. At least two people are dead now. But for one family, it's a story of survivals.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Daddy, where's mom? What's she stopping for?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, it's down there. It's down there. (EXPLETIVE DELETED).
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Whoa!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, my God. There it is. Right here. Right here.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, my gosh. (INAUDIBLE).
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's OK. We're out, we're out, we're out.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Man. Meteorologist Reynolds Wolf is here now. Reynolds, we know firefighters are making some progress. I'm wonder how -- if the weather is going to help or hinder this. But can you imagine you're a family man, you have kids, with your kids, in the car trying to escape this? REYNOLDS WOLF, AMS METEOROLOGIST: I'd be freaking out.
LEMON: Yes.
WOLF: Losing my mind completely. You know we've -- it's just mind blowing to see just the power of these immense fires. And we're talking about temperatures, Don, that are about 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit. A time where the trees can actually explode from the sap within. They can spread very quickly, as you saw. I can't believe the composure they had to keep the camera up. I mean, my gosh, I'd be tossing that thing out of the window and punching the accelerator. But certainly what a terrifying thing.
But, Don, it looks like the weather is not going to cooperate completely. By the time we get to the end of the weekend, we might have some better news. First and foremost, let's take a very quick peek at just the size, the scope of this fire.
You look at this area that's surrounded by blue. That's your evacuation zone. Let's come on over here. We've got Rob behind the camera there. Robert. You can also see an area where you have red. That's basically the border of the fire itself.
Now we were talking about how the weather isn't exactly cooperating. As we take a look at the satellite view, you can see we have a bit of a storm system out along the West Coast. As that gets a bit closer, what we might see is some fluctuations in the winds. We don't need strong winds at the same time. We don't need dry conditions. Unfortunately, it appears we're going to be seeing both over the next several hours. You see the fire zone just southwest of Denver. Winds accelerating as we get to tomorrow. Winds topping 40 miles per hour.
We can expect dry conditions really to persist for today. And to be honest with you, the relative humidity is going to range from 10 to about 14 percent. Winds of five to 12. Some stronger gusts near 20, but I would not be surprised if in some of those high mountain passes we see things get a bit stronger.
But, Don, it does look like late Saturday into Sunday is when we might get a bit more moisture. A slight chance of rain. Maybe even some snow in the forecast. And that certainly will help the firefighters.
LEMON: Oh, all right. Thank you.
WOLF: You bet.
LEMON: Appreciate it, Reynolds Wolf.
WOLF: You bet.
LEMON: You know, we've got some new video of George Zimmerman at the police station the night of the Trayvon Martin shooting. And we're asking a defense attorney and a former prosecutor if this video helps clear Zimmerman or if it raises doubt about his story. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: OK, we know it's surveillance video and it's kind of hard to see. Many people are saying, where are the injuries from the life and death fight with Trayvon Martin? That's what people are asking when they look at this video. Many people are asking this when they see it, when they saw it yesterday, and as it has been on our air since last night.
It was taken just hours after he shot the unarmed teenager. ABC is saying it was taken 30 minutes, maybe less, after the teen was shot. A police report says Zimmerman was bleeding from the nose and the back of his head and was given first aid at the scene before the video was recorded. Criminal defense attorney and former prosecutor Holly Hughes joins me now.
So, Holly, what do you make when you look at this video, when you consider what's on the police report and what has been said?
HOLLY HUGHES, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Right. Well, there's a couple of things that jump out at me.
First of all, I don't see blood. When George Zimmerman walks in, he's wearing a gray t-shirt under that open jacket. If you hit someone hard enough to break their nose, there is going to be blood coming from that nose. That blood is necessarily going to get on the front of you. It's going to get on your shirt.
We also hear he has an injury to the back of his head. Head wounds are bleeders, Don. They bleed a lot. They gush blood out. I don't see anything that's -- you know, if it's bleeding down here, it would have come around. Again, we would see something on the collar of that light gray shirt. Maybe blood in the hair. It would be matted in the back. I'm not seeing any of that.
So I got to wonder, even if the paramedics treated him and cleaned up the face, as we're now hearing, and you said, you know, it's in police reports, OK, they're amended police reports. Why wasn't it in the originals, right? We see the original police report. There's no mention of any of that. Once this thing blows up, Don, once you report it and it starts getting some press, then we see a lot of amended police reports with facts that aren't supported by the video.
LEMON: OK. So it has been said that he was treated at the scene by --
HUGHES: Right.
LEMON: And he was cleaned up at the scene. But you're saying you don't see -- and again, listen, this has not been tried in court.
HUGHES: Correct.
LEMON: And that's -- and according to witnesses, at least on the police report --
HUGHES: Right.
LEMON: Now, I don't know if this was amended.
HUGHES: OK.
LEMON: But this report is from Timothy Smith, who was at the scene, 2/27/2012, 3:29, that's when it was written.
HUGHES: Right.
LEMON: And it says on 2/26, approximately 19:17 hours, I responded. Then he goes on to say that there was blood on he -- Zimmerman. Let's see what it says. He was covered in grass as he had been laying on the back -- back on the ground. Zimmerman was also bleeding. That was talking about Trayvon Martin covered in grass. Zimmerman was also bleeding from the nose and back of his head.
HUGHES: OK.
LEMON: But that's according -- I don't know if this is amended or if this is original, but that's according to the police report.
HUGHES: But all I'm asking -- and, you know what, maybe the officer saw blood, but why is it not on the light gray t-shirt?
LEMON: Yes.
HUGHES: I'm looking at the video with my own eyes, Don, and I'm saying, even if they cleaned him up, they're not going to take his shirt off of him and wash it.
LEMON: You're saying -- and from the type of scuffle you're saying that would be a life-threatening one, it doesn't appear, in your estimation --
HUGHES: Right. If you had a broken nose and a gash on the back of your head, I would expect it to bleed. The officer is saying there was blood. Where is the evidence of it?
LEMON: As a criminal defense attorney, former prosecutor, if this video showed up in a courtroom that you were in, what would you make of it?
HUGHES: Well, you know, if you're the defense attorney, what you're going to say is, hey, you know what, the jacket was zippered up at the time there was an altercation. So, you know, maybe it's on the outside of the jacket, but the jacket's pulled open and we don't see it there. Maybe, you know, that when he was down on the ground, all the blood ran back and into the ground and not necessarily on the front of his shirt. So there's a lot of ways you can tell the story, OK.
LEMON: Right.
HUGHES: And maybe it happened that way.
LEMON: But if you're the prosecutor?
HUGHES: But if I'm the prosecutor, I'm saying, who are you going to believe? The defendant's story or your own lying eyes. Look at the video, folks. As a prosecutor, I always wanted to say that, Don.
LEMON: Yes.
HUGHES: Let's go to the video. And guess what? In this case, we have some.
LEMON: Holly Hughes, thank you.
HUGHES: Absolutely.
LEMON: Always appreciate your candor here.
HUGHES: Thanks.
LEMON: And we want to say tonight at 9:00 Eastern, George Zimmerman's brother, Robert Zimmerman, joins Piers Morgan. He speaks out on the Trayvon Martin case, the treatment his brother's receiving, and how he feels the case should be handled going forward. The Piers Morgan interview, CNN tonight, 9:00 Eastern.
It is something you don't hear every day on the House floor. Congresswoman Gwen Moore tells her very painful story of rape and sexual assault.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: A congresswoman shares a personal story of sexual assault on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives. That's where she shared her story. Congresswoman Gwen Moore of Wisconsin talked about the high school rape and a push for Congress to renew the Violence Against Women Act.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. GWEN MOORE (D), WISCONSIN: Well, it really brought up some terrible memories for me of having, you know, boys sit in a locker room and sort of bet that I, the A kid, couldn't be had. And then the appointed boy, when he saw that I wasn't going to be so willing, completed a date rape and then took my underwear to display it to the rest of the boys.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Earlier today on CNN Representative Moore talked with our Carol Costello about her decision to share such a difficult and personal story and what she hopes to accomplish.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MOORE: It was just one in a plethora, unfortunately for me, of assaults and violence against me, my family, my friends, everyone that I knew, because there was a time when there was just -- there was not adequate law enforcement. There were not services. There were not resources for women. I think that my story, while it's sad, is not rare. And, you know, you get on the floor of the House of Representatives and everybody reads their talking points, and I think that they get too far away from the reality that something like VAWA has been bipartisan in the past and it, in fact, saves lives.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN: How specifically would the -- would this bill -- I mean if there's -- if it was in, you know, in place when you were experiencing this trouble, how would it have helped you?
MOORE: Well, you know, one aspect of this is education. You know, this particular incident, I don't think that any of the boys thought they were doing anything wrong. I think that they thought it was just a sort of a rite of passage. And I think ignorance has really perpetuated violence against women.
Violence against women is as American as apple pie, you know. That man that feels that he has a right to abuse his wife, and to beat her, you know, ask the pastor where do I find that passage, wives obey your husbands in the Bible? And we see a preponderance of teen violence, an explosion of teen violence right now and I think education is extremely important.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: House Democrats accused Republicans of a war on women for not voting to extend the legislation, but Republicans say Democrats are manufacturing a political issue.
