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Abducted American Makes Plea to Obama; Worker Found Dead Hours after Derby; Buffet Talks Housing; Buffett Talks Housing, Taxing the Rich; Biden "Comfortable" with Same-Sex Marriage; Lawmakers: Taliban Grow Stronger; Battling for Ohio
Aired May 07, 2012 - 09:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, Soledad. And good morning to all of you. I'm Carol Costello.
Happening right now in the NEWSROOM. My life in your hands. A 70-year-old American kidnapped by al Qaeda now pleading for help from President Obama saying if you accept the demands, I live. If you don't accept the demands, I die. The new video straight ahead.
Plus off-script and outspoken. Joe Biden reportedly sending the White House scrambling after his comments on same-sex marriage. This morning, the meeting as team Obama tries to get on message.
Death at the derby. A track worker found dead in a barn at the world famous track. New clues and new questions as we are expecting to hear from police this morning.
And middle class talkback. Today we kick off a series built around you. Your concerns. Your issues. Your questions to the candidates. Today, we connect you to them and get answers.
NEWSROOM starts right now.
And this morning, we begin with a man's desperate plea for President Obama to save his life. On a videotaped just released by al Qaeda we hear from 70-year-old Warren Weinstein, the American who was snatched from his home in Pakistan back in August. He begs President Obama, make a deal with the terrorists or they will kill me.
CNN's Reza Sayah is in Pakistan's Capitol. He joins us from Islamabad by phone.
Reza, bring us up to date. What's the latest?
REZA SAYAH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (via phone): Well, for eight months, Carol, we weren't sure about Warren Weinstein's condition but when you look at this video, it looks like he is in relatively good condition. He speaks clearly and coherently. He doesn't seem to have any visible injuries.
Now we should note that we don't know when this video was shot, where it was shot, so it's impossible for us to verify that he is OK today. But, you know, based on the video, he seems OK and U.S. investigators and Pakistani investigators have something to work with in this investigation.
COSTELLO: Hey now, as far as al Qaeda go, kidnapping a 70-year- old man? Come on.
SAYAH: Well, look, it's the world of Islamist militants, Carol. It's very murky and shadowy. It's very difficult to glean much from this video. And it's even impossible to verify who has Weinstein. The video was spotted on an al Qaeda Web site but it's impossible to independently verify if, indeed, this is al Qaeda or if this is some other militant group who is looking to make quick cash off ransom and using al Qaeda's name.
And we of course heard Ayman al-Zawahiri, the al Qaeda's leader today, mentioning Warren Weinstein. It's not clear if he's using this kidnapping to hype al Qaeda's name in a time when they're desperate and weaker than ever. But what's clear is he's kidnapped and must be a terrible time for his family.
COSTELLO: Definitely so. That videotape released of that man pleading for his, we're going to have that for you in the next hour of NEWSROOM. We're having some technical difficulties.
Reza Sayah, from Islamabad, thank you so much.
We're also following the mysterious death of an Army captain in Afghanistan. Bruce Kevin Clark died on a Skype video link as his wife watched helplessly 75,000 miles away. But that's only part of this bizarre story. How he died is stirring all sorts of intrigue. The military says there are no wounds on his body but his wife says that when he was suddenly knocked forward she saw a bullet hole in a closet behind him. Today, his family is trying to make sense of it all.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARIANA BARRY, CLARK'S SISTER-IN-LAW: He loved being in the military. And he loved serving his country. He was absolutely willing to make any sacrifice and it's just horrible that this is the sacrifice he ended up making.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Clark's wife says it took two hours of frantic phone calls for a military personnel to finally reach her husband's side. One official tells us Clark's death is ruled as a -- as noncombat related but says the official cause of death is pending an autopsy and toxicology results.
And we hope to learn more in the next hour about a possible murder mystery at the Kentucky Derby. A worker found dead in a barn at Churchill Downs just hours after the big race. Police are investigating the death as a homicide. This morning, they are awaiting autopsy results.
Deborah Feyerick is following the story for us.
Deborah, any leads at all? DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, that's what they're looking into right now. The victim is being identified as a 48-year- old stable worker originally from Guatemala. He was working at Churchill Downs with his 19-year-old son who identified the body. That's according to the chief deputy coroner.
Now the victim, Adan Fabian Perez, was found dead by a security guard making rounds just before dawn Sunday. That is hours after the famed Kentucky Derby. Perez is believed to be a groom for trainer Cecil Borel. He was not found -- he was down in the barn not far from where the winning horse "I'll Have Another" was being kept.
It does appear the stable worker got into a big fight. The question is with who and why. And police are now questioning some of the 400 people, Carol, who live and work behind the track. That area is called the backside and it's described by police as really a mini- city. A 24-hour city. It's got 48 barns, multiple stables, dormitories and trainer apartments.
And this is not the first time the derby has been overshadowed a bit. Last year's race was also clouded by the accidental overdose of jockey Michael Baze. He was found dead in a vehicle near the stables just a week after the Kentucky Derby. But right now a bill murder mystery at Churchill Downs -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Yes, and you have to wonder, do police believe the alleged -- do police believe this death is somehow connected to the race?
FEYERICK: Well, yes, that's what's so interesting. The death is being investigated as a homicide. Yesterday, police were saying it didn't appear connected to the racetrack. When I called this morning and really pressed for clarification on that the spokesman said that while the derby was over. So technically it wasn't connected to the race itself. But, still, you have this occurring, you know, within a 12-hour period.
So everybody who was there at the time that this murder may have taken place is in the process of being interviewed by police. So we'll see, we'll see exactly what the connection really is.
COSTELLO: Deborah Feyerick reporting live for us this morning.
Mitt Romney is in Cleveland this afternoon. He is going to talk about jobs and the economy. His speech comes with the release of a new Web video attacking President Obama over the latest jobs report.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Tonight, new evidence that economic recovery is slowing.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The unemployment rate 8.1 percent.
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Over and over again, they will tell you that America is down and out. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The unemployment rate did drop --
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: The Romney video called "Silence" includes a graphic with the words "Millions of Americans are suffering in silence."
Mitt Romney is in a dead heat with the president. In a new poll from "Politico" and George Washington University the poll questioned 1,000 likely voters from across the nation. Romney has a 10-point lead over the president among independents.
Bill Clinton is calling on North Carolina voters this morning to reject a ballot initiative on a same-sex marriage ban. If the initiative passes tomorrow the policy defining marriage as the union of a man and woman would become state law.
In a robocall, Clinton warns the passage would harm the state's economy and its families.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FMR. PRES. BILL CLINTON, UNITED STATES: Its passage would also take away health insurance from children and could even take away domestic violence protections from women. So the real effect of the law is not to keep the traditional definition of marriage. They've already done that. The real effect of the law would be to hurt families and drive away jobs.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Clinton's physician puts him at odds with evangelist Billy Graham who endorsed the initiative last week.
Vice President Joe Biden has political at Twitter today, debating whether the vice president endorsed same-sex marriage. It sure sounded that way. Especially when Mr. Biden asserted the TV show "Will & Grace" has prepared Americans to accept same-sex marriages.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOE BIDEN, VICE PRESIDENT: I take a look at when things really begin to change was the social culture changes. I think "Will & Grace" probably did more to educate the American public than almost anything anybody has ever done so far.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Seriously? We're going to show you a clip from "Will & Grace." Do we have that clip or we're still having technicality problems. We do have it. OK, so seriously, I say again?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I know this guy. I think he might be a gay. But I don't know for sure. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A gay? What makes you think he might be a gay, Officer?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, he wears shorts. He's always working out. He's got really defined biceps, tight abs, rock hard thighs.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: It would have worked better if we didn't have that technical difficulty. But any who, seriously, Mr. Biden has put President Obama in a tough spot since the president's views are -- the president's views on the issue were still evolving. Much to the chagrin of gay rights groups. We'll talk more about that in 20 minutes.
This is not something you want to see when driving in your car unless, of course, you're a storm chaser. Meteorologist Rob Marciano will be along to tell us if this twister left behind any major damage.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Just about 12 minutes past the hour. Checking our top stories.
An American held captive by al Qaeda this morning begging President Obama for help. Seventy-year-old Warren Weinstein appears in a video that was posted on several Islamist Web sites. He's urging the president to accept his kidnappers' list of demand so he won't be killed. The development consultant was abducted from his home in Pakistan last August.
U.S. officials -- military officials are trying to determine how this Army captain died in Afghanistan. Captain Bruce Clark's wife says he suddenly slumped over as they were talking via Skype last week. She says it took nearly two hours for someone to come to his aid. She also spotted a bullet hole in a closet behind him but military officials say they found no wounds on his body.
And storm chasers capture this tornado touching down in Kansas.
Want to check in now with meteorologist Rob Marciano.
And it always amazes me that people are calm enough to take pictures of tornadoes.
ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: They get paid for them. It's big business and we gladly will throw down a couple of bucks just to show it to you.
This a little road tornado that touched down near Olathe, Kansas. Didn't look -- some minor damage but other than that, just put a little bit of scare. One of six tornadoes reported yesterday and yes, of course, this is the time of year. There you hear the sirens so good warning out there in eastern Kansas, just southwest of Kansas City, Missouri.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: Thanks, Rob.
MARCIANO: All right. You got it.
COSTELLO: Legendary investor and billionaire Warren Buffett has some bad news for homeowners. He says the housing market is still in a depression and we have not seen the last of the Buffett Rule.
Poppy Harlow talked with Buffett at his company's annual meeting. She is live in New York to tell us all about it -- Poppy.
POPPY HARLOW, CNN MONEY CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol. You know, it's always interesting to hear his take on the economy because he's a man who invests with very simple, straightforward rules but I was a little surprised to hear sort of how he just doesn't think that the housing recovery is here really in any way, shape, or form.
The word he used for housing still today is a depression. That's how he started out our interview. Take a listen to his words.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WARREN BUFFETT, CEO, BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY: The housing market is the one big element that still remains in a depression. Not just a recession. It will come back.
HARLOW: Still in a depression?
BUFFETT: Well, still is. When you're building 600,000 housing units a year in a country like ours, that is really -- that is depressed, so that affects our business, affects our insulation business. It affects our carpet business. And every place else we see pretty robust affected.
HARLOW: The Buffett Rule did not get the support it needed in the Senate. Do you think that the Buffett Rule, or even the idea of it, because many people see it differently, say, than you, yourself do. Is it dead for good?
BUFFETT: No, it's not dead for good. People are bothered by the inequality and the lack of progress and for the ultra rich and the tax code. Something will happen and may not be exactly the way the bill went to the Senate in that form.
But Americans are not going to be happy in a world where the 131 of the 400 largest incomes in the country averaging $270 million, those people had tax rates at 15 percent or below. I don't think the American public understand that but to the extent that they get that message, they want something done about it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARLOW: So, that's his point. You have to listen to the populist, Carol, you have to listen to the growing outrage that he sees among many, many people when it comes to the inequality in taxes in the current tax system, Carol, which is a big issue in this election.
COSTELLO: I got to ask you about his health, because he seemed out of breath when he was answering your questions and a lot of people worry about him since he announced he had cancer.
HARLOW: They do.
I will tell you I've interviewed him a few times a year for the last four years, he seemed the same to me. He did address in a little more detail his health in the annual meeting when asked that question. He said, I am feeling great. He has four doctors he's been consulting with. He's going to start daily treatment in July. It does not require him to stay at the hospital overnight at all.
He really said, quote, "This is a nonissue." And it was funny, his co-captain, the guy who also runs Berkshire Hathaway with him, Charlie Munger, who is 88 years old chimed in and he said, well, I probably have more prostate cancer than Warren Buffett, I just don't get tested for it.
So, let's remember, this is stage one prostate cancer. It is relatively typical at this age in people. Many men don't even treat it. Warren is going to treat it in starting in July.
But to me, his health, his level seemed the same as it was. Of course, it was a topic at the meeting and did get a lot of attention.
COSTELLO: Poppy Harlow, reporting live from New York this morning.
Election 2012 is going to play out among middle class voters. And a lot of voters have questions and concerns like Nana Boone, mother of three who lives in Georgia. Coming up a new look at middle class concerns and how we are going to help you get answers to your questions.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Middle class talkback. Today, we kick off a series built around you -- your concerns, your issues, your questions to the candidates.
To accomplish that, we chose three middle class Americans from across the country. Throughout the presidential campaign, I will take their questions directly to the campaigns for answers. Today, though, I'd like you to meet Moira and Michael and Skip and Nana.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: This is a make or break moment for the middle class and for all of those who are fighting to get into the middle class.
NANA BOONE, UPPER MIDDLE CLASS: To me, middle class is getting closer and closer to lower class by what lower class used to mean years ago.
SKIP BECKER, SEMI-RETIRED: We cannot borrow our way to prosperity. The piper will always be paid.
MOIRA BINDNER, LONG-TERM UNEMPLOYED: Come in, walk in our foot steps. Have the bills come in and try to figure out what to pay. Walk a day in my shoes.
MITT ROMNEY (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We got to provide help to the people who have been hurt most by the Obama economy and that's the middle class.
BECKER: My biggest fear is for my grandchildren. My biggest fear is the legacy that will be left in their wake.
BINDNER: I'm not asking for a huge new house. I'm looking for health care that's affordable.
BOONE: I have a lot of fears as a wife and a mother of three about the quality of life that my husband and I are going to continue to be able to provide for our family. Instead of saving for college, I'm having to put money into tuition for elementary and middle and high school. How are we going to be able to retire comfortably and not retire, but still be working?
BINDNER: There's not a lot of hope for me right now of somebody is going to fix this. It feels like we have got to buckle down and everything ourselves and not expect anybody else to figure it out.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: Moira and Michael Bindner live in Virginia. Michael and Moira are under water on their mortgage. And Michael is among the long-term unemployed.
Nana is a married mother of three from Georgia who worries her middle class lifestyle is slipping away.
And Skip is a semi-retired small businessman from Pennsylvania who worries about what his grandchildren will inherit.
Each week, one of our friends will ask a question of either Mr. Obama or Mr. Romney. I will make sure they get answers from them. So, tune in Wednesday for middle class talk. It begins this coming Wednesday.
Joe Biden says he's comfortable with same-sex marriage. But his boss? Well, he's not quite there yet. And Biden might have put President Obama in a tough spot. We're talking about that coming up.
And don't forget, if you're heading out the door, you can take us anytime on your mobile or computer. Just head to CNN.com/TV.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Coming up on 30 minutes past the hour. Stories we are keeping an eye on this morning.
An American held captive in al Qaeda is begging President Obama for help. Seventy-year-old Warren Weinstein appears in a video that was posted on several Islamist Web sites. He's urging the president to accept his kidnappers' list of demand so he won't be killed. The development consultant was abducted from his home in Pakistan last August.
We expect to hear from police e in the next hour, actually in about 30 minutes, over a man found dead at Churchill Downs. Police suspect foul play. The body was found hours after the Kentucky Derby, in a barn near the derby winner. Police say the death has nothing to do with the derby or the track, though.
Wall Street poised for a drop at the open over concerns over election results in Europe. World markets are tumbling into the red. Opening bell minutes away. So, we'll keep a close eye how the Dow shapes up today.
So, did the vice president endorse same-sex marriage? It sure sounded like it on NBC. He dropped a couple of names while he was on the topic. That would be Will and Grace.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOE BIDEN, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I take a look at when things really began to change is in the social culture changes. I think "Will & Grace" probably did more to educate the American public than almost anything anybody has ever done so far.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: So the show stars Debra Messing and Eric McCormack both praised Biden's comments. They are overjoyed.
How about President Obama? Well, maybe Joe Biden needs to get him in the first few season -- maybe Joe Biden needs to get the first few seasons of "Will & Grace" on DVD for the president. The president's views on the issue as he puts it are still evolving.
So, let's talk more about this with L.Z. Granderson and Will Cain.
Good morning to both of you.
WILL CAIN, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Good morning, Carol.
L.Z. GRANDERSON, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Good morning, Carol.
COSTELLO: So, L.Z., do you think Joe Biden meant to say what he said that he is okay with gay marriage?
GRANDERSON: Well, yes. I don't see any reason --
COSTELLO: Well, that part.
GRANDERSON: -- to think that he's not OK with it.
COSTELLO: But when the vice president says something like that, you sort of thing he is talking about policy as in Obama policy. So, did he mean to say it quite that way as it concerned the policy of the Obama administration?
GRANDERSON: Well, I think that there is a separation between Joe Biden, the person, and Joe Biden the politician. I think what you heard on Sunday is Joe Biden, the person.
I think if you had President Obama, the person, he would probably voice the exact same thing. What we are seeing here is the politicians also having a different sort of stance on it, a nuance stance so it won't upset voters.
But there's no reason to believe that Biden is not a "Will & Grace" fan or has anything against marriage equality.
COSTELLO: I don't know. For some reason, that made me laugh. Really? America learned about gay relationships from "Will & Grace"?
GRANDERSON: Yes.
COSTELLO: Come on!
GRANDERSON: You know what? Absolutely. Absolutely. I mean, people don't -- you don't realize it but images and television, and the images in the media, they play a big part not just in terms of sexual orientation but race relations and gender equality and all of this help our shape our thoughts and minds on a subject that could be controversial.
So, I don't see any harm in him pointing out "Will & Grace," because it was transformative just like "Ellen."
COSTELLO: But sadly, Will, not all Americans were into "Will & Grace," because many Americans who are not exactly for same-sex marriage.
GRANDERSON: That's true and why the administration put Joe Biden in a tough spot. It's not Joe Biden who put the administration who put the administration in a tough spot.
Look. As is so often with Joe Biden you get the unvarnished truth of what's really going on in his mind. He lets it out. He lets you know what he is thinking.
And the truth is he's being asked to lie. And in many times, he and other surrogates of the administration let it out. They support gay marriage. I applaud them for that. They support they gay marriage, but they are being asked to go out there and act like they don't.
L.Z. used the word nuance, triangulate, and whatever you want to call it, they are asked to pretend like they are not for gay marriage. That they are for something else, some sort of legal equality of civil unions when the truth is that's not what they think. That's a tough spot to go out especially by the way, when you're not running for anything right now.
Joe Biden, yes, he is vice president. But look, Hillary Clinton, all of these other surrogates that come out in support of gay marriage, it's not like the president who running for election and he's nuancing his message as L.Z. says.
COSTELLO: So, if you're a powerful gay -- L.Z., if you're a powerful gay rights group who wants President Obama to jump on board same-sex marriage, what do they want to hear from President Obama?
GRANDERSON: You know, first of all, to just touch on what will said, Joe Biden is not in a tough situation. President Obama is the one who is in a tough situation because he is the one who quotes Dr. King and said justice delayed is justice denied, and then he goes on and says nuance and says close up to the line but doesn't cross the line to what we want to hear which is I support marriage equality.
He says it in his policies. But he doesn't say it with his voice because he doesn't want that sound clip out there. It's hypocrisy. It's just simply as that. It's hypocrisy and he's in a tough situation because he is who's being a hypocrite. He can't be upset with his administration for being honest and him being a hypocrite for whatever reasons.
CAIN: That's right. That's why it puts Joe Biden in a tough spot, because he's asking him to be a hypocrite, too. And at times, he lets out the truth.
COSTELLO: You know, there are some within the gay rights community, L.Z., that aren't so happy with President Obama, even though "don't ask, don't tell" has gone away. And maybe the president feels that is enough right now.
But do gay rights groups feel that way?
GRANDERSON: Well, you know, I've been to the dinners. I've been to the fund-raiser. I've been to the White House for briefings.
And I would tell you that a lot of people within the gay community are very happy with the progress thus far. But they do not equate the progress of what President Obama said which is he would be a fierce advocate. They don't see that as the same thing. I don't see that as the same thing.
With that being said, I don't think that anyone questions where his heart is. To me, it's really kind of funny looking at the other side of this, which is Mitt Romney running for president the last six years and still had to figure out a way how he could use this to his advantage. He's still kind of fumbling this, this conversation here, the hypocrisy of the of the Obama administration.
This is a really a good window for him to go through and he's not doing it, I don't think because he knows how to. But there are -- there is room right now that if he can say the right things, he can get some gay voters to come over and vote for him but I don't know why he's not doing it. Maybe Will can figure that out.
COSTELLO: OK. Will, figure it out, you only have like in 30 seconds.
CAIN: It's not hard to figure out. It's the same reason that President Obama is not telling the truth in saying that he is not for gay marriages is because the country still sides on that side of the issue. The country still says they do not support gay marriage.
By the way, this evolving thing is nonsense.
GRANDERSON: That's not true.
(CROSSTALK)
CAIN: It's moving that way, L.Z. It's moving that way. But it's just not there yet, L.Z.
GRANDERSON: No, no, no. The polls all state that the country is actually open and ready for marriage equality. It's actually the politicians are falling behind the American people at this point.
COSTELLO: And we have to leave it there.
CAIN: Obviously, President Obama doesn't think he can get elected on that message.
COSTELLO: OK. We'll have to leave it there.
Will Cain, L.Z. Granderson, thank you so much.
Public libraries -- public libraries in Broward County, Florida, cannot handle the heat and the hot new novel "Fifty Shades of Grey." So they pulled the book from the shelves. And that decision has left many, many, many women angry!
Plus --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Gentlemen, what are you prepared to do?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Ironman, the Hulk, Thor, Captain America and add them together and you got a new box office championship. "The Avengers "are breaking the box office records. Showbiz is coming your way, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Move over "Hunger Games." There's a new number one movie in town. It's called the "Avengers." It's Marvel superheroes pulverized its competition and set a new domestic box office record for the opening weekend, bringing in more than $200 million. Wow!
Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's what we call ourselves.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I have an army.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have a hulk.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: To Nischelle Turner. She is live in Los Angeles.
Did you see the movie? Is it that good?
NISCHELLE TURNER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: Oh, OK. Yes! In short answer. I did and so did just about everybody else on planet earth, I think, Carol.
We were all saying apparently, so long "Harry Potter." "The Avengers" have now crushed you, seriously. This super hero team took in $200.3 million dollars at North American theaters over the weekend. This is according to Walt Disney Studios, which released the film. That made it number one for the weekend and number one biggest opening weekend in Hollywood history.
It easily smashed a previous record last summer hit by "Harry Potter and Deathly Hallows Part 2." That movie's opening weekend total was $169.2 million, not accounting for implication, of course.
"The Avengers" is about a squad of Marvel superheroes including Ironman, the Hulk, Thor, Captain America, Black Widow, we can't forget Nick Fury.
The analysts estimate that it's on track to take in over $1 billion at the global box office worldwide. What made this so successful in the first weekend out, it looks like a lot of things. But significantly it's a 3D film, it's jam-packed with A-listers like Robert Downey, Jr., Scarlet Johansson, Samuel L. Jackson. So, it's box office numbers were, I mean, turbocharged by the price of IMAX and 3D ticket. More than half of the people who saw the movie shelled out the extra money to watch it in 3D.
This, Carol, is a huge record and a powerful start to Hollywood summer movie season. And I have to say I was kidding on Friday that I think Scarlett Johansson in a cat suit accounted for 16 million but I'm sticking to that. I think it did!
(LAUGHTER)
COSTELLO: I have to agree with you. Could have been all of those explosions too. Who knows?
TURNER: Maybe.
COSTELLO: Nischelle, thanks so much.
A nutty new novel, "Fifty Shades of Grey" is being pulled off public library shelves in Brevard County, Florida. The steamy book about an affair between a young woman and a billionaire business is making county officials blushed. Administrators have even called the bestseller mommy porn.
Many residents, women, are not happy with the county's decision.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think that's a shame because that's is why we live here, you know? Freedom of speech.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We deserve to have access to these books whether other people like them or not.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's a little saucy. Most of us moms that have kids in school, you know, don't really have a life like that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: There you go.
So far, more than 3 million copes of that book have been sold.
Vladimir Putin's return as the Russian president is marred by protests. And hundreds of people are arrested after demonstrators fight with police.
Plus, 10 years after U.S. troops (INAUDIBLE) the Taliban, new concerns over that group's resurgence.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. DIANNE FEINSTEIN (D), CALIFORNIA: President Karzai believes that the Taliban will not come back. I'm not so sure.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: We'll look at the bipartisan doubts over whether it's safe to bring U.S. troops home.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Just about 45 minutes past the hour.
Checking our top stories now.
Vladimir Putin is sworn in as Russia's president following Sunday's arrest of hundreds of anti-Putin protesters.
These kind of clashes erupted after a large number of protesters veered off the agreed route of the march. Some threw objects at police. They responded by clubbing demonstrators who broke police line.
An American held by al Qaeda this morning is begging President Obama for help.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Just about 45 minutes past the hour. Checking "Top Stories" now.
Vladimir Putin is sworn in as Russia's president following Sunday's arrest of hundreds of anti-Putin protesters.
These kind of clashes erupted after a large number of protesters veered off the agreed route of the march. Some threw objects at police. They responded by clubbing demonstrators who broke through police lines.
An American held captive by al Qaeda this morning is begging President Obama for help. 70-year-old Warren Weinstein, appears in this video that was posted on several Islamist Web sites. He's urging the President to accept his kidnappers' list of demand so he won't be killed. The development consultant was abducted from his home in Pakistan last August.
U.S. military officials are trying to determine how this Army captain died in Afghanistan. Captain Bruce Clark's wife says he suddenly slumped over after they were talking via Skype last week. She says it took nearly two hours for someone to come to his aide. She also spotted a bullet hole in a closet behind him. But military officials say they found no wounds on his body.
And we are keeping an eye on the DOW. Stocks expected to dive following the European elections but so far it has not done that. As you can see it's down just about 33 points.
Also this morning, President Obama is facing some bipartisan pushback over his claims the Taliban are growing weaker in Afghanistan. Listen to what the President said just last week in his address to the nation from Afghanistan.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: But over the last three years, the tide has turned. We broke the Taliban's momentum.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: But the heads of the Senate and House Intelligence Committee say not so fast. They say the group that provided safe haven to al Qaeda appears to be growing stronger.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. DIANNE FEINSTEIN (D), CALIFORNIA: President Karzai believes the Taliban will not come back. I'm not so sure. The Taliban has a shadow system of governors in many provinces. They've gone up north, they've gone to the east. Attacks are -- are up.
REP. MIKE ROGERS (R), MICHIGAN: As maybe the policies or the announced date of withdrawal, the negotiations with the Taliban have worked against what our end game is here and we ought to have a hard discussion about saying, listen, war is when one side wins and one side loses.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Live now to Nick Paton Walsh, he's in Kabul, Afghanistan. So Nick from your vantage point, is the Taliban stronger than ever?
NICK PATON WALSH, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I think it's pretty clear that the insurgency is not on its back foot like many in the Obama administration and NATO like to say. I should point out NATO have responded here ISAF to the comments of the Senator and Congresswoman you heard there saying there is no disconnect between what they're referring to which is the assessment of the intelligence community here on the ground and operational commanders.
But they do say sometimes amongst leaders there is what they refer to as a robust dialogue but the idea that the Taliban is somehow on its back is completely key to the whole NATO story here the whole NATO narrative and the Obama administration's take on this decade long war.
For them it's vital to make that point that they are on the back foot and Afghan Security Forces can take over so they can begin the draw down but there are some facts that are deeply inconvenient for that idea, perhaps what face there -- what you just heard was based upon certainty in the east and south of the country. Last year there was record violence even by NATO's own figures; that's attacks initiated against them.
There are of course concerns inside Kabul. We've seen high profile attacks here as recently as about three or four weeks ago in what should be known as the ring of steel suggesting perhaps the insurgency has a reach inside the capital we haven't seen so much over the fall. But really in these months ahead the pressure is on and the summer fighting season for ISAF to prove it. They do have the upper hand against the insurgency as their numbers begin to draw down across the country -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Well Nick, I must say Americans hear you. But the vast majority of Americans want -- want our troops out of Afghanistan and they frankly -- they don't care. They want the Afghan Security Forces to assume responsibility for their own country.
So let's say that happens by 2014 as it's supposed to according to the president. If the Taliban grows ever stronger in Afghanistan how does it affect Americans?
WALSH: Well, the key thing I think you heard that partially in Mike Rogers's comments there is the fear that a safe haven for al Qaeda may suddenly emerge again in Afghanistan. The reason why America went here in the first place in 2000 and I think most people in the Afghanistan have got their head around the idea that U.S. and NATO are leaving. The question really is exactly what condition is the country left in and when that happens, how quickly could the insurgency allow al Qaeda to back into some different parts of the country? Al Qaeda is said to be at low (inaudible), lower in numbers but the real concern is how much of the country does the Afghan government really have control over?
The shadow governors, you heard him speaking about earlier on how effective are they and exactly what level of confidence can people have here in the statements from NATO and the Obama administration that things are significantly improving and that frankly it's safe now for NATO to go home for Afghans -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Nick Paton Walsh live in Kabul, Afghanistan for us this morning.
President Obama and Mitt Romney are focusing their money, time, and attention on key battleground states like Ohio. So why is the President still struggling to pull ahead there even with the numbers on his side? We'll talk about that next as we take you live to Ohio.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Get ready Ohio for a bazillion robo-calls, political ads, and oh yes dozens of visits by President Obama and Mitt Romney. In fact Mitt Romney will be in Cleveland this afternoon to talk about jobs, jobs, jobs. His campaign spokesperson is making the rounds this morning.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANDREA SAUL, PRESS SECRETARY, ROMNEY FOR PRESIDENT: President Obama is a nice guy as well, but he's just in over his head. He doesn't understand what it takes to get this economy going again. And right now, he has no real plans to jump start any parts of the economy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: But if you look at the numbers, the fact, Ohio's unemployment rate soared past 11 percent during the height of the recession. But in March of 2012, the unemployment rate stood at 7.5 percent. That's below the national average.
So why hasn't that resonated for the President? Hey, he's been in Ohio 21 times since he took office.
Joining me now is attorney and political analyst, David Leland. He's also the former chair of Ohio's Democratic Party. Welcome.
DAVID LELAND, ATTORNEY AND POLITICAL ANALYST: Hey Carol. How are you doing?
COSTELLO: I'm good I'm happy you're here. As politicals say every year, whoever wins Ohio wins the race. And facts don't lie but perception is reality. So why aren't Ohioans giving the President credit for a 7.5 unemployment rate?
LELAND: Well, I think they are giving him credit. You have to remember that in this century, every race in Ohio has been close. We expect the race in 2012 to be close, but most Ohio polls show the President ahead right now.
And as far as his ability to create jobs, remember we were losing 800,000 jobs a month when the President took office and now we're gaining over a million jobs in the last -- in the last few months. And -- and as far as Governor Romney's experience as far as creating jobs. Well, if you remember when he was governor of Massachusetts, Massachusetts was 47th out of 50th in job creation. I think he should be called the job cremator instead of the job creator.
COSTELLO: Oh geez. You mentioned that -- that Obama is ahead, the most recent poll we have is the Quinnipiac poll. It shows the President and Mitt Romney in a statistical dead heat even though as I said, those unemployment numbers are better for Ohio.
Mitt Romney is going to be in Cleveland. People don't quite know him yet. So, you know, maybe his message will resonate even more. What can Mitt Romney say that will -- and I know you're a Democrat -- but what can Mitt Romney say that might hurt President Obama among Ohio voters?
Dave, can you hear me? David.
I thought I stunned him with that question, but apparently we lost the connection. I'm bummed.
Ok, David Leland, I hope you can come back and talk to us some more about voters in Ohio.
On to other news now. She watched her husband die live on Skype, 7,500 miles away in Afghanistan. Captain Bruce Clark's wife say she suddenly slumped over and it was two hours before military personnel came to his aid. In just about 10 minutes. We'll get some insight from a former military defense attorney who is now in private practice.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: We have our technical issues worked out. David Leland, a political analyst and attorney from Ohio, and also he's former chair of Ohio's Democratic Party is back. Hi, David.
DAVID LELAND, POLITICAL ANALYST: Hey, how are you?
COSTELLO: Oh, I'm so relieved you can hear me now.
LELAND: It's great.
COSTELLO: We were talking about President Obama. We were talking about Ohio's unemployment rate and how it's dropped from 11 percent during the height of the recession down to 7.5 percent now which is below the national average. But it's still not great. But we were talking about why President Obama and Mitt Romney remain in the statistical dead heat. There must be Ohioans don't like about the President. What do you think it is?
LELAND: I don't think so. Ohio is a battleground state. And like I said Ohio has been a close race in this century for all of Democrat and Republican candidates. And it's always going to be close here. I mean the President won Ohio by 5 points in 2008. We expect him to win again this year. Most polls have him ahead.
So it's going to be a tough race here in Ohio. Republicans have to win Ohio -- Romney has to win Ohio in order to be President of the United States. Obama doesn't have to win Ohio to be President. We're going to be competitive here because obviously if Romney has to win then we want to beat him here in Ohio so that the President will be returned.
But it's an important state for everybody. And it's always going to be a battleground state and it's always going to be close.
COSTELLO: Ok. So I've always wondered. President Obama has visited Ohio 21 times since he took office. I'm sure Mitt Romney will be there dozens of times between now and November. Does it help when candidates visit states that much?
LELAND: Well, I think it brings the focus and attention to the campaign. And obviously, we had a huge rally for the President this weekend. Over 14,000 people showed up to rally the President and to cheer him on. I mean those people are going to be helping the President deliver his message to the rest of the voters in Ohio. So I think it's important to motivate voters and to educate voters.
COSTELLO: You know, I'm just going to give up on you David. I'm so sorry. The technical --
