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Battling For Ohio; U.S. Hostage Begs For Obama's Help; Wife Watches As Soldier Dies On Skype; Colombian Escort Speaks On U.S. TV; Global Stocks Fall After Elections; Biden "Comfortable" With Same-Sex Marriage; "Goober" Dies at 83; Worker Found Dead Hours After Derby; Bill Arms to Outlaw Same-Sex Marriage

Aired May 07, 2012 - 10:00   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 to you. I'm Carol Costello. Just ahead of the NEWSROOM, a U.S. Army captain dies in Afghanistan, but not on the battlefield.

Captain Bruce Clark was Skyping with his wife when she says he fell forward. She had to watch him lying there for two hours before anyone came to help.

In about 30 minutes, police plan to hold a news conference about the man found dead at Churchill Downs, the site of the Kentucky Derby. The man's body found in a barn just hours after the world's famous horse race took place.

Russia's president sworn in for a six-year term this morning while thousands of people in that country riot claiming Vladimir Putin's victory should be thrown out because of alleged widespread election fraud.

Plus a new president elected in France and it's already having an direct impact on the markets here. The Dow is down just about 30 points. We'll explain why.

Also this morning, we're following one man's desperate plea for President Obama to save his life. On a videotape 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 to make a deal with the terrorists or they will kill him.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WARREN WEINSTEIN, AL QAEDA PRISONER: I'd like to talk to President Obama and beg him that he please accept and respond to the demands. If you accept the demands, I live. If you don't, I die.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: CNN's Reza Sayah is in Pakistan's capital. He joins us from Islamabad by phone. Reza, bring us up to date on the latest. Is anybody actively looking for this man in Pakistan as far as American officials that is? REZA SAYAH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (via phone): Investigators in Pakistan say they are investigating this matter. But they simply haven't found any new information other than this video, but they still say they're working on it.

As far as this video goes, ever since Warren Weinstein was kidnapped last August, we weren't sure about this condition. But when you look at this video, it looks like -- it looks like he's in good condition. He's speaking clearly. He doesn't seem to have any injuries.

That said, it's important to point out we can't verify when this video was shot, where it was shot. Therefore, it's impossible to know what his condition. The video is roughly three minutes.

At one point, he mentions President Obama's daughter saying Mr. Obama, you have daughters you enjoy. I have daughters too. As you heard at one point, he begs the president to accept the demands of the Mujahidin, which is the Arabic word for fighters of God.

What's very strange in this video is that while he's speaking, he appears to be at least twice eating something. He reaches for something in front of him and put it is in his mouth while he's talking.

Now it's impossible to say why he's eating something while he's making an appeal for life, but it could be that his captures are making a very strange effort to create the impression that he's being cared for. That's just a guess, but a very strange moment in that tape when he's seen eating something.

COSTELLO: Well, I thought his pleas were interesting too because you mentioned that he talked of the president's children. You usually don't hear things like that in videos like this.

SAYAH: Well, those are very dramatic words. But what I found interesting is they weren't necessarily emotional and impassioned. Like I said, he was eating. So it's not sure if he was being told to say these lines.

If this was scripted, what kind of duress he was under. That's why it's very difficult to glean a lot from this video. He's there. He seems healthy, but again, it's tough to say when the video was shot and where it was shot. And obviously, a very, very difficult time for his family who desperately want him back home.

COSTELLO: You're not kidding. I mean, how likely is it that the U.S. government will meet any of the demands by his captors?

SAYAH: Well, the demands according to the leader of al Qaeda, among the demands are an end to U.S. air strikes in places like Pakistan, Afghanistan, the release of prisoners from secret U.S. prisons, those are the demands that are out there.

But the U.S. has given no indication that they are going to meet those demands. It's hard to say what's going on behind the scenes if anything as far as efforts to free this man.

COSTELLO: Reza Sayah, live from Islamabad this morning.

Also this morning, we're following the mysterious death of an Army captain in Afghanistan. Bruce Kevin Clark died while talking to his wife via Skype.

She watched helplessly 7,500 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 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: Greg Rinckey is a former military defense attorney. He now works in private practice. Greg, thank you for joining us today.

GREG RINCKEY, FORMER U.S. ARMY JAG ATTORNEY: My pleasure.

COSTELLO: There are so many disturbing aspects to this story. You know, this poor woman is talking to her husband via Skype. He just collapses. She tries to call someone in Afghanistan using all sorts of sources that she has.

It takes two hours for anyone to get to him to help. Why would that happen? Why would it take two hours?

RINCKEY: Obviously, that's something that the military is going to need to look into. But I think part of the problem is the fact that he was 7,500 miles away. He was also in a smaller isolated outpost.

It's not as easy to get a message to help as it might seem. But I'm sure that the Army will initiate a 15-6 investigation to try to get to the bottom of what took so long.

COSTELLO: But even if he's in a remote location, he has other soldiers around him right? Would he be bunking alone?

RINCKEY: Absolutely, but it depends on where he was Skyping from. If he was in his own housing compartment, you know, I think that's one of the questions that need to be answered. But it's not as easy as the stat states of just dialling 911 and having help come.

COSTELLO: So Mrs. Clark, she saw this bullet hole in a closet behind him, but there were no visible signs of injury on Captain Clark's body at least according to the military.

I guess, an autopsy will be performed sometime this week. What do you make of this? Is it just a noncombat related death and maybe he had a heart attack? I mean, what do you make of this?

RINCKEY: Well, it's definitely an unfortunate situation. It's a possibility that this captain had a heart attack, slumped over and was the bullet hole there prior to this?

I mean, he is in a combat zone. I think the bullet hole was in the closet. Was there a discharge of a firearm before? I think everything has to be examined. Was it a bullet hole or was it shrapnel?

Is there the possibility that it was a combat death? I think all of that does need to be looked into. I'm sure that's why the Army has kind of been a little hushed up on this is they need to do an autopsy to find out the cause of death was.

COSTELLO: And they will do a thorough investigation because, you know --

RINCKEY: There will be a 15-6 done.

COSTELLO: So there will be because, you know, it took his wife two hours to find somebody to help her husband. So she might be a little suspect of what kind of investigation that will take place?

RINCKEY: Right. I mean, I think the Army will do a thorough 15- 6. I think that this is just, you know, part of the tragedy of war especially now with families being able to communicate realtime.

It's just an unfortunate situation. And I think it needs to be looked at for what took so long for help to get there. I'm assuming the calls had to be to the right people and then to get him help. So a lot of questions do need to be answered.

COSTELLO: Greg Rinckey, thank you for joining us this morning. We appreciate it.

The Colombian woman in the middle of the Secret Service scandal is calling the agents she met, quote, "stupid brutes who put partying ahead of the president."

You first saw Diana (inaudible) Suarez right here on CNN last Friday when she spoke to Colombian TV. Now she's given her first interview to a U.S. television station. She told NBC she made it clear how much a night with her would cost.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): These are very basic words. Sex, cash, money, I made a sign with my fingers so he couldn't pretend I was charging $80 or 80 cents. The next morning, he told me to stay.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He told you to stay longer?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): He said, stay here. Stay, my love. I told him no. I told him to give me my money that I was going home.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Was he angry?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): Very angry.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: A U.S. official told NBC investigators have not talked with her because she left Colombia and the agent she claims was with her has resigned.

The political shakeup in France. President Nicholas Sarkozy is defeated by the Socialist candidate Francois Holland. The response around the world, well, financial markets are selling off.

Felicia Taylor is live at the New York Stock Exchange. Things aren't too bad yet there right?

FELICIA TAYLOR, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: No, actually, there's a fairly muted reaction to what happened in France. The Dow right now is down about a quarter of 1 percent. The Nasdaq is sort of flat as is the S&P.

But in Europe markets stumbled right out for the French election results. There has been a slight recovery since then, but Germany and Switzerland are still down.

Asia's down more than 10 percent. The euro fell briefly below $1.30. That's the first time we've seen that since January -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Specifically, help us understand what's going on in France will affect the United States. I mean, what's the big concern for U.S. investors?

TAYLOR: Well, I mean, this is a new government. It raises the question as the Franco-German relationship will be now because Nicholas Sarkozy and Angela Merkel had a pretty good relationship in terms of coming together in sort of leading the eurozone through the crisis.

So change naturally breeds nervousness. A change in government during a debt crisis makes for uncertainties. So we have to see how this new leader, Francois Holland, is going to change policy.

He isn't a fan of austerity measures in terms of the spending cuts. He favors more stimulus and more spending in order to boost growth. But it could add to France's debt ceiling, which has hit its rating.

So that's a bit of a problem. It raises many questions. Clearly, I need a drink of water. COSTELLO: I could offer you this, but I can't reach all the way to New York. It's OK. We understand. Felicia Taylor, thank you so much.

Joe Biden says he is comfortable with same-sex marriage, but is the Obama re-election campaign comfortable with Biden's remarks. We'll have that story and reaction, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Just about 15 minutes past the hour. Checking our top stories now.

An American held captive by Al Qaeda this morning is begging the president for help. The 70-year-old Warren Weinstein appears in this video that was posted on several Islamist websites.

He's urging the president to accept his kidnappers list of demands so he will not 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 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 the captain's body.

And storm chasers captured this tornado touching down in Kansas. Our meteorologist, Rob Marciano says it was one of six reported yesterday. It did not cause much damage, but as with any tornado, it still left people in the area running for cover.

Mitt Romney is in a dead heat with President Obama. That's according to 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.

Vice President Joe Biden's comment that he is absolutely comfortable with the idea of same-sex marriage has set off a Twitter explosion. Let's hear his comment and then the buzz.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOE BIDEN, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Look. I am the vice president of the United States of America. The president sets the policy. I am absolutely comfortable with the fact that men marrying men, women marrying women, and heterosexual men and women are entitled to the same rights and civil liberties and quite frankly, I don't see much of a distinction beyond that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Many people are wondering if Biden's remarks signal a change in the president's position. President Obama has previously said his views on the issue are evolving.

But both the Biden spokesperson and campaign adviser, David Axelrod are suggesting there is no further evolvement in the president's position.

So let's talk more about this. Darlene Nipper is here to talk about Biden's comments and about the Obama team's response. Darlene is the deputy executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. Welcome, Darlene.

DARLENE NIPPER, DEPUTY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, NATIONAL GAY AND LESBIAN TASK FORCE: Thank you, Carol. I'm so glad to be here.

COSTELLO: I'm glad you're here with us. So do you think Biden's comments are a signal that the president might evolve?

NIPPER: I hope they are a signal he might evolve. I mean, I think that it's clear that many Americans already believe in our families and in love and in commitment.

And believe that we ought to have the same fairness and ability to marry as anyone else does. So hopefully, this is a sign and a signal that the next person we'll hear this from will be President Obama.

COSTELLO: Some people might say the president has done enough for the gay community. With "Don't Ask Don't Tell" going away, in your mind, is that enough?

NIPPER: Well, I think this administration has done a lot for the LGBT community and they ought to be acknowledged for what they've done, but there's a lot more to do. This is among the things that we expect and hope the president will do.

It's important for the administration to come out unequivocally in support of fairness and families and love. There are also many other things the president can do.

Frankly, there's still room for us to move forward on employment protections. And we think the president and obviously Congress needs to move forward with that for our families.

So the president has done a fantastic job so far, but there's much more to do. This is a country that's built on fairness.

COSTELLO: Why don't you think the president has fully embraced the idea of gay marriage?

NIPPER: Well, I think that's a fantastic question, Carol. I wish that I knew why he hasn't done it. I believe that like other advocates do that the American people have been evolving and have grown to accept this issue.

So it's kind of difficult to understand why the president has not come out. I mean obviously, there's plenty of chatter about not wanting to do it before the election and so on.

But the reality is the American people are already there. And the president can make the final step by coming out for our families and for fairness. And I really don't know why he hasn't done that yet.

COSTELLO: I guess, our latest poll show 53 percent of Americans support gay marriage so, I don't know maybe you have a point there. But I guess, does he really need to do this to energize the base?

I mean, is that an important part of his re-election campaign? Or does he not need to do that so he won't accept those other Americans who aren't ready to fully embrace gay marriage? I mean, why take the chance?

NIPPER: Here's the thing. One thing we all know is that the American people do believe very strongly in fairness. So I think there's a fine line here that we have to be concerned about.

The reality is that there are many people who will come out and who will be energized that may not otherwise come out if the president does stand for fairness so it's a political question.

COSTELLO: I hear you, Darlene. But you know, everything is about the economy and these social issues will just fall by the wayside because I think many Americans don't want to hear about them right now.

This election has to be about the economy because that's what's going to get the president re-elected. If he can convince voters that he has a plan for his second term about the economy I mean.

NIPPER: Absolutely. I think it's an interesting point to make and the reality is that our families are struggling in part because we need to have the same fairness and opportunity that every other family has. These issues are not disconnected.

I do believe very strong in the task force, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force where I'm the deputy executive director, is an organization who has said over and over again, the issue is jobs. The issue is employment. The issue is fairness. All of those things are connected.

And our families are, like I said, continuing to need the support of the president to make sure that all Americans actually have the opportunity to go into a place of employment as who they are. And to be able to love who they are.

This is a non-issue in many ways because the reality is in terms of the social aspect of it, the reality is that people care about love and family and commitment. That's great. That's all we're saying.

The bigger issue is, can we get that off the table and move forward with the next phase and the next important issues, which is how will we take care of those families? What is it we need to ensure that our families are able to survive and thrive in this society?

And believe me, acceptance and fairness is just one amongst the many things that we need obviously, employment, and our community, employment protections unfortunately because there still continues to be a lot of discrimination.

COSTELLO: And we have to leave it there. Darlene Nipper, thanks so much for joining us this morning.

NIPPER: Thank you.

COSTELLO: Election 2012 is going to play out among middle class voters. And a lot of voters have questions and concerns like Mana Boon, a 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 talk back. 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 their answers. Today though, I would like you to meet Moira and Michael (inaudible).

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: This is a make or break moment for the middle class and for all those who are fighting to get into the middle class.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: To me, middle class is getting closer and closer to lower class. By what lower class used to mean years ago.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We cannot borrow our way to prosperity. The piper will always be paid.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Come and walk in our footsteps. 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 ought to provide help to the people who have been hurt most by the Obama economy, and that's the middle class.

SKIP BECKER, SEMI-RETIRED WORRIED ABOUT THE FUTURE: My biggest fear is for my grandchildren. My biggest fear is the legacy that will be left in their wake.

MOIRA BINDNER, LONG-TERM UNEMPLOYED, UNDERWATER MORTGATE: I'm not asking for a huge new house. I'm looking for health care that's affordable. NANA BOONE, UPPER MIDDLE CLASS WITH FAILING SCHOOLS: I have a lot of fears as a wife and a mother of three about the quality of life that my husband and are I 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 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've got to buckle down and do everything ourselves and not expect anybody else to figure it out.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: Moira and Michael Bindner live in Virginia. They are under water on their mortgage and Michael is among the long-term unemployed. Nana is 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 new friends will ask a question of either Mr. Obama or Mr. Romney.

We will make sure they get answers from those men. Tune in Wednesdays for "Middle Class Talk Back." The first instalment happens this coming Wednesday.

The vice president says he is comfortable with same sex marriage even though his boss isn't quite there yet. Coming up, we'll ask our "Political Buzz" panel if Joe Biden has put the president in a tough spot.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Thirty minutes past the hour checking our "Top Stories".

Now, a man was found dead at Churchill Downs just hours after the Kentucky Derby. Police suspect foul play but have not said if the death is related to the track or Saturday's race.

This morning we're keeping a close eye on the case of Warren Weinstein, the 70-year-old American who was abducted in Pakistan back in August. Al Qaeda has released a video that shows Weinstein pleading with President Obama to meet the group's demand. He says if the President doesn't do that he'll be killed.

In New York State today flags are flying at half staff for Army Captain Bruce Kevin Clark. He was on duty in Afghanistan and died during a live Skype conversation with his wife. She watched helplessly from 7,500 miles away, made frantic calls for two hour get a medical help. The military says there are no wounds and an autopsy will determine the cause of death. "Political Buzz" is your rapid fire look at the best political topics of the day. Three questions, 30 seconds on the clock. Playing with us today, CNN contributors Maria Cardona on the left and Will Cain on the right. Welcome to both of you.

MARIA CARDONA, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Thanks, Carol.

WILL CAIN, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Good morning.

COSTELLO: Ok so the first question has to do with Joe Biden. Joe Biden says he is comfortable with same sex marriage. Apparently he got his degree in tolerance from the college of Will and Grace.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOE BIDEN, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: And I take a look at when things really began to change is in the social culture changes. I think "Will and Grace" probably did more to educate the American public than almost anything anybody has ever done so far.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Oh see "Will and Grace". At least he didn't confuse it with "Dharma and Greg." Or "Hard Castle and McCormick". But seriously guys, the President says he's still evolving on the same sex marriage issue. And not only did Joe Biden come out and support same sex marriage, but also Sean Donovan, the President's Secretary of Housing and just a little bit ago Arne Duncan the Education Secretary said he supported same-sex marriage too.

So does all of this put -- put Mr. Obama in a tough spot? Maria?

CARDONA: I don't think so, Carol. I mean, when you look at it politically this President has done more for equal rights for gay and lesbian Americans than any other president has done. And he continues to say and frankly no different than what Joe Biden said, that same- sex couples should have the exact same rights and privileges that all Americans do.

And I think that that's where he continues to be. I don't think that gay and lesbian Americans, at least the ones that I've talked to the activists are going to punish the President for not going as far as they believe that they would want him to go at least this election cycle because they know how hard he has fought for them.

COSTELLO: Will?

CAIN: You know it's interesting. It's interesting that the President's surrogates have taken a bigger position of leadership on this issue than the President have. I have no idea, actually I take that back, I do know what evolving means. Evolving means you have stuck your finger into the wind and figured where popular opinion is blowing and you will follow that until it changes.

So I would imagine the President will follow popular opinion until oh, about November 7th, 2012, when and if he's re-elected or for that matter if he loses. Then you'll see his real opinion and that simply is not leading.

COSTELLO: Ok the second question, "Saturday Night Live" making fun of "Fox and Friends". Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: -- is to races of top of higher education.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: How do we know bin Laden is through --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: To incentivize states and universities to continue to invest -- but also through --

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Was that audio messed up on that?

CAIN: I think so, something about education and transparency.

CARDONA: I don't know.

COSTELLO: Ok. So we're having all sorts of technical issues today. I don't know why, the gremlins are after CNN this morning especially the show.

CARDONA: Yes. They are.

COSTELLO: But basically they were making fun of "Fox and Friends" because they pound on President Obama every morning. And as you know, Mitt Romney met with conservative bloggers last week.

So the question, how badly does Mr. Romney need the conservative media's help to win in November? Will?

CAIN: You know I guess that means we have to determine what we mean by help. I do think that any conservative, any Republican running for elected office, certainly on the national stage, has to be concerned about their message being poured through, what is largely a liberal bias in the media.

So does he need the conservative media to then kind of recalculate that message to put forward what he really means in so many situations? What the truth is? Yes, he could use that help. I don't think that we should be in a position where media is propping up candidates. But certainly doing everything they can to shine light on what the actual truth is.

COSTELLO: Maria?

CARDONA: I think absolutely he needs them, Carol, because right now what we've seen is that this is a candidate that conservatives do not trust. They still don't like him. And so you saw him doing what he needs to do recently in talking to those conservative bloggers because he knows that this is a base that he absolutely needs to win and he needs them to be activated, he needs them to be mobilized and knows that the conservative media is a strong tool to do that. Now whether he's going to be able to do that in a way that he is going to get them out to the polls to vote, I guess that's a question that we'll see.

COSTELLO: Ok. On to our "Buzzer Beater"; 20 seconds on the clock. TNT's Charles Barkley sees Mitt Romney in the crowd at the Celtics/Hawks playoff game. This is what he said. This is Charles Barkley, "We are going to beat you like a drum in November, but don't take it personally. I like you, you seem like a nice guy, Mitt Romney, but you're going down, bro."

Barkley switched from Republican to Democrat. And he's slammed GOP presidential candidates before, but the question this morning. Which NBA star former or current would you most want backing you if you were running for president? Maria?

CARDONA: I'm going to go with one of my all-time favorites thanks to my husband, Clyde Drexler. He was a great player. A great team player and -- and wonderful, I think, advocate for the community as well. But James Harden, who works for the Oklahoma City Thunder and his beard. It's Clintonesque it's got its own Twitter handle and it's trending right now.

COSTELLO: Will?

CAIN: Look at Maria -- look at Maria pulling out. James Harden and -- not -- not exactly a star, but a current player. Right he's good by the way too. The answer by the way is Charles Barkley. The answer is Barkley. He is -- he is the best. He's the best advocate, he is the best communicator on any issue "Inside the NBA", on TNT is the best studio analyst panel talk show, regardless of sports or news, on TV and it's because of Barkley.

So I need five minutes with Barkley to tell him why he's wrong on this issues and talk him over to be an advocate for the right.

COSTELLO: Yes because I was going to say poor Mitt Romney then.

CARDONA: Yes exactly.

COSTELLO: Maria Cardona and Will Cain. Thanks for playing. We appreciate it.

CARDONA: Thank you, Carol.

CAIN: Thanks.

COSTELLO: Vladimir Putin's return as Russian president is marred by protest, hundreds of people are arrested after demonstrators fight with police. We'll take you live to Moscow.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: The man who played "Goober" on the "Andy Griffith Show" passed away this weekend. And his former cast mates are now commenting on his death. Nischelle Turner is live in Los Angeles -- I loved watching him. He made me laugh.

NISCHELLE TURNER, HLN CORRESPONDENT: I know. You know what, Carol, I had the same response. You just loved his character. We're talking about George Lindsey. He's the actor who portrayed the country bumpkin McKennick Goober Pyle (ph) on the "Andy Griffith Show". His family tells CNN that he died Sunday after a brief illness. He was 83 years old.

Lindsey's character Goober Pyle hit the -- joined the hit sitcom in 1964 as the cousin of Gomer Pyle played by Jim Neighbors. Now after the show ended, Lindsey continued as Goober for three years on the sequel series, "Mayberry RFD". He embraced the character for another 20 years as a regular on shows like "Hee Haw". And he took the character on the road for decades of stand-up comedy shows.

Now, Andy Griffith released a statement and here's what he had to say. He said "George often told me his fondest memories of his life in show business were the years he spent working on the "Andy Griffith Show" and "Mayberry RFD". They were for me too.

Lindsey is survived by his two children and his two grandchildren Carol, and yes just such a lovable character. You can't get TV like that anymore. You sure can't.

COSTELLO: I know. I was just going to say it's sort of like the end of a television era because we don't even have television shows on like that anymore.

TURNER: No. Not those feel-good, just at the end it's a happy ending type of show. You just feel good watching. Now, those aren't around much anymore.

COSTELLO: I know. I want some Aunt Bee. Thanks very much. I loved her. Nischelle Turner, thank you.

Want information on everything breaking in the entertainment world? Get the latest tonight on "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" at 11:00 Eastern on HLN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Just about 45 minutes past the hour.

We hope to learn more any minute now about a mysterious death at the Kentucky Derby. A man was found dead in a barn at Churchill Downs just hours after the big race. Police investigating his death as a homicide and they are awaiting autopsy results.

Deborah Feyerick is following the story for us. We're expecting this press conference any time now. What do you suppose they will say?

DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: As a matter of fact, It is being live streamed by a local newspaper. And some of the additional details that are coming out. Police believe that this was an isolated incident of a tragic incident that took place. That's how they are identifying it. One of the reasons is because of the types of wounds that the victim suffered. Also because of where he was found. He was in the barn, but according to this lieutenant, he was in the back portion of the barn suggesting that the body may have been moved after the victim was killed. They are speaking to several individuals, but they don't have one suspect just yet.

The victim is being identified as a 48-year-old stable worker. He was originally from Guatemala. He was working at Churchill Downs with his 19-year-old son who identified the body Sunday, according to the chief deputy coroner.

His name is Adan Perez -- Adan Perez, excuse me, he was found dead by a security guard who had been making the rounds just before dawn Sunday. That's hours after all the excitement of the famed Kentucky Derby. Now Perez is believed to be a groomer for a prominent trainer Cecil Borel. He was found in a barn not far from where the winning horse -- I'll have another -- was being kept.

It appears that the stable worker got into a fight. But right now, police are trying to investigate who it was with and why did it occur.

Police are questioning people on what's called the backside of the racetrack -- this 24-hour city. It has 48 barns, multiple stables, dormitories, trainor apartment.

And you know, just to put this in context. There have been other incidents at Churchill Downs. Last year's race was clouded by the accidental overdose of jockey Michael Bates. He was found in a vehicle near the stables just a week after the Kentucky Derby.

But right now, investigators are in full throttle questioning people who may have been there at the time. They believe that the murder may have occurred just some time after midnight. So it doesn't appear that it was connected to the race according to Lieutenant. But it does appear that it may have been an isolated incident.

So police don't want to release a lot, Carol, because they just want to make sure that they maintain the integrity so they are not coloring anybody's sort of view in case they do step forward to describe what happened -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Ok. I'll let you get back to the press conference. Deborah Feyerick, reporting live for us this morning.

Other top stories. We're keeping a close eye on the case of Warren Weinstein. The 70-year-old American was abducted in Pakistan back in august. Al Qaeda has released this video that shows him pleading with the President -- President Obama, to meet the group's demand. He says if they don't -- if the President doesn't he will be killed.

In New York state today, flags are flying at half staff for Army Capt. Kevin Clark. He was on duty in Afghanistan and died during a live Skype conversation with his wife. She watched helplessly from 7,500 miles away. Made frantic calls for two hours to get him medical help.

The military says there are no wounds on his body. An autopsy will determine the cause of death later this week.

Just one day after Joe Biden voiced his support for same sex marriage, another member of the Obama administration says he agrees. That would be Education Secretary Arne Duncan. He says he too believes same sex couples should have the legal right to marry. Duncan who is a long-time personal friend of the President and made his comments on MSNBC this morning.

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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: One of the world's largest oil companies takes the top spot on the Fortune 500 list. It beat out Wal-Mart, which held the position for the two previous years. ExxonMobil pays the highest corporate dividends in the country. The company reported a profit of more $41 billion last year. With gas prices hovering around $4 a gallon, that's become the focus of some criticism.

Rex Tillerson has been CEO of the company for the past six years. He's also the National President of the Boy Scouts of America.

Just one day before North Carolina voters decide whether to outlaw same sex marriage, another top Obama administration official is voicing his support for same-sex marriage. Here's what Education Secretary Arne Duncan said on MSNBC's "Morning Joe".

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Just a little ice breaker, Mr. Secretary. We're going to go through the whole cabinet. Do you believe that same sex men and women should be able to legally married in the United States?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Come on, you're going to start there?

ARNE DUNCAN, SECRETARY OF EDUCATION: Yes, I do.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ok. Have you ever said that publically before?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: There you go. Duncan joins Vice President Joe Biden and the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Shaun Donovan in his support. Back to North Carolina. If amendment one passes in North Carolina. It would be the final state in the southeast to change its constitution to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman.

Opponents hope a robo call going out today from former President Bill Clinton will help people vote against it. CNN's Randi Kaye has more on the decision just ahead. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RANDI KAYE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: On Tuesday, north Carolina voters will be making a big decision at the polls. The decision to change the state's constitution. Amendment 1 would make marriage between one man and one woman the only recognized domestic legal union in the state.

PAUL STAM (R), NORTH CAROLINA HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER: The reason we have to put it in our state constitution is that half a dozen other states have by judicial fiat had a handful of judges change the laws of those states.

It's something several other states have done, but amendment 1 goes a step further. Not only would it ban same sex marriage, which is already illegal in North Carolina. It would also invalidate all civil unions and domestic partnerships.

REV. WILLIAM BARBER, NAACP, NORTH CAROLINA: This is a bad law because it will hurt even heterosexual families because it does not recognize any other domestic union.

KAYE: The measure raises all kinds of legal questions and is causing a heap of controversy in the state.

BARBER: It will hurt children. It will hurt those that need the protections and domestic values..

KAYE: both sides are spending millions to convince voters to come to their side.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Vote for the marriage protection amendment.

KAYE: one of the leading voices against the amendment is the coalition to protect north Carolina families hitting air waves with ads like this one.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Amendment 1 will take away my daughter's health insurance. That's extremely unfair.

KAYE: Melissa and Libby have been together for ten years. They were married in Vancouver and have a 4-year-old daughter. Since Libby works for the government, Melissa says their daughter will lose the health insurance if the amendment passes. But the amendment supporters say there's a way around that.

STAM: The vast majority of governmental insurance would not cover her child any way. Those handful of cities and counties that have it in that nature, if they reformat it so that they want to cover the unmarried household members and all the children, they could do that if they want to.

MELISSA HODGES, AMENDMENT ONE OPPONENT: I think it's wrong to ask me to be untruthful in order to get coverage. And I don't understand why an amendment that is intended to protect families would request that our family lie who we are and lie about being a family in order to get protection.

KAYE: Recent polling shows the amendment is likely to pass on Tuesday. But critics warn that if voters approve the measure, it will set a dangerous precedent.

BARBER: How people feel about same sex marriage is a matter of the conscious. But the real question is, do we want to support codifying and placing discrimination in our constitution?

KAYE: Randi Kay, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: NEWSROOM will be right back.

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COSTELLO: In today's "Daily Today's", diets rich in omega-three fatty acids may help her memory loss. That's the result of a new study, published in the American Academy of Neurology.

Researchers studied more than 1,200 people over the age of 65 for more than a year. They check the participants' blood for a particular protein. That protein was lower and those who ate more food with Omega-3 like Salmon and walnuts.

That does it for me. Thank you for joining us. I'm Carol Costello. "CNN NEWSROOM" continues right now with Kyra Phillips.