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Scandal in the Sea of Galilee; Outrage over Rape Comment; Director Tony Scott Commits Suicide; Diana Nyad Swims for History Books; Prepare for Even Less Leg Room; Outrage over "Legitimate Rape" Claim; Assange's Possible Ways to Escape; America's Best Places to Live

Aired August 20, 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: I feel refreshed. Thanks, Soledad.

SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Good.

COSTELLO: And good morning to all of you. Happening now in the NEWSROOM, new outrage right now from Missouri Representative Todd Akin's controversial comments that, quote, "legitimate rape victims don't get pregnant." See Romney and Ryan trying to distance themselves this morning but we found that Paul Ryan has actually partnered with Akin in the past.

Bad behavior. Allegations of skinny-dipping at a Christian holy site. Congressman Kevin Yoder and several other lawmakers allegedly drinking and taking a late-night dip in the Sea of Galilee.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's actually about one and a half. I've a great Polaroid of it. He's right. There must be one (INAUDIBLE).

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: And a legend remembered. The man who brought us Maverick and Goose from "Top Gun," taking his own life, jumping from 180-foot-tall bridge. This morning a look back at an extraordinary career.

And a perfect home, the perfect life, the perfect town. "Money" magazine went coast to coast, from town to town, and has this year's best places to live. The unveiling live this hour.

NEWSROOM begins right now.

And good morning to you. I'm Carol Costello. Thank you so much for being with us this morning.

We begin with a mini scandal in the Holy Sea of Galilee. It involved a late-night swim, drinking, and one nude Republican member of Congress, and he would be Congressman Kevin Yoder from Kansas.

This all happened during a fact-finding congressional trip to Israel last summer. And according to "Politico" Yoder wasn't the only rowdy member of the American delegation to jump into the sea, although the others were at least partially clothed.

Also involved Congressman Steve Southerland and his daughter, Congressman Tom Reed from New York, Congressman Ben Quayle of Arizona, Jeff Denham and Michael Grimm, both of New York.

Jake Sherman is with "Politico." He broke the story.

Welcome.

JAKE SHERMAN, CONGRESSIONAL REPORTER, POLITICO: Thank you.

COSTELLO: First off, can you describe the night in question for us?

SHERMAN: Yes, absolutely. There was an 8:45 p.m. dinner in Tiberius, which is a seaside town in Israel. And after the dinner where sources told us there was drinking, members of Congress and several aides jumped into the ocean and Mr. Yoder removed his clothes.

Later when the trip got back, the FBI began questioning folks and asking what happened, if anything inappropriate went on. And that's kind of where we left it. This was one year ago, actually almost one year ago to the day. But this is just coming to light right now.

COSTELLO: Why is this just coming to light now?

SHERMAN: I'm not -- unclear to me. But a lot of people who we spoke to were surprised that it lasted this long, that it didn't get out before this. So this was something that was known inside circles in Washington but never really got out until recently.

COSTELLO: You mentioned the FBI was looking into this. Why?

SHERMAN: I -- it's still not completely clear to us, but they were asking folks whether anything inappropriate happened in the water. Obviously when a member of Congress, Mr. Yoder of Kansas, is nude in a foreign body of water, that would raise some eyebrows in some quarters, one would think. It's not a terribly usual thing to hear about in D.C. that an elected official while overseas, especially in Israel, a holy site to many religions, would jump into the water naked. That's not totally something that we'd -- have seen in the past.

COSTELLO: Plus the fact he's totally nude in front of other colleagues and at least one colleague's daughter. Part of the reason these politicians were in Israel was to gain credibility. So does a nude depth at a Christian -- and the Sea of Galilee is where Jesus walked on water. Does this just destroy all credibility or will this just blow over, you think?

SHERMAN: It's unclear. These things, you know, take on a life of themselves sometimes and Mr. Yoder has made statements. He's on the front page of "The Kansas City Star" today in his home. So this is something that might have legs. And Mr. Yoder has spoken on the record about it. It's unclear whether he'll have to again. But listen, these trips are -- have long been a staple of Washington and have been criticized in the past. So it might change the dynamic on some of these trips. Obviously Israel is a place that's important to a lot of members of Congress. So it's definitely raising some eyebrows in D.C.

COSTELLO: Jake Sherman with "Politico," thanks so much for being with us this morning.

SHERMAN: Thank you.

COSTELLO: Now to one congressman's statement that has stirred so much outrage even the GOP's presidential ticket has had to weigh in and step way back. The well-known conservative candidate who's hoping to win a big Senate seat from the Democrats was asked about his staunch opposition to abortion.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: In the case of rape, should it be legal or not?

REP. TODD AKIN (R), MISSOURI: Well, you know, people always want to try and make that as one of those things, well, how do you -- how do you slice this particularly tough sort of ethical question. It seems to me, first of all, from what I understand from doctors, that's really where if it's a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down, but let's assume that maybe that didn't work or something, you know, I think there should be some punishment but the punishment ought to be on the rapist and not attacking the child.

SEN. CLAIRE MCCASKILL (D), MISSOURI: I don't probably need to explain how wrong his statement was and, by the way, he may be acting like he's back tracking but he didn't say he was wrong. All he said was he now is acknowledging that someone can become pregnant when they've been raped. But what he said in his statement was that it was rare and that there was a -- something in the woman's body that could, you know, shut down a pregnancy because if it was a legitimate rape, I mean, he hasn't said that that's a wrong statement. He hasn't apologized for that statement.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: And Claire McCaskill would be Congressman Akin's opponent when it comes to that senatorial race in Missouri.

Joining us now is CNN political editor Paul Steinhauser.

Paul, let's start with that Senate race. Akin says he misspoke. He's apologized. He's ahead of Claire McCaskill just a little bit. Will this affect things?

PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN POLITICAL EDITOR: I think it will definitely affect things and it was very quick for Senator McCaskill to jump on the airwaves and also to put out a statement. This is a seat the Republicans really think they can win back from the Democrats. McCaskill faces a very tough re-election.

This is a seat the Republicans want to win back. But this may not be the candidate, though, that's going to do that especially after this incident.

But, Carol, you mentioned there were also -- we're feeling the effects of this on the presidential campaign trail as well. Look at the statement that was put out quickly last night by the Romney campaign and it says, "Governor Romney and Congressman Ryan disagree with Mr. Akin's statement, and a Romney-Ryan administration would not oppose abortion in the instances of rape."

That's from Amanda Henneberg, a campaign spokesperson.

But here's the interesting part, Carol, Paul Ryan, obviously, Mitt Romney's running mate, the only exception for him on abortion is not rape, it is when the life of the mother is endangered. I reached out to a campaign aide early this morning and asked about that. And they said that is his personal statement but the statement from the campaign is the position of the ticket, which translation means it's the number one, not the number two who dictates the -- disctates the policy -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Well, and Republicans were quick to respond to Congressman Akin's comments because there's still quite a big gender gap when it comes to the Republicans to try and close that gap, and this certainly doesn't help.

STEINHAUSER: It doesn't help. You're absolutely right. You look at almost any poll, it indicates the president has an advantage over Mitt Romney when it comes to female voters and this won't help at all. And that's probably one of the reasons why they quickly reacted.

You may hear more from Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan about this later today. They're in New Hampshire campaigning together for the first time in a week. And then they sit down with an CNN affiliate for an interview.

But, Carol, listen, Democrats were quick to criticize. You play the McCaskill sound. Look at the statement as well from Congressman Debbie Wasserman Schultz. She is the chairwoman of the DNC and she said, "And what do ROmnye and Ryan think of Akin's latest statement? They've been trying to distance themselves from it. But Congressman Ryan has also partnered with Akin on a whole host of issues that restrict women's ability to make their own health care decisions. This kind of leadership is dangerously wrong for women. And I can't sit by and watch as these out-of-touch Republicans like Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan and Todd Akin continue to roll back women's rights."

Of course Debbie Wasserman Schultz also used that e-mail to fundraise.

Carol, one of the things to look at, let's see if any statements come from social conservative groups to see if they're upset with the exception for rape that is in the statement from the Romney and Ryan campaign. COSTELLO: We'll see. You mentioned that in New Hampshire where Romney and Ryan are going to appear, we're going to be covering that event live.

Paul Steinhauser live from Washington, thanks so much.

Ouch. Talk about a paper cut. President Obama on the cover and under attack in the latest issue of "Newsweek." The cover tells him to hit the road and makes the case why we need a new president. But the magazine hasn't been so enthralled with his challenger either. Just a few weeks ago the "Newsweek" cover called Republican Mitt Romney a wimp and it asked if he was just too insecure to be president.

Romney laughed it off and pointed out that a "Newsweek" cover used the same wimp label for President George H.W. Bush and, guess what, he won.

Big shock in the world of entertainment. Hollywood director Tony Scott apparently committed suicide by jumping off a bridge last night. He left a note, but police have not released it. So we're left to wonder why.

If you know movies you immediately think of "Top Gun."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You are instructed to land, to land immediately.

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COSTELLO: Scott became a Hollywood A-lister after his mega hit "Top Gun" starred Tom Cruise. Scott and his big brother, Ridley Scott, battled for top billing in the family. Ridley had hits like "Gladiator," "Alien" and "Blade Runner." Tony Scott's death has stunned the industry.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JEANNE WOLF, ENTERTAINMENT REPORTER: We use the word shocking all the time when we hear about these deaths. But to think of Tony Scott, brother of Ridley Scott, one of the most prominent and successful directors we have, jumping off a bridge is almost impossible to contemplate.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Twitter lit up with comments like this one from fellow director Ron Howard. "No more Tony Scott movies. Tragic day."

Casey Wian joins us now from Los Angeles. What more can you tell us?

CASEY WIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Carol, Hollywood really is struggling to absorb this news that one of its most acclaimed filmmakers apparently has taken his own life. As you mentioned, Tony Scott, the British born director and younger brother of fellow director Ridley Scott jumped to his death from a bridge in San Pedro, California, just yesterday afternoon. He was 68 years old.

And the Los Angeles County coroner's office tells CNN the death is being investigated as an apparent suicide. The LAPD also says a witness saw him jump off that bridge.

Now Tony Scott is best known for directing the 1986 film "Top Gun" which, of course, made a huge star out of Tom Cruise. The movie about a hotshot young fighter pilot became the biggest hit of that year.

Now interestingly Scott was at work on a remake of the film at the time of his death along with a series of other projects. He made a second film with Cruise, "Days of Thunder" in 1990. And Cruise is not the only major Hollywood star he has worked with. Scott directed Will Smith in the action film "Enemy of the State" in 1998. Of course another major box office hit.

His credits included "The Last Boy Scout" with Bruce Willis, the sequel to "Beverly Hills Cop" with Eddie Murphy and "Spy Game" with Brad Pitt and Robert Redford.

Scott worked repeatedly with Denzel Washington, most recently on the runaway train movie "Unstoppable." They also made "Crimson Tide" and the remake of "Taking Pelham 123" together. With his brother Ridley, Tony formed a highly successful production company Scott Free Productions, which is responsible for the current TV series "The Good Wife."

The company also produced the TV show "Numbers." Tony Scott also produced films directed by his brother, Ridley, including this summer's "Prometheus" -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Just so sad. Casey Wian reporting live from Los Angeles this morning.

Another case of some kind of in-flight problem with a passenger. This time on a JetBlue flight 677 from New York to L.A. The airline won't say what exactly happened that forced the pilot to divert to Denver. Police met the plane, took the passenger into custody. Charges are pending. The flight then continued on to the West Coast.

A 76-year-old man of suburban Chicago has become the latest victim of the worst West Nile outbreak in eight years. Nearly 700 cases have been reported over 32 states. At least 26 people have now died. Texas has been the state hardest hit. In Dallas, spraying continued overnight. Mayor Mike Rawlings says they are making progress.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAYOR MIKE RAWLINGS, DALLAS: Last night we almost got a quarter of a million acres done. We have four planes up and we were able to cover all the areas we targeted. Tonight we go back at it. We have a fifth plane and at that time we should have everybody done this time tomorrow morning twice.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: According to the CDC most West Nile infections occur from June to September and peak in August.

OK. Let's talk about something amazing. We have to go to Mars to get the latest from Curiosity. The rover zapped a fist-sized rock about 30 times with its onboard laser delivering more than a million watts of power. It is the first time a laser this powerful has been use d on another planet.

The Curiosity's camera recorded the results and that will help NASA scientists identify chemical elements within the rock. Just awesome.

Giving it another shot, she's already attempted to swim from Cuba to floor three times before and now Diana Nyad hopes this go around she will swim her way into history.

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COSTELLO: Seventeen minutes past the hour.

Checking our top stories now:

In Pakistan, an 11-year-old Christian girl is under arrest on blasphemy charges. The girl, who lives in Islamabad, is accused of burning pages from the Koran. Police say the girl told them she didn't realize the paper she gathered to light a fire to cook contained text from the Muslim holy book. Local media reports say the girl has Down's syndrome.

In Syria, intense fighting rages on even as Muslims mark the second day of a major holiday that marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan. The opposition says at least 27 people were killed today including a mother and her two children.

Baseball Hall of Famer Eddie Murray will pay more than $350,000 to settle insider trading charges. Investigators say Murray benefited from an inside tip from a former teammate in 2009. Under the settlement, Murray pays back profits and interest but admits no wrongdoing.

Now this is a rare sight. For just the second time in some 130 years Old Ironsides sailed under her own power. This is so cool. The USS Constitution was commemorating the 200th anniversary of the victory over the British in the war of 1812.

It doubles as a museum anchored in the Boston Harbor. But see, she can sail just fine. Of course, the museum was hoping that attracts tourists to her in the future.

If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. No one lives that cliche quite like Diana Nyad.

Yes, you go, girl. The 62-year-old jumped in Saturday in her fourth attempt to swim from Cuba to Florida without a shark cage. So far she's gone about 28 miles.

Here is the distance we're talking about from Havana, Cuba, to Key West, Florida, is 103 miles, a trip expected to take Nyad 60 hours, and that is a long time in the water without a shark cage and jelly fish and all those other weird creatures of the sea.

Joining me now is CNN producer Matt Sloane.

You have followed Nyad's journey closely. You're in contact with her now, though I don't know how that's possible. So tell us.

MATT SLOANE, CNN PRODUCER: Yes, I just actually got off the phone with the boat a few minutes. They have satellite phone. They are actually over 30 miles now so she's making more forward progress.

You know, I have to tell you she's doing a lot better, and I say that cautiously, than the last few times because jelly fish were an issue for her. You can see, she's got actually a jelly fish suit on now that protects everything but her face.

Exposure and getting blown off course were an issue but they seem to be doing well on course.

And, you know, the sharks are always a concern but they haven't seen any sharks.

COSTELLO: Yes, you were saying before it's the little things that get her like the jelly fish bites and she also suffered an asthma attack the last time she was in the water.

SLOANE: When you think about it, it's not like swimming in a pool for 103 miles or 60 hours. We're talking about two and a half days in open ocean, anything can happen. I mean, it can be the weather, it could be sun exposure. It could be dehydration, malnutrition.

It could also be hypothermia, which you wouldn't think of. I mean, it's the middle of August. It's 90 degrees in the water down there. To us, that's like bath tub water. But to her -- her body temperature is 98. So if you're submerged in liquid for three days your body temperature comes down, you can get delirious. She calls it never-never land.

It's really quite remarkable to see. But I have a lot of confidence. I've learned in the last two, three years, don't try to predict anything that's going to happen with Diana. But so far, so good.

COSTELLO: So, she has tried three times. This is her fourth. Why is this so important to her?

SLOANE: You know, she tried it when she was 28 years old and she did it for her own reasons. There was actually sexual molestation in her history and she was swimming out of anger. She set the world record in 1979 from the Bahamas to Florida and then stopped swimming for 30 years.

And then she turned 60 and she started off this like existential crisis and decided, you know what, I'm going to swim from Cuba to Florida because that's what most 60-year-olds do. She just decided this is a distance I never accomplished. She accomplished everything else she set her mind to and it stuck over the last 35 years.

COSTELLO: She is very much a baby boomer. You have to prove your mettle even when you're 60.

SLOANE: Absolutely. And head strong doesn't even begin to describe Diana.

COSTELLO: Well, I hope she makes it this time.

SLOANE: Me, too.

COSTELLO: And I hope the jelly fish don't get her. That would hurt. Thanks, Matt.

Speaking of swimming and setting a record, get this, a 14-year- old Canadian girl has completed the nearly 27-hour, 31-mile, solo swim across Lake Ontario. Annaleise Carr has become the youngest person ever to make the trip -- it's a lot easier when you're 14. The teenager did her swim for charity aiming to raise $30,000 for a childhood cancer center. So far, she's already raised close to $80,000.

Did you feel a little squeezed on your last flight? We'll tell you about a growing trend among airlines that's shrinking your leg room even more.

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COSTELLO: Twenty-four minutes past the hour. If you've ever complained about not having enough leg room when you're on a plane and flying -- well, get ready to complain more.

Maribel Aber joins me from New York with the ever shrinking leg room on flights.

MARIBEL ABER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Carol. Yes, the ever shrinking leg room, a great way to say it here. I know we've all experienced it lately.

Two of America's most popular airlines, southwest and JetBlue, have been moving the rows closer together and they're doing this for two reasons. First, it makes more available seats per flight which means there's more revenue for them and theoretically cheaper fares for passengers. They are doing it to make more premium seats available.

So JetBlue, for example, they announced in August that they'd be squeezing the rows closer together to create two more rows of even more room seats which have between 38 to 39 inches of leg room and compare that to 33 for regular seats. And you guessed it, Carol, the extra five it to six inches will cost you between $10 and $65, depending on the route. It's relatively inexpensive.

Carol, American and United, they charge 100 bucks -- 100 bucks.

COSTELLO: That's insane, though. You know the sad fact is that people will pay it. They will pay it. That's why the airlines do it because people will pay it.

ABER: People will pay it and we had, look, the outrage over let's say the checked bag fees, people pay that so they're holding their grounds and airlines are sticking to that as well. I mean, you're still flying, more people are flying. People are paying for the check bags and, you know what? Total passengers is up in airlines compared to last year, Carol. So there you go.

COSTELLO: Yes, the other thing you have to worry about, at some point as the seats get closer and closer together is safety. If there's an emergency and you have to get out of there fast, that would be a tough thing to do.

ABER: Absolutely. And you know what? The FAA also stepped in and said that's one thing they're looking at as well. Safety is definitely a major concern. But I still travel with my dog be and we need that extra space.

COSTELLO: Cram him under the seat. Exactly.

Maribel, thanks so much.

Have you ever heard after legitimate rape? Was it a slip of the tongue or what he truly believes? How the Republican Senate candidate's outrageous comment has put him and the Romney/Ryan team deep in some controversy.

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COSTELLO: It is 30 minutes past the hour. Good morning to you. Thank you for joining us. I'm Carol Costello.

Happening now in THE NEWSROOM: movie director Tony Scott committed suicide last night. He jumped from a bridge in Los Angeles. Scott, best known for directing "Top Gun" left a suicide note but police have not released it. He was just 68.

About an hour from now, two Russian cosmonauts are going to take a long space walk at the International Space Station. They'll spend six and a half hours making repairs and a few upgrades on the orbiting lab. Among them, new shields to prevent damage from small meteoroid hits. CNN will carry this live.

Britain's Prince Philip left the hospital in London this morning, he was suffering from the same problem that forced him to miss some of Queen Elizabeth's diamond jubilee back in June, a bladder infection. As he left the hospital, he thanked the staff personally. He's 91 years old.

Legitimate rape, a slip of the tongue, or does Missouri Congressman Todd Akin, who is running for are a Senate seat, believe there's such a thing as illegitimate rape or that a woman's body in the midst of a violent attack can somehow throw up some sort of pregnancy shield? Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. TODD AKIN (R), MISSOURI: It seems to me, first of all, from what I understand from doctors, that's really rare. If it's a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to tray to shut that whole thing down. But let's assume that maybe that didn't work or something, you know, I think there should be some punishment but the punishment ought to be on the rapist and not attacking the child.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Congressman Akin has apologized but the damage is done. His comments forced the Mitt Romney/Paul Ryan team to issue a statement. It reads like this, "Governor Romney and Congressman Ryan disagree with Mr. Akin's statement, and a Romney-Ryan administration would not oppose abortion in instances of rape."

Except the Democrats are already tying Akin's comments to Paul Ryan's views on abortion. The DNC chair tweeting, "Flashback, Representative Todd Akin legitimate rape claim like Paul Ryan's support for House Resolution 3, redefine rape as only forcible rape."

So let's talk about this. Let's bring in CNN contributors Will Cain and L.Z. Granderson. L.Z. leans left. Will leans right.

Welcome, gentlemen.

WILL CAIN, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Good morning.

L.Z. GRANDERSON, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Good morning, Carol.

COSTELLO: Good morning.

So, Congressman akin had a chance to beat a Democrat for the U.S. Senate. So, Will, is he toast now?

CAIN: I'm sorry, was that for me, Carol?

COSTELLO: Yes, it was, will.

CAIN: I'm sorry. Can you repeat again?

COSTELLO: Sure, he had a real chance to beat Claire McCaskill and win a Senate seat. Is he toast now in light of these comments?

CAIN: Oh, toast. Toast. Absolutely. Absolutely.

He's done. I can't imagine a scenario he beats Claire McCaskill and what we'll see now is an attempt at damage control from this bleeding any further when we see tweets like Debbie Wasserman Schultz trying to extend this beyond Todd Akin. Does this affect people 's perception of GOP views in a broader scope, which the answer is clearly no.

COSTELLO: Oh, I think L..Z. might disagree with you. I say that because the speed at which the Romney camp distanced itself was astounding. They did it like that because the gender gap is a real problem for the Republicans and the Democrats are using akin to attack Ryan.

So, L.Z., I ask you that question, do you think this has greater implications, Akin's comments that is?

GRANDERSON: Carol, I have two words to any woman watching this program right now. That's wake up.

This isn't just about one person. This isn't just about Akin. This isn't a one-off. This isn't a misspeak.

This is an agenda, this is an idea, this is a theocracy that's embedded in the GOP. This is not the first time we've heard something similar come from someone in Congress representing the GOP.

In fact, right here in Michigan, a Democratic woman was banned, was not allowed to talk. She said the word vagina. She was censored.

So this isn't about Akin. This is the party and the theocracy. Women need to wake up. This is so much bigger than this.

COSTELLO: And, Will, you can't deny that Democrats will argue that Paul Ryan was compatible (ph) with House resolution three, which redefined rape --

GRANDERSON: He co-sponsored the bill.

COSTELLO: He co-sponsored the bill with Akin.

CAIN: So, first of all, this is exactly what I'm talking about, what L.Z. just said and did, which I am friends with L.Z. and thoroughly I'm disappointed in what I se as an irresponsible claim that you're trying to take what one man said that is completely indefensible and actually somewhat incapable of being understood what his legitimate rape, what is this mysterious process that women's bodies have had a suggests they could shut down pregnancy. These simply crazy claims and now extend that to a larger GOP mindset that endorses a theocracy that L.Z. said, the height of absurdity of the things that I just heard and the perpetuation of that --

GRANDERSON: Absurdity. Are you kidding me, Will?

CAIN: Political pandering. That's it.

GRANDERSON: Every single time there is a discussion about rape and the GOP, they talk about the role of religion being the main factor abortion should not be legalized in the country. They cite religion. They don't cite science. They cite religion.

I'm not overreaching nor am I overstretching this. This is consistent with that. And, oh, by the way, since is you're trying to stretch, what about forcibly raped? OK, if you don't want to talk about the body shutting down, what about Paul Ryan and forcibly raped? How do you explain that?

CAIN: Let me bring some clarity to the conversation. The concept --

GRANDERSON: There is clarity to the conversation. You're backpedaling.

COSTELLO: Go ahead, Will.

CAIN: I'm halfway into a sentence, L.Z. I would appreciate if you would let me talk here.

GRANDERSON: Go ahead.

CAIN: The concept that many GOP and conservatives are opposed to rape in all circumstances, and some who are not in the case of rape and incest has nothing to do with defining what is legitimate rape and, by the way, Debbie Wasserman Schultz's link between whatever Todd Akin meant -- I have no idea what he meant -- and forcible rape is tenuous. There are other explanations.

I don't know what he meant and I don't think there is a legitimate explanation. But again the concept of abortion is linked to rape or whether or not one life begins and religious implications has nothing to do with someone saying women can shut down pregnancy. The whole point is you are taking a legitimate debate about abortion and when life begins and who should be accepted from this process and when it should be legal and when it should not, to one extremely crazy comment about medical processes and redefining what is and is not rape from one man in Missouri.

COSTELLO: Yes, but, Will, I will say then how do you explain Paul Ryan's acceptance or co-sponsorship of this bill that redefined rape as forcible rape? What did he mean by forcible rape?

CAIN: I don't know -- I don't know what Paul Ryan meant by forcibly rape in that bill, I do not know.

COSTELLO: Well, we're going to try to ask -- because there is an event in New Hampshire. Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan will be there. Our Jim Acosta will be there. I'm sure Jim Acosta will ask Paul Ryan these questions and we'll see what the answer is.

And, L.Z., Will is right. We don't know what the answer is just yet.

GRANDERSON: We know the answer. If we can look at the evidence that's been laid out over the last couple of years, in 2010 the Tea Party took over and they were supposedly working on budget. And what we've seen has been nearly 100 different laws written into state constitution affecting abortion. This isn't a one off. This isn't about Akin. This is about theocracy. It's not absurd as Will would like to say it is. It's consistent with what they would like to see happen.

COSTELLO: L.Z. Granderson, Will Cain, thanks so much for --

CAIN: Yes.

COSTELLO: -- a spirited conversation on a tough topic.

GRANDERSON: Thank you.

COSTELLO: WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, he's a prisoner in a gilded cage safely tucked inside a foreign embassy but unable to step one foot outside. Yet he was still free enough to take some shots at the United States.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: The intrigue and anger is building over WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. He made his first public appearance yesterday after spending the last couple of months inside Ecuador's embassy in London.

British police amassed outside the embassy blocking his travel to the South American country which has offered him asylum. Assange says he's being persecuted for being a whistleblower and, guess what, he called out the United States.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JULIAN ASSANGE, WIKILEAKS FOUNDER: As WikiLeaks stands under threat, so does freedom of expression and the health of all our society, we must use this moment to articulate the choice that is before the governments of the United States of America.

I ask President Obama to do the right thing. The United States must renounce its witch-hunt against WikiLeaks.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: At least for now, if Assange wants to make his way to Ecuador, he'll have to resort to cloak and dagger exploits to avoid arrest. He faces extradition to Sweden where he faces allegations of sexual assault. CNN's Brian Todd looks at some of the ways Assange could plot an escape.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): He's reported to be tense and going a bit stir crazy.

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange holed up inside the Ecuador in embassy in London. He's been there for about two months. Now that Ecuador's granted him asylum and Britain's refused to honor it, a classic standoff is underway if Assange takes one step outside the embassy.

JOHN NEGROPONTE, CHAIRMAN, THE COUNCIL OF THE AMERICA: My understanding is that the British would arrest him and extradite him to Sweden.

TODD: That's where Assange is wanted for questioning over sexual assault claims. With the fugitive inside in what's at the moment considered Ecuadoran territory and with British police outside ready to pounce, scenarios are being debated over a possible Assange escape.

(on camera): Is this an option, getting smuggled out in the trunk of a diplomatic car? A former British diplomat says the car would be considered Ecuadoran domain. British police he says could stop it, but not search it, couldn't necessarily pull Assange out. But there's a hitch in that plan.

The hitch -- apparently there's no garage available to the Ecuadoran embassy. We are told there's only one entrance to the embassy right here and obviously, that is not an option. The building is completely surrounded by British police.

They're in the streets, the alleys, the side streets. If anyone was going to try to take Assange from the building to a waiting car, the police would get him. The police are also reported to be monitoring the so-called communal areas of the building, the hallways and elevators, preventing Assange from taking an elevator up to the roof where a helicopter could pick him up.

(voice-over): Police can monitor the hallways and elevators because the Ecuadorian embassy occupies only one floor, the first floor and not even all of that. It's here right where this window is. And Assange can barely step into a hallway without risking apprehension.

If he did somehow get to a car, there are airports large and small in every direction. But experts say once he got to one of those, he could easily be captured. He could, actually, be smuggled out in a crate or large bag. If it's labeled a diplomatic parcel, the British police can't open it. But --

OLIVER MILES, FORMER BRITISH AMBASSADOR TO LIBYA (voice-over): I think they could delay it, I think they can hold it, I think they can keep it in a -- in a very cold or very hot place or something like that.

TODD: But Former British Ambassador Oliver Miles doesn't see that happening. One thing that could happen, he says, Assange could simply take refuge inside the Ecuadorian embassy indefinitely. It's happened before.

In 1956 when the Soviet Union invaded Hungary, Cardinal Jozsef Mindszenty a top Catholic official there, took refuge inside the American embassy in Budapest. The good cardinal was granted asylum and lived inside the American embassy for 15 years.

Brian Todd, CNN, Washington.

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COSTELLO: Wow.

You may be living in one of the best cities in America and not even know it. "Money" magazine ranked the top 100. We'll run them down.

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COSTELLO: Forty-eight minutes past the hour. Checking our "Top Stories" now.

A reunion of sorts for the Republican presidential ticket. This morning Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan are campaigning together in New Hampshire after stumping separately there this past week. Today the men are expected to discuss their plans to reform Medicare.

Twenty-six people now confirmed dead from the West Nile virus. And health officials say the mosquito borne illness is now in at least 32 states, this is the nation's worst outbreak in at least eight years.

The patent war between Apple and Google just got serious, but Google is on the offensive suing Apple, accusing it of ripping off patents. Google was vague about which ones but says they involve Apple's signature products iPhone, iPad and iTouch.

And there is the noise. Furious anti-Japanese protests have erupted across Chinese cities. This all comes after a group of Japanese landed on an island that both countries claim. That (inaudible) off all the angers. Protesters overturned Japanese cars and burned flags. China accuses Japan of undermining its territorial sovereignty. The island has been in dispute for decades.

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COSTELLO: 100 cities across 35 states make up the best 100 places to live in America, at least according to "Money" magazine. Here's your top five, though. "Money" magazine ranks these cities base on the quality of life, job growth, income and affordable housing.

You can pick up the issue on newsstands this Friday. Senior writer for "Money" Donna Rosato joins us now for a preview. Hi, Donna.

DONNA ROSATO, SENIOR WRITER, MONEY: Hi how are you, Carol?

COSTELLO: So let's go into a little more detail about these top 100 cities. Because there are a lot of nice cities across America, a lot more than 100. ROSATO: That's right. We look at a lot of criteria that you mentioned, but one of the things that we do is we sent a team of reporters out to each of these places to find out why they're a great place to live. And the first one, the number fifth one is McKinney, Texas -- I'm sorry, is --

COSTELLO: Redmond, Washington?

ROSATO: I'm sorry, it's Redmond, Washington, which a lot of people know as the home of Microsoft. But there's a lot more to Redmond than Bill Gates and Microsoft. It's close to Seattle and all the cultural offerings there, the Cascade Mountains and all the recreational opportunities.

But people who live in Redmond say they don't even have to leave town to have a good time. There are fruit hubs, eateries, biking trails and they really enjoy it.

COSTELLO: Isn't it expensive?

ROSATO: You know, Redmond is relatively expensive. We find our most affordable places are in the Midwest in the South but relative to the West Coast it's fairly reasonable.

COSTELLO: I've been there and it's expensive. Ok number four on the list is Newton, Massachusetts.

ROSATO: Well, this is another expensive place and you get that in the northeast for sure. But a positive to being in this area is Boston has done really well during the recession. The unemployment rate in the area and in Newton is half the national average, but the real story in Newton is education. The -- all the -- the town is built around 13 villages. And each of them are built around the elementary schools there.

And Newton really takes advantage of the higher institutions, the higher education institutions close by. They partner with MIT and Boston College for example, to develop science and technology curriculum for their public schools.

COSTELLO: Ok. So three on the list is Eden Prairie, Minnesota, which was number one in 2010; number two McKinney Texas; and I want to get to number one because it kind of surprised all of us -- Carmel, Indiana, a town, probably not many of us have heard of?

ROSATO: That is true. That is true.

Five years ago it was just a sleepy suburb of Indianapolis, but it's really transformed itself as a great place both to work and to play. One of the things that it has done is it has a good diverse group of industries in the city. They have low taxes, which has attracted a good commercial base and they actually have the highest concentration of office workers in the state except for Indianapolis.

Where you see a lot of attraction here, what makes it such a great place is they have redeveloped the downtown and built a design center, a new arts and performing center as well as a they have a new water park too. So it attracts a lot of people. They say they love living there.

COSTELLO: Oh yes. And I bet it's a great sports town, too, especially for basketball.

ROSATO: That is true. That is true.

COSTELLO: Absolutely. And can anyone there explain what a Hoosier is? I've been trying to figure that out for years.

ROSATO: I don't know the answer to that one.

COSTELLO: Ok. Well, I asked our friends in Indiana, please -- Facebook.com/CarolCNN. Thanks, Donna. We appreciate it.

Do you have any idea what your 401(k) plan is costing you in fees? In the next hour of NEWSROOM, we'll tell you why employers must now explain those fees.

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