Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Newsroom
Government Shutdown; Bleacher Report; Jammed Gun Saves Lives; Barilla Pasta Company Faces Boycott; 00-Who?
Aired September 27, 2013 - 09:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Happening now in the NEWSROOM, boycotting Barilla. The Italian pasta maker in boiling water after saying it would not use a gay family in its advertising.
High speed crash. A car going more than 100 miles per hour almost slams into a police cruiser and, of course, it's all caught on camera.
And it's the last pitch at home for one of the best closers in baseball history. Mariano Rivera makes a tearful good-bye to Yankee fans.
NEWSROOM continues now.
And good morning. I'm Carol Costello. Thank you so much for joining me.
A long, long weekend lies ahead in Washington. The nation just days away from a government shutdown, but lawmakers are still no closer to a solution. President Obama putting the blame squarely on congressional Republicans, some of whom, including House Speaker John Boehner, are demanding that funding for Obamacare be cut to keep the government running.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Even if you believe that Obamacare somehow was going to hurt the economy, it won't hurt the economy as bad as a government shutdown.
To suggest America not pay its bills just to try to blackmail a president into giving them some concessions on issues that have nothing to do with the budget.
I will not negotiate on anything when it comes to the full faith and credit of the United States of America.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Tough words from the president, but some might say someone needs to be the adult here. Someone needs to sit down and figure this out. So why not negotiate, Mr. President? Joining me now from New York, the host of CNN's "Your Money," Christine Romans, and here in Atlanta, Rhajeev Dhawan, an economic forecaster at Georgia State University.
Welcome to both of you.
RHAJEEV DHAWAN, ECONOMIC FORECASTER, GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY: Good morning.
COSTELLO: So, I just want you both to put it simply. When politicians start talking like this, as business people, who goes through your mind?
DHAWAN: You would like to postponed your spending or purchasing decisions because you don't know what's coming up ahead. Is this fighting only for 15 days or is it going to go on for another two months, three months, six months? You want certainty. I just need to know what my environment is before I make the big decision to spend money, which means I'm going to be building something, then (ph) hiring somebody.
COSTELLO: That was very tempered.
Christine, I would say, if I'm a business person listening to all of this going on in Washington, I'm angry.
CHRISTINE ROMANS, HOST, CNN'S "YOUR MONEY": Oh, I'm angry. I'm angry and I'm not a business person, I'm just a regular American and journalist and I think a lot of people are very angry. And, Carol, if you're a federal worker, right now you're waiting to hear from your supervisor by the end of the day whether you're going to come into work on Tuesday, whether you are one of those people who is an essential employee or not.
I mean, look, the banks, if there's a shutdown, the banks are going to stay open. You're going to have government -- essential government functions like border security and all that is going to still happen. But if you - if you start talking about what happens if we don't extend the debt ceiling, that's when it gets super ugly. No Social Security checks potentially. People who are investors aren't going to get interest on the bonds, the money that they lent us. You could have military pay that could be - that could be stopped. So, in a shutdown, you're going to see a lot less pain. All of the things on your screen still happen. That happens in a shutdown.
In a default, it is really, really ugly. Federal workers wouldn't be paid. Social Security checks wouldn't get cut. Medicare payments to hospitals wouldn't happen. Then you've got this crazy kind of lending issue with the banks that could happen. All these letters of credit -- it's very, very dangerous in a default and that's what I'm really worried about, Carol.
COSTELLO: OK. So we've been there before. I mean we've had this same debate before. And just remind -- refresh our memories, Rhajeevm, about what happened a couple years ago when they were fighting over the debt ceiling.
DHAWAN: I think we went through the -- all the usual kabuki (ph) theater (ph) of doing it. And then, in the end, we lost our AAA credit rating. That's our image in the world economy. It did affect the economy a little bit in terms of what I was talking about, investment, you know? The businesses did pull back. The Fed did have to come in to do another quantitative easing.
And right now, you know, the economy is not growing as it was growing in 1995, '96, when we had the last big, major shutdown. So we don't have enough margin to take in the hit. That's what I'm trying to say. So what happens today affects the growth in 2014. That's where we need to start looking. If the debt ceiling is not raised, or if there's too much theater with it and we do have the default and we do have that interest rate shooting up, then that is going to really bring this economy to its knees.
COSTELLO: OK. So, Christine, we always hear from politicians on both sides of the aisle. We really care about the economy. It's not - it's not recovering fast enough, we hear, and then they lay blame on either party. But here they are again playing around with the economy. Why?
ROMANS: Because of politics, Carol. It's really ugly, scary politics. It's 100 percent politics. And I think that - I really, honestly think that some of them must not understand how it works. If they're waiting -- if they're waiting to find out that main street's mad, right, if there's a shutdown you're still going to get your Social Security check. So if there's a shutdown people say, oh, who cares, the government shut down. Less government, great.
But if you go over the debt ceiling, you wouldn't have people getting a Social Security check or you wouldn't have certain government functions that are critical, right? We wouldn't be able to pay our lenders. Then what -- main street would feel it. And by the time main street can feel it, it's too late. You've already told the world we don't have our act together, we're not going to pay our bills. You could have the stock market fall terribly and interest rates shoot up very, very high. It would hurt the whole world if they do this too late in the wrong way.
COSTELLO: Yes, and - I guess this is the really sad part, Rhajeev, and I'll let you have the last word is, nobody really knows how this is going to play out.
ROMANS: Right.
COSTELLO: I mean the debt ceiling, I think, limit is October 17th. They need to make some sort of decision by then.
ROMANS: Yes.
COSTELLO: So at least they have a little more time, Rhajeev, right?
DHAWAN: But then there's also the funding for the government. So what kind of a solution they come up in the next three, four days, do they postpone it by 15 days, one month, one and a half months? I find it surprising. Why are they doing resolutions for funding for only one and a half or two months. Why not for a year?
COSTELLO: I don't think they can handle that.
DHAWAN: That's what common person is saying, you know, why can't you just get it done? ROMANS: It's their job! It is their job! Their only job is to run the government, to pass -- it's their job! They're not even doing their job.
COSTELLO: I think everyone would agree with that, Christine Romans. Rhajeev Dhawan, thanks so much for joining us. We appreciate it.
DHAWAN: Thank you, Carol.
COSTELLO: Still to come in the NEWSROOM, there's no crying in baseball unless you're the greatest closer ever and you're leaving your home field for the very last time.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: After 19 amazing seasons, a tearful Mariano Rivera gave his final farewell to Yankee fans last night. Andy Scholes has the "Bleacher Report" this morning.
It was touching.
ANDY SCHOLES, "BLEACHER REPORT": Yes, it certainly was, Carol. And, you know, whether you are a Yankees fan or not, watching Rivera bid farewell to the Bronx last night, it definitely got the waterworks going. You know, Rivera entered in the eighth inning. And after retiring four straight batters, Derek Jeter and Andy Pettitte, instead of manager Joe Girardi, came out to get him one last time. Now Rivera, very emotional, started bawling while he was embracing both Pettitte and Jeter. And there wasn't a dry eye in the stadium when Rivera made his final walk towards the Yankees' dugout.
Well, Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig announced that he will finally retire from his post after next season. Selig's been running baseball since 1992. His tenure's been filled with plenty of controversy, from a canceled World Series to the steroid scandal. But Selig's also had many accomplishments to hang his hat on, like the inner league play and the expanding of the post season. Now, Selig will be 80 years old when he steps down in 2015.
Well, the San Francisco 49ers look like they may have finally shaken off their Super Bowl hangover. Colin Kaepernick, he took plenty of criticism from fans after the team's two losses. He threw two touchdowns last night. And Frank Gore (INAUDIBLE) for more than 150 yards on the ground. The Niners crushed the Rams 35-11 to even their record at 2-2.
All right, well, you know the iconic World War II photograph raising the flag on Iwo Jima? Well, the Navy's swimming and diving team recreated the scene for their team picture this year. And check it out, they did it under water. Now, how they did this, I don't know. They must have been holding weights and whatnot. But it certainly is an impressive photo.
All right, trending right now on bleacherreport.com is what Yankees' second baseman Robinson Cano is seeking this off season in free agency. According to reports, Cano wants a 10-year deal worth more than $300 million.
COSTELLO: Oh, come on!
SCHOLES: I know. Carol, that would be the richest contract in sports history. And to put it in perspective, the Red Sox Dustin Pedroia, he recently inked the richest deal for a second basemen. It was eight years, $110 million. So what Cano's asking for is just outrageous, right? $300 million.
COSTELLO: Does he - does he realize he's 31-year-old?
SCHOLES: Yes, 31. It's not like he's 25 asking for a 10-year deal. And you got to think the Yankees, they probably won't want any more of those 10-year A-Rod contracts on their books.
COSTELLO: No. That would be really unwise. Andy Scholes, thank you.
Here's what's all new in the next hour of NEWSROOM.
A new blockbuster report on climate change out this morning, dire predictions that cities like Miami could be underwater within decades.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: By the mid part of the century, 2050, 2060, most of the barrier islands in the world are going to have to be evacuated.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Can anything be done to stop it?
Plus, hold the fries and pass the fruit. McDonald's says it's taking on the obesity epidemic with some new menu changes.
And, some Apple users claim the new IOS operating system is making them sick, literally.
That's all new in the next hour of CNN NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Here's what's all new when the next hour of NEWSROOM a new blockbuster report on climate change out this morning, dire predictions that cities like Miami could be under water within decades.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: By the mid part of the century, 2050, 2060, most of the barrier islands in the world are going to have to be evacuated.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Can anything be done to stop it?
Plus hold the fries and pass the fruit. McDonald's says it's taking on the obesity epidemic with some new menu changes.
And some Apple users claim the new IOS operating system is making them sick literally.
That's all new in the next hour of CNN NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Checking our "Top Stories" at 48 minutes past the hour, police in Ft. Worth, Texas, say a major tragedy was avoided when a gun malfunctioned. Take a look at that video this man walked into a McDonald's. He pulled out a gun, aimed it at customers and employees. A witness describes what happened next.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When I was seeing a guy pull a pistol out and he was yelling "Give me your keys and give me your money" I could hear the gun clicking. He was pulling the trigger.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: That's right, the gun malfunctioned but then the suspect went outside and fired at a passing car, when he came back inside the gun jammed again. That man is now in police custody.
A college student has been charged with federal extortion, the FBI says he hijacked the Webcams of young women and blackmailed them after taking nude pictures, among his victims the current Miss Teen USA. The man was released on $50,000 bond and is now on home detention with electronic monitoring.
The Italian company that makes Barilla Pasta is facing a boycott after its President said same-sex couples will not be featured in its commercials. He says he prefers traditional families. This is what he said on Radio 24 in Italy.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
GUIDO BARILLA, PRESIDENT, BARILLA PASTA (through translator): I would never do a commercial with them, not for lack of respect for homosexual family but because we don't think like them. We think ours is a classic family.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
COSTELLO: He went on to say if gays didn't like the policy they could eat another brand of pasta. Well it did not take long for his comments to explode on Twitter, the hash tag BoycottBarilla went viral.
Guido Barilla apologized three times and dug the hole deeper each and every time. He actually said this at one point. Quote, "With reference to statements I made yesterday, I apologize if my words have generated controversy or misunderstanding, or if they have hurt the sensibilities of some people. In the interview I simply wanted to highlight the central role of the woman in the family."
So what exactly does that mean? I mean, what's the central role for a woman in the family, whipping up manicotti or (inaudible) or Lasagna? Alison Kosik is in New York.
ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: You know that's a good question. I think with each apology, maybe he's digging that hole a little deeper. What's funny is for many American women, many -- this is a joke, can't even -- don't even know where the kitchen is. That's a joke. Come on. We can laugh, right?
Well no doubt about it, Barilla, Carol is in hot water. The company actually put out a corporate statement after it made that initial statement from the president and put a big picture and banner up on its Web site, but the reality is many consumers aren't accepting that apology at this point.
I want to show you some of the comments that are on social media. One of those quote, "I would like my pasta without the side of homophobia, thanks".
And this one from Facebook: "I'm Italian, I'm gay, I'm married legally to a man, I have three adopted children. I had Barilla pasta for dinner last night. Today, tomorrow and forevermore, I will choose another brand of pasta. Good bye Barilla. You lose."
And one more from Facebook: "Not good enough. I will be buying another brand from now on. Your CEO has the right to his opinion and I have the right to spend my money elsewhere."
Here's the reality. This has the potential to hit Barilla hard. Barilla is a big company but sales could very well drop from this boycott. Also Carol, Barilla have 8,000 employees in 30 locations so this has to hit close to home for some of them.
So while the company deals with the consumer backlash, it likely has some internal issues to address as well. And just to be fair here, this isn't the first time consumers have boycotted a company over its stance on LGBT rights. Bars around the world have stopped serving Russian vodka in protest of the country's anti-gay laws and consumers have boycotted Chick-Fil-A after its CEO expressed his opposition to same sex marriage -- Carol.
COSTELLO: But that didn't seem to hurt Chick-Fil-A's bottom line, right?
KOSIK: Not that we can see, no.
COSTELLO: All right we'll see what happens with Barilla. Alison Kosik reporting live from New York this morning.
Still to come in the NEWSROOM, some iconic actors have played James Bond -- Sean Connery, Roger Moore, now Daniel Craig -- wait until you hear who might be next on that list.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) COSTELLO: James Bond, say it isn't so. Would we really say farewell to Daniel Craig?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DANIEL CRAIG, ACTOR: The trouble with company cars is they have trackers.
JUDI DENCH, ACTRESS: I suppose that's completely inconspicuous.
CRAIG: Get in.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: So now we can say hello to Abraham Lincoln?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DANIEL DAY-LEWIS, ACTOR: Things which are equal to the same thing are equal to each other. That's a rule of mathematical reasoning. It's true because it works.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Oh Nischelle Turner what is happening?
NISCHELLE TURNER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: Well when you put it that way, Carol, would we say good-bye to Daniel Craig for Abraham Lincoln? I mean what am I supposed to say that? I will say this, Daniel Day Lewis also played a gangster in "Gangs of New York" so he can rough it up a little bit.
But here's what I say. Maybe they're going to have dueling Daniels perhaps as 007. Here's what's happening now.
The James Bond book, James Bond is back in book form. And the newest Bond adventure is called "Solo" it just hit bookstores in Britain and the novel's author is causing a little bit of a stir here among fans like Carol, after he revealed who he thinks should play the super spy on the screen.
Now he is acclaimed author William Boyd. He wrote "Solo". And he seems to suggest that the current actor holding the role, which is Daniel Craig, doesn't quite fit the bill for him. Check out what he told the UK newspaper "The Independent" this week. He said "If there was going to be an actor to play my James Bond I would choose another actor who has been in a film of mine and who is also called Daniel. Daniel Day Lewis actually resembles the bond that Fleming described."
Now Boyd says that Day Lewis, who he worked with on the 1988 film "Stars and Bars" is more the body type that Fleming imagined, tall, lean, rangy, dark haired, very good-looking man. Not fair-haired and muscular like Daniel Craig or maybe even Sean Connery.
Now Daniel Day Lewis let me just say has not expressed any interest in this role. After he won the Oscar for "Lincoln" last year, he announced that he was going to try to take some time off from acting and said that he needed a break for a couple years. I can imagine Carol.
So maybe you don't have to worry. But look at him. He's dapper. He could be Bond.
COSTELLO: No, Nischelle.
TURNER: Daniel Craig is my favorite.
COSTELLO: Come on.
TURNER: He is my favorite, he is my favorite. I will say that. But if they're going to change, he's not a bad change.
COSTELLO: Ok if you say so.
TURNER: I'm trying to convince you. I'm trying it's not working. You're like I'm not buying what you're selling, lady. Forget it.
COSTELLO: Thanks Nischelle. The next hour of CNN NEWSROOM after a break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Happening now in the NEWSROOM Uncle Sam's hand to help Detroit but is it anything more than a drop in the bucket for a city in serious financial trouble?
