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Federal Government Shut Down; Tom Clancy Dead; Veterans at WWII Memorial; Judge Sentences Murderer, Performs Marriage for Him
Aired October 02, 2013 - 15:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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SANDRA BULLOCK, ACTRESS: So if the government shuts down, does that mean, do I get to stop paying taxes for right now because they're not working? That is awesome.
OK, for the amount they're closed, I'm not paying my taxes, and watch, I get arrested tonight.
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BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: Sandra Bullock on the government shutdown.
Day two, everyone has an opinion. Tonight, could we see progress in seeing this end to a stalemate?
President Obama scheduling a meeting two hours from now at the White House with leaders of both chambers including the man on the right, John Boehner.
You have Republicans, Democrats, the president, and we should point out, Speaker Boehner, we learned today, has spoken over the phone with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.
Let's debate this. On the left, we have Van Jones, co-host of "CROSSFIRE" and Ben Ferguson.
Welcome to both of you, and Ben Ferguson, you're first up to bat because it's obvious, we heard from Jay Carney.
The president has not minced words. There's no negotiating when it comes to Obamacare. What is Plan B for Republicans on this one?
BEN FERGUSON, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: I don't know what Plan B is for Republicans except for getting in the room with the president and trying to hammer something out, because the president of the United States of America has at some point has to be the lead negotiator.
That's why he's president of the United States of America. He doesn't have the luxury of doing what other congressional leaders are doing, which is throwing huge insults, calling people "terrorists," acting like they have bombs strapped to their chests, as even the White House is saying.
He's got to get these people in a room for an extended period of time. I'm surprised we're not at Camp David right now. That's what the last five presidents did.
They were talking every day and they weren't fighting in the media all day long when they were in rooms together. He's got to step up to the plate and get a deal done.
BALDWIN: Van, what, if anything, could the president give up to give in to Republicans right now?
VAN JONES, CNN CO-HOST, "CROSSFIRE": Well, I think right now, we should just be happy this is not the end, not the beginning of the end, but at least the end of the beginning.
We're now beginning to have the talks. What the president should be trying to do now is make sure to remind his colleagues he's already compromised a lot.
He's already given up a lot. We gave up single-payer. That was a compromise. We gave up the public option. That was a compromise.
Even in the past couple years, eight times he's signed into law changes and modifications to Obamacare, compromised a lot.
Even on the C.R. right now, we've given away $70 billion of concessions to the Republicans and gotten no credit for it.
So I think he needs to kind of make sure they understand and remember, so we're not governing by amnesia and crisis, that we've already compromised quite a bit.
I think you've got to start the conversation there.
BALDWIN: Ben, you're laughing, why?
FERGUSON: Well, because when Obamacare was passed, it was done by Democrats who basically shut out the Republicans.
The compromise, I do agree with Van, have come to those who are lobbyists, those who are big Democratic donors, those who are union leaders with the muscle and power to go to the White House and ask for exceptions to Obamacare.
More than a thousand companies got exceptions. Now that's a compromise.
I wish he'd have the same spirit he had with union leaders and with big businesses and big lobbyists with a compromise on the exclusion of not having to be in Obamacare, if he would have that same spirit with Republicans on other issues.
And, again, there's two options on --
JONES: I think you're wrong on -- FERGUSON: No, I'm not wrong. They got the exemptions.
They had big business people and big lobbyists that went to the White House and they got a thousand exemptions. That is the fact.
And so the president has to get in a room, and by saying things like, I'm not going to do them any favors, and they're not going to do me any favors, and I'm not going to compromise, that's only going to keep the government shut down that much longer.
BALDWIN: Van Jones, if this is the end of the beginning, what about Congress? What about their salaries? Should they be paid?
FERGUSON: Well, you know, the Constitution requires that they be paid. You can't change their salary in the middle.
I admire those congressional leaders like Tulsi Gabbard, the young veteran from Hawaii. She's giving her money back. I think they should give their money back. It should put pressure on them.
But let's not forget, there's 800,000 workers who right now are suffering, and I think there should be solidarity between Congress and those folks.
BALDWIN: Ben, do you agree with that?
FERGUSON: Absolutely. Even Ted Cruz has said I'm not going to take my salary every day we're in a shutdown.
I think, though, a lot of this, if we look forward, the 17th is the date when the default and money really becomes an issue.
BALDWIN: That's doomsday. Let's be real.
FERGUSON: Yeah. Yeah, and I think they're going to bring it down to the wire.
Look at the president this weekend. He's going to Asia. Do you really need to be going to --
JONES: No, he's not.
FERGUSON: He is going to go.
BALDWIN: He shortened his trip.
FERGUSON: He's going. He's not cancelling the trip.
JONES: And I think it's important that he do that.
I would like to say a few things when you get finished. Go ahead.
FERGUSON: He's going out of the country when this country is shut down.
I would say the president of the United States of America, what does Asia have right now that America -- that's more important than the American government, the 800,000 workers --
JONES: Can I answer?
FERGUSON: -- and the people that are hurting right now?
Why are you leaving America when our government's shut down?
BALDWIN: Let's let Van -- Van, you have the floor. Respond to that.
JONES: Thank you. Yeah, thank you.
Well, first of all, Asia has a lot of economic opportunities for our country, some of our strongest economic partners are there.
I think it's important that the president of the United States continue to open up markets for us and to help us keep this economy going.
He's been able to do that despite the fact that Congress won't pass any of the jobs bills they used to support that he's put forward, number one.
But, number two, I think that where we are is a very, very important moment. Despite -- I'm very proud right now to be a Democrat and I'm very proud of the president.
People have criticized his leadership. He's the first president who's been able to get health care to all Americans.
Right now, across the country, there are so many people excited for signing up for health care they're crashing servers and crashing the system.
Why? Because no American president has been able to create a situation where every American could get covered.
And that -- 20 years from now what people will be saying about this moment right now, this president got doctors to babies and the Republicans shut the government down they were so mad about it.
That is what history is going to say.
BALDWIN: White House meeting in two hours, gentlemen. Got to leave it there.
Ben Ferguson, Van Jones, thank you both.
And watch Van tonight, "CROSSFIRE," 6:30 p.m. Eastern, right here on CNN.
Coming up, we're taking you to the World War II memorial where, as you can see, there's a crowd there.
Dozens of veterans showed up today, hoping to get in. See what happened and see those protest signs they're carrying. Plus, bestselling author Tom Clancy has died. You know him as the author of spy thriller juggernauts like "The Hunt for Red October" and "Patriot Games."
More on Tom Clancy's legacy, next.
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BALDWIN: The spy thriller novelist of all time, perhaps we could go that far, he has passed away, according to his publisher. Sixty-six- year-old tom Clancy died in a Baltimore hospital yesterday.
And several of his books, they became Hollywood blockbusters, including "The Hunt for Red October" in 1984, followed by "The Sum of All Fears," "Clear and Present Danger" and "Patriot Games."
Clancy's publishing house called him a consummate author and one of the most visionary story tellers of our time.
So let's go to New York with more on Clancy's legendary literary career as our entertainment Nischelle Turner.
He was quite the writer.
NISCHELLE TURNER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: Oh, absolutely, Brooke. And, you know, his death, the news of it, has left millions of fans stunned because people didn't even know he was sick.
But, at this stage, his family, the publisher haven't really released information on just how he passed away or even where he died, only that it was in Baltimore. We do expect to have more details on what to happened to him shortly.
Now, his resume, you talked about it, so impressive. As you noted, he wrote 28 books, both fiction and nonfiction. Seventeen of them were best-sellers.
And you were talking about some of the titles there. You think about it. Gosh, it's a who's who of political spy thrillers.
I was thinking, just a personal aside, Brooke. We were talking today about what was our favorite.
And I have to think because of the writing, I thought "Patriot Games" was so well written and so good.
As a movie, I think "Clear and Present Danger" was my favorite, but I just thought "Patriot Games" was just the consummate -- his publisher called him the consummate author, and I think that book summed it all up.
BALDWIN: And I guess he told CNN, once upon a time, you know, when we interviewed, he would get all this intel and talk to all these military, all this minutia.
And he learned about and he would never give up his sources, but he would write about and get us to the movie theaters, each and every time.
Nischelle Turner, thank you.
And Congress has trouble figuring out how to come to an agreement, but Americans have no trouble at all deciding what they think about the situation.
You'll hear from some folks who have a simple message for Congress, two words, "grow up."
But next, we'll take you to the World War II memorial where dozens of veterans showed up today hoping to get in.
Jake Tapper was there. He talked to one veteran who did not hold back. We'll talk to Jake next.
But first, Rainn Wilson, known for his role as Dwight on "The Office" is using his fame to help educate girls all around the world.
We show you how in this "Impact Your World."
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RAINN WILSON, ACTOR, "THE OFFICE": Hi, there, I'm Rainn Wilson, and together we can make an impact on educating women and girls all around the globe.
Phyllis, my sister? More like my dead great, great grandmother who died of stupidity.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I have ears, Dwight.
WILSON: When I started getting well known as an actor on "The Office," I got inundated by requests to be a spokesperson or do various things for various charities. And I had an opportunity to explore what was most important to me in my heart and what I felt could make the greatest impact in the world.
The Mona Foundation supports educational initiatives all around the world, about 20 different initiatives in about 15 different countries, including here in the United States
They target women and girls and that's how you transform a community. They're the most at-risk population through most of the developing world, targeting them to empower them and educate them is really the most crucial thing
Also, they find grassroots educational programs that are already working but are underfunded and come in to bring the support to help those organizations grow and thrive and flourish and move forward.
Join the movement. Impact Your World at CNN.com/impact.
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(COMMERCIAL BREAK) BALDWIN: Today, more than 100 of our nation's veterans were able to visit the World War II memorial in our nation's capital despite the government shutdown.
A group of vets crossed the barricade yesterday to visit this memorial, and Jake Tapper was there all day long.
You talked to these folks who came just to pay their own respects and I imagine many of them were pretty irked over this whole government shutdown thing.
JAKE TAPPER, CNN CHIEF WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: They were indeed.
It was an honor to spend time with these heroes, these men who served time in Europe and the Pacific in World War II, and also a few Korean War veterans as well.
They're brought here through honor flights which brings veterans from World War II and Korea and gravely ill veterans here to the memorial.
And we saw the scene where they took down the barricades. Today's veterans did not have to take down the barricades. The park service was there and was very welcoming.
In addition to, of course, the politicians who were there who were trying to get a piece of the action and the protesters who were shouting their various messages, of course, were the men themselves and a few women with their own messages.
I want to play some sound. This is Fred Yanow. I got to speak with him. He's a World War II Army veteran who served in the South Pacific.
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TAPPER: And what does it mean to you to be here today?
FRED YANOW, WORLD WAR II ARMY VETERAN: Well, I'm glad it's open because I think what the politicians are doing is nuts, absolutely crazy.
If they want to do something drastic, why don't they cut their salaries? Wouldn't that be great?
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TAPPER: Now, of course there were those who had their strong opinions and blamed this on President Obama and Democrats. There were others who blamed this on House Republicans and the tea party.
But, generally speaking, Brooke, these guys, and remember they're in their 90s, were not really interested in whose fault it was. They just thought Washington was dysfunctional.
And as one leader of the honor flights noted, it was kind of ironic. These guys fought to preserve this democracy in this country, and this is the democracy we have as of right now. BALDWIN: I liked his word. He says, "This is nuts."
Many Americans, Jake Tapper, agree with him.
We look forward to seeing you there live on Capitol Hill for your show today in 10 minutes. Jake, thank you very much. We'll be watching.
Coming up, Americans about to get real with Congress, not holding back. You're about to hear from some who have a very simple message -- grow up.
That's next.
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BALDWIN: Many Americans are not at all very shy when it comes to sharing their opinions on this whole government shutdown.
So, outside of Chicago, our correspondent there, Ted Rowlands, talked to a lot of people who had two words for Congress -- grow up.
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TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Morning commuters outside Chicago have a lot to say to lawmakers about the government shutdown.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Grow up. You're there for a bigger purpose.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's just games that they're playing. So I would say get beyond it, get over it, and think about the people, you know, that they're hurting.
ROWLANDS: While there's universal disgust for both parties, many Republicans we talked to are concerned that their party will end up taking a hit.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think the Republicans will get a lot of blame for it, unfortunately.
I don't think it's their fault. I think there's plenty of blame to go around. But I think they'll get most of the blame, yeah.
ROWLANDS: What would you say to the president and Harry Reid?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I would say let's get off this my way or the highway stuff. You know, let's compromise. Let's figure out what pieces we can make work. Let's figure out what pieces we can't make work and let's adjust.
ROWLANDS: Some think it's up to President Obama to break the gridlock.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think he should step in and do something, absolutely. Absolutely. Do something.
Don't worry about this Obamacare and whatever. Do something now for the people that are struggling in America. ROWLANDS: Some actually think a shutdown isn't so bad.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't have a problem with it. I mean, I don't want to see the government default on its debt, but generally speaking, the government's not doing something, that's probably a good thing.
ROWLANDS: Are you worried that the shutdown is going to hurt the party?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No. I'm very much in favor of what they're doing, frankly.
You can see the world isn't coming to an end because the federal government shut down.
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BALDWIN: Ted Rowlands joining me now.
World may not come to an end. Big issue, though, with the whole debt ceiling coming up in a couple weeks, but bottom line, people are not shy, are they, Ted?
ROWLANDS: No. Yesterday, we were in downtown Chicago. Now we're in Naperville, Illinois, a suburb which always leans to the right, so we talked to a lot of Republicans.
And as one guy said, he's fearful that the backlash is going to hurt their party.
The bottom line is Republican, Democrat, independent, most people think what's going on in absolutely ridiculous and it needs to stop.
BALDWIN: See, the clock on the screen, 39 hours and counting here.
Ted Rowlands in Illinois, Ted, thank you.
Coming up, quite the story, this judge sentences a convicted killer to prison, dismisses the courtroom and then does something pretty incredible.
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APRIL SANTOS, VICTIM'S SISTER: It's not humanly possible for you to grant that to somebody, for a murder.
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BALDWIN: We will tell you exactly what that judge did that has folks like the woman you just heard from so angry, next.
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BALDWIN: Quick market check, minutes away from the closing bell, the Dow down 67 points as we are in day two of this government shutdown as we continue to watch and wait.
Before we go, a day in court began with a killer being sentenced to a prison by a judge in San Diego. She gave him 53 years to life.
But his day in court ended in a way that shocked a lot of people with his wedding, a wedding presided over by the very same judge who had moments earlier sentenced him to prison.
That is Danne Desbrow. Here he is smiling. He's getting hitched in this picture, posted to Facebook. He is uncuffed, holding the hands of his bride.
The sister of the man he was just sentenced to killing, she's devastated.
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SANTOS: Why would she do that? You know, I'm lost for words. It's a slap in his family's face. My mom suffered and suffered through the trial.
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