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Obamacare Supporter Now Has Complaints; Education Secretary Duncan Singled Out "White Suburban Moms" For Criticism; Eighty Five Tornadoes Reported In Deadly Storms; Ex-Governor Candidate Creigh Deeds Stabbed At Home, Son Dead Of Gunshot; Appeal Filed Over Rapist's No-Jail Sentence

Aired November 19, 2013 - 14:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: Another poll shows damage to the president from the botched Obamacare rollout. His approval rating has now dropped to 42 percent. That is a number that equals his personal low in surveys taken for "The Washington Post" and ABC News.

Let's take a look at this too. Respondents were asked to rethink the votes they cast back in November of 2012. When they did, the president lost that mock election to Mitt Romney.

From the White House now, CNN's senior correspondent there, Jim Acosta, has another case of the president being haunted by his own words in his effort to sell his signature program.

JIM ACOSTA, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Brooke, Jessica Sanford was cited by the president as an Obamacare success story at a health care event that the president held here at the White House last month. Jessica Sanford is a 48-year-old single mother from Washington state. She bought insurance on that state's health exchange. And she was so excited about the news, she called it a life-changing event. She decided to e-mail President Obama and thank him for the Affordable Care Act. That e-mail touched people at the White House so much that they decided to include it in the president's comments as an example of how the Affordable Care Act is working. And here's a bit of what the president had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: I recently received a letter from a woman named Jessica Sanford in Washington State. Here's what she wrote. I am a single mom. No child support, self-employed, and I haven't had insurance for 15 years because it's too expensive. I was crying the other day when I signed up. So much stress lifted. Now, that is not untypical for a lot of folks like Jessica who have been struggling without health insurance. That's what the Affordable Care Act is all about.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ACOSTA: But just three days after that event at the White House, Sanford started receiving letters from the Washington State Health Exchange, informing her first that her tax credit had been reduced by the state. That she was not eligible for the tax credit that she thought she was going to get. That started to raise the cost of her insurance.

Then last week she received yet another letter from the Washington State Health Exchange telling her that she was not eligible for any tax credit at all, that the state had made a mistake in calculating that benefit. She told us despite being mentioned by the president at that ceremony here at the White House, she is now very disappointed. Here's what she had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JESSICA SANFORD, FORMER OBAMACARE SUPPORTER: It was like riding a big roller coaster. You know, they have my credit card. They have the payment date. Then, you know, once again I'm knocked down. This time it's to zero. At my rate of pay with my family size, I just don't understand why I wouldn't get at least a little help with a tax credit.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ACOSTA: In one of their letters to Jessica Sanford, officials with the Washington State Health Exchange explained that this mishap had actually occurred with other consumers in that state trying to buy insurance on that exchange. When we tried to reach out to officials with the Washington State Health Exchange for an explanation, they got back to us saying they're looking into the matter.

As for Jessica Sanford, she doesn't blame President Obama. She doesn't blame the Affordable Care Act. She said she still supports the president, supports the law. She blames the Washington State Health Exchange. Needless to say, after being cited as an example of an Obamacare success story, she doesn't feel that way anymore -- Brooke.

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: Certainly not. Jim Acosta for us at the White House. Jim, appreciate that. We should mention we will be seeing the president in the next hour, about 45 minutes or so away from here. He's expected to unveil this multimillion dollar initiative aimed at preparing high school students for a high-tech economy. So as soon as we see the president, we will bring that to you live.

Arne Duncan is apologizing for calling out white suburban moms. In an interview with CNN, the president's secretary of education said his phrasing was off last week when he criticized certain opponents of his stricter standardized testing. Addressing school superintendents Friday, Duncan singled out those white suburban moms who are opposing higher standards.

He said, "Lower test scores are showing," and I'm quoting him, "their child isn't as brilliant as they thought they were." Now he is telling CNN that was a bit clumsy.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ARNE DUNCAN, SECRETARY OF EDUCATION: I think my wording, my phasing was a little clumsy, and I apologize for that. My basic point, obviously this is now a long conversation is that we want to prepare all children to be successful in a globally competitive work force. So many of our children, not just in inner cities, but in suburban communities, I think, aren't getting the education they need and deserve.

So I was challenging the state leaders there to do a better job of communicating with parents across the board, letting them know how important higher standards are, but what it takes for all of us to work to achieve those higher standards.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Secretary of Education Arne Duncan there to CNN.

Still ahead, rock star welcome for one Kennedy, the crowds, the cheers as JFK's daughter steps into her new role as U.S. ambassador to Japan, Caroline Kennedy there.

And video you have to see. We have all seen twisters from a distance, but this takes seeing this to a whole new level. Just trust me. We'll get a live report from one of the hardest hit areas as well. You are watching CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Tell you I am fresh off a plane from Illinois. Saw this for myself. Really this is the second full day as parts of the Midwest of families sifting through the debris after hundreds lost their homes, just gone after that tornado, multiple tornadoes on Sunday.

We have some new terrifying video here of this EF-4 tornado bearing down on one family's home. This is Washington, Illinois. Just think about that video for a second. Gary Tuchman got this and I was sitting with him last night. He said to me, Brooke, most people shoot on their iPhones videos of tornadoes off in the distance.

But that man, for whatever reason, hung on to his iPhone as that thing was slamming his house. We can tell you as you just him with Gary, he's OK. But hundreds of thousands of people there are still digging through the rubble. It is windy there. It is cold. Power is out for more than half a million across the Midwest.

Ted Rowlands is in Washington, Illinois. Ted, it's a tough scene there. Again, no surprise.

TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, a lot of people getting into the neighborhoods now for the first time. The local authorities are letting them in today for a four-hour period and then tomorrow morning for another four to five-hour period. There's rain in the forecast. People are coming in and they are devastated. They're seeing for the first time that their homes, in most cases, have been completely annihilated.

We talked to a family today going through the rubble of their parents' home. It's amazing the joy that they get finding little things. That's what's happening today. People are getting some hope and some real excitement at finding little things that they thought were gone. They found their parents' rings, for example, and a crucifix that was on the wall that was untouched, things that are giving them hope. They know they have a very, very long road ahead of them.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MIKE SEIWERT: When you pull over the hill and you look at it and you've been coming here for family events for almost 30 years, it kind of takes the wind out of you. But they're safe. They're alive. It's stuff and they've got good insurance.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROWLANDS: And good insurance is a key here. Most people here do have insurance. The insurance adjusters, Brooke, are out here. You look live at some people sifting through the rubble of what used to be their home. It is a very, very, as you know from being out here yesterday, extremely painful process. This is the time where families have to make decisions. Are we going to rebuild? Are we going to stay here? The reality of their new reality really setting in.

BALDWIN: Thank goodness so many of those families at least had basements, unlike other parts of the country. Many of them had somewhere to go. Ted Rowlands in Washington, Illinois. Ted, thank you.

Talk about a royal welcome for Caroline Kennedy. This is her welcome to Japan this morning. This is day one officially on the job as U.S. ambassador there. She rode -- here she is. She rode to the Imperial Palace. This is a horse-drawn carriage. She was presented her credentials. Critics question Kennedy's selection given her lack of experience in diplomacy, per se, but you talk to her and she's proud of her new title.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CAROLINE KENNEDY, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO JAPAN: I just was honored to present my credentials to his Majesty. I'm eager to begin work as ambassador. So it was a wonderful ceremony. I'm honored to represent my country.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Kennedy recognized the special significance of her appointment, her father, President John F. Kennedy, fought against Japan in World War II, once hoped to visit the country himself. Coming up on Friday, it will be 50 years since President Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas.

Coming up next, we will be getting some new information on that state senator who was attacked, stabbed multiple times in his own home. Police found Virginia State Senator Creigh Deeds stabbed three times. We are learning more about his 24-year-old son, who ultimately died from his own wounds in that home as well. That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) BALDWIN: All right, we have some information just in. I just want to cut right to it. Jim Nolan is on the phone. He is with "The Richmond Times Dispatch" newspaper in Virginia. We're talking to Jim specifically about State Senator Creigh Deeds. He became state senator for a district in Central Virginia back in 2001. He is sitting at UVA Med Center in critical condition after being stabbed multiple times just a couple of hours ago.

In that same home, it was his home, was his 24-year-old son, Gus, who was also found and ultimately died. So Jim Nolan with "Richmond Times Dispatch," you all are reporting something new and pretty key with regard to this son. Tell me what you have learned. What happened to him Monday, yesterday?

JIM NOLAN, "RICHMOND TIMES DISPATCH" (via telephone): Well, we're reporting today on our web site timesdispatch.com that Gus has been evaluated Monday for a mental health issue under what's called an emergency custody order. That basically is a determination as to whether he should be held for an additional period of time up to two days under a temporary detention order.

Unfortunately, after the evaluation, it was found there were not enough psychiatric beds available to accommodate him. So Gus was released, apparently, into his family's custody. Then some hours later, approximately 7:30 this morning, there was a report of this assault on his father. When authorities arrived, they found him suffering from a gunshot wound from which he ultimately did not survive.

BALDWIN: Walk me back. So before he went to this -- it was the Bath County Hospital -- the son, Gus, on Monday, do we know about any kind of specific event or events that led to him doing that, A and B, bigger picture, what can you tell me about the relationship between father and son?

NOLAN: Well, in the bigger picture, I had a chance to meet Gus when his father, Senator Deeds, was campaigning for governor in 2009. Of course, as a student of Virginia politics would remember, Creigh Deeds lost a heartbreakingly close race for attorney general to the current governor, Bob McDonald. He later went on to challenge in 2009 for the governorship and was soundly defeated.

During that campaign, Gus had left school to campaign with his father full time. When I observed them, they always seemed to be very close. They spent a lot of time together. After the campaign and the loss, a humiliating loss for Senator Deeds, Gus took some time off from school and had recently returned.

We were told that he had withdrawn from school early October. What happened and has transpired since that time is unclear. Authorities are trying to determine the exact sequence of events now, Brooke, about what happened inside the house. Clearly, Senator Deeds was assaulted, stabbed in the head and torso, by his son. How the gunshot wound took Gus' life is still undetermined.

BALDWIN: When you say by his son, I have yet to hear that specifically from police. I just know that they're saying they're not looking for a suspect. Just to be clear, that's what I have. Is that what you have?

NOLAN: Our understanding is that Senator Deeds was stabbed by his son. What investigators are still trying to determine is how Gus Deeds died. They're not releasing information yet about whether the gunshot wound was self-inflicted or not.

BALDWIN: And just finally --

NOLAN: So clearly, Gus had some mental health issues in recent times and that's certainly an area where the authorities are looking hard.

BALDWIN: Clearly it looks like as recently as 24 hours ago. Since I have you Jim and you're in the weeds on this, do you know if this -- is his condition at University of Virginia Medical Center with regard to the senator, is he still in critical?

NOLAN: It's our understanding the senator is alert, that he is speaking with hospital personnel, perhaps even with investigators. Family is supposedly there with him. I was told that he's expected to recover and that his life is not necessarily in danger at this point, but clearly it's been very traumatic for him.

We do know that following the assault, he left his home. He lives in a very rural part of the state in Bath County. His family has adjoining farms. He stumbled out of his home and was seen by a cousin who was driving along Route 42 who picked him up and took him to another relative's house where a phone call was made and he was air lifted to the University of Virginia Hospital in Charlottesville. We expect Senator Deeds to recover.

BALDWIN: So you're telling me this man, this state senator, was stabbed in his head, in his torso, somehow manages to walk out of his home, is seen by a cousin, cousin gets him to the hospital. Again, how many times was he stabbed?

NOLAN: We don't know. All state police are saying is that it was multiple times and that once he made his way to -- down the road, he was on observed by his cousin who was driving along the highway. He was taken to another relative's home from which he was eventually medevac by helicopter to the University of Virginia, which is at least an hour and a half away from Bath County.

BALDWIN: You know, as we talk and we open the conversation talking about this son, Gus Deeds, mental state, from everything I've read, Jim, he was a stellar student at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, studied music, smart guy.

NOLAN: He was a charming kid. I had a chance to meet both Gus and his sister during the campaign in 2009. The family always appeared to be very close, and Gus was a really sweet kid and smart and engaging and really was very interested in what his father was doing. Of course, that campaign didn't work out the way either of them hoped, but certainly at that time it wasn't clear that there were any issues between father and son. You know, of course that was some time ago. You know, whatever happens in the course of a family's life together -- I know Senator Deeds had gone through some tough times. He was divorced from his wife at the time during the campaign. Who knows what could have happened in the interim. Very sad day for everyone here in Virginia and certainly in the tight-knit community of Bath County and certainly in Richmond, where Senator Deeds is a long-time, highly respected public servant.

BALDWIN: Jim Nolan, thank you so much for taking the time to hop on the phone with me. Jim Nolan, "Richmond Times Dispatch." It's so sad what's happening there. We should learn a little bit more. We heard quite a bit there from Jim, but we should be learning more. There will be another state police news conference happening in just about 5 minutes from now, the top of the hour from Virginia. Of course, we have a crew there and we will bring that to you live. Quick break. Back after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: An Alabama woman was raped. Her rapist convicted. Now she says she feels victimized again but not by her rapist, but by the judge who sentenced him to no jail time.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COURTNEY ANDREWS, RAPE SURVIVOR: You know, I sat there and shared my testimony for three hours to a room full of people that I don't even know. For him to not go to jail and just live free, I want the sentence changed. I want him to go to prison. That's the only thing that's going to change anything.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Now Courtney Andrews is one step closer to seeing her attacker behind bars. Our Alabama affiliate, WAFF, reports a Limestone County prosecutor has filed an appeal asking that the sentence for Austin Clem be tossed out. Clem was convicted of two counts of second-degree child rape and of first-degree rape for an attack that happened after Andrews came of age.

He should have gotten 30 years in prison, but Limestone County Judge James Woodroof suspended that time. He gave Clem four years of community corrections, time he can do at home, and six years of supervised probation. Clem is also registered as a sex offender. His victim, who was 13 when she was first violated, has a message for that judge.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANDREWS: I just don't want him to hurt anyone else the way that he hurt me. And he gets to stay at home with his three little girls and that scares the crap out of me.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You're scared for their safety. ANDREWS: What's been done to me is done. I don't want anybody else to be hurt because I know what it feels like to be scared. You feel like your life is being threatened and to have so many things taken away from you. I had to grow up when I was 13 years old. I didn't have a child. It's like it's saying OK to hurt someone. In Athens, Alabama, it's OK to rape someone multiple times and it's OK, you can still walk the streets.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: This man's attorney says Clem, who is five years older than the victim, thought the relationship was consensual. The lawyer says Clem is considering an appeal of the conviction.