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Snowstorm Makes Life Difficult For Those In Storm's Path; 18- Year-Old Karl Pierson Shoots Two Students And Kills Himself In Arapahoe High School; Pope Francis 2013 "Time" Magazine Person Of The Year; Critical Senate Vote On Budget Deal Set For Tuesday; Peter O'Toole Dead At 81
Aired December 15, 2013 - 15:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: And Pope Francis, he's "Time" magazine's person of the year but he's getting other less flattering titles from some political conservatives who don't like his comments about materialism and trickledown economics. The debate this hour.
We begin with the huge snowstorm that has made life difficult for much of the country. It hit a thousand-mile-wide area dumping anywhere from six to 16 inches of snow from Kansas to Maine. Roads are slick, flights are canceled, and the snowplows are out in force.
Here's CNN 's Alexandra Field.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ALEXANDRA FIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The sights and sounds of a fears winter storm, overnight the large swath of snow and ice moved into the northeast packing a punch that has many in the region digging in for a long winter.
LARS NELSON, RESIDENT, PATTSTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA: They got plenty of salt. The back roads are starting to stick a little bit. It looks like it's coming down pretty good now. They might get a little worse, especially the back roads.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm going to stay in for this and get out of the way.
FIELD: Boston's mayor, Tom Menino, cautioning everyone this holiday season before the worst hits his city.
MAYOR THOMAS MENINO, BOSTON: Be very careful as you come back from those parties. The roadways will be -- snow on them and just ask when you celebrate and celebrate responsibly. This is a snowstorm that is a major proportion and we should be able to handle it.
FIELD: The 1,000-mile path of the system has put states from Kansas to Maine in the bull's-eye with which the storm warnings and watches across the board. Airport delays caused by the storm are forcing many flights to be canceled with a ripple effect being felt coast to coast. Dangerous conditions are a major factor. At least one person was killed in the car sweep off on Missouri interstate. But in New England, the Massachusetts DOT says they're ready. FRANK DEPAOLA, MASSACHUSETTS DOT: We have almost 4,000 pieces of equipment. We have both caught spreaders and plows in heavy, really heavy pieces of equipment as well as some specialized life's snow blowing equipment.
FIELD: And yet despite the blizzard-like conditions not everyone came to a halt. The annual army game went on as planned. The Navy midshipmen beat army for the 12th straight year in a row, 34-7. And Erin Flanagan got her wish of a white wedding, the Pottstown, Pennsylvania bride and her groom said their I dos in the middle of a snowstorm.
ERIN FLANAGAN, RESIDENT, POTTSTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA: I just wanted a white wedding and I want it to just snow and I think it's beautiful because I'm from Massachusetts so it works for me and I got it.
FIELD: You hit the jackpot.
FLANAGAN: Yes, I did.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SAVIDGE: Congratulations to them. Alexandra joins us now live from Woburn, Massachusetts. That's just outside of Boston.
And Alexandra, it looks like it stopped snowing. So, how are the road conditions?
FIELD: Martin, it has stopped snowing. If you can take a look at the road, you can see that the plows have been through here this morning. They've made pretty quick work of this cleanup. But drivers aren't entirely in the clear at this point. The department of transportation here in Massachusetts is warning that because of the falling temperatures there is still this afternoon that possibility of flash freezing so it is something to be aware of as people head out today, Martin.
SAVIDGE: All right. Thanks, Alexandra.
Now the real question is where is this storm heading and what is the impact will be for the workweek? Well for that, we turn to Alexandra Steele from the weather center.
ALEXANDRA STEELE, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Now to the real Alexandra. Please stand up or stand outside or stand in here.
Hi, Martin. Hi, everyone. Well, the good news is the storm is over. A fait accompli. It has made its move. You can see still some snow in Boston. But for the most part, the storm really did as expected forecast-wise. We saw what we expected to see. Dot, dot, dot, it is not over yet. It is for that storm.
But we've got a new clipper coming off the lakes and between now and Tuesday, the Lee side of Lake Ontario, you either used to that two to four or six-plus inches on the Lee side of Lake Erie. But even here in the big cities, we could see a few more inches of snow, Hartford, New York, potentially one to two, maybe five inches we will be getting up to five inches.
But here's a look at what the last storm did. On to New York, western New York, 12 inches, north haven, Connecticut, the bull's-eye for a lot of the storm, 7.2, Boston, six. You can see Chicago 4.2, even in New York City and Central Park, they got five. So, as expected.
So, the snow that fell will not go anywhere because look at these temperatures. Staying well below average in Boston, New York and Washington, so what fell will stay. Refreeze potentially overnight and then a few more inches coming in between tomorrow and Tuesday.
Hey, conversely in the southeast look at temperatures in Atlanta getting to 60. So above average from Memphis to Dallas all the what I to New Orleans. But look at this, Martin, international fall, hour by hour right now, 22 below. Even Minneapolis, by the time to get to midnight tonight, 14 below and 15 miles south of Lake Superior, 27 degrees below zero is what it will feel like.
SAVIDGE: And I said it was a winter storm but we're not even in winter yet.
STEELE: That number is just a guideline.
SAVIDGE: Good. All right. Thanks, Alexandra.
STEELE: Sure.
SAVIDGE: Sad news about an actor and eight-time academy award nominee that should be Peter O'Toole has died after a lock illness. He was 81-years-old. His agent said that O'Toole passed away peacefully at the hospital yesterday. The actor got his first big role in the movie "Lawrence of Arabia" in 1962. He was nominated for an Oscar eight times but never won. We'll have more on O'Toole's life later on in the hour.
It took only 80 seconds for a gunman to march into the Arapahoe high school and shoot another student and turn the gun on himself. That's the latest from police who are investigating the Friday school shooting in Colorado. As quickly as it started it was over. The gunman dead in the library and a 17-year-old girl shot in the head.
Martha Shade takes us through how it happened.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MARTHA SHADE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The Arapahoe county sheriff says Friday's ordeal at a Colorado high school took just a minute and 20 seconds. In that time, Karl Pierson walked into the school, fired several shots including one at a female student before killing himself. The sheriff says the 18-year-old entered the school carrying a shotgun, multiple rounds of am mission, a machete and three Molotov cocktails in his backpack. He made his way to the school's library, ignited one of the homemade bombs and turned the gun on himself as the school's resource officer approached.
SHERIFF GRAYSON ROBINSON, ARAPAHOE COUNTY, COLORADO: The response from the school resource officer, the response from the unarmed security officer was absolutely critical to the fact that we did not have additional injury and/or death in this particular matter.
SHADE: The female student Claire Davis was sitting with a friend when Pierson stormed in and shot her at point blank range. The 17-year-old is in critical condition at a local hospital.
ROBINSON: I believe Claire Davis was -- is an innocent young lady. She is an innocent victim and I believe that she probably was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.
SHADE: The sheriff says Pierson purchased the shotgun and ammunition legally.
ROBINSON: It is our strong belief that he came to this school with that weapon and with multiple rounds and his intention was to utilize those multiple rounds to cause harm to a large number of individuals.
SHADE: While investigators are still trying to figure out what triggered Pierson, Robinson says one thing is clear.
ROBINSON: He is someone who victimized an innocent young lady by an act of evil and in my opinion deserves no notoriety and certainly no celebrity.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SAVIDGE: Investigators say they have spoken to the shooter's parents and that they have searched both their homes. They didn't say what they found if anything but police say they believe the gunman did, in fact, act alone.
The Heisman trophy was awarded to no surprise here Florida state quarterback Jameis Winston last night. That amid lingering questions about a sexual assault allegation. He is the youngest player to win the Heisman hat 19 years of age.
Prosecutors said recently they will not file charges against Winston for a rape allegation that became public only last month. A law for the alleged victim is asking for further investigation.
OK, up to space where China's land rover is exploring. That should be lunar rover, the moon's surface. The successful launch of the jade rabbit is more evidence of how quickly. China is moving forward with its space program. One part of the mission looking beneath the lunar surface with radar to try and find valuable mineral deposits. The solar powered rover will be on the moon for at least three months.
Back here down on earth, senators are in the hot seat this week, a critical Senate vote on a budget deal that set for Tuesday. The House just passed the deal which will prevent another government shutdown, at least that's the idea. But as the clock ticks to another shutdown, it is unclear if the Senate will follow suit. If it doesn't, well, the government could run out of money as of January 15th.
CNN's Tory Dunnan is in Washington. And Tory, some say that this deal will pass. Some are not so sure that Democrats will get enough Republicans on board. So what are you hearing today?
TORY DUNNAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: So, Martin, we're hearing today that it could be close and really all eyes are going to be on the Senate where it is expected to pass but as I said perhaps narrowly. Now, Democrats are going to need some GOP votes to get this measured through. So take a listen to what Democratic whip Dick Durbin had to say on CBS during "Face The Nation."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. DICK DURBIN (D), MINORITY WHIP: This is the right thing to do for our country. A bipartisan agreement to get the first real budget in five years. And I hope that at least eight or maybe even more Republican senators will join us. Well, we have a handful but we need more. Some are still thinking about it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DUNNAN: All right, so here's where it stands, a handful of Republicans tell CNN that they will back this measure. That could mean that the 55 Senate Democrats who were mostly expected to support it are close to the 60 votes that are need. Senator John McCain is among those Republicans who says he'll vote yes. Here's what he had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), ARIZONA: I hope it'll pass the Senate. I'll do anything -- not anything, but we must not shut down the government again. We can't do that to the people of this country and my state.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DUNNAN: So, it's important to point out McCain says he wishes that a certain provision concerning military retirement wasn't in this bill. And that he's going to be looking to the chairman of the armed services committee to review that. Still, as you just heard him say he plans to support it as is.
But there are top players like Senator Kelly Ayotte and Senator Lindsey Graham who have also opposed the bill because of the reduction in military benefits. At this point, though, it's kind of unclear just how much that might add up overall opposition to the measure. But as we know right now, the Senate is expected to take up the bill this week and bottom line most lawmakers agree that neither side got exactly what they wanted.
But here's a good way to put it, Martin. A former director of the congressional budget office said this go-around it could be more about symbolism and certainty for the next couple of years rather than any sort of policy at this point.
SAVIDGE: Yes, that's very true. All right Tory Dunnan, thanks very much. And it is obviously going to be an interesting week with Tuesday perhaps the critical day.
Meanwhile, 19 firefighters that died in, you'll remember this, the Yarnell Hill fire in Arizona. Well, in a minute, we are going to hear some very stunning and new audio that reveals details of the final moments.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SAVIDGE: You may remember the tragedy that claimed the lives of those 19 firefighters in Arizona as they battled the Yarnell Hill fire. That was in June. And for the first time, an audio recording of the final moments of the (INAUDIBLE) has been released and is revealing just what these men faced as the flame surrounded them.
Elizabeth Irwin, a CNN affiliate, KNXV, reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I was just saying I knew this was coming --
ELIZABETH IRWIN, KNXV REPORTER(voice-over): Seeing the grand at mountain hot shots working together for the last time.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I could just feel it, you know.
IRWIN: Hearing Eric Marsh talk to his crew, it makes what happens next even harder to handle. This is never-before-seen video watching the Yarnell Hill fire creep closer and closer.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Breaking in on Arizona 16. We are in front of the flaming front.
IRWIN: And hearing the granite mountain hot shots react to the shifting flames. What you're seeing now comes from another firefighter's helmet camera. He was not with the hot shots. But you can hear the final radio transmissions just moments before the men died.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is granite mountain still in there?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, they're in the safety zone.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Air attack, granite mountain 7, how do you copy me?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Nations.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Granite mountain 7.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This isn't good. It sounds like they got some trouble. We are preparing a deployment site and we are burning out around ourselves in a brush. And I'll give you a call when we are under the shelters.
IRWIN: But minutes passed with no word.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did they deploy, did they say?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They said they'd let us know.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You got your radio on?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
IRWIN: As crews try to contact the men, they're met with silence.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Granite mountain 7, bravo 33 air to ground.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SAVIDGE: That was Elizabeth Irwin of CNN affiliate KNXV reporting. That's audio is from an poor communications contributed to the firefighters' death.
A rich teenager drives drunk and then kills four people, but he is not heading to jail. He is going to rehab. His lawyers basically argue he was too wealthy to know any better. The controversial case after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SAVIDGE: In Texas, a wealthy teenager admits that he was drunk when he drove into a crowd of four people killing them. But the judge gave him only probation, no prison time. The judge brought into the defense claim or bought in, I should say, that Ethan Couch was a victim of affluenza. He grew up rich and privileged and with parents who never set limits. So he basically didn't know right from wrong. A man whose wife and daughter were killed by Ethan Couch could barely control his grief when he talked to Anderson Cooper about losing them.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ERIC BOYLES, WIFE AND DAUGHTER KILLED IN CRASH: You know, Holly and Shelby were strong in their faith and their family and their friends and they were givers and there are some people in life that are givers and takers and they were truly givers.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SAVIDGE: It is, of course, heartbreaking to hear the husband and father talk about his loss and you can count him among the many who are furious about this slap on the wrist sentence.
Let me bring in our legal experts Mark Geragos who is a CNN legal analyst and defense attorney and Faith Jenkins is a criminal lawyer and former criminal prosecutor.
Mark, let me start with you. What do you think of this so-called defense that he suffered from affluenza?
MARK GERAGOS, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Well, I think, you know, I know that it makes kind of great headlines, the reality is it's not unlike what we had many years ago here in California with the so- called Twinkie defense. These are not defenses. What they are are ways for people to try to explain what sometimes is inexplicable. How does some 16-year-old kid get in a car and end up killing four people and injuring severely somebody who is with him in the car?
The problem you have and I know that this, at some levels, infuriates people even more, is what do you do? You are taking a look at this kid right here. This is a kid if you put him in a state prison as an adult with other adults will not last 95 seconds. I know there's a significant amount of the population who say, well, that's a great thing. Let him go die in prison. But the law makes distinctions between actions, especially when you take a life that are intentional meaning that you got the intent to kill which is murder and manslaughter which is what this is.
And so, I think this judge, you know, I know people are piling on her but I've done a little research on her. She's by no means out on the fringe. She is not a wing nut, so to speak. She is somebody who is very well thought of. I think she was troubled by what her options were with what to do with somebody like this.
SAVIDGE: All right, let me bring Faith in here.
And Faith, do you agree with that? Is that a correct read to take here that this was perhaps not revenge, but, of course, we're thinking about how to try to rehabilitate this young man.
FAITH JENKINS, FORMER CRIMINAL PROSECUTOR: Well, I think the efforts at rehabilitation should be focused on before a young man kills four people and I think --
SAVIDGE: But that didn't happen so we have to move on.
JENKINS: Right, so the message from this, I think, from her ruling says that if you are rich, there is a different standard of justice. And, you know, think about all of the kids in our juvenile justice system and the ones that probably really should deserve a second chance, the ones that are born with two strikes against them, they're born into abusive homes and neglectful pardons, they're poor, they are homeless, they commit crimes.
We have no problem sending those kids to jail. But this kid who is born with everything given every opportunity to succeed in life, we give him a second chance. He's worth being sent to a $450,000 a year facility in California while we lock up the other kids and say, no, we have to remove you from society, from our own protection. It really is a travesty and double standard.
SAVIDGE: Faith, I agree with you fully on this. But I will tell you is that in any way a surprise, Mark? Do you find it a surprise that some --
GERAGOS: No.
JENKINS: The disparity --
GERAGOS: As somebody who -- well, Faith, I was going to say that's certainly not breaking news. I've been arguing for years and I have, you know, kind of a Robin Hood practice where I represent very wealthy people. And I also represent indigents and I will tell you that one of the most frustrating things about practicing criminal law is that there are two systems of justice. And it isn't as if people start out that way or that anybody, you know, necessarily prosecutor, judges or even defense lawyers go in and say, OK, this person is poor, we're going to do something, you know, worse to them because they are. But what happens is is the opportunities that you have, the kinds of defenses that you can put up, the ability to do what you need to do to defend people is a function of your resources and your resources are a function of how wealthy you are.
SAVIDGE: Faith, I was just going to ago, do you think this is going to trigger a number of other defenses based on affluenza? It's the first I've heard of it.
JENKINS: Right. And I think -- yes, because I think it sends a very dangerous message here. This case takes it a step further, Mark. Because yes, when you're wealthy you can afford those top-notch attorneys and you can afford to pay experts to come in and present defenses like this. But now you have your own legal defense because I'm wealthy, because I'm rich, I didn't understand the consequences of my actions. That is what makes this decision so egregious. That's just one of the things.
SAVIDGE: Yes, I mean I agree with you. We call it affluenza. I said earlier it's the spoiled brat syndrome, Mark.
GERAGOS: Wait, but the problem is I don't think for a minute that this judge unless she just lost her mind and bought into it, I don't think that that was the motivating factor for what she did. I think she -- I think and, you know, obviously we're sitting from afar, I think she took a look at this kid and said what am I going to do with him? Where am I going to place him is part of the problem we have with the criminal justice system and remember he's a juvenile. There is a distinction that we make rightly or wrongly between juvenile courts which are for rehabilitation and adult courts which are for punishment.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SAVIDGE: That is not the last we're going to hear of this case.
Thanks to Mark Geragos and Faith Jenkins.
Meanwhile, Dennis Rodman has pretty interesting holiday travel plans, He has a big stop before he goes home and he could meet with an old friend.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SAVIDGE: Are you feeling lucky lottery players counting down to the next mega millions drawing that will be on Tuesday. Pick the right five numbers and, yes, the Mega Ball and instantly you will be incredibly rich, at least $550 million. That's before taxes, over half a billion. The jackpot could grow even bigger before Tuesday. The lottery recently modified the rules that basically guarantees fewer winners but bigger jackpots. But remember your odds of winning are only about one in 259 million.
Basketball star Dennis Rodman going back to North Korea this week, days after Kim Jong-Un's uncle was executed. Rodman's sponsors says that he will get there on Thursday. He is going to train the North Korean basketball team for a game against a former NBA or NBA players. Rodman's organizing that for Kim Jong-Un's birthday in January. It's not clear if Rodman will meet with the leader on this trip.
The hobbits are back and they had seized control of the box office.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You have no right to that.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I have the only right.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We've been --
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SAVIDGE: The new Hobbit movie racked up $74 million in domestic box office sales this weekend. Quite the impressive amount of money they made, 84 million for the first hobbit movie when it debuted on a weekend much the other one that debuted this weekend was Tyler Perry's "A Madea Christmas," the finished third score in just 16 million. That is the worst debut, by the way, ever for a Madea movie.
President Obama's appearance at Nelson Mandela's memorial service this past week had a few moments, I guess you could say. They included the now infamous selfie that Obama took with the Danish prime minister and then the sign language interpreter that many called a fake.
Of course, Saturday night live couldn't resist the stumbles.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I mean, first I got roped into taking a selfie with the blond female Danish prime minister. Some people said Michelle was angry at me for that and I talked to her afterwards and I can assure you she was furious. Then I got shaking hands with Raul Castro. In my defense he told me he was Edward James Olmos. And finally, there was a sign language interpreter who clearly had no idea what he was doing.
But those were merely distractions and tonight, I would like to focus on health care. Yes. I have been listening to what Americans are saying and some very valid concerns are being risked. But this is not a battle that will be won overnight and without a doubt we have seen huge improvements in our webs Web site. We've had our best people working on it. Our very best people. And those when claim we're moving in the wrong direction, well, that's just nonsense. I mean, some folks are bound to be frustrated but many are more -- many more are excited and --
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SAVIDGE: That is Saturday night as only "Saturday Night Live" can do it and get away with it.
Well, he's not the president, he's also not the secretary of state. But he is speaking for the United States in a very big protest in Ukraine. What is Senator John McCain up to? McCain, Ukraine and the political game.
All next in the CNN NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SAVIDGE: He is not the official spokesman for the United States, but Senator John McCain is in Ukraine and he told a crowd of demonstrators who oppose their government cozying up to Russia not to worry about American support.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), ARIZONA: We're here to support you. The sovereign right of the Ukraine to determine its only destiny, freely and independently. To all Ukrainians, America stands with you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SAVIDGE: Demonstrators are rallying because they want to align economically with Europe but their president is pro-Russia.
Let's bring in chief political correspondent Candy Crowley, anchor of "STATE OF THE UNION."
John McCain was on your show today. I saw that. What's the political ramifications of this tug-of-war in Ukraine and how it impacts our politics in the United States now that a senator, especially one like John McCain has jumped in the middle of this dispute.
CANDY CROWLEY, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, the relationship between the U.S. and Russia has been rocky, shall we say. And so, there is that dynamic that goes on, this kind of tint of cold war. You have the fact that Ukraine tends to be the powerhouse in the former soviet bloc and Putin wants to keep him or keep that country in the Russian orbit, if you will, to kind of increase his profile, raise his profile, be more of a power player.
The U.S. is in a bit of a sticky situation because it is relying on Russia to some extent to help in Syria, hopefully to help in Iran so you don't want a direct confrontation but the U.S. has made it very clear that they are on the side of the protesters. And John McCain, you know, may not be the official spokesman for the U.S. Obama administration but certainly he's on the same page with them.
So this is, right now, from the U.S. moral support. They are looking to Europe to see if they can sort of take the lead here and bring Ukraine over.
SAVIDGE: And real quick keeping on the international front, what was McCain's reaction to the events that have transpired in North Korea?
CROWLEY: I mean, he said, essentially this underscores -- he called him a dangerous young man, Kim, and brutal man and he thinks it's very scary because he's mercurial and his thought is China needs to do something about it because they are at this point kind of the only ally, friend or conduit through which has any kind of relationship with North Korea. He thinks it ought to be scary for China, as well.
SAVIDGE: I agree in that regard.
Let's come back to the U.S. the budget deal, it's designed to prevent another government shutdown, at least that's what's being said. It will head to the Senate this week and some say that it will pass, others say, no, it may pass but it'll be razor thin. We know that the tea party Republicans are against it, so where are moderate Republicans and what are the prospects in the Senate?
CROWLEY: Well, McCain is one of those who says I'm going to vote for this bill. We can't have another shutdown and that's what's driving it is the desire on both sides not to have another spectacle of a shutdown, in particular, Republicans.
I suspect it will pass. I also suspect that the conservatives who oppose it may draw it out. The math is different in the Senate. There may be some Senate Democrats who vote against it meaning that Democratic leader Harry Reid is going to need Republicans to come over.
My guess can that in the end, it will pass and it might even be a fairly nice margin. At least for, you know, the Senate which generally runs on very narrow margins
SAVIDGE: That's why we call it compromise. Nobody is fully happy.
CROWLEY: Exactly.
SAVIDGE: Except me. I get to talk to you.
Candy Crowley, wonderful to see you. Have a wonderful holiday if I don't get to see you.
CROWLEY: Back at you, Thanks Martin.
SAVIDGE: OK.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SAVIDGE: Pope Francis has amazing appeal. And so, I suppose it should come as no surprise he has been named "Time" magazine's person of the year. But not everyone thinks he deserves it. U.S. conservatives are attacking him for being too liberal. In his latest writing, the Pope talks about the idolatry of money saying quote "the worship of the ancient golden calf has returned in a new and ruthless guise in the idolatry of money and the dictatorship of an impersonal economy lacking a truly human person. Their lack of real concern for human beings, man is reduced to one of his needs alone, consumption," unquote.
And radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh was quick to jump on that comment. He says that the Pope is preaching Marxism. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RUSH LIMBAUGH, RADIO TALK SHOW HOST: This is pure Marxism coming out of the mouth of the Pope. There is no such unfettered capitalism that doesn't exist anymore. Unfettered capitalism is a liberal socialist phrase to describe the United States.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SAVIDGE: So is Pope Francis who is being seen by many as a reformer of the Catholic Church too liberal?
Our Ben Wedeman finds out.
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Martin, there's been a lot of talk about Pope Francis in so-called liberal views. But probably a bit more complicated than that. He's made it quite clear he is not about to change the church's stance on gay marriage or bringing women into the priesthood or abortion. Instead he seems to want to refocus the church's attention away from these divisive issues and on to the plight of the poor and marginalized.
Over the last nine months, for instance, we've heard him say the fact that hundreds of millions go hungry every day is a scandal. He's condemned consumerism and blasted trickle-down economics.
Now, it's important to keep in mind where he comes from. Pope Francis is from Latin America. From Argentina, where he saw firsthand one economic crisis after another in which the rich got richer and the poor got poorer. I think basically what he's saying is that church needs to pay more attention to the needs of the salt of the earth which is a message I think we've heard from someone else -- Martin.
SAVIDGE: Ben Wedeman reporting to us from Rome. Thanks very much.
Pope Francis is responding to comments by some conservatives that are accusing him of being a Marxist. In an interview to an Italian newspaper he says quote "Marxist ideology is wrong but I have met many Marxists in my life who are good people so I don't feel offended." Actually, a very typical personal flair in his part there.
Now, let's bring in the president of the Catholic League for religious and civil rights, that's Bill Donahue and Kate Childs Graham, young voices columnist for "the national catholic reporter."
Welcome to you, both.
KATE CHILDS GRAHAM, COLUMNIST, NATIONAL CATHOLIC REPORTER: Thank you.
BILL DONOHOE, PRESIDENT, CATHOLIC LEAGUE: Thank you.
SAVIDGE: Bill, let me start with you and will ask you both. But Bill, first, what do you think of this nomination being named by "Time" magazine? How important is it and what's your reaction?
DONOHOE: Well, I'm very proud, of course, as a catholic. And this is a man who towers over every world leader. And unlike all world leaders, secular, or religious, he's a man you can put your arms around. He is a man of the people.
On the other hand, let's take a look at the competition. I saw a born queen, an incompetent bureaucrat and a traitor. But you know what, we will take it, I like it.
SAVIDGE: What do you think of Rush Limbaugh's comments, though, his criticisms?
DONOHOE: Yes. Well, it's rather silly. I mean, he certainly has a right to say that. If the Pope (INAUDIBLE), at the very least embraced liberation theology which is a strange odd mix to your Christianity or Marxism. The Pope is clearly against liberation theology, never mind Marxism. He's against greed, which knows no economic model.
SAVIDGE: Kate, I have to say, I had an atheist tell me she loved the Pope which I thought, wow. That's really -- you're really winning over some folks there. Is this important to be named by "Time" magazine or are we just really affirming outside of the church, a lot of people seem to like him?
GRAHAM: You know, I think this is a honorable for Pope Francis and for Catholics.
Pope Francis is saying, what Catholics have been saying for years, that we want inclusive welcoming church, isn't obsessed with abortion, prohibiting same-sex marriage but he is focused on standing on the side of the poor and economic justice. I think that's why Pope Francis is so popular and to your ideas friends and my friends who felt disenfranchised or disenchanted from the church. And so, I think this is a win for those and Catholics And Pope Francis.
SAVIDGE: But isn't he builds dodging these kinds of what more important issues and society?
(CROSSTALK)
SAVIDGE: Go ahead, Bill. Then we'll bring in Kate with you.
DONOHOE: No, no. I mean, a couple of weeks ago he condemned secular progressiveness. The media didn't want to pick up on him because they like what -- they want to cherry pick some of the things he says which is more in tune with the liberal ideas. But, he is strongly against a bizarre foe notion of two men getting married. The ideal of that child abuse doesn't begin at the womb. Of course, it begins in the womb. He's made it very clear. He just wants to send a message. We've got to get beyond the parochial concerns claims and some conservative Catholics that been had.
SAVIDGE: Yes, Kate, do you agree with that that we got to get beyond this point so we can move to other things?
GRAHAM: I mean, I think these points are important. They are important conversation for my family and for many Catholics around the world. And I think that we are seeing an impact of Pope Francis' change in tone, even though he hasn't changed doctrine yet. Just last month un Illinois, they passed same-sex marriage and Catholic legislators in the state pointed that Pope Francis is the reason they supported that legislation. That's impact. That's change.
DONOHOE: They don't know any better. They should read what he said. OK? The Pope is not against gay people. It you're against gay people you're not a good Christian. But you're also not a good Christian if you think that marriage should be dilute so that you have people of the same sex getting married. Those catholic legislators are out of step and ought to read what the Pope has said.
GRAHAM: Bill, I think that, you know, Pope Francis had said again and again that he doesn't want this church to be a small chapel for the few. He wants it to be a big church, a home for all and that includes my family and yours.
SAVIDGE: I wanted to ask quickly I know we're out of time. Does it matter if people outside of the Catholic Church like the Pope or not? Isn't it really the Catholic Church that matters and those participating in it?
GRAHAM: The Pope is a world leader, of course, it matters. Its impact is felt by Catholics and non-Catholics alike. The catholic church is a huge service provider. Certainly, in the United States, the U.S. bishops use their money and their might to advocate for good and for bad.
SAVIDGE: Bill, you get the last word we'll quick. I'm sorry, Kate. Didn't mean to cut you off.
DONOHOE: Well, I would agree. There is no question to man. It does matter what's Jews think and they are happy with Pope Francis, as well as Muslims and Protestants and some people with no faith at all. While it's of particular concern to Catholics, he is in fact the head of the nation's state, the Holy Sea, as a member of the U.N.
SAVIDGE: Bill Donohoe and Kate Childs Graham, Merry Christmas to you both. Thank you both for coming in today.
DONOHOE: Merry Christmas.
GRAHAM: Merry Christmas.
SAVIDGE: One of the giants of film has passed away. We are going to look at some of the biggest moments of Peter O'Toole's life, next.
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SAVIDGE: Actor Peter O'Toole has died at the age of 81. His agent said that he passed away at the hospital yesterday after being ill for some time. O'Toole's movie careers spanned nearly 50 years and included eight academy award nominations. Here's a look back at his life.
He was one of the greats. Peter O'Toole was simply an icon, towards the end of his life continued to wow audiences with his screen presence. Born Peter Seamus Ireland in 1932. His adolescence was spent in England. He made his professional debut on the London's stage in 1955.
From the west end O'Toole weekly transitioned from the stage to silver film. His appearance in 1962's "Lawrence of Arabia" catapulted to worldwide stardom and earned him his first Oscar nomination.
Lawrence was the beginning of a string of successful films during the 1960s including another Oscar nominated performance "Opposite Katharine Hepburn in the line and winner." Admittedly a heavy drinker, his taste for alcohol not only threatened his career, but also his life. He managed to give back the drink and a comeback in a grace director in the "the stuntman."
A self-described entertainer by trade, O'Toole marked his own image as an alcoholic, over the hill matinee idol in "My Favorite Year," a performance the earned him his seventh Oscar nomination. Though he made some forgettable films through such as 1984's :Super Girl," O'Toole continued to work appearing in several made for TV films including "Joan of Arc."
In 2003, the academy motion pictures arts and sciences honored the 71- year-old actor with the Oscar for lifetime achievement. Initially, he declined acolyte hearing that it would signal the end of his career.
But O'Toole carried on returning to the desert sands where his career began with the turn in 2004's sword and sandals epic a "Troy." His role as an out of work actor in his golden years who became obsessed with a much younger woman. In 2006's "Venus" earned him yet another best actor nomination, further (INAUDIBLE) his status of a legendary performer.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PETER O'TOOLE, ACTOR: In terms of people that have gone, I've lost a few in the last few years and I miss them eventually, but they're not here, on we go.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SAVIDGE: Finally in July of 2012, O'Toole himself admitted that he could not go on in the acting business. He officially retired, giving the profession of quote "profoundly grateful farewell."
Peter O'Toole, an immortal on-screen. Uniquely human off.
I love the parts he played. It was a life well lived. Peter O'Toole will be missed.
