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Prospects for Midterm Elections; Top-10 Scandals of 2013; Couple Fined by Online Retailer; First Pot Licenses Go Out in Colorado; Cabbie Finds, Returns $300,000 in Cash
Aired December 26, 2013 - 13:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN ANCHOR: So let's take a look at one of the new CNN/ORC poll results. Registered voters were asked, are you more likely to vote for a candidate who supports the president or opposes the president? Look at this, 40 percent said supports the president, 55 percent said they want to vote for a candidate in the midterm elections who opposes the president. Voters very much against the president. Now how is this going to fare for Democrats? Are they in danger because of the sentiment of losing the Senate?
ZEKE MILLER, POLITICAL REPORTER, TIME MAGAZINE: It's definitely an issue for them. They're worried what the president's doing to their own approval ratings. He's at the lowest point of the presidency now, that's common for presidents in fifth year of their administrations. And in the sixth years, they're usually bad. The trend line is, the sixth year midterm is the one that's -- the incumbent president's party loses a good chunk of seats. And it varies between administration from administration. Thinking back two, three months ago to the government shutdown, when everybody said Republicans were down for the count, Democrats might take back the House, right now, consensus, we'll end up around the same place now, Republicans holding on at their lead in the House, but not changing the balance of power. But this whiplash, there's a lot of time -- there's still a lot of time on the clock here, certainly with the debt limit next month. I mean that's the next big marker, can Republicans build on this momentum or will they throw it away again?
KEILAR: Exactly. Americans aren't huge fans of Republicans at this point, either. Interesting thing is, the trend you see for what Americans think about Democrats and how it's changed over last couple of months. Take a look at this next poll. If you look at, for instance, October and you asked Americans who is your choice for Congress, based on party, 50 percent said Democrat, 42 percent said Republicans. Democrats were up there. It is flipped and flipped quite a lot. 44 percent say Democrat, and 49 percent say that they would go for Republicans. I mean, what do you think about this? How much -- this has to do with Americans not liking Republicans because of the shutdown, and now the flip is they're not liking Democrats because of the rollout of Obamacare. How much does Obamacare have to do with 2014?
MILLER: A huge issue, one way or the other. Democrats will say, once people get coverage, once they start realizing the benefits of the law, of the exchanges getting coverage, that their attitudes might change, if it's not 2014 then by 2016. Republicans might be running on the health care law or some component of the law. The implementation issues are not going away. We saw over the past week, even the confusion over deadlines, things extended, were they ex-pen tended, were they not? People outside Washington say, what's going on? Can't they get their act together? We'll know by end of March whether hitting enrollment targets, whether it's going to work or not for the long term. In between, between now and then, there is the daily battle, both sides will be fighting and that's dominate somewhere voters start at when midterms hit up by the summer.
KEILAR: That's why it's essential for President Obama and Democrats to get the program working as well as they can.
Zeke Miller, "Time" magazine, thanks for joining me.
A cycling champ finally comes clean while the queen of southern cooking loses her throne amid a racial controversy. And we can't leave out Toronto's crack-smoking mayor, Rob Ford. Just some of the scandals of 2013.
Joe Johns has a look back.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOE JOHNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Number 10, beam me up, baby. It's seldom you get the crack question of the year and the crack answer of the year in the same place. It happened. The notorious star of his crack-smoking video. Mayor Rob Ford, put on the spot in an open forum with the whole world watching.
UNIDENTIFIED TORONTO COUNCIL: Have you purchased illegal drugs in last two years?
ROB FORD, MAYOR OF TORONTO: Yes, I have.
JOHNS: Ford was a trendsetter in 2013, leader of the pack in the category of mayors gone wild.
With honorable mention to number nine, San Diego's Mr. Smooth himself, Bob Filner, who resigned as mayor facing a tidal wave of sexual harassment allegations, charges of unwanted advances, including a former female employee who filed suit. Irene McCormack Jackson alleging Filner asked her, "Wouldn't it be great if you took off your panties and worked without them on"? He was eventually sentenced to 90 days home confinement and three years probation for assaulting women.
Number eight, also in the run-off for worse mayor, Kwame Kilpatrick, the former hip-hop mayor of Detroit, convicted of racketeering and extortion so pervasive that prosecutors said it helped push the Motor City into the largest municipal bankruptcy in American history. Kilpatrick finally got the term he wasn't elected to serve, 28 years in federal prison.
Speaking of elections, number seven on the list isn't a mayor, but he could have been. New York's former Congressman Anthony Weiner, a hit performer on the list from past years for the sexting controversy that made him leave Capitol Hill. Weiner made an encore running for the Big Apple's top job. But when more explicit pictures surfaced sent to a 22-year-old woman under the alias Carlos Danger, Weiner, who is married, lost the primary with less than 5 percent of the vote. Weiner gave the media the universal "we're number one" hand signal as a parting shot.
While we're on the subject of popularity, number six on our list, that agency everybody loves to hate, the Internal Revenue Service. And in keeping with the season, what might be described as one of the most notorious naughty lists in recent U.S. history. It seemed somebody at the IRS got the bright idea of singling out conservative groups, especially Tea Partiers, for extra special attention. The practice attracted outrage from coast to coast. And an investigation by the other federal agency that gins up fear and anxiety everywhere, the Justice Department.
Speaking of spilling goodies, there are some nongovernment players that must be mentioned for outstanding performances in 2013.
Number five, the former man of steel, Lance Armstrong. Here's a guy who was master of the cycling world and the big lie. Winning the Tour de France seven times, claiming that he wasn't doping to enhance his athletic performance. But after banned from the sport, he gave a tell-all, sort of, interview with Oprah, where else. He confessed and offered what may be remembered as the biggest understatement in the history of sports.
LANCE ARMSTRONG, FORMER TOUR DE FRANCE CYCLIST: I'm not the most believable man in the world right now.
JOHNS: Number four on the list, with another credibility problem, that phony sign language interpreter who crashed the Nelson Mandela memorial service. It would be funnier if it weren't so creepy. The guy got within arm's length of the president of the United States making meaningless gestures. It later came to light he had once be accused of rape and murder but was found not guilty.
Number three is Paula Deen.
PAULA DEEN, CELEBRITY CHEF: My goodness.
JOHNS: What would possess a host of a popular cooking show to get herself embroiled in a lawsuit where somebody was actually going to ask her, under oath, whether she ever used the "N" word when she knew she did? Can you say, settle the case already?
Speaking of legal problems, number two on our list, the not-so- secretive NSA, the National Security Agency. Who would have thought that one government outfit that was supposed to be stealth city could manage to embarrass or anger just about everybody in the U.S. by letting a rogue former contractor, Edward Snowden, download a busload of secrets, so-called signal intelligence, from its computer system, splash some of it to the media, then run off to Russia, of all places, while the goodies continue to be spilled for maximum effect?
Finally on our list, coming in dead even, tied for first place for the broken government award of the year, Congress, for the absolutely inexplicable government shutdown crisis of 2013 that featured a dramatic reading of a Dr. Seuss classic in the midst of a 21-hour Senate talkathon.
SEN. TED CRUZ, (R), TEXAS: I do not like green eggs and ham. I do not like them, Sam, I Am.
JOHNS: Not to be overlooked, the Obama administration for the utterly disastrous bungled rollout of the healthcare.gov website.
Which debacle was worse is in the eye of the beholder. The futile attempts by a congressional minority to dismantle a law of the land upheld by the supreme court with the stated aim of getting rid of the president's signature achievement, or the video replays of the leader of the free world promising that his signature achievement would allow anyone to keep status quo only to find out, well, it just wasn't true.
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: If you like your health care plan, you can keep your health care plan.
JOHNS: Joe Johns, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KEILAR: So many to choose from. What do you think was the biggest news story of 2013? We want to hear from you. CNN.com, you'll see a list of 20 stories. We want you to choose your top-10. December 30th, 9:00 a.m. eastern, online and on TV, we'll reveal the top-10 stories of 2013, as voted on by you, our viewers. That's CNN.com/wyir.
We told you about the company that fined a Utah couple $3500 for writing a bad online review. The husband and wife are fighting back with a lawsuit. We'll tell you about it after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KEILAR: It appears stocks are the gifts that keep on giving today. Dow up 106 points. The Dow and S&P 500 opened at record highs this morning. Investors continuing their year-end rally.
And you probably shopped for the gifts, right, opened presents, and today many headed to the stores to exchange, right? Looking at live pictures outside Macy's in New York City. But it's a good day to take advantage of good after- holiday sales.
Christine Romans shows us what bargains are out there and what to look for in the coming days.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN CHIEF BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: The most selfish time of the year. After Christmas, when discounts are deep and you're shopping for everyone else is done.
The best after-Christmas sales on clothing, expect huge markdowns from Banana Republic, French Connection. This is according to Deal News. Last year, Gap and French Connection shocked retail experts with extra discounts of 30 percent to 50 percent off on top of sales up to 75 percent off.
New Year's Day, is the best time to buy furniture. That's what Brit Beamer says. He's from America's Research Group. It's become a tradition for people to shop for furniture on that day. New lines come out in February, so there's old product to move. Second or third biggest day of the year for mattress sales, mattress companies caught on to the furniture trend and piggy backed with major furniture sales.
If you want a big-screen TV, think Super Bowl weekend. Beamer says that the perfect storm. Consumer electronic show is in January. Super Bowl is in early February. Retailers are looking forward and moving out the old stuff.
How about a new car? Did you know December 31st is the best day? Dealer and automakers want to meet their year-end goal, experts say. Kelly Blue Book says consumer will get the best possible deal on a new car on the last day of the year, maybe until January 2nd, if it's included in the dealership's sales calendars. Hunt for 0 percent financing for people who qualify and hefty cash rebates.
Christine Romans, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KEILAR: A husband and wife are suing an online retailer after they say the company charged them thousands of dollars for telling the truth. This stems from a bad review they wrote more than five years ago after their package never arrived.
Here's Pamela Brown.
PAMELA BROWN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This is a story we brought you a month ago and it garnered a huge response from viewers who say it's unfair and should be illegal to be fined for posting a negative review. Now the couple at the center of the story is fighting back.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BROWN (voice-over): A Utah couple fined $ 3500 for writing a negative review of KlearGear.com is suing the merchant for retaliating against them, according it a lawsuit filed Wednesday on the couple's behalf by Public Citizen. It all began when John and Jen Palmer bought a few Christmas gifts from KlearGear.com in 2008, but they say the items never arrived and calls were unanswered. The transaction was canceled. Jen Palmer vented frustrations online, posting a review of the company on ripoffreport.com, saying, "There is absolutely no way to get in touch with the physical human being, no extensions work." Then, three and a half years later, they received this e-mail, appearing to be from KlearGear, stating they'd be fined $3500 if the negative review wasn't taken down in 72 hours.
JEN PALMER, FINED BY KLEARGEAR: (VIDEO PROBLEM) BROWN: KlearGear told the palms are they signed away freedom in an obscure terms and conditions non-disparagement clause preventing them from taking any action that negatively impacted KlearGear.com.
The Palmers tried to take the review down but couldn't. KlearGear then apparently reported the $3,500 bill as unpaid to a collections company.
(VIDEO PROBLEM)
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KEILAR: All right, we're having a little problem with that. But you get the drift. Can you imagine writing a review and then having someone obviously sue you? Well, we'll follow that story for you.
And a big story for you. Colorado shoppers can add one more item to the shopping list. Milk, bread, and, yes, pot.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KEILAR: In less than one week, Colorado will be the first state in the nation to allow marijuana sales for recreational use. The first licenses went out this week and now pot shops are scrambling to open their doors.
Ana Cabrera joining us live from Denver.
Ana, you're learning that only a handful of stores may be ready to actually open on January first?
ANA CABRERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That is right, Brianna. Hundreds of businesses here in Colorado will be receiving their retail marijuana licenses this week from the state. But they also need to get licenses from their local jurisdiction, their city or county. They also have to make sure they complied with their regulations for recreational sale of marijuana, which are different than the recreational sales.
We spoke to a lot of businesses who say they're not ready to go in a few days when the January 1st rolls around. Here is what we do know, the 4800 retail marijuana licenses have been approved and sent out by state regulators, 108 went to marijuana grow facilities, 31 of those licenses went to marijuana product facilities. So those are companies that maybe specialize in edibles, and some went to testing facilities. And all of these businesses had had to be operating as medical marijuana businesses currently. Those were the only ones allowed to apply for sale for recreational use. A lot of licenses and fingerprint and background checks went out. And a lot of licensing fees. Just to give you some perspective there, in some cases, those potential fees cost the pot retailers upwards of tens to thousands of dollars. But they tell us they expect to pay off big time in the New Year, even though they were expensive.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TONI FOX, OWNER OF 3D CANNABIS CENTER: A year ago, I would have said I wish I wouldn't have done it, now I'm very excited I have done it. And I'm looking at a quarter of a million the first three months of 2014.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CABRERA: So we're talking big-time money. In fact, experts estimate the marijuana industry at about one and a half billion dollars currently nationwide. But analysts say that probably will quadruple in the next few years -- Brianna?
KEILAR: So that is why it is big bucks, it is worth it for them, that is why they're jumping through big hoops. I mean, what will it mean for the state economy there?
CABRERA: It is good news for the state economy there. Obviously, it was the voters in Colorado that passed Amendment 64 just last year which is what legalized the marijuana for recreational use. The taxes that the state will be able to recover and generate the amount of money is estimated to be nearly $78 million, going towards schools. So a lot of the marijuana money coming from the recreational use will go back not only to the state but also specifically in education in the state of Colorado -- Brianna?
KEILAR: All right, specifically for the education. Interesting, and also Colorado will be a model for other states, as well.
Ana Cabrera for us in Denver. Thank you.
Now, not too far from Denver, in Las Vegas, a high-rolling poker player won big and then left his bag, filled with cash, in a taxi cab. This is a bag of cash. We're talking about $300,000. Up next, you will hear from the cab driver who returned this package of money to its forgetful owner.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KEILAR: An angel does good in Sin City, no less. A Las Vegas taxi cab driver found a bag of cash. The famous poker player stuffed his winnings in the bag and accidentally left it behind in the cab. Well, the cab driver returned it to the rightful owner, and now he is being rewarded, as well.
Here's Aaron Drawhorn, with CNN affiliate, KLAS.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
AARON DRAWHORN, REPORTER, KLAS (voice-over): Gerardo Gamboa was behind the wheel of a cash cab and didn't know it.
GERARDO GAMBOA, CAB DRIVER: So I pick up this guy from the Cosmopolitan and he wanted to go to the Palms Place, and he carried a brown bag, and who knew what was in there.
DRAWHORN: Gamboa dropped him off at the Palms Place, little did he know he dropped him off with big winnings.
GAMBOA: So he gave me $5 tip.
DRAWHORN (on camera): The guy got off at Palm's place and left the brown paper bag behind. It was discovered a short time later by the doorman at the Bellagio, who originally thought what was in the bag was chocolate.
GAMBOA: I go to Bellagio. I didn't even know there was money in my back seat.
DRAWHORN (voice-over): Now at Bellagio with his next fare, believing his last passenger left behind a bag of chocolate, Gamboa was in store for a sweet surprise.
GAMBOA: You know, I just hesitate, saying what is in there, so I want to know what kind of chocolate. When I took it, about this big, all hundred dollar bills.
DRAWHORN: $300,000 in cold, hard cash.
GAMBOA: So I had a passenger, I tell him, sir, look, you are my witness, I don't touch anything here.
DRAWHORN: Gamboa called his company, Yellow Checker Star Transportation, and did the right thing, turning the money over. Soon, the 28-year-old passenger showed up here looking for his 300,000 bucks.
BILL SHRANKO, YELLOW CHECKER STAR TRANSPORTATION: He wanted to shoot himself in the head. He was devastated.
DRAWHORN: The taxi company called metro police to do a full investigation to determine the money belonged to the man who said he lost it. It did.
SHRANKO: He is on the poker circuit, and very, very famous, worldwide poker player.
DRAWHORN: For his integrity, Gamboa was named driver of the year and received dinner for two at a high-end steak house and received a thousand dollar award from Yellow Checker Star.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I hope that goes a long way for Christmas. All right?
GAMBOA: It will.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you.
GAMBOA: Thank you.
DRAWHORN: Gamboa hopes his honesty goes a long way.
GAMBOA: Even they call us Sin City, but it is not. It is an Angel City.
(END VIDEOTAPE) KEILAR: Yes, the cabbie said Las Vegas is not Sin City, it is Angel City.
And our thanks to reporter, Aaron Drawhorn, with CNN affiliate KLAS, for that report.
Well, that is it for me. I'll be back at 5:00 eastern in "The Situation Room" where our Gloria Borger talks about the Rat Pack and, yes, reincarnation with Shirley McLaine. You won't want to miss that.
NEWSROOM continues right now with Kyra Phillips
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: And, Brianna, thank you so much.
