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Stocks Higher; Dangers of Skiing; Ship Still Stuck in Antarctic Ice; Gay Couple to Marry While on Rose Parade Float; MSNBC Apologizes for Host Who Ridiculed Adopted Baby; Man Pretends to Be Homeless, Gives Back to the Charitable; TV Game Show's Most Expensive Prize Ever

Aired December 31, 2013 - 15:30   ET

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

ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Martin?

MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: And as we tragically learned, though, what goes up can and has gone down.

So should we worry about a correction perhaps in 2014?

KOSIK: You know, some traders on the floor that we talk with here, they really say they are waiting for a correction to come.

You know, it is hard to say when that may happen. We don't have our crystal balls handy, but many analysts do expect the stock momentum still to continue into early next year, at least until there's a clear reason not to continue.

Now, there is one headwind that we can see coming up next month and that's retail earnings, because a lot of the nation's stores, they had to offer big discounts during the holidays to lure shoppers in to get them to shop and spend.

So, we're going to see if that took a bite out of profits. And if that shows that companies are having issues with their bottom line because of spending, that may pull back on the rally that we're seeing, Martin.

SAVIDGE: All right. Alison Kosik, thanks very much. Happy new year.

KOSIK: Happy new year.

SAVIDGE: In southern France now, doctors are treating Michelle Schumacher. They say that a second operation -- it's Michael, rather -- on his brain, overnight, has brought them precious time.

They say they have removed a hematoma that was causing pressure to build inside Schumacher's skull.

The Formula One legend is still in critical condition. We should guard you on that. Over the weekend, he fell on a ski slope, he hit his head on a rock, and he suffered a serious brain injury. He was, though, wearing a helmet.

Anyone who has skied knows that skiing accidents can happen in the blink of an eye. Poppy Harlow looks at some of the dangers and how to avoid injury, even death.

POPPY HARLOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, Martin.

Well, it is ski season and special avalanche advisories have been issued for the holiday in Colorado and Wyoming, so some skiers out west may be spending a little more time at the lodge than on the slopes after a series of scares.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HARLOW: Trails are closed at this Utah resort after an avalanche temporarily buried several skiers Monday morning.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's nothing to play with. It's serious stuff and you know, it's -- just glad everybody's OK.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They do their best to control the environment, but we're in Mother Nature and you can't always predict what's going to happen.

HARLOW: They were lucky to get out.

Near the Wyoming/Idaho border two people died in the last week when a skier and snowmobiler were buried in two separate avalanches.

And look at this unbelievable video captured as brothers Edwin and David LaMair were off-trail skiing in Colorado.

DAVIS LAMAIR, SKIIER: Is that an avalanche? That's Edwin in an avalanche! No, I'm (inaudible).

HARLOW: Davis rushed to his brother's side. He was buried up to his head in snow after being caught in a sudden avalanche.

Edwin survived with only a leg injury, lucky that his brother was there to help.

DAVE BYRD, DIRECTOR OF RICKS, NATIONAL SKI AREAS ASSOCIATION: Skiing within sight of a partner is always a good idea. Making sure that others know where you're going, staying in control, having the proper equipment

HARLOW: Avalanches often take place after fresh powder piles on top of frozen-over snow. The sudden surge of snow can sometimes be triggered by the skier.

This amazing video of a free skier in Spain was meant to be part of a car commercial.

When he got caught in an avalanche, he deployed an inflatable backpack that saved his life. The accident turned into an ad for the company instead. BYRD: The common equipment that you need to have with you, a beacon, a probe, a shovel, at a minimum.

You should be prepared and educate yourself. Know before you go.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARLOW: And, of course, experts say make sure you always wear a helmet.

And in addition to that inflatable backpack that you just saw in the story, there's a device call the Avalong and it actually allows to you breathe under the snow for up to 30 minutes if you get caught in an avalanche, and that gives rescuers time to find you.

You also want to always check with the local avalanche center if you're going to ski off trail. Ask them first about the conditions.

Martin?

SAVIDGE: Poppy Harlow, thanks very much.

They spent Christmas in Antarctica. Now it looks like they're going to spend new year there, as well.

But the crew aboard a stuck cruise ship is in good spirits. They're even making some funny videos to pass the time.

We'll show you their production and update you on their rescue.

Plus, a gay couple getting married on a float tomorrow during the Rose Parade, but not everybody's happy about it.

I'll speak live with the couple who respond to critics. That's coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SAVIDGE: Seventy-four passengers and crew are bringing in 2014 stranded on a ship trapped in the arctic ice. They seem to be having a great time.

This morning they ventured off that ship for a little fun. They linked arms and walked across the frozen Antarctic. The crew even marked a spot where their rescue chopper can land.

That's the big question, when will that air lift finally happen? The weather just is not cooperating.

"THE LEAD's" Jake Tapper is here. What were they doing there?

JAKE TAPPER, CNN ANCHOR, "THE LEAD": It's interesting. They're actually there for a study on climate change and the effect of climate change on the formation and creation of icebergs and ice.

So as one of the scientists there put it, they almost became a prisoner of their own experiment now that they are locked in suddenly by this ice, and the ice is keeping out all sorts of rescue attempts.

SAVIDGE: So, you know, they've been through quite an ordeal. It's obviously gone on much longer than they thought. How are their spirits holding up?

TAPPER: If you go by their Vines and the other social media they are using, they are certainly putting on a brave and fun face. Take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're still here, stuck at Cape (inaudible). Any passing ships, do pay us a visit.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Brilliant!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TAPPER: But, Martin, we're told that they are very eager to get off the ship, very anxious, as you might imagine.

They have a week's worth of food left, but it is still quite disconcerting to be locked in ice at the bottom of the earth with all sorts of rescue attempts failing to get to you.

Hopefully, they'll be able to get out soon.

We're going to have one of the creators of the Vines on our show, "THE LEAD," coming up at the hour.

SAVIDGE: It's a fascinating story to watch, especially when we can see them almost on a daily basis.

Thanks, Jake.

TAPPER: Thanks, Martin.

SAVIDGE: And MSNBC is apologizing today. That move comes after comments that were made on her show about this photograph.

It shows Mitt Romney with his family and holding his adopted black grandchild. Hear the comments that spark the controversy.

Plus, a homeless man begging for money ends up giving envelopes to people who help him. Hear the special message inside that shocked those who donated.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SAVIDGE: The first day of 2014 will bring a first for one of the oldest New Year's Day traditions in California. That's the Rose Parade.

A gay couple will tie the knot on this float live as the parade moves through Pasadena. That float belongs to the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, which offered to host the nuptials. You'll remember California began issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples again in June after a long legal battle.

Joining me now, the married-couple-to-be, Danny and Aubrey. Congratulations to you both, by the way.

DANNY LECLAIR, GROOM IN ROSE PARADE SAME-SEX WEDDING: Thank you very much.

AUBREY LOOTS, GROOM IN ROSE PARADE SAME-SEX WEDDING: Thank you so much.

SAVIDGE: Danny, let me start with you. What do you think your wedding says to all the people who will be obviously watching tomorrow?

LECLAIR: Well, what I hope it says is that we are honoring the, you know, battle towards marriage equality and that we're doing them justice.

I mean, so many people fought long and hard for gay men and women to be able to marry in the state of California, and hopefully one day all over the United States.

We just hope that what they see up there is, you know, something that honors that and respects that.

SAVIDGE: Aubrey, there has been, of course, some backlash.

The parade host, the Pasadena Tournament of Roses, has received postings like this particular one on its Facebook page that reads in part, "So sad that for the first time our family will not be watching the parade.

"We do not wish to be slapped in the face with something so extremely offensive to us."

You had to have expected this. Do you think that this is a way to change minds?

LOOTS: Absolutely it's a way. It's a great platform for us to, you know, express our love, for people to get to know us, and for people to get educated.

Everyone's entitled to their opinion. So far, for every one negative or hateful review or posting that we've seen, there's been, you know, two to three positive.

We have never watched the Rose Bowl parade; we will now.

So we're standing in -- we're on top of that float to express our love with the world. We're getting so much love and support from around the world, actually. It's very exciting.

SAVIDGE: Usually these moments, for all of us, are very kind of personal. We don't do them in parades, and we don't do them live on television.

So the fact that certain people do take offense to it, does that surprise you?

LECLAIR: It doesn't surprise us because we certainly didn't think a supreme court ruling was going to come, you know, predicted with love, intolerance and acceptance from all the people who objected in the first place.

The fact we're doing it publicly is only to show people there's nothing to fear. We are an emerging family. One day we will be raising children. We are showing up all over the country.

So we are doing it publicly so as to remove some of that fear that seems to be still present in a lot of the rhetoric across this country.

SAVIDGE: Can I ask you how timing-wise this is going to work? Of course, it's a long parade. There's only a certain segment that's actually televised. How is it going to work?

LOOTS: We had a reception a few days ago that AIDS Healthcare Foundation threw for us and we signed our marriage license.

The actual ceremony is going to be very quick. We have a corner to turn from Orange Drive to Colorado, and our reverend will be officiating the wedding in a very small space of time.

It's a quick "do you," "do you," "I do," "I do." You know, we will be sealing it with a kiss like every other marriage.

SAVIDGE: Well, it's going to be a famous moment, no doubt.

Danny, Aubrey, congratulations to you both. Best of luck.

LECLAIR: Thank you very much.

LOOTS: Happy new year.

SAVIDGE: And to you both. Thank you.

The Obama administration just announced a milestone of sorts. A December surge has pushed ObamaCare enrollment past 2 million.

Within the past hour, Health Secretary Kathleen Sebelius revealed more information about these signups during a conference call with reporters.

Senior White House correspondent Jim Acosta was on that call. What else did we learn?

JIM ACOSTA, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Martin, the numbers are coming in. It is good news for this White House, good news for this program, but they're not out of the woods yet. That is the headline here.

Let's put the numbers up on screen. These are the numbers, the new enrollment numbers the administration put out in the last hour or so. Basically what they're saying is that 2.1 million people have now signed up for insurance through ObamaCare, either through the federal or state insurance exchanges, 2.1 million on the federal exchange -- excuse me, 1.1 million on the federal exchange and 1 million through the state exchanges.

In addition to that, Martin, they're talking about 3.9 million people who have signed up for Medicaid through the expansion of Medicaid through the Affordable Care Act and about 3 million other young adults have been allowed to stay on their parents' insurance plans as a result of the Affordable Care Act.

So they're putting out those numbers as an ObamaCare muscle flex at the end of the year.

Now, having said all of that, what we should point out, because January 1st is a very important turning point for the Affordable Care Act because people who have signed up for insurance coverage, that insurance coverage is supposed to kick in.

But there are a couple of catches here. People who have not paid for their coverage may find out they don't have coverage.

So what the administration is doing is they are urging people to make sure that they call their insurance provider to make sure they have paid for coverage and they have coverage when they make these doctors appointments or go to their pharmacy. They may find out, lo and behold, they don't have insurance coverage.

I did talk up to a high-up senior administration official in the last hour who said that the administration really doesn't have a way to confirm whether or not people have paid for their coverage.

They can determine whether or not have enrolled, but they can't determine if they'd paid. That's between consumers and their insurers.

At this point, they have not heard a lot of complaints from the insurers, according to this senior administration official, that people have not paid.

But having said all of that, that's an acknowledgment they're sort of ready for a few bumps as we head into this new year and people start going out there and making doctors appointments or trying to get their prescriptions filled with this new coverage.

The other thing they point out is the people by and large have until January 10th to pay for this coverage they've signed up for.

One other thing we should point out, that 2.1 million number is still way behind, 5 million people behind, the goal of 7 million people that the administration did set out.

The congressional budget office first put out that estimate for the six-month enrollment period, October through the end of March.

The administration has adopted it, although they've been sort of squishy as to whether or not that is their exact target of 7 million people.

It is something they've said that they expect to see happen by the end of march.

SAVIDGE: Absolutely. Jim Acosta, thanks very much for the update.

Up next, you heard of the expression "pay it forward?" A businessman had a unique plan to do just that. It involved dressing up and then surprising people who were kind enough to help others.

We'll show you what he did, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SAVIDGE: You know there are some Christmas card photos you just don't make fun of. MSNBC is learning that the hard way.

This picture is the one that started the controversy, Mitt Romney and his wife with their grandchildren, including his adopted black grandson, Kieran, and that led to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MELISSA HARRIS-PERRY, MSNBC HOST WHO RIDICULED ADOPTED BABY: Everybody loves a baby picture and this was one that really a lot of people had emotions about this baby picture this year.

This is the Romney family, and of course, there on Governor Romney's knee, his adopted grandson who is an African-American, adopted African-American child, Kieran Romney.

Any captions for this one?

PIA GLENN, MSNBC PANELIST WHO RIDICULED ADOPTED BABY: One of these things is not like the other.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SAVIDGE: Of course, the real caption should be just what an absolutely beautiful photograph.

Right-wing pundits pounced on this, saying that the liberals showed their true stripes when they made fun of Romney's family.

The host of the show, Melissa Harris-Perry, eventually tweeted out an apology.

Joe Concha is a columnist with Mediaite, and he joins me now from New York.

And I don't know where to really begin on where is the biggest mistake on this, Joe, but poking fun at his family, making an issue of a mixed-race family.

What was the real cardinal sin here, in your mind?

JOE CONCHA, COLUMNIST, MEDIAITE: I think hypocrisy for starters, Martin.

If you look at the host here, Melissa Harris-Perry, she comes from a mixed Mormon family. She has a black father and a white mother, so you would think Miss Perry would applaud, would celebrate the Romneys adopting an African-American child.

Instead, she and her panel sat there for five minutes and ridiculed and mocked that act, and if that's where we are in 2014, Martin, we're in trouble.

SAVIDGE: I think others have said this is very true. Where were the adults in this conversation because it certainly didn't seem like they were in front of the camera?

But, you know, the right did jump all over this in, of course, the same month that they defended Phil Robertson from "Duck Dynasty's" for his own offensive comments. A double standard?

CONCHA: I don't think so here at all, because there's a third rail here and that is that you're dealing with a young baby, a black child.

I look at this and I say, all right, what was the objective? Was it to mock the Romneys for actually adopting an African-American child? Because I think that's un-mockable.

And then I think about what the message is. Is the message that only white folks should adopt white babies? Should only black folks only adopt black babies?

No, I don't think there's a double standard here, Martin, at all. I think that this was just poor taste, and to your point before, where are the adults here?

Where is MSNBC's President Phil Griffin to allow this sort of editorial culture to put up a baby picture from a Christmas card and say, you know what, let's mock this for five minutes.

I think, again, we saw it with Bashir, we saw it with Baldwin and now we see it with Perry. Time and again, just in the past 30, 45 days, there's an MSNBC host doing something stupid and reckless and then having to apologize for it the next day.

And that goes to the top, Martin.

SAVIDGE: It's not so much a mistake as an insensitivity that seemed to be there, especially with a child and a family.

Do you think that viewers were really offended or were the pundits looking for an opening and seeing one, especially to bash MSNBC, they took advantage of it?

CONCHA: You mentioned the right was offended by this before. I think anybody with a child would be offended by something like this. I think anybody who is racially tolerant would be offended by something like this. Again, the Romneys adopted, and this wasn't Mitt and his wife, obviously, but one of their children. What a great act to bring in a black child that, you know, is now obviously going to have a very good home and a very good life. That is something that should be celebrated in America today.

And instead, again, that panel, by the way, I should mention, Martin, not one of them thought to step forward and say, boy, this conversation is making me uncomfortable. This is wrong, guys, we shouldn't be saying that.

It's not just Ms. Perry, but everybody on that panel. Somebody should have stepped up and said, you know what, let's take some responsibility for this. This is the wrong segment to do and I'm not participating in it.

Instead you had four people, an echo chamber, all having fun at the expense of a little baby.

SAVIDGE: Well put.

CONCHA: And, by the way, the Twitter apology, pick up a phone, by the way, if you want to apologize to the Romneys.

Ms. Perry did apologize that way, and you know, you can pick up a phone. I think that would be the better thing to do here.

SAVIDGE: Absolutely. Joe Concha -

CONCHA: Thank you, Martin.

SAVIDGE: -- thanks very much for joining us. Appreciate it. Have a happy new year.

CONCHA: Happy new year to you, as well.

SAVIDGE: Thanks.

Finally, on a freezing Christmas Eve in Des Moines, Iowa, some charitable drivers thought they were giving money to a homeless man in need.

But the man on the other side of the road ended up giving them something better in return.

Laura Nichols with our affiliate KCCI has this remarkable story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LAURA NICHOLS, KCCI REPORTER: Drive through this intersection onto Merle Hay in Johnston and you'll likely spot a homeless person collecting donations.

On Christmas Eve, it was this man, standing there, shivering in the cold.

ROB TAYLOR, DONATED TO HOMELESS MAN: It was obvious that he needed help.

NICHOLS: Rob Taylor was waiting in the left-hand turn lane when he handed the man some cash.

TAYLOR: He immediately handed me back a blank envelope or a sealed envelope, and said, God bless you.

NICHOLS: It wasn't until later when he opened up the envelope and inside found this letter.

TAYLOR: Merry Christmas and thank you so much for your very kind and thoughtful donation. I live in Des Moines but I'm not homeless or destitute or without a job.

NICHOLS: Also tucked inside, a $10 bill.

TAYLOR: Keep it, spend it, donate it, pay it forward, whatever your heart tells you to do.

NICHOLS: Turns out the man wasn't homeless, but instead, a Des Moines businessman trying to do something good at Christmas.

TAYLOR: I was blown away.

JONNIE WRIGHT, POSED AS HOMELESS MAN: This has been a bucket list thing for me for some time, and I have always known that I wanted to give back.

NICHOLS: In those few freezing hours, Jonnie Wright gave away 50 letters and a total of nearly $1,000.

He also donated the money he received and then some to bethel mission, an emergency shelter in Des Moines.

WRIGHT: I thought this was also a good way to acknowledge people who give who do so anonymously.

NICHOLS: His message is simple. It's better to give than receive and sometimes it takes a homeless man to remind us what the holiday season is all about.

TAYLOR: I just can't thank him enough.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SAVIDGE: And that was Laura Nichols from our affiliate. That is KCCI, reporting on that great story.

Before I go, how about this? A contestant on "The Price Is Right" is getting her new year off to a very nice start by winning the most expensive prize ever on the game show.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DREW CAREY, HOST, "THE PRICE IS RIGHT": She says $152,000 is not the price of the car. Sheree, good luck. Come on over here.

SHEREE HEIL, CONTESTANT: I'm so nervous.

CAREY: I'm so nervous, too.

A thousand dollars at stake, you got it!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SAVIDGE: Not bad.

Well, she won an Audi R-8 spider. As if that isn't enough, she also picked up $10,000 in cash, which may fill the gas tank.

That makes her the biggest winner ever in the day game show's history.

We've got to go. Have a wonderful and safe happy new year.

"THE LEAD" with Jake Tapper starts now.

TAPPER: Goodbye to 2013, the year you will still write on checks accidentally until March, if you still write checks.

I'm Jake Tapper. This is "THE LEAD."

The money lead, on Wall Street, they are partying like it's 1997. Stocks are finishing 2013 with the best numbers in more than 15 years.

Will the party last into 2014 or are we in for one mother of a hangover?

The world lead, what a way to begin the new year. It's already 2014 in that sea of ice where 74 people are marooned on a ship.

We'll ask one of them live whether his resolution involves staying on dry land.

Also in world news, in Dubai, nothing succeeds like excess. The best place to watch the new year's fireworks there is anywhere, the city going for a record with an almost absurd amount of pyrotechnics.