Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Newsroom
Arizona Governor to Decide on the Religious Freedom Bill; Facebook Top Car Picks; Breakfast Wars Heat Up; Seth Meyers Debuts on "Late Night"; Pilot Survives Mid Air Bird Collisions
Aired February 25, 2014 - 10:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. I'm Carol Costello. Thank you so much for joining me.
In Arizona, all eyes are on the governor and whether she will veto a bill that's become a lightning rod in the battle over gay rights. In effect that bill would allow businesses to site religious beliefs and deny service to gay customers.
In an exclusive interview with CNN, Republican Governor, Jan Brewer, says she'll make the right decision for her state before the Saturday deadline.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOV. JAN BREWER (R), ARIZONA: I have a history of deliberating and having an open dialogue on bills that are controversial, to listen to both sides of those issues. I have to look at what it says and what the law says and take that information and do the right thing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: One law maker in Arizona says, the right thing is to sign that bill into law. Al Melvin is also running to succeed Jan Brewer as a state's Governor. Last night on CNN's A.C. 360, he argued for the bill. And things got a little heated.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Can't a society exist where everybody gets to decide who they interact with and who they don't based solely on their religious belief? And if for whatever reason, irrationally somebody doesn't like somebody else, as long as it is a sincerely held belief under your law, they don't have to deal with that person?
AL MELVIN (R), ARIZONA STATE SENATE: This bill is designed for religious freedom, no matter how you twist and try to turn it. That's it. That is the bottom line here. It is nobly perceived and nobly voted on and we hope the governor signs it into law.
COOPER: If somebody is fired because they are gay or lesbian in your state, is that discrimination? Would you say that's discrimination?
MELVIN: I -- I don't know of anybody that discriminates in our state, sir. (CROSSTALK)
COOPER: OK. I'm just saying but if somebody -- if somebody is fired, a boss doesn't like some guy on their staff or a woman on their staff because they are gay or lesbian and they are fired for that, which is legal because there is no protection against sexual orientation, is that discrimination?
MELVIN: You know you're trying to distort a religious freedom bill.
COOPER: Sir, you're running for Governor of the state of Arizona.
MELVIN: I am sir, yes, I am.
COOPER: You are going to be governor of gay and lesbian people and you can't even go on the record and say if a gay or lesbian person is fired simply for being gay or lesbian, that's discrimination. You can't even make that leap and just say, yes, that would be discrimination.
MELVIN: I -- I don't know of any case like you just cited, sir.
COOPER: I want to give you one more opportunity because I think this is going to come back on you. If somebody anywhere in America is fired because they are gay or lesbian and that's the reason they are fired just because somebody doesn't like them and it's legal in that state, is that discrimination?
MELVIN: I'm against all discrimination and I want maximum religious freedom, sir.
COOPER: So OK that's -- you can't answer that question, then. Then I gave you the opportunity.
MELVIN: That's my answer to you.
COOPER: I hear it.
MELVIN: I know -- I know you're trying to set me up and I'm not going to stand for it, sir.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: For more reaction for what the state senator Al Melvin just said I'm joined by Sarah Kate Ellis she's the CEO and President of GLAAD. Good morning.
SARAH KATE ELLIS, CEO & PRESIDENT OF GLAAD (via telephone): Good morning. Thanks for having me.
COSTELLO: I take it you are not so surprised by that gentleman's comment.
ELLIS: I do find it shocking that he would -- that Senator Melvin would turn his back on the people in his state so blatantly. COSTELLO: I think what he is trying to say is this is a bill that's about protecting religious freedom. It's not -- it doesn't have anything to do much to do with gay rights in the state of Arizona. That's what he was trying to say, I guess?
ELLIS: Well, I think even when Anderson pushed him Senator Melvin couldn't name one single instance that religious freedom was being denied. So it's at the expense of the LGBT community though.
COSTELLO: Well it does defy belief that you know when he said no one discriminates in the state of Arizona, that just defies belief.
ELLIS: I would say it absolutely does defy belief. And I think he should sit down with the people in his state to find that out firsthand versus making blanket statements of the such.
COSTELLO: What do you think that Governor Brewer will do? Do you think she will veto this bill?
ELLIS: I think -- I am very hopeful that she will. Because you know being anti-LGBT is bad for business. And as we've seen Apple, Marriott, American Airlines over 80 corporations have spoken out and urged Governor Brewer to veto this bill including the NFL which the Super Bowl is going to be hosted there next year.
COSTELLO: So all of these entities are coming out and saying this is a bad idea. Why would the state legislature in Arizona come up with such an idea?
ELLIS: I think that Arizona doesn't have a great record on LGBT issues. You know currently, you can be fired from your job in Arizona if you're LGBT. There is no protections, there is no marriage protections.
So I think there is a record and a history in Arizona at the moment.
COSTELLO: Sarah, thank you.
ELLIS: That can start to change.
COSTELLO: We'll see. Sarah Kate Ellis from GLAAD. Thank you so much for being with me this morning. I appreciate it.
ELLIS: Thank you. Thanks for having me.
COSTELLO: Arizona could lose out on holding major sporting events if the religious freedom bill becomes law. Next year's Super Bowl and as you heard -- as you heard that Sarah mentioned is scheduled to be played in Arizona and the host committee is urging Governor Jan Brewer to veto the bill.
But if she signs it, Delaware Governor, Jack Markell, told MSNBC, the NFL should find another Super Bowl site.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) GOV. JACK MARKELL (D), DELAWARE: Delaware is a very welcoming place. Four years ago, five years ago, we actually passed a law to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. It's puzzling to me that other states would be looking at it differently. And it seems to me that if you know if they pass this law and if she signs it, it would seem to me that the NFL maybe looking or maybe should be looking to move the Super Bowl out of that state. Because you know there are so many places around the country that are welcoming to everybody.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: The NFL did release a statement. It said, quote, ?Our policies emphasize tolerance and inclusiveness and prohibit discrimination based on age, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation or any other improper standard. We are following the issue in Arizona and we'll continue to do so should that bill be signed into law? end quote.
Still to come in the NEWSROOM consumer reports gearing up to release their list of top cars on the road. But before that we'll take a look at what the company Facebook fans have to say about their favorite cars on the road.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Consumers Reports will release its annual list of the best cars on the road for 2014 later today. But we're already getting a little hint about how people feel about their favorite cars on the road.
So let's go to Peter Valdes-Dapena. He is a senior writer for CNNMoney.com. He joins me live from New York. So it is an interesting list.
PETER VALDES-DAPENA, SENIOR WRITER, CNNMONEY.COM: It is. What Consumer Report did they want to get an idea of what cars everybody else likes before they said what they like? They asked people on Facebook to name -- just name your favorite cars. And then they took the top six and had people vote on just that top six.
And you're right. It is an interesting -- it is an interesting list. And it says something about the cars that people are really passionate about. I mean the top two were the Subaru Outback and the Ford Mustang. well it used to be idea that people are passionate about the Mustang that Mustang in order to really into that car. A lot of people don't realize how passionate Subaru owners are. Subaru owners are really into their cars. So I wasn't completely surprised to see the Outback come out on top.
COSTELLO: So will Consumer Reports take those choices into account you know when it releases its list?
VALDES-DAPENA: Not at all. Consumer Reports does its own cast on its own test track in Connecticut and on the roads around there. They have their own scoring system. What they want to do is just have a look at really what are the best cars. When you put emotions aside and feelings aside this list is very much about people's own personal preferences and their emotions.
And you see there are some place where Consumer Report doesn't always agree with the cars people like.
COSTELLO: So, any guesses what the top car will be.
VALDES-DAPENA: I cannot even -- I cannot even guess at this point. We are going to have to wait and see. And I'm not going to go there. We are going to have to wait and see with everybody else when that list comes out this afternoon.
COSTELLO: What was the favorite car last year?
VALDES-DAPENA: The top last year, I think the topic in general, they usually pick cars in categories. The Lexus LS has usually been an overall top choice in past years. Of course, maybe not surprising, that's the top of the line Lexus model and a very expensive car. There is a lot of nice things you could do when a car company has a high- price model.
COSTELLO: Well we can't wait until the list comes out. Thank you so much, Peter Valdes-Dapena. Thanks.
VALDES-DAPENA: Thank you.
COSTELLO: Still to come in the NEWSROOM get ready for the waffle tussle as another restaurant scrambles to give you more options in the morning. Christie Romans has details.
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN CHIEF BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Oh the fast food breakfast war I hope you've already eaten because this next segment is going to make you hungry right after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Taco Bell hopes you will make a run for the border for breakfast. It's about to launch a new breakfast menu next month that will include the waffle taco. But not to be outdone McDonald's is also rethinking the way it does breakfast.
CNN chief business correspondent Christine Romans is here to tell us more. Good morning.
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN CHIEF BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Hi there Carol. Well, you know McDonald's is the king of breakfast, I mean the egg McMuffin. The breakfast at McDonald's is something that has really been the cornerstone of the fast food market, right.
But This is a very big, profitable space. And now Taco Bell says by next month, it's going to make a run for the breakfast border. And even in announcing it takes a dig at McDonald's saying, ?After years of the same old thing, we think customers are going to like what we have to offer.
So what does Taco Bell have to offer? This thing called the Waffle Taco, which Carol, it is a waffle with a slab of sausage, with eggs and then you drizzle the syrup on top or instead of the sausage, you get crumbled bacon with eggs. You can see the picture. That's what it looks like. They have some other things, cinnamon bites and a few other things.
Now, McDonald's -- you know McDonald's is not going to say it is going to go through a longer breakfast because breakfast is still at 10:30 and there was a lot of talk yesterday that they were going to expand their breakfast, make it longer.
Millennial like to get up later. They want to be able to get an egg McMuffin say closer to noon. McDonald's officially telling us, they're not testing that. They haven't started planning that. They wouldn't even say they're really considering it but you know, if this is going to be a big act to part of the morning, McDonald's is taking a very close eye at those breakfast wars -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Looks mighty tasty. Christine Romans reporting live -- thank you. I'm hungry myself.
Checking our top stories this morning at 47 minutes past. Doctors in California want to help figuring out what -- want help in figuring out what's causing a polio-like illness that's leaving some children paralyzed. Sofia Jarvis is one of those children. She was at the doctor's office when her mother said she suddenly lost the use of her arm.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JESSICA TOMEI, MOTHER OF SOFIA: Sophia went to the treasure box to grab her toy after seeing the doctor and I saw her left hand mid-grasp stop working. Over the course of three days, she wasn't using her left arm. It started to get more worrisome. We did not realize what we were in store for, didn't realize her arm, she actually had a spinal cord inflammation and that her arm would be permanently paralyzed.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: There could be as many as 20 additional cases like this. Doctor's say the symptoms resembled polio but it's a different virus.
The acting president of the Ukraine put off appointing an interim government until Thursday. The delay follows parliament removal of President Viktor Yanukovych. Authorities have issued an arrest warrant for Yanukovych. But don't know where he is after he fled Kiev over the weekend.
In the meantime, the United States is sending in an elite team of marines to beef up security at the embassy in Ukraine after last week's deadly clashes.
One of the stars of the Miami Heat is showing support for Venezuelans amid political unrest in that country. Chris Bosh tweeted this photo, showing his shoe with the words SOS Venezuela written on it. His wife is half Venezuelan and still has family there.
CHRIS BOSH, MIAMI HEAT: Just trying to help the people. We could get caught up in politics and government and all that stuff but it is about the people. People are losing their lives just marching for a good cause. I think people around the world need to know what's going on.
We want to bring peace and we want to bring strength to them and let them know that they are being heard.
The nation's attorney general says 13 people have died in clashes during protests. The Venezuelan government and opposition blame each other for the unrest. Neither side showing any sign of backing down.
Today, Defense secretary Chuck Hagel heads to the navy town of Norfolk, Virginia to defend the military cuts he proposed just yesterday. Hagel's plan calls for the U.S. Army to shrink to the smallest side since World War II. Former vice president Dick Cheney appeared on Fox News to call the cuts potentially disastrous.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
DICK CHENEY, FORMER VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I can guarantee you there is never going to be a future secretary of defense to Barack Obama to thank him for what he has done in the military. It is also a reflection of the notion that somehow a strong America well-equipped and a strong military is a danger to international stability; just exactly the opposite is true.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Hagel's plan also faces a great deal of criticism in Congress with lawmakers questioning the impact to national security and to the economy.
The three Cleveland women who were kidnapped and held captive for over a decade received honors from Ohio's governor Monday night. They got a standing ovation.
There they all together -- Michelle Knight, Gina Dejesus and Amanda Barry. They joined Governor John Kasich on stage to receive the courage award during the government's state of the state arrest. The women were rescued in May of last year after being held captive in the home of Ariel Castro who pleaded to hundreds of charges. But later killed himself in a jail cell.
We will be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Let's head out to Washington, D.C. Take a look at this. It's snowing like mad in Washington and also in other parts of the northeast like Boston and New York and Richmond, Harrisburg is getting hit with snow. It won't last very long. Of course, we are all hoping that this is the last blast.
This is a shot from the capital. You can't even see it. It is snowing so hard. Hopefully, this is the last blast of winter. Spring is right around the corner. It really is. Our top story is a steep price tag for a rescue at sea. The Sydney Morning Herald reports the Australian government is trying to recoup nearly $2 million dollars they spent to rescue 52 passengers. They were on that Russian research ship that got stuck in ice off Antarctica on Christmas day. Australian icebreaker was diverted from a resupply mission to help with the rescue.
Comedian Seth Meyers made his big debut as the new host of "Late Night" on Monday. Joe Biden not normally known for holding his tongue decided to keep his plans for 2016 under wraps for just a while longer.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SETH MEYERS, TALK SHOW HOST: You have been very open about talking about 2016 and considering what you are going to do. Where are you in your thought process? What are you taking into account?
JOE BIDEN, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: You know, I was planning on making a major announcement tonight but I decided, tonight's your night.
MEYERS: Thank you.
BIDEN: So I hope you will invite me back.
MEYERS: Yes, absolutely.
And Amy, your 2016 plans?
AMY POEHLER, COMEDIAN: Oh, I'm going to run for president.
MEYERS: OK, great.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: I would vote for Amy Poehler.
Meyers didn't let the vice president off the hook when it came to his comments about LaGuardia either being a third world airport.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MEYERS: You recently, I live in New York. We are New Yorkers. You recently called the LaGuardia airport, I don't want to call you out on this, but you recently referred to it as a third world airport.
BIDEN: Well, look, When I was invited to your show, the Secret Service said, you know, Mr. Vice president, you can't land on LaGuardia.
MEYERS: LaGuardia also said you can't land there. We are backed up.
BIDEN: New York is probably the greatest city in the world. And it really -- it really deserves one of the greatest airports in the world.
I don't think anybody disagrees with that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: I don't think anybody disagrees with that either. Joe Biden on Seth Meyers? new show.
It is a bird, it's a plane. It is both. A private aircraft collides with the bird in spectacular fashion. As Jeanne Moos shows us, the pilot has the scars and the video to prove it.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Have you ever been startled by a bird flying into your window? Now, imagine you're 1,000 feet up in the sky cruising on auto pilot.
The first thing pilot Rob Weber did was call mayday. He didn't know what hit him.
ROB WEBER, PILOT: All of a sudden, the windshield just exploded.
MOOS: Watch the impact at 170 miles per hour in slow motion.
WEBER: It was a slap in the face.
MOOS: Yes. Well, how do you think it felt to the bird?
And yes, that is an Angry Bird T-shirt Rob was wearing, one of his grandson's favorite games.
Rob was less than four minutes away from Paige Field Airport in Ft. Myers, Florida. He ducked down to get out of the wind. Part of the windshield hit his head. When he ran his hand over it, it came back bloodied.
He kept thinking about a line he heard as a student pilot. No matter what happens --
WEBER: Just fly the frickin plane.
MOOS: So he did.
Bird strikes are not unusual. Having one captured on camera is
Just this past December, a Cessna, that had just taken off from an Illinois airport got goosed. Pilot and passenger managed to land without injury, to them at least.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That is not our blood.
MOOS: When Rob landed there was a fire truck waiting and compliments from the control tower.
CONTROL TOWER: You checked in so calm.
MOOS: And a fellow pilot. PILOT: Good flying.
MOOS: True, Rob will never be celebrated like Captain Sully Sullenberger, who lost power when both his engines ingested geese and he had to ditch in the Hudson. No one is going to hold up Rob's picture and sign saying "Rob, you rock".
Rob never lost engine power and instead of a 155 souls, he saved his own butt.
His relief was audible when he cut the engine.
As for our unfortunate, not so fine feathered friend --
(on camera): May the bird rest in peace, make that pieces.
(voice-over): Most of it never made it into the plane. But you could see it set foot in the cockpit.
WEBER: You also can see the foot come flying through the cabin go right past my head.
MOOS: Some of Rob's buddies suggest he wear it as a voodoo necklace, while another friend refers to Rob as Gorbachev. Mr. Gorbachev, tear down his wind shield.
Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: So I could have done without the foot. Thanks for joining me today. I'm Carol Costello.
"@ THIS HOUR" with Berman and Michaela starts now.
