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Rick's List
Dow Dives; American Missionaries Charged With Child Trafficking in Haiti; 6.0 Earthquake Strikes Off Northern California Coast
Aired February 04, 2010 - 16:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
RICK SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: All right, welcome back.
Time now for the list that you or nobody else wants to be on.
Spot three goes to "Vanity Fair" magazine, pretty girls on the cover, no problem there. But look what the magazine prints over them. "A new Hollywood, a new decade," they write. Is the new Hollywood going to be available for women who all look alike only? Well, here's what critics of the photos are saying.
What does young Hollywood look like? According to "Vanity Fair," it is thin, female, and white. Look what "The Guardian" writes -- quote -- "Granted, there are no men on the cover, but let's assume that is intentional. What I'm talking about is a lack of melanin."
"USA Today" cuts -- cuts to the proverbial chase. "Where are any women of color?"
How does the magazine explain the lack of diversity? We called "Vanity Fair" and they told us it was a scheduling conflict that made them pick the nine actresses when they did.
Here now, number two on the list, James Ray, motivational speaker who is famous for those get-rich and self-help programs. Today, he is charged with manslaughter. October last year, he cajoled people in a boiling sweat lodge to push past their physical limits and three of them died.
Listen to this woman. She was there that day.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MELINDA MARTIN, PARTICIPATED IN JAMES ARTHUR RAY SWEAT LODGE RITUAL: Bodies everywhere passed out. I mean, and then they -- he walked out looking like a million bucks.
GARY TUCHMAN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: What was James Ray doing during this time?
MARTIN: Watching, standing above and watching.
They hosed him down and he said, oh, thank you and you know, and then he walked past the guy who was screaming, saying -- he was earlier saying he didn't want to die and please don't let me die. James walked by and this guy went to -- said to James from his sitting down position, he goes, I died, I literally died and I came back to life. James is like, hey, all right, man, gave him a high five. It was like fantastic. James, I think was completely oblivious to the pandemonium that was taking place around that sweat lodge.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: James Arthur Ray's lawyer says it was just an accident. He will be on "LARRY KING," tonight., by the way. For now he is on the "List That You Don't Want To Be On."
We have got a lot going on. Here's just some of it.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SANCHEZ (voice-over): Here is what is making THE LIST.
The president pulls out the velvet glove.
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Surely, you can question my policies without questioning my faith or, for that matter, my citizenship.
SANCHEZ: The National Prayer Breakfast. Who is the power behind the prayer? We lift the veil.
MARTIN: Bodies everywhere passed out.
SANCHEZ: What really happened at this self-made program that killed three people and made 20 seriously ill?
MARTIN: This guy went to -- said to James from his sitting-down position. He goes: "I died. I literally died and I came back to life." And James is like, "Hey, all right, man."
SANCHEZ: Motivational speaker James Ray is arrested.
The lists you need to know about. Who's "Today's Most Intriguing Person"? Who's on "List You Don't Want To Be On"? You will find out as our national conversation on Twitter, on the air continues.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SANCHEZ: All right, welcome back.
There was some concern on the economic front that the Dow would push below 10000. And it did.
ALI VELSHI, CNN CHIEF BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: It looks like it is closing. It's still settling. It will take about 20 minutes. It looks like it's just a little -- a bit above 10000 at the moment.
The number 10000 is less relevant than the amount that it dropped, the 268 points. That's pretty severe, 2.6 percent. We haven't seen a day like that since some time last summer. The intensity with which the Dow has dropped, the S&P, the Nasdaq, but it is not that -- just that. It is around the world. We have seen this kind of drop on international markets. Gold is down. Oil is down.
Large international concerns about debt and a number of countries, including Greece, that may have to bail on their debt. They have -- countries that may actually need bailouts, that's what has got investors spooked...
(CROSSTALK)
SANCHEZ: Just quick, because we don't want to spend that much time on this...
(MUSIC)
SANCHEZ: ... but what is the takeaway for -- and there's that -- every time you come on, that -- that...
VELSHI: That music. It's crazy, right?
SANCHEZ: ... the crusader music comes on or whatever...
VELSHI: Yes, it's...
(CROSSTALK)
VELSHI: ... something.
SANCHEZ: ... the gladiator music.
What's is the takeaway for the average guy...
VELSHI: OK.
SANCHEZ: ... watching right now at home and saying oh, my goodness, how is this going to affect me?
VELSHI: Yes.
Well, if you are invested in the market, you took a hit today. The takeaway is, you don't -- don't get too panicked over a day's drop in the market. But there is enough going on here that it has got guys like me concerned looking into it wondering what is going to happen. It's not time to make any moves just yet.
SANCHEZ: All right.
VELSHI: Just be aware that it is happening, so that you are not surprised when you look at your 401(k).
SANCHEZ: And -- and I guess the good news is, it didn't go under 10000.
VELSHI: No.
SANCHEZ: At least at this point.
VELSHI: Markets... (CROSSTALK)
SANCHEZ: Although this thing keeps going.
VELSHI: Markets move. It is OK.
SANCHEZ: All right.
VELSHI: I'm just keeping an eye on it. It's enough for me to look at.
SANCHEZ: We thank you for doing that for us.
VELSHI: My pleasure.
SANCHEZ: Go back to doing whatever it is you do about this time.
(LAUGHTER)
VELSHI: Well, I'm available if you need me.
(CROSSTALK)
(LAUGHTER)
SANCHEZ: Ali Velshi.
VELSHI: Do I get that music when I leave?
SANCHEZ: Ali Velshi, like -- as the Coast Guard motto is, semper paratus, right? Always prepared?
VELSHI: I'm not hearing the music.
SANCHEZ: All right.
Obviously, you checked in to RICK'S LIST at the right time. We have got several developing stories that are going to on right now. We thank Ali for joining us with the very latest on what is going on, on the market.
We also have Karl Penhaul joining us out of Port-au-Prince, Haiti -- startling news coming out of Haiti right now. We are seeing the American missionaries who have been detained in Haiti. That was part of Karl's report that he told us about just a little while ago. And Brooke is here now with the very latest on that, just to pick this thing up for us.
BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Sure. Right.
So, what we heard from Karl about a half-hour ago is this massive headline. We are all watching and waiting to see if these -- we're talking about those 10 Baptist missionaries from Idaho -- if in fact they would be released today, after they had been accused of child trafficking these 33 -- these babies, these children, trying to take them into the Dominican Republic, or if in fact they would be charged. And, as we learned just a little bit ago, we saw that the pictures, the crush of media down there in Port-au-Prince, we have learned that, in fact, they have been charged with kidnapping children and with criminal association -- some pictures still coming in, watching perhaps some of these missionaries.
And this is so significant, because we saw, earlier this afternoon, there were some of the videos -- we saw them going into this judicial building.
SANCHEZ: What -- what -- yes, what is this? I have seen this video several times now. No one has really explained it to me.
Can -- is there any -- is there any sound on this, Roger?
All right, this is a little bit of -- let -- let -- let's hear some of this. Let's hear some of this. That's the family as they were coming in. This is some of Karl Penhaul's news gathering...
BALDWIN: Right.
SANCHEZ: ... as we were first getting the information prior to him coming on the air with us about a half-hour ago.
BALDWIN: About a half-an-hour ago. And I think it is important to explain some of the -- the curiosities we had. And we were judicious, as you said, CNN. We weren't -- we weren't quite sure if in fact they would be charged.
SANCHEZ: Let...
BALDWIN: In fact, we have Karl Penhaul.
SANCHEZ: Yes, let me hold you just a minute.
BALDWIN: Go for it.
SANCHEZ: Karl -- Karl Penhaul is standing by once again to bring us up to date on what's going on.
I will tell you, Karl, the news, as we are receiving it here stateside, is somewhat startling. Share with our viewers, if you would, what you have learned over the past half-hour.
KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, we now have confirmed from the Haitian -- Haitian authorities that the 10 Americans have been charged, charged with kidnapping children and criminal association.
Now, the information minister, Marie Laurence Lassegue, confirmed the news to you us. And the decision was taken by the prosecutors, by Haitian prosecutors, after a panel of three prosecutors interviewed the Americans for about two hours.
As you say, it seems startling news, that these Americans will face Haitian justice. After that audience with the prosecutors, they were brought back to their jail cells here at the judicial police headquarters.
Now, we obviously tried to get reaction from the Americans as they were being shuttled in and out of the courtroom. They chose to make no comment. They were very solemn-faced, although there were no tears, from what I could see. When they were shuttled in to the front vehicle to be brought back to the police headquarters, then a group of them softly began singing hymns.
We know they claim to be very devout people. We do know as well that their own comments, they said that they had come to Haiti to save orphans in Jesus' name. But we do know as well from our own investigations that that's far from the full picture.
They showed a calculated disregard for the laws of Haiti, or any other country, come to that. They knew that they didn't have official documentation to take the kids out of Haiti or into the Dominican Republic. And, yet, they still persisted.
And what they also knew, Rick, was that most of these kids were not orphans, because, in some cases, with the help of their three interpreters, they took the kids out of the very arms of their mothers and fathers, mothers and fathers, it has to be said, who willingly gave away their kids because they thought the Americans could give them a better future -- Rick.
SANCHEZ: What a story.
Karl, just one quick thing. I don't know if you had time to find out, but do we know if they are going to have to be -- remain -- if they are going to have to remain behind bars?
PENHAUL: What we do know and what we just have been able to check, in fact, from a very senior Haitian lawyer is that these charges are so serious that they do not carry any bail.
SANCHEZ: Oh!
BALDWIN: Oh, wow. There you go.
PENHAUL: So, the 10 Americans cannot be released on bail, under -- under Haitian justice.
What I'm working on for you and what our whole team is working on, because it has been a real group effort today, is that we are working right now to try and bring you some assessment of what the maximum penalty could be on these both charges, as I say, charge one, kidnapping of children, charge two, criminal association.
There is another question that I have, too, that we will try and answer, is, who else may also be caught in this net? Because it is also illegal, under Haitian law, for the parents to give their kids away.
SANCHEZ: Hmm.
WILLIAMS: Hmm. PENHAUL: We know they are being investigated now by the social services ministry. Who knows if we might see the parents being dragged into this.
BALDWIN: Wow.
PENHAUL: What we know as well is that, over the last few days, there were some allegations from the interpreters that there may be a corrupt cop involved in this. We know that a Haitian policeman was taken in for questioning yesterday.
But we now know from a senior politics source that that Haitian policeman has been released. He is back on his job. No charges have been proffered there. So, we -- we -- we are still trying to find out chapter and verse on that one, Rick.
SANCHEZ: That's amazing reporting, Karl. We thank you, Karl Penhaul, for bringing us up to date on the story and bringing us up to date on the newest information.
We learned just a half-hour ago that, in fact, they will be charged with child trafficking. And now we are learning -- you know, we asked Karl to find this -- the answer to this question out, because imagine being in prison in a foreign country that has just had an earthquake that happens to be one of the poorest countries on the face of the earth, and there is no bail.
So, you can't even be out while the case is being considered.
Brooke, I'm left stunned listening to that.
BALDWIN: And the possibility that some of the parents now might be involved.
SANCHEZ: Right.
BALDWIN: This is really -- what -- what struck me from that whole...
(CROSSTALK)
SANCHEZ: Well, it -- but wait. That's -- that would be a positive for their defense. They can now go and say...
(CROSSTALK)
SANCHEZ: ... there's a police officer who lied to us. There are parents who misled us...
BALDWIN: Who willingly...
SANCHEZ: ... who willingly gave us the children.
So, there is a possibility -- I mean, I'm not lawyer. And neither are you. And we need to be very careful with how we handle that information. But I would think, as a layman, looking at that, that that might work to their advantage. BALDWIN: Bottom line, I think the story has just begun.
SANCHEZ: Oh, absolutely.
BALDWIN: This story has just begun.
SANCHEZ: There's no question.
Thanks for being on it as well, Brooke...
BALDWIN: Thanks.
SANCHEZ: ... and following that up for us.
Boy, we promised a dynamic day, a busy show with political news coming from inside and beyond the beltway, like Nashville, where the Tea Party's first convention is in full swing. And we have it covered for you.
Also, what state is now in the crosshairs of fed-up Americans? Florida and its high-profile Senate race, we are on the ground there, talking with both candidates, Crist and Rubio.
And also more on faith and politics, the connections running deeper than just a Prayer Breakfast. In our next half-hour, we are looking into the critics of the secretive organization behind the Prayer Breakfast, C Street, the family. Political power or prayer? We're drilling down on that for you as well.
Stay right there, folks. There is a lot of stuff going on. And you're watching THE LIST, as we scroll on.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: Welcome back.
Scott Brown has arrived in the nation's capital to take the oath of office as the new junior senator from Massachusetts. And guess who was there to greet him? Who else? Well, shall we say that CNN was first on the scene...
(LAUGHTER)
SANCHEZ: ... Dana Bash, actually. She was there and she got the -- popped the first questions to Scott Brown.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SCOTT BROWN (R), MASSACHUSETTS SENATOR-ELECT: Well, it's exciting. I am humbled and honored to represent the people of Massachusetts.
It is a new era and it's really time to get to work. The only reason I wasn't here earlier -- we asked to be seated right away, but the secretary of state made it very clear that he needed that time. So, we gave him that time. And now that the time is over, he has certified. He wanted the governor to act. So, I would rather be here than home.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: Keep in mind that Scott Brown gives the Republicans 41 seats. That's enough to grind the Senate to a screeching halt, if he should so choose. And that's a fact worth keeping in mind as we listen to President Obama really scolding politicians today, with lots of nuance, scolding them at the National Prayer Breakfast.
As I told you before, the president did it really with a velvet glove. But it is unmistakable, what he was doing. Let's listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: For those of us here in Washington, let's acknowledge that democracy has always been messy. Let's not be overly nostalgic. Divisions are hardly new in this country. Arguments about the proper role of government, the relationship between liberty and equality, our obligations to our fellow citizens, these things have been with us since our founding.
And I am profoundly mindful that a loyal opposition, a vigorous back- and-forth, a skepticism of power, all of that is what makes our democracy work. And we've seen actually some improvement in some circumstances. We haven't seen any canings on the floor of the Senate anytime recently.
(LAUGHTER)
OBAMA: So we shouldn't over-romanticize the past, but there is a sense that something is different now, that something's broken, that those of us in Washington are not serving the people as well as we should. At times it seems like we're unable to listen to one another, to have at once a serious and civil debate.
And this erosion of civility in the public square sows division and distrust among our citizens. It poisons the well of public opinion. It leaves each side little room to negotiate with the other. It makes politics an all-or-nothing sport where one side is either always right or always wrong, when, in reality, neither side has a monopoly on truth.
We need to find our way back to civility, and that begins with stepping out of our comfort zones in an effort to bridge divisions.
We see that in many conservative pastors who are helping lead the way to fix our broken immigration system. It's not what would be expected from them, and yet they recognize in those immigrant families the face of God.
We see that in the evangelical leaders who are rallying their congregations to protect our planet.
We see it in the increasing recognition among progressives that government can't solve all of our problems. And they're talking about values like responsible fatherhood and healthy marriage are integral to any anti-poverty agenda.
Now, I am the first to confess I'm not always right. And Michelle will testify to that.
(LAUGHTER)
OBAMA: But surely you can question my policies without questioning my faith or, for that matter, my citizenship.
(LAUGHTER)
(APPLAUSE)
OBAMA: We may disagree about the best way to reform our health care system, but surely we can agree that no one ought to go broke when they get sick in the richest nation on Earth.
We can take different approaches to ending inequality, but surely we can agree on the need to lift our children out of ignorance, to -- to lift our neighbors from poverty.
We may disagree about gay marriage, but surely we can agree that it is unconscionable to target gays and lesbians for who they are, whether it's here in the United States or, as Hillary mentioned, more extremely in odious laws that are being proposed most recently in Uganda.
Surely we can agree to find common ground when possible, parting ways when necessary, but in doing so, let us be guided by our faith and by prayer.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: Boy, there's a lot going on. After the president made that speech, there has been a lot of reaction. I'm going to be talking to Wolf Blitzer about that. He's going to be coming up in just a little bit.
And, also, Chad Myers is reporting that there has been an earthquake off the coast of California. I think it registered 6.0. He's going to tell us what the meaning of that is and what the impact might possibly be.
Also, this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Would you give President Obama a hug?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why? Why would I -- I don't even know him. Why would I hug someone I don't know?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: It is the hug in question, this hug that you are about to see right there. Did that hug by Charlie Crist cause Florida's political star to dwindle? And did it create a huge opportunity for his opponent, a Tea Party favorite, no doubt? We are talking to both candidates on the Florida race.
And, then, when we come right back, a woman with strong ties to the White House could find herself forced out of the country, as one of the president's family members. I think you will agree that she's very intriguing, one of the president's family members. Keep that in mind as we go to break.
Stay right there. We will be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: Welcome back. I mentioned just moments ago that Chad Myers is going to be joining us in a little bit to let us know what's going on with that earthquake off the coast of California. As soon as we have got him set up and ready to go, we will do just that.
In the meantime, I want to bring you up to date on the story that we are following with Scott Brown. Mr. Brown goes to Washington. You saw it right here live on CNN as it happened -- exclusively, I might add. And now he's tweeting about what is going on for him on this day. It is a Twitter alert.
Let's go to it. "I have been officially certified," writes Scott Brown. "And I have just arrived in Washington to be sworn in. Thank you," he goes on to say.
And, by the way, we're also getting this. This is from Peter Roskam. He says: "Scott Brown is leading USA out of Pelosi's San Fran fog. Democratic stiff-arm of GOP is failing. The sky is clearing."
I have no idea what any of that means, but there you go. Peter Roskam is tweeting as well about this
(LAUGHTER)
SANCHEZ: We will try to get a Democrat to tweet and try and make things more fair.
We are standing by for Scott Brown's swearing-in ceremony, by the way, when he officially takes the Senate seat held for decades by Ted Kennedy. We are going to bring that live to you when it happens, as it happens, just as we did his arrival.
We're going to right back. Stay with us. This is RICK'S LIST. And I'm -- well, I'm Rick.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: Welcome back.
We have got news coming out of California.
Chad Myers has been following up on this. You know, Chad, every time you hear the word earthquake these days, especially after some of the things that we have seen coming out of Haiti...
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: I know.
SANCHEZ: ... you know, it -- it tends to perk you up a little bit.
MYERS: I know.
SANCHEZ: Tell us what's going on off the coast of California.
MYERS: And I'm not sure whether we are having more earthquakes, or is there just more news coverage of the earthquakes? It's like, you know, are we really having more tornadoes, or are there just more spotters out there to see them?
You know, it kind of goes -- it's chicken and the egg thing. This is Northern California. And this is a shake map of what happened in Northern California. Here is actually part of it, what actually went on. There we go, San Francisco way up into Northern California. Here's where the shake was, a 6.0 earthquake, a fairly strong quake.
Now, what we are worried about -- there haven't been any aftershocks yet -- but could that 6.0 be a 4.0 shock? There's Beach Rock, Steamboat Rock. And you are going to -- you are going to -- we're going to kind of fly you up here to one more, not very populated area up here, thank goodness, compared to all the rest of California.
Here's Ferndale. What is a 4.0 shock? Well, a 4.0 shock can be the first shock of an earthquake. But you got about an hour. You got about an hour to look for the next big quake to see if that 4.0 shock was the smaller of the two or the many, if we do get a bigger quake. So far, no other quakes, not even any other lines.
This is what you would see. If there was needle -- a little needle here, it would be drawing back and forth, back and forth. All of a sudden, 20 after last hour, this thing just started shaking up and down. This is Northern California. And now it has settled down, these little green-blue lines here, meaning that there's still a little bit of rattling going on.
But, at this point, because the shake map doesn't have any yellow in it from Eureka all the way down to Ferndale, there's no real significant damage. When you get oranges and yellows and then reds that we had in Haiti, that's when we know there's actual damage. So far so good right now.
SANCHEZ: Interesting.
So, have we talked to anybody over there? Have we talked to anybody over in our L.A. bureau to see just what it felt like or anything...
(CROSSTALK)
MYERS: You know, you are this big Internet guy. Do you know spy.appspot.com?
SANCHEZ: Yes.
MYERS: Do you know this? You can go on, if you go on to that Web site, and you can type in anything you want, and you can spy on everyone else's conversations.
And so we do that, listening. Now, you put in a keyword. We put in the keyword earthquake. And people did feel it. But all they said was a couple of dishes were rattling, other than that, no damage.
SANCHEZ: Gosh. I will tell you, for some people, that's enough.
MYERS: I know. But the computer is so amazing now that we can actually listen to what other people are saying on the Web to see if they had damage or not. And we know it instantaneously.
SANCHEZ: Chad Myers, as usual...
MYERS: It's great stuff.
SANCHEZ: ... always knows a little bit about everything.
(LAUGHTER)
MYERS: Just that much.
SANCHEZ: A lot about -- no, a little bit about everything.
(LAUGHTER)
MYERS: I know that guy.
SANCHEZ: Appreciate it, Chad.
(LAUGHTER)
MYERS: All right.
SANCHEZ: From amazing crashes to dumb criminals, we have shown all of them to you, but, today, our top choice in "Fotos," this one may take the case.
Roll it, Rog.
SANCHEZ: We're going to take you to Alabama. OK. This is Alabama.
If this guy can't fill up, no one can fill up. You're about to see what we're talking about. Or did we already see it?
All right. He's so upset that he crashed -- past tense -- his SUV into the gas station on purpose. There you go. Boom!
He was mad, folks, because the clerk wouldn't turn on the gas pump. The driver is so outraged that police had to subdue him with a taser. He's now cooling off behind bars, charged with attempted murder. No other way to resolve the conflict?
Florida now. I have heard of saying things have gone to the dogs, but what about gone to the bats? That's exactly what happened to this foreclosed home.
When the homeowners moved out, the bats moved in. The problem is the bats are protected, so there's no easy way to get rid of them.
How would you like to have that coming out of your house every day at certain times? That's enough to drive somebody batty. Wouldn't you say?
Elsewhere in Florida, there is another aerial moment that has people looking up. This daredevil performs a death-defying stunt, walking a high wire 20 stories above the ground. No safety net, no harness, no nothing.
Call it brave. Call it stupid. But whichever way you look at it, it's kind of cool, huh?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JIM ACOSTA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Do you ever sit down with any Tea Party activist and talk to them? Have you talked to them over the phone?
GOV. CHARLIE CRIST (R), FLORIDA: Not really. No, I haven't. You know, I know that...
ACOSTA: Not once?
CRIST: No, not once.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: Florida's governor is hoping to become Florida's next senator. But the Tea Party could be standing in his way.
We're going to look at the latest election battleground and see how the grassroots movement is showing its clout.
And then later, inside The Family. It's a little known group that wields a lot of influence among some politicians. In fact, generally around the country.
We're going talk with the author of a book that digs down into the mix of faith and politics after the National Prayer Breakfast today, and what possible combination there is between the National Prayer Breakfast and this secret group.
We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: Speaking of Tea Parties, Erick Erickson is a really smart guy. Most of his stuff is very worth reading. He is a blogger with redstate.com, and he is tweeting something which is interesting because, remember, he's a conservative, and this is what he is say being the Tea Parties. All right?
He's saying, "I think the Tea Party Convention in Nashville is a branding failure and isn't representative of the National Tea party movement."
That's a strong statement. The long-awaited Tea Party Convention is kicking off today. They're over there in Nashville, and they're trying to turn what amounts to a protest movement into somehow something bigger.
And Mary Snow has just arrived. She's going to be following this story for us over the next couple of days.
Mary, pick this up for us.
MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Rick, you know, organizers say this afternoon that they have sold 600 tickets. And I don't know if you can see behind me, but people are just starting to come in now to register for this first-ever convention of its kind for the National Tea Party.
You know, we've caught up with a couple of people who came here. They're coming from all over the country to find out what brought them here.
One thing they have in common, they told us, Rick, is they didn't consider themselves politically active at all until about the last year. And they come from all walks of life, including Patti Phaneus. She is a small business owner from Tulsa, Oklahoma. We caught up with her just a short time ago.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SNOW: What brought you here?
PATTI PHANEUS, TEA PARTY ACTIVIST: Well, I just wanted to get involved. I have really never been involved in politics before. And I'm a little concerned about the amount of money that our government is committing our future generations to.
SNOW: And what do you hope to accomplish at this convention?
PHANEUS: I hope to have a better understanding and a way to organize, to get more conservative people together so that maybe we can get our country back to where it should be. Just like a business running -- you know, running our business within a budget.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SNOW: And Rick, the one theme that everyone that we talked to expressed is their frustration over government spending, the bailout programs some say brought them here. And throughout this convention, which is going to be workshops, including some grassroots on the ground teaching people how to organize and take this back to their home cities and states -- and then, of course, Saturday night, the keynote speaker is going to be former Alaska governor Sarah Palin.
SANCHEZ: Well, that will be good.
Mary Snow, thanks so much for bringing us up to date what's going on there.
And CNN -- you can rely on CNN to bring you the latest coverage from that convention throughout the weekend.
Meanwhile, the Tea Party's message: smaller government, lower taxes. You've heard it many times. That outcry is gathering momentum in the state of Florida, where Marco Rubio is challenging Governor Charlie Crist for the GOP Senate seat.
This is a race that could put the future of the GOP and the Tea Party both on the line. I want you to watch this report that's put together by my colleague Jim Acosta.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CRIST: We know that it's important that we pass the stimulus package.
ACOSTA (voice-over): For Republican Florida Governor Charlie Crist, it's the hug that just won't let go. His embrace of the president and of the stimulus program at this town hall meeting last year could cost this once rising GOP star a shot at a U.S. Senate seat.
MARCO RUBIO (R), SENATE CANDIDATE: I've been hearing about these tea parties now for a while.
ACOSTA: Meet Marco Rubio. He's challenging Crist for the GOP nomination for that Senate seat in a Darling of the Tea Party Movement. Rubio has turned the hug into a fund-raising gift that keeps on giving.
ACOSTA (on camera): Would you give President Obama a hug?
RUBIO: Why? Why would I? Depending -- I don't even know him. Why would I hug someone I don't know?
ACOSTA: Well, Charlie Crist has gotten himself in a lot of trouble for hugging president Obama.
RUBIO: You know, he did -- ultimately, you know, that gets a lot of attention, but what he really got in trouble for is supporting a plan that is helping to bankrupt this country.
What I find at events like this is a growing number of Americans who have never been involved in politics before. I bet you, that's a lot of you.
ACOSTA (voice-over): Rubio takes his message of smaller government and lower taxes to Tea Party rallies.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is the great awakening.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Stop the spending on unnecessary things.
ACOSTA: And his YouTube page features Tea Party activists venting their anger at Washington. Polls show Rubio has closed a 30- point gap and just might win the party primary.
ACOSTA (on camera): Would you be the first Tea Party senator, if elected?
RUBIO: Well, I'm running -- I'm running as a Republican.
ACOSTA: So just the word, it's not a party -- a political party, that is?
RUBIO: It's not a political party.
ACOSTA (voice-over): Crist, by contrast, is no Tea Party animal.
(on camera): Do you ever sit down with any Tea Party activists and talk to them? Have you talked to any of them over the phone?
CRIST: Not really. No. I haven't. You know, I know that...
ACOSTA: Not once?
CRIST: No, not once. No. Happy to. I probably have and don't know it.
ACOSTA (voice-over): For groups like the Tea Party Express, there's no contest.
JOE WIERZBICKI, TEA PARTY EXPRESS: You want to know why there's anger with the Republican Party? Republicans embracing massive taxing and spending policies? No. That's not what the Republican Party is supposed to be about, and that's what Charlie Crist did.
ACOSTA: Tea Party groups saying millions of Independents, Republicans and even some former Democrats are ready to take down some of the biggest names in politics, from Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to Republican John McCain. But Democrats say all that in- fighting between Crist and Rubio actually presents an opportunity.
JAMAL SIMMONS, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: I'll take either of one of them as long as they're wounded and limping into the general election.
ACOSTA: Crist, who has a 50 percent job approval rating, is not backing down from a Tea Party fight. He defends the stimulus as a job saver and notes Rubio has stated he too would have accepted funds from the program.
CRIST: About 20,000 teachers would be out of work today in my state. I can't in good conscience look them in the eye and say, you know, you and your family are going to be without a bread winner. People have to eat.
ACOSTA: He's gambling Conservatives will come around.
Defying conventional wisdom in his own party, Crist met President Obama for another stimulus event last week.
ACOSTA (on camera): Did you get any feedback from your fellow Republicans in this state that maybe you shouldn't be there when the president landed in Tampa?
CRIST: A lot, actually. I...
ACOSTA: They were telling you, don't do it?
CRIST: Yes. Quite a few people -- I got a lot of advice.
ACOSTA (voice-over): They shook hands for 27 seconds.
CRIST: I think people really want -- I think they're honestly sort of tired of the bickering they see coming out of Washington. I think that's part of the change that they want to see. It's part of the reason I'm running for the United States Senate. I think we need more civility.
ACOSTA (on camera): Crist is hoping civility will trump anger and this fight for the future of the Tea Party and the GOP. And voters in Florida have plenty of time to make up their minds. The primary is set for August.
Jim Acosta, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SANCHEZ: That guy, he wrote the book on the powerful members of a secret Washington society.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEFF SHARLET, AUTHOR: And then as I dug through their archives for years, they have the idea that morality is a secular concept, that all that matters is obedience to God. And you find out what God wants by going behind closed doors with other powerful men and listening for messages.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: That's the guy. He's the one who talks and reads and also writes about the National Prayer Breakfast and the group that may be behind it. He is in a unique position to explain their influence as well.
That's Jeff Sharlet. He's going to join me next to talk us through this story.
And the banking industry produces one of today's "Most Intriguing."
Who is it? We'll tell you in just a little bit.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: We talked a lot today about the president's speech to the National Prayer Breakfast. This breakfast is held every year, all the way back to Eisenhower. And it's my job to tell you some things that you may not know about it, and to tell you why this breakfast, frankly, has some people -- some people -- concerned.
Oddly enough, we pick up the story with this guy.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOV. MARK SANFORD (R), SOUTH CAROLINA: As part of a group called C Street, when I was in Washington, it was, believe it or not, a Christian bible study. Some folks had asked members of Congress hard questions that I think were very, very important. And I had been working with them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: That was governor Mark Sanford confessing last summer to his extramarital affair and talking about the C Street group which really caught our attention and most of the media's attention.
It turns out members of the C Street group meet in this building on Capitol Hill, a building owned by a secretive organization that's called The Fellowship, which is also the group that runs the National Prayer Breakfast. Did you know that?
The breakfast Mr. Obama attended, as his predecessors have done before him, is run by a religious group whose membership is officially undisclosed but includes powerful members of Congress and the military. Its friends overseas have included some of the world's most brutally dictators, including Suharto of Indonesia and the Philippines' Ferdinand Marcos, just to name two. As for The Fellowship's agenda, it's a bit unclear.
For more on that, we turn to Jeff Sharlet, author of the book called "The Family: The Secret Fundamentalism at the Heart of American Power."
Jeff Sharlet, thanks for joining us.
SHARLET: Hey, Rick. Good to be here.
SANCHEZ: You know, I'm wondering -- we say that they are secretive. Are they, in fact?
SHARLET: Yes. In fact, this fall, because of the reporting you've been doing, other people have been doing over the past summer on the C Street scandals, they finally went public. A representative went on TV and said it's true that we have been too secretive, but I can't really tell you more about that.
So they have admitted being secretive.
SANCHEZ: What should Americans be concerned about? There's nothing wrong with the idea of people getting together and praying and believing in their faith and sharing their faith. Right?
SHARLET: Not at all. And that's -- that can be a wonderful source for inspiration and wisdom for leaders.
And, in fact, if The Fellowship were to go public, to enter in the public square and lay open what they are doing, I think there would be much less concern. But the reality is they're doing this behind closed doors, as we saw with Senator Ensign, in which they were helping cover up the affair which now is being investigated by the Senate Ethics Committee, possibly the Justice Department.
And as you said in the introduction the friendships that they make overseas with dictators like Suharto, Marcos and, more recently and in the news, Uganda's President Museveni, this country whether -- they're contemplating a bill that would lead to the death penalty for gay people -- that's a problem. Even when the Americans in the group are opposed to the group, as they are, they don't have the structure of accountability, they don't have the transparency, and things roll out of control to terrible ends.
SANCHEZ: When I read some of your writings about them, I got the impression that you were trying to say that they almost believed that rules don't apply to them for some reason, that they're above some of the rules and the laws that apply to the rest of us.
And how do you reconcile -- first of all, explain to us what you mean by that, because you are talking about men who are professing themselves to be godly. So that explanation you are giving us of them doesn't fit.
SHARLET: Yes, but they also believe that God works in mysterious ways. So, God works through President Musevini. God works through these dictators.
God works through Mark Sanford. And Mark Sanford himself explained it for us when he said, I'm going stay in the governor's office despite what I've done, despite calling for other people to resign in similar positions, because I'm like King David. I'm chosen for leadership by God.
It's not so much that you should do these terrible things, but that even when you do, there's just not this vehicle of accountability. And we see it even now in Uganda, where The Family did something great today by giving President Obama a forum, and creating a forum to speak out against this. But they have been facilitating those politicians over there for so long, until now they haven't really been able to effectively speak out against them and say, hey, the rules -- for instance, thou shall not kill -- apply to you as well.
SANCHEZ: Well, that's scary though what you just said. How frightened should Americans be by the specter of someone who believes that because they have been entrusted by their god as a leader, that they can do things that the rest of us can't do?
SHARLET: Well, you know, the good news, instead of focusing on the fright, the good news is they are taking these baby steps towards transparency. We saw Congressman Akin today at the prayer breakfast. Remind everybody that this event that seems to be an official government event is actually about Jesus, and now we can start talking about some First Amendment issues there, about the establishment of religion.
But at the same time, yes, you do want to be frightened, because when this group empowers folks like those in Uganda to do this, and lacks any kind of structure to then pull backing the reins, well, in Uganda you're did a you are facing potential genocide. The good news, again, though, is the group has stepped out into the public and has done the right thing in this case. We want them to do that more so we don't have more Ugandas.
SANCHEZ: Yes. Maybe it had something to do with your book. If so, I think that's a good thing.
Jeff Sharlet, good work. We appreciate your sharing your information with us and we hope to see you again.
SHARLET: Thank you, Rick.
SANCHEZ: As you can tell, it's been a very busy day on the political front, and we're still waiting for the official swearing in of Republican Scott Brown.
Who better to give us some of the perspective on this than Wolf Blitzer? He's going to be joining me in just a little bit. Two minutes and we'll be back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: Boy, speaking of Haiti, we've been trying to get as much information as we possibly can.
Welcome back. I'm Rick Sanchez.
On the situation in Haiti, 10 people, Americans, being told essentially they are going to be in jail, that they are being charged with child trafficking.
Here's a tweet we just got from our own national security correspondents. "Americans charged in Haiti told State providing consular help and continues to monitor developments in the legal case." By "State," they mean the State Department providing consular help.
Wolf Blitzer is joining me now from Washington.
I've got to tell you, Wolf, this story is heart-wrenching, especially when -- you know, I don't know if you heard, but I asked Karl Penhaul whether these folks are going to be able to get some kind of bail so they are at least out of jail while they are awaiting their trial. He said the charges are so serious, there's a chance they may have to stay behind bars the whole time.
What are you learning from folks up there in Washington, the State Department, for example?
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Well, there's a limited amount of opportunity. There are laws in Haiti. And as you know, child trafficking, whether in Haiti or here in the United States, that's like kidnapping. And there's no automatic bail, even here in the United States, if you are accused, formally accused, charged of kidnapping or child trafficking. You might not get bail.
So, I don't know what the laws are in Haiti, but these are very, very serious charges that have been leveled against these 10 Americans. And we're going to see what goes on. But it's obviously a big story.
SANCHEZ: Well, you know, we followed stories like this in the past. What is usually the -- this -- look, this is going to turn into a political issue at some point, because everything does, as you have taught me. When it does, I imagine the agency that will be stepping up to try to be an arbiter, if you will, will be what? The State Department, right?
BLITZER: The State Department will intervene on behalf of U.S. citizens to make sure they are being treated fairly and that legally, their rights are being protected, whatever their rights may be in Haiti. But you're absolutely right. The State Department is involved, is going to be directly involved, as they would if this were happening in Canada or Mexico or China, for that matter. The State Department represents U.S. interests on a case like this.
SANCHEZ: You're there in Washington. The big story there today is going to be Scott Brown.
BLITZER: We're standing by. He's going to be sworn in pretty soon. We'll take that live.
He's then going to go and have a news conference. We're going to take that live as well.
The president of the United States is getting red to speak to Democratic fund-raisers, take their questions. You'll see that live.
We've got a lot of stuff coming up in "THE SITUATION ROOM" over the next three hours.
SANCHEZ: What did you make the president today? You know, I thought it was interesting. He's pretty good at this, by the way, this whole velvet glove he uses when he tries to criticize people. I mean, he was basically saying to them, look, you can do what you want, but if you are going to talk the talk about faith, then you've got to walk the walk as well.
BLITZER: Yes. He says, look, you can criticize my policies and you can do whatever you want, but you don't necessarily have to question my patriotism or question my citizenship. I mean, those were strong words he said, and you know who he was referring to.
SANCHEZ: We all do, as a matter of fact.
And we thank you, Wolf. Look, we'll look forward to seeing you in a couple of minutes here. OK?
BLITZER: Thanks, Rick.
SANCHEZ: Up next, who tops "The List U Don't Want 2 Be On"?
Stay right there.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: Welcome back. Rick Sanchez here. Ready to reveal now who is at the very top of "The List U Don't Want 2 Be On."
First a little recapping.
"Vanity Fair" magazine, the Hollywood issue. Every promising movie star they put on the cover is young, female and white. Critics ask, what's up with that?
Number two, James Arthur Ray, manslaughter charges from that sweat lodge incident he organized back in October. Three people died. A witness says that he was high-fiving people oblivious to the chaos. He denies it and says it was really just an accident.
Now number one. Mel Gibson, again. Yes, again.
He can't seem to get over the fact that interviewers want to talk about his 2006 police stop/DUI/Jewish rant incident. He was on this list before for what he said on a TV interview. He's on the list today for what he said on a TV interview.
See a pattern? Watch and see if you think the interviewer is out of line.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MEL GIBSON, ACTOR/DIRECTOR: That's almost four years ago, dude. I mean, I moved on. I guess you haven't.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, I'm just wondering if you think that the public has moved on and will perceive you in the same light.
GIBSON: Well, I certainly hope so. You know, it is a while back. And, you know, I've done all the necessary mea culpas. So, let's move on, dude. Come on.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: "Edge of Darkness" opens today. It's good to see you back in the saddle and doing what you do best. Thanks a lot for joining us, Mel. Take care.
GIBSON: Bye-bye.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: Necessary mea culpas. Lots of people wondering today why he apparently doesn't expect that that issue will come up and why he always seems to be so unprepared to discuss it. There is a rule in television. Never say anything, by the way, around a microphone that you wouldn't want to say in front of your mom.
Mel Gibson, the top of today's "List U Don't Want 2 Be On."
Mr. Blitzer joining us in "THE SITUATION ROOM."
Wolf, take it away.
