Return to Transcripts main page

Rick's List

Americans Flipping on Health Care?; Restaurants Mandated to Display Calorie Counts

Aired March 24, 2010 - 15:00   ET

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

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RICK SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): Here's what's making the LIST.

A new poll suggests Americans are flipping on health care reform. Will it force Republican lawmakers to do the same?

SEN. CHRISTOPHER DODD (D), CONNECTICUT: Frankly, if the leadership tries to tell us once again, we're just going to vote no on everything, we're going to walk.

SANCHEZ: Democrats Chris Dodd and Barney Frank invite GOP senators to join in.

Burger King, McDonald's, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, whatever your favorite fast food is, they all now have to tell you how many calories are on their food as part of health care reform.

Video of a disastrous attack, horrific to watch as a car bomb destroys part a town in Colombia, and we are there.

ANN COULTER, AUTHOR, "GODLESS: THE CHURCH OF LIBERALISM": What mode of transportation? Take a camel.

SANCHEZ: A disastrous speaking engagement for Ann Coulter in Canada. Progressives take to the streets, get the event canceled.

A remarkable CNN special report on Iran's ties to IEDs being used against U.S. soldiers.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There's people that are sacrificing everything that they have, you know, for your freedom.

SANCHEZ: And a Navy SEAL's body comes home, and the turnout is overwhelming.

The lists you need to know about. Who's today's most intriguing? Who's making news on Twitter? It's why I keep a list, pioneering tomorrow's cutting-edge news right now.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SANCHEZ: And hello again, everybody. I'm Rick Sanchez. We are going to begin with what is breaking news going on in Congress. There is apparently a very serious security issue. We have just heard from two members of Congress who are saying as many as 10 of their colleagues are now requesting added security for their homes and their offices.

Let me take you through some of the information that leads up to this, and then I'm going to let you listen to Majority Whip Jim Clyburn, as well as Majority Leader Steny Hoyer themselves.

This is information collaborated from several news organizations, including CNN and Politico. Let me take you through this.

Angry voters are planning to protest this weekend at the home of Steve Driehaus, who's already seen a photograph of his children used in a newspaper ad published by reform opponents. Then there's the case of Louise Slaughter, the Democrat who chairs the House Rules Committee.

She says that a caller to her office last week vowed to send snipers to -- quote -- "kill the children of the members who voted yes for health care reform." Her office reported the call to police, who were dispatched to provide protection for Slaughter's grandchildren.

Then there's this incident having to do with a name that we have all been reporting in the news of late. It's Bart Stupak of the Upper Peninsula in Michigan. The Michigan Democrat whose last-minute compromise on, of course, the abortion guaranteed the passage of the bill Sunday has been getting lots of grief, said callers have left messages for him saying: "You are dead. We know where you live. We will get you."

Congressman Bart Stupak , as the information comes in to us, is now saying, "My wife cannot answer the phone."

So, those are the stories that we had going into this newscast. We did not expect that there would be this hastily called news conference just a while ago. Here now are Hoyer and Clyburn. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. STENY HOYER (D-MD), MAJORITY LEADER: Our democracy is about participation. Our democracy is about differing and debate and animated debate and passionate debate.

But it is not about violence. It is about making sure that everybody in America feels free to express their opinion and to take such actions as they deem to be necessary, without subjecting themselves, their family, or others to behavior, and, frankly, criminal behavior in some respects, that undermines our democracy and undermines the safety of individuals.

I want to now yield to my friend Jim Clyburn. Both of us believe that to remain silent in the face of such activity gives an impression of either condoning or sanctioning such actions. And, furthermore, in any show of appreciation for such actions, encourages such actions and ought not to be done.

Jim Clyburn of South Carolina.

REP. JAMES CLYBURN (D), SOUTH CAROLINA: Thank you, Mr. Leader.

I spoke to the caucus a few moments ago, and I directed some words of thought to the caucus and to the law enforcement people who are here, using the words of George Santayana, who said to us, if we fail to learn the lessons of our history, we're bound to repeat them.

Many of us have some very vivid lessons of history. I used to teach the stuff. I still study it. And I said the other day that what I saw on Saturday, especially, out in the streets and what I heard were very reminiscent of that history.

Now, I think all of us learned some great lessons from the '60s and '70s. And there are some lessons that none of us want to repeat. But one thing that we know, as Steny Hoyer just said, silence gives consent.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: All right, let me bring you up to the developments that have led up to this moment.

First of all, there was the Tea Party gathering in Washington, D.C., on the eve of the passage of the bill, where there were several slurs uttered by folks who had come close to the Capitol itself, some of them even in the actual hallways.

There was a slur using the N-word directed at some of the African-American representatives. There was a slur using the F-word that was uttered toward Barney Frank. There were other acts on that day.

And then, of course, during the passage of the bill, there was a congressman from Texas, Congressman Neugebauer, who had made reference or screamed out "baby killer," something for which we thought he was apologetic yesterday, but it turns out today that he's all but taking back his apologies. He's quoted as saying, "What do I need to apologize for?"

So, it's with that in the backdrop that we head into this news conference that we just saw coming out of Washington. Apparently, 10 more people are saying that they now have to ask for security because of threats like the ones that we have been describing.

Let me bring in Jessica Yellin. She's been following this story.

Put this all together for us. What's the mood there in Washington? How serious do we take these, Jessica?

JESSICA YELLIN, CNN NATIONAL POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, there's a sudden focus on this right now, Rick. These seem to be isolated incidents until just now. Leader Hoyer came out and said that there are 10 in all at least. And obviously this is something that's greatly concerning. It is one of those moments where both sides are being called on to exercise leadership and tell people to cool their tempers. I mean, this is not obviously what our political process is about.

The Democrats clearly are pressing for public statements by the Republican elected leadership in Congress to call on Tea Party activists and others who are making any kind of threats from any organization to step up and denounce them.

Now, I can tell you that last night, Boehner, Congressman Boehner, did comment on the violence at a major Republican dinner. He said -- and I want to read to you so you know exactly what he said -- "I know there's a lot of anger. Let's take that anger, though, and go out and register people to vote. Let's do it the right way."

He said: "I'm concerned about the amount of violence and anger out there. It's unacceptable."

Now, clearly, they want more from him, and we will wait to see if that happens -- Rick.

SANCHEZ: But Boehner himself has been one of the most critical. He's one of those who has used words like socialist and government takeover and the kinds of things that someone who maybe doesn't follow the situation so closely might be led to act in an incivil (ph) way.

Is this a chicken-or-an-egg question of which came first in this case? Are these people being --

YELLIN: You're -- are you suggesting he --

(CROSSTALK)

SANCHEZ: Well, look, let me just come out and ask the question. Are some Republicans culpable of stirring this to a certain degree, and what would you say to that, if asked? What would they say, I should say?

(CROSSTALK)

YELLIN: I don't think there's a single member you can point to and say this person is encouraging or condoning violence.

Certainly, calling a program socialist, as inaccurate as you could say that is, is not the same thing as calling for somebody to do bodily harm, which is just a league different.

SANCHEZ: Yes.

But there is this move toward incivility. And the shouting out on the floor and the absolute rage certainly is -- seems to be putting a head of steam on those people who are already enraged.

I have interviewed so many members of the Tea Party movement. Most of them do not reflect these kinds of views. They don't want to do violence on anyone. They just want their voices heard.

But the problem is this incivility is sort of giving cover to some of the most extreme voices out there, and that's why I think that these leaders are coming out and saying, hey, all, let's -- let's call on everybody to be grownups.

SANCHEZ: Well, let's talk about some numbers. I saw a poll today -- it wasn't one of our polls, so -- but it's pretty much in keeping with what we have seen in the past. Something like 74 percent of the people who describe themselves as members of the Tea Party movement also describes themselves as either Republicans or independents or conservatives.

That would mean that these -- three-fourths of them, right, are following conservatives and Republican talking points? Does that mean that there's a direct link between what Republicans say and what these folks do?

YELLIN: Well, let's make a distinction. There is no question that the majority of the Tea Party movement tends to have conservative political views, rather than liberal. And if they had to choose a party, most of them --

SANCHEZ: Right.

YELLIN: -- would go with the Republican Party.

But the whole reason they formed a Tea Party is because they're angry with the Republican Party. They don't think it's truly reflecting their views. There's a divide in there.

So, I do think that the more this continues, there is a likelihood that Democrats will try to pin the extremist voices in the Tea Party movement on the Republicans and try to radicalize Republicans in the public's view.

SANCHEZ: But here's what's interesting. I have been interviewing a lot of Republicans lately, guys like Darrell Issa yesterday --

YELLIN: Yes.

SANCHEZ: -- who was here with Xavier Becerra on our show. And I interviewed Phil Gingrey the day before that, a Southern Republican. Both of them told me on the record -- maybe it's because they were on CNN -- they said, willing, look, we're willing to embrace some parts of this health care proposal. We don't think it's all bad. Maybe we should get on board with some of it. We just don't like the spending.

So, is there a possibility that that message isn't getting out to the American people because these crazy talk show hosts that are so right-wing are out there using the most heated language and the most heated rhetoric that does, in fact, incite people to hate?

YELLIN: And let's be a little self-critical, too, Rick. How often do the comments you just mentioned, Republicans who say there are parts of the health care bills they can embrace, get on air in general, our air, any news organization's air, vs. the extremist actions by the Tea Party?

SANCHEZ: Right.

YELLIN: We all give so much oxygen to the most extremist voices, that the moderate voices are getting drowned out. That's definitely true.

SANCHEZ: Well --

YELLIN: I think we're all responsible to some measure.

SANCHEZ: Well, just again, for those of you who are just joining us, the conversation Jessica and I are having or trying to work our way through, really, because it really has as much to do with psycho- psychology -- pardon me -- social psychology -- as it does politics. And I guess a big part of politics is social psychology.

But now there's a report coming out of the House. You just from Clyburn and Hoyer come out and say that 10 members of the House are asking for extra security because of certain threats that have been made against them, this amid a very heated atmosphere there in Washington.

Jessica, stay on this for us. Just let us know. We will get you back on. Let us know what else you can learn.

(CROSSTALK)

YELLIN: Can I add one more thing?

SANCHEZ: Please. Go ahead.

YELLIN: I just got something from Representative Boehner's office, who -- Boehner is saying, look, he wants people to know that this is not the American way. Threats of violence are not the American way.

SANCHEZ: Good for him.

YELLIN: And he holds a press briefing tomorrow, so I'm sure we will hear more from him then.

SANCHEZ: Well, look, we're all Americans and this is the kind of thing that I'm sure we can work through.

YELLIN: Yes.

SANCHEZ: And we will do our part as well.

Thanks so much, Jessica. We certainly appreciate it.

YELLIN: Good to see you.

SANCHEZ: Let me tell you about something else we're going to have coming your way in just a little bit, a massive car bomb attack. This is in a Colombian town. Let me show you some of these pictures, because they are startling, folks. As you look at them, you just -- and, by the way, these are the most boring of all the pictures we have. I don't know why we chose those.

But I will take you through some of the pictures. And it will just -- you will find it amazing.

Also, whatever your favorite fast food is, they all now have to tell you how many calories are in that food as part of the health care reform. That's right. Part of the health care reform means when you go to a McDonald's or a Taco Bell, et cetera, et cetera, whatever you like, is, they have to in big, plain letters explain to you how many calories are in each food. Good idea? Bad idea? We're going to talk to a nutritionist.

Stay right there.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SANCHEZ: Welcome back. I'm Rick Sanchez.

On the health care reform list today, we're going to try and tackle one part of this every single day, something you may not know. When this thing goes into effect, when you eat at a fast-food restaurant, that restaurant is now mandated by law to explain how many calories are in each food item that you eat.

Now, this is interesting. As part of the provision in the law that President Obama has signed yesterday, any restaurant with more than 20 locations -- that's what makes them a fast-food restaurant -- has to -- and this is different, folks -- it doesn't mean you have to go to their Web site and look it up. No, no.

There in the restaurant they have to visually display for you and your children exactly how many calories are in each food.

Michael Eriksen is joining us now. He's the director of the Institute for Public Health at Georgia State University.

Thanks so much for being here.

MICHAEL ERIKSEN, DIRECTOR, INSTITUTE OF PUBLIC HEALTH: My pleasure.

SANCHEZ: I appreciate you being here.

I want you to take me through this, because we have been talking about this on my staff all day long, and this is the kind of thing that my wife and I talk all the time about as well. We argue about, well, what's good, what's bad?

Well, here it is. We can now quantify this, and we want to know how important that is. I just had somebody on my staff go downstairs and grab these, all right? Let's do two Wendy's items, OK? This is the Wendy's Triple Baconator with cheese, 330 calories. (CROSSTALK)

SANCHEZ: Oh, goodness, thank you very much -- 1,330 calories. This is the Wendy's junior bacon cheeseburger, 230 calories. My God, that is a heck of a difference there, isn't that?

All right, why is that important? You tell me.

ERIKSEN: Well, a 1,000-calorie difference between two sandwiches, if you were to eat the lower -- every day, if you were to eat the lower-calorie sandwiches, you would lose about two pounds a week. That's what that -- a 1,000-calorie difference.

SANCHEZ: Two pounds a week?

ERIKSEN: Two pounds a week.

SANCHEZ: That's fabulous, but why quantify it? The average person would say, hey, Rick -- look, let me do this for you. You ready? Feel the weight of that. Now feel the weight of that.

ERIKSEN: It's warm.

SANCHEZ: Which one do you think has got --

ERIKSEN: Yes.

SANCHEZ: A lot of folks are going to be out there saying, hey, this is common sense. The guy who wants to eat too much is an idiot and he's just eating too much because he's not thinking and the government having to come in and tell him exactly how many calories in each thing is silly. You say to that what?

(CROSSTALK)

ERIKSEN: Well, the government provides information. And information will help people make decisions that are right for them. You know, two-thirds of adults are either overweight or obese. People care about their weight. And if they see one is twice as many calories as another, that may influence some people's decisions.

SANCHEZ: So, you think -- well, and there are some people out there -- let me see if we got another example of this.

Let's go to Arby's, all right? We have got Chick-fil-A and we have got Arby's, two great places where everybody loves to eat. Here's the Arby's regular roast beef, the one that we all ate as children, with the Jamocha shake, by the way. But I didn't just say that on TV, did I?

Also, here's the Arby's roast turkey, Swiss, market fresh. Now, you think, hey, it's just a roast turkey sandwich. That's going to be really good for you. Here's the surprise, right? Take a look at the difference, 350 --

ERIKSEN: Right. SANCHEZ: -- 740 for a sandwich. Now, this is one that might fool people.

ERIKSEN: Right, especially with the terminology market fresh. You kind of think, it's healthy, it's fresh, it's not going to be high calories.

That's why the numbers are really important. It gives people -- most people know they should eat 1,500 to 2,000 calories a day, and if they see they're going to get even an entire day's worth of calories from a sandwich, fries, and a drink, it will make them think twice.

SANCHEZ: So, the bottom line is why we quantify and why the government mandates this quantification is someone like my wife, she's busy. She's running the kids from here to there.

ERIKSEN: Right.

SANCHEZ: Savannah's (ph) got piano or Savannah's got softball. Robbie's (ph) got guitar. And you know what? We don't have time to make dinner. We have got to stop and grab something to eat. Someone in a busy schedule needs all the help that they can get --

ERIKSEN: Right. Exactly.

SANCHEZ: -- to help, you know, know. Here's what -- look at the menu, guys. You can't have that. You can't have that, but you can have one of those or one of those or one of those. It's that easy.

ERIKSEN: Yes, absolutely.

The thing we have to watch out for is that if one sandwich is 350 calories, another one is 700, that someone doesn't order two of the 350-calorie sandwiches to make up for the 700.

(LAUGHTER)

SANCHEZ: That would be my son Remi (ph). He would cheat like that. Mom, I will take two of those.

No, that's not the way it works.

Great information.

ERIKSEN: Pleasure.

SANCHEZ: You know, this is cool. You pass legislation and suddenly you're able to talk about it on TV in a concrete way, and that's what we are going to continue to do.

ERIKSEN: Right. And the other part of this is that it's not just -- health care reform is just not about insurance and access to treatment. It's also about keeping people healthy, and this is a step in that direction.

SANCHEZ: Because, if we do that, then we won't have to pay as much when they get really sick with a heart condition.

(CROSSTALK)

ERIKSEN: Exactly. Well, you have less demand.

SANCHEZ: Yes.

ERIKSEN: So, it's an important part of health care reform.

SANCHEZ: Well, I'm glad you were here, and I'm glad we were able to take people through it.

Guys, go ahead. Have at it.

(LAUGHTER)

SANCHEZ: All right. Here's what else we got coming your way.

This is on the follow-up list. Remember the pediatrician accused of sexually abusing 103 of his patients? Well, he's just had his very first day in court, and I'm going to take you through that.

Also, who is making the list of the most intriguing person in the news today? That is next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SANCHEZ: Hey. Welcome back. I'm Rick Sanchez. Time to check the list now for the most intriguing person in the news today.

This guy actually reads other people's mail for a living. That's not so intriguing, until you learn that the mail that he reads is addressed to the president of the United States. That's right -- 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue is where it comes to. You think that's easy? Try poking through tons of thousands of letters, cards, e-mails, faxes every single day. He picks 10, just 10, to stick in a purple folder and actually hand to the president, which the president says he reads every single morning. Who does this?

His name is Mike Kelleher, director of the White House Office for Correspondence, and the letters that reach the president are those that move him or give him chills. So, if you want your words to reach the president's hands, make them good, and make them to Mike Kelleher. Intriguing job and certainly the most intriguing person in the news today.

You can't look away as you look at some of this video. OK. This is kind of the video that I was talking about a little while ago. Look at this. Look at this stuff as it moves around, some of the video that we're collecting now that is just now starting to come in from Colombia. This is a bombing that took place there. I believe it was in a car. Wait until you see what's left of the car. I'm going to take you through this.

Also, why are backyards becoming department stores for some thieves? It's crazy. It's a sign of the times. And it's on the LIST next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SANCHEZ: We have been getting a lot of tweets on the conversation we had a little while ago, some folks reacting this way. And we want to thank them for liking the fact that we're trying to do everything we can to bring you the information on the health care bill.

Let's go to that tweet, if we can, right there at the very top on the regular one, if you would, Robert.

"Rick, most cable news is being helpful explaining the health care bill. Talk radio is scaring the life out of people."

It's what they do.

All right, you don't want people airing your dirty laundry or stealing your clean laundry, for that matter. Time for ""Fotos Del Dia."

Hartford, Connecticut, a woman is caught on camera seen stealing laundry, of all things. It's not just any woman. This lady is kind of picky. She's actually rifling through clothes like she's at a Macy's clearance rack. I mean, beggars can't be choosy -- apparently, not this woman.

Hung up in Hayden -- Hayden, Ohio, that is. It's a sport utility vehicle. It's stuck on a utility pole. Talk about a balancing act to rival Barnum & Bailey. If only it were intentional.

How did it happen? Police say this guy went into a diabetic shock while he was driving his car. He ran over a stop sign, up a guide wire, and wound up in a -- this precarious position. He's OK, though. Police secured the vehicle with forklifts, broke out a window, and the driver made it out with just minor injuries.

Here's another SUV in Forest Park, Georgia. This time and the "S" might as well stand for "scumbag." The driver runs into a 60- year-old woman, apologizes, and then just drives off, unbelievable. It's caught the whole thing on a dash cam. The woman that got hit is a real tough cookie, though. She didn't even break any bones, believe it or not.

(MUSIC)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): Today, you see for yourselves what we have discovered. All the international monitors have seen it. You, yourselves, can check to see which country has made it. Check the marks on the weapons and the type, and go and tell the world.

(END VIDEO CLIP) SANCHEZ: He's talking about IEDs and other weapons that are being supplied to the Taliban in Afghanistan. Here's the news part, from Iran -- from Iran. And there's proof. And we're going to let you see that report for yourself.

Also, a new poll shows that Americans are changing their minds on health care reform. Now, what does it mean for the Dems, and what does it meanwhile for the GOP if they're flipping from hating it to liking it? Roland Martin's "R&R" segment is coming up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SANCHEZ: Welcome back to RICK'S LIST.

Number one on THE LIST, for those of you just now joining us, we had to report at the very beginning of this newscast that there seems to be a security issue, or so say two members of Congress when they came forward and described that 10 members of Congress have now asked for extra security on the heels of the health care reform bill being passed.

So, that's the situation right now in Congress. I'm going to be taking you through that story. I talked to Jessica Yellin a little while ago. She's been drilling down on it and hopes to join us again a little bit.

Meanwhile, Roland Martin is going to be coming up in just a little bit to take us through part of this conversation as well -- an important conversation for the entire country.

I want you now to watch this report. It's a special report, because for years, we have been talking about Iranians supplying the insurgents trying to kill U.S. soldiers with IEDs. That's right, the Iranians. Well, tonight, there appears to be proof.

This is part of a report that I'd like you to watch. It's from ITN's Nima Elbagir.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NIMA ELBAGIR, ITN REPORTER (voice-over): The international community has often claimed that the Iranians are supporting the Taliban, but it's extremely difficult to track down the evidence. The Afghans aren't comfortable about talking armed smuggling publicly, but they have been filming it.

These images are from the Afghan police's video evidence file of weapons they say they have intercepted on their way to the Taliban. This is the first time they've ever been shown. Plastic explosives, hand grenades, phone cards and propaganda booklets, and rows and rows of the mines used in roadside attacks against international forces.

They all display serial numbers in Persian, proof say Afghan police sources that they came from Iran's state-run weapons factories.

(END VIDEO CLIP) SANCHEZ: Let me take it through it some more, because hardly anyone who talked to that reporter would give their name, but they gave the information. This is intense stuff. People are worried about this.

Now, the Afghan government isn't saying a whole lot, but a lot of weapons and bomb-making material is already being confiscated.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ELBAGIR (voice-over): We visited the Islam Qala border crossing on the Afghan/Iranian border in Herat, a province with centuries-old cultural and economic ties with Iran. Just this month, in one of their largest hauls to date, authorities here claim to have intercepted over a ton and a half of weaponry. And there's no way of knowing exactly how many smugglers are slipping through the authority's net.

Every 10 days, intercepted weapons are sent to the Ministry of Defense in Kabul as evidence, but the containers storing them are never empty for long.

(on camera): So, where is this from?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Iran.

ELBAGIR: This is Iranian? What is it?

(INAUDIBLE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's a mortar, 122 mm.

ELBAGIR: How does he know it's Iranian? Are there any markings on it?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We know it is Iranian because of the writing on it. Also, we send them away to be checked to make sure.

ELBAGIR (voice-over): Off-camera, his commanding officer is upset that the soldier has identified the weapons to us as Iranian.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Don't say that. She asked me before and I didn't answer. So you shouldn't now.

ELBAGIR: The Afghan authorities are clearly nervous about making direct accusations against Iran.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: Interesting moment, huh?

Also, the NATO spokesperson tells "The Telegraph" in Great Britain that Iran's support for the Taliban is limited. The Iranian embassy calls the report defamation, as one might expect. But we should tell you that this team from ITN, this reporter who's been filing this report -- I want to show you one more clip here because there's no doubt that she, indeed, was on the border and did receive unprecedented access.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ELBAGIR: We've actually been given access to two pieces of evidence of the Iranian support for the Taliban. And here you've got a Russian missile, and this is a roadside bomb. It's Iranian-made. You can see the serial number here is written in Persian.

(voice-over): Afghan officials told us the Russian missile was evidence that Iran was also buying weapons from Russia to send on to the Taliban.

In a statement, Iranian representatives said these allegations were fabricated to divert attention from the damage created by foreign forces in Afghanistan.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: So, there you have it. A senior Taliban leader who talked to the ITN's reporter says this terrorist group is increasingly relying on those smuggling routes along the Iranian border to get what it needs to make IEDs.

All right. I don't know if you've heard, but polls taken before and after passage of health care reform suggest there's a big difference between what Americans thought before the bill was passed and what Americans are thinking now that it is passed.

I'm going to talk to Roland Martin. He's coming up in just a little bit. It's our "R&R" segment and of course, he and I are going to be discussing the story that we led this newscast with, which is there seems to be a security issue now in Congress. Roland's going to take us through that.

Stay there, folks. We're coming right back as THE LIST scrolls on.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SANCHEZ: Welcome back. Time for Roland Martin's list. We call this "R&R."

Here's what's going on now with a threat to lawmakers. I want to bring you up to date, because we began, Roland -- I don't know if you were watching -- but we began this newscast with what was new information about the heated atmosphere in Washington. There's -- I don't know what to begin with.

I guess I'll start with this: There's Congressman Neugebauer. We know he had screamed out "baby killers," and now we understand he's all but retracting the apology, saying, "I really have nothing to feel sorry for," which is interesting.

We have the situation with the tea party movement. There's Neugebauer. We have the situation with the tea party folks on the weekend, not all of them but a few of them who said some incendiary slurs against African-American congressmen and Congressman Barney Frank.

And then we had more incidents. I'll read you a couple of them. Angry voters planning to protest this weekend at the home of Steve Driehaus who had already seen a photo of his children used in a newspaper.

And Louise Slaughter, the Democrat who chairs the House Rules Committee, is saying that a caller said that they're (ph) -- her office reported to the police. They are dispatched to provide for Slaughter's grandchildren.

Bart Stupak's wife is concerned. The Michigan Democrat had a last-minute compromise on abortion guarantees and said callers have left messages saying, "You are dead. We know where you live. We're going to get you." "My wife still can't answer the phone," he says.

All this leading up to what we heard at the beginning of this newscast which was that some 10 Congress members are now asking for extra security because of threats.

What do you say?

ROLAND MARTIN, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: No shock. I mean, when you talk about -- you know, what's very interesting over the weekend, I heard all of these pundits and commentators and journalists talk about emotions running high. And I'm saying, I'm sorry, that is no excuse for the behavior that we're seeing. I don't care how angry you are with health care. I don't care how angry the left was with the war in Iraq. You don't resort to frankly doing these things.

But I'll tell you -- I mean, Rick, you read some of the e-mails that I get, some of the most racist, hate-filled, pathetic stuff you've ever seen, because when you have issues like this, people's core feelings, sort of like when Mel Gibson got drunk and said all these crazy things. Do you know what they always say, when you're drunk, you start saying stuff that you really mean, because we're so used to, when we're sober, covering things up and not really wanting to show this.

And so, this stuff brings out the hatred and the anger that exists in so many people. And it's totally unnecessary.

SANCHEZ: I'm glad you used the word "sober," because I'm going to use it in a different sense, not having to do with alcohol.

MARTIN: Right.

SANCHEZ: But there is a sober way of having a conversation. Do you believe that some members of Congress -- you know, obviously, in the case of the Congressman Neugebauer from Texas, most people would say he went a little bit over the top -- but do you believe there has not been enough cogent, sober conversation coming from the Republican leadership and that they have created the atmosphere which has fueled some of the things that you and I are now talking about?

MARTIN: Well, first of all, I would not put this solely on Republican leadership. Clearly -- you know, look, when Congressman Boehner had the audacity to say, you know -- you know, basically, you know, cursing at the folks on the House; when you had Congressman Nunes who frankly tried to blame the Democrats for the racist, homophobic language used by saying, well, they created this atmosphere -- what you have is you have people who don't seem to understand that they are playing a role in this, getting people ginned up, getting them fired up, with their words, "We're going to war," you know -- you know, let's, you know, grab your gun, and when you begin -- and then all of a sudden you have these nutty commentators and TV show hosts and radio hosts who play into it as well. They understand how to push people's buttons.

But, Rick, we're talking about people who are crossing the line, who are now threatening families, threatening human beings. I'm sorry, this bill, I don't care any issue, does -- is not worthy of anyone to go there.

SANCHEZ: Well, but --

MARTIN: And the real issue, the people in the tea party and the people -- if you are standing next to somebody and you are using that kind of language, you should have the decency to say, "Excuse me, that's not what we're about." I'm not going to be silent and allow you to make this kind of hate-filled comments.

SANCHEZ: But let me tell you something, and let me just tell to you like it is, OK? Because you don't live in Atlanta, and I do. Let me tell you what it's like to live in a town like Atlanta, when you're in your car for an hour and a half driving to or from work, aside from urban radio and aside from Spanish radio, there's only one kind of talk radio in the south of the United States.

(CROSSTALK)

MARTIN: Rick, I was born and raised in Texas. I know about conservative talk radio.

SANCHEZ: Let me finish. And some of them are fantastic.

MARTIN: Right.

SANCHEZ: I love listening to Bennett. I love listening to Smerconish. I love listening even to Neal Boortz. But you know what? You go click from one station to the other --

MARTIN: Oh, I know, you're right.

SANCHEZ: -- click, click, click, and it's "he's dangerous, he's a socialist, he's killing us, he's destroying the country." I mean, you hear --

MARTIN: Yes.

SANCHEZ: -- just a drumbeat of bad --

MARTIN: Yes. SANCHEZ: -- bad, bad, get rid of him, and we've got -- and, you know, I can't help but ask, intelligently, if after so much of that, some people eventually just start hearing that to the point where there's like a little man inside their head telling them they have to act.

MARTIN: I'm not going to fully endorse that, because I also don't believe the people who say if you listen to rap music, all day, somehow you want to go out and shoot somebody.

SANCHEZ: OK.

MARTIN: But -- so I can't totally buy into that. But what I will say, though, is that the people who are doing this, they know the buttons that they are pushing. That's why I'm a firm believer, is you have to have a sense of decency and respect that is for the craft of television or radio to understand that what you say matters. And when you begin to get people fired up --

SANCHEZ: Yes.

MARTIN: -- and they're angry and they're upset, then they begin to lash out. They begin to make this kind of phone calls and now --

(CROSSTALK)

MARTIN: So, I understand your point, but it's still upon the individual to say, "Wait a minute, guys, I'm not going to sit here and call somebody and threaten their life because of a health care bill." And more than likely, these are also people who say they are pro-life. But they're issuing death threats.

SANCHEZ: I've spent my entire life being a journalist, gathering news and trying to go out and get information. I worked hard to get my degree from the University of Minnesota as an immigrant kid who probably didn't even belong there. But I take pride in creating that sense of fairness and balance -- that I'm not sure some of these folks who get gigs just talking or spouting on the radio do. I just -- I just wonder --

MARTIN: Oh, no, it is -- it is pure entertainment for many of them -- I mean, it is absolutely. I've made no bones about it. I've written about it.

I think the Glenn Becks of the world are absolute entertainers and these people are actually buying into this nonsense that they actually believe what they say, and he's making like a fat rat off of these people and so --

SANCHEZ: You think -- you think some of these folks don't believe what they say, but they do it all -- to sell and get ratings and all that?

MARTIN: Absolutely. I think these people know full well, if I get ratings, if I sell books and I get speeches, and they're going home laughing at these idiots saying, "See, all of you guys are reading and listening and watching, I don't believe a word I say, but I'm getting paid." And, I'm sorry, because when you sit here and look in it, wait a minute, calm down, it's not that big of a deal.

But, you're right, look, after the health care was signed, I didn't see Soviet tanks rolling down the Magnificent Mile in Chicago, OK? People were still shopping. And so, America didn't end.

But you know what? America also wasn't destroyed after the bigotry of Jim Crowe. Are you trying to tell me as of the oppression of that and the civil rights movement, somehow the nation is going to go up in flames now?

SANCHEZ: Yes.

MARTIN: That's just nonsense.

SANCHEZ: Now, I get it. I get it. And look --

MARTIN: And, Rick, we should call them out on their stuff because somebody must put them in check and not allow the rating lunatics to control everything, to control the microphone.

SANCHEZ: Yes. And please, those of you listening at home, I don't think Roland is trying to say this, and certainly I'm not trying to say that radio should only come from one side and that radio shouldn't be exciting and --

MARTIN: It's called respect the medium.

SANCHEZ: Yes. I do believe there's something to that. And there are some guys I listen to on the right who I adore listening to. I think they're smart. They make great points. But then there's some who you wonder about.

Roland, thanks so much for being here.

MARTIN: That Texas congressman should apologize on the House floor for making that comment and stop backtracking.

SANCHEZ: We appreciate your comments, Roland.

MARTIN: Thanks, Rick.

SANCHEZ: Here's what else we've got coming your way.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARC MORIAL, PRESIDENT, NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE: When we have unemployed people, we also have people who could be contributing to the overall economy.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: President of the National Urban League, Marc Morial, has the latest report on the state of Black America. But I'm going to be asking him about the new effect of the new health care bill as well. And, of course, much of what Roland and I were just discussing moments ago, it seems to be the theme of the day developed for us when these two congressmen came before the microphone and then explained what was going on.

And then -- and then there's Ann Coulter. She went to Canada, and things didn't go so well. We'll leave it at that and I'll explain as we continue.

Stay with us. THE LIST goes on.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SANCHEZ: One of the things I like to do for you here aside from bringing you the news as it happens, and sometimes then talk about things that a lot of folks don't like to go to, is we keep a list. That's why with we call this RICK'S LIST. And we like to get both sides. We like to get the Republicans and we like to get the Democrats on the record because they're all tweeting now.

And I want to see what that is that they are saying. Hot topics on Twitter include health care and, as expected, a lot of talk about Ann Coulter's Canadian controversy. We're going to get to that in just a little bit.

Well, let's start on Capitol Hill.

This is from Texas Senator John Cornyn. All right. He writes, "Another job killer during a recession will try to strike a 3.8 tax increase on savings income and reconciliation bill."

Here's another Republican. This is Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah. You know him. He writes, tweets, "Congress has overstepped its legal authority by telling Utahans and all Americans that they must buy health insurance or else."

And this tweeted by independent Senator Joe Lieberman. He has a different opinion. He says, "After weighing all the pluses and all the minuses, I have decided to vote for the reconciliation package." So, he's on board.

Also, one appeal from Democrat Congressman Steve Israel from New York, "Democrats and Republicans need to join together and condemn the hate speech and the violent acts over health care."

So, there you have it. Four good men tweeting. We bring you what they say.

Meanwhile, markets are about to close. So, that means it's time for CNN's Money List -- which means it's time for Poppy Harlow. Stay right there. She'll join us.

And, don't know. It says break here. Are we going to a break? We are. Well, good.

Hey, Poppy, can you -- can you hold on?

POPPY HARLOW, CNNMONEY.COM: I'll hang out.

SANCHEZ: All right. I look forward to it.

We'll be right back with more on THE LIST.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)