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Rick's List
FBI Investigating Threats Made Against Lawmakers, Families Over Health Care Votes; Ann Coulter Stirs Controversy in Canada;
Aired March 24, 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: Welcome back.
We have got a lot of items that I'm going to be taking you through, but time to check in now on the CNNMoney list with Poppy Harlow.
First up, Poppy, I think you saw that. Chris Dodd has come out a couple of times today.
POPPY HARLOW, CNNMONEY.COM: Yes.
SANCHEZ: He says -- he said the financial reform bill could prevent firms from becoming too big to fail.
Let's -- just -- just cut to the brass tacks here.
HARLOW: Yes.
SANCHEZ: What exactly --
HARLOW: Sure.
SANCHEZ: -- is this, and can it happen? Is this one going to pass?
HARLOW: Well, that's the big question, right?
This financial reform bill that Democrats pushed forward on -- without Republican support, on Monday, it passed the Senate panel. And one of the provisions in it is to tax the big banks, Rick, to get a pool of $50 billion, so it sets aside, so that, if they get too big to fail --
SANCHEZ: Mm-hmm.
HARLOW: -- they fail, then they use their money to bail them out, not taxpayer money. It's something the president wants to see pushed through.
SANCHEZ: OK.
HARLOW: And, today, you saw Chris Dodd and Senator Barney Frank meet with the president on just that -- Rick.
SANCHEZ: This is huge. This is something that bothers so many Americans. They write to me every single day. They're still upset about TARP. By the way --
HARLOW: Right.
SANCHEZ: -- what's next on your list? What's going on with housing, for example?
HARLOW: Yes, bad news on housing numbers today. We got new home sales, record low in February. I want to talk about the places where they're hurting most and could hurt more.
You look at Hanford, California, it's expected their home prices there will fall another 26 percent. And I want to look at a place that you know well, Rick, Miami, Florida.
SANCHEZ: Yes.
(LAUGHTER)
HARLOW: Second on the list. Expected for home prices there, Rick, down another 23 percent, after the 15 percent drop they saw last year.
So, no real relief from the housing crisis in this country, and it's pulling stocks down a little bit today, those negative new home sales numbers across the board here, right before the opening bell, Dow down 50 points, Rick, as we head to the close on Wall Street.
SANCHEZ: Hey, you want to do this -- you -- hey, Poppy, you want to do this every day?
HARLOW: Sure. Why not?
SANCHEZ: Will you join me every day about this time, just as the thing closes?
HARLOW: As long as the bosses are happy, I'm fine.
(LAUGHTER)
SANCHEZ: We will -- we will make some phone calls, see what they think.
(LAUGHTER)
HARLOW: You got it.
SANCHEZ: Let me tell you about the big story that we have been following for you since 3:00.
First of all, it sounds like there have been some serious threats to certain lawmakers. As many as 10 congressional members are now asking for increased security, and this is in light of all the other incidents that we have been telling you about. That's where we will begin our newscast, after you take a look at some of the other stories that will be included in the next hour.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SANCHEZ (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.
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.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There's people that are sacrificing everything that they have for your -- 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: Here we go. Hour two begins with breaking news, House members having to ask for more security. This is somewhat unprecedented.
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer came out and talked to reporters just a little while ago. And he said that members have been meeting in the Capitol with police and the FBI. These are folks who voted for the health care reform bill. He says that they are concerned about themselves, and, most of all, they are concerned about their family members -- their family members and their neighborhoods.
Hoyer and House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn made this extraordinary and unexpected statement about these threats about an hour and 10 minutes ago, just as we were getting ready to start this -- start RICK'S LIST. They explained how they're trying to deal with the situation.
Let me let -- let me let you listen now to Jim Clyburn. Here it is.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. JAMES CLYBURN (D), SOUTH CAROLINA: 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: Let's go to Jessica Yellin. She's joining us now. She's going to be taking us through this.
And before I explain all of the other things that are going on, because this is not in a vacuum, right? I mean, we know what happened on Saturday morning. We know about Congressman Neugebauer, what he said, and the fact that today he's on the record all by saying, "I'm glad I said it." And he's not -- he's almost taking back his apology.
But what he just said about silence, what -- what's the message there, Jessica? What are Democrats really trying to say here?
JESSICA YELLIN, CNN NATIONAL POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: What they're trying to say is either the Republican Party needs to stand up publicly and denounce this, or they have to own it.
Now, part of that is a political decision, but part of that is just leadership. And at a moment when there seems to be indications that actual violence could happen, clearly, this is a moment for both sides to come together and step forward and say that's not the American way.
Now, John Boehner, the Republican leader in the House, has issued a statement saying that's not the American way. He says that violence is -- needs -- that we need to channel our anger into positive change. Let's do it the right way. Violence and threats are not acceptable.
But Democrats clearly are calling for more, for it to be in front of a camera, very public. And I can tell you, people up there are actually scared.
SANCHEZ: Really?
YELLIN: It's not a fake. It's -- they're not scared for their lives inside Congress. But you talk to some staffers, and they're a little freaked out that this is happening.
SANCHEZ: Well, let -- let me take the viewers through some of the stuff that we have. This is some of our own independent reporting and a combination with some other reporting with sources like Politico, which we trust.
Here's one about Steve Driehaus. He says he's already seen a photograph of his children used in a newspaper ad. Angry voters are planning to protest this weekend at his home. They're going to be showing up at the man's home.
Louise Slaughter, a Democrat who chairs the Rules Committee, said a caller to her office last week sent -- vowed to send snipers to kill the children of members who voted yes. Bart Stupak, the Michigan Democrat whose last-minute compromise on abortion guaranteed the passage, said people are leaving messages for him saying -- quote -- "You are dead. We know where you live. We will get you." He says, "My wife is not answering the phone at our home."
YELLIN: Rick, look, there's a difference between protesting in front of a member's House on the street, where it's legal -- that's part of the American way -- or, you know, showing up and -- and sending letters to them, and then these threats of actual violence.
And it's -- it calls for not just people inside the Republican Party, but Tea Party leaders themselves. If this is not what their party is about, maybe it's time for them to also stand up -- and people are saying that, too -- and speak out.
We -- we don't know who the individuals are who are making these threats.
SANCHEZ: Right.
YELLIN: So, it may not be the Tea Party itself. How do you define what that is? But it's --
SANCHEZ: But do we get -- but do -- but -- but, again, we -- we get, to a certain extent, to that, you know, what came first, the chicken- or-the-egg thing.
Are some of these folks being led to act by heated rhetoric, or are they just -- you know -- you know, we say this all the time. There's always going to be the wackos out there.
YELLIN: Right.
SANCHEZ: Right?
YELLIN: Right.
SANCHEZ: And it's not -- it's nobody's fault that they act that way.
YELLIN: Right.
SANCHEZ: I guess that's the tussle here. What are -- what are --
YELLIN: Who is responsible?
SANCHEZ: What are Democrats and Republicans willing to do to sit down and --
YELLIN: Well --
SANCHEZ: -- try and figure out if they can minimize this or bring down the -- the -- the tension, so to speak, the rhetoric?
YELLIN: I did ask, on the Republican side, if there are any plans for sort of a joint event, where Republican and Democratic leaders come and, together, call for no violence.
So far, no plans of that nature. And, at the same time, the political arm of the Democratic Party is saying explicitly that they plan -- unless the Republican Party denounces this explicitly, they plan to tie the Republican Party to these actions --
SANCHEZ: Well --
YELLIN: -- that they -- the -- you know, the -- the Democratic -- the political arm of the Democratic Party believes that the leadership of the Republicans in Congress is inciting this violence --
SANCHEZ: Yes.
YELLIN: -- and does need to speak out --
SANCHEZ: Well --
YELLIN: -- or they're going to pay.
SANCHEZ: -- they ought to be careful with that route, but then it can become political, not on one side, but on both sides.
YELLIN: Right, both sides.
SANCHEZ: Exactly. That's -- well, look, our -- our job is to watch this stuff for them. And I'm glad we have got you there. Let us know if you learn anything else.
YELLIN: OK. Thanks.
SANCHEZ: As if on cue, folks, there's Ann Coulter.
(LAUGHTER)
SANCHEZ: Ann Coulter in Canada, her speech last night canceled because of protesters who say that she's a spokeswoman for hate.
Let's catch up. If you weren't with us then, let -- let's bring it into this now. This is Ann Coulter Monday. This is an exchange I'm going to show you now. It's -- it's incredible, what she says. It's with a -- it's -- it's an exchange with a student at the University of Western Ontario after Coulter suggested Muslims should not be allowed to fly on airplanes and should travel only on flying carpets.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: As a 17-year-old student of this university, Muslim, should I be converted to Christianity?
Second of all, since I don't have a magic carpet, what other modes would you suggest?
ANN COULTER, AUTHOR, "GODLESS: THE CHURCH OF LIBERALISM": What mode of transportation? Take a camel.
(LAUGHTER)
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: "Take a camel." "Take a camel." That's what Ann Coulter told that student, who happens to be a Muslim. We are accustomed to that here in the United States. There, they are not. They don't have Ann Coulter, know not that much about her.
And, according to an official at Coulter's next scheduled step, they do have different laws there. Coulter was warned in a letter that promoting hatred against any identifiable group would not only be considered inappropriate, but could, in fact, lead to criminal charges.
That was the tone set before Coulter's arrival in Ottawa. I want to play for you now a smattering of what students had to say before that scheduled event.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I see some of her views as not being like natural for a human to think. So, I'm just interested on how someone can, like, view other humans in that way.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I guess I'm just interested to see how someone can have such irrational views.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Freedom of speech, unfortunately, entails freedom to be stupid. And, if you want to see her that way, then -- then so be it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: So, to some Canadian students, Ann Coulter is sort of novelty, something they can't quite comprehend, but not all students.
In fact, there was a big crowd of people who were waiting to hear Ann Coulter.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CROWD: We want Ann! We want Ann! We want Ann! We want Ann! We want Ann!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: That was the crowd last night at the University of Ottawa. They were all fired up to hear Ann Coulter. But guess what? It never happened, event canceled.
You want to know what happened? As these folks were chanting inside, some 2,000 demonstrators amassed outside. Someone made the call that things were getting dangerous, might get out of hand. Ann Coulter was canceled for security reasons. Now, I want you to listen to this. This is from a student, a conservative, who had just announced to the crowd that Ann Coulter had been canceled.
Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Some people have said, why, on a Canada tour about free speech in Canada, would you bring in an America speaker? It's a good question, isn't it?
Well, maybe it took someone, a provocateur like Ann Coulter from the States, to show just how eroded our Canadian values of freedom of speech have become.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You're right! You're right!
(APPLAUSE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And I put it to you --
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: -- that, although vice president Houle got his way today, and the 2,000 intimidating protesters pressed against police got their way today, they actually proved that the mission of the tour was valid, because they actually --
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: -- exposed the state of freedom of speech in Canada today.
(APPLAUSE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Freedom of speech in Canada, especially on our university campuses, is in grave jeopardy. And the fact that an American helped show the rot in Canadian university free speech is an irony.
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: All right, now this is the scene outside that hall. This is what they said was starting to get a little dangerous. These are the people who shut down Ann Coulter's speech.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED PROTESTER: Whose campus? Our campus!
Whose campus?
CROWD: Our campus! (END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: Here's one of the school's elected student leaders talking now. Let's listen to that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I understand that there's a fine line between freedom of speech and hate speech. But Ann Coulter consistently wades well into the territory that is hate speech. And that has no place on university campuses.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: You know, it's obviously a fascinating debate made all the more poignant by today's news out of Washington that 10 members of Congress, Democrat, are receiving extra security because of their votes for health care reform.
The heated rhetoric that we have seen in Washington and from certain elected leaders and from certain other activists has escalated to threats of violence now. It's a crucial question for all of us, all Americans. What is the line between free speech and civility in a democracy? When is it crossed?
You know what? Let's listen again to that exchange involving Ann Coulter. You decide.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: As a 17-year-old student of this university, Muslim, should I be converted to Christianity?
Second of all, since I don't have a magic carpet, what other modes would you suggest?
COULTER: What mode of transportation? Take a camel.
(LAUGHTER)
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: Once again, as I told you, Ann Coulter's subsequent event at the University of Ottawa was canceled.
She's told "The Washington Times" that the University of Ottawa is bush league. She went on to say that the students at the best schools, such as Harvard and other Ivy League institutions, are too intellectually proud to ever threaten speakers.
By the way, we have -- we have been collecting here on RICK'S LIST our list of information on the Ann Coulter story. She doesn't have an official active account, but let me take you through what we have been seeing. This is one that we got just moments ago. Look at this: "Cops advise that proceeding with Coulter event, in face of protesters, would be dangerous to her and the crowd."
We wanted to show you the tweet, because that's the guy you were just looking at a little while ago there in that piece that we prepared for you.
All right, a lot of news coming your way. Let's just stop here. We're going to be right back in just a little bit. Stay with. The LIST scrolls on.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: Welcome back. I'm Rick Sanchez.
Boy, we do have a lot of stuff going on today. And I got to tell you about this story, because it's one that sickens most of us, parents or not.
Remember this guy? Could be one of the worst pedophiles in history. Delaware pediatrician, he's charged with sexually abusing more than 100 of his patients, children, some of them babies. And much of it is caught on video.
Dr. Earl Bradley appeared in court a couple hours ago. This is in Sussex County, Delaware. He's arraigned on 471 charges. One of the CNN affiliates, WBOC, we thank them for this. They're reporting that Bradley's hands and ankles were shackled. You see that, in fact, in some of that video that we're getting in now. There was tight security, a half-dozen guards.
Parents of some of the patients in his courtroom were there. It was a short hearing, five minutes or less. Bradley did not say a single word. His lawyers entered a plea of not guilty, and then they asked for a jury trial. He was put in this van you see right here. He was whisked back to jail, where we understand he's still in protective custody, protecting him, of course, against others. His bail is almost $3 million.
Number two on the list that we're following this day, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback, two-time Super Bowl champ Ben Roethlisberger. There is news on Big Ben. He won't have to give a DNA sample to state investigators in Georgia. Roethlisberger's attorney says the Georgia Bureau of Investigation has withdrawn the request for this 20-year-old college student accused -- accusing him of sexually assaulting her last month in a nightclub there in Milledgeville, Georgia -- has not been charged, by the way. This does not mean he may not still be charged.
Roethlisberger met the woman while bar-hopping with friends, celebrating his 28th birthday. Milledgeville is a college town about a half-hour from Roethlisberger's house on rural Lake Oconee.
All right, here's the other big story we're following for you. A car bomb destroys part of a Colombian town. And the cameras arrive just moments, seconds after it happens. Wait until you see this video.
And a man who shouted "baby killer" in Congress, he gets political traction. That's right. He is winning as a result of what he did. And, as for his apology, he's retracting that, it seems.
Stay with us. We will be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: You know that list, the list that you don't want to be on? It's one of the most featured segments that we do. It's one many of you tell me you wait to hear who is going to be on that list. I tell you about this every day.
Do not adjust your televisions. This will sound a lot like yesterday's.
The lawmaker on the list is actually pulling a rare twofer. That's right. Randy Neugebauer, Republican, Texas, shouted "baby killer" during a House session on the health care bill, remember?
One more time, Roger.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. BART STUPAK (D), MICHIGAN: It is the Democrats who have stood up --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Suspend. Those who are shouting out are out of order.
REP. RANDY NEUGEBAUER (R), TEXAS: -- baby killer.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. Speaker --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Baby killer.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: All right. Congressman Neuge -- Neugebauer -- pardon me -- apologized to Bart Stupak. And we reported it and said, OK, we will move on. People make mistakes.
Stupak, as you know, is the Michigan Democrat who was speaking at the time. He says, look, it wasn't personal. But he said he was sorry to everyone else who heard it.
Guess what? Watch this. This is now a new video posted to his reelection Web site.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. RANDY NEUGEBAUER (R), TEXAS: You know what? I'm never going to quit speaking on behalf of the unborn. I'm never going to quit speaking on behalf of the people of Texas and the people of the United States of America that find this policy unacceptable. And I will continue to speak with the same passion that I spoke last night, maybe in a little bit different form, but still with the same intensity.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: With the same intensity, the intensity that compelled him to yell "baby killer" on the House floor, an act the majority leader calls not good for the civility of a democracy.
What's interesting about this story is that he has said other things as well, relating to whether he should really even feel bad for what he said. Listen to this. We will stay with that.
Meanwhile, this is what's going on right now, 100 terrorists arrested -- their intended targets, police and Saudi oil installations -- many linked to al Qaeda. That is ahead.
Also, who tops the list of most intriguing people in the news? That is next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: Welcome back. I'm Rick Sanchez.
More than 100 people arrested in Saudi Arabia accused of plotting attacks on police and other targets -- 12 suspects believed to be members of al Qaeda-linked suicide cells plotting strikes on oil installations. The investigation started after two gunmen disguised as women fired on a police team last October -- suspects arrested over the last five months.
All right, here we go. Time now to see who is on the list of the most intriguing person in the news today. He has issues with President Obama's health care overhaul. Here we go.
His company is one of the biggest insurers in the United States, possibly yours, in an industry about to pick up more than 20 million new customers. He's telling policy-holders the they are all about to shell out more for coverage because of the higher fees required by the new health care legislation.
OK. But this is a company whose profits rose 7 percent last year, has $18 billion in revenues, and whose last CEO split with a $110 million severance package. They have been raising premiums over the last year with no reform. And now they say they have to do it again because of reform, raising your premiums.
Some things don't seem to ever change. There he is. His name is David Cordani. Who are you going to believe? That's his story. He's the CEO of CIGNA health care. And, today, he's the most intriguing person in the news.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We want Congress and the president to certainly take further steps, now that the health care discussion is over, to rebuild the economy and create jobs.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: He may be the perfect guest to have on a day like this. We're going to ask the head of the Urban League about this new health care reform law and about the security issues that have been brought to the forefront by two congressmen who came before the cameras at the beginning of our newscast to say, we have got a problem here.
We will be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: First of all, a couple of things. First, an apology from me, because I promised something I haven't delivered, and I hate doing that.
About two hours before we went on the air I was carefully crafting and bringing to you the polls that show where Americans stand on health care reform. So you're reminding me now right there -- at least Barry Wygel is -- "You talk of this new poll where Americans are changing their mind on health care. Where is the new poll?"
Thank you, Barry. My apologies to you. I will bring you those two polls in just a little bit.
But because of all the breaking news in Washington about this sudden security risk with Congress members, I had to kind of change the format and go on the fly here. That's why I haven't exactly been using scripts and just having a conversation with you.
There's another story that we've been following. It has to do with Ann Coulter in Canada.
Take a look at this video. It's video of what was going on at the place where Ann Coulter was supposed to speak.
There were some 2,000 some students outside. It became a security risk there. So, as a result, authorities decided, you know what? We're going to cancel Ann Coulter's speaking engagement.
Now, this all had to do with some words that Ann Coulter had with some students at the university. The Canadian conservative political commentator who was traveling with her was sending out tweets as it was going on.
Let me take you through some of these now, because it's what we do. We collect information on Twitter for you.
This is Ezra Levant. He was at the event in Ottawa. He tweeted out these comments: "Police officers or cops advised the proceeding with Coulter event in face of protesters would be dangerous to her and the crowd."
Lots of responses out there, by the way. We pick this one up from Jennifer Pollock. She's from Calgary, who says she's a liberal candidate at a public school board chair. "Angry people equals national consequences of hateful humor and political lies," to which Levant responded, "Angry people didn't shut down the speech. Violent people did. You blame the victim"
He also went on to add, "Wow. A liberal telling a threatened woman that she was asking for it. Classic."
So that's the kind of rhetoric that's going back and forth in Canada after this cancelled Ann Coulter event. Obviously we're going to give you all the details on this.
I've been reaching out to Ann throughout the day. You know she's been on this show in the past. And if we can somehow get a comment from her, I'll bring it to you.
Meanwhile, what it looks like moments after a car bomb rocks a Colombian town. That story is coming up next. It is incredible video.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: OK. This is a story that startled most of us. We were preparing our newscast to bring to you when, all of a sudden, we looked up on our sister network, CNN Espanol, and I was taken aback by the carnage I was looking at.
This is a powerful car bomb this morning, smack dab in the middle of Buenaventura, Colombia. It's one of the largest seaports in the country.
Six people are dead, at least 42 are wounded. Those numbers could both rise. The dead include a police officer, four civilians, one unidentified. It's near city hall, the mayor's office and attorney general's office.
Now, no question this was a very powerful bomb in a vehicle. Let's watch.
All right. This is the reporter who is describing -- these pictures are just now coming into us right after the camera gets there.
She's describing what's taking place in Buenaventura. She said they did have a security warning and the people were running everywhere.
From November of last year, people were warned that there could be something like this in the town. She says the public safety situation has become rather hectic. She says, precisely, when an explosion from the bomb left several people injured, and it affected about 80 homes, she says as she files the report for -- that's the correspondent there talking to the anchor.
She said usually they don't allow vehicles to be parked in that area, but lately they changed the rules, and that's what allowed that car to suddenly explode there. They allowed employees and some officer vehicles to park around the area. She seems to be implying that that's part of the problem. By the way, our notes seem to indicate here that no one has yet claimed responsibility. The list of suspects includes drug traffickers at the very top, as well as Marxist rebels.
Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. STENY HOYER (D), MAJORITY LEADER: These threats either in person or over telephones or through other communications devices have given great concern to members for the safety of themselves and their families.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: This is a pretty extraordinary announcement. Lawmakers facing death threats, 10 of them, after this long, bitter health care reform fight. The entire statement is going to be coming up.
Also, what is the state of black America amid threats like these? I am going to be talking to Marc Morial. There he is, head of the Urban League. He joins me in just a little bit.
Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: Welcome back.
Look who's making THE LIST today. Marc Morial is the president and the CEO of the National Urban League, a civil rights organization. He's joining us because he's just released a report on the state of black America.
And from what I read, you are addressing health care, as well as employment.
I guess I have to shift gears here a little bit. I have to ask you about this story that's been part of our newscast today in Washington, where it appears that 10 lawmakers are now fearing because of threats that have been made to them or their families in light of the fact that they passed or voted yes for health care reform.
What do you make of that?
MARC MORIAL, PRESIDENT, NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE: It's reprehensible. It reminds you of what happened in the 1960s. It has no place in democracy, and I think we have to call it out.
Lawmakers who exercise their responsibility to vote shouldn't be subjected to death threats or bodily harm because people disagreed with the way they voted. And I was very, very shocked by the threats against Mr. Cleaver and Mr. Lewis --
SANCHEZ: Clyburn. MORIAL: -- Mr. Frank, all distinguished members -- Clyburn -- distinguished members of the Congress. And it needs to be -- light needs to be shed on it. Those people who are making these threats need to be exposed, and I think they need to be prosecuted.
When bodily threats are made, it becomes a law enforcement issue. It's beyond the bounds of advocacy.
SANCHEZ: Do you believe, given what's going on now -- because I heard you at the beginning, as soon as I asked the question, you immediately jumped to the 1960s. And I've been having some discussions with some civil rights experts, some professors who have said to me that what we're going through now reminds them in many ways of the 1960s, but yet on paper it's not really analogous. I mean, one is a vote about health care, the other is about people's rights regarding their skin color.
What do you say about this?
MORIAL: I think what may be analogous is a sense that there is sharp divisions of opinion within the country on large, important issues. What is not different is that we are also seeing this debate play out at a time of difficult crisis -- high unemployment, joblessness, particularly high amongst communities of colors, but affecting all people everywhere.
And then we've had a dramatic shift in the politics of the nation that took place in 2008. And I do think that, to some extent, these factors contribute.
But I do know, that as is always the case in this country of ours, there are those who are loud and vocal, and there are those who believe things and keep their counsel to themselves. And that's why I believe, for example on health care, while the debate was pitched, I certainly believe that a substantial majority of people support the fundamentals of the health bill, that a substantial majority of people feel that at this time of great crisis, that we need a government that is going to be responsive to the vulnerabilities of its citizens.
SANCHEZ: Well, let me ask you about that. Let me ask you about that then.
I'm going to stop you there, because when we talk about health care, it's hard for Americans to try and figure out whether health care is in fact something that is as good as what the opposition says we should have passed -- which is jobs, jobs, jobs. Why are we fooling with health care when we should be getting jobs for people in the United States from the inner cities, from middle America, et cetera?
What do you say to that?
MORIAL: We have to walk and chew gum proverbially. We have to confront not just a single issue -- and no one has been more vocal on jobs than the National Urban League. But the two go hand in hand.
A person out of work can't afford health care. The health sector is a large part of the American economy, but I do believe that now that the health care bill has passed, it is time for us to focus like a laser on both short-term job creation and long-term rebuilding of the American economy. Our report today, the state of black America, contains recommendations that would provide short-term job creation and long-term rebuilding of the nation's economy.
SANCHEZ: Mr. Morial, we have to leave it there.
My thanks to you, sir, for taking time to talk to us.
MORIAL: Thanks so much, Rick.
SANCHEZ: And we'll do this again, all right?
MORIAL: Appreciate you.
SANCHEZ: All right.
A fallen Navy SEAL comes home to Hot Springs, Arkansas. A silent crowd watches as the crew unloaded the body of Adam Brown.
He's one of ours. He was killed in a battle last week with militants in Afghanistan.
Whenever we get these videos, I always ask my staff to play them out. We should look at this. We should look at our heroes as they return. He leaves behind a wife and two kids and hundreds grateful for his sacrifice just in his own hometown, hundreds of thousands around the country, including all of us watching.
It's an emotional outpouring of respect that we thought we should share with you.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: You see, I read your tweets. I read what you're telling me during the newscast. And as I read them, I try and respond to what you're asking for.
You're right. I did promise you that I would share these new polls that have just been released with you, and I didn't. For that I apologize.
But you know what? There is no time like the present, right, folks? Let's do it.
I want to turn to the poll first that was taken before the health care vote was passed. This one got a lot of publicity. Right?
Forty-seven percent of Americans seem to be saying that they were against the bill, and only 19 percent seemed the to be suggesting that they were for the bill. That was before the vote was taken.
But now look at the new "USA Today"/Gallup poll. This was taken right after the bill was passed. I guess Americans love a winner, right? The percentage of Americans who now like the bill, or seem to be suggesting in this Gallup poll that they like the bill, 49 percent. Those who don't, 40 percent.
So it almost looks like the number -- and I know some of this is somewhat unscientific. OK?
But it looks like -- because they were two different polls and they were different questions. But it does appear that on the questions of favorability, it looks like, at least according to these two polls, we went from 19 percent to 49 percent. That's a hell of a jump.
Time for "Wolf Pack." Wolf Blitzer brings us his list.
What do you make of that, Wolf?
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Well, you know, when people are asked -- in that poll we did, the CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll, we said, "Do you like this health care bill or not like it?" We just assumed, a lot of us, that the people who said they didn't like it, didn't like it because they thought it was too much government interference or taxes or whatever.
But if you take a closer look at people who didn't like it, about 12 percent of those people said they didn't like it because they didn't think it went gone far enough. They wanted a single payer option. They wanted a public -- the so-called public option.
They didn't like it not from the right, they didn't like it because it wasn't left or liberal enough. And that's why you got 50 percent of the American public who said we don't like this plan. But only about 40 or 38 percent of them were the ones who said because it was too much government interference.
SANCHEZ: But, you know, the Dems could look at this poll and say, hey, you know what? We're on a roll. People were essentially preparing our tombstones and saying we were going to lose.
BLITZER: And even the Republicans think the president and the Democrats are going to get a bounce out of this in the short term. We'll see how that goes in the medium or long term. But inevitably, in a situation like this, people like a winner. So he might get a little bit of a bounce.
SANCHEZ: Let's talk about something that could have a negative effect on some Republicans. And this is a matter of taste. It's a matter of civility. It's a matter of how you choose your words carefully, as you and I both know.
We're following the story, as I'm sure you know, of these 10 members of Congress who apparently have been threatened or have received threats. It's important enough that given the atmospherics going on around it, that two members of Congress, Clyburn and Steny Hoyer, had to come before the cameras and talk about this just before we went on the air today.
What's the mood in Washington? Who stands to gain or lose after something like this? And what do you expect will be done, Wolf?
BLITZER: Well, it's always ugly if anybody is receiving a threat to their -- you know, a physical threat or some sort of verbal threat. That's uncalled for no matter how much you disagree with this health care reform law. It's the law of the land. You shouldn't be doing that.
And it's encouraging that the Republican leadership in the House, John Boehner and Eric Cantor, they immediately issued very strong statements saying, you know what? There are ways you can make your opposition known and protest, but don't get into any kind of violent threats or anything like that. That is simply beyond the pale
SANCHEZ: Shouldn't they go on "THE SITUATION ROOM" today? Shouldn't you receive a call from these folks right now saying, Wolf Blitzer, you have the newscast of record on all three networks, we're going to come on your show and we're going to say this, we're not going to send it in an e-mail form from an assistant or something?
Isn't that the way you deal with something like this?
BLITZER: Yes, but I think they were pretty above board, both Boehner and Cantor and other Republicans, Senator McConnell, on the Senate side. They don't like this because they know that these kinds of ugly rhetorical threats just are not what we want. And everybody agrees on that.
And I think it's a moment where a lot of people are nervous right now. You don't get the Democratic leader in the House, Steny Hoyer and the majority whip, who might be coming on our show --
SANCHEZ: No. No.
BLITZER: -- you don't get them to make a statement like this unless they're really concerned. And
I've done my own checking. And law enforcement, whether the Secret Service, Capitol Hill Police, others, they're worried. But they're going to this deal with it as they always do.
SANCHEZ: Here's what we're going to do. We have got that sound collected. We're going to show it to you when we come back.
Wolf, thanks so much. Good luck with "THE SITUATION ROOM." We'll see you soon.
BLITZER: All right. Thanks.
SANCHEZ: We'll be right back.
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SANCHEZ: Welcome back.
I want to take you back to this very important story, because we began with the story, and we always like putting -- you know, we always talk about putting a punctuation on the end of the story at the end of the day.
A lot of folks out there, yourselves possibly included, are just now getting home from work. So I want you to hear what was a surprising development for us when, suddenly, out of nowhere, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer stepped before a bank of microphones to announce that at least 10 House members have received threats, and that they now believe that they are at risk.
This happening within the last couple of hours. It's been reported, for example, that Democrat Louise Slaughter has reported receiving a phone call from a person who threatened to send snipers to kill those who voted for the health care reform.
Here's the tape. Let's look at it together.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HOYER: Our democracy is about participation. Our democracy is about difference 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, 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 (INAUDIBLE), 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, 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: That was the news of the day. Glad we had a chance to bring it to you and analyze it.
And now for the news of record from inside the beltway, here is Wolf Blitzer in "THE SITUATION ROOM."
