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Rick's List
Interview With Michigan Congressman Bart Stupak; Pope Benedict XVI Under Fire Over Abuse Scandal
Aired March 25, 2010 - 16:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SANCHEZ (voice-over): Here's what's making the LIST today.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Congressman Stupak, you are one big piece of human (EXPLETIVE DELETED).
SANCHEZ: We broke the news yesterday about threats aimed at Congress members. Bart Stupak is one of the targets. He joins me live.
And the heat is on the pope, reports he failed to protect more than 200 deaf choir boys in Wisconsin who were sexually abused. And there's now a paper trail. The Catholic League's Bill Donahue joins me live.
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 welcome back. I'm Rick Sanchez.
I apologize. I wasn't quite sure I would -- I had been handed an update on the story, but I had. So, let me get that information to you right away. Here we go.
I guess the news out of this is that the Kew Gardens office for Anthony Weiner has now been closed until a full investigation is completed. But let me read you what the congressman has released.
He says: "Earlier today, an envelope containing white powder and a threatening letter was delivered to my community office in Kew Gardens. The New York Police Department was immediately alerted, and they have now responded appropriately by sending a hazmat team" -- a hazardous materials team. "Any questions related to their response should be directed to the NYPD. My first priority," he says, "is the safety of my staff and neighbors. And the authorities are currently taking steps to investigate and resolve this situation."
Again, it's a statement put out just a little while ago by Congressman Anthony Weiner, who's been out front on his support for health care reform. In fact, he's probably been about as up front as anybody else was out there on the Democratic side. And we expect that we might hear from him. If we do, we will let you know what he has to say. Meanwhile, he is not the only person talking about threats of violence of -- on this day. There are also reports of an FBI investigation that's taking place in Virginia, reports of a -- of some kind of instrument being left for a congresswoman in Missouri, a coffin, in fact, and -- and on and on.
So, what I want to do now is, I want to bring in Representative Bart Stupak. He is a Democrat from Michigan who is good enough to join us to take us through what he's been experiencing.
Congressman, thank you, sir, for taking the time to be with us.
REP. BART STUPAK (D), MICHIGAN: My pleasure.
SANCHEZ: What is the -- what kind of threats or instances have been leveled at you and/or your staff or family, sir?
STUPAK: Oh, there's been quite a few, many.
But, basically, the ones that concern you is the: We will kill you. We know where you live. We know where your family is. Those are the types that, that's crossing the line.
It's -- it's -- you know, and you played a little bit on the teaser in the show there. Those were the mild ones. We couldn't really give you the -- the strongest ones.
SANCHEZ: Well, for those of us -- who are joining us now, they may not have seen what we showed a little earlier during our 3:00 hour, because we're going to continue thematically on this throughout, let me play some of those...
STUPAK: Sure.
SANCHEZ: ... so the viewers can see it again, if you don't mind.
STUPAK: Sure.
SANCHEZ: Go ahead, Rog.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Congressman Stupak, you are one big piece of human (EXPLETIVE DELETED).
And think about this. There are millions of people across the country who wish you ill. And all of those thoughts projected on you will materialize. We don't have to do anything but sit back and wish, go to hell, you piece of (EXPLETIVE DELETED).
(END AUDIO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: Congressman, when you hear that, what -- what -- what are you thinking about?
STUPAK: Well, again, that -- that's really mild, Rick, I mean, really.
SANCHEZ: Really?
STUPAK: You know, the ones -- the ones that -- the ones that get you is, you know, we're going to grab you, and we're going to put a gun to your head and just pull the trigger.
Those are ones that you would have to take serious. And those are the ones we're turning to threat assessment. We have received well over 50 rather serious threats in the last several days.
SANCHEZ: And you're a cop, right?
STUPAK: Yes, I was a police officer for 13 years.
SANCHEZ: You got a -- you got -- your -- I know you're married. You have a wife. Do you have children as well?
STUPAK: Yes.
SANCHEZ: What about them in all of this?
(CROSSTALK)
STUPAK: Well, my son -- my son is grown up. He's in another part of the country. I'm not going to say where.
And -- you know, but he's affected. I mean, the staffs, the staffs are taking abuse, abusive language. It's -- it's -- it's -- just reflective of where we're at as a society, I think.
We can disagree on issues, but you don't have to send white powder, like they apparently have at Congressman Anthony Weiner's, put coffins in front of an office, put bricks through windows, threats.
You know, local law enforcement and federal law enforcement have been great. They have -- I know they have stepped up their surveillance patrols and -- and trying to provide as much protection for -- for members, their families, and our staffs.
SANCHEZ: When -- when -- when you try to use fear or intimidation directly with either...
STUPAK: Sure.
SANCHEZ: ... calls or, you know, affecting people's lives, some people are going as far as saying that that is very close to, if not actual, terrorism, maybe not the terrorism that we're used to seeing that we see in places like Afghanistan, Iraq, and certainly the horrible thing that happened on 9/11.
STUPAK: Sure.
SANCHEZ: But some people would describe it that way. How would you describe it? STUPAK: They're -- they're trying to intimidate us. And I do believe that, under federal law, it is a crime to threaten or -- or try to coerce, intimidate a -- a federal official, especially...
SANCHEZ: Is it terrorism?
STUPAK: ... on -- on an -- on an issue.
SANCHEZ: Is it -- is it terrorism?
STUPAK: I guess you might as well call it domestic terrorism, sure. Sure.
I mean, this -- you know, the -- the things you saw this weekend when we were going back and forth for votes, members being spat on, racial slurs at some of our colleagues, sexual things at our colleagues, that's just totally uncalled for. It's -- there's no reason for it.
SANCHEZ: Well, you know, by the way, I -- I wanted to invite someone from the GOP to be with us here during this conversation.
STUPAK: Right.
SANCHEZ: And -- and this is not to say, and I don't believe that you would say that this is representative of the Republican Party...
STUPAK: No, it's not.
SANCHEZ: ... or that all Republicans are like that.
However...
STUPAK: No, no, no, it's not.
SANCHEZ: However, there has been an awful lot of palaver today coming from some of your colleagues saying, you know what, to a certain extent, the heated rhetoric from Republicans has instigated some of these actions.
What's your take on that?
STUPAK: Well -- well, the thing that outraged a lot of us was, while the demonstrations were going on, the Republicans were on the second floor with signs urging the crowd below. Some of them said, "Kill." Some of them had a picture of -- of the speaker, and they would hold it up and slice their hand across the speaker's throat. To the crowd, they would all cheer.
I mean, it almost became a -- a mob mentality here. And then, when you have members, same members of Congress, encouraging it with signs and pictures and gestures, that -- that's -- that's really uncalled for.
SANCHEZ: I want to let you -- I want to let you listen to something, because...
STUPAK: Sure.
SANCHEZ: ... you know, some would argue -- and we have gone back and done our research -- that this is not just now...
STUPAK: Right.
SANCHEZ: ... this is not brand-new, that this type of rhetoric has been used by some, not all, some Republicans in the past. Listen to this from Michele Bachmann. This is months and months ago...
STUPAK: Right.
SANCHEZ: ... having, I believe, nothing to do with health care. Play it, Rog.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
REP. MICHELE BACHMANN (R), MINNESOTA: I want people in Minnesota armed and dangerous on this issue of the energy tax, because we need to fight back. Thomas Jefferson told us having a revolution every now and then is a good thing.
We, the people, are going to have to fight back hard if we're not going to lose our country.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: Armed and dangerous and wanting a revolution.
What do you think when you hear those words, and are they appropriate, and do they instigate?
STUPAK: Yes, I think they instigate. Are they appropriate? No. We do have revolutions in this country. You just saw one with the last election.
We do our revolution through a ballot box. If you are upset with the way Congress is working or your local official, go to the ballot box. I mean, I got involved because I was frustrated with my state representative way back in 19 -- in the mid-'80s.
And, so, instead of complain about it and doing crazy things, I went out, and worked hard, and defeated the incumbent representative. And here I am now in Congress. That's the way it should be.
That's what Jefferson meant. That's why the value of a vote is so critical and should be a sacred obligation that we all have as Americans. Go out and vote.
Does this make you want to stay in there, fight, and even use it, as some of your colleagues have done to maybe get more funds and support from your constituents? Or does it make you wonder whether you really need all this grief and go get a job as a cop or a lieutenant or a detective or something?
STUPAK: Well, you sort of -- you sort of wonder, is it all worth it from the personal toll? I mean, if you want to threaten me, fine. But you don't have to be calling my house at 2:00, 3:00 in the morning and yelling obscenities at my wife, or threatening me at my home, where you know I'm not there because I'm in Washington.
SANCHEZ: Yes.
STUPAK: You don't need that. You really do have to wonder, why would anyone go and take a job like this to the personal abuse you put up with? It goes with the territory, to a point.
SANCHEZ: Bart Stupak, thank you, sir. I know it's...
STUPAK: You betcha.
SANCHEZ: I know it's tough. And my thanks to you for coming on and taking us through your ordeal, your story.
STUPAK: My pleasure.
SANCHEZ: Appreciate it. All right, likewise.
STUPAK: OK.
SANCHEZ: All right, likewise. By the way, just a caveat to this interview, now that I'm done with the interview with the Democratic congressman.
You know that we have a good relationship on this show with many Republicans. We have had many of them on during this week. Throughout the day today, we were in contact with Eric Cantor. We were in contact with many on the Republican side to get them on the show, so that we can have a discussion and involve them in this discussion that I just had with Congressman Stupak.
The only reason that they weren't able to come on is because they were in the middle of a meeting that Republicans are having about this right now. That's it. So, obviously, as we continue this discussion, we will be able to have them on in the future.
Continuing now, take a look at this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Three years ago, I came here to this campus to make a promise. That promise was finally fulfilled.
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
OBAMA: And, today, health insurance reform is the law of the land all across America.
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
(END VIDEO CLIP) SANCHEZ: That is the president today. Yes, he got it passed. And now he's going to try and sell it. What did he say? I'm going to let you hear what the president said today for yourself. I know a lot of you come home late, so coming up in just a couple of minutes, I'm going to let you play that -- I'm going to play for you that whole chunk -- pardon me -- of that president -- of the president giving his speech today.
Also, in Tennessee, a routine emergency run by a medical helicopter has a tragic ending. We have the pictures. Oh, my goodness. Look at this. And we have the stories.
Stay right there. We will take you through how many people died on that horrible accident.
Be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: And we're making news here on RICK'S LIST once again. You saw my interview just a little while ago with Congressman Bart Stupak. And he did, indeed, say -- and I already see that it's getting picked up on tweets and blogs, and it will likely make its way to Politico and Drudge, et cetera -- that he did, in fact, say that, yes, this is likely a case of domestic terrorism, what's going on.
Don't know if I have heard a U.S. congressman use those words before. But, when I asked him, he was direct, and he said, yes, you could call it domestic terrorism.
Meanwhile, this: The FAA is now saying three people were killed today -- look at these pictures -- when a medical helicopter crashed in western Tennessee. The chopper had just dropped off a patient in Jackson and was returning to Brownsville when it suddenly went down in a field. The helicopter wing which operates the helicopter says three crew members were on board. NTSB and the FAA are both investigating. We will let you know.
Also, this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ARNOLD PALMER, FORMER PROFESSIONAL GOLFER: I suppose the best thing he could do would be open up and just let you guys shoot at him. And that -- that's just my -- my thought.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: Number one on the list in sports, without question, Arnold Palmer comes out and gives advice to Tiger Woods. Is Tiger listening? That's ahead.
Also, who's making the list that you don't want to be on? Hint -- All right, here's the hint. He's in trouble for attacking Britney Spears and me. I will tell you next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: Number one at the top of our follow-up list is also number one on the top of the most popular list that we put on the air every day.
Welcome back, everyone. I'm Rick Sanchez.
Do you want the fast track to be on the list that nobody wants to be on? Easy. Just steal my identity. OK. Here we go. This is a follow-up. Read along with me. "I am high on crack right now. Might not be coming into work today." That's what you would have seen on my Twitter account January 5 of this year.
And you are wondering, wow, Rick Sanchez does crack? Well, I did come to work that day.
(LAUGHTER)
SANCHEZ: I was not high on crack. And it was very obvious that my Twitter account had been hacked. Some knucklehead was having some fun, right?
Look, he could have said something worse, something maybe more profane, something less absurd, maybe even something a little more believable. But we learned that day that this hacker not only targeted me. He targeted Bill O'Reilly. He targeted Britney Spears, and he targeted Barack Obama. So, what a foursome, huh, me, Bill O'Reilly, Britney Spears, and the president?
Well, guess what? Now he got-got his-his. Mr. Super Twitter Hacker is in custody, arrested after a long investigation by American and French police. Yes, he's French, calls himself Hacker Croll, 25 years old, unemployed, Internet surfer. Police say he found a way to get into the Twitter accounts of high-profile people, including myself.
Get this. The French, they don't play with crimes like these. He's going to jail, not a warning. He's going to jail for two years. Don't know what he looks like, but Hacker Croll is damn sure on my list today, the list that you don't want to be on.
Is the priest abuse negligence case now being linked to the pope himself? It is a story in "The New York Times," and we are drilling down.
Also, who's the most intriguing person in the news today? That is next. Stay right there.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: Welcome back. I'm Rick Sanchez.
Here we go. Time to check the list for the most intriguing person in the news today.
Congresswoman, Democrat, New Yorker, after the health care bill passed this week, she beefed up security at her offices after reporting more than one threat of violence against her and her staff. Listen to this: "There was a brick thrown threw my Niagara Falls district office and a voice-mail referring snipers that was left on the answering machine of my campaign office."
OK. She's afraid. You would be as well. Congresswoman Louise Slaughter of New York taking precautions. She's one of several Democrats on the receiving end of threats, vandalism, verbal assaults, even spitting, since the president's health care bill became law, and we should add, one Republican today, Eric Cantor. She and they and what they're dealing with are what makes her the most intriguing person in the news today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PALMER: I think it's up to him to do and say whatever he feels he needs to do to redeem the situation.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: That is Arnold Palmer, once the greatest. That is Tiger Woods, considered by some now to be the greatest. He gives advice to Tiger. And, you know, it may be working. We will explain that in just a little bit.
Also, this:
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LEON HOUSTON, REMOVED FROM COURTROOM: Don't you humiliate my family! You defrauded me out of my insurance money!
(CROSSTALK)
HOUSTON: You are a witness to insurance fraud. You are involved in a conspiracy!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: This is the most incredible story of the day. It's a Tennessee man's outburst that's causing a big scene in court. This is no doubt one of the best acts of incivility that we have seen in quite some time -- or maybe I should say the worst.
We will be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: Hello. Welcome back. I'm Rick Sanchez.
And we have a lot of news to move for you.
First of all, I have told you that we received this information about 30, 40 minutes ago. We're still on it. That is that Anthony Weiner, congressman from New York, is saying that an envelope containing white powder and a threatening letter was delivered to his community office in Kew Gardens. So, as we -- as we work that story, we expect to have more information. By the way, police are there. Hazmat has been called. And the office has been shut down. As we get more information either on that or any of the other threats that have been issued today, including the report out about Republican Eric Cantor's -- one of his offices, one of his district offices, apparently being shot at, as we get that information, we're going to be sharing it with you.
Meanwhile, some examples now of how not to interact with law enforcement. It's time for the best pictures of the day. We call it "Fotos Del Dia."
Our first stop is in Kingston, Jamaica. Listen up.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HOUSTON: You defrauded me out of my insurance money!
(CROSSTALK)
HOUSTON: You are a witness to insurance fraud. You are involved in a conspiracy!
(SHOUTING)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: Yes, isn't this crazy? By the way, I said Kingston, Jamaica, because it just kind of naturally comes out after I say Kingston. I meant to say Kingston, Tennessee.
His name is Leon Houston, named after another city. Now it's making me crazy. He's interrupting his brother's court hearing. You can hear him yelling accusations of conspiracy, insisting that the judge recuse himself. Apparently, the Houston brothers have a penchant for lashing out.
All right. Leon's brother Rocky came to court wearing that head net because he is charged with three spitting incidents. So, now he has to have a net around his face. He's facing felony assault charges relating to a police chase six years ago.
Portland, Oregon. Look at this. You talk about a guy who's asking for it. Why would you do that to a police officer who's just doing his job? Someone literally throws a bicycle at a police officer on a motorcycle. Bad idea, wouldn't you say? The good news is, the officer was wearing a helmet. The protester had a mask, but he got caught and was charged with multiple offenses.
All right, now take a look into those beautiful yellow eyes. You know what that is? That's a coyote, as in Wile E. Coyote. But the Road Runner was conspicuously absent at this scene in New York. A cagey canine was spotted yesterday at the Holland Tunnel. Maybe he was a little tired of the subway. At the end of the day, this little furry fugitive wasn't so wily. There he is, out cold -- yes, out cold and very much caged, but, we're told, not hurt. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OBAMA: What this is, is a historic step to enshrine the principle that everybody gets health care coverage in this country...
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
OBAMA: ... every single person.
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: All right, the president definitely had something to say today. He is back on the road once again. He is talking about health care reform, the one that passed that he's now selling, not to mention some of the other things that he had to talk about today.
For those of you who missed it earlier, we're going to replay some of this for you. It's going to be coming up in about -- probably about 15 minutes. Stay there.
Also, you're not going to believe this. Octomom -- that's she is called right, Octomom? She's teamed up with PETA with a very interesting message.
RICK SANCHEZ: Probably about 15 minutes. Stay there.
Also, you're not going to believe this. Octomom, that's what she's called, right? Octomom? She's teamed up with PETA with a very interesting message. And that's in the "Brooke Block." Brooke is sitting next to me. She's got her list ready to go. I don't even know what that story means, but I can't wait to hear it.
BROOKE BALDWIN, CO-HOST: Good. I'll tell it.
SANCHEZ: PETA?
PETA and Octomom, all together. OK, let's do it.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
Welcome back. On the list today, a story that affects all of us, but most of all those of us who are Catholic. Pope Benedict XVI and questions about why he may or may not have failed to discipline and defrock a priest accused of sexual abuse in the 1970s is a major headline around the world today.
At the time the Pope was the head of the Vatican office that decided whether or not accused priests are, in fact, dismissed. Now to the story in question. As many as 200 deaf boys were believed to have abused by this Wisconsin priest. His name is Lawrence Murphy. You see him right there.
"The New York Times" is reporting on new details of the church files it got access to as part of the lawsuit. The Vatican says it did not learn about the abuse allegations until 1996. Brooke, you've been working on this story. The question is at this point, as I'm bringing in my friend Bill Donahue here with the catholic league that you see right there. Bill and I are going to have a discussion about this.
BALDWIN: Is what did the pope know, and when.
SANCHEZ: What did he know and when did he know it. Let me take it over the Bill. Bill, good to see you, my friend.
BILL DONAHUE, CATHOLIC LEAGUE PRESIDENT: Thank you.
SANCHEZ: Are you bothered by this? Are you troubled? Look, this is a story we hadn't done here. I thought, look, until it gets to the point where it affects the pope, we're going to stay away from it. According to this story it's gotten to the point where it affects the pope. What's your take?
DONAHUE: Does it? This priest is obviously a monster. Somebody should have just flattened him back around 1960 when he put his hands on these kids. They didn't do it. They should have knocked his teeth down his throat. The vatican didn't find out about it until 1996. The victims didn't come forward until the '70s. I'm not sure why that is. I'm not blaming them. I am wondering why did it take them until the '70s?
In the '70s what the church did in Wisconsin was hand the case over to the civil authorities who investigated and they didn't do anything about it. Fast forward to 1996. You've got a sickly old man there, Father Murphy. I don't know exactly what they're supposed to do with this bum at this point, this old man. There's evidence, even "The New York Times" has said that -- my office is appraised of things every day. Half the mail never reaches me.
"The New York Times" says, well, what's driving this is a 1962 document which said that the priest didn't have to report anything to the authorities. I've read the 1962 document. I've been in CNN in the past and other shows. It has absolutely nothing to do with that. It has to do with solicitations in the confessional and there was some very severe penalties. Something really awry about some of the aspects of the "New York Times" story as well.
SANCHEZ: How much of this is about using today's standards to judge something that happened then? I know it makes me mad to say this, I'm a catholic like you, man. Listen, when I hear these stories, they make me cringe, they make me angry. We all are that way.
However, it did seem like our church, your church and my church, was in the past less apt to respond to these kind of things than they are now. So when we look at this in hindsight, a lot of these guys did actually say let's take care of him but let's not give it a lot of publicity. Isn't that right?
DONAHUE: I'm going to say something right now. Flat out. There's not a single institution, secular or religious in the entire world, which didn't handle these matters internally. Show me one organization, show me one religion where they picked up the phone and called 911. They tried to take care of these things internally. Things are starting to change.
But in my state in New York, you don't still have mandatory reporting. Not because of the bishops. They want it. But because the New York Civil Liberties Union and Planned Parenthood have been working overtime to make certain we don't have mandatory reporting because Planned Parenthood counselors find out about cases of statutory rape every day.
This is a much more complicated story. All I want to know is this. You have cases of teachers and rabbis raping kids all the time. It's almost never reported. "The New York Times" has money to go back 50 years, a half century, about one priest. And quite frankly they're working with Jeffrey Anderson, who's a - hate the Catholic church who's --
SANCHEZ: No, bill. It's wrong. It's wrong. I don't care how many people do it. We're talking about 200 deaf kids, man. You cannot in any way say, but they did it, too, in this case. You and I have to take full responsibility for what our church has done here.
DONAHUE: 200 deaf kids that doesn't come to the authorities, civil authorities until the '70s. They drop the case. It doesn't come to the Vatican until 1996. They've got this old bum of a sickly priest. What in the world were they supposed to do with him then? Knock his teeth down his throat at that point?
SANCHEZ: One would certainly imagine so. Before you go, you know I always enjoy having you on. We have these back and forths. You would think the people around the pope would not have chosen him to be who he is in the catholic church if they hadn't done a full background check. Do you think there is any chance that as these investigations go forward, somebody will be able to find a smoking gun that truly links him more than this, as you say, "New York Times" story does?
DONAHUE: No. "The New York Times" is saying that his office never found out about it until 1996. Murphy dies in '98. What exactly are they supposed to find out?
SANCHEZ: I don't want to do these hypotheticals. I hate to do them. Since I have you here, I'm going to violate one of my own rules. If they come out with something that says there may be a smoking gun -- what would Bill say?
DONAHUE: I don't know of a single organization which would say that we found a guy who's sick and old and dying who did something wrong 50 years ago. I don't know of a single organization that's going to call the cops and put the guy in prison. If, in fact --
SANCHEZ: That was yesterday's standard. DONAHUE: Back in the '70s or the '80s that would be entirely different. Then you can go and get the guy. By the way, Reverend Weekland, a practicing homosexual, has to leave the priesthood because of taking $450,000 in a scandal because he had sex with one of his college students. He was the one who knew about it. He didn't report it right away. Why isn't "The New York Times" looking at him?
SANCHEZ: You make a good point. Look, it wasn't just this. It was also sexual abuse. It was girls who got pregnant. It was abortions. We have done stories here about the things that were dealt with 50, 60 years ago are, in fact, very different than how they're dealt with now. Your point is a relevant one. Good to see you. My producers are saying we've got to go. Thanks for making time to talk to us and take us through this today, Bill.
We had to push you back a little bit so we could talk to Bill. Is he a character?
BALDWIN: I think it's so interesting. I've read all the "New York Times" reporting. He makes an interesting point. The "Times" is saying the pope at the time did receive these letters in '96. And that he ignored them.
SANCHEZ: He always does. We'll be right back with your block in just a little bit.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
Time now for "The Brooke Block." We had to push you back because of Bill Donahue. Here you are.
SANCHEZ: That's fine. Good discussion.
Tell me what's on your list.
BALDWIN: The pope was on my list. Fast forward to number two. We've been talking a lot about Tiger Woods. Of course, he's making his big comeback at the Masters and according to the web site out of Augusta. They are saying, he's hoping to make a comeback among members of the media. He'll be speaking, a holding a press conference the Monday of the Masters. So how should he handle the media here? Well, his pal, Arnold Palmer, has a little bit of advice. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEOCLIP)
ARNOLD PALMER: I suppose the best thing he could do would be open up and just let you guys shoot at him. And that's just my thought.
(END VIDEOCLIP)
BALDWIN: Remember, we saw him in February. He gave that 14-minute speech. Didn't take questions.
SANCHEZ: They're saying he might do that, right?
BALDWIN: Right. That's the point. Now he'll finally take questions. That'll be interesting. We'll be watching for that. See how he might react to some of the curve balls that might be thrown his way. By the way, I have a couple different numbers I want to show you. We can pontificate this.
In terms of a CNN opinion research poll, in terms of are you favorable, unfavorable, opinion of tiger, well, kind of 50/50, 43 percent favorable, 45 percent unfavorable. The next question we posed, what do you think about his return to the Masters next month, and the majority say it's appropriate, 75 percent Just 19 percent saying he should wait.
SANCHEZ: That's interesting. And I can't believe you said pontificate after the pope story.
BALDWIN: No connection.
SANCHEZ: You didn't even think of that, did you?
BALDWIN: I didn't.
SANCHEZ: I can tell. Octomom.
BALDWIN: I can't believe it. People are tweeting me -- I haven't given you the story yet. When you think of something saying, hey, you should spay and neuter your pets, who do you think of?
SANCHEZ: PETA?
BALDWIN: PETA. Bob Barker. How about Octomom. Nadya Suleman is allowing PETA to put a sign in her front yard. I want to read to you what it says. I think we have a picture. It says don't let your dog or cat become an Octomom. Always spay or neuter. She's doing this in exchange for a little bit of cash. Reports is PETA's paying her 5,000 bucks. I don't know why. There are all these reports that her home is being threatened with foreclosure. She needs the money. A lot of people are just kind of giggling about that. Octomom. Spaying and neutering pets.
SANCHEZ: Anybody who has eight kids should not have pets.
BALDWIN: Eight kids plus six.
SANCHEZ: OK, anybody who has 14 kids should not have pets. It's just too much.
BALDWIN: Hey, got on CNN today.
SANCHEZ: Good to see you. You're taking a little vacation, I hear.
BALDWIN: Costa Rica.
SANCHEZ: Good for you. Me too, what a coincidence.
BALDWIN: Not Costa Rica. Don't get people talking.
SANCHEZ: Let them talk. Wolf Pack, next. That's ahead. Then tomorrow, Sarah Palin campaigns with John McCain. We're live from Arizona. We're all over it. I'm Rick Sanchez. This is "The List." We're scrolling on. Stay right there.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
A couple of big stories we're following for you today. Obviously the biggest of them all is all the accident civility, I suppose is the way we're calling them. Although I just was on the air a little while ago. I was talking to Congressman Bart Stupak of Michigan.
You heard when I asked him if he would consider this terrorism in any way, shape or fashion. He said, yes, he agreed that this is domestic terrorism, what is taking place and what is aimed at different members of Congress throughout the United States.
So does that elevate the story? We certainly think so. Wolf Blitzer is joining us now. This is where every day we do "Wolf Pack." What do you make of that, Wolf, when Congressman Bart Stupak said, you know what, this is domestic terrorism?
WOLF BLITZER: It's pretty scary if you've been on the receiving end as he is now over these past several days for deciding to vote in favor of health care reform, accepting this agreement with the president, signing an executive order to keep the Hyde amendment effectively in place, no federal funding for abortion. To hear the audio, the voice mail left on his office phone system, it's pretty frightening.
SANCHEZ: I know. A guy like you or me, I know you're a dad, you've got you, your wife and your daughters. Same with my situation. You think of your family right away, right? If somebody called me at CNN and said that, big deal.
BLITZER: But, remember, today, it's not just Democrats. This whole incident with Congressman Eric Cantor, the number two Republican. And from Virginia, the Minority Whip, a bullet in that office.
SANCHEZ: Now there's another one, you know. There's Congressman Weiner.
BLITZER: A white powder substance left at his office. All of this is -- obviously it's really worrisome. This is not where the debate should be right now.
SANCHEZ: You know what's interesting, too, is both sides will use this to a certain extent. I guess that's the job between guys like you and I to make sure we're reporting the facts of the story and not somebody trying to make sure they get more campaign money as a result of what happened. On both sides again, right?
BLITZER: This is a law enforcement issue right now. Law enforcement is going to have to deal with it. I know Capitol Hill police, the FBI, the secret service, they're all looking at it. Local law enforcement as well, as they should. SANCHEZ: Good talking to you, Wolf as usual. Have a great day, man.
All right, Wolf Blitzer. That is "The Wolf Pack." He brings us his list.
This is what we've been waiting to show you. The president of the United States, after passing health care reform has decided to go out and sell health care reform. Started that today. You're going to see him in just a little bit. We've got the chunk for you. Stay there. It's coming your way next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
The President of the United States is selling health care reform. You'd think it was something that he'd be done doing, right, given the fact that it is passed now and it is the law of the land. Nope. The president's going to be arriving back in Washington, D.C., soon. But he was in Iowa City about three hours ago. Here is the president today.
(BEGIN VIDEOCLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: This is the reform that some folks in Washington are still hollering about. Still shouting about. Now that they've passed it, now that we've passed it, they're already promising to repeal it. They're actually going to run on a platform of repeal in November. You've been hearing that.
And my attitude is, go for it! If these congressmen in Washington want to come here in Iowa and tell small business owners that they plan to take away their tax credits and essentially raise their taxes, be my guest. If they want to look Lauren Gallagher in the eye and tell her they plan to take away her father's health insurance, that's their right.
They want to make Darlene Neff pay more money for her check-ups, her mammograms, they can run on that platform. This young man out here thinks this is a bad bill, he can run to repeal it. If they want to have that fight, we can have it. Because I don't believe that the American people are going to put the insurance industry back in the driver's seat. We've already been there. We're not going back. This country is moving forward!
And the road to this victory, Iowa, has been long. It has been difficult. It's a struggle that a lot of brave Americans have waged for years. For others like our friend Ted Kennedy, it's a struggle that was waged for nearly a lifetime. But what this struggle has taught us about ourselves and about this country is so much bigger than any one issue.
Because it's reminded us what so many of us learned all those months ago on a cold January night here in Iowa. And that's that change is never easy, but it's always possible. And it comes -- it comes not from the halls of power, but from the hearts of our people. Amid setbacks, it requires perseverance. Amid calls for delay, it requires the fierce urgency of now. In the face of unrelenting cynicism, it requires unyielding hope. And when I came here three years ago, I told the story of when Lyndon Johnson stood with Harry Truman and signed medicare into law. That wasn't perfect either. I'm sure there was somebody who was satisfied with it at the time. And as he looked out over the crowd in independence, Missouri, that day, he said, history shapes men, but it is a necessary faith of leadership that men can shape history.
What this generation has proven today is that we still have the power to shape history. In the United States of America, it is still a necessary faith that our destiny is written by us, not for us. Our future is what we make it. Our future is what we make it. Look, this is not the end of difficult times for America. From creating jobs to reducing deficits to making sure every child has a decent education, we still face enormous challenges in this country.
And as we meet those challenges, we're going to face more resistance. We're going to face more doubt. We're going to face more cynicism. We're going to hear more voices who will warn us that we're reaching too far, that we're going too fast, who are going to tell us that we can't wait, who are going to just make wild accusations about what we're trying to do. And when that happens, we've got to remember the promise that we've already fulfilled. And the people who fulfilled it.
And the generations before us who made it possible. We're going to have to respond with the creed that continues to define the character of this country we love, and it's my favorite memory in Iowa, that creed that says, yes, we can. Iowa, yes, we did, because of you. And it's because of you that we are going to keep on going to make sure that we fulfill every promise to every child in this country for a brighter future. Thank you, God bless you, and God bless the United States of America!
(END VIDEOCLIP)
SANCHEZ: And the comments continue to come in. You just watched the president as we do every day. I know many of you are just about getting home from work right now. We'd like to show you what it is that happened, that transpired news wise. Sometimes it's a news conference from congressmen. Sometimes it's a president's speech.
Here's something from a Republican, Thad McCotter. He just sent this tweet. The most dangerous special interest is big government and President Obama is his lobbyist. That' that's Thad McCotter.
If the GOP is so against these threats of domestic violence, why aren't there more GOP Twitter accounts coming out against such? That's folks on Twitter who are complaining about that. This guy says very fair having Bill Donahue on about the latest dealing with the Vatican.
Those are some of the tweets you've been sending in to me. There have been thousands today, which I could show more. Wolf Blitzer is coming up now. He's going to take you through all the latest developments coming up in Washington including the latest against a congressman, Anthony Weiner, and some white suspicious powder found in his office.
I'm Rick Sanchez, here's Wolf.
WOLF BLITZER: Rick, thank you.
