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CNN Sunday Morning
Deadline on Spending Cuts Deal; GOP Candidates Talk Faith and Values
Aired November 20, 2011 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, everybody.
From the CNN Center in Atlanta, Georgia, this is your CNN SUNDAY MORNING. It is 8:00 here on the East Coast, 5:00 a.m. out West -- wherever you may be, glad you're right here. I'm T.J. Holmes.
And coming up this morning, the deadline is approaching and the super committee needs to come up with a plan to cut the nation's deficit. But right now, that doesn't appear to be progress or a compromise in sight. We're live on Capitol Hill on this all-important day.
Also, on this Sunday morning, three words for you -- hot Christian sex. Religious leaders have come out and said it is your duty to satisfy the desires of your spouse. That is the topic in this morning's "Faces of Faith" segment.
Also, you remember actress Mila Kunis was asked by that young man to the Marine services annual ball. She was asked by that young man you see to your right. Well, she delivered on her promise. We'll tell you how the night went.
But, let's start, shall we? In Washington, D.C., the deficit super committee doesn't seem so super right now. They were supposed to be working through the weekend to get a deal done before this week's deadline. But all's quiet on Capitol Hill all weekend, it seems.
Lisa Desjardins joins me there.
We were told this is the weekend, got to have something done by Monday morning. But are we getting any indication that work is actually happening?
LISA DESJARDINS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: No, T.J., no indication at all. I mean, I guess there's no surprise there's no lawmakers here at 6:00, 7:00 or 8:00 in the morning on a Sunday, but on the Saturday before a deadline, you'd think there might be some surprise by Americans that there weren't any meetings here at the Capitol yesterday from the super committee or even by separate groups.
Republicans met on the phone but that was about it. We don't know of any other meetings planned. The next we'll hear from the super committee will just be individuals showing up on Sunday talk shows in the next hour -- T.J.
HOLMES: It sounds almost like they're conceding defeat or at least conceding that nothing's going to get done. Can we go that far yet?
DESJARDINS: They're not going that far. I think that they're in a tricky spot because it looks like negotiations have completely broken down, but they do want to at least portray that they are working until the last minute and we're not at the last minute quite yet.
By tomorrow, T.J., as you've been reporting, the super committee has to have a cost estimate for some kind of a deal. If they don't have that by tomorrow night, then this whole thing ends. So, we're not quite at the last minute yet but we are sure close.
HOLMES: Also, remind our viewers, if nothing is done, they miss that deadline, what happens?
DESJARDINS: Right. Across-the-board cuts across most of government, defense gets cut 8 percent to 9 percent -- that's the Pentagon, not homeland security in that defense cut, just the Defense Department, 8 percent to 9 percent. And then the rest of government, including homeland security in a second swipe gets 8 percent to 9 percent cuts as well.
Medicare recipients and Social Security recipients would be protected in that. But, you know, T.J., we talked about this deal with those cuts? They don't go into place until the beginning of it 2013. So, there's a lot of talk about whether in the next year, lawmakers would do something to roll them back or change them. It's hard to say. I don't think the votes are there right now for that but anything can happen in politics.
HOLMES: All right. Lisa Desjardins, and all of our folks in Washington keeping an eye on that super committee and the work that is or is not being done today. Thank you very much.
And Congress is running out of time, running out of options as well. Still have a couple of options left. We're going to check in with our Joe Johns to see what those options may be. That's coming up and the bottom of the hour.
We turn now presidential politics in the race for the Republican nomination. Most of the candidates were at a faith and values forum in Iowa last night -- an important opportunity for them reach out to conservative voters. You know, we just got six weeks to go until the first in the nation caucus.
Here is some of what you may have missed from last night.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIPS)
GOV. RICK PERRY (R-TX), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Our foreign policy budgets need to start at zero for every, every country out there. Because nobody -- UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Including Israel?
PERRY: Including Israel.
HERMAN CAIN (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Those of us that are people of faith and strong faith have allowed the non-faith element to intimidate us into not fighting back. I believe we've been too passive.
REP. RON PAUL (R-TX), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Why in the world have we ever drifted to the point where we allow this casualness to ignore the Constitution? They say it is a federal function. We don't need the Department of Education. We need those things taken care of at the state level.
RICK SANTORUM (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Gay marriage is wrong. As Abraham Lincoln said, the states do not have the right to do wrong. So, there are folks here who said that states can do this and I won't get involved in that. I will get involved in that, because states -- as a president, I will get involved because the states do not have the right to undermine the basic fundamental values that hold this country together.
REP. MICHELE BACHMANN (R-MN), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Today, we have for the first time in the history of our country taxpayer- subsidized abortion because of Obama care around the new playground of the left is in Obamacare because Planned Parenthood has just been given full lease in our public schools. And Planned Parenthood now will be pushing chemical abortion and billing that to the federal government under preventive care.
(END VIDEO CLIPS)
HOLMES: Mitt Romney, Jon Huntsman, you didn't see them there. They skipped that event in Iowa. Romney had a town hall in New Hampshire. Huntsman made a cameo appearance last night on "Saturday Night Live."
Well, also at forum was Newt Gingrich. He was there. He had a couple things to say about the Occupy Wall Street protesters that they're probably not going to appreciate. Listen to him.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NEWT GINGRICH (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: All of the Occupy movement starts with the premise that we all owe them everything. They take over a public park they didn't pay for, to go nearby to use bathrooms they didn't pay for, to beg for food from places they don't want to pay for, to obstruct those who are going to work to pay the taxes to sustain the bathrooms and to sustain the park, so they can self-righteously explain that they are the paragons of virtue to which we owe everything.
Go get a job right after you take a bath.
(END VIDEO CLIP) HOLMES: That's not the only thing he had to say this weekend that has people buzzing. Listen to his plan now to help kids living in poor neighborhoods.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GINGRICH: It is tragic what we do in the poorest neighborhoods in trapping children in -- first of all, in child laws which are truly stupid. Most of these schools ought to get rid of the unionized janitors, have one master janitor and pay local students to take care of the schools. The kids would actually do work, they would have cash, they'd have pride in the schools, they'd begin the process of rising.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Those comments, of course, will be part of the discussion coming up with our Candy Crowley on "STATE OF THE UNION." She's got a couple of Gingrich's former aides to talk about his rise in the polls and his prospects for actually getting the nomination. She's coming your way at 9:00 Eastern Time. As always, she'll join me here in about 30 or 40 minutes from now.
Now, also, let me tell you what former White House chief of staff had to say as well. We're talking about the current Chicago mayor, Rahm Emanuel. Listen to what he said about the Republican field last night.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAYOR RAHM EMANUEL, CHICAGO: Now, I don't know about you, but I've watched a couple of those debates. I've got to be honest. I never thought I'd say this -- I'm beginning to miss the wisdom of Sarah Palin.
(LAUGHTER)
EMANUEL: Their debate was called the thanksgiving family forum, which is fitting, because I've never seen a greater collection of turkeys.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Now, he's having a little fun there, of course. He made that crack in Iowa. He was just across town from where that faith forum was taking place with the Republican candidates.
I want to remind you that the Republican candidates will be gathered this Tuesday not too far from the White House for a CNN Republican presidential debate. This one will focus on national security. It's co-sponsored by the Heritage Foundation and the American Enterprise Institute.
The CNN debates for the Republican candidates, that's Tuesday, 8:00 Eastern, right here on CNN. Meanwhile, at eight minutes past the hour, President Obama -- he's arrived back at the White House. This happened overnight while you were sleeping. He returned from that nine-day trip that took him to Hawaii, Australia, as well as Indonesia. His trip was meant to promote American business and manufacturing in the region. Some are saying he's really needed in Washington right about now, may be called on to get involved with this deficit super committee.
And as we've been reporting, that deadline is fast approaching.
We turn now to some of these Occupy protests. They were back at it overnight on the campus of U.C. Davis. They pitched tents on campus. They are out there protesting the rising tuition costs. They're back in place a day after we saw this scene play out.
Watch your screen.
(VIDEO CLIP PLAYS)
HOLMES: You saw this first here yesterday. The school's chancellor ordered an investigation into this pepper spray incident. But police are defending their actions, saying that they actually felt threatened by the protesters, and so they were justified in using that pepper spray.
Listen to how one of the protesters described it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SOPHIA KAMRAN, PEPPER-SPRAYED BY POLICE: They broke into our circle to remove our tents, which was apparently the aim of the riot cops in the first place. After they removed our tents, they made about five very arbitrary arrests. It could have been any student. It wasn't one person in particular that was acting out.
They just arrested who they could, which we felt was unjust, so we stood in solidarity with them -- or actually we sat in solidarity with them and asked for them to be set free. And that's why we didn't move from the crossway.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Some people are now calling for the chancellor at U.C. Davis to step down. The chancellor saying she's not going anywhere.
Also on the Occupy front, we turn to Portland where pepper spray was used there against protesters as well. We highlighted that scene in the middle there. Some people are pointing to this saying it was unnecessary by police.
This was part of the nationwide call to action that was on the two-month anniversary of the Occupy movement last week. We brought this to you live when we saw the clashes between protesters and police in Portland. They moved in to try to force those protesters out, but have they left? Well, I'll show you a sign here that maybe wrap up it, says "We're not going anywhere." The Occupy protesters have kept up the pressure by marching on local banks, and some of them are turning their focus to problems with the health care system.
Also in Washington, D.C., Occupy protesters on the streets there as well. Police ended up arresting about a dozen people after they occupied an abandoned building that used to be a homeless shelter. Firefighters were actually called in to try to help clear out that building.
Eleven minutes past the hour now. Let us say good morning to Alexandra Steele.
People have their minds on travel. Are they going to have a problem getting to family for the holidays?
ALEXANDRA STEELE, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yes. Well, in some spots, yes. In some spots, no. I'm talking about a little snow.
HOLMES: OK.
STEELE: And also some tornadoes, believe it or not. But, you know, tornadic activity really not out of the question this time of year. Second half of October beginning of November is kind of the second peak season for severe weather.
So isolated tornadoes -- and here's why. This area of low pressure will move through, warm, moist air coming from the south, this lifting mechanism with the front. So, all the way from Dallas- Fort Worth, all the way in toward Arkansas, Little Rock, the potential for an isolated tornado today.
But as we head toward tomorrow, we're going to see that all push eastward. But the biggest story today is temperatures in the Northeast. Look at some of these numbers, Boston, 63, low 60s in New York, flirting with 70 in Washington. Temperatures here even in the Southeast, five to 15 degrees above average.
But enjoy it, T.J., temperatures really cool down for tomorrow.
HOLMES: All right, Alexandra Steele, always good to have you here with us.
STEELE: Sure.
HOLMES: We'll check in with you again here shortly.
And she's with us because Reynolds, of course, is not here today. He has some holiday plans and he is on the road right now. As we speak. There's our Reynolds Wolf driving cross-country trying to get to grandma's house and he has got the whole Wolf pack in tow with him.
We're going to try to check in with our Reynolds Wolf. That's a live picture you're seeing, folks, of Reynolds on the road with his Wolf pack. We're going to try to check in with him here a little later. Also a little later, in our "Faces of Faith" segment, this is one we don't get to do that often. The topic today in our "Faces of Faith" segment is about hot Christian sex. Pastors are out there telling their followers he this is what you need to be doing in your home and in your bedrooms. But there are some specific conditions here. You want to stick around for that.
Also coming up a little after the break, what else? What can the man not do? Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin now adding hockey to the resume.
Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: About 16 minutes past the hour now on this CNN SUNDAY MORNING.
And we're going to take you to what has been a tense weekend in Egypt -- clashes there between protesters and police.
(VIDEO CLIP PLAYS)
HOLMES: Tahrir Square you're seeing here. This was in Cairo yesterday. But new clashes broke out once again today, told estimated thousand people all across Egypt have been injured in clashes with security forces there. And at least two are dead. This all comes as parliamentary elections are just about two weeks away.
These demonstrators say they are upset at a plan to shield the military from public oversight. Of course, the military council took over after Hosni Mubarak was ousted earlier this year.
Also, also officials with the International Criminal Court will be traveling to Libya this week. The court wants to try Moammar Gadhafi's son Saif for alleged crimes against humanity. Right now, the son is in the hands of rebel fighters. They say they laid a trap for him and caught him in the southern desert.
News of his capture set off celebrations all across the country. At one point, Saif was the choice to succeed Moammar Gadhafi. Rebels also are showing off a trophy they say they found with the son Saif Gadhafi.
They did the same thing after Moammar Gadhafi was captured. They showed off a gold pistol that belonged to the former leader.
Meanwhile, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, he has this image, this macho man image he likes to play up. Well, here's his latest. There he is. That is the Russian Prime Minister playing hockey now. He's number 11 out there. You can make him out.
He's 59 years old. He's a former KGB spy. But he is going to be running for his old job as Russian president. This is part of his campaign. We have seen him in a lot of different poses, if you will. He's been playing sports. He's been doing a little judo, some motorcycle racing. Now, the man plays hockey.
Well, coming up next, Tiger Woods -- his struggles in golf, have been well-documented lately, hasn't been playing so well. A lot of people were very critical when he was picked by the captain on the U.S. Presidents Cup Team.
Well, take this, folks. Guess who just clinched the tournament for Team USA? That story coming your way in just a moment.
Also coming up, you folks who want a playoff in college football? Well, maybe right now, you have one of the best cases you've had in a while. We have got a BCS mess.
It's 18 minutes past the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Twenty minutes past the hour now.
Let's say good morning to Joe Carter from HLN Sports, joining me this morning to talk about the BCS mess that Arkansas is in the middle of. We'll get to that in a second.
JOE CARTER, HLN SPORTS: Yes.
HOLMES: But, first, Tiger Woods has been struggling on the golf course for quite some time now.
CARTER: It's well-documented.
HOLMES: This has the feel good now.
CARTER: Yes. And, finally, some good news for Tiger Woods. Freddie Couples, the team president, was criticized for picking Tiger on the team this year. It was the captain's pick -- I should say the team captain was criticized for bringing him on.
But heck, he's the one really responsible for the win. I mean, his putter was on which is something that Tiger hasn't been good with this year. He's made 5 of the first 11 holes were birdies. Steve Stricker gave him some tips early in the week about his putter. And obviously, it worked.
But he defied his critics. And you can say he essentially played like the old Tiger Woods for the first time in a couple of years. So, yes, the Americans -- they pull off the win. They win this for the seventh time in the last nine Presidents Cups.
HOLMES: He started of ugly though.
CARTER: Yes. It wasn't a good start at all. It was a typical Tiger Woods so far the last two years start for him. But yes, he came together in the end. Again, maybe it is Steve Stricker's little tip that helped him. I'm not sure.
HOLMES: All right. Let's turn now -- I mean, people complain about the BCS all the time. We have got a BCS mess once again.
CARTER: Yes, we got a real mess.
HOLMES: In college football. All right. This was a wild weekend. How could you ever imagine that many teams would lose?
CARTER: Number two loses, number four loses, number five loses, and now, like you said, we got a little mess on our hands. LeBron James and D. Wade on hand for the USC-Oregon game last night.
HOLMES: They don't having thing to do right now?
CARTER: No, no, something about a lockout, I guess.
HOLMES: OK.
CARTER: Number four Oregon comes into this game last night with one loss. They had to beat USC to remain in the national championship race. The Ducks behind all night. They had a chance to force overtime right there. They push the field goal left, they lose, 38- 35. So, now, they have two losses which means they are out of the national contention picture.
Yet, Oklahoma, another one-loss team in the same position as Oregon last night. The Sooners had to beat Baylor to stay in the national championship conversation.
HOLMES: And how did that go?
CARTER: Well, I think we already know the answer.
HOLMES: All right.
CARTER: There were some crazy plays. Check this out -- the pass ricochets off one player's shoulder pad into the hands of another. He goes 87 yards for the score. But quarterback Robert Griffin III, RG III, he's not even sure, what just happened?
But the biggest play of the game came in the final play, 16 seconds left. Baylor. I mean, Oklahoma really thought Baylor would just lay it up and go into overtime. But Baylor goes ahead drive down the field and score. They upset number five Oklahoma.
First time Baylor has ever beaten Oklahoma in school history.
HOLMES: Wow.
CARTER: That means Oklahoma has two losses now, they're out of the national championship race.
So, you got LSU sitting pretty, going to play Arkansas, really the only one-loss team left in national championship consideration. Next week in LSU, they win that game, they'll play Georgia in the SEC title game. If they win that game, they'll play in the national championship.
But you got Alabama sitting there, sitting pretty. They play at Auburn next week. If they beat Auburn, and if LSU just happens to lose to your boys -- I mean, Alabama has the chance to potentially win the national championship without even -- win the national championship without even playing in a conference championship game.
HOLMES: Did you get all that, folks?
CARTER: Yes. Oh, and there's Houston. They are undefeated and their fans are going to never see their team play the national championship game because they're a mid-major.
HOLMES: Give Houston a break.
CARTER: I'm just saying. They're never going to play in a national championship game. BCS game, Fiesta Bowl potentially, but not a national championship game.
HOLMES: Oh, it was blast, didn't it?
Joe, we appreciate you as always, breaking that down for us.
We're 24 minutes past the hour now.
We talk about our military men and women all the time and the bravery they show on the battlefield. But this took a little bravery as well.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SGT. SCOTT MOORE, U.S. MARINE CORPS: Hey Mila. It's Sergeant Moore, but you can call me Scott. I just wanted to take a moment out of my day to invite you to the Marine Corps Ball on November 18th in Greenville, North Carolina.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: You remember that guy? Just cool as a fan asking one of the hottest actresses out there out on a date to the ball. She said yes. The ball was this weekend. But did she actually show up? Stay with us.
Also, one other soldier here for you -- certainly giving a lot for the country. He is getting something special in return now for his sacrifice, a new custom-built home. We'll have that for you, too.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Twenty-six minutes past the hour now.
A look at stories making news cross-country:
And we start with an Occupy protest in Fairbanks, Alaska.
The challenge here is the weather. The Occupy Fairbanks movement has kept its vigil at Veterans Memorial Park for two months. But temperatures midweek plunged to minus 36 degrees. Town officials want their warm-up tents removed calling them squatters, but protesters say they have the right to stay warm.
In Tampa, a severely wounded Iraq war veteran has a new home, thanks to an organization called Building Homes for Heroes. The organization's founder says the Sergeant Joel Tavera's spirit and courage are unbelievable. He lost both eyes, his right leg, four fingers, and suffered burns over 60 percent of his body after several rockets hit his SUV.
The Army awarded Tavera the Purple Heart and Bronze Star.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SGT. JOEL TAVERA, WOUNDED IRAQ VETERAN: Just walking through and thinking, man, this is a huge home. I might get lost in here. It's nice to be lost in my own home.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: And in Marietta, Georgia, another sign of the tough economy. Hundreds lined up for free dental care Saturday. Many waited for hours. Volunteers for an organization called Dentistry from the Heart say so many showed up it had to turn some away.
And we get close to the bottom of the hour now. Say good morning once again to Alexandra Steele. It is a big football Sunday with the NFL.
STEELE: Yes.
HOLMES: Anybody going to be shivering out there at some of these games? Do they need to cover up?
STEELE: Green Bay, they're going to be shivering.
HOLMES: OK. They're always shivering.
STEELE: That's right.
It could a lot colder if it was later in the day, like it is going to be in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Pretty nice, 55 degrees there.
But what we're looking at really is big picture is a lot of severe weather. Look at this, wet weather. If you're driving today from Evansville, Paducah, Bowling Green, Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, southern Indiana, really a wet go of it. Why? Well, this kind of sprawling area of low pressure and this associated cold front.
And believe it or not, this time of year there's the second tornado season. So, what we're going to see is the potential for isolated tornado from Dallas-Fort Worth, all the way through central Arkansas. So, you could be in it little rock as well. So, isolated tornado and some strong gusty winds not out of the question. But in the East and certainly ahead of this front, can you see the front where it is? Much cooler behind it. Certainly warmer ahead of it. Cloudy skies, some scattered showers but a mild flow from the South and Southwest.
So, temperatures today in the 60s, flirting with 70 in Washington, D.C. Tomorrow, though, look what happens -- we lose about five to 10 degrees. So, enjoy the warmth of today.
Also, another big picture. What we've got is a storm system developing in the West. There it is. We're going to see snow in the Sierra, even in the southern California mountains, about six inches of snow, about 6,000 feet.
But what's happening in the Southeast? Pretty pleasant.
But I just want to kind of give you the big picture of the storm moving here. You could see Can you see how wet it is and how we're going to watch this system cross the country.
And what about Wednesday? You're traveling, of course -- 40 million of you are, 90 percent on the roads. What we're going to see? Look at this -- does this spell trouble or what, T.J.? From Boston to Washington, that 95 corridor has the chance for showers.
But, really, 90 percent of the country in gorgeous shape other than a few showers in the Northwest.
HOLMES: Most folks drive for Thanksgiving night.
STEELE: Ninety percent drive, 38 million drives.
But the balance of the country is beautiful, but where most people will be driving --
HOLMES: Where they're going to be going, huh?
STEELE: Yes, eastern third of the country.
HOLMES: All right. Alexandra, thank you, as always.
STEELE: Sure.
HOLMES: We're right at the bottom of the hour now. And up next, that so-called super committee doesn't seem to be anywhere close to getting a deal done on the deficit, even though the deadline is awfully close.
So, what are the options if they fail?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: And were just past the bottom of the hour on this CNN SUNDAY MORNING. Welcome back to you all. I'm T.J. Holmes. I'll give you a look at some of the stories that are making headlines. Just a tragedy out of Yale University: An accident outside the stadium has killed a woman and injured two others as they tailgated before the game against Harvard yesterday. The driver of a U-Haul reportedly lost control, suddenly sped up crashing into the women. Yale University is now reviewing policies related to tailgating before athletic events.
Also an undercover video showing chickens being abused at an egg farm has cost that company dearly. McDonald's and Target both dropped Sparboe Farms as their egg supplier after this video went public. The video shows the group Mercy for Animals -- they are the ones that took the video -- it shows chickens crammed in crowded cages and unsanitary conditions. The FDA already had cited the company for serious violations.
And according to the Hollywood reporter, actor Christopher Walken has now hired an attorney to represent him in the now reopened investigation into actress Natalie Wood's death. Walken was on the boat the night Wood died 30 years ago. The sheriff's department told the paper that Walken however, is not considered a suspect in the case.
We turn back to Washington, in that so-called super committee. It is running out of time to get $1.2 trillion in cuts done.
Here's where we are right now. The committee members said they were going to work through the weekend to try to get something done but what we've heard from Capitol Hill is kind of the opposite. It's pretty much all quiet, not a lot of meetings on the schedule.
The deadline for the committee to vote on a plan is Wednesday. But they really need to get it in the hands of the budget folks by tomorrow in order to have it ready for a vote on Wednesday.
Arizona Republican Senator Jon Kyl, a member of that committee, says it's doubtful they'll get it done.
So what happens if they miss the deadline? Then there will be across-the-board cuts that will go into effect. A little from Column A, a little from Column B, if you will. Those will take effect in 2013 and wouldn't touch Medicaid or Social Security. So this week's deadline likely won't end this debate. And as our Joe Johns now explains, at least Congress with other options to tackle the debt problem.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOE JOHNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Just days from a joint committee deadline to get a deal on large-scale deficit reduction, you might think the Capitol is full of hope they're actually going to do something.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I remain hopeful.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I remain hopeful that we can meet our goal and I urge my Democratic colleagues to join us in this effort. SEN. PAT TOOMEY (R), PENNSYLVANIA: Nobody wants to quit until the stroke of midnight.
JOHNS: Hope may spring eternal, but as it stands now, a lot of people don't expect the super committee to get too far on reducing the deficit, $1.2 trillion, over the next ten years, like they're supposed to.
One of the questions now is whether instead of real savings, they're going to come up with some gimmick that -- well, listen to Steve Ellis of a non-partisan watchdog group.
STEVE ELLIS, TAXPAYER FOR COMMON SENSE: It's totally outrageous. It's fictitious and it actually is damaging. I mean, the scariest thing is that we could actually come out of the super committee in a -- if they don't do this right we could come out of the super committee in the worst deficit situation than we were that got us in to the super committee in the first place.
JOHNS: Guys who know all the budget tricks say gimmick number one would be for the committee to claim its cutting spending that never really was going to be spent anyway.
STAN COLLENDER, FEDERAL BUDGET ANALYST: The best example of that is we know that activities in Afghanistan are already winding down and that the government is not likely to spend as much over the next ten years as they have over the previous ten years.
JOHNS: Stan Collender has worked for both the House and Senate budget committees.
COLLENDER: So if they just A, all right, we're going to cut all the spending for Afghanistan over the next decade, then according to the Congressional Budget Office that would make it look like we're cutting almost $1 trillion when actually we'd be cutting nothing.
JOHNS: Another gimmick the watchdogs are looking for is kicking the can down the road, telling other congressional committees to work out the details later.
ELLIS: So you committees go out there, come back with "X" amount of savings, a couple hundred billion dollars worth of savings through the tax code or $400 billion or whatever it is, and we're going to require that be voted on, on a date certain.
JOHNS (on camera): The more you look at it, the trickier it gets. If the super committee does not come up with a deal, automatic spending cuts go into effect. But there's a catch. Those spending cuts don't kick in until the year 2013 which would give the Congress plenty of time to figure something else out.
Joe Johns, CNN, the Capitol.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: 37 minutes past the hour now. We turn to our "Faces of Faith" segment. Your pastor wants you to have sex. Lots of it, hot sex even. This comes with a couple of conditions here though, folks. It's got to be in the context of a faithful monogamous heterosexual union before God. Once you got that, Christian leaders say knock yourselves out.
Now, it's not exactly the message a lot of people grew up with, but that's the point. Leaders are trying to keep folks in the fold by saying they can be good Christians and good lovers.
I'm talking this morning to Evangelist Jay Lowder of Harvest Ministries. He joins me on the line, we have some technical issues we we're hoping you're going to be in front of the camera but that's all right, I'm glad we at least got you on the phone.
Tell me, why is this an important message for people to get from their pastors?
JAY LOWDER, HARVEST MINISTRIES (via telephone): Well, for so long it's been a taboo issue and it's something that hasn't been discussed. It's really not anything new. It's been in the Bible for thousands of years, it's just now coming out into the forefront.
HOLMES: And speaking we're talking about influential Pastor Rick Warren kind of set off a part of the conversation. He had a tweet he sent out -- I'm going to read it to our viewers and show it to them as well. And it said, and I quote, "Husbands and wives should satisfy each other's sexual needs and he did put the Bible verse there." It's 1 Corinthians 7:3.
You said it's been kind of taboo. How can it help for someone like Rick Warren to -- is it just something that needs to be talked about more or talk about more openly?
LOWDER: Well, I believe one of the issues behind this is trying to connect with a younger generation. Because the discussion of sex is so prevalent, you hear about it especially with the younger generation, they've grown up hearing about it.
And so it's something that just needs to be brought out. It's a discussion that needs to be open and especially with the younger generation, younger couples. There's just been a lack of teaching on it.
HOLMES: Do you think you're losing that battle, that discussion, because like you say -- I mean you can turn on the TV just about anywhere and see sex, hear sex and something about sex in magazines, whatever it may be. But it's not talked about in this context. Do you have an uphill battle to try to combat those other images of sex in society?
LOWDER: Well, there's no doubt about that. I'm talking especially with this newest generation. A lot of the information that they have gotten about sex has been tainted. Most of them they're parents didn't talk to them about it. The church didn't talk to them about it. And so the information they've gotten is what would call "locker room talk". It may not be very accurate.
HOLMES: Would you say that people have the impression that sex within a marriage to the same person, the rest of your life, they assume it's boring?
LOWDER: Well, I think there may be a mindset there but it's not meant to be boring. I mean, this is something that was given as a gift from God. It's not something just for procreation. This was a gift that was meant for pleasure.
HOLMES: And the idea -- I want to share one other thing here -- Pastor Tim Kelly wrote a book with his wife. And I am quoting here from him. He says quote, "Each partner in a marriage is to be most concerned not with getting sexual pleasure but with giving it. The greatest sexual pleasure should be the pleasure of seeing your spouse getting pleasure." Would you certainly say the best sex anybody's ever going to have is sex with their spouse?
LOWDER: Well, there's no doubt about that. And there has been some neglect from the side of meeting a woman's needs. The scriptures too, the Bible talks about in Philippians second chapter, it talks about that in every aspect of life, not just the sexual aspect, but in every aspect of life we are supposed to put others before ourselves. We are supposed to make the priority of our life to meet others' needs and not our own.
So, yes, it should be something that is gratifying, that's fulfilling, that's satisfying and if Rick wants to use the word "Hot," well then that's fine as well.
HOLMES: Jay Lowder, with Harvest Ministries. Sir, I appreciate you being here and being a part of this conversation. Thanks so much and we'll certainly get you back by popular demand on this topic, I'm sure.
Thanks so much. You enjoy your Sunday.
LOWDER: Thank you, T.J. Good to be with you.
HOLMES: All right. And for more about religion and spirituality, you can go to our belief blog at CNN.com/belief. Share some of your thoughts there.
It's 42 minutes past the hour. I'm not sure really how to transition to the next story so let me just tell you that Candy Crowley will join me after the break. Ok.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NEWT GINGRICH (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Go get a job right after you take a bath.
(END VIDEO CLIP) HOLMES: Republican presidential candidate and former Speaker Newt Gingrich. That was his message to the Occupy protesters all across the country. And as you heard at that forum he was at last night in Iowa, he got applause after he made that statement.
Let me bring in our Candy Crowley, host of the "STATE OF THE UNION" which is coming your way in about 15 minutes. Is this vintage Newt?
CANDY CROWLEY, CNN HOST, "STATE OF THE UNION": It is vintage Newt. And listen, he is enjoying the spotlight right now. He is way up in the polls. And we've seen this; this is a pattern. Mitt Romney stays pretty straight in there, about a quarter of the Republican vote, and you know, first comes Bachmann, then comes Perry, then comes Cain.
Well, it now appears to be Gingrich's turn in the spotlight. His campaign, which basically has been running on fumes, has gotten some money recently. He's had some great debates. And they're taking a second look at Newt Gingrich which is a good thing and a bad thing. It has brought up his poll numbers but it brings in a lot of scrutiny of some of the old baggage. Enough of it is out there that Gingrich himself has put up on his Web site; defense of some of the things that have come up, including his personal life all out there on the Web site.
And now we'll see if he's got the staying power that the rest of these candidates so far have not except for Romney.
HOLMES: Let's go off the campaign trail there and now into Washington. Here we are. Do you see any indications that this super committee is going to get anything done this week?
CROWLEY: Uh, no. That's a good, short answer. I don't. I think it is done. I think it is over with. I think they all think it is over with. We don't even know if they're talking. I'm going to try and find out. Senator Patty Murray is one of the co-chairs of that committee trying to find $1.2 trillion in debt reduction.
And say, are you even talking at this point because I think it is all over but the final press release, if they even have that. And now it just goes back to -- I mean there's a lot of things that are going to happen at the end of the year if Congress doesn't act. One of them is long-term unemployment benefits will expire. That two percent that now has been a reduction in payroll tax for social security taxes; that would go back up.
So lots of things are not going to get done unless Congress working under all the rules in the Senate and the heavy House majority of Republicans is going to have to do before the end of the year. So now we just revert to both floors of the Houses and see what they can do.
HOLMES: And just give me that the guest line up again? You said Senator Murray -- CROWLEY: Patty Murray, who is the co-chair. We're also going to talk to Rand Paul -- remember the Tea Party on the Senate side, as you know, conservatives have not wanted any tax increases and that's what Democrats say has held up any kind of deal.
Condoleezza Rice, former secretary of state, new book out; we talk to her about all things around the world, including the war in Afghanistan.
Then we're going to have a little discussion on whether a couple of the folks who know Newt best believe he is going to implode or whether he can really make use of the news spotlight.
HOLMES: All right. Candy Crowley, we will see you in just a minute, always good to have you here with us. "STATE OF THE UNION" coming your way in just about 12 minutes, folks, top of the hour, 9:00 Eastern time, 6:00 Pacific.
Also coming up here, Mila Kunis showed up; a Marine showed some bravery by asking out one of the hottest actresses in Hollywood. Well, they had their big date this weekend.
Also, coming up this morning: our Reynolds Wolf not here in studio with us because is he on the road. He's headed to grandma's house for the Thanksgiving holiday. He's got the whole Wolf pack in tow. We'll check in with him live on the road. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: We're getting close to the top of the hour.
You remember that Marine who did a pretty brave thing? Not on the battlefield necessarily this time. But this was pretty brave too. He asked out actress Mila Kunis. You remember this?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SGT. SCOTT MOORE, U.S. MARINE CORPS: Hey, Mila. Sgt. Moor but you can call me Scott. I just want to take a moment out of my day to invite you to the Marine Corps Ball on November 18th in Greenville, North Carolina with yours truly. Still, take a second, think about it. Get back to me.
All right, bye now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: That's Sgt. Scott Moore, pretty cool there. Who knows if she would have done it without the help and just the pushing of Justin Timberlake, one of her co-stars in their latest movie? Look at this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE, SINGER AND ACTOR: This needs to go down. This needs to happen. Do it for your country. MILA KUNIS, ACTOR: Ok. I'll do it for you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: All right. So she delivered. Kunis attended the Marine Corps Ball in North Carolina Friday night. Sergeant Scott Moore is the date there. This is a great sight here.
She's not the only celebrity who kept that promise because yes, Justin Timberlake, he was called out by a Marine as well. And last weekend he kept his word and he joined her at a ball in Virginia.
So this is kind of nice to see these two stars actually do something literally for the country, if you will; a couple of nice moments. We may see more of these celebrities get called out by members of our military.
As we get close to the top of the hours, you know, Reynolds Wolf is not in the studio with me today because he is literally on the road and on the way to grandma's house, making the long drive with the whole Wolf pack in tow.
Reynolds? Good morning. How are the kids and how has the drive been so far?
REYNOLDS WOLF, AMS METEOROLOGIST: T.J., we've been so lucky. We've been so lucky. We've had no explosions yet. No meltdowns, certainly not from any (INAUDIBLE) yet, certainly not from Erin. Erin is, by the way, the one who's shooting this thankfully on the other side of the iPhone.
You see our crew members in the background. We've got Erin, she's the oldest one in the back; Landry who's sitting behind mom; and then right behind me we have our new baby, he's 6 months old. That's Patterson. He's strapped in like Buzz Aldrin. He's not going anywhere, dude.
But the ride's been pretty good. We left around midnight. I actually slept for about seven hours yesterday. Erin did all the hard work and got the kids ready and everything. I've been basically the driver. They've been able to sleep a little bit. But for the most part, it's just been driving, not much in terms of traffic. Again leaving at midnight, you're not going to see much.
We're basically taking the straight trip all the way along 75, I- 35 going through Chattanooga, going through Lexington. We've been through Cincinnati. So now we're about two hours -- maybe three hours away. So as the swallows return to Capistrano, the Wolf family goes basically north for the winter. So that's where we're going right now -- T.J.
HOLMES: Not everybody in the car looked happy. But you all enjoy the ride on the road.
We are trying out some new technology here. And it works.
WOLF: No. Everybody's happy.
HOLMES: Everybody's happy?
WOLF: Everybody's happy. What are you talking about? Everyone in this car's happy. What is wrong? Man, you got to be kidding me.
You know what's funny. To keep them entertained in the car, what we do is we play princess movies and that basically keeps them happy. Got a couple monitors in here.
Think about how intense you and I get whenever we watch Auburn and Arkansas. That's what they get when you've got Cinderella or Belle or whatever. Sleeping Beauty on, it's golden.
HOLMES: Reynolds, great stuff. Please give our best and our thanks to your lovely bride for putting up with you, getting on live TV while the family is on a cross-country road trip.
You guys be safe. Happy Thanksgiving. I know I'll talk to you soon, buddy.
WOLF: Back at you. Please tell Molly and everybody I said hi and I love them and I'll chat with you guys soon.
HOLMES: All right. We're about a couple of minutes of the top of the hour.
Quick break. We're right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: All right. Just a couple of minutes of the top of the hour; just a couple of minutes away from "STATE OF THE UNION" with Candy Crowley.
But first let me give you a check of some of the stories making headlines today.
The congressional super committee feeling the pressure because that clock is ticking; some members are getting ready to appear on a number of Sunday morning talk shows. Looks increasingly doubtful the committee will reach agreement on how to cut government spending by tomorrow's deadline. The main sticking point for reducing the deficit by $1.2 trillion appears to be taxes.
Also after this video went public, McDonald's and Target both dropped Sparboe Farms as their egg supplier. The group Mercy for Animals shot this video, shows chickens in crowded cages living in unsanitary conditions. The FDA already had cited the company for serious violations. Sparboe Farms, the owner issued a statement saying, quote, "I was deeply saddened. This isn't who Sparboe Farms is. Acts depicted in the footage are totally completely unacceptable and completely at odds with our values as egg farmers."
Also something to keep an eye on in New York, 152,000 students in New York City, many of them with special needs may have to find another ride to school. This could happen as early as tomorrow. Bus drivers could possibly go on strike because the city won't guarantee their jobs. It is trying to negotiate a new bus agreement. The city is considering providing Metro cards and even reimbursing parents for gas to help kids get to school.
HOLMES: That does it for me here. For Reynolds Wolf and for Alexandra Steele who is with us this weekend, thank you so much for spending some of your weekend with us on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.
Right now, Candy Crowley.
