Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Saturday Morning News

President Announces End to Iraq War; Five-Year-Old Jahessye Shockley Goes Missing in Arizona; Political Analysts Examine Herman Cain Candidacy; Mitt Romney Does not attend Faith and Freedom Summit; NFL Player Fined $10,000 for Using Cell Phone During Game; NBA Player- Owner Negotiations Break Down

Aired October 22, 2011 - 10:00   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. Top of the hour to you now. And the president of Iran has a message for you. He says he loves you. It's just your government he has a problem with. That's just one nugget from an exclusive interview with CNN. We'll have more of it here in a moment.

Also, $10,000 for a single phone call? Yes. An NFL player has been fined by the league. But when you hear who he called, you might think that phone call was worth it.

Also this morning, there's a major debate happening today in Iowa, and the top presidential candidates, some of them decided they're not going to show up. We'll explain who and why.

Welcome to CNN Saturday morning on this October 22nd, 10:00 a.m. here in Atlanta, 9:00 a.m. in Fayetteville, Arkansas, 7:00 a.m. in San Diego. Wherever you may be, we are glad you are right here. I'm T.J. Holmes.

So let's talk about the big story from yesterday, the president, President Obama coming out and saying, yes, U.S. troops are coming home for the holidays and the war in Iraq will be over. About 40,000 troops still left in Iraq will be coming home. Our Athena Jones joins me from the White House. This is news a lot of people had been waiting to hear and are happy to hear.

ATHENA JONES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Absolute lit. Democrats are saying this is a victory for our troops, a victory for taxpayers. Our polls have shown that the opposition to the war in Iraq has grown dramatically since 2003 when it all began.

As far as the White House and the president are concerned, this is a promise kept. The president ran on his opposition to the war in Iraq. Back in 2002, he called it a dumb war, a rash war. And he believed it was taking our eyes off the ball in Afghanistan, which is where the focus really should have been.

And so from the very top of his remarks yesterday in the briefing room, he talked about having pledged as a candidate to bring the war in Iraq to a responsible. He made references to that promise, to keeping that commitment a few times. So did his aides. Let's listen to what he had to say today in his weekly address.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, (D) PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: In Iraq, we succeeded in our strategy to end the war. Last year, I announced the end of our combat mission in Iraq. We've already removed troops and Iraq forces have taken responsibility for the security of their own country. Thanks to the extraordinary sacrifices of our men and women in uniform, the Iraqi people have the chance to forge their own future. And now the rest of our troops will be home for the holidays.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JONES: And one more thing that's interesting to note is that these security agreements reached with Iraq were agreements reached back in 2008 by the Bush administration. And it was those agreements that set this December 31, 2011 end date for the U.S. military presence there. And so in many ways this is just completing of the commitment that has been made a few years back, T.J.

HOLMES: Got criticism of the president' decision from, I guess, the usual suspects.

JONES: Absolutely. So while you have Democrats applauding it, you have Republicans raising concerns. I'll just read a brief statement from U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham that he put out yesterday. He said "I feel all we have worked for, fought for, and sacrificed for is very much in jeopardy by today's announcement. I hope I am wrong and the president is right, but I fear this decision has set in motion events that will come back to haunt our country."

And so what Senator Graham is talking about and many other Republicans is this concern that, for instance, the Iranian influence in Iraq will grow as the U.S. pulls out, and also about the ability of Iraqi forces to really handle their own security.

But it's important to remember that the White House's point of view on this since the very beginning, really, early in the presidency back in 2009, in February, President Obama went to Camp Lejeune in North Carolina and he said we cannot stay until Iraq's union is perfected. And so the idea here is that the U.S. and Iraqis have been working well together and that it's time for the now for Iraqis to really take full responsibility for their security. T.J.?

HOLMES: Athena Jones for us from the White House, thank you so much.

And Iraq wasn't the only thing the president talked about today in his weekly address. The president also called on Congress to pass his jobs bill, saying now is the time for the country to come together just as American troops have done so overseas. This week, a piece of his jobs legislation was blocked in a GOP led filibuster. The bill would have provided $35 billion in aid to state and local governments to hire firefighters, police officers, and teachers. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) OBAMA: We have to tackle this with the same unity and the same urgency that the troops brought to their fight. That's why we have to do everything in their power to get our economy moving again. That's why I'm calling on Congress to pass the American jobs act, so we can rebuild our country, our schools, our roads, our bridges, and put our veterans, construction workers, teachers, cops, and firefighters back to work.

And that's why I hope all of us can draw strength from the example of our men and women in uniform.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Republicans, for their part, their address today calls on the president to drop his jobs plan and embrace their jobs plan. Senator Richard Burr of North Carolina says the president's plan simply spends more money. The GOP plan will increase business competiveness and energy independence.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. RICHARD BURR, (R) NORTH CAROLINA: The American people are hurting. And our economy is in grave danger. It's time for Congress to focus on the American people and not on how difficult change may be. It's time to stop playing games and get on with the serious business the American people expect from us. It's time to reform the obstacles to job creation in economic growing. It's time we pursue common sense solutions that make America more competitive and put our nation back on the right track.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: It's six minutes past the hour now. Let's turn to a story out of Glendale, Arizona, where tonight there been be a vigil for five-year-old Jahessye Shockley. Family members say she wandered out of her home while her older siblings were supposed to be watching her. Police are calling finding Jahessye their number one priority right now while they investigate hundreds leads.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SGT. BRENT COOMBS, GLENDALE, ARIZONA POLICE DEPARTMENT: We have not named any suspects in the case. We do have many persons of interest.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: So persons of interest, as you heard there. We'll be talking more about this case in just a moment with the grandmother and aunt of little Jahessye. They are standing by. We'll have that conversation for you in just a moment.

Now, to another missing child story you have been hearing an awful lot about. A cadaver dog now got a hit in the Missouri home where an 11- month-old girl has been missing since early October. The dog picked up the scent of a body. This came near the parents' bed. Baby Lisa's mother admitted recently that she was drunk the night the baby disappeared. Police did a new search of the home after the cadaver dog went in. No charges yet have been filed.

Seven minutes past the hour now. Turn to a story about rocker John Bon Jovi. He's doing his part to help Americans struggling in this jobs crisis. The New Jersey native and his wife have just opened a pay what you can restaurant in the town of Red Banks, New Jersey, called Soul Kitchen. There are no prices on the menu. Diners leave a donation or they don't have to leave any money. They can volunteer in the kitchen.

Bon Jovi is very hands on, scrubs pots and pans, and runs the place. The fruits and vegetables come from their own garden. Other food is donated by Whole Foods.

Eight minutes past the hour now. Say good morning to Mr. Reynolds Wolf. Hello.

REYNOLDS WOLF, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Hey, T.J. Holmes. We are watching a lot of things going on around the country in terms of your weather, including a chance for severe storms in the southern plains. We're also watching something else. Although the Atlantic hurricane season is beginning to slow down a bit, we're seeing development in parts of the western Caribbean. We're going to talk about that coming up. There is now a 60 percent chance it may become another named storm. If it does become a storm, its name will be Rina. To me, it spells possibly trouble. We'll talk about that in just a few, T.J.

HOLMES: Reynolds, thank you. We'll see you here in just a moment.

And I want our viewers to stick around. We're going to tell you more about a case of a missing child, but not the little girl you've been hearing so much about in Missouri, but actually a missing girl in Arizona, baby Jahessye. Her grandmother and aunt will be here with me in just a moment. Stay here.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: It's 11 minutes past the hour now.

I want to turn to the search for five-year-old Jahessye Shockley. The little girl went missing 11 days ago on October 11. She was home. Her older siblings were keeping an eye on her. Apparently she wandered off. Now Glendale, Arizona police are now desperate for any information about this little girl.

Jahessye's grandmother Shirley Johnson and Jahessye' aunt Josie Hunter are both joining me now live from Arizona. Ladies, thank you very much and thank you for being with me under these trying circumstances. I'll start with you, grandma. What do you think might have happened to Jahessye?

SHIRLEY JOHNSON, MISSING GIRL'S GRANDMOTHER: I don't know what could have happened to Jahessye. My feeling is someone snatched her up, probably as soon as she walked out of that front door.

HOLMES: And Josie, to you, the older siblings that were at home that day, is Jahessye the type to wander off or wander far away from home? JOSIE HUNTER, MISSING GIRL'S AUNT: I wouldn't -- I don't think so. I think she knows better than to just wander off. I think whoever it was -- whoever she went with, she was comfortable with.

HOLMES: Well, I guess that brings up something I will get into a moment. I want to ask one other question and I'll ask this for you, grandma, or both of you can answer this. What have police told but leads or possible suspects? They say she has persons of interests, but have they given you any details about who they might be looking at or what avenue the investigation is going?

JOHNSON: They haven't told me that they have any suspects, any leads. They tell me they're just checking out people and the mother is not a suspect. And I read that they said no one was in the home a suspect at this time.

HOLMES: Go ahead, Josie.

HUNTER: I know they said they're getting tips every day and they're following up on tips, but they have not informed us of any real leads.

HOLMES: And Josie, this is a painful question, but these questions are out there now. You said you think she had to, given her personality, probably went with somebody she's comfortable with. There are so many reports out now that possibly the mother is being looked at. So you all tell me, do you all believe at all or are you sure in your heart of hearts that Jahessye's mother has nothing to do with her disappearance?

JOHNSON: I feel comfortable saying that. I just don't think she's capable of that, to do anything to her child. I just can't see that. I think the baby -- she was real friendly. She knew a lot of people in that complex. I know there's so many registered sex offenders and predators in that area, in the immediate area, I found out. And her, I just -- in my heart, I don't feel that.

HOLMES: Do you all think this possibly, and Josie, I'll ask you this, it possibly even hurts the investigation in some way because people that don't know, your sister does have a history, Jahessye's mother did do some time for child abuse. And there is a history there. But do you think that clouds the investigation or that's an important part of the investigation?

HUNTER: Well, it's definitely an important part, but I believe it is clouding the investigation because I think they're focusing too long on Teresa, and I'm hoping they're not just focusing on her and letting other things go because of their thoughts about her past. I'm hoping -- I believe everyone should be looked into, I, myself, and anyone that had contact with her. So I don't -- I'm not upset with the police for -- or the investigators for looking into Teresa. I believe everyone should be looked into.

HOLMES: It sounds like you're saying, as well, you don't think she had anything to do with it, but police have to do what they have to do. And Ms. Johnson, I'll come back to you now, and this got attention and you weren't shy about saying that you were upset that this case was not getting a lot of national attention. Why do you think it was not?

JOHNSON: Because I say that because there's no way that you should stop looking for a five-year-old child that come up missing after two days. When I first arrived from California, I was so happy, I saw the command post and all this activity was going on. But not once did I see somebody going through that house, which I just assumed they probably did before I got there, but they was just sitting at this command post all day every day.

And then, after the day after I got there, they just left. You know, they told me they was in, moving the command post. But you don't stop looking for a child after two days, take an Amber alert down after two days and just -- and we don't hear anything else from anyone for over a week until I just was outraged about it and started speaking out.

HOLMES: And were you disappointed -- I know there has been local coverage, but were you disappointed that this case was not on the national radar?

JOHNSON: I was very disappointed because I automatically assumed when a media person came up to me and was asking about my grandbaby that it was, it would be put out to the affiliates and to the -- throughout the nation and throughout the globe. I just assumed that. And it didn't happen. It was kept right here in Arizona, not even to the other side of Arizona and Mesa. People were saying that they didn't even hear about it. People, colleagues in California hadn't heard about it until I had to get up and say, outrage.

HOLMES: So Shirley Johnson and Josie Hunter, little Jahessye's aunt and grandmother, thank you all for being here. I know it's a trying time. We're getting that story out and her picture. Thank you both. We'll follow up with you if that's OK and hopefully little Jahessye will come home. Thank you both so much.

JOHNSON: Can I justify say one thing?

HOLMES: Go ahead, Miss Johnson.

JOHNSON: Yes. If we can possibly get the database maybe the FBI more involved. I know they say they're involved to oversee the Glendale police department and helping with more resources and get some expertise in looking for missing children, maybe we can do that, because I know it's issues going on with Arizona and their ability to follow through on crimes with children.

HOLMES: Miss Johnson, absolutely. Thank you once again you both for being here, and we'll follow and stay on this story, as well. Our best to the family going through this trying time.

JOHNSON: Thank you for having me.

HOLMES: No problem. It's 18 minutes past the hour. I want our viewers to stick around here. I'm going the take a commercial break, guys, so we can do this conversation right. I'm here with Gaetane Borders, the president of Peas in their Pod, a nonprofit organization dedicated to locating missing minority children. We're going to have a conversation about why maybe this case is one that you haven't heard so much about and get her reaction to what you just heard from the family members of little Jahessye. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: It's 20 minutes past the hour now. You were just hearing from the grandmother and aunt of missing five-year-old Jahessye. Little Jahessye Shockley has been missing out in Arizona for five days. She just wandered out of the home and she hasn't been seen since. Gaetane Borders is president of Peas in their Pod, a nonprofit organization dedicated to missing minority children. She's here with me once again. What was your reaction to what you were hearing from the family members there?

GAETANE BORDERS, PRESIDENT, PEAS IN THEIR PODS: To be honest, in what they were saying, it's something that we hear a lot from the families we speak to, the outcry of where is everybody? No one is supporting us. I feel hopefully that they're going through that situation and I'm happy that they were able to come on and get that national coverage.

HOLMES: Some people will hear that interview and that answer and say, it's all in their heads. Of course the local press, of course the authorities are going to show up no matter if the child is black, white, or brown.

BORDERS: And that's not true. And as you heard from the grandmother, Shirley, she has been going after the press and trying to get support. And she's gotten it, but it's taken a lot of energy. So that's one of the things we tell families, you should appoint somebody to be your point person to do the legwork because it is something that needs to be done.

HOLMES: You have to just go call the media out. She didn't do it this morning, but she did. She said you know what, we're not getting attention because this is a little black child.

BORDERS: But you know what, it kind of goes back to what we said earlier in the segment about toeing that fine line about calling the media out, but then also coming across as being angry, and sometimes it's hard for people to do, but I think it's very important to pick up the phone and call the news desk, call everybody you know.

HOLMES: You see a lot of these cases more so than we pay attention to, more so than most people out there because of the site and the stories you know. Hearing this story of five-year-old baby Jahessye, walked out of the house and vanishes. She's old enough to where she knows where her house is if she goes across the street.

BORDERS: Absolutely. Absolutely.

HOLMES: What does this tell but this case?

BORDERS: The one thing they shared is there are a lot of pedophiles reportedly in their area. I think that's something people need to pay attention to and do a Google search of known registered offenders in their area because that's a problem. It only takes a quick second to abduct a child. I'm very disturbed by that and that the others were in the house alone supervising. There's a lot of issues to this case. But at the end of the day she's described as an intelligent little girl who wanted to be a ballerina, and she's gone.

HOLMES: Does it muddy the waters, as the aunt was saying there, to be talking so much about the history of the mother who did do time in prison for child abuse?

BORDERS: Sure. No doubt, it is an important fact in the case, but at the end of the day a lot of energy should be put also in finding Jahessye. But, you know, you can't erase the fact that the mom does this history, but it's all about Jahessye.

HOLMES: Gaetane Borders, thank you so much. Unfortunately we keep meeting on these types of occasions, but still it's good to get these stories out.

BORDERS: Thank you.

HOLMES: Thank you so much.

We're at 23 minutes past the hour now. We're going to take a pivot to politics and a major event for Christian conservatives taking place in Iowa with, the Faith and Freedom Coalition banquet tonight. Six of the eight Republican candidates will be there. CNN political reporter Shannon Travis in Des Moines this morning. Shannon, good morning to you. I said six of the eight. Which two are brave enough not to show up in Iowa?

SHANNON TRAVIS, CNN POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: It's one of those times where we care more about who is not showing up than who is showing up. Those two are Jon Huntsman, the former Utah governor, and Mitt Romney.

Now, Mitt Romney is interesting, T.J. Mitt Romney was just here on Thursday. I was there with him for two of his three events. He campaigned all across the state, was speaking with a lot of economic conservatives. But he left Iowa. He's not staying for this gathering of about 1,000 conservative at this Faith and Freedom forum tonight. It's not really clear why. I spoke with the president of this group. He's pretty angry that Romney is not coming to this. He's saying, you know what, he's going to need us if he's the nominee.

And I have a few quotes for him. The first one, "Tell me what there is to fear by coming though event to making their case. Why have the six other candidates accepted and perceived frontrunner decided not to come?" another quote from him, T.J., "Apparently Romney does not want to be in a setting with social and economy conservatives." So that's coming from Steve Scheffler.

I said to Scheffler, hey, Romney's been to other gatherings, large gatherings of social conservatives. He was just at that Values Voters Summit two weeks ago in D.C., you remember, where the pastor called Mormonism a cult. And Scheffler says, you know what, it doesn't matter. Social conservatives, Christian evangelicals here in Iowa, they're going to make the general in the caucuses and in the general election, and Romney needs to be here, T.J.

HOLMES: OK, and not to offend the good folks there in Iowa putting on this event, but you know what? OK, so what he didn't come to your event. What makes you such a big deal? Answer that question. That's not to offend, but answer that question, why this event is important?

TRAVIS: No, it's not to offend. It is an excellent question. But here is what a lot of people are building up as Romney's strategy. You have Perry, Bachmann, and even Herman Cain going after the religious conservative vote here in Iowa. They really come out in strong numbers in the general election.

Some people are surmising, speculating, let's say, that Romney is like let Bachmann and Perry and Cain fight out the social evangelical vote. I'll go after the economic conservative vote and even maybe some disgruntled Democrats here in Iowa. Remember, T.J., he's been leading or on top, competing strongly in Iowa, and he has only been about three times since the beginning of the cycle. Is this the strategy number one? Secondly, if it is his strategy, will it work? It seems to be working so far.

HOLMES: Shannon Travis for us in Iowa, always good to have you here with us. Shannon, thanks so much.

HOLMES: We're getting close to the bottom of the hour here now. And Majmoud Ahmadinejad, the president of Iran, he has a message for the American people. We'll have a little more on that in just a moment.

Also, another message saying. hey, it wasn't us in an exclusive CNN interview. Stay here.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: We're coming at the bottom of the hour now. We turn to Libya and more now on the death of former dictator Moammar Gadhafi. His body now is being held in cold storage, literally in a meat locker in Misrata. His burial is on hold. His family wants the body, but the United Nations and two major human rights groups wants an investigation to respond to question about how the former dictator really died.

Meanwhile U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta talked about the joint operation that led to Gadhafi's death.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LEON PANETTA, DEFENSE SECRETARY: It wasn't a U.S. drone combined with other NATO planes that fired on a convoy. And that, I think, is a reflection of the partnership that came together in NATO and in Libya.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: NATO says they'll skill back operations in Libya by the end of the month but won't decide when to end operations altogether until sometime next week. Here is a direct quote. "We love the people of the United States." That is from Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the president of Iran. He says we just don't love the government of the United States. That's just one of the things we're hearing from him in a new interview. He spoke exclusive with our Fareed Zakaria about the people of the United States and also about the allegations that Iran was planning to assassinate a Saudi Arabian ambassador on U.S. soil.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAHMOUD AHMADINEJAD, IRANIAN PRESIDENT: Do we need really to kill the ambassador of a brotherly country? What is the reason and the interest behind that? We are civilized nation. We are the strong logic. And with a strong logic, we talk to all nations. We never have any intention to hurt Saudi Arabia.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Now, you can hear the rest of the interview with Iran's president, including what he has to say about developments in Iraq, on a special edition of "FAREED ZAKARIA GPS" on Sunday at 10:00 eastern Sunday morning.

The man first in line for Saudi Arabia's thrown has died in a New York hospital. Crown prince Sultan was the defense minister and one of the most visible members of the royal family. He was thought to be in his 80s. The Saudi government says the prince died from an illness, but they were not specific. Over the past few years he had reportedly been battling cancer.

After years of war, the president says U.S. troops in Iraq are coming home for the holidays, the military decision for sure. But is there a political component to this? We will debate whit our political favorites. Lenny and Maria, they're coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: Welcome back, everybody. I'm T.J. Holmes. Give you a look at some of the stories making headlines today. People in Bangkok, Thailand, they are bracing for some serious flooding, and the forecast suggests the worst is yet to come. More than 100,000 people have been evacuated. Death toll already more than 350.

Also, Leon Panetta is in Asia today. He's in Bali and Indonesia, scheduled stops in Tokyo, Japan, Seoul, South Korea later this week.

So back here at home, some distressing statistics from the FBI. The agency says the number of gang members have spiked 40 percent in the past three years. The FBI also says the increase could be the result of better reporting and not actual recruitment figures.

President Obama has announced all U.S. troops will be pulled out of Iraq by the end of the year and the war will be over.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) OBAMA: After nearly nine years, America's war in Iraq will be over. Over the next two months, our troops in Iraq, tens of thousands of them will back up their gear and board convoys for the journey home. The last American soldier will cross the border of Iraq with their heads held high, proud of their success, and knowing the American people stand united for the support of their troops.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: The president says this was a promise kept. So how is this going to impact the presidential campaign? Joining me, our political favorites, political contributor and Democratic strategist Maria Cardona, and Republican strategist Lenny McAllister. We'll get into the president here in just a moment, but as we always do, Maria, tell me, what was your political highlight of the week?

MARIA CARDONA, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: There was so much this week, T.J., I have three, short and sweet. The wilting of Herman Cain, the seeming invincibility of President Obama on foreign policy, and the third one is, in order to save millionaires and billionaires half a cent on the dollar, the GOP chooses not to save jobs for teachers, policemen, and firefighters.

HOLMES: Maria, you give her an inch and she'll take your whole segment, Lenny.

(LAUGHTER)

HOLMES: Lenny, what was your political highlight this week? Can you follow the rules?

LENNY MCALLISTER, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: I can give you one. But she's going to throw that "millionaires and billionaires" in there without a doubt every single week. Listen, it is keeping a campaign promise, keeping the peace, and keeping America number one militarily. We'll soon find out. Thank you, president Obama.

HOLMES: Maria, with the president now, bin Laden is dead, al Awlaki dead in Yemen, Gadhafi, gone. Does the president now -- he's really shoring up that foreign policy and defense part of his resume. But Maria, is that the part of his resume voters are going to care about next year?

CARDONA: Well, I'll say this. There is no doubt that foreign policy is not the number one issue for voters as they're going to go into next year's election. The president doesn't believe that, the White House doesn't believe that. This is not 2004. This is 2011 when we are in a very fragile economy and jobs is number one. There's no doubt about that.

But what it does do, T.J., is that it solidifies this president both on foreign policy as well as a credibility and decisive commander in chief, a credible and decisive leader, and it continues to add to that gut feeling for voters. They like him personally. It's clear that he's a decisive leader. All of those things, I think, will help him as we go into the next election. HOLMES: Lenny, can you really argue with that? We're talking about things of historic proportions have taken place on his watch.

MCALLISTER: It's going to help him definitely when it comes to a foreign policy perspective. When it comes to certain candidates, such as Herman Cain, the more President Obama does on foreign policy, the more it hurts Herman Cain.

However, you look at somebody like Mitt Romney who has done some things out there across the world, across the global spectrum, it doesn't hurt him as much.

With that said, when you're going from 39,000 to 150 within a matter of two and a half months, you start talking about a responsible end to the Iraq war, that word "responsible" starts coming into play. Those such as Romney or Huntsman, who is so far behind, and probably even a Gingrich if he's able to creep up the polls, they're going to have opportunity to attack this president even on foreign policy, despite the successes he's had, because let's be honest, number two in foreign policy, number one is the fact that 400,000 new unemployment claims game in again this week. That is going to be the number one issue when it comes to 2012.

HOLMES: Lenny, let's stay on that topic of jobs, the economy and the fix for the jobs and the economy, nine-nine-nine . Oh, I'm sorry, it's nine-zero-nine now. I don't know exactly what it is. Is that going to be part of his problem? Is this time, Lenny, for him to fizzle? Nine-nine-nine sounds catchy. People can remember. Now we've got a nine-zero-nine, and he didn't have the best debate performance. He was really attacked on this. Is this his moment now where he starts to fade?

MCALLISTER: It may be. What he needs to do is clarify. One of the things that Herman Cain has not done very well that nine-nine-nine did for him is be very, very clear with something. People can take something tangible, clear and go promote it for him.

What he did not do a good job of doing was say, listen, we are replacing one tax code at the federal level with another tax code. He allowed the other Republicans to say, hey, is this another tax you'll have to pay. No, it's not. It's swapping one out for another. And the longer he keeps this foggy, the longer he's going to have to wade through this. The more he does this, the more you'll see him slide back into the pack and you'll see Romney continue to stay out as frontrunner.

MCALLISTER: Maria still needs some credit for the bold plan and maybe they can work out the details later?

CARDONA: No. I think that -- I agree with Lenny, it has become absolutely way too muddled for this to become anything credible. Like you said, it was nine-nine-nine. Now it's nine-zero-nine. People are still looking for the 411 in terms of what does this mean.

And I think more importantly, T.J., this is going to continue to add to my headline about Herman Cain in terms of his wilting in the national spotlight. The nine-nine-nine is one thing. But he also has rocked back two instances of pretty important issues this week in terms -- you know, when you come to a conservative support. The first one was on abortion, and the second one was on comments that he made to this network about whether he would negotiate with terrorists.

So again, those are two things that he had to walk back, re-clarify, and that is telling voters, in my mind and I think in their gut, that he's not somebody who is ready for primetime.

HOLMES: Lenny, Maria --

MCALLISTER: This is why it's not going to be Herman Cain. You think about the Muslim statement, the abortion, negotiating with terrorists. I'm telling you, regardless of whether the conservatives like this or not, it's not going to be Cain, it's not going to be Bachmann. It's probably going to be Romney. If it's anybody that comes of the pack, it will be Gingrich, not anybody else.

HOLMES: Lenny is a bold predictor. He will tell you exactly who is not going to win. He has no problem with that. Lenny, Maria, missed you both in Las Vegas. Wish you could have been out there.

CARDONA: We wish that, too, T.J. Next time.

HOLMES: Good to see you both.

MCALLISTER: Thanks, everybody. Have a good weekend.

HOLMES: Well, 41 minutes past the hour. The world population will hit a milestone in the near future, but the U.S. population is headed in the other direction. We'll tell you why.

Also this week "Newsweek" released its list of greenest companies in the world. The magazine looked at environment footprints, management policies, and programs and reporting practices of big companies. And Dell Computers comes in at number five. Baxter, a diversified health company is next. And at number three, Sprint Nextel. After the break, the top two greenest companies in the U.S.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: About a quarter to the top of the hour now. Before the break, we started showing you the list of five greenest companies according to "Newsweek" magazine. Hewlett Packard comes in as number two, and topping the list of the greenest companies, IBM.

Meanwhile, next week the world's population will reach seven billion. While babies are born worldwide every five seconds, the birth rate in the U.S. is actually going down. Senior medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen has more on this week's "Health for Her."

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Any parent can tell you that kids can be expensive. And as the economy has gotten worse, people are choosing to have fewer children. If you compare 2007 when the economy was doing well with 2010, we're talking about 300,000 fewer children.

Take a look at this graph and you can see the correlation. On the far left, since 2002 until 2007, things were going pretty well and that number is going up, up, up. People were choosing to have more children. It hit its peak in 2007 with the highest birth rate in that time period and then it's been coming down ever since.

And here's exactly how expensive children can be. It costs between $8,000 and $20,000 to raise a child, depending on, well, how fancy the clothes are, whether they go to private or public school, all of that. And if you look at the numbers this way, from birth to 18 the cost of raising a child is between $206,000 and $477,000, with housing, food and child care being the biggest expenses.

Now, it seems that a lot of women are saying, we're going to delay this or we're not going to have a child right now. That makes a lot of sense for a lot of families. But also remember, if you think all of us have children when we have more money in our bank account, that could be a little problematic. You may be so old that you need fertility treatments, and that can cost a lot of money. Back to you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: So it may be the most expensive home ever. Star NFL player Troy Polamalu made that call under some unusual circumstances. And the NFL is not giving him a pass. Stick around.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: Ten minutes at the top of the hour now. I'll give you a look at what's happening in sports. This is part of football, as we know. But the Louisville coach is confirming quarterback Anthony Conner broke his neck in a game last night. You see it there on that hit. That's him in the red jersey laying on the ground. He is not, however, paralyzed.

Now, Conner took a knee to the helmet. You're seeing the hit here. There he is going for that tackle. Trainers worked on him for some time out there. He is able to move his feet and a hand as he was taken to the hospital. Still not sure what the effects will be long- term, but they say right now he is not paralyzed.

Let's turn to the NBA now. Still no end in sight for the lockout. Three days of negotiations. They were in there for 30 plus hours with the federal mediator and the owners and players still can't come to an agreement. So now losing the entire season is always in the back of people's minds. But the further we go and the closer we get to the holidays, it becomes a real possibility there won't be a season at all.

And my personal outrage story of the morning, although I've learned a lot of you all don't agree with me, $10,000 for a phone call. That's how much it cost Steeler safety and defensive player of the year Troy Polamalu. You see him on his cell phone during the game on the sideline. Now, he wasn't ordering a pizza or calling his bookie. He called his wife to reassure her that he was OK after that hard hit. He was suffering from concussion-like symptoms. They had pulled him out of the game. He called her to say "I'm OK." The league has a no cell phone use policy for the sidelines. Of course, it makes sense why. But there are mixed reactions as to whether the league went too far with the fine -- $10,000. Was that necessary? You all have been chiming in on a major way on this story today. Hit me up, continue to do so @tjholmes on Twitter.

Halloween is just around the corner. We wanted to ask you what is the top haunted house in the U.S.? Is it the Queen Mary, the Stanley Hotel, the Hawthorne Hotel, or Bourbon Orleans? The answer for you after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: All right, as we get close to the top of the hour, Halloween is right around the corner. People talk about haunted houses, maybe haunted hotels. We were asking what is the top haunted hotel in the U.S.? According to Travelocity, the answer is b, the Stanley Hotel out in Colorado. There have been reports there of phantom piano players, ghostly guests. Reynolds is not buying this. Do you believe in haunted hotels and haunted houses?

WOLF: I don't take anything off the table.

HOLMES: Really?

WOLF: It's not an unusual thing. More and more people are doing this. Believe it or not, according to money.com, Americans are spending lots of money on this holiday, on Halloween. In fact, they spend over $6 billion last year alone. It was a bad economy that is still pretty impressive. This year, it will be interesting.

Regardless, Americans are jazzed at this holiday and they're traveling a bit for Halloween. I had the opportunity to go to Savannah, did a little ghost hunting. Check it out. It was fun.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WOLF: I'm coming from Savannah, Georgia, which is what some consider to be America's most haunting city. We're currently outside a cemetery the final resting place to 11,000 souls. What better place to be to get into that holiday spirit?

If you're searching for a trip with chills, the first step is to see if your destination, like the city of Savannah, is truly haunting.

What makes a haunted city?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Savannah has a lot of tragic events that have happened here. You've got fires, fevers, plagues, war, and that spurs a lot of haunting.

WOLF: One of the best ways to connect with the history of these places is with a ghost tour.

What advice would you give someone who goes on these tours?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If you let the storyteller's word have an effect on you, then you can experience something that happened hundreds of years ago.

WOLF: Some cities even offer places for you to drink and dine with the past.

One of the coolest things about going on a ghost hunting tour in Savannah is the idea that if you have a non-breakable cup with 16 ounces or less, pick it up at any bar, you can actually take your spirits with you out on the street as you learn about spirits.

And if you're looking to exchange your fright all night long, search for hotels or bed and breakfasts with an eerie past. You can even call and ask if they have a haunted room. Just don't watch the movie "The Shining" before your trip.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WOLF: What better way to ring in Halloween than getting together with ten or 15 of your friends, go to a place like Savannah, taking advantage of the ability of what you saw on that screen and walk around.

HOLMES: A lot of people are going to be seeing them later as they watch football.

WOLF: Yes, they will.

HOLMES: Reynolds, thank you.

It's getting close to the top of the hour. We're going to reset and have the top stories for you in just a moment. Stay with us. We continue.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)