Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Saturday Morning News
Reflecting on the War in Iraq; Governor Haley Endorses Romney; Senate Approves Tax Cut Extension; Deadly Storm Hits Philippines; Georgia County Suspends Band Activities; Biltmore Christmas Display Up; Iraq Veterans Continue to Return From War
Aired December 17, 2011 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: Now from the CNN Center, this is your CNN SATURDAY MORNING for this December 17th. I'm T.J. Holmes.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, baby.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: And we are seeing a lot of scenes like this after years of fighting in Iraq. U.S. service members are being reunited with their families.
Also, a U.S. Marine has an unusual request for the First Lady. You want to go out with me?
Also, counting the rest of today, there are just eight shopping days left until Christmas. Do you actually know what not to buy?
And meanwhile, less than three weeks to go until the Iowa caucus, the state's largest newspaper is getting ready to endorse its Republican pick for the White House. The Des Moines Register will make that announcement a little later today.
And while we wait Mitt Romney picked up a key endorsement in another early voting State. We're talking about South Carolina where he's campaigning today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NIKKI HALEY (R), GOVERNOR, SOUTH CAROLINA: It is with great pride, great respect, great support that Michael and I are very proud to say that we are endorsing Governor Mitt Romney for President of the United States.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Now, that's South Carolina. That's a nice endorsement. Let me bring in our political reporter, Shannon Travis who is in Iowa for us this morning. Tell us how big of a deal is this Des Moines Register endorsement? SHANNON TRAVIS, CNN POLITICAL REPORTER: Well, it's going to be a pretty big deal, T.J. I mean as these candidates rack up prize after prize, little mini prizes as they try and win the overall sweepstakes. This Des Moines Register endorsement tonight is one of the dearest coins.
I mean, it's an influential newspaper, you've got obviously here in Iowa a lot of people still undecided. And so this could the sway them towards a particular candidate, tip them over the -- tip the scales for one candidate or another.
But the other thing interesting about this Des Moines Register endorsement which we are expecting tonight around 8:00 Eastern they're going to put it online is that in the past, it hasn't necessarily meant a win for the person who wins the endorsement. We know that in 2008, they endorsed John McCain and Hillary Clinton.
McCain came in fourth in the Iowa caucuses and Hillary Clinton came in third. So it doesn't necessarily translate to a win but it still influential especially with so many undecided here in Iowa -- T.J.
HOLMES: A lot of undecided. But from the polls we see and the people that have seemingly made up their minds already, we've got a poll we can put up. It looks like -- what -- Gingrich he has been in the lead in a lot of places, but still, kind of tight there. Romney, Paul coming in second there both at 17 percent.
(CROSSTALK)
TRAVIS: Yes.
HOLMES: But I know there are a lot of polls floating around Iowa and really all over the country. But are things -- is there an indication that things are tightening and maybe Gingrich isn't like he seem to be running away with things there for a couple of weeks?
TRAVIS: Well it's anything that we're seeing from these polls is that no one has a solid -- a solid lead. It seems to that the polls are fluctuating. You just mentioned that ARG poll, Gingrich is ahead in that poll. But we've seen other polls where Mitt Romney was ahead or strong -- stronger.
We've seen other polls where Gingrich is maybe slipping a little bit. So this is still a very volatile race, very unpredictable anything could happen. Which is why you see some of the candidates out today and they will be out this Christmas week essentially campaigning.
Let's cover a little bit where some of the candidates will be here in Iowa. You've got Santorum, you've got Bachmann, you have Texas Governor Rick Perry. In South Carolina, as you've just mentioned a few minutes ago, you've got Governor Romney, Mitt Romney.
In Virginia, Newt Gingrich and his wife Callista will be signing some books, one of her new children's books. And in New Hampshire, you have John Huntsman. So only a few weeks away, a lot of activity and it's really important for these candidates to get out there and stump at the very last minute because this will be again, as I said before a huge sweepstakes win for whoever wins the Iowa caucus -- T.J.
HOLMES: Shannon Travis, thank you, as always.
To our viewers a programming note here for you. You can join our Fredericka Whitfield every Sunday afternoon 4:00 Eastern for a special hour dedicated to the presidential contenders in the 2012 race.
Other development we have this morning out of Capitol Hill, just finished up some work for the end of the year. A big vote just took place moments ago. Kate Bolduan is on Capitol Hill for us. This is the vote that could save people money at the beginning of the year, at least keep them from seeing a tax increase at the beginning of the year.
KATE BOLDUAN, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: That's absolutely right. So the Senate just a short time ago they passed this extension of the payroll tax cut, as well as an extension of unemployment assistance but only a two-month extension.
We'll get a little bit more to that in a second, T.J. But I do want to bring you also the latest, the vote just wrapped up, just a few seconds ago on the massive spending bill to keep the government funded through the end of September as well as avert a government shutdown and the Senate passed that.
The vote was 67 - 32. The House approved that same measure yesterday, so the Senate has passed it. Now it will head to the President.
And we just -- a short time ago, also we received updated guidance from the White House that we will be hearing from the President in about a little over in an hour. So we'll be expecting the President to touch on probably both of these measures having to do with funding the government as well extending this payroll tax cuts and to get his views on that -- T.J.
HOLMES: Why two months on the payroll tax cut? We'll have to have this argument all over again in two months.
BOLDUAN: I can tell, you're so excited about that as well.
HOLMES: Yes.
BOLDUAN: This two-month extension comes because, quite honestly, congressional leaders, they could not reach agreement on the more comprehensive deal that they had been working towards. They were looking for an extension of a year extending the payroll tax cuts for a year as well as extending unemployment assistance for a year.
They could not agree, they could not bridge the divide, bridge the gap that remained on how to pay for the package, how to cover the costs of these tax cuts and the other measures that would be part of the deal. And they simply said that they ran out of time and as Senator Reid said yesterday, as they had come of the meeting with all of their members he said it was as good as we -- it was the best that we could get right now. So they are kind of kicking the can down the road, they're punting this until past the holiday season. So they'll be able to have this battle -- a fresh battle over this payroll tax cut and believe me, they will be battling over this. I believe it will begin in March.
HOLMES: All right. I'll see new you two months. Always a pleasure. I can't wait.
BOLDUAN: Right, awesome.
HOLMES: All right, thanks Kate.
BOLDUAN: Thanks T.J.
HOLMES: I want to turn now at six minutes past the hour to a major weather story, not here in this country, but in the Philippines. They got hit hard by a major tropical storm. And listen to this. These numbers have been going up throughout the morning that we've been on the air up to 436 people dead now. Still you've got over 150 missing. Officials are investigating reports that an entire village may have been washed away.
I talked to a journalist who is in Manila, Maria Ressa is her name. She said flooding is the big problem.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARIA RESSA, JOURNALIST: The tropical storm dropped more than 10 hours of heavy rain Friday night. And its effects, not the storm itself, actually caused the casualties and the most damage. The government says that it warned residents to evacuate the areas that they felt would be prone to damage, but most of the residents ignored it because these areas have not been traditionally hit by flash floods and landslides.
Friday night, the flood waters rose alarmingly fast reaching roof level while residents were sleeping. Nearly all the casualties died in the flash flood, five were killed in a landslide triggered by the rain according to the national officials of the coordinating and disaster council.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: All right. And we'll bring in our Reynolds Wolf. Reynolds, ten hours of rain just sitting there and being dumped?
REYNOLDS WOLF, AMS METEOROLOGIST: I don't care where you are on the planet. You have that much rain falling with that much intensity, it's going to pile up and it's going to cause problems. And that certainly was the case in Manila in the Philippines.
What's interesting about this is that this wasn't even a direct hit. Although whenever you have a tropical system makes landfall one of those damaging things, one of the things that certainly is the biggest factor of lives lost, it's always going to be a flooding situation. And if it happens to be a storm surge or the heavy rain obviously, this situation, it was the rain. Here is the center of the storm. You can just make out that deep convection. If you even look at the outflow, stretching over 1,000 miles, almost touching the southern end of Japan clear down to way through the Philippines.
But notice this one little element right here that's moving right through that goes right through Manila. That is the thing that spawned all the heavy rainfall again and again. It's just that outer band that came sweeping through there.
Wind was not a factor at all just the heavy rain and the over- saturation on those hillsides, that high elevation. And then for course when the -- ground got really too heavy probably took its toll -- and that's where you had the -- the flash flooding and you even had some of the mudslides and of course that huge loss of life.
Unfortunately, those numbers, the fatalities are probably going to go up over the next several hours and perhaps several days. It's just a catastrophic event, no question about it.
Wind is certainly a big component when you have these kinds of systems. Wind will also be a huge story in Southern California where today we have the Santa Ana that are going to cranking up again. They've -- really an issue over the last several weeks and today it will no exception.
Winds going anywhere from 45 to 50 mile per hour gusts, 60-mile-per- hour gusts. You see the video here. Those tall, big advertisement signs, the big billboard signs. Those things get knocked over very quickly very easily when you have these winds. It's almost like giant sails and a huge flipper ship. And we're going to see that happen again now with the signs and possibly the some tree damage when the tree is knocked over. Well they hit power lines and when you have the power lines knocked over you have, of course, the power outages.
So that could be an issue. Anyone trying to catch a flight in or out of Los Angeles or San Diego, you might have some issues there. Anyone driving in some of the higher elevations up there of trying to go towards big bear, or anywhere in the San Gabriels you've got snow that might be an issue, too.
Four to eight inches of snow from about 5,000 to 10,000 feet and upwards that could be a big problem for you. And we're going to see much of that begin to lift its way over the next several days over the four corners eventually moving into Texas in the form of rain mostly for Texas, but in the highest elevations, once again, expect snow.
And as we fast-forward into Monday, and Monday almost in the mid-day heavy rain in areas moves into Lobek Amarillo (ph) area into Texas. That's a snapshot on your forecast, T.J. Time for you to play ballgame.
HOLMES: All right, Reynolds thank you, kind sir.
And a story this morning that sparked a lot of debates in our newsroom, a Marine. Pretty brave guy. But this was really brave. Meet one of the bravest maybe we have in all of the military. He was brave enough to ask his boss's wife out on a date. Yes, the First Lady. We'll tell you how this worked out.
And also coming next, those who stood in harm's way are coming home from Iraq.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If you're right now thanks for serving us and our country.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Well, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta is in Libya this morning. He's meeting with officials of the transitional government that took over after the ouster of long time leader Moammar Gadhafi. Panetta says he's confident that these new leaders will achieve a successful transition to democracy.
Also Army Private Bradley Manning is spending his 24th birthday at a pre-trial hearing. Manning is accused of providing hundreds of thousands of secret U.S. documents to WikiLeaks which made the information public. That's him, the shorter guy you can't see him that well there but the shorter guy you were seeing in that video. Yesterday, the presiding judge rejected a motion by defense lawyers challenging his impartiality.
Manning's lawyers are appealing the decision to the Army court of Criminal Appeals.
Well, after more than eight years of war, the last of America's military forces will soon be out of Iraq. We've been seeing so many of these great home comings. Here are some of the sweet reunions between troops and their families.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If you were here right now, I would tell you thanks for serving us and our country.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm happy, I'm so happy. I'm happy.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It is a tremendous feeling and one that very few moments in life parallels. I'm really thankful to be home.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I love you.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Home, baby. Oh my God.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Mommy.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What a surprise, what a shock. And this is the best Mother's Day present.
ROBIN MEADE, HLN HOST: I have a surprise for you. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm just very proud to be the mother of a soldier.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Those never get old. Love seeing those. A lot of brave men and women coming back from the war zone.
But one Marine is really brave. Maybe I should just call him bold for not something he did over in Iraq or Afghanistan, but something he did yesterday at a Toys for Tot drive.
You see that young fellow right there? This is Washington yesterday. That's Lance Corporal Aaron Leaks. He asked the first lady out. Are you hearing me right, folks? He asked her if she would be his date to the Marine Ball next year. Yes, the married first lady that happens to be married to the President who happens to be that lance corporal's boss.
Well, she said she would have to ask her husband. You know, we'll see how this works out and they left it at that. But a brave, a bold young man asked the first lady to the Marine Ball.
We're about 17 minutes past the hour now.
We're going to turn it back to a story out of Florida that really has really sparked a conversation about the hazing culture on college campuses. This is after a college band member's death. It's now been ruled a homicide. We're going to head down to his old high school in Georgia where his death has prompted action by schools officials there.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: We're about 19 minutes past the hour now.
The death of a Florida A&M University drum major has now been ruled a homicide. A Florida medical examiners report says Robert Champion Jr. was beaten in that hazing incident. It shows the otherwise healthy 26-year-old died from excessive internal bleeding after going into shock.
Champion died on November 19th following a game in Orlando. Charges have yet to be filed in that case.
And in a separate incident, three other FAMU band members are facing charges. They're accused of severely beating an 18-year-old freshman. She and Champion graduated from the same high school in Georgia. School officials there have since suspended all band activities.
George Howell spoke with Champion's parents about that decision.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) GEORGE HOWELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The Southwest DeKalb High School marching band has performed for presidents and played at the Rose Bowl. And when you ask band parents like Annie Brown --
ANNIE BROWN, BAND PARENT: The band, you know, it's like family. It's a real nice family atmosphere.
HOWELL: But Brown tells me her suspicions are now raised about the culture within that family. The DeKalb County school district in suburban Atlanta started an investigation into all of its bands after the death of Florida A&M drum major, Robert Champion, a Southwest DeKalb graduate, whose death is believed to be the result of hazing. Administrators say they've discovered two case of what they can only describe as inappropriate behavior over the summer.
(on camera): Inappropriate behavior, what is that?
WALTER WOODS, DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOLS: I don't want to get too into the specifics of the behavior, but we had two incidents over the summer of inappropriate activity associated with band at two different schools. That was part of the evidence that we collected that determined that we needed a formal investigation.
HOWELL: Sitting here waiting for your son, do you worry about all of these things that you've heard on the news?
BROWN: Yes. Even when I was in high school, back then, it happened then.
HOWELL: In high school?
BROWN: In high school, colleges.
HOWELL (voice-over): The DeKalb County School District suspended all outside activity for its 20 bands, a decision Robert Champion's parents say is a move in the right direction.
PAM CHAMPION, ROBERT CHAMPION'S MOTHER: I would have never thought the band, the one thing he loved the most; that this will happen like this.
WALTER M. KIMBROUGH, PRESIDENT, PHILANDER SMITH COLLEGE: People don't want to go to high school and be the kid that's left out. You don't want to be the kid in college that you don't have any friends. That becomes -- you go through those processes, you become a member of one of these groups and then you automatically have status.
HOWELL: The president of Philander Smith College, Walter M. Kimbrough, wrote a book on hazing and says it's important to examine student organizations, cliques and subgroups from high schools to colleges.
(on camera): There's always been a long history, a strong connection between the Southwest DeKalb High School band and (INAUDIBLE) band. And in this case, both victims, both Robert Champion and Berea Hunter went to school here. Not to mention the fact that two of the three people arrested for allegedly beating Hunter also went to this school. Parents tell me they appreciate the fact that this school district is investigating all of its bands.
ROBERT CHAMPION, VICTIM'S FATHER: If that would help one kid not be hurt, be hazed, even losing their life, it would be worth it.
HOWELL: DeKalb school officials say it could be two months before their investigation is complete and band activities can resume.
George Howell, CNN, Atlanta.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Well, the Chicago Bears have dropped wide receiver Sam Hurd. This follows his arrest Wednesday on federal charges of conspiring to posses and distribute cocaine. Investigators say Hurd was trying to set up a drug distribution network in Chicago. He's free now on a $100,000 cash bond.
Well, Christmas is almost here. We have our financial expert. He's going to tell you which items you do not need to buy before Christmas. But hold on, we've got another contributor who says those same items he's telling you not to buy, you definitely need to buy them before Christmas. We'll try to work this out for you.
Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: All right. 25 minutes past the hour now. Counting today, you have eight shopping days to go before Christmas. So in trying to decide what to get, we've got two of our contributors on the air. They're telling us two different messages. They're saying these items -- or one is saying, don't buy this before Christmas. Wait. The other guy is telling us, no, those items you definitely need to buy before Christmas.
So listen to our financial analyst, Clyde Anderson, and our tech guy, Mario Armstrong duke it out.
MARIO ARMSTRONG, TECH GURU: These financial analysts have in the no idea what they're talking about in technology. That's like me trying to explain an annuity. It's just not going to happen.
HOLMES: Good point.
ARMSTRONG: But no, computers right now are a good deal. Now I will tell you that you'll start to see that the prices won't drop because we're about a week away from Christmas. So Clyde's right. I think he normally says, hey, we should wait a little while until maybe August for the school year. That's a good point. But if you see a good deal right now, you should pick it up and if money is tight, buy refurbished.
HOLMES: OK. Wait a minute there. Wait a minute here. It sounds like you are already conceding on the first point. You're telling me Clyde is right.
CLYDE ANDERSON, FINANCIAL ANALYST: I've got him on the ropes already. That's how we got him on the ropes already. The whole thing is, why rush it right now?
If you're going to buy a computer -- it's a big ticket item. You don't need to rush in and buy it right before Christmas. You have a week before Christmas.
Of course, they're going to want to get rid of inventory right after the holiday. So they've got these things that they already go ahead and discount really that they're just taking off to mark up, anyway. So go ahead and wait. Wait for the New Year sale, even. Wait for the first of the year. And that's when there's going to be brief.
HOLMES: Round one to Clyde Anderson. All right.
Let's move on to televisions here. Again, everybody likes to buy these big items around the holidays. The guys want a big TV. You're saying wait. Why?
ANDERSON: Right. There's no hurry. Again, you're playing the game. Consumers, you're feeding into what these advertisers and these manufacturers want you to do. They're going to have these TVs, and it's all going to look like a deal and it's not a great deal. And TV's not going to change. They're going to have to make room for the new inventory and the new models coming up beginning of the year.
ARMSTRONG: No, no. Are you kidding me? Are you kidding me? Think about it. The best time to the buy a television is going to be right before the Super Bowl. That's when they sell the most. That's when they're going to have the biggest deals. The sales are going to be better than the other day.
HOLMES: Mario makes a good point.
ANDERSON: No. He stole my point. The deals are going to be great right before the Super Bowl or large screen TVs. However, right now, plasma and LCD televisions for secondary bedrooms or non main rooms are great deals right now. He's talking about inventory. Are you kidding me? There's tons of inventory in these stores right now that they need to get rid of.
ANDERSON: Exactly. There's going to be much more inventory coming up. That's the thing. There's going to be much more inventory they have to get rid of. What do they do to get rid of it? They drop the prices.
ARMSTRONG: One thing I can. One thing I can't beat him around to it. Don't buy these HDMI cables at the big box retailers. Clyde didn't even know this. You can get the 70 percent at (INAUDIBLE) and in places like Mano sites. And this is what I mean -
HOLMES: I was going to call that round a draw. But now, it's like a low blow. You're going to introduce stuff that's not even -- we're not even talking about. Let's go to cameras now. A lot of people like to buy those for the holidays.
Mario I'm going to let you have this one first. On cameras, you say go ahead and buy them right now. Why?
ARMSTRONG: Absolutely because the point and shoot cameras are going; all single purpose technology is going out the window. This is the first time you're really seeing cameras so inexpensive. I'm not talking about digital SLRs, I'm talking everyday point and shoot cameras. The prices are ridiculously low right now. You can find a lot of great deal but it's really competitive.
know people can use their Smartphones, but a lot of people still want to have that dedicated item.
HOLMES: Clyde, ridiculously low. How do you top that? We're not buying them.
ANDERSON: The whole thing is we're not talking about professional photographers. We're talking about people that are taking pictures of recitals and family and things like that. I don't want you to miss any precious moment but I'm saying, 30 percent bill if you just wait a little bit after the holiday. Again, you don't need the latest and greatest all the time.
ARMSTRONG: So you want to wait for the holiday to be over.
(CROSSTALK)
ARMSTRONG: All the family moments. All the family moments -
(CROSSTALK)
ANDERSON: If you don't have a camera right now and you need to capture that very moment, get the camera. But again, right now in this economy every dollar is crucial. So if I had a camera that works. I'm not going to wait for the one that has a little more pixels or the digital zoom. I'm going to go ahead and gift something. Or wait and save that 30 percent.
ARMSTRONG: But see that what I'm saying. These cameras can't grow any more than were they are. You have cameras right now that are shooting 14 megapixels in 12 megapixels. There's nowhere else for them to go. If you see one under $100 bugs, it's a good deal. If it's OK with your pocket, buy it. I understand you're the tech guy. But I want to get you something for Christmas and it's this right here. This is a calendar and I want you to use this.
HOLMES: Oh, OK.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Well, now what? That's one of the most lavish Christmas displays in the country. Our Reynolds Wolf will take you behind the scenes for Christmas at the Biltmore. He's coming your way, next. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Just in time for the holidays, the final American military units will leave Iraq after a decade old war. Our Arwa Damon joins us now in Baghdad. Arwa, a lot of eyes will be on Iraq in the coming weeks and months. What are the U.S. troops really leaving behind, a functioning government?
ARWA DAMON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, T.J., a lot of Iraqis will tell you that they are leaving behind anything but that. Even though we did hear from fairly flattering words coming from President Obama when he introduced Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al Malaki, a lot of Iraqis, even those who are in the government themselves will say this quite simply is not a power sharing government
And a lot of Malaki's opponents are, in fact, criticizing him of trying to consolidate power. He still retains full control over the national security portfolio, in other words the ministries of defense and interior.
And just today, T.J., the Iraqiya bloc, and that is the largest block in parliament. They are suspending their membership because they say this is a stagnant government and the prime minister has no intention of sharing power. The deputy prime minister went so far as to say, T.J., that the prime minister himself is a dictator no better than Saddam Hussein.
HOLMES: Something we are used to in a functioning society, a democracy, is freedom of the press. But there is an incident we understand involving one of our own, even. Can you tell us about it?
DAMON: Yes. When we speak about democracy, one automatically assumes that freedom of speech preserving that is one of its main cornerstones. However, yesterday, one of our main Iraqi cameramen who has been with us for years went to film an anti-government demonstration. At the end of that he was dragged out of a cab, taken down an alley way, all of this happening in plain sight of the Iraqi troops who were there. He was beaten up. His camera was taken off of him. He went to one of the Iraqi officers to try and get some help and the officer turned away from him.
T.J., if this were an isolated incident, that would be one thing. However, ever since the anti-government demonstrations began here at the end of February, organizations like Human Right Watch have basically put out numerous reports talking about the various violations that the Iraqi security forces have been carrying out. They've been detaining, intimidating, and beating journalists, activists, and bloggers.
HOLMES: A long way to go, no doubt, for Iraq. Arwa Damon, thank you so much.
We're at 35 minutes past the hour now. We'll turn back to the U.S. and back to the Christmas season. Reynolds Wolf will take you behind the scenes of one of the most lavish Christmas displays in the country.
Also, something you are going to see for the last time here on CNN, me and Fredericka Whitfield together.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Don't make me cry already. I'm getting sad.
HOLMES: Saturday morning, we sign off together. Stay here.
WHITFIELD: Come one. No fair.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: It's 37 minutes past the hour. Fredericka is joining us a little early. She, of course, will be coming up at the top of the hour. Nice of you to stop by.
WHITFIELD: Yes. Thanks for having me.
HOLMES: We could have used you all morning.
WHITFIELD: Really?
REYNOLDS WOLF, AMS METEOROLOGIST: I was here the entire time. What are you talking about?
HOLMES: We'll be talking about what's coming up at the top of the hour. But have you seen this story, about the Biltmore?
WHITFIELD: I've heard all that. I can't wait to see it.
WOLF: There's Christmas trees and then there's the Christmas trees, and then there is the Christmas tree at the Biltmore. It's the largest indoor Christmas tree in America.
HOLMES: You didn't tell me that.
WHITFIELD: It is quite the place to visit.
WOLF: It is. Take a peek.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WOLF: It's one of America's most iconic traditions that happens to be in one of our nation's grandest homes, Christmas at the Biltmore.
CATHY BARNHARDT, MANAGER, BILTMORE FLORAL DISPLAYS: Around 125,000 to 130,000 lights are used across the estate. We have probably 200 to 250 poinsettias just inside Biltmore house and the other estate facilities. There are on the estate about 110 decorated trees.
WOLF: In the estate's grand tall, there is one tree that towers above the rest with ornaments the size of basketballs. And maneuvering it inside is no easy task, ten hours of back breaking work after 12 months of preparation. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It takes about 50 people to put this tree up. A lot of strong backs, a lot of pulling and tugging, and after a few minutes, it rises into the air and you hear lots of cheers and you know we're there.
WOLF: But getting it there is 31 years in the making. It first took first root in the sun flashed hills of the Carolina mountains, under the watchful eyes of George and Greg Andrews. What is the thing that makes the perfect Christmas tree?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: For the Biltmore, it's layering. It has to look natural, nice taper to it, but the branches, the layering in the branches.
WOLF: So the dude that used to stand here is now standing at the Biltmore.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. That's where it is.
WOLF: This is part of the Biltmore tree.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Right.
WOLF: They planted this grove of trees decades ago, all of them destined to carry on the Biltmore holiday tradition.
BARNHARDT: George Vanderbilt invited his family and friends to Biltmore in 1895 and we still do that today. We do try to put things back that are authentic to Biltmore that we know were part of the Vanderbilt celebration. I think this is as close as we'll get to that time capsule of the gilded age.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WOLF: As we were talking, we weren't paying attention.
WHITFIELD: We talked. Stuff happens.
WOLF: Some of the information I was able to share is they switch out that tree. As soon as that tree shows wear and tear, they yank that one out, repeat the process.
WHITFIELD: So it's too cumbersome to put the put bucket of water underneath?
WOLF: Apparently so. And sometimes you have so much fun do it doing it, why do only one some of.
WHITFIELD: That's true. You have your decorations, up, though, right?
HOLMES: We've got it up.
(CROSSTALK)
HOLMES: Are you all doing holiday traveling, going through airports this season?
WHITFIELD: Yes.
WOLF: Staying put this year.
HOLMES: You know it can be stressful out there anytime at any airport. But what if you got to hear this when you walked through the airport?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(MUSIC)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: I would chime in.
HOLMES: Would it make you feel better?
WHITFIELD: Oh, yes. I love it. Reynolds?
WOLF: I like it better than hearing the TSA scanner a third time telling me to take the money out of my pocket.
(LAUGHTER)
HOLMES: We'll explain where this is happening after the break. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: It's 42 minutes past the hour now. You didn't know we gave you a scripture, did you?
WHITFIELD: There's nothing like a little caroling to get you through the Christmas season. I love it. I love all the Christmas songs.
HOLMES: Yes, but do the people still come by the door and --
WHITFIELD: Not in my neighborhood.
HOLMES: Do people still carol?
WHITFIELD: Yes.
HOLMES: They still do?
WHITFIELD: Yes.
HOLMES: They're doing it at airports now, including LAX. You might get this when you go through.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(SINGING)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: This is a choir here, university choir. They wander through the terminals of LAX bringing Christmas cheer. About 90 members were hired by airport officials to entertain the crowds.
WHITFIELD: I like that. I hope that happens when we go through the airport for the holiday season.
HOLMES: Do you think that would annoy some people, too?
WHITFIELD: Oh, bah humbug to them. No, it's supposed to lift everyone's spirits.
HOLMES: I just keep the headphones on.
WHITFIELD: I know. OK. Well, I'm having fun hanging out with you this last 30 minutes. And you know this is because this is the last time you and I will be on the air together in the confines here.
HOLMES: Yes.
WHITFIELD: So I thought I'd maximize it a little bit.
HOLMES: You all don't know this. A little behind the scenes. This is one of, I joke about it, but it is my favorite moment during the morning. I started yelling, where is Fredericka about an hour and a half ago.
WHITFIELD: I love it, too. It's the highlight of my day, which is why I'm going to the hang out with you a little bit more. And I'm going to take you back to some of those moments of "where is Fredericka?" Here is a little something coming up with Avery and Richard. I'm not going to spill the beans on everything, but you'll make me, anyway. So we're going to talk about all those things. Let's take a look right now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: One of the favorite parts of my morning to see Fredericka Whitfield. And we have a bit of a development with Fredricka right now. After much consummation, after much resistance, after much strife, Fredricka Whitfield is on twitter.
WHITFIELD: Oh, yes! Drum roll, that's right.
HOLMES: Fredericka Whitfield has entered the studio. There she is. She will take you through the rest of the afternoon starting at noon. But before she does that, she's kind enough to come up and have a chat with me.
Do that two-step you were doing just a second ago. Fredericka Whitfield is in the house.
WHITFIELD: Happy Halloween. Are you excited about Halloween?
HOLMES: No. WHITFIELD: I love Halloween?
HOLMES: Why?
WHITFIELD: Because I love to see the costumes.
HOLMES: Ooh!
WHITFIELD: Not in an elaborate way, but I have to get into it. Plus I have a five-year-old who is totally pumped.
HOLMES: So what are you?
WHITFIELD: You'll have to see in the noon eastern hour.
HOLMES: Oh, you have it?
WHITFIELD: Yes. A little bit. The legal guys and I have a tradition every Halloween to surprise the audience.
HOLMES: Wait, you will have the outfit on in the news?
WHITFIELD: Yes.
HOLMES: Oh, Fredricka, that is the best tease ever.
Look, look who we've got here.
WHITFIELD: Hi.
HOLMES: Fredericka Whitfield.
WHITFIELD: We're starting our tease a little bit too early.
HOLMES: Never for me. We were talking about what we always talk about here, Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: What you always like to talk about.
HOLMES: But you don't ever engage with me in that conversation. She's @FWhitfield, people, on twitter.
(LAUGHTER)
WHITFIELD: When it gets to a point when you're out and about and people stop you and say, hey, I know T.J. is trying to get you to tweet more. I'm like, I'm going to get you, T.J.
(LAUGHTER)
WHITFIELD: I'm trying to be in the tweeter universe as you are and it's just not going to happen. Not to the extent that you are dedicated. Baby steps for me.
HOLMES: Last week was the final -- that was last week.
WHITFIELD: That's right. I'm sorry, I'm not. I like happy stuff.
HOLMES: OK.
WHITFIELD: I don't like to get scared, you know? Happy movies for me. And then "The Descendants," too, with George Clooney.
HOLMES: OK. You make me happy. Every time you show up, it's a good time.
Social media, you're not really getting into it this year?
WHITFIELD: Oh, gosh, I know. I have a problem.
HOLMES: You have a problem?
WHITFIELD: I do. I'm just not good at that. I like real contact. A big admission, I'm really not good at the whole reaching out and connecting with technology.
HOLMES: Have you tweeted this morning?
WHITFIELD: So we're digging the hole deeper. I'm sorry. I'm on the show and I'm admitting I have a problem. Now, don't beat me down.
(LAUGHTER)
HOLMES: OK. I'm sorry.
Fredericka, always good to see you.
WHITFIELD: Good to see you, too.
HOLMES: She's @FWhitfield Twitter.
WHITFIELD: I know what you were doing this week. You were on the red carpet along with --
HOLMES: You.
WHITFIELD: CNN's Wolf Blitzer.
HOLMES: And you. You.
WHITFIELD: I was part of his entourage. There you are with your beautiful wife, Marley, there at the Soul Train Music Awards.
HOLMES: In just about four minutes. She was having a good time the other night, folks. You have no idea.
WHITFIELD: This really is one of my favorite parts of the morning. Always good to chat with you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Oh, look. It will never be the same. We're going to miss you, T.J. It is not going to be as much fun as it has been. But we're very excited for you. I'm thrilled for you. You're going to be fantastic, as you always are.
HOLMES: Thank you. And I have another weekend. I'll be here next weekend, but Fredricka will not be. This is our last time to do this thing.
WHITFIELD: I know. I know.
HOLMES: This is not over yet.
WHITFIELD: No, it's not over. We're going to hang out for, what, another 12 minutes or so?
HOLMES: Yes.
WHITFIELD: But it's been wonderful.
HOLMES: And I have asked her several times in the past, let's do the whole show together. Let's go from 6:00 a.m. I'll leave at noon, though.
WHITFIELD: So we decided to do it for 30 minutes. The legacy of T.J. Holmes @FWhitfield on Twitter.
HOLMES: You tweeted this morning.
WHITFIELD: You saw them.
HOLMES:
WHITFIELD: Doggone it. It was a surprise. That was the breaking headlines for you. I figured you were working and maybe you weren't looking at it.
HOLMES: I was engaged with the audience.
It has been great. It's not done yet. We have some more stuff to do here, right?
WHITFIELD: Yes. Because we do the tease thing together all the time, we're still going to do it together. The tease means we're letting you know what's coming up in the show. Coming up at noon, eastern time. Nadia Bilchik is going to be along. She's going to join the party here. She has a look at some other memorable good-byes. Not as memorable as this one, but memorable nonetheless.
HOLMES: That's next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: We put in a little morning passport as well. Nadia joining us.
NADIA BILCHIK, EDITORIAL PRODUCER: Yes, because it's a special day. @TJHolmes and @FWhitfield for the last time. T.J., you have the way of bringing out the very best in the women that you work with.
HOLMES: I don't know where we're going this one.
WHITFIELD: Everybody, right?
BILCHIK: It's a special day and special good-bye. We thought what we'd do for this passport is we'd look at other very memorable and historic good-byes.
HOLMES: That would be good.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hasta la vista baby.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm not going to be noble, but it doesn't take much to see the problem of three little people don't amount much to a hill of beans in this crazy world. Someday you'll understand that. Here's looking at you, kid.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'll be right here.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In case I don't see you, good afternoon, good evening, and good night. Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: See what else is on.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Where's the TV guide?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Wow.
BILCHIK: Luckily we get to see you. So we've seen some beautiful good-bye scenes. T.J. and Fred, my favorite on air together people, what would you like your good-bye moment to look like.
HOLMES: We're going to see in a second because we still have to get to the tease and I'll actually have to say good-bye.
WHITFIELD: Ah. It will be like so long.
BILCHIK: T.J. has to be part of our lives forever on, especially if you follow him on Twitter.
HOLMES: Don't get us started again.
(LAUGHTER)
WHITFIELD: I'll try to do better. We're going to delay.
HOLMES: We do have the newsroom, Fredricka is up. What do you have?
WHITFIELD: We have a lot straight ahead. Of course our legal guys are always around, Richard and Avery talking about Selena Gomez. You heard about the situation where she's got a stalker. In this case the stalker is pleading to the court, give me a restraining order. I can't stay away. Very unusual. Richard and Avery are going to delve into that one.
And then this year a lot of people are giving gift cards. There are some things you need to know and abide by with these gift cards. For example, when you go to cash in that gift card, buy that gift, you want to hold onto that used gift card when you try to make returns potentially later. We're going to be joined and they will explain why.
And then there are five risky career moves that Valerie Burton will be along to tell us about. One involves promotion. Some people say never turn down a job promotion. She's going to say don't look at it black and white. You may want to turn down a job promotion because on the horizon you just might see something else. There are other things, too. But that comes to mind.
HOLMES: Did you pick that for me?
WHITFIELD: As you gig he would, I thought, never mind. She has others.
Of course we're going to movies this weekend. Next weekend big Christmas weekend, lots of rollouts of new movies, including "Mission: Impossible."
BILCHIK: Have you seen it yet?
HOLMES: I've seen them all.
BILCHIK: He does his own stunts.
WHITFIELD: It's in Dubai, really fascinating. So we'll be joined by movie critic for that, always keeping it real on the movie reviews. All that is straight ahead.
HOLMES: We'll see good-bye like we also say good-bye, which is she's coming up in just a few minutes.
WHITFIELD: Hasta la vista, baby. I like the way Schwarzenegger handled it.
HOLMES: You know where to find her, folks, @FWhitfield. That's how we'll say goodbye. Thanks, guys.
BILCHIK: You still have other weekend T.J.
WHITFIELD: You're not gone yet, but we won't see you together on the air for a while.
HOLMES: We've got to take a quick commercial break, cry a little bit, and we'll be right back.
(LAUGHTER)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
