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CNN Saturday Morning News
Nurse Duped By Call Commits Suicide; Charlie Crist Now a Democrat; "Red Lines" in Syria; Americans Prepping to Go Over Fiscal Cliff; Major Change to Autism Diagnosis; Psy Apologizes for Anti- American Lyrics
Aired December 08, 2012 - 07:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
RANDI KAYE, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, everyone. I'm Randi Kaye. Victor Blackwell is off. It is 7:00 on the East Coast, thanks so much for starting your morning with CNN.
It was supposed to be just for laughs. Humor. The listeners with a lighthearted prank. Two radio DJs called the hospital where the duchess of Cambridge was being treated and tricked the nurse to get details about her condition. Well, two days later, that nurse took her own life and now the deejays behind it are off the air. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RHYS HOLLERAN, CEO, SOUTHERN CROSS AUSTEREO: Southern Cross Austereo and the hosts have mutually decided that the show will not return until further notice out of respect for what can only be described as a tragedy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAYE: CNN's Matthew Chance has more now on the story generating outrage around the world.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FEMALE DEEJAY: You know what, they were the worst accents ever.
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It was meant as a light-hearted Aussie prank, even after their station issued an apology the two deejays who duped the hospital were making light of it.
FEMALE DEEJAY: We were sure at least 100 people before us would try the same thing.
CHANCE: Now, they've been suspended from their jobs and one of the nurses they humiliated and fooled is dead.
JOHN LOFTHOUSE, CHIEF EXECUTIVE, KING EDWARD VII HOSPITAL: It is with deep sadness that I can confirm the tragic death of a member of our nursing staff, Jacintha Saldanha. We can confirm that Jacintha was recently the victim of a hoax called to the hospital.
CHANCE: Hospital officials say Saldanha was the nurse who transferred the call to the royal ward personal details about the condition of Catherine, the duchess of Cambridge, who is being treated for severe morning sickness, were disclosed. Two days later, Saldanha's body was found in staff accommodation, a short distance from the hospital door.
(on camera): There had been a complaint from the royal family about the prank call may have put pressure on the nurse. But a royal source tells CNN no such complaint was made. Also, this hospital rejects any suggestion that it may have disciplined the nurse for transferring the call, saying it's been supporting her throughout this very difficult time.
(voice-over): The duke and duchess on Cambridge so happy on leaving the hospital earlier this week issued a statement expressing their deep sadness about the nurse's death and thanked hospital staff for looking after them so well. You can believe that the uplifting news that a royal baby was on the way has taken such an ugly, tragic turn.
Matthew Chance, CNN, London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAYE: To the fiscal cliff now. We are just 24 days away from the automatic spending cuts and the end of the Bush era tax breaks.
So, where are the negotiations in Washington? Well, they're at a standstill. Now, House Speaker John Boehner is putting all the blame on President Obama. He's upset that the White House quickly rejected Boehner's plan.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. JOHN BOEHNER (R-OH), SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE: There are a lot of things that are possible to put the revenue that the president seeks on the table. But none of it is going to be possible. The president insists on his position, insists on my way or the highway.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAYE: President Obama is asking Congress for more than $60 billion for states affected by superstorm Sandy. Officials from states hardest hit say the money is just a start. With the fiscal cliff looming, though, the request is sure to face some resistance on Capitol Hill.
He spoke at this year's Democratic National Convention as an independent, but now, former Republican Florida Governor Charlie Crist is a proud Democrat. Crist posted a Twitter photo Friday showing his registration papers, tweeting that he's proud and honored to join the party in the home of President Obama.
Crist ran for the U.S. Senate as an independent in 2010, but was defeated by Marco Rubio. Some are speculating this move is in preparation for another run for governor of Florida against incumbent Republican Rick Scott in 2014.
The Supreme Court has decided to take up two major same-sex marriage cases. The first is the Defense of Marriage Act. The 1996 law denies federal benefits to legally married same-sex couples. Right now, there are around 120,000 legally married same-sex couples in the U.S.
The second is California's Proposition 8. That made same-sex marriage illegal in the state. A decision on these cases is expected next year.
Is this the end of "Gangnam Style" mania? Korean pop star Psy, who's music video is the most watched video in YouTube history, now apologizing for anti-American lyrics that he rapped back in 2004. That performance resurfaced on CNN's iReport on October and then made its way around online. It included lyrics calling for the deaths of American troops serving in Iraq.
In his apology, Psy said his performance was emotionally charged and, quote, "While I'm grateful for the freedom to express one self, I've learned there are some limits to what language is appropriate and I'm deeply sorry for how these lyrics could be interpreted. I will forever be sorry for any pain I have caused by those words."
Well, on the 21st, Psy is scheduled to perform in a charity concert in Washington and the president is planning on attending that event.
We've got much more ahead this hour. Here's a look at what's coming up.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KAYE: It was the picture that sparked outrage. What the photographer that snapped that disturbing subway photo told CNN about that moment.
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), ARIZONA: All of those who argued for nonintervention because of the things that might happen have now happened because we failed to intervene.
KAYE: When is enough enough? That is the question many are asking about Syria as the death toll climbs and concerns mount over chemical weapons. Now, some lawmakers are saying it may be too late to stop mass destruction.
Have a question about the fiscal cliff? We have answers. Our expert explains how going over the fiscal cliff will affect your bottom line.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIPS)
HILLARY CLINTON, SECRETARY OF STATE: We have set an unmistakable message that this would cross a red line, and those responsible would be held to account.
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: If you make the tragic mistake of using these weapons, there will be consequences and you will be held accountable.
(END VIDEO CLIPS) KAYE: Syria appears to be at a turning point. There are reports of the government preparing chemical weapons. The rebels securing the airport and more than 40,000 people are dead.
Now, some high-profile senators are saying we may have passed the point of no return.
That is our focus this morning. When is enough enough?
Yesterday, I asked that question to a witness of some of the worst humanitarian crises in generations, CNN chief international correspondent Christiane Amanpour. She's also global affairs anchor for ABC News.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KAYE: Christiane, thank you so much for joining us.
I want to start by playing a famous clip of you speaking to then- President Bill Clinton back in 1994 about the Bosnian War, which at that point, was going into its third year and claimed tens of thousands of lives.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: As leader of the free world, as leader of the only superpower, why has it taken you, the United States, so long to articulate a policy on Bosnia? Why in the absence of a policy have you allowed the U.S. and the West be held hostage to those who have a clear policy the Bosnian Serbs?
And do you not think that the constant flip-flops of your administration on the issue of Bosnia sets a very dangerous precedent and would lead people such as Kim Il-Sung or other strong people to take you less seriously than you would like to be taken?
WILLIAM J. CLINTON, FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT: No. But speeches like that make them take me less seriously than I would like to be taken. There have been no constant flip-flops, madam.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAYE: So, Christiane, is this a question we should be asking the Obama administration about Syria?
AMANPOUR: Well, you remember, Randi, that President Clinton was really angry with me when I was asking that question from Sarajevo. The fact of the matter is the question didn't prompt intervention, but there was intervention more than a year later and it stopped the war and the president enacted a peace settlement and the war stopped and peace still endures in Bosnia.
And I think the issue with Syria raises some very important questions. President Clinton himself just earlier this year said that the longer it goes without being stopped, the bigger the chance of bad actors getting involved. And that is precisely what's happened, Randi. That is one more reason that the administration is reluctant to intervene because now, it's not just the ordinary rebellion that it started out as with people demanding reform, it is now being joined by all sorts of jihadists and extremists and al Qaeda-type affiliates and also some other type of Salifists. And this is what is really worrying the United States and the region.
But this is, if you like a self-fulfilling prophecy, so long has this war been left to fester that it is now at the state where it is.
KAYE: Right. And when you talk about a red line for Syria, it seems like the red line President Obama drew back in August the moving of chemical weapons may have been crossed.
Let's take a listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OBAMA: Very clear to the Assad regime, but also to other players on the ground that a red line for us is we start seeing a whole bunch of chemical weapons moving around or being utilized. That would change my calculus. That would change my equation.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAYE: Now, it is somewhat subjective how you look at that, of course. But what do you think, if moving weapons has already happened, have we crossed that red line that Obama drew?
AMANPOUR: Well, already there is sort of a moving red line, if you like. The president clearly said that movement of weapons or the preparation of such weapons to be used. Now, we've seen the last several statements from the administration have just said using those weapons. If they were used, that would be a red line.
So, honestly, we're not quite sure what it means. And are we going to have to see them be used before there's some kind of reaction or will they know when they're about to be used? It's still rather unclear.
And actually, it's a little indicative of the entire approach to Syria. It's very unclear what the strategy is and what the end result will be. And I feel that with all the conversations I've had with U.S. officials, that they are extremely worried about another Iraq. In other words, they don't want to get involved in a war that might drag on for as long as Iraq did.
You know, a lot of people talk about, well, you know, isn't Syria the same as Libya? Why did you intervene in Libya instead of -- and not in Syria? A lot of people asked me, isn't Syria like what happened in Bosnia and so many, including U.N. officials have said what's happening in Syria is very similar to what happened in Bosnia with the wholesale slaughter of innocent civilians.
But I think from the administration's point of view, they're looking at Iraq and they don't want to get into an Iraq-type of multi-year operation. KAYE: And former Senator George Mitchell has said the United States needs to stay out of Syria while Senators McCain and Lieberman said Thursday that the U.S. must get involved. What is the fear if the U.S. does get involved?
AMANPOUR: Well, precisely that, that they don't want to get bogged down. Obviously, nobody is talking about putting American boots on the ground or any other boots on the ground. The question is, can you take other military measures that will stop this war?
But I think what you have now, most sort of seasoned observers and most people who look at what could possibly be done to mitigate this nearly two-year war now in which more than 40,000 people -- men, women and children -- have been slaughtered and after nearly two years of this administration saying, you know, Assad must step down and it not happening, the best one can hope for, perhaps, is that you know some kind of intervention that shortens this war, because without intervention, it's going to be a long war.
U.S. officials have told me that despite the gains by the rebels recently, they don't see any sign that Assad or his regime are going to crack or break any time soon. So, they believe that this could go on for a long time.
So, again, the question is, could you do something to shorten this brutal, dirty civil war or are you going to do nothing or continue along the path that you are right now and have a long, extended war?
KAYE: And if we are waiting for Russia to come around and pave the way to a U.N. resolution similar to that in the case of Libya, do you think that that waiting will pay off?
AMANPOUR: I don't think so. It's hard to imagine Russia at this point, anyway, from my vantage point -- maybe I'd be proved wrong -- approving of a U.N. resolution. And even in the latest talks that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has had with the Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov, it's not like it's suddenly kumbaya and everybody is on the same page. They're not.
Obviously, the Russians are looking at this very closely because they can see their client, Bashar Assad, is in a very tricky situation and do they want to be on the losing side? On the same token, with the U.S. not really being involved has not really many friends on the ground in Syria.
So, what happens if Bashar Assad somehow falls? Who do you then talk to? Who do you then have relations with on the ground?
I know they have come up with this coalition, this opposition coalition, but that, too, has yet to fully prove itself as an effective and consolidated opposition to Bashar al-Assad. And not just that, a coalition that can encourage the Alawite, his core group of supporters to defect, to break and to basically come over to the other side.
KAYE: Terrific insight, Christiane. Thank you so much for your time this morning.
AMANPOUR: Thanks, Randi.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAYE: We'll continue to ask this question of when enough is enough in Syria. Next hour, we'll hear from former national adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski and hear his advice for the Obama administration. That's coming up at 8:15 Eastern Time.
She lived in three different centuries and used to drive a Model T. The world's oldest person died this week. We'll take a look at the fantastic life of Besse Cooper.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAYE: Welcome back. Twenty-one minutes past the hour now.
Nothing like 192 million bucks, before taxes that is, to cushion the potential fall off the fiscal cliff. An Arizona couple came forward with the second winning ticket from last month's massive Powerball drawing. They say they wanted to claim it before the first of the year and plan to start a foundation with the money.
Now to Midland, Texas, where the driver of a parade float hit by a freight train will not face charges. Investigators say the crossing gate went down after the front of the truck had already crossed the train tracks. The float was carrying military veterans and their families. Four vets died in the crash, 16 others were hurt.
And it's been more than 15 years since he was mysteriously gunned down, but the L.A. Coroner's Office has finally released the autopsy report of rapper Christopher Wallace, also known as the Notorious B.I.G. or Biggie Smalls. The 23-page report shows Wallace suffered four gunshot wounds and one was fatal. To date, no arrests have been made and the case is unsolved.
KAYE: Friends and family will remember the world's oldest person today at her funeral. Besse Cooper died on Tuesday. She survived more than 11 decades and her family says she will be missed.
Here's CNN's George Howell with more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GEORGE HOWELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): She saw the turn of the century, twice, living 116 years, the world's oldest person. Her 77- year-old son tells her story best.
SIDNEY COOPER, BESSE COOPER'S SON: She was a very determined person and she felt -- she wanted to do it, she could do it. And she did most of the time.
HOWELL (on camera): Well into her 100s.
COOPER: Oh, yes, well into her 100s. She lived home alone until she was 105.
HOWELL: Wow.
COOPER: Out in the country.
HOWELL (voice-over): Born in 1896, Cooper moved from Tennessee to Georgia to teach during world war one and Sidney Cooper remembers she was very passionate about learning.
COOPER: She kept up with politics, read the paper every day and later when TV came on, she watched the news on television.
HOWELL: She was also a pioneer in the women's suffrage movement.
COOPER: I think she understood that it was not right, that women could not vote, could not be -- have a voice in this country, this democracy that we have.
HOWELL (on camera): What was the event, out of all of those years, what was the biggest event that had the most impact on her, do you think?
COOPER: I think it would have been the depression. That was a very difficult time, taught them to be very frugal. They didn't waste anything.
HOWELL: Never in her life did Besse Cooper have a driver's license, so she never got the opportunity to drive over this bridge that was named after her just outside her hometown in Georgia. She did, though, at one point drive during a time when you didn't need a license and the only car she ever drove, the Model T.
COOPER: After my father died, she was 68 years old and she wanted to drive again, wanted to drive, because she lived in the country and my father had a car, of course. We talked her out of it because we thought she was too old. Now, I look back now, she was young.
HOWELL (voice-over): Besse Cooper died peacefully, December 4th, 2012.
COOPER: We kind of -- we tickled about the fact that, you know, she was getting ready to go. She went and got her hair fixed and she looked beautiful.
HOWELL (on camera): What would you say people could learn from her?
COOPER: I think to be positive in all aspects. Her philosophy was hard work and honesty will get you ahead. Be truthful and honest.
HOWELL (voice-over): George Howell, CNN, Monroe, Georgia.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAYE: What a nice story.
Now, to Oklahoma where two deaf 8-year-old girls experienced a life- changing moment when they actually heard for the first time. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Can you hear mama. Can you hear me? Can you?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAYE: Ruby and Kate were adopted from Ethiopia a year ago and moved to Oklahoma. They just had cochlear implants and you can tell that their parents were just thrilled.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHRIS SHASTEEN, MOTHER: I had a huge lump in my throat. I mean, I really thought I was going to lose it.
Having their communication issue in a country like Ethiopia, your future is not entirely bright.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAYE: Doctors say people of all ages can actually get those implants and insurance usually does pay for it.
A man suspected of stealing a U-Haul truck led police on a wild chase. Wait until you see how it all ended.
But, first, a little trivia for all you political junkies watching this morning. South Carolina Senator Jim DeMint admits he's stepping down to run a conservative seat tank. Whose seat did he fill when he first won his Senate seat?
If you know the answer, no Googling allowed. You can tweet me @RandiKayeCNN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAYE: Mortgage rates inched even lower this week. Have a look here.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAYE: Bottom of the hour now, welcome back, everyone. I'm Randi Kaye. Victor Blackwell is off today. Thanks for starting your morning with us.
Here are five stories that we're watching this morning:
In our first story a royal prank takes a tragic turn and now two Australian radio hosts are off the air. This after the nurse who took a prank call from the deejays about the pregnant duchess of Cambridge committed suicide. The nurse who had worked at King Edward VII Hospital for four years leaves behind a husband and two children.
The Secret Service is red faced today after revelations the agency lost sensitive computer tapes, the tapes which contained information on agents and investigations were accidentally left in a pouch on a subway. It actually happened in 2008, but the tapes never been found and an investigation is under way and changes to agency protocol have already been made as a result.
Lawmakers demanded answers after the deadly attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya. Well, now they will hear from Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. She will testify before a House committee on a State Department report on the September 11th attack that killed U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans. The report is expected next week.
To politics now, he served his state as Republican, left the party and turned independent. And now, former Florida Governor Charlie Crist is officially a Democrat. Crist announced Friday on Twitter that he had signed papers switching party affiliation. Some are speculating that he made the move perhaps to position himself for a run against Republican Governor Rick Scott coming up in 2014.
All right. Look at this wild police chase through the streets of Miami. Police say a man stole a U-Haul truck and sped away from police when an officer tried to stop him. When they finally got the truck to stop, you can see it there, they drew their guns.
But watch what happens next. A mob of law enforcement surrounds the truck and they break the window and yank the suspect out of the driver seat. The police pounce on him, they cuff him. Police identify the suspect as Darrell Conyers (ph). It's hard to believe there are no serious injuries reported there.
Well, before the break, I asked you this political junky question. Who did South Carolina Senator Jim DeMint replace when he originally won his Senate seat? The answer, Earnest Hollings. Hollings, a Democrat, served nearly 40 years in the Senate. For most of those years, he was there alongside South Carolina's other long-time senator, Strom Thurmond.
All right. I'm just going to say it, fiscal cliff, I know, I know, you've heard it. You've heard enough of it.
But after another week without progress in Washington, the possibility of plunging off the edge is becoming more of a reality and that could mean real changes for real people.
Bloomberg TV's Stephanie Ruhle joins me live now to talk a little bit about this.
Good morning, Stephanie. How are you?
STEPHANIE RUHLE, ANCHOR, BLOOMBERG TELEVISION: Good morning, Randi. I was just saying moments ago that I am very concerned about the fiscal cliff but I'm actually tearing up over Besse Cooper and the 8-year-old twins from Oklahoma. What a morning you're having.
KAYE: Besse Cooper, the oldest person in the world passing away, what a story, what a life she had.
RUHLE: Amazing.
KAYE: Well, let's talk about the cliff now that your eyes are dry. I hope this doesn't bring you to tears.
RUHLE: Not yet.
KAYE: But 24 days and counting until that deadline.
But for the average American, what will it look like if we go off the cliff? I mean, will it be better for anyone?
RUHLE: This is a very stressful time. You know, people talk about the cliff like it's this major event, which it is, but almost like a Y2K, like what are things going to look like January 2nd? From a paycheck perspective, you will see less money in your paycheck if we do fall off the cliff.
But as far as the economy goes, it's not really a cliff. It's going to be more like a slope and we are going to see most likely an economic slowdown where jobs are going to slow down because we're not going to see companies expand. We're not going to be seeing them grow and this economy that we've been hoping to see in recovery really headed in the other direction. We can really face a recession, but not something we're going to see January 2nd, 3rd and 4th. It's really over the long haul.
KAYE: People, you know, they hear you say smaller paychecks. What about the payroll tax hike?
RUHLE: Listen, it's a negative. People need to prepare that come the New Year, they are going to get less money in their paychecks. And for those who haven't had a long time for a very long time or living paycheck to paycheck, this is a big issue.
Earlier this week, we spoke to the governor of Pennsylvania, who said people are pouring in, reaching out to their local legislatures saying help us get some compromise because in this economy, people simply can't afford it and it is January 2nd right after the New Year when it will affect paychecks.
KAYE: Yes.
RUHLE: And one of the things, Randi, that is so disappointing is, this fiscal cliff didn't come out of nowhere. We've known it was coming, it was rolling our direction. But one thing frustrating Americans is it seemed like the cliff was being ignored or put on hold while the campaign was going on. And it was the day after the election, we saw the Dow drop 300 points and suddenly everyone woke up and said we have to face this cliff.
And the question is, can they really address these issues in the next 24 days with the president heading for vacation and Congress about to go home?
KAYE: Yes.
RUHLE: It doesn't feel good.
KAYE: No. And in terms of, you know, we're waiting to find out if we're going to go over the cliff, but we're already seeing the effects of it, aren't we? We have a lot of Americans without jobs and just the fear of going over the cliff is affecting it because it's affecting hiring.
RUHLE: Without a doubt. You wonder if it's affecting big business or small business. Corporate CEOs are simply sitting on their hands. You are seeing U.S. corporations with more money on their balance sheet than they had in years.
But the fact that they're facing more health care costs to pay out to their employees, they don't know what the tax climate is going to look for them. They're simply not growing their business, we're not seeing innovation. And that's what creates jobs. That's what gets these companies doing well, it improves what they're doing in the equity markets.
And for small businesses, if big businesses don't do well, small businesses don't. If people don't have jobs, if they're not making more money, they're not in those businesses. They're simply not spending.
KAYE: What do you make of those that say maybe it is better that we do go over the cliff. I mean, some say, you know, we're not getting the job done unless we really feel the pain.
RUHLE: Those are people who really have long-term views and that may be a resolution. Earlier this week, we spoke to Barry Sternlicht who said we simply need to simplify our tax code and start from zero. But actually getting there, Randi, getting back to zero, it's almost impossible.
So, even in the long term, if it helps the country organically grow, it's very difficult to get there and very few people want to see us fall off the cliff. They want to get us back into an economic recovery. They want the U.S. equity markets to improve because that affects your 401(k) and your pension and it affects real people today.
KAYE: Yes, 24 days and counting. Stephanie Ruhle, nice to see you, again. Thank you.
RUHLE: Great to see you, Randi.
KAYE: Defending himself. The freelance photographer who took the infamous photo of a man about to be killed by an oncoming subway train speaks out.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If I could have, I would have saved him. It wasn't important to get the photograph.
(END VIDEO CLIP) KAYE: Minutes after this confrontation, the victim was pushed on to the tracks. Hear more from the photographer who captured his final moments, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAYE: Welcome back. Forty-two minutes past the hour now.
It is the picture that shocked New York and the country and had many people asking themselves what they would have done. Now, a family is grieving and a suspect in man's death is in custody. The victim was shoved on to the tracks in a New York subway station last Monday.
A freelance photographer on the platform took a photo of his final moments. He has come under intense criticism just for that. R. Umar Abbasi defended himself, though, on CNN's "ANDERSON COOPER 360."
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: In retrospect, do you feel you should have done something different or could have done something different?
R. UMAR ABBASI, PHOTOGRAPHER: Until one is in that situation, it's very hard to say. And on hindsight, I would say I would -- had Mr. Han, run the other direction. And looking at the image on it, there were only about three cars in to the station and all he had to do was outrun three cars and he would have lived.
COOPER: His wife early reports he was drinking. I believe some alcohol found on him, as well so it's unclear what his --
ABBASI: I'm not aware of that. I'm not aware of his interaction with his wife.
COOPER: Right.
For you, what has this been like? I mean, not only to witness an event like this is horrific, but then to come under the kind of criticism you have come under from people who were not there, what is that like?
ABBASI: They were not there. They are, you know, I look at them as armchair critics -- and when you are in a situation, you realize what it is and it was a very fluid situation.
The photographs are still. You see the train and you see Mr. Han at one spot. But in reality, the train is moving towards him. I do not know what speed it is, but it was really fast.
COOPER: Have you ever seen somebody being killed before?
ABBASI: No. I have never. It's very traumatic experience and it's like every time if I have to narrate the whole thing, it's reliving it. I did not sleep for close to 36, 40 hours.
COOPER: And obviously we talked about his funeral. To his family, what would you say? ABBASI: I -- as I have said earlier that Mrs. Han, if I could have, I would have saved him. It wasn't important to get the photograph.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAYE: A homeless man has been arraigned in the subway victim's death. He is charged with second degree murder and his next court appearance is Tuesday.
Is it the end of "Gangnam Style"? Music star Psy apologizing to some offended Americans and we'll tell you why.
Plus, a major change for psychiatrists. They are getting new guidelines on disorders like hoarding, which could change the way many people are treated.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAYE: Major changes coming to the way psychiatric disorders are diagnosed. The changes to the diagnosis guide book are due next year. Among the biggest will be the way autism is viewed. All ranges of autism will now be filed under one heading, autism spectrum disorder.
I talked to CNN chief medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, about two of the other big changes.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: It's actually called disruptive mood dysregulation disorder.
KAYE: I think I threw a few of those, disruptive mood disorders when I was a kid.
GUPTA: That's right. I'm going to -- I'm going to go to my daughter's and say you're having a disruptive mood disorder.
If a child is persistently irritable, and they throw three or four, quote-unquote, "temper tantrums" a week for a year, this goes on for a year, then they may have this diagnosis.
And it's interesting, I tell you as a dad and as a doctor, that there is more diagnosis. This is something that's going to be new, obviously, for people.
But when you talk to people who help create the DSM, this is in an effort so children aren't given a diagnosis of bipolar, for example. So, you know, they didn't know how to categorize these children before who had these behavioral issues. So, now, this offers another diagnosis and it helps from a treatment standpoint to be more consistent in how these children are treated.
KAYE: And what's this about hoarders, I mean, those who just can't part with their stuff, now, changes have been made involving hoarding in this. GUPTA: Well, hoarding is -- you know, it used to be thought of something known as OCD, obsessive compulsive disorder. They thought it was just type of OCD. And they're saying hoarding is different. It is people who collect a lot of stuff, but it's to the point where it's truly impairing their lives. It's impairing their lives and maybe their loved ones lives that are living with them.
It's also different from OCD in that people who hoard things, they experience tremendous negative emotion when getting rid of those things. Whereas with people with OCD may not have the negative emotions.
So, again, these may sound like subtle differences, Randi, but from a treatment standpoint and, you know, a counseling sustained point, it makes a difference, again, to have these different categories to be consistent, you know, in how the treatment is administered.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAYE: Time now to see what's trending on the web. He once ran for president of the U.S. of South Carolina, and now Stephen Colbert for Senate?
With Republican Jim DeMint of South Carolina leaving the Senate before his term is over, there's already a groundswell of support on the web for Colbert to take his seat. Someone has already even created @colbertforsc Twitter account, and scope up the Colbert for Senate Web site.
But, alas, South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley is dashing the dream of Colbert fans everywhere. In a Facebook post, Haley said he forgot about a key fact about his home state, the South Carolina state drink is milk. She did thank the comedian, though, for his interest, of course.
Sushi, anyone? Take a look at the size of this fish, wow. It might be the largest yellow fin tuna ever caught with a rod and a reel. Look at that thing. A fisherman John Petruescu battled the big fish for two hours in Mexican waters about 1,000 miles southwest of San Diego. I cannot get over the size of that fish.
The official weight won't be known until Sunday when they pull into port. But in a telephone interview, the boat skipper said it weighed in at a record 459 pounds. Wow.
Is this the end of "Gangnam Style" mania? Korean pop star Psy, his music video has become the most watched video in YouTube history with a billion hits, is now apologizing for anti-American lyrics he rapped back in 2004.
Nick Valencia is here to talk more about this.
So this actually resurfaced on CNN through an iReport. You actually had a chance to watch it?
NICK VALENCIA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I did watch the video and in full disclosure, transparency, we're not allowed to show the video for legal reasons, but it's pretty dramatic video. He lifts up a tank over his head, a U.S. Army tank on the ground and uses his mike to crush the pieces that remain.
He made the comments after 2004. You'll remember how divisive the Iraq war was.
KAYE: Right.
VALENCIA: Of course, I don't have to tell you. But he made the comments after there was an execution of a Korean missionary in Iraq. A lot of people in South Carolina at the time blamed the U.S. occupation there in 2004 on the reason why this missionary was executed.
Some of the lyrics, Randi, are pretty dramatic. They say kill those f'ing Yankees who have been torturing Iraqi captives. He calls for the death of the mothers and daughters of the Westerners that killed -- that led to this execution of the South Korean missionary.
KAYE: Yes. But now, he's apologizing, right?
VALENCIA: He's apologizing. He's come out and he's trying to do a, you know, a sort of P.R. blitz and issued this apology.
And he issued this apology, he says, "While I'm grateful for the freedom to express one's self, I've learned there are limits to what language is appropriate, and I'm deeply sorry for how these lyrics could be interpreted. I will forever be sorry for any pain that I've caused."
KAYE: This is a guy who is so popular. I mean, his music, his song, that one song, has everybody getting up and out of their chair.
What could this mean for his career? I mean, could this be the end of it? He now has the most watched YouTube video?
NAVARRO: He's very popular. I remember when I first spotted this video on Reddit. It had 5,000 clicks and now it's about 1 billion clicks.
You know, this falls in line with other artists who said similar things. You know, you saw the Dixie Chicks a few years ago come out against President George W. Bush. Sinead O'Connor, her dramatic ripping of the Pope's photograph. It did damage the careers a little bit.
And, you know, you have you to wonder if some of the stations here in the South or even in the United States are going to stop playing some of his music also, are going to stop playing "Gangnam Style," so we'll see what the fallout is and keep an eye on it.
KAYE: All right. Nick, thank you. Appreciate that.
VALENCIA: Thank you.
KAYE: We'll be right back. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAYE: We all know that dogs love to ride in cars. You always see them with their little heads poking out window with tongues wagging. But for some dogs, that is just not good enough. Now, they want to change seats.
Our Jeanne Moos takes a look.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Sniff this. Dogs giving up the backseat for the driver's seat.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Just when you thought you'd seen it all.
MOOS: And soon we'd all seen it: video of three dogs at an SPCA branch in New Zealand being taught to shift gears.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Here's the gear. Good.
MOOS: And steer.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Good boy.
MOOS: First on carts, then on actual cars with the controls modified for doggie legs.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: A.
MOOS: "A" is the command for "accelerate."
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Turn. Good boy. Turn.
MOOS: Next week, after two months of training, Porter will attempt to drive a Mini Cooper alone on an empty track, live on New Zealand television.
Just months ago, the idea of a dog driving was considered a joke. A gag Subaru used to advertise cars.
And remember those old "SNL" bits?
MUSIC: Toonces the driving cat.
MOOS: Let's hope the New Zealand dogs --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Toonces, look out!
MOOS: -- do better than Toonces the driving cat did.
The motorist mutts were celebrated by Gawker with the headline, "Dog Drives Man." BuzzFeed noted, "Finally, dogs who chase cars will have something to do once they catch them."
And though David Letterman didn't even need to make a joke to get a laugh --
DAVID LETTERMAN, HOST, "THE LATE SHOW WITH DAVID LETTERMAN": Honest to God. Isn't that --
MOOS: He nevertheless did the "Top 10 Signs Your Dog is a Bad Driver."
LETTERMAN: Crosses four lanes of traffic to go after a squirrel. Oh, no.
MOOS: Online posters imagined the future: "I see dogs in cars cutting me off, then flipping me the paw."
(on camera): Look, I know you have a dog license, but do you have a learner's permit? Do any of you have learner's permits?
(voice-over): Now, where were we with the top ten signs your dog is a bad driver?
LETTERMAN: Used your car to mount a Nissan Sentra.
The number one sign your dog is a bad driver: always taking eyes off road to lick himself.
MOOS: Being trained to drive with treats is sure to have dogs heading for the closest drive-thru.
(on camera): Do you want to be the designated driver? Who wants to be the designated driver tonight?
(voice-over): Definitely not Napoleon. Driving is his Waterloo.
Jeanne Moos, CNN --
(on camera): I said hit the brake, not eat the cake.
(voice-over): -- New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAYE: Too funny.
Thanks for starting your morning with us. We've got much more ahead on CNN SATURDAY MORNING, which starts right now.
