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Hala Gorani Tonight
More Trouble for Sepp Blatter; Murdoch Tweet Causes Furor; Details of Latest Russian Actions in Syria; Ben Carson Explains Shooting Comments. Aired 3-4p ET
Aired October 08, 2015 - 15:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[15:00:12]
AMARA WALKER, CNN HOST: Tonight, is this the end of the road for Sepp Blatter?
BEGIN VIDEO CLIP
WALKER: The FIFA President is provisionally suspended for 90 days,
Also, Russia warships launch fresh strikes on Syria amid reports missiles may have crashed in Iran.
Plus, French train hero, Spencer Stone is in serious condition after being stabbed in California.
And, how Rupert Murdoch is apologizing after claiming this Republican candidate could be America's first real black President.
END VIDEO CLIP
WALKER: Hello everyone, I'm Amra Walker, live from CNN Center, and this is The World Right Now.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
WALKER: Welcome, everyone. It is the corruption scandal that is rocking the world of football to its very core but for month's FIFA President Sepp
Blatter seemed above it all until now.
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WALKER: The organization's ethics committee has hit him with a 90 suspension which could be extended by another 45 days. Blatter wasn't the
only one. The Head of European football, Michel Platini and FIFA's Secretary General Jerome Valcke have also been hit with the same
suspensions.
END VIDEO CLIP
WALKER: Let go live now to FIFA Headquarters in Zurich. CNN's Amanda Davies is there. And Amanda just give us the latest on what this ban means for
Sepp Blatter, Valcke and Platini.
AMANDA DAVIES, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well Amara, if you're talking about football's top dog it doesn't really get much bigger than
this does it?
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DAVIES: The head of world's football governing body, Sepp Blatter and the head of European football's governing body, Michel Platini, both handed 90-
day bans worldwide from all football, that's at a national and international level.
We had been expecting that there had been a few leaks from FIFA's internal investigatory committee over the last 24 hours or so. But the news that's
coming out within the last hour or so is that a very staunch defense of Michel Platini by his own governing body, UEFA.
END VIDEO CLIP
DAVIES: Platini of course many people's favorite to succeed Sepp Blatter as the next FIFA President when the next election take place on February the
26th, prior to these investigations opening.
But the UEFA executive committee, the top power brokers in European football have issued a strongly worded statement backing their man. They
say that they have decided not to take up the option of inserting another President to take his place for that 90-day period. They say that they
expressed full confidence in Platini and stand fully behind him. And then that statement was followed by one from the man himself. And I think it's
fair to say that Michel Platini has come out fighting.
END VIDEO CLIP
DAVIES: Whilst he has admitted that he intended to fully comply with the terms of the suspension. That means not going into UEFA's offices, in Lyon,
and not taking part in meetings, for example. He has said, I will contest, in an appropriate manner, at the appropriate time, this sanction. More than
a sense of injustice or a desire for revenge, I am driven by a profound feeling of staunch defiance. I am more determined than I have ever been to
defend myself before the relevant judicial body.
So, what does that mean in real terms? Well, both Platini, Blatter and Jerome Valcke have a 48 hour window Amara, to appeal this decision from
FIFA's Ethics Committee. They can appeal to FIFA Appeals Committee. They love a - they love a committee in these parts. They have to submit facts
stating their intention to do so. So we have a 48-hour window from that announcement made at noon today. So I don't suspect that this is over.
WALKER: And in light of this news, I have to ask you Amanda about Sepp Blatter. I mean in addition to the suspension he is also under criminal
investigation as Swiss authorities announced recently. Is this the beginning of the end for Mr. Blatter?
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DAVIES: Well, you would think so, yes. The FIFA Ethics Committee investigation was started after that opening of the criminal investigation
by the Swiss authorities. The Swiss criminal prosecutors actually presented their evidence to the FIFA Ethics Committee as part of their investigation
on Wednesday and the Ethics Committee felt that there was enough to suspend Sepp Blatter for this 90 day period.
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[15:05:02]
DAVIES: Blatter though arrived here at his office at FIFA House very early on Thursday morning and many people suspected he had left after the
announcement was made of his suspension. But actually he was pictured leaving here by the back entrance, just after 7:00 o'clock, driven away in
a car. We haven't heard from him in person, but his lawyer, Richard Cullen, did release a statement. And, again, we don't think that that will be the
end of what we heard from Sepp Blatter.
WALKER: Definitely not the end. Amanda Davies with the latest developments from the FIFA headquarters in Zurich. Amanda, many thanks to you.
Turning now to Syrian forces going on the attack, carrying out a wide scale, I should say, offensive against what the Syrian army calls terrorist
groups.
BEGIN VIDEO CLIP
WALKER: In support Russian warships launched fresh strikes against ISIS targets in Idlib and Aleppo provinces. Now that's according to Russia's
defense ministry. That's two U.S. officials tell CNN at least four cruise missiles have crashed inside Iran. It's unclear where they landed but one
official says there may be casualties. The U.S. Defense Secretary today urged Russia to change course.
ASHTON CARTER, U.S. DEFENCE SECRETARY: It remains our hope that Russia will see that tethering itself to a sinking ship is a losing strategy. Because
Russia has the opportunity to change course, and do the right thing. I don't know if they will.
END VIDEO CLIP
WALKER: For more on this developing story, let's bring in CNN's Arwa Damon. She's live in Istanbul at this hour. But we begin with our Matthew Chance
who is standing by live in Moscow. And Matthew I would like to start with reports that you know these Russian cruise missiles crashed in Iran. Are
Russian officials saying anything about this?
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, they are. Within the past few minutes they've rejected those allegations that were
made by officials in the United States to CNN saying something along the lines of this. They've written a post on their Facebook page saying of the
Defense Ministry, saying no matter how unpleasant and unexpected it is for our colleagues in the Pentagon, and Langley, which of course is where the
CIA is headquarted. Yesterday's strike with precision guided weapons at ISIS infrastructure hit its target. It's a fact. Otherwise you have to
admit that those ISIS objects in Syria self-destructed.
That's what the post essentially said on Facebook. So quite an angry reaction and a jab at the anonymous sources that are giving this
information to reporters to CNN to other news organizations as well in the United States.
What the Russians say is that they're broadcasting as never before, live images whenever possible. A tape off all of the strikes that they carried
out. Blow by blow, in fact. The Kremlin is viewing or showing all these attacks that it makes, these air strikes it carries out, the naval strikes
as well, across the television screens in Russia. Because as well as an air war an enabled bombardment. Russia is also carrying out a propaganda war at
home.
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CHANCE: This is Russia's version of shock and awe. A slick 21st century media campaign never before witnessed in an Russian conflict. The sheer
number of camera angles is a revelation for Russia's normally secretive military.
Across state media, the only news outlets that really matter here, millions of Russians are delivered a seemingly coordinated message that air strikes
in Syria are crucial to fight ISIS and it's having an effect. According to the latest opinion polls a previously skeptical Russian public are now
squarely behind Russia's air campaign.
DMITRY NEKRASOV, MEDIA EXPERT: Not a lot of people actually realize really support sending our troops to Syria because everybody understands that we
could be victims, but everybody likes -- not everybody, but the majority likes the demonstration of force the displays and so on.
CHANCE: Of Russian power?
NEKRASOV: Of Russian power, yes.
CHANCE: It's a message of power backed up by daily defense ministry videos of the conflict zone. And briefings designed to talk up Russia's military
prowess. Even the weather forecasters are pushing the Kremlin line, from the point of view of weather conditions; this meteorologist informs viewers
October in Syria is a generally favorable time for air strikes.
Well this whole unprecedented media blitz on Syria, the graphics, the drone video, the briefings may offer some insight into what's really driving the
Kremlin. Certainly attention is being drawn to Russia's military muscle and Vladimir Putin is being portrayed again as a hero who stands up to the
west. But critics say this blanket coverage of Syria may also be a useful distraction.
[15:10:17]
CHANCE: Already, enthusiasm for Russia's other war in Ukraine appears to have dimmed. Euphoria over the annexation of Crimea last year is now hardly
mentioned in the media. And with its economy withering under sanctions and low oil prices, the Kremlin maybe gambling that Syria can provide a
spectacular boost to Russia's national prime.
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CHANCE: I just want to quickly give you some of the figures of the latest opinion poll released today by the Levada Center, saying 72% of people in
Russia now, support the air strikes that the government is carriage out in Syria.
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CHANCE: Two days before air strikes began the figures were very different, only 14% back then supported any kind of military action by Russia in
Syria.
END VIDEO CLIP
WALKER: It really is extraordinary to see this turn around in public opinion there in Russia. Matthew Chance, stand by if you will. I want to
cross to Arwa Damon who is standing by live in Istanbul. And Arwa, I under you're getting more information about the casualties, as a result of
Russia's bombing campaign, what are you hearing?
ARWA DAMON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: That's right. The Russians are still insisting that they're not targeting civilians and that
there have not been civilian casualties in this ongoing air campaign. But that's something quite vehemently disputed by people on the ground among
the rebel leaders activists and civilians themselves that are bearing the brunt of this new round of bombardment.
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DAMON: The Syrian Civil Defense otherwise known as The While Helmets. They're a volunteer, independent group of medical field individuals who
often end up being the first on the ground following any sort of bombing.
They have all too much experience in dealing with this kind of carnage. In the past mostly that brought on by the Assad regimes bombardment and their
indiscriminal barrel bonds. Now they are saying casualties are being caused by Russia's strikes.
Numerous videos showing them trying to clear children out of rubble. Other images of children being treated inside hospitals. And according to The
White Helmets, they are saying that since the Russian air campaign began on September 30th at least 182 civilians have been killed. Among them, two
members of The White Helmets themselves.
They're also saying that more than 500 have been killed and a lot of those we're talking to on the ground and also outside of Syria to include Turkey,
the United States, NATO are saying that the vast majority of Russian strikes are not against ISIS. They say only about 10% of these Russian
strikes are in fact targeting ISIS positions.
The others are targeting various different other rebel groups that are in areas that the Syrian regime wants to see firmly under its control. And the
Syrian regime taking advantage of this fairly superior air power that it does have seemingly to try to advance. But it's all coming of course at the
cost of civilians.
END VIDEO CLIP
WALKER: A bit later of course we will sadly continue to hear more about civilian casualties as this civil war drags on. Many thanks to you Arwa
Damon, reporting for us there in Istanbul. And our thanks to Matthew Chance reporting for us in Moscow.
We're going to take a break. When we come back tonight -
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Just two months ago, Spencer Stone was slashed while thwarting a possible terrorist attack and now he's been stabbed in California. We'll have the
details next.
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COMMERCIAL BREAK
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[15:17:03]
WALKER: Welcome back, everyone. U.S Airman Spencer Stone is in serious condition after being wounded in a late-night stabbing in Sacramento,
California.
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WALKER: Stone, as you might recall, was hailed as a hero after he helped thwart a terror attack on a European train in August. Local police say he
was stabbed after getting into a physical altercation while out with friends. Stone is being treated for non-life threatening injuries at a
hospital and police do not believe the event is related to terrorism.
END VIDEO CLIO
WALKER: I want to bring in CNN's Jason Carrol who is joining me from New York; he's been following this story. And Jason what can you tell us about
what we know and what led to this altercation.
JASON CARROL, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well it's really an incredible story, when you consider that this is the second time now that
Spencer Stone has found himself in a life-threatening situation. This most recent incident taking place in downtown Sacramento.
BEGIN VIDEO CLIP
CARROL: I have spoken to police about exactly what happened here. Apparently it all started as a dispute between two groups of people.
Spencer Stone was with four of his friends. They apparently got into some sort of an argument with two other men, unknown as this point what that
argument was about. It may have started inside a night club there in Sacramento, spilled out onto the street.
Police got a call at about 12:46 a.m. Pacific time saying that someone was hurt out in the street. And when they got there, they found that Stone had
been stabbed four times in the chest, at least four times in the upper chest, we are told. We are told that his injuries are not life-threatening.
And just within the past two hours or so police held a press conference and talked about what the suspects look like.
DEPUTY CHIEF KEN BERNARD, SACRAMENTO POLICE: The suspects in this crime are two male Asian adults. The male - the males are being described as wearing
white t-shirts and blue jeans. The suspects we believe fled in a 2009 to 2012 dark color, or dark gray or black Toyota Camry. Once again, the
assault does not appear to be a random act. It's believed to be related to a night club incident.
CARROL: Again, related to a night club incident they say not related to terrorism or not related to the heroic acts of Stone and the other man who
helped disarm that gunman on that train headed for Paris in August.
END VIDEO CLIP
CARROL: Once again, in terms of this Sacramento case, police are looking for two suspects at this point. Stone is in stable condition. He is
expected to make a full recovery.
WALKER: It's just incredible. Stabbed four times in the chest but in stable condition. Jason Carrol, great having you, thanks so much for that.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is promising to defeat what he calls a wave of terror but warns there is no solution quick to weeks of
unrest.
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[15:20:03]
WALKER: The violence escalated further today with three stabbing attacks including one Tel Aviv and we're just now hearing reports of a fourth such
attack. This one in the northern town of Afula.
All of the victims survived. Mr. Netanyahu spoke to reporters just a short time ago.
BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER: (As translated) The radicals of terrorists will not achieve anything. We will persecute them and we will be
victorious. We're in the midst of terror waves, with Molotov cocktails and knives and rocks are used as well as live ammunition, most of these
activities are not organized in any way but they are a result of excitement, and liables and lies by Hamas by the Palestinian authority and
a few states in the region as well.
WALKER: Palestinian protesters clashed again with Israeli forces in the West Bank and east Jerusalem. (Inaudible) press reports that one
Palestinian was shot dead. Veteran Palestinian negotiator (inaudible) blames Israel for the spike in violence. He says Mr. Netanyahu himself has
planted the seeds of desperation with expanded settlements and no hope for a two state solution.
END VIDEO CLIP
WALKER: Coming up a VW boss gets grilled on Washington's Capitol Hill.
BEGIN VIDEO CLIP
WALKER: We'll tell you who he blames for the recent emissions testing scandal that has plagued the automaker.
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(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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WALKER: German police have raided Volkswagen headquarters amidst the auto maker's diesel emissions cheating scandal.
BEGIN VIDEO CLIP
WALKER: State prosecutors and police searched offices in Wolfsburg, Germany for anything relevant to the investigation. Now Volkswagen says it is
cooperating.
Meanwhile on U.S Capitol Hill, the company's U.S. Boss says VW takes full responsibility, but he cast blame for the scandal away from the management.
MICHAEL HORN, PRESIDENT AND CEO, VOLKSWAGEN GROUP OF AMERICA: This was not a corporate decision, from my point of view, to my best knowledge
today, the corporation and no board meeting or supervisory board meeting has authorized this, but this was a couple of software engineers who put
this in for whatever reasons and I would also like to find out and I fully to (inaudible)
END VIDEO CLIP
WALKER: Both Michael Horn and VW came under harsh criticism from U.S. Lawmakers on Thursday. CNN's Government Regulation Correspondent, Renee
Marsh joining me live now from Washington with the very latest.
Renee great to see you. So tell us what else Michael Horn had to say during this hearing?
[15:25:14]
RENEE MARSH, CNN GOVERNMENT REGULATION CORRESPONDENT: Well I can tell Amra, he got quite the lashing. Not only was he on the hot seat but also the EPA.
They just wrapped up their testimony talking about -- answering questions about why the agency missed the scheme.
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MARSH: But as you mentioned earlier, it was Michael Horn who was on the hot seat. And essentially he was the head of Volkswagen. And, you know, he was
answering question about why the German auto maker, essentially cheated on emissions standards by using software to trick emissions tests into
believing that the VW diesel cars were in compliance when in fact the cars were spewing 40 times the emissions allowed.
Now Horn admitted he knew about the possible cheating scheme since 2014, but the auto maker only came clean to EPA just last month.
END VIDEO CLIPO
WALKER: And what about you know who might really be responsible for this? I mean Could Michael Horn give any clues as to that, as to how far in the
chain of command this might go up to?
MARSH: Well, he didn't name any names. He did mention that three people have been suspended. Again, no names mentioned. But he said that who knew
what, when. That is still a matter of the investigation. That is still being looked into.
BEGIN VIDEO CLIP
MARSH: You played the sound at the top, there. What was very interesting is that he strongly believed this was a decision made by select individuals,
and not something that was decided upon as a whole, meaning a corporate decision. So, he is saying it was specific people who were in charge in
making that decision to say, they should move forward with that cheating scandal Amra.
END VIDEO CLIP
WALSH: All right, Renee Marsh, appreciate that report there from Washington. Of course you also have VW admitting that as many as 11 million
vehicles around the world may be have to be fitted with new software. Renee, thank you for that.
Next, from suggesting women wear tighter shorts to saying racism on the pitch could be solved with a hand shake.
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WALSH: Sepp Blatter earned quite a reputation for his controversial remarks. So why was the FIFA boss so popular?
Also ahead we take a closer look at how Vladimir Putin's power play inside Syria may be helping his popularity back at home. Stay with us.
END VIDEO CLIP
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[15:30:50]
WALKER: The world of football has been plunged into more turmoil. FIFA has suspended President Sepp Blatter for 90 days.
BEGIN VIDEO CLIP
WALKER: The President of European football, Michel Platini and FIFA Secretary General, Jerome Valcke were also suspended.
END VIDEO CLIP
WALKER: Russian officials are denying a U.S. claim that some cruise missiles fired by Russia into Syria may have crashed in Iran.
BEGIN VIDEO CLIP
WALKER: Russia has been carriage out a naval bombardment from the Caspian Sea. They say their rockets are aimed at terrorists inside Syria.
END VIDEO CLIP
WALKER: Majority leader, Kevin McCarthy has dropped out of the running to be the new speaker of U.S. House of representatives.
BEGIN VIDEO CLIP
WALKER: Current speaker, John Boehner announced his resignation last month. McCarthy was considered the front-runner for the position.
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WALKER: Sepp Blatter's 90 day suspension by FIFA, the Swiss national has been the head of world football for near 20 years and his tenure has never
been short of controversy. Alex Thomas takes a look at his career.
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ALEX THOMAS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Although Sepp Blatter has been at FIFA for 40 years the last six months appear to have been the most
momentous. Blatter's rise began in the 1970s and after six years as technical director and 17 as general secretary, Blatter won FIFA's top job
in 1998 after a bitter election battle against then UEFA President Leonard Johansen.
Blatter's popularity was fascinating to those outside the game. He once suggested women footballers should wear tighter shorts and that racism on
the pitch could be solved with a hand shake.
SEPP BLATTER, FIFA PRESIDENT: There is no racism. There is maybe one of the players towards the other he has averted a gesture which is not a correct
one. But also the one who is affected by that, he should say, it's a game. We are in the game and the end of the game we shake hands.
THOMAS: despite his reputation for controversy, Blatter was reelected four times. He appealed particularly to the smaller football nations taking the
world cup to new frontiers. Asia, in 2002 and Africa, in 2010.
He also made FIFA richer than ever before and spread the wealth through football development programs.
Although the world's national soccer bosses continue to vote for him Blatter stock was falling with fans. He was booed at the Brazil World Cup
in 2014. Then in May of this year, several FIFA officials were arrested in early morning raid's in Zurich just days before the latest Presidential
election.
Swiss police were acting on behalf of the U.S. Justice department who outlined a list of damning charges although Blatter himself was not
charged. Nonetheless he was reelected for a fifth term.
BLATTER: We, or I, cannot monitor everyone all of the time. If people want to do wrong, they will also try to hide it. But it must fall to me to be
responsible for the reputation and wellbeing organization and to find a way to fix things.
THOMAS: Four days later, as the outcry continued, Blatter announced he would step down after a new election scheduled for February 2016. The 79-
year-old Swiss planned to remain in charge until then but now he's been suspended by the ethics committee. Blatter said he was disappointed that he
was not be given a chance to be heard and present evidence on his behalf. His future in football though has never been more in doubt.
Alex Thomas, CNN.
END VIDEO CLIP
WALKER: We want to bring you more now on one of our top stories. Russia's major military support for Syria's fight against what it calls terrorists.
BEGIN VIDEO CLIP
WALKER: While Russian President, Vladimir Putin has been criticized by many western powers how is his Syria campaign being seen at home? Earlier I
spoke with Ian Bremmer, President of the Eurasia Group and I began by asking him about a new poll from the Levada Center showing that Russian
public opinion over Syria has changed dramatically.
[15:35:00]
IAN BREMMER, PRESIDENT OF EURASIA GROUP: It is a big turnaround. I guess what I can say is earlier polls were taken before there was any military
activity. Before there was a drum beat. Now, of course 90% of Russians get their news from television. Their primary news and that is really
controlled by the Russian government. So there is a steady drum beat of patriotism.
It is absolutely showing that the Russians are, you know, sort of trying to take lead where the Americans have screwed up. And so, as a consequence,
there's a sense that the Russians are important now and they're making a difference. And of course, they haven't taken any casualties yet either.
So if you put all of those things together, you know, the necessary -- the issue euphoria, and the fact that we don't have the -- any of the big long-
term problems coming to roost, you would expect that the height of popularity would be at the beginning of such an episode.
WALKER: OK, that is a good point about you know this being at the height of euphoria right now Ian. But the Russian public isn't exactly happy with
where the economy is right now and how Putin has been handling it.
BREMMER: The Russian people are happy with Putin, that's very different from where the Russian economy is . He of course has blamed the U.S. led
sanctions for the - for the economic hit to a degree and anti-Americanism in Russia is extraordinarily wide and deep at this point.
To be fair, the Russian economy has also been terribly mismanaged under Putin's leadership and we've certainly seen that. It's a (inaudible), we've
not seen diversification of the economy away from oil, gas, and military. And so that means that even when oil prices were relatively high, the
Russian economy was trending towards flat growth. Now that you have oil prices in the 40s you're expecting a contraction of some 4%.
Now look Putin expects to run this country until 2024 at a minimum. And there's no question he can't continue to run the Russian government into
the ground without taking significant hit to his popularity over the long term. But you know these are early days and you know if you asked me right
now is the average Russian prepared to suck up you know, a few months a year of economic challenges and still support the Kremlin, the answer is
very clearly, yes. It's not as if there's significant opposition figures in Russia right now really that are really toting a different line.
END VIDEO CLIP
WALKER: And in these early days, Ian, I mean what we're seeing right now, at least the optics of it is that Russia is becoming the dominant player,
really, in Syria. And we're seeing Russia once again outmaneuvering the west, the U.S. First it was in the Ukraine and now we're seeing this in
Syria so obviously this is going to boost Putin's popularity.
BREMMER: Well I don't know if they're outmaneuvering the west. I think what's clear is that the Americans have consistently not been willing to
actually engage in Syria. The U.S. doesn't believe they have people on the ground that they can support effectively. They're not prepared to put
military boots in themselves. So, I mean you've got a vacuum for four years. If anything, it's surprising that it's taken Putin this long to
really shore up his one significant military ally in the region. Bashir al Assad.
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WALKER: Is this a pretty large gamble for Putin? I mean this intervention could backfire on Putin especially you know when you have Russia you know
already fighting an Islamic - an Islamist insurgency in the south. I mean could this backfire and make Russia more of a target against terror
attacks.
BREMMER: Well, we've already seen some senior Saudi clerics that declared Jihad against both the Russians and the Iranians in Syria.
END VIDEO CLIP
BREMMER: There are over 3,000 Russian citizens that are presently fighting for ISIS both in Iraq and Syria. Those numbers dwarf American citizens.
There will be vulnerability to terrorist attacks.
But you know Putin has played this game before. His popularity shot up after an apartment building in Moscow was destroyed. The Kremlin claims
because of Chechnya terrorism. There's always been questions about that. Russian popular opinion absolutely can be manipulated in the near to medium
term on these issue. The question is what's the long term cost for the Russian economy and what else will Putin also really have to do to maintain
that position?
WALKER: This is The World Right Now.
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WALKER: Media mogul Rupert Murdoch puts his weight behind Republican Presidential candidate Ben Carson on twitter but some see his tweet as an
ugly slight plight rather, against the current President, we'll explain.
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[15:42:25]
WALKER: Welcome back. One of the world's most powerful media tycoons is apologizing for remarks that caused a firestorm of controversy.
BEGIN VIDEO CLIP
WALKER: Rupert Murdoch is backtracking on a tweet that praised Republican Presidential candidate, Ben Carson but took a swipe at President Barack
Obama at the same time.
Murdock wrote on Wednesday; Ben and his wife Candy Carson, terrific. What about a real black President who can properly address the racial divide and
much else? He later tweeted apologies, no offense meant. Personally find both men charming.
Well Carson himself has caused quite a few controversies with his own remarks but some Republican voters clearly like the fact that he freely
speaks his mind.
Before turning to politics, Ben Carson was a Neurosurgeon. A very successful one, in fact. He was the first to separate twins conjoined at
the head. He even had a movie made about him.
BEN CARSON [Video playing] One baby dies. We need to separate him as fast as possible, and give all shared tissue to the surviving twin.
WALKER: It's an achievement Carson likes to remind his fellow Republican candidates about.
CARSON:, [Video] The only one to take out half of a brain although you would think if you go to Washington that someone had beat me to it.
WALKER: From the moment he first dipped his toes into politics Carson has positioned himself as a conservative not afraid to speak his mind.
CARSON: [Video] It's not my intention to off fend anyone.
WALKER: In the face of what he calls political correctness.
CARSON: [Video] The P.C. Police are out in force at all times.
WALKER: Carson has been controversial. He was forced to apologize after these comes about gay people.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: [video] Do you think being gay is a choice?
CARSON: [video] Absolutely.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: [video] Why do you say that?
CARSON: [video] Because a lost people who go into prison, go into prison straight and when they come out they're gay. So did something happen while
they were in there?
WALKER: There were calls for Carson to withdraw after he suggested a Muslim should not be President.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: [video] Do you believe Islam is consistent with the constitution?
CARSON: [Video] No, I don't. I do not. I do would not advocate that we put a Muslim in charge of this nation. I absolutely would not agree with that.
WALKER: Carson certainly hasn't pulled any punches when it comes to Barack Obama's policies.
CARSON: [Video] Obamacare is really, I think, the worst thing that has happened in this nation since slavery. And it is, in a way, it is slavery.
WALKER: And just this week Carson has caused outrages after suggesting that victims of the Oregon College mass shooting should have stood up to the
gunman.
[15:45:02]
CARSON: [Video] I would not just stand there and let him shoot me. I would say hey guys, everybody attack him, he may shoot me, but he can't get us
all.
WALKER: But these views have not seemed to defer Republican voters. With a little under four months until the primaries begin in Iowa. Carson is in
second place behind Donald Trump in the polls.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: [Video] If you were in the White House, what would you be doing right now with tropical storm Joaquin? What would you be doing if
you were actually in the White House? What would be your first step?
CARSON: [Video] I don't know.
WALKER: Whether or not Carson is ready to lead the country, still to be determined.
END VIDEO CLIP
WALKER: Carson spoke to CNN just a short time ago defending those comments on the Oregon shooting. He told our Wolf Blitzer he was not criticizing
victims but explain what he would do if he were next in line to be killed.
BEGIN VIDEO CLIP
CARSON: I would much rather go down fighting. And if all of us attack the shooter the chances are very strong that not all of us will be killed. To
me that doesn't sound like a very controversial thing. But when you take it out of context and you try to make it look like I'm criticizing the victims
that's when it becomes controversial.
END VIDEO CLIP
WALKER: All right, later in the interview Carson raised a lot of eyebrows with comments about gun control and holocaust. We'll get to that as well.
First let's bring in CNN's Political Reporter, Nia Malika Henderson for more. Lots to talk about Nia.
First of all you know you have Ben Carson saying he did not meant to criticize any of those victims of the Oregon shooting but that's the way
it's being perceived. There has been so much backlash and if you're saying, if I were there you know, I wouldn't stand there. I mean he's
clearly saying the victims did not do enough.
NIA MALIKA HENDERSON, CNN POLITICAL REPORTER: There's been backlash including from some of those people who were on the scene there at that
awful shooting and are basically saying that they were offended by Carson's remarks.
BEGIN VIDEO CLIP
HENDERSON: And that who could know what you do in a situation like that. You did have Donald Trump coming out to defend Ben Carson. Sort of
ironically because we know that Donald Trump likes to go after everybody. Particularly people who are as close i.e. in terms of his campaign and in
polling and Dr. Carson is second in the polls
But we have seen from Dr. Carson make statements like this that seem to be controversial but then end up helping him. In this same interview with
Wolf, he talked about the holocaust in gun control essentially linking the two. And I think we have the sound byte where he talks about Nazi Germany.
CARSON: [Video] My point is, they were, -that was only one of the countries that I mentioned. There were a number of countries where tyranny reigned
and before it happened they disarmed the people. That was the point. Noah Webster said when he was talking about tyranny, that the people of America
would never suffer tyranny, because they are arm e armed.
WOLF BLITZER, HOST: So but just clarify, if there had been no gun control laws in Europe at that time, would 6 million Jews have been slaughtered?
CARSON: I think the likelihood of Hitler being able to accomplish his goals would have been greatly diminished if the people had been armed?
END VIDEO CLIP
HENDERSON: So, yeah. So we have that comment there. And, Carson, on a number of occasions, has talked about Nazi Germany, he's even likened
present day America to Nazi Germany. But again these are comments that haven't damaged his candidacy at all so far. And we'll see what happens
here.
He does have to spend a lot of his time so far explaining himself and he tends to -- when he gets into the sort of the explaining mode he tends to
blame the press and essentially says the press doesn't under him. That we're silly reporters he's even said at some point and he always talks
about the scourge of political correctness.
BEGIN VIDEO CLIP
HENDERSON: And says he has no intention of being a politically correct politician and he's going to maintain his outsider status and he's
certainly able to do that by making comments like this.
WALKER: What about Rupert Murdoch, is he explaining himself? Of course he apologized for that tweet where he you know took a jab at President Obama.
You know what about a real black President. Obviously, that was meant for Obama. What did Rupert Murdoch mean by that tweet?
HENDERSON: You know I don't know what he meant in terms of a real black President. I don't know if he was questioning Obama's blackness or
questioning whether or not he' was a real President. But he has backed off that and said he meant no offense and that both of these gentlemen, both
Dr. Carson and President Obama are good men.
But, again, it does inject race into this debate. And I do think in some ways Ben Carson, because he is African-American, a lot of Republicans like
this idea. That they have an African American, who is conservative. They haven't been able to run a successful African-American candidate at a
Presidential level.
END VIDEO CLIP
HENDERSON: And in Ben Carson they have somebody who can really change the face of the party at least for the time being. And a lot of folks like his
candidacy, like what he is saying and like that because of his race, he might be able to expand the party, the reach of the party, and maybe get
some African-American voters.
[15:50:04]
WALKER: I'm sure a lot of people are surprised though that Ben Carson remains surging in the polls and at number two right behind Donald Trump.
Nia Malika Henderson, great having you as always, thank you.
HENDERSON: Thank you.
WALKER: All right coming up.
BEGIN VIDEO CLIP
WALKER: Could the world's coral reefs lose the color they are known for? Coral bleaching is already happening in some parts of the ocean. We're
going to take you under water when The World Right Now returns.
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(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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WALKER: The world's coral reefs are famed for their brilliant colors and diverse plant life. But, what if they all turned white? Well that's already
happening in many parts of the ocean. It's a process called bleaching and the devastating affects they can have are being documented in a remarkable
underwater project. Take a look
BEGIN VIDEO CLIP:
RICHARD WILSON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR XL CATLIN SEAVIEW SURVEY: The XL Catlin Seaview Survey started three years ago. We've been to w6 different
countries and photographed 1,000km of reef every two meters. And that gives us an incredible record to then monitor change over time.
Well this is the SV-2 camera which was specifically for the XL Catlin Seaview Survey. And it's got in the head of the camera, three individual
cameras that make a full 360 image. That's operated by a tablet here, and then, as a driver, so you're a diver, being pulled along by a camera behind
the scooter.
So what we're doing with this imagery, is uploading into google street view. This allows anybody anywhere in the world to go on a virtual dive to
see what's happening on the reefs and events like a coral bleaching event.
Coral bleaching is when water temperature gets so warm that the coral literally turns clear and exposes its skeleton. And that's the white color
that you see through bleaching. And unless the temperatures drop quite dramatically fairly quickly, then the coral starves to death and then the
tissue falls away and the skeleton breaks us.
[15:55:14]
WILSON: In the El Nino of 1997, we had a mass global coral bleaching event. Then we had another one in 2010. What we're announcing is the third global
coral bleaching event. So we're talking about 12,000 square kilometers of corals dying.
We're seeing an incredibly fast rate of change in ocean temperature at the moment and what we're going to see over time is more and more of these big
bleaching events. And the problem is the coral reefs don't have time to recover so, even those that do are going to get hit by another event and
another event and another event.
When people see a coral reef bleach, it really affects people, because, you know, you're turning from a reef that is really colorful, to bright white,
and then to dead. I mean this is the equivalent of a rain forest turning white and no one noticing. These are the kind of images that make people
sit up and take notice.
END VIDEO CLIP
WALKER: What a shame. Well, experts say about 12,000 square kilometers of coral could die off by the end of this year.
This has been The World Right Now, Thanks for watching. Quest Means Business is up next.
END
