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Interview With Republican Presidential Candidate Herman Cain; Closing Bell Madness; HIV/AIDS and the Black Community; The Help Desk; U.S. Wine Sales Soar; World's Most Valuable Company
Aired August 12, 2011 - 12:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN ANCHOR: Top of the hour, I am Suzanne Malveaux. Want to get you up to speed.
Dare we say, it almost feels like a normal day on Wall Street. The Dow stocks are closing out a week of wild swings with some nice gains today so far. Right now, blue chips are up 178 points.
Now, should the Dow manage to close up 200 points, the index is going to end the week about the same point where it started.
Texas Governor Rick Perry is set to jump into the presidential race. An announcement is expected tomorrow in South Carolina. Perry calls himself a full-throated conservative. He says his campaign will based on his record of creating jobs in Texas.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOV. RICK PERRY (R), TEXAS: I happen to think that I am as qualified or better qualified than anyone in the field to not only make that claim, but lay out that vision and lay out those principles that have worked truly well in Texas. We've created more jobs than any other state in the nation. As a matter of fact, in the last two years we've created almost half of all the jobs created in America.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: Police have hauled in more than 1,800 people across England since rioting erupted on Saturday. London will keep thousands of extra officers on the streets through the weekend. The unrest is linked to five deaths and hundreds of injuries.
Well, police documents detail Lee Grace Dougherty's arrest in Colorado. An affidavit quotes Dougherty as saying, "I pointed the gun at the cop. I deserved to get shot."
She and her two brothers were captured this week after eight days on the run. They allegedly opened fire on a Florida police officer and robbed a bank in Georgia. The officers who captured the trio say the high-speed chase was something else.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They were shooting at law enforcement multiple times with high-powered rifles. So I can't think of a worse scenario for us.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In terms of, like, a 1 to 10, with 10 being the most memorable, this would be probably a 10.5.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: Military operations are reported on the outskirts of Syria's capital, Damascus. And opposition activists say that Syrian soldiers are moving into another town today to crush the five-month- old uprising against the regime. Now, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says that the United States is going to harden sanctions against Syria, and she is calling on other countries to do the same.
Well, China's government is ordering bullet trains to slow down. The move follows a crash last month that killed at least 40 people. Bullet trains hit speeds above 200 miles an hour. Now, the Chinese company that makes the trains is recalling 54 cars for inspections following several malfunctions.
And the Postal Service is moving to lay off 120,000 workers. It's going to ask Congress to remove collective bargaining restrictions so that it can fire those workers. The service is losing billions of dollars a year as people switch to e-mail and online banking. Officials plan to eliminate another 100,000 postal jobs by leaving open positions unfilled.
And we want to go to Iowa, where all the action is with the Republican presidential hopefuls. And I believe we've got our own Don Lemon, who is there with Herman Cain at the CNN Election Express.
Is that right, Don?
DON LEMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right. Look who I caught up with, Suzanne, speaking over on the soapbox and really giving some very interesting and straightforward talk. And we had a -- let's say a passionate conversation afterwards.
HERMAN CAIN (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Yes.
LEMON: And the reason we did is because you said you were an against an all odds person. And quite honestly, I said to you, "Do you think in a party, a mostly white party, that you really stand a chance, not only of the nomination, but of a coming president?"
CAIN: I really think that I have a chance of getting the nomination and becoming president because my experience from 2004, when I ran for the United States Senate, and I traveled to all 159 counties in Georgia, color didn't matter. It wasn't about color.
LEMON: But you will be up against someone who has the majority of the African-American vote, and will have probably the majority of the liberal vote.
CAIN: Let's just say he temporarily has the majority of the African-American vote. Based on my experience of being on the radio for five years, I know that is changing. And so I don't believe he's going to capture the majority of the African-American vote when I get the nomination.
LEMON: You had a very tough back-and-forth last night, I'd have to say, explaining what you went about Sharia law and about mosques should be able to be banned in the United States. Do you want to clarify or talk about that?
CAIN: Absolutely. First of all, what I said originally and what I intended got misconstrued, which happens sometimes when it goes from story to story to story.
Here's my position. Number one, I believe in the First Amendment. Number two, I believe in freedom of religion in America.
We are a nation that recognizes and appreciates all religions. However, if there is a part of a religion that is going to basically try and change our culture, or hurt this nation, I am going to be the first one to stand in the way. And so this is why I was emphatic about the fact that if there's an element out there that wants Sharia law to be considered in the courts of the United States of America, I'm against that. American laws and American courts.
LEMON: Should mosques be able to be banned in the United States?
CAIN: Not categorically, no. It depends upon what it's being used for. Not all of them necessarily are being used for just religious purposes.
LEMON: All right. I want to talk about religion, because Mormonism, as well, you said people didn't understand about Mitt Romney's and about Jon Huntsman's religion. "New York Magazine" calls them Cain and Abel. The Cain and Abel of American politics, Mitt Romney, Jon Huntsman, a rich Mormon, ex-governors who can't stand each other.
Either might be able to beat Obama, but only if they don't kill each other first. You've got to talk about that, because you said most people don't understand Mormonism, and you didn't believe that they stand a chance.
CAIN: Well, I know, having grown up in the South and living in the South now, that many of them don't understand the Mormon religion. That's not my problem.
I don't have a problem with it, but go back to this article that you just showed. This is an attempt to sensationalize something that I don't even think exists between these two guys. And so the fact that they are trying to turn this into a story, I don't think the American people are going to fall for it.
LEMON: You don't regret your comments about people not knowing about this?
CAIN: No, because it's true. I mean, I've had people tell me this. So I was basically reflecting what people have told me. That's all. They don't really understand it, and when people don't understand something, they are suspicious of something. LEMON: All right. Give me a second for this. Because another national magazine -- this is "Newsweek," the cover of "Newsweek." It's called "The Queen of Rage," it's a picture of Michele Bachmann.
Some people say they tried to make her look bad or look crazy. What do you think of this?
CAIN: There are some times when you have to decide that you don't get in that fight. I am not going to get into that fight. I have the greatest amount of respect for Representative Bachmann. I'm glad to see that she's running. I think that she brings a whole different perspective.
LEMON: Is this fair though to do this? What do you think of the picture?
CAIN: If I say that it's fair or not, that means that I'm passing judgment on whether they did something to the picture or not.
LEMON: The picture or the headline? What do you think?
CAIN: The fact that I'm going to stay out of this fight is about as far as you're going to be able to push me, Don.
LEMON: Who is going to win this straw poll? Where are you going to end up?
CAIN: The American people are going to win the straw poll, because it's going to be a barometer of intensity.
LEMON: Who among the candidates are going to win the straw poll?
CAIN: That I can't predict, and here's why. The straw poll is not a scientific poll. So it's a measure of the intensity of your supporters in the state of Iowa. And we're just looking to make sure that our supporters are really, really excited.
LEMON: Are you downplaying it? Are you saying something about the importance of it? It's not important?
CAIN: No, no. There's a difference between it's non-scientific versus not important. I think it's important.
LEMON: Right. Where do you think you're going to fall?
CAIN: I think that we're going --
LEMON: Where do you think you are going to fall?
CAIN: We're going to do well and stay on our feet.
(LAUGHTER)
LEMON: All right.
Suzanne, he's tough. I don't know if you had any questions, but --
(CROSSTALK)
MALVEAUX: Well, you know, Herman Cain, you are pretty good at avoiding some of the questions you don't want to answer. But also, it seems like there's a bit of frustration here, that you say your statements were misconstrued.
Are you spending too much time here? You know, Don threw a lot of those questions at you trying to explain and re-explain your positions here. Do you really feel that you've been misconstrued? How do you actually get your message across in a way that people really understand what you are talking about, what your priorities are?
CAIN: We've put out a press release that basically clarified what was said, what was meant. Some people accused me of trying to backtrack and that I was apologizing. No, I am not.
So, I would suggest that if people want to talk about that issue, get a copy of the press release that we put out, because a lot of it has been misconstrued.
And, Suzanne, you know, I love you to death, but no, I am not trying to avoid answering questions. No. I am simply trying to clarify things that have become confused.
LEMON: As he just avoided the Michele Bachmann question.
MALVEAUX: Yes. I'm not buying that. I'm not buying that.
LEMON: But listen, people are going to ask him -- I mean, we have you out here face to face. We're not going to go with the press release. We're going to ask you, and that's our job, is to ask you that.
Right, Suzanne?
CAIN: Well, as I said, I don't believe in Sharia law in U.S. courts. That was the whole point of the statement that I made. That's it.
LEMON: OK.
CAIN: That's it.
LEMON: Fair enough.
Suzanne, back to you.
MALVEAUX: All right. We're going to take that, and obviously we'll be following you very closely to see how you end up at the straw poll, as well as in the months ahead. Thank you very much, Herman Cain.
CAIN: Thank you. Thank you, Don, for asking those tough questions. Appreciate it.
(NEWSBREAK)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MALVEAUX: Back to the market madness.
Right now, Dow blue chips are up 166 points in what has been a crazy week of wild swings. Now, last Thursday, the Dow plunged 513 points. It was up 62 points on Friday. Then, on Monday, another plunge, 635 points, only to surge 430 points on Tuesday.
Wednesday, 520-point drop. Then yesterday shot up again, 423 points.
Overall, the Dow had a net loss of 755 points from Thursday to Thursday, within a week or so.
Our Poppy Harlow, she has been right in the middle of that wild ride on Wall Street. She joins us live from New York.
And Poppy, give us a sense of what is taking place behind the scenes here. What is it like for these traders on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange to go through a week like this?
POPPY HARLOW, CNNMONEY.COM: You have to have a very strong stomach. I will put it that way, Suzanne.
I mean, the swings have been unbelievable, the most volatility we've seen in the market. No question about it, since the financial crisis of 2008. But as you will notice, a lot of the action takes place in that final half hour of trading, whether it's way to the upside or way to the downside.
So we wanted to get a taste for ourselves. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KENNETH POLCARI, MANAGING DIRECTOR, ICAP EQUITIES: I have to go over here to Citibank for a minute. Because of the electronics, I don't necessarily have to go and stand in the crowd anymore. I get all the information I need right here in my hand.
HARLOW: But don't you get something from being in the crowd?
POLCARI: Yes, you do, and you get something from being in the crowd right on the opening, and you get something right on the close.
DOREEN MOGAVERO, PRESIDENT & CEO, MOGAVERO, LEE & CO.: This week has been unusual. I mean, we had orders Monday through yesterday all day long, and all day long.
HARLOW: What is next on your list for the final minutes of trading? POLCARI: OK. So what's next on my list is I'm going to run around to all those stocks I was in today, and I'm going to get those final -- I'm going to get these looks.
HARLOW: You are hearing a lot of traders now yelling, "Buy everything! Buy everything!" We've got five minutes left in the trading day.
MOGAVERO: You see some of the brokers are running around checking the prices. For us today, we're good.
POLCARI: Because what I do, that's part of my job, is to be the eyes and ears for the customer. Right? Hold on. See, I'm getting another order.
MOGAVERO: Well, on a day like yesterday, I only had time to execute all my orders because the orders were coming in so quickly yesterday. Today, not so much. Getting some now, as you see. But on the days where the orders are -- I am really getting some.
HARLOW: What traders, what Kenny is doing right now, he is looking at imbalances in the stocks that he holds, the stocks he's trading. He's looking to see if there's more sell orders and buy orders. That's going to help him determine whether or not that stock is going to close higher or whether that stock is going to close lower.
POLCARI: If I go to Bank of America, you can see that there's no imbalance. In fact, there's 6.2 million paired (ph) off, which means there is 6.2 million to buy, there's 6.2 million for sale. So, if nothing changes, the stock will not close at the last sell. It's not going to close up, it's not going to close down.
The stock is changing below our limit at the moment. There is a little bit -- there's 100,000 to buy at the bell. I am way away with my order. My order -- this stock is trading 30 cents below my limit.
There's no way I'm going to make that sale, unless a buyer should come into the stock in the next three minutes and take it up. So I'm going to go hang out over there so I can just make sure that that's not going to happen without me knowing it.
MOGAVERO: I think most of the people on the floor are very prepared for the volatility. I mean, that's what we do.
(BELL RINGING)
HARLOW: We'll take this day. Down industrials ending this session up about 400 points.
MOGAVERO: That's it. Gaining (ph). We're done.
POLCARI: We sold off 100 points. But when you first got here, remember it was up 500.
HARLOW: We did. We were up over 500 points. In this last half hour of trading, we sold off more than 100 points.
POLCARI: We sold off 100 points. Now, you saw that. You were here when that happened, right?
It wasn't panicky by any stretch. You almost didn't even feel that we sold off 100, but the fact is that's how seamless it is.
MOGAVERO: We're back. Another day.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARLOW: And she's right, Suzanne. Today is another day.
That was the closing bell on Thursday. We're nicely up -- market up 165 points, green across the board.
But you know what? You never know until those final minutes of trading. Right, Suzanne?
MALVEAUX: Thanks for the behind-the-scenes look there. It looks rather chaotic.
HARLOW: Sure.
MALVEAUX: All right. Thanks again, Poppy. Have a great weekend.
Want to take you to live pictures here. This is Congressman Thad McCotter. He's speaking at the state fair in Des Moines, Iowa.
He is just one of the many Republican hopefuls that is stumping in Iowa today. He represents Michigan's 11th District in Congress.
He announced his candidacy in July, and he was first elected to Congress back in 2002. He really is kind of a relatively unknown candidate. He may be the least known among the Republican presidential hopefuls.
So we want to take a closer look at who McCotter is and where he stands on some of issues.
I want to bring in our CNN deputy political director, Paul Steinhauser, who joins us.
You are also in Des Moines, Iowa, where there's a lot of fried food, I understand. And everybody has been eating a lot of fried food.
But tell us a little bit about this guy, McCotter. A lot of people have never really heard of him before.
PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Yes, he is a relative unknown for most people outside of Michigan.
Suzanne, we're right here at the state fair. Got the bus behind me. Right behind the bus maybe 30 yards, 40 yards away, that's where Thad McCotter is right now.
It's called soapbox, and it's a stand where the candidates come and speak and take questions from Iowa voters. And that's exactly what he is doing right now.
As you mentioned, he is from Michigan. He announced earlier this summer.
Where does he stand on the issues? Well, like a lot of these other Republicans running for the White House, he is very much a proponent of spending cuts, massive spending cuts. He wants to trim the federal government.
He's a big proponent also of tax reform. What sets him apart from the other two members of the House, Ron Paul and Michele Bachmann, is that he voted for that debt ceiling proposal, that package that recently was passed, that very controversial package. They voted against it.
And one other thing I'll say about Thad McCotter. He plays a mean guitar. He was jamming on the guitar when he announced earlier this year.
Suzanne, that's it right now. Back to you.
MALVEAUX: All right, Paul. Interesting guy.
Later this hour, two candidates, Rick Santorum, Michele Bachmann. They both are going to be making some campaign appearances, so we're going to take that live as they hit the stump in Iowa. Our correspondents on the trail with all the candidates as they focus on the issues.
Well, a sad statistic. African-Americans making up 14 percent of the United States population, but they account for a much larger percent of new HIV infections.
We're going to show you one woman's battle to bring that number down.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MALVEAUX: The first AIDS case was diagnosed in the United States 30 years ago. And despite advancements in treatment, the disease still affects the African-American community at alarming rates.
African-Americans now make up 44 percent of new HIV infections. And in this week's "What Matters" segment, we look at why it's getting worse and not better, and how a community is fighting this battle.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DEL'ROSA WINSTON, HIV POSITIVE: It's really important that as women, we do uplift ourselves.
MALVEAUX (voice-over): Del'Rosa Winston has been HIV positive for more than 20 years. Winston found out she was infected by her long-time boyfriend after routine blood work for a surgery.
WINSTON: Getting an HIV test was not a big deal to me. I thought, wow, OK, I will get an HIV test. And after all, I was in a relationship, I did not worry about that. It was a big surprise when I found out that I was HIV positive.
MALVEAUX: After her diagnosis, Winston made the fight against HIV/AIDS her life's mission. She is an HIV prevention specialist with Sister Love, an Atlanta based organization that educates and empowers black women about the disease.
But Winston says it has been difficult to get people to take personal responsibility.
WINSTON: The willingness for our community to face this is a dilemma for me to understand why you don't want to know what is going on with your body. It's up to the individual at this point to move forward in their decision to get tested and know their status regardless to what the results are.
MALVEAUX: The numbers are devastating. The rate among blacks is eight times that of the white community.
WINSTON: There is a disparity because of the stigma that is related with HIV. If we look at it as a health dilemma, as it is, and treat it as such, and not as bad behaviors, then perhaps people will be much more willing to go ahead and get tested.
MALVEAUX: A message some say the black church should help get out to the community.
DR. GARTH GRAHAM, OFFICE OF MINORITY HEALTH: The president released a national HIV/AIDS strategy.
MALVEAUX: Dr. Garth Graham is with the Obama's administration's Office of Minority Health.
(on camera): Are you still getting resistance from the black community, from churches? For a while there was silence. People didn't talk about it.
GRAHAM: Churches are stepping up to the plate now more than ever before.
MALVEAUX: Really?
GRAHAM: Yes. We're seeing a lot of major leaders who lead large congregations, who are stepping up and articulating the fact that we've got to talk about these things.
MALVEAUX (voice-over): Reverend Raphael Warnock, pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, is on the front lines of fighting the epidemic.
REV. RAPHAEL WARNOCK, EBENEZER BAPTIST CHURCH: Traditionally, our black churches have been a location and a place where people have heard about health issues, things that matter.
You just get some penicillin and you will be all right.
And so I have said to the membership of Ebenezer and others that you ought to get an HIV test.
I'm ready.
MALVEAUX: And Pastor Warnock practices what he preaches, taking an HIV test during a Sunday service.
WARNOCK: Part of the stigma is it's difficult in the church to talk about anything that pertains to sex and sexuality. Pastors have to try their best to get the tooling and the preparation that they need to be able to talk about this comfortably.
MALVEAUX: Winston continues to share her story, and the seeds of hope for her community.
WINSTON: The main thing that I want to get across to people is that personally, I have a disease, but the disease doesn't have me.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MALVEAUX: According to the CDC, the HIV infection rate among black women is 15 times that of white women, and the rate for black gay men has increased by 48 percent since 2006. It is definitely a fight within the community.
Well, all this week we have been reporting on a humanitarian crisis. Hundreds of thousands of people in Somalia forced from their homes by famine. Find out how you can help the starving people of East Africa.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(NEWSBREAK)
MALVEAUX: Well, by all accounts, the famine in East Africa is the most severe humanitarian crisis in the world today. More than 12 million people are in desperate need of food, and all week we have been showing you heartbreaking images of those people who are starving, many of them children who have been brought to a massive refugee camp in Kenya.
Well, our David McKenzie joins us by phone from the Kenyan capital of Nairobi.
And David, we know that the United States, the government, is pledging an additional $17 million to help in this aid in East Africa. It's going to bring U.S. aid assistance of about $500 million. But do we know -- is this aid really getting to the people who really need it now?
DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, the main issue with this, Suzanne, is that Al Shabaab, the Islamic militant group that's in charge of large parts of southern Somalia, of course has blocked aid from getting to people in those famine zones. Many people believe that that's in fact why we are dealing with a famine.
This isn't a famine brought on by drought alone, it's also brought on by people. It's a manmade crisis we're dealing with.
And, you know, certainly, the aid -- that is, the money that's coming in from the U.S. government and others -- is greatly appreciated by the U.N. agencies. It is getting to the people who need it most in northern Kenya and in the capital, Mogadishu, of Somalia.
But whether it gets to the people in those famine zones, you know, it's a little bit more tricky. There are NGOs working in those areas that are getting aid in (INAUDIBLE). The Red Cross is getting aid in, and also local NGOs are getting food to those people.
So, yes, money that is put in is definitely used, and it's getting to the people. But a political solution is also needed to make sure that aid gets into those Shabaab-controlled zones.
MALVEAUX: That's such a good point, David. We know Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, says the famine will likely get worse before it gets better. And we have been watching the story and it's just so heartbreaking. How can we know which charity is actually able to get aid to the people on the ground? How do we know which ones are reliable at this point?
MCKENZIE: That's a great question. I know that viewers around the world, in the U.S. especially, people have been contacting me on Twitter, on Facebook, and even by e-mail saying, "David, how do we actually help people? I want to give some money. I have seen the pictures coming out, and I have seen it this week from CNN's reporting." Definitely, people need to help if they feel they want to, and it will get to the right people if it goes to a reputable U.N. agency or reputable charity.
CNN in fact has partnered with, in a way, with these charities and the U.N. to make sure that people have a way to help. It's not good enough just reporting on these issues. We need to kind of act as a way for people to help. And CNN.com/impact -- that's CNN.com/impact, it's on our Web site. We have had people to vet these organizations.
And what people need right now is money. It's great if people want to give assistance or gather clothes or anything, but what I have seen in these emergencies is there are piece-meal help from one or two people or a small group of people. It can also complicate the situation. Those goods end up getting stuck in customs, or it isn't the capacity for groups to help with people if people send it end. I mean, really, a check or cash or direct deposit through the Internet is the best way right now to help.
And every dollar counts. Certainly the people on the ground, I have spoken to the parents of the children say, no, they don't want (INAUDIBLE). MALVEAUX: David, thank you so much. It's just such important information. We really appreciate you answering that question. We've been asking that all week.
And again, I want to emphasize David's point. If you would like to find out more on how you help, go to Impact Your World Web site. That is at CNN.com/impact.
(COMMERICAL BREAK)
MALVEUAX: Now A reminder to vote to choose the news winner. Text 22360 to vote for the story that you'd like to see. Text 1 for returning to work after retirement, a look at how the sluggish economy is forcing some seniors to take jobs late in life.
Text 2 for most valuable company in the world. Apple and Exxon, fighting for the number one position.
Or 3, preparing for the greens. The behind-the-scenes view of how the Atlantic Athletic Club prepared to host golf's PGA tournament. The winning story is going to air later this hour.
Now want to bring you live back to the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines. Senator Rick Santorum, who is now taking his turn speaking. Let's dip in and take a listen.
(BEGIN LIVE COVERAGE)
RICK SANTORUM (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: -- John Boehner you've heard of. We've formed a group called (INAUDIBLE). We cleaned up Congress. We took on both parties and we made things happen because I stood by my word. And for that, Republicans and Democrats and my state legislature got rid of my seat and they put me in with a 24-year Democratic incumbent in a 71 percent Democratic district, and I won.
Then two years later -- two years later, during that time, I been the out and worked -- I represented one of the poorest districts in Pennsylvania. I represented all the old steel mills in Pennsylvania. That was my district outside of Pittsburgh. And I went and worked to try and help the poor, not by giving them more government dependency but by proposing a wealthier reform bill that took people off dependency and a federal entitlement. It created the opportunity for people to go to work.
I did that as a conservative representing a heavily Democratic district. I decided to run at that point for the United States Senate, against a third Democratic incumbent. This one, who had just won a special election three years before, who had won a special election --
(END LIVE COVERAGE)
MALVEAUX: You have been listening to Senator Rick Santorum. He is known for spearheading and helping to pass welfare reform bill and the ban on partial birth abortion. And we are taking a closer look at the GOP presidential hopefuls and where they stand on various issues.
Our CNN political reporter Shannon Travis is joining us again for Des Moines, Iowa. Shannon, give us a sense about Rick Santorum. What is he best known for?
SHANNON TRAVIS, CNN POLITICAL PRODUCER: Well, he is fresh off that debate last night, Suzanne. You watched it; we all watched it. He had a pretty feisty exchange with Congressman Ron Paul, and he is hoping to capitalize off that.
But some of the things he's known for, he is staunchly against the growth, the explosion of federal spending. He is for federal balanced budgets in the U.S. Constitution. He wants to basically cap spending.
Also, a little bit of controversy from the former Pennsylvania senator. He is staunchly against abortion, he has even said in the past, Suzanne, he would prefer that doctors are criminalized - basically charges brought against doctors who perform abortion. He stuck by that last night. He was asked that question last night in the debate. And again, he is against abortion, even in the cases of rape or incest.
And one other personal note about the Pennsylvania senator, he is really gunning for -- when he is low on the polls here in Iowa, but he is gunning for when he's been spending the past few weeks - him, his wife, his seven children, have been spending a lot of time in and around Iowa hoping to up, up his numbers, his low standing in the polls right now, Suzanne.
MALVEAUX: We know, Shannon, that Congresswoman Michele Bachmann is also going to be making an appearance. She's obviously created a lot spotlight and taken the headlines for the last couple of weeks if not months. What is she trying to get across. What is her message right now to the voters?
TRAVIS: Her message right now to the voters, Suzanne, is stop the government spending. She calls it runaway spending. She was against the plan, the recently passed plan signed into law for government spending. She said that she wouldn't want to raise the debt ceiling at all. So, that is her economic message.
Her conservative message to conservative voters here in Iowa is that she is a Christian, she's against abortion. She's against gay marriage. So, that message is resonating.
What remains to be seen about Congresswoman Bachmann, does she have all just passion or can she match the passion that voters have for her with organization? On Saturday in this Ames straw poll, it will be all about organization. Can she get her supporters to the polls to help her win that crucial contest?
So, she has a lot of buzz surrounding her, passion, but can that translate into an actual win with her organization. Suzanne?
MALVEUAX: All right. Shannon Travis, thank you so much. Obviously, we will pay close attention to what happens out of Iowa.
Well, Muslim-American comedians are now traveling the country to combat what they call Islamaphobia through comedy. We want you to check out their jokes. That's coming up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MALVEUAX: Reminder to vote for today's Choose the News winner. Text 22360 to vote for the story you'd like to see. Text 1 for returning to work after retirement. A look at how the sluggish economy is forcing some seniors to take jobs late in life.
Text 2 for the most valuable company in the world. Apple and Exxon fighting for the number one position.
Or 3, preparing the greens, a behind-the-scenes view of how the Atlanta Athletic Club prepared to host golf's PGA tournament. Winning story is going to air later this hour.
Well it's called, "The Muslims Are Coming!" A tongue-in-cheek comedy title for a comedy tour where Muslim-Americans use humor to fight Islamaphobia. We checked out their tour in the Atlanta area.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DEAN OBEIDALLAH, MUSLIM-AMERICAN COMEDIAN: Al Qaeda claims responsible for things it never could have done. They said, okay, do you know the eclipse?
(LAUGHTER)
We did it for Allah. We're keeping the sun. It's (INAUDIBLE).
We are here doing a comedy tour for "The Muslims Are Coming!". And its all free shows across the South. We started out in Gainesville, Florida where Terry Jones, the Koran burner is based. Making up our way to Columbus, Georgia. Now we're in Lawrenceville, Georgia in Gwinnet County. Tomorrow we're off to Birmingham, Alabama. Then Tupelo, Mississippi, then Murpheeboro, Tennessee. And finally ending up in Nashville, Tennesee.
NEGIN FARSAD, MUSLIM-AMERICAN COMEDIAN: It will become a film, and it's to sort introduce people around the country who have never met a Muslim to some Muslims.
I have been really, uh, mesmerized by the stuff that's going on in the Middle East, and it started a few months back. It's still going. The rolling revolutions, the Facebook and Twitter revolutions, right? That started in Egypt and went on to Yemen and Bahrain and Syria and Libya, and oh, my God, I did not realize there was so many countries in the Middle East! You know, I thought it was just one big brown violent blob!
Next thing you know, they will say there are different cultures and languages. Shut up, that's crazy!
The funny thing about Islamaphobia are the kernels of untruth. They're so untrue that they're funny to me.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If a group women get naked, do Muslim men must to kill themselves?
(LAUGHTER)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You read about that on the Web!
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I read about the Loch Ness monster on the Internet. You cannot believe everything you read!
OBEIDALLAH: We're out here, it's like a listening and laughing tour. And we want to reach out to you, American to American. To me, that's what the tour is about. It's not about being Muslim. It's about being American in a country where minority religions can worship freely and not fear persecution or have less rights because they're a minority religion.
MAYSOON ZAYID, MUSLIM-AMERICAN COMEDIAN: The biggest reason why I'm here on this tour is because the American that I'm hearing on TV is not the America that I grew up with. I am -- I find it really sickening that it's become like -- anti-Muslim has become a platform that you can get elected on. And I felt like it was important to come down here and be like, look, Muslims aren't an other (ph). We don't have to go back to our country. I'm from New Jersey. That is my country, you know what I mean.
I was really excited to be getting married because it was time for me to get revenge. I've been a bridesmaid 17 times. I finally had a chance to get back at my friends. So when it was my turn, you know what I did? I just put them all in burkas.
The most shocking thing has been that people, I misunderstood them as much as they misunderstood us, because I thought that they were all going to be screaming at us and (INAUDIBLE) dangerous because in the media they make it like everyone's like Terry Jones (ph). And when you get down here, most of these people have nothing whatsoever against Muslims and they've been really like kind to (INAUDIBLE). Such a nice, nice, nice crowd. Such a nice crowd. We're getting spoiled.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: Wines made in the USA are defying the sour economy, setting sales records. We're going to explore why the number of American wineries is at an all-time high. But first, here's some free money advice from the CNN "Help Desk."
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
POPPY HARLOW, CNNMONEY.COM: Well, time now for "The Help Desk" where we get answers to your financial questions. Joining me this hour, Manisha Thakor, a personal finance expert, and John Ulzheimer, the president of consumer education at smartcredit.com.
Guys, thanks for being here. Interesting question for you, John, coming from Eric in Miami. Eric asks, I'm comparing student loans and I was given quotes for a fixed rate at 7.75 percent and a variable rate starting at 3.25 percent. The variable rate," of course, "is so tempting, but which is a safer choice?"
JOHN ULZHEIMER, PRESIDENT OF CONSUMER EDUCATION, SMARTCREDIT.COM: The 7.75 smells suspiciously like a private loan --
HARLOW: Right.
ULZHEIMER: Which means the rates are going to be higher but it's fixed. Look, don't fall in love with that smaller interest rate. Pay very close attention to how long that rate is going to be -- the lower rate is going to be fixed. Because once you come out of that safe harbor period, it's going to adjust and it's going to adjust up.
HARLOW: Sure.
ULZHEIMER: So, understand what the cap is on that loan, meaning how high can the interest rate go eventually, and also understand how quickly it can accelerate to that maximum amount, because student loans tend to be paid off over a very long period of time. Much longer than a car loan, for example. So even paying a little bit now but a whole lot for the next 15 years is not in your favor.
HARLOW: Right. Good. And don't be tempted by the low rate.
ULZHEIMER: That's exactly right. Might be safer just to take the higher right now and lock it in the entire period of time.
HARLOW: Sure.
Manisha, your question comes from Michael in Herndon, Virginia. And Michael writes, "I recently accepted a teaching job in Japan," interesting, "and will be there for at least a year. Since I'm getting paid in yen, how can I invest that money without getting nailed in conversion rates and fees?"
MANISHA THAKOR, PERSONAL FINANCE EXPERT: That's an interesting question. So my recommendation would be to open a multicurrency account at one of the global banks. Classic providers would be Lloyds, Barkley's, HSBC. You can go to expatfinder.com to research more of your options. But the key is, if he's only going to be over there for a year and he's saving for the long run, he's going to be spending those dollars likely in the U.S.
HARLOW: Right.
THAKOR: Doesn't want to take the currency of risk. A multicurrency account will enable him to covert those funds at closer to institutional rates. And also, remember, Japan's not exactly a terribly structurally attractive economy to be investing in to begin with.
HARLOW: Right. THAKOR: Demographically, debt to GDP, a lot that you may want to stay away from there.
HARLOW: And he could leave his savings here in the U.S., just keep it put where it is.
THAKOR: Exactly. And if I understood his question correctly he was saying, any new money that I'm earning over there in yen, how can I bring it back.
HARLOW: Right.
THAKOR: And I'm thrilled that he's even thinking that he might have some savings working over there.
HARLOW: Exactly.
THAKOR: So, that's great.
HARLOW: All right, guys, thank you so much. If you've got a question you want answered, just send us an e-mail any time to cnnhelpdesk@cnn.com.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MALVEAUX: Time to go cross-country for stories CNN affiliates are covering.
Our first stop is Oklahoma. Folks are cleaning up after strong storms roared through Edmund on Wednesday morning. That is just north of Oklahoma City. Winds up to 70-mile-an-hour ripped through this church. A movie theater, schools and homes in the area were also damaged.
In Hawaii, a 10-year-old boy is bragging about this very unusual find. This strange-looking octopus has webbing between four arms and tentacles just like a jellyfish. The Waikiki aquarium's director thinks it might be a blanket octopus. Seeing one of those in the wild is extremely rare.
Now to Oregon. Two kids selling snow cones to make a little money for summer change their minds when they heard about the hunger crisis in Somalia. They're still selling snow cones, but now that money is going for famine relief in Africa. Good for them.
CNN "In Depth" now. It is the undeniable financial inverse, right? When the economy goes bad, alcohol sales are good. And the American wineries, well, the good just keeps getting better lately. Our CNN's Sandra Endo has the story from California's wine country.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SANDRA ENDO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Basking in the California sun, plump and picturesque. But, most of all, these vines are growing profits. At Leonesse Cellars in Temecula, business is far from sour.
ENDO (on camera): When someone comes to the winery, they can buy a bottle of wine for how much?
REBAUX STEYN, LEONESSE CELLARS: You know, it varies now. We've certainly adjusted our strategy. We have a wider price point range. We have bottles that range anywhere from in the late teens, all the way up into the 90s and over 100.
ENDO (voice-over): It's one strategy making the U.S. wine industry robust in a dry economy.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If you want to buy a nice bottle of wine, you can. But I usually buy the cheaper wine.
ENDO: According to the Wine Institute in San Francisco, total U.S. wine consumption surpassed France for the first time in 2010. Wine trade expert Anthony Dias Blue says people spending less on wine are still getting value.
ANTHONY DIAS BLUE, WINE TRADE EXPERT: One of the things that changed certainly here in the last 25 years is the technology of making wine. If you go into a market and you buy a wine for $8, you can be pretty well assured that it's a well-made wine.
ENDO: Overseas revenue is also helping the industry. U.S. exports raked in $1 billion last year. A more than 25 percent increase from 2009. And the number of American wineries is at an all-time high.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Our chardonnays are a little bit on the crispier side.
ENDO: Many with tasting rooms, offering affordable ways to swirl, sniff and sip a wide variety of wines.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The more I learn about them, the more I appreciate them, the more I'm willing to spend for them.
ENDO: While America as a country is out drinking France, when it comes down to each person, the French are still drinking us under the table.
Sandra Endo, CNN, Temecula, California.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MALVEAUX: Well, you told us what you wanted to see. Your "Choose The News" story is just moments away.
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MALVEAUX: Well, you voted, we listened. Here is your "Choose The News" winner. Apple and Exxon are going toe-to-toe competing to be the world's most valuable company. Well, CNN's Mary Snow explains that other companies are learning from their battle.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
STEVE JOBS, CEO, APPLE: And we think this solution is our next big insight.
MARY SNOW, CNN ANCHOR: It's become a big event each time Apple unveils new products. And those products have now catapulted Apple to the ranks of most valuable company, even surpassing Exxon Mobil Wednesday as the two jockey for the number one spot. The ranking is based on market value, which doesn't count a company's cash or debt.
Still, some who cover the tech industry see Apple's overshadowing Exxon as significant.
MARTIN GILES, U.S. TECH CORRESPONDENT, "THE ECONOMIST": I think the fact that Apple is 14 years ago practically bankrupt. Indeed, Michael Dell, of Dell Computer, basically was asked, you know, what he thought Apple should do. And he said, I think it should shut its doors. Well, it didn't and look where it is today. That's a phenomenal achievement.
SNOW: One thing seen as hurting Exxon Mobil right now are lower oil prices. And for Apple, unlike other tech giants, IBM and Microsoft, which rely on corporate customers, Apple built its fortune on consumers. Compare that, says one oil industry analysts, to consumers for oil and gas.
PHILIP WEISS, ARGUS RESEARCH: They need the product but they want to pay as little as they can because they want to have more of their budget that they can spend on things that they want.
SNOW: And the things they want and are shelling out money for are things like iPads. So what can other companies learn? Martin Gartenberg is an analyst of consumer technology.
MICHAEL GARTENBERG, GARTNER RESEARCH: Well, I think they can learn a number of things. One is that you have to be bold. Fortune does favor the bold.
SNOW: But there's always the chance that what's bold today will be old tomorrow.
GILES: It's not the only company out there that's doing this. It faces stiff competition. There's no guarantee that in, you know, the next 14 years, Apple will remain top of the pile.
SNOW: Mary Snow, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MALVEAUX: If your choice didn't win or you just want to check out the runners up, I'll have links to them on my page at facebook.com/suzannecnn.
CNN NEWSROOM continues right now with Drew Griffin.
Hey, Drew, have a great weekend. DREW GRIFFIN, CNN ANCHOR: Suzanne, thanks.
