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200,000 Jobs Created in December; Stocks Set to Rise on Jobs Report; Boston Globe Endorses Huntsman; Syria Blames Terrorists for Blast; Independent New Hampshire Voters Feeling Ignored; Santorum Earmarks: Fact Check; Mom Talks about Deported Daughter; Ex-PSU Players Rip Hiring; A Commercial that Defies Belief
Aired January 06, 2012 - 09:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Have a great weekend, Soledad. Thank you so much.
This morning we are talking about the sign of the recovery. It's actually gaining some traction. Just minutes ago we learned that 200,000 jobs were created in December. That was better than expected and a big leap from the 120,000 created the month before.
Christine Romans is here to break it down for us. Also Alison Kosik in the New York Stock Exchange with the likely impact on the stock market, of course.
But, Christine, let's go ahead and start with you. How big is it?
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, November was revised down a little bit but then December came in bigger. So this is a good report. This shows that hiring is moving up and layoffs are moving down.
I want to go to the wall and show you how it really looks overall. I mean you look over the last year, for the first time in a very long time, Kyra, we've got six months in a row of jobs created. Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, more than 100,000 jobs created. That hasn't happened since 2006.
Think about that, it's been since 2006 that we've been able to put together 6 months in a row of jobs gained. That's what December looks like right now. And the unemployment rate with 8.5 percent. That was also better than anybody expected.
I want to really give you some perspective here because, Kyra, as you know, this is a political story, as well. On the campaign trail you hear how this is the Obama economy or how President Obama is the one who is responsible for your job being lost.
Take a look at the overall picture here. This is that incredible recession and financial crisis. Financial crisis first, then the recession. I mean this was -- this was horrible for the American worker and the American economy. And then it was very careful start -- I mean, these gains here you had to have census and hiring and stimulus to get anything going and we had all these concerns about a double-dip recession, and now at the end of last year, you're starting to see slow and steady improvement.
Quick point about what kind of jobs, Kyra, were being created. A lot of things in like messengers and warehousing, seasonal type package delivery jobs, no surprise there. Also in retail, seasonal jobs there, as well. Transportation. Those sorts of jobs. So we'll be looking closely to see if those jobs start to go away in February and we get worried about that.
But you also saw health care jobs created. Manufacturing, mining. They're hiring in mining every single month. So, overall, 1.6 million jobs created in 2011. We have the data for the whole year now, 1.6 million jobs created in 2011, and 280,000 jobs lost by the government. That's a trend that's expected to continue -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right. Christine, thanks so much.
All right. Let's head over to Alison now at the New York Stock Exchange.
So, Alison, how will investors respond?
ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: It looks like they really respond favorably to this, Kyra. We saw a bit of a bump in futures immediately after report Dow futures went from 30 points to 75 points. Now they are backing off just a bit.
You know, you think about it, 200,000 jobs is good. So, you know, you'd expect to see a bigger jump in the markets just about a half hour before the Opening Bell rings. And I talked with one economist and he pretty much said that where we stand now is that the bar is kind of set higher. Expectations are a lot greater, that the economy -- the expectation is that the economy needs to pretty much stitch together three to six months of adding 200,000 to 400,000 jobs every month for three to six months to see if there is a real trend taking hold. To see if there's a strong momentum taking hold.
So the big question is, can this be sustained? And yes, the unemployment rate is falling. That is a good thing. The markets see that as a good thing, of course. But it's also important to note that when you look deeper into that report, some of those who are coming back into the workforce are taking lower paying jobs. The average hourly rate rose by just 2.4 percent over the past year. Also people who are going back into the workforce so -- are taking these lower paying jobs.
Also there was some -- there were some people who actually left the workforce, as well, which is also why we could see the unemployment rate coming down just a bit.
Once again, though, this is the sixth month in a row that we are seeing 100,000 or more jobs being added. The trend, bottom line, Kyra, shows things are getting better -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Good. We like hearing that. Alison Kosik, thanks so much. OK, just four days away before the New Hampshire primary and Republican candidates are blitzing the state. Right now, long-shot candidate Jon Huntsman hosting an event in Concord. As you know he ignored Iowa and he's gambled big on New Hampshire. And a poor showing here could doom his campaign.
However, today, Huntsman did get a big endorsement. "The Boston Globe" chose him over a former Massachusetts governor saying, "While Mitt Romney proceeds cautiously strategically trying to appease enough constituencies to get himself the nomination, Huntsman has been bold. Rather than merely sketch out policies, he articulates goals and ideals."
Jim Acosta in Concord for us.
So, Jim, how important -- how surprising, I guess, is this endorsement?
JIM ACOSTA, CNN POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's very surprising. And Jon Huntsman is hoping that this is his moment. He saw Rick Santorum, he saw Rick Perry. He's seen all of the other un- Romneys in this race have their moment and perhaps this could be Jon Huntsman's moment.
That "Boston Globe" endorsement was a very good endorsement and it did -- you know, basically diss the governor of -- the former governor of Massachusetts. The governor who was in that state where that newspaper resides. So this is a good pickup for Jon Huntsman and, you know, we're going to have to wait and see what happens. There is a new Suffolk University poll that came out. They're doing a daily tracking poll up here in New Hampshire.
The last one was sort of straddling the Iowa caucuses, part of it was taken before the Iowa caucuses, part of it was taken after. This new one that just came out came before or was taken before the "Boston Globe" endorsement, but it shows Jon Huntsman in fifth place which is not a very good showing for him in that poll considering all the time that he has spent here in New Hampshire.
He's basically done, Kyra, what Rick Santorum did in Iowa. You know go from town hall to town hall, sometimes in relative obscurity without the press following you, and they're hoping -- he's hoping that it will pay off for him here in New Hampshire the way it did for Rick Santorum in Iowa. But it's a tough challenge, no question about it.
PHILLIPS: And that's -- you know, Rick Santorum, he surged in Iowa. We obviously been talking about that for a number of days now. But he pretty much got a frosty reception in New Hampshire, right?
ACOSTA: He really did. You know, Rick Santorum is a social conservative. And he makes no bones about it. And while that kind of politics works in Iowa, it may work down in South Carolina, it doesn't work so well in live-and-let-live New Hampshire. Live free or die New Hampshire. Where folks are a bit more relaxed when it comes to the social issues and yesterday he got into it with some college students here at this event that I'm standing at right now.
Over the issue of same-sex marriage, Santorum compared same-sex marriage to polygamy. I'm going to play a little bit of sound for you just to show you the reaction he got as he was leaving the podium. Here it is.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RICK SANTORUM (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Let me -- let me thank you all very, very much for being here and for your time and attention. Thanks.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ACOSTA: Yes, so that is not the kind of reaction you want to get. Actually the reaction you're hearing right now, the applause for Jon Huntsman, is the reaction you want to get when you're leaving a room here in New Hampshire.
So it's going to be interesting to hear what Jon Huntsman has to say this morning not only is there that "Boston Globe" endorsement to talk about but the unemployment numbers as well. It's going to be -- you know it's going to be fascinating to hear how the Republicans talk about what is arguably going to be a pretty good day for the White House -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Jim, thanks for clarifying because we could hear the live clap behind you and then it was combined with the boos for Santorum. So we wanted to make it clear. You knew -- you knew what you were talking about there.
Jim, thanks so much.
ACOSTA: I try.
PHILLIPS: All right, GOP -- always.
GOP frontrunner Mitt Romney is so confident of his lead in New Hampshire now that he is actually beginning his day in South Carolina. That's the primary battleground that follows, as you know.
And Joe Johns is in Conway, South Carolina.
So, Joe, you were at a Romney event this morning. What kind of reception did he get?
JOE JOHNS, CNN SENIOR CORRESPONDENT: I got to tell you, a lot of energy here. This is Conway, South Carolina. Very healthy size crowd. It's clear he's bringing everything he's got. The governor of South Carolina, Nikki Haley, was here. John McCain, the guy who won the primary here four years ago, was here, too. Very well received.
Somebody in the crowd called out -- called John McCain a hero and he responded, essentially, that he was not. But I have to tell you, this is a real contrast to an event last night out in the Charleston landing area where it was much more subdued. So he's basically, you know, trying to get ahead of the game. Romney knows he's doing well in the polls up in New Hampshire. So he decided to come down here to South Carolina where, frankly, he needed a little bit of work and I can tell you, just from watching this very well received.
It's interesting, too, sort of gave a stump speech, hit President Obama very hard, and then the interesting part, I think, was last night and again this morning. It was John McCain who went before the audience and sort of went after Rick Santorum, who's basically the chief competition for Romney at this stage. And McCain, last night as well as today, talked about earmarking, which is a process that Santorum was very much involved in when he was in the United States Senate, and let's just listen to what McCain said about that last night.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), ARIZONA: One of the reasons why we have mortgaged our children and our grandchildren's future is because the pork barrel, earmark corruption in Washington. Believe me, earmark spending is the gateway to corruption. And that was practiced when Republicans were in the majority.
Senator Santorum and I have a strong disagreement. A strong disagreement that he believed that earmark and pork barrel projects were good for America. I think it's wrong for America.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JOHNS: So this event here in Conway this morning has just ended. And I think, if I look over my shoulder here, it appears that Romney might still be here, though he's just signing autographs. Headed back to New Hampshire. And it looks, you know, like he's got a little traction here. Probably thanks to John McCain following him around and speaking on his behalf -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right. Joe, we'll keep checking in at all the live events today. Thank you so much.
And next hour, Jon Huntsman's wife, Mary Kay, is going to join us. I'm going to ask her about her husband's endorsement from the "Boston Globe," why he seems to be the flavor who hasn't really had the month yet, and how he acts when no one's looking.
Turning to international news now. A suicide bombing goes off in a densely populated area of Damascus, Syria. And state media is blaming terrorists for the attack that killed at least 25 people, most of them civilians.
CNN's Arwa Damon following the story for us out of Beirut.
So, Arwa, what have you learned?
ARWA DAMON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, the blast happened according to Syrian state television. The images are quite gruesome at a traffic light, a suicide bomber, that also according to Syrian state television, the images really chilling and horrific. Pools of blood, damaged vehicles, flesh strewn all over.
The government, as you said, they're blaming terrorists, but activists are blaming the government saying that this was done deliberately to try to keep them off the streets. We spoke to a young man who was from this neighborhood, Midan, and it's in the heart of Damascus.
He was around two streets away when the blast took place. He said that security forces immediately cordoned it off. He says that this neighborhood would have been targeted by the Syrian government itself because since the onset of the uprising there, there have been daily demonstration.
This is one of the few neighborhoods in the heart of Damascus where we do see demonstrations when it comes to the capital. Most of the time they happen in the suburbs. This young activist, who's just 22 years old, Kyra, was saying that they went out to demonstrate around 30 feet away from where the explosion took place in massive numbers and, again, he says they were attacked. Syrian Security Forces using bullets, tear gas.
He says he he personally witnessed eight security forces beating up a 10-year-old child. He said he believes that the child was unconscious when they dragged him away -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Arwa Damon, out of Beirut for us this morning.
And New Hampshire may be the center of the political universe right now, but some voters are feeling out of the loop and say the candidates haven't even connected with them. We'll have that story, next.
And remember Joran Van Der Sloot and Natalee Holloway's disappearance? He was never charged but is on trial in Peru for murder, and the victim is the daughter of a famous race car driver.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: All right. New Hampshire's large groups of independent voters often decide elections in the state, but many of them are just not fired up about Tuesday's primary. They say the candidates haven't even connected with them.
Our Dan Lothian is in Manchester, New Hampshire.
Dan, we were actually talking to one of the local deejays there yesterday and he was saying the exact same thing.
DAN LOTHIAN, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: That's right. And, you know, the key is here with these independent voters, what's different between here in New Hampshire and Iowa is independent voters can vote as independent. They don't have to switch over to the Republican Party at the last minute.
The other thing, too, is that they really demand an up close and personal encounter. They want to experience and feel the candidate. It's classic retail politics.
But as you pointed out, some of these independent voters feel that this time around, they're being ignored.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LOTHIAN (voice-over): For the Republican presidential hopefuls, New Hampshire is the second stop on the road to the White House. But unlike the first stop in Iowa, independent voters who make up about 40 percent of the electorate are in the driver's seat. And most come to the table with strong partisan views, according to the University of New Hampshire's Andrew Smith.
ANDREW SMITH, UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE: Some of them are Democrats. Some of them are true independents. But most of them are really Republicans.
LOTHIAN: But Elizabeth Ossoff from New Hampshire's Institute of Politics say don't call them renegades.
ELIZABETH OSSOFF, NEW HAMPSHIRE'S INSTITUTE OF POLITICS: I wouldn't call them renegades as much as I would call them fiercely independent in the sense that they're going to make up their own minds.
LOTHIAN: What happened in Iowa or what the pundits predict doesn't necessarily sell in New Hampshire. Voters here relish the vetting process. Large town hall meetings are a kind of appetizer to the real meal that up close encounter on Main Street.
But New Hampshire radio host Paul Wescott says some of his listeners feel like some contenders have tuned them out.
PAUL WESCOTT, RADIO HOST: The candidates, they came. And some of them candidates have come and spent a lot of time here.
LOTHIAN: Like Jon Huntsman and Mitt Romney and early on Rick Santorum. But --
WESCOTT: It just didn't happen as much and the candidates kind of stayed away.
LOTHIAN: Their daily planners were packed with a lot of debates. This is to Iowa and national media interviews. In an election cycle where Republicans are having a difficult time rallying behind one candidate, some independent voters here are still scratching their heads.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The Republican field, not too impressed.
LOTHIAN: Mitt Romney, the former governor from neighboring Massachusetts, has consistently maintained a two to one lead over his closest opponents, the clear frontrunner in the Granite State. But Smith says it's not a warm embrace.
SMITH: Romney -- well, we may not like it too much, but probably the guy with the best chance. So, I think that's the kind of dynamic that is going on, as well.
LOTHIAN: Former Senator Rick Santorum is getting a second look after his near victory in Iowa. And Newt Gingrich is attacking the frontrunner who cost him his fortunes in Iowa.
OSSOFF: I think it's dangerous to make predictions in New Hampshire, I really do. I think you have to wait until the last possible minute.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LOTHIAN: And the latest poll, the Suffolk University poll showing that Mitt Romney continues to hold a big lead here in the state of New Hampshire, more than 20 points over his closest competitor, Ron Paul. Rick Santorum also getting a little bit of a bump there, but still, 15 percent undecided. So, that's why the candidates are working very hard here, running ads on television, holding town hall meetings trying to make that final pitch in these final days, Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Dan, thanks.
You can trust CNN, "The Best Political Team on Television" for compete coverage of the New Hampshire primary. Join Wolf, Erin, Anderson, Candy and John for live coverage Tuesday night, 7:00 Eastern, right here on CNN.
That was a case that gained worldwide attention. Natalee Holloway vanished from Aruba in 2005. The man once considered the prime suspect Joran van der Sloot was never charged, but he is in court today in Peru and his lawyer says he will admit to killing a woman.
Not just any woman, though, Stephany Flores is the daughter of racing legend Ricardo Flores. Her body was found beaten to death nearly two years ago.
Ashleigh Banfield is here to bring us up-to-date.
I'll tell you what? Peruvians must hate this guy.
ASHLEIGH BANFIELD, CNN ANCHOR, "EARLY START": Yes, he's not beloved in a place where this is like, you know, a national treasure's daughter who was killed. And, by the way, Kyra, she was not just killed. She was absolutely brutalized in that hotel room. This was an ugly, violent attack.
So, you have a guy who is facing these kinds of murder charges and why would he say I did it? Why wouldn't he come out and say, OK, I'm guilty, I did kill her?
Because strangely enough, ironically, he's actually trying to get less time in prison. He's trying to suggest -- this just wasn't a premeditated murder, folks. I just snapped on the anniversary of the Natalee Holloway disappearance which I have been blamed for all these years. So, I didn't mean to kill her, I just lost it.
And you know, in the law that matters. It matters if you really looked into it and planned that thing or if it just came at you in a flash.
PHILLIPS: Did he get a free trial -- a fair trial?
BANFIELD: Well, he's certainly getting a free one, that's for sure, right?
PHILLIPS: So, I guess we can use both words.
BANFIELD: But you know what? That's a great question because you would think maybe not, who knows about foreign justice. They do have a pretty significant justice system in that country.
However, what did we say about Casey Anthony? After all that press coverage, could Casey Anthony get a fair trial? And look at the acquittal that she got.
PHILLIPS: She goes free.
BANFIELD: I highly doubt that in this case because he's admitting to it. It's just a matter of not necessarily will he spend time? It's going to be how much time is he going to spend?
PHILLIPS: What is it like for him in prison?
BANFIELD: It's not good. It is not good. All those jokes you ever hear about you don't want to end up in a Peruvian prison. You don't want to end up in a Peruvian prison. It is dark, cold, ugly, the food is terrible and the people are tough.
And to that end, Joran van der Sloot decided early on that he was going to make a name for himself and get tough and he's been real tough with those other prisoners, reportedly. He's been violent and he has made a name for himself and apparently, he is considered to be one of the tougher people in that prison.
But make no mistake: you don't want to be there. You just don't want to be there.
PHILLIPS: We're going to keep watching. Thanks, Ashleigh.
BANFIELD: Sure.
PHILLIPS: A chilling job ahead for the U.S. Coast Guard. It's helping ferry supplies to a town cut off by a sheet of thick ice. You'll see the pictures, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Taking a look at stories across country now. Three Air Force Academy cadets charged with sexual assault. The academy says the three separate cases happened over a 15-month period in the academy's campus. Two of the alleged victims were fellow cadets.
An Oklahoma man accused of breaking into a home of a young widow is out on bail. Dustin Louis Stewart is charged in the shooting death of his alleged accomplice who was actually shot and killed by the young woman, the homeowner. Prosecutors say that Stewart is the only one responsible since the death happened during a crime.
And a frightening end to a police chase in Oklahoma City caught on transit bus camera. Watch as the four burglary suspects and a car collide with a truck and a van and then is the suspects flee. Three were later captured, and one is still on the loose.
Gnome, Alaska, on the edge of the Bering Sea and a bit of a predicament. It's surrounded by a sheet of ice and needs fuel. But no fear, the Coast Guard is on the way.
And I bet CNN meteorologist Rob Marciano wishes he was there.
ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Absolutely. I'm a big fan of the Coast Guard. I've been on one of their cutter specifically designed to break ice. We heard of them.
But right now, there's only one in business. Let's take you there over to the great northwest and our lovely land of Alaska, which, of course, a huge state. Where they're going from -- well, the cutter itself is going out of Dutch Harbor. It's going to meet up with a Russian freighter here and deliver the goods into Gnome.
Now, this was supposed to happen in the fall, but there was a nasty storm in the fall that prevented this and now we have the winter ice that has grown in this area. So, all around the harbor, actually 300 miles of this stuff, these two boats have to cut through.
Now, the Russian ship is designed to go through some ice. It's double hulled, but not this thick of an ice. So, it needs this coast guard cutter to get into this area. Now, they're not able to get right into the harbor, but just get close to it and unload some of this fuel via piping.
All right, all right -- 1.1 million gallons of diesel fuel and 300,000 gallons of gasoline will get in here. It's set to arrive some time between, you know, Sunday and Monday. It's got some ways to do.
And this is the cutter itself. Now, this is the only ice breaker in the Coast Guard fleet that's active right now. There's two other but they're out of commission. This thing can go up to four knots or eight knots -- three knots, excuse me, breaking four feet of ice. It can actually break up to eight feet of ice, just kind of going back and forth, ramming this thing.
So, we don't expect to see much of that. But it's going to escort the Russian freighter out there over the next few days. We do have a mild storm that's heading into the Bering Sea and up to the Norton Sound. By the way, there's not much daylight up there, although the days are getting longer this time of year.
This is a live picture from the web cam in the Gnome conservation and visitor bureau.
There you go. That looks fairly desolate -- 3,000 to 4,000 people live up there and they do not, Kyra, want to run out of fuel. Current temperature is 35 degrees below zero.
PHILLIPS: Whoa.
MARCIANO: Expected high temperature of 20 degrees below zero.
PHILLIPS: It's like living in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
MARCIANO: Yes, sure. Maybe a little more rugged.
PHILLIPS: Thank you. Thanks, Rob.
MARCIANO: You bet.
PHILLIPS: All right. Rick Santorum's rivals in the campaign trail are attacking him over pork barrel projects. But Santorum defends the earmarks from his congressional career. We got a fact check, next.
And Tiger Woods' ex-wife -- well, she's not happy with her $10 million home, just so unhappy -- well, you'll see what she's doing with it.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Checking top stories.
A suicide bombing in Damascus that Syrian state television blames on a terrorist. That blast reportedly killed at least 25 people, civilians and police. Activists claim that more than a dozen other people were also killed in other locations.
And police are asking the public to help identify the body of a woman found on the queen's estate Sunday. DNA tests have failed to come up with a profile that might lead to the identity. The body was discovered on a public portion of the 20,000-acre estate.
And here's a music industry first. Digital music sales outpaced sales of CDs for the first time ever. According to Nielson and Billboard, digital music accounted for just over half of all music sales last year.
Rick Santorum reaching out to New Hampshire voters four days before the first in the nation presidential primary. The former presidential senator is holding a faith, family and freedom town hall event in New Hampshire.
Let's go up the road now to Lebanon, New Hampshire. Right now, rival Newt Gingrich holding a town hall meeting there after finishing a disappointing fourth in Iowa. Gingrich is sharpening his attacks. One such target: Rick Santorum and his role in the 1990s Republican revolution in Congress.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NEWT GINGRICH (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: In terms of -- if you think of us as partners. He would clearly in historical experience have been the junior partner and he's not a bad person. I want to be clear about this.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Santorum countered that he played a key role in exposing a congressional scandal during that time and that Gingrich actually remains silent on the sidelines.
Meantime, Santorum rivals are attacking him over earmarks when he was in Congress. But as Dana Bash reports, earmarks were a part of business when Santorum served.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RICK SANTORUM (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We're in a financial crisis right now.
DANA BASH, CNN SENIOR CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Stumping in New Hampshire, Rick Santorum gives his prescription for reducing the deficit.
SANTORUM: We have to do it in the areas where the deficit has been created and that is spending.
BASH: But the former senator's opponents say he was part of the problem.
REP. RON PAUL (R-TX), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: He's very liberal.
BASH (on camera): What makes him liberal?
PAUL: He spends too much money.
BASH (voice-over): They really hit him for taking earmarks -- a dirty word in Tea Party lexicon.
ANNOUNCER: Who personally demanded more than $1 million in earmarks? Jay from Ames --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Rick Santorum.
ANNOUNCER: Right.
SANTORUM: I have had a lot of earmarks. In fact, I'm very proud of all the earmarks I put in bills.
BASH: The reality is, it's hard to know if Santorum really got a billion dollars in earmarks because he was defeated in 2006, before lawmakers were required to disclose their earmarks.
But Steve Ellis with the nonpartisan Taxpayers for Common Sense says --
STEVE ELLIS, TAXPAYERS FOR COMMON SENSE: I think it's pretty clear if you look at the anecdotal evidence that he got at least a billion dollars and probably much, much more.
BASH: In 2005 alone, Pennsylvania received $483 million in earmarks for 872 projects and during his years in Congress, Santorum issued press release after press release, bragging about bringing home the bacon. Like an expansion project for WyoTech Job Training Center, and $50,000 for Gateway Fasteners, a career development program in Export, Pennsylvania.
And Santorum voted for that infamous bridge to nowhere in Alaska.
ELLIS: To go against the bridge to nowhere was to go against one of the most powerful senators, Senator Stevens, who is a very senior appropriator.
BASH (on camera): Right. If he would have voted against the bridge to nowhere, bye-bye money for Pennsylvania.
ELLIS: Absolutely. Bye-bye money for Pennsylvania.
BASH (voice-over): Santorum still defends his pork barrel projects.
SANTORUM: When you go to Congress, you make sure that when taxes go from your state to Washington, D.C., you fight to make sure you get your fair share back.
BASH: And to be sure, he was hardly alone. Until recent years, even for Republicans, spending federal funds on folks back home was a path to re-election. But now in a GOP primary, it's fodder for opponents.
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), ARIZONA: I believe that earmarking is a gateway drug to corruption, and Senator Santorum supported it and engaged in it as much as he possibly could.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: Dana Bash now joining us from Washington.
Dana, he doesn't sound apologetic.
BASH: Not at all. And he actually told CNN just a couple of days ago that he feels that it is really the constitutional right or had been the constitutional right of members of Congress to direct taxpayer dollars back to their homes, back to their home states. That was the way everybody felt back then, except maybe John McCain and a few other members.
Now, Kyra, he is saying that he supports the ban on earmarks that happened a couple years ago. I guess it's easy for him to say now that he's not in the Senate and now that it's terrible politically for them to do that.
But it is important to point out, he points this out and he is right about this, that earmarks were less than 1 percent of the federal budget. It wasn't a lot when it comes to spending, but it was really just, it has become a symbol of politics gone awry in Washington and that is his problem.
PHILLIPS: Well, the earmarks were about bringing money home for Pennsylvania, right? But then he got defeated in 2006 and he really started just bringing home the money for himself.
BASH: Ka-ching. I think that's really the way we can describe it.
It happens not just with Rick Santorum, but a lot of members of Congress when they either leave on their own or they get defeated. They go and they make money.
Rick Santorum according to his financial disclosure, Kyra, he made $1.3 million in 2010 into the first half of 2011. That's so much more than he made when he was a United States senator, and that was $160,000.
And, you know, a lot of the money he made was doing consulting for lobbying interest and other advocacies. So, that is another area where his opponents are really hitting him.
PHILLIPS: Dana Bash, thanks.
It's been a long time coming. But today, an American teen mistakenly deported to Colombia could start her trip home. We'll hear from her mother.
Plus, Tiger Woods' ex-wife takes a wrecking ball to her multi- million dollar home. We'll tell you why.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Hollywood filmmakers are casting a thriller about Osama bin Laden, but a powerful Republican in Congress is alleging that the White House gave producers, rather, information that should have remained confidential.
A.J. Hammer investigating for us.
What did you find out, A.J.?
A.J. HAMMER, HOST, "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT": Well, the deal is this is a film by Kathryn Bigelow and Mark Boal, Kyra. They're the pair, of course, that gave us "The Hurt Locker." This is a film that has been in works for years but just now announcing some casting choices. The movie actually will reportedly be in theaters by the end of this year, and that would be over the objections of Congressman Peter King.
The movie is all about the search for Bin Laden. Obviously, the story needed to be changed when he was killed by SEAL Team 6.
And that's where Representative King comes in. He has been alleging that the White House actually gave the filmmakers classified information about the operation that killed Bin Laden, and he's now calling for an investigation. So far, it doesn't seem to be slowing the film down at all -- although I do remember that King was concerned at one point that the film would be released during the presidential campaign and be used as propaganda for the Obama administration. Obviously, with a December release, that's not going to be an issue.
As for the casting news, let me throw some names at you. Jessica Chastain who is just terrific in "The Help," Joel Edgerton from the film "Warrior," Edgar Ramirez from "Clash of the Titans," Mark Strong who was in "Green Lantern" all these names in negotiations to star in the film.
And, Kyra, obviously, terrific actors there, but lesser known names. It will be interesting to see, you know, if they go for some major marquee value with somebody else, although they didn't for "The Hurt Locker." They made stars out of "The Hurt Locker."
PHILLIPS: Yes. And look what happened to that film, exactly.
All right, let's turn the corner here. Tiger Woods' ex-wife, apparently not real happy with her $12 million home.
HAMMER: No, and what does anybody do with a $12 million home that you're not happy with, Kyra? You tear it down, of course. Why not?
Elin bought a 7,000 square foot home and had eight bedrooms and a ground pool. It had an elevator. She bought it about a year ago and now, it's been reduced to rubble. So, she could build her dream home.
This is what you can do when you get an estimated $100 million divorce settlement.
Now, "The Palm Beach Post" was reporting the original plan was to renovate the house. It wasn't always meant to be a tear down. The house was built in 1932. Plans started to change to full demolition after the work had started.
But a $12 million tear down, Kyra. Hey, why not?
PHILLIPS: Yes. Hey, all things new, right? She deserves some good changes in her life. A.J., thanks.
HAMMER: No question.
PHILLIPS: Yes. All right. Well, A.J. is going to be back with more showbiz headlines next hour. So, stay tuned.
We're also going to take you cross country where a driver took a bare bones approach to sneaking into the HOV lane.
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PHILLIPS: Still a lot of unanswered questions in a story we told you about yesterday. And now, it looks like it could wind up in court. A runaway American teen Jakadrien Turner gets deported to Colombia after her arrest in Houston. Well, today, diplomatic efforts have started to bring her home.
Our Ed Lavandera is in Dallas.
And another big question, when, Ed?
ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's what we're scrambling to try to figure out, Kyra. All signs point to the Colombian government handing over Jakadrien Turner who is now 15 years old and handing her over to U.S. embassy officials in Colombia.
She's speaking with family members and people close to the family who've been helping them out through this year-long ordeal. They fully anticipate her being returned back here to the Dallas, Texas, area at some point tonight. So, that's what they're going with right now. But they haven't gotten any specific details as to how all of this will unfold here today, Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right. Now, ICE admits to making a mistake, but not any wrongdoing, right?
LAVANDERA: Right. You know, it's very sensitive situation because, clearly, they say that Jakadrien Turner lied at every turn here about who she was. Back in April of -- of last year, she was arrested for theft in Houston and she told police that she was 21- year-old Atika Cortez. She was -- gone through the local legal process for that misdemeanor theft charge and then was handed over to ICE agents and went through the immigration process. Never once saying that she was no one -- anyone other than Atika Cortez. Never raised her hands saying hey before you deport me I'm not who -- who I've been saying I am.
And then on top of that, had to fool Colombian authorities who gave her the paperwork necessary to be deported to Columbia. So ICE says they are taking this matter very seriously but you know quite frankly they've never seen anything like this. They're looking at it and continue to investigate, but family members say they will look into a lawsuit against the government because this happened.
They spoke with CNN earlier this morning.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RAY JACKSON, ATTORNEY: The next step is that we try to get her home whether that's by us going there to pick her up or having transportation for her to come back here. After she gets back home, obviously, we understand that there's going to be a lot of care that's going to be necessary for Jakadrien. And then at that point we'll start seeking re-dress as far as the civil rights violations for the governmental agencies that allowed her to be wrongfully deported.
JOHNISA TURNER, MOTHER: I want her to come home. She belongs home.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LAVANDERA: You know so, Kyra, that's kind of where we stand now. It sounds like Jakadrien Turner is on her way back to Texas. But we're still working on confirming a lot of those details and how exactly she will be moved and also what will happen to her once she gets here in Dallas. A lot of unanswered and possible questions surrounding her arrival back here and exactly what will happen with her -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right, we'll follow this case, Ed, thanks.
Now looking at other stories cross country. The father of a Utah man accused of shooting six police officers said his son is a decorated Gulf War vet who had mental issues. Matthew David Stewart allegedly opened fire on officers as they tried to serve a search warrant, one officer died and five others were injured.
And starting Monday in New Orleans children 16 and under will be barred from the city's entertainment district after 8:00 p.m. The curfew includes the French quarter. Supporters say it will protect kids from an area known for its bars and strip clubs.
And a driver in Washington State admits having a fake skeleton in his passenger seat so he could drive into the HOV lane. But a police officer pulled him over for aggressive driving and driving solo and he got a big fat ticket of $454.
Well, some former Penn State football players are furious about the hiring process for the team's next coach. We've got that story in sports seven minutes away.
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PHILLIPS: All right, welcome back. We're going to fast forward to events happening today. We'll be covering these for you.
11:40 this morning President Obama visiting and speaking at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. He sidestepped Congress to name Richard Cordray to run that agency.
Then at 3:00, a soldier will tell a court hearing why explosives were found in his carryon luggage at the Midland Texas airport last week. Tray Atwater says that he didn't realize they were in his bag after returning from deployment.
Then at 6:30, Dorothy Burkhart has a court hearing on being extradited back to Germany where she's accused of fraud. Her son is accused of setting 52 fires in Los Angeles out of anger over his mother's situation.
All right, we're following lots of developments in the next hour of CNN NEWSROOM. Let's start first with our Christine Romans.
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Hi there Kyra. I'm following the jobs report; 200,000 jobs added to the economy in December. And the jobless rate fell to 8.5 percent. Is this sustainable and what does it mean for you and your job search. I'll have that at the top of the hour.
JOHNS: I'm Joe Johns in Conway, South Carolina. Mitt Romney is flying high in the polls in New Hampshire, but is he getting any traction in the Palmetto State? I'll have a report coming up.
PHILLIPS: All right, guys.
Plus Jon Huntsman's wife, Mary Kay will be with us. She's been on the campaign stage with him in New Hampshire. We're going to ask her about the man she knows better than anyone else and what she knows that voters don't.
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PHILLIPS: Penn State might have some big news. Jeff Fischel?
JEFF FISCHEL, ANCHOR, HLN SPORTS: Yes, we're hearing story reports about who will be the next head coach. Of course after the Jerry Sandusky sex abuse scandal, Joe Paterno was forced out. The question is who replaces him.
And some players are hearing a name and they're furious. They say Bill O'Brien is the next head coach and they don't want him. He's the New England Patriots offensive coordinator. Reports are he just interviewed for the job and he will takeover.
Here's what former star linebacker Brandon Short told the "USA Today". Quote, "There's a tangible standard at Penn State that this poor guy knows nothing about. I feel badly for him. He is clueless and will not have the support of the majority of the Lettermen. This is a hornet's nest for him."
Now to be clear, CNN has not yet confirmed that O'Brien will be the head coach.
NBA now, Lebron James, Dewayne Wade both hurt. Heat teammates say who needs them? Final seconds, Miami down three to Atlanta. The only one of the big three who's healthy, Chris Bosh for three to tie. He's open. Give it to him. He fires and good. He had 33 points. This one goes to triple OT.
Wade and Lebron fired up. Mario Chalmers works his way to the bucket. He had 29; nice win by the Heat on the road without Dwyane Wade, without Lebron James. 116-109.
All right Kyra. Let's see who can count. Final seconds of Western Kentucky versus Louisiana Lafayette. All tied up. Watch closely. The Raging Cajuns have one, two, three, four, five, six, wait a seconds, six? That's not right. Look at it.
Raging Cajuns get the winning basket. Neither Western Kentucky nor the refs saw there was an extra guy on the court.
PHILLIPS: Do you think they meant to do that?
FISCHEL: No, no. No way. Because you get a technical if you're caught. So they actually could have lost the game. Instead, they capitalize on the mistake no one notices. ESPN reporting the Sunbelt League could suspend the refs, for not noticing or calling a technical foul.
PHILLIPS: How about the coach? What's a guy to do? I want to play, put me in coach.
FISCHEL: I have a great idea. This is a perfect way, we'll definitely get that game-winning basket. It worked. I say, he'll put seven guys on the court.
PHILLIPS: And the wild card tips off tomorrow?
FISCHEL: Yes, exactly. NFL playoffs starting tomorrow. Very exciting. Your Packers have the week off because they're the number one seed in the NFC.
But here's what we have. Tomorrow, it's the Bengals at the Texans. Then the night game should be really entertaining, Lions and Saints. Lots of points on the board I think with that one. Falcons and Giants are on Sunday. And then the Steelers travel into Denver to take on Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos.
PHILLIPS: That's hard because, you know, I love Drew Brees. I kind of go back and forth. Go Saints. Go Packers.
(CROSSTALK)
FISCHEL: You know, truly, I'd say arguably they are the two best teams in the NFL right now. I wouldn't be surprised if they meet up in the NFC title games.
PHILLIPS: And I'm not just picking them because they're popular. You know, I have history.
FISCHEL: Those are your two teams.
PHILLIPS: Darn right. Thanks pal. Have a great weekend.
All right. You've probably seen the commercial of a woman who climbs to the top of a dangerous looking rock formation. Were you wondering, did she really do it or is this just the magic of TV? Of course Jeanne Moos investigates.
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JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: These days when seeing is no longer believing, maybe you've seen this commercial and wondered if you can believe what you see.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I use my Citi thank you card to pick up some accessories. A new belt, some nylons, and what girl wouldn't need new shoes. I'm close to the rock I really had in mind.
MOOS: The reaction on line has been, this can't be real.
KATIE BROWN, ROCK CLIMBER: Yes, it's real.
MOOS: Thank you for making viewers physically dizzy and sick.
"I just can't help getting wiggy when she gets to the top and the camera angle is pointed at her feet and all can you see is imminent death."
BROWN: It's actually not very technically difficult.
MOOS: It is a rock formation called "Ancient Art" near Moab, Utah. But who is that hot ad girl?
BROWN: I had a camera on the helmet so it's me like looking at my feet as I walk.
MOOS: The feet belong to Katie Brown. She became one of the top female climbers after she began competing at the age of 15. Citibank hired her and Alex Honnold to do the commercial. You might recognize him from the jaw dropping piece "60 Minutes" did on him.
Alex is famous for free soloing, climbing incredible rock walls without ropes.
ALEX HONNOLD, ROCK CLIMBER: There is no adrenaline rush. You know, if I get a rush, it means that something has gone horribly wrong.
MOOS: In the Citibank commercial the two climbers were using ropes and no one fell though Katie says she has had a few scary falls, like this one shot by photographer Colis Mason.
Viewers of the commercial are almost as curious about the lyrics to the song --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Somebody left the gate open
MOOS: Is it "somebody likes potatoes"? Somebody leggo my egg-o. No, a band called LP is singing.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Somebody left the gate open
MOOS: Got to give Katie credit for being honest about how it felt up there at the tippy top.
BROWN: It's a little intimidating.
MOOS: The spot's even been parodied by someone using footage from a Swedish diaper commercial.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm close to the rock I really had in mind.
MOOS: That high up, who wouldn't need a diaper.
Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
