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Arizona Congresswoman Gabby Giffords Visited the Safeway Store One Year after the Shooting Incident; Beyonce Gave Birth to a Baby Girl; Romney Still Ahead in the Latest Poll
Aired January 08, 2012 - 17:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Just two days away before the nation's first primary election, the GOP race heats up. Watch the New Hampshire Republican Debate on CNN tonight the one that aired last night on "ABC World" it will air tonight on CNN 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
Here is a look at where the 2012 contenders will this be this week: the New Hampshire primary is on Tuesday so most candidates will be there for the next 48 hours. Rick Perry and Rick Santorum are both in South Carolina right now and other contenders will soon join them.
Thank you for joining us, this special hour of politics. Join us every Sunday at this hour, 4:00 Eastern time. Now stay here for the latest news right here in the NEWSROOM.
One year ago today, gunfire at a Tucson, Arizona, shopping center left six dead and 13 wounded including Arizona congresswoman Gabby Giffords. Today, she and so many others impacted are reflecting on the tragedy and the recovery.
Take a look right now at some live pictures. It is a dark room, but it is fitting of the somber atmosphere there on this one-year anniversary. The event will be called reflections and it is about to get started there on the University of Arizona campus. It is honoring the lives of the shooting victims, the survivors and the citizen heroes who helped following those shootings that took place at that shopping center, at that Safeway parking lot.
And in a few minutes, we'll have a live report from Thelma Gutierrez who is there in Tucson.
About 100 soldiers are on lockdown at a military base in Washington State. That means no one in, no one out. Commanders at joint base Lewis McCord are looking for anyone who may have possession of some sensitive military equipment that didn't turn up during an inventory last month.
Mt. Rainier national park's gates are open again, one week after a park ranger was shot to death on New Year's Day. A private service will be held for Margaret Anderson tonight and a public memorial service on Tuesday. A park spokes person says the park is safe.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) KEVIN BACHER, MOUNT RAINER NATIONAL PARK SPOKESMAN: It is a place of strength, a place of refuge, a place of spirituality and a place of recreation and fun.
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Authorities believe Anderson was killed by a former soldier, Benjamin Barnes. His body was found face down in a creek not far from where he allegedly shot Anderson.
Alright now to the 2012 race. And the nation's first presidential primary, it happens in New Hampshire in just about 48 hours from now. The GOP candidates spent the weekend there trying to win over undecided voters. The latest state poll shows Mitt Romney with a commanding lead. And that front-runner status put Romney in the line of fire at two of the weekend debates.
At today's NBC News facebook debate, Romney's rivals went on the attack saying the former Massachusetts governor would be unable to beat President Obama in the general election. Fireworks also flew at an ABC news debate last night. Our political round table weighs in on that face-off in just a few minutes.
Back to what is sure to be an emotional evening in Tucson, Arizona. It has been that all day long. One year ago today, gunfire at a shopping center left six dead and 13 wounded, including Arizona congresswoman Gabby Giffords.
CNN's Thelma Gutierrez takes a look back at what has been called one of the worst shooting rampages in Arizona history.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE REPORTER: We have breaking news for you. Several people have been shot. The shooting occurred at a grocery store.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have discovered that we have 18 individuals who were shot.
THELMA GUTIERREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): January 8th, 2011. A day Tucson will never forget.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The bodies lying on the concrete.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The screaming, the crying, the bleeding.
GUTIERREZ: Nineteen people were shot that day, six of them died. The youngest, 9-year-old Christina Green was one of many who had gone to the Safeway store to meet Arizona congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. Christina was there with her neighbor Suzie Heilman.
SUZIE HEILMAN, SHOOTING VICTIM: And then gunshot.
GUTIERREZ: Christina was shot in the chest.
HEILMAN: I was holding hands with Christina. We were eyeball to eyeball. She was confused. And scared and I knew when we were lying on the ground outside of Safeway, the light went out of her eyes.
GUTIERREZ: As many of the victims lay bleeding in pools of blood, two men wrestled the gunmen.
JOE ZAMUDIO, WITNESS: I put my legs on his -- behind his knees an arm on the back of the small of his back and I was stepping on his neck.
GUTIERREZ: The gunman is in police custody.
TAMMY YO, REPORTER: He's Jared Lee Loughner, 22 years old.
GUTIERREZ: The scene was chaotic with surge deputies and civilians trying to triage victims.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Is anyone injured? Did you say Gabrielle Giffords was hurt?
GUTIERREZ: The congresswoman had been shot in the head. For intern Daniel Fernandez rendered to her side in you tube bare hands stop the bleeding.
DANIEL FERNANDEZ, FORMER INTERN FOR GIFFORDS: I couldn't see an exit wound. I didn't know if there was one. All I saw was the entry wound. That's where I was applying the pressure.
GUTIERREZ: In the end, it was Hernandez, the paramedics and the trauma team who saved Gabrielle Giffords' life.
DOCTOR PETER RHEE, MEDICAL DIRECTOR, UMC TRAUMA CENTER: Overall, this is as good as it is going to get. When you get so the in the head and the bullet goes through your brain, the chances of you living is very small and the chances of you waking up and actually following commands.
GUTIERREZ: January 8th, 2011, will be remembered as a catastrophic day, one where a year later a community has pulled together to honor the victims and survivors of the deadliest rampage in the city's history.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: And Thelma Gutierrez joining us now lives from Tucson. So Thelma, you spoke exclusively as well with Gabby Giffords' chief of staff. And how is she saying gabby is doing right now?
GUTIERREZ: Well, Pia Carusone talked to us today, Fred, and she told us that it is, as you had described, a very somber day for everyone here in this city, but especially Gabby Giffords, who one year ago, of course, her life completely changed.
She said that not only was she here for the anniversary to commemorate this day, which will be held right here in this mall, thousands of people, Fred, are expected to come to the mall here at the University of Arizona to remember those victims. But she said that she was also ready to visit that Safeway store, the place of the shootings. And she said yesterday she was with Gabrielle Giffords, also her husband Mark Kelly as they went to that Safeway store to share a private moment.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PIA CARUSONE, GABRIELLE GIFFORDS' CHIEF OF STAFF: I saw her yesterday. We had -- she wanted to stop by the Safeway. She hadn't been yet. And so, I was with her for that experience and, you know, it is a very intense feeling to stand in the space where, you know, six people lost their lives and 12 others were injured and her life changed. And so memories started to come back, actually yesterday while being there, which was interesting for her.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GUTIERREZ: Pia Carusone also told us that Gabby Giffords wanted to visit UMC, the medical center where her life was saved and she went yesterday right after visiting that Safeway store. She went into the medical center. She met with the doctors and the nurses there, talked to them. She hadn't remembered anything of her time at that medical center, but she said that it was very important for her to go and personally meet with those people who saved her life -- Fred.
WHITFIELD: And so, what was that moment like for her, you know, visiting where -- be it at the supermarket or the hospital and coming face to face with some of the people who were there for her, or perhaps are helping her to kind of recount what happened?
GUTIERREZ: Well, she said it was a very private moment, that she allowed Gabby Giffords, Mark Kelly to walk to that area, the place right in front of the store where she was meeting with some of her constituents who had come that morning when the first shots rang out at 10:11 in the morning, but that she went over to that area, pointed at it, she and her husband talked about it. Again, Fred, very private. You can just imagine, though, how emotional it was. And she had described it as an emotional time for her.
WHITFIELD: Alright, Thelma Gutierrez. Thanks so much, in Tucson.
Alright, looking ahead now, in two weeks, polls showing Mitt Romney is the man to beat in South Carolina, which is when that primary takes place. The first of the south, a preview of that primary and a breakdown of the New Hampshire debates.
Plus, a thrilling stunt goes terribly wrong.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: New Hampshire's primary is Tuesday, but let's look beyond that for just a bit to South Carolina. That primary, first of the south, the latest CNN time ORC poll shows Mitt Romney with a sizable lead there, 37 percent, nearly 20 points from his closest rivals, Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich.
For a look ahead to South Carolina and a breakout of the New Hampshire debates, Jim Acosta joins us from Exeter, New Hampshire, senior political editor Mark Preston and political editor Paul Steinhauser also with us. But from Manchester, so, Jim, let me begin with you, I understand Romney is getting hammered today over a few comments made.
JIM ACOSTA, CNN POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: That's right. Earlier today, in Nashua he was at an event and he made a comment that I think took a lot of people by surprise. He said he himself has worried about getting a pink slip in the course of his lifetime and that struck a lot of the reporters covering this campaign as sort of odd because Mitt Romney obviously is the son of George Romney, who is the head of American motor cars, very successful businessman, also the governor of Michigan. And Mitt Romney led what has been a fairly privileged life and so those comments are obviously something the other campaigns are going to be seizing on as the hours go on as we tick closer to the New Hampshire primary. But I have to tell you, Fredricka, I think the reason why Governor Romney said that earlier today is because he is being savaged now by Newt Gingrich.
There is a pro Gingrich super PAC that just came out with a documentary, infomercial, if you will, earlier today, that basically goes after Mitt Romney's days at bane capital, when they were downsizing companies, laying people off now. The Romney campaign and governor Romney will tell you, hey, wait a minute, you know, Romney also was a part of a venture capital firm that created companies and they cite staples and other companies such as that.
But it is interesting to see the Romney campaign come out with a very quick response to what appears to be a serious attack coming from the Gingrich forces through this infomercial going after Mitt Romney's days at bane capital. It is getting very interesting out here.
WHITFIELD: So, is there a feeling, Jim, that the Romney camp doesn't want to take anything for granted, it doesn't want to feel comfortable it is leading, even though some polls says - that Romney is leading in New Hampshire.
ACOSTA: That's right. That's what he's been saying all weekend long to his supporters here in New Hampshire. He said hey, don't look at the polls. Don't take things for granted right now. And he - I think a small reason to worry, you know, he should win this New Hampshire primary by a fairly comfortable margin.
But, if you look at the Suffolk University daily tracking poll, which has been coming out showing, you know, basically the way this campaign has been shaping up in the last several days, Mitt Romney over the last week or so has dropped by eight percentage points, he now has only a 15 percentage point lead over Ron Paul. That may sound like a great deal to a lot of people out there, but not as big as it was a few days ago.
I don't think there is enough time for the rest of the field to catch up with him, but they're obviously looking at that number and perhaps some of their own numbers and getting a tad worried heading into South Carolina after New Hampshire -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: So, Paul, in Manchester, is this kind what happens when you're out in front, that the other contenders nipping at your heels. They are going to be trying to chip away at your character or of your resume? Is that simply what is happening here with Mitt Romney out in front?
PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: It is business as usual. We saw with Rick Perry jumped into the race and quickly became the front-runner. The Texas governor was attacked by a lot the other campaigns and other he stumbled in debates brought him down. Same thing with Herman Cain, sudden rising in the polls and was co-front runner, brought him down as well. And Gingrich, let's go back a month ago. Remember, Newt Gingrich was the front-runner here in, you know, in Iowa and across the country nationwide polls and came down as well.
You had the doubleheader of debates this weekend right here in New Hampshire. And first debate last night and you can see that debate coming up a little later today on CNN, it seems like Mitt Romney kind emerged unscathed, but that was not the case this morning in the debate up in concord, New Hampshire. Again, Fred, this is what you do when you're in front you come under attack.
WHITFIELD: So, Mark, did those debates help any one particular candidate because certainly last night and this morning, Mitt Romney was the one who was being attacked if not by those who were asking the questions, but by the fellow candidates as well. But does that help particularly the undecided voters make a decision as it pertains to New Hampshire?
MARK PRESTON, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL EDITOR: Certainly helps on the margin. I think we need to look back, Fred, to Newt Gingrich whose campaign imploded back in June of 2011. Everyone thought that he should actually get out of the race, but the bottom line is he was able to use these presidential debates over the past six, seven, eight months to really rebuild the candidacy and saw him really come on strong in the beginning of December. He has since then collapsed, of course, because of his -- coming under a state of negative advertising.
What happened in the past 24 hours with these two debates, question is did anybody really win or really lose. Some can say even though that Newt Gingrich rather Mitt Romney came under some sharp attack this morning, it wasn't enough for him to really lose a whole lot of ground. And as Jim said, we do expect him to win pretty comfortably on Tuesday evening.
WHITFIELD: So, Jim, you know, Mitt Romney is still spending some time in New Hampshire. Rick Santorum, who has enjoyed a surge since Iowa, has left the state. He's in South Carolina, already thinking about the next primary. Would that hurt the candidate, just a couple of days leading up to the primary vote?
ACOSTA: Well, you know, I have to tell you, Rick Santorum spent a lot of time here in New Hampshire over the last several days. I mean, he was holding, I think, by my count, 17 town halls between Wednesday and Friday evening. I think I have that count right. It could be more than that. And many of these events, the fire marshal or not many of these events, a few of the events, the fire marshal had to come out and move people outside because there were too many people crammed into the town halls. So, he had a positive response coming out of Iowa.
The problem for Rick Santorum is that he got into some social issues that may not play well here in New Hampshire. There was one event I was at earlier this week in front of a college crowd where he, you know, compared homosexuality to polygamy. That did not go over with that crowd. He was booed as he left the podium that day. And looking at the Suffolk daily tracking poll, it looks like he was surging coming out of Iowa and then plateau a little bit here in the state.
Those kinds of politics, the socially conservative politics will play better down in South Carolina. That probably explains why he's down there today. But I will tell you, I've talked to the Santorum forces about this and what they will tell me and perhaps this is just sort of spinning, they say they're fighting for each and every one of these primaries after Iowa. They feel like they're in a very competitive position at this point -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: Every race counting. Alright, thanks so much, Jim. Mark, Paul, appreciate it.
Alright, 48 hours before the nation's first primary vote, the GOP race heating up. Watch the New Hampshire Republican debate last night tonight on CNN. 8:00 p.m. Eastern time.
Alright, straight ahead, breaking away from traditional New Year's resolutions. Edit your life from your closet to facebook. How to identify what weighs you down in 2011 and start fresh in a nontraditional kind of way 2012.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: It is the start of a New Year and most people make New Year's resolutions or goals or something like that. And they break them, sometimes quicker than they actually make them. But the grindstone.com's editor at large Debra Shigley says it is easier if you set goals, good I used the right word, instead of making resolutions.
So Deborah, what is the difference between the two? Goals, resolutions --
DEBRA SHIGLEY, EDITOR-AT-LARGE, THE GRINDSTONE.COM: Well, a resolution is like resolve. I think a goal is something that has actionable steps and you want to achieve it at the end. Resolution is a more ongoing commitment on a day to day process. So, are you January 8th, some people are going to break their resolutions by the end of this month. So, do something new, do something different.
WHITFIELD: OK. So, help us do that. How do you break tradition?
SHIGLEY: OK. One thing that a lot of people are doing is having a family summit. So, let's say you can do this today. Get together with your spouse, your family, maybe a few friends, and think about what your goals are for the New Year. Pick three categories, maybe family, health, career, maybe doing money. And pick a few attainable goals and a few stretch goals. You want to check in with this throughout the year. But it is a way to kind of think about the accomplishments of the past year, and also look ahead to the new one in a fresh way.
WHITFIELD: OK. That's good. That's a different approach that gets everybody involved. Everyone is invested and everyone can remind one another, kind of easier said than done?
SHIGLEY: Well, you know, it is always easier said than done. I think the key is to check in, maybe quarterly, you know, do a spring check- in, a summer check-in and so on. It is funny this is actually a Kardashian family. It is going to be like Kim Kardashian, you can do this too. So, you know, there you go.
WHITFIELD: OK. Is that the inspiration or that the deterrent?
SHIGLEY: Well, I think - you know, it is partially the inspiration. Because, you know, it is about setting reach goals, right. So, think of something that you never might think is possible and just go for it.
WHITFIELD: OK. And then you say, you know, spring cleaning. A lot of times people say I'm going to get more organized. I'm going to remove the clutter, et cetera. And you say you should involve everything from your closets to even your facebook.
SHIGLEY: Right. Do winter cleaning. This is a great time of year to have a ritual of pruning, whether from facebook, all those contacts that you don't really like or people -- hopefully people won't de- friend me now, but - de-friend. The people you're contacts in your telephone, maybe a bathroom cabinet or the kitchen cabinet, just go right now and just clean it out. Throw things away. Out with the old, in with the new for the New Year.
WHITFIELD: And these are things I want to do rather than I should do. It is pressure, isn't it?
SHIGLEY: Right. No, it is true. A lot of people --
WHITFIELD: What do I do?
SHIGLEY: Right. A lot of people pick New Year's resolutions that are things they should do, right. It is I want to -- I should quit smoking, I should lose weight. And that's a sure way to set yourself up for failure, because you have no motivation and you're focusing on relying on your willpower, right.
So, whether it is wanting to take a photography class or wanting to ask for promotion, put these at the forefront of your mind, something that adds passion and a little bit of fun and as a small goal you can accomplish even in January.
WHITFIELD: That's good. And this way, when you look at goals, you can really look at this, as, you know, I guess look at the year too as incrementally when you can achieve goals as opposed to resolutions, people think it is a whole year investment and they get turned off. SHIGLEY: absolutely. And one more thing to do is just pick a general theme. You know, this is a big trend. We saw it on facebook a few weeks ago. One word what is your one word theme for the whole year whether it's family, gratitude, discipline, maybe stick that on a post it note on your desk, get a plaque just to kind remind yourself a broader way of thinking about how you want to be for this new year.
WHITFIELD: Alright. And you're beginning the New Year with something very special, expecting your number two.
SHIGLEY: Yes. Baby number two is due in May.
WHITFIELD: Baby number two.
SHIGLEY: Baby number two, yes.
WHITFIELD: Alright, Deborah Shigley, thanks so much. Happy New Year.
SHIGLEY: Happy New Year to you too.
WHITFIELD: Alright, this is a nightmare. Have you gone bungee jumping?
SHIGLEY: No.
WHITFIELD: Would you ever?
SHIGLEY: No.
WHITFIELD: And you really won't once you see something like this. Yes, the bungee cord breaks. What happens next? You got to see it.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Some international headlines now. It is New Zealand's worst offshore environmental disaster. This cargo ship hit a reef off New Zealand back in October, sending debris and oil into the ocean. The ship has now split into two. Officials fear the rest of the ship's oil will now leak into the water.
And North Korea is marking the birthday of newly installed leader Kim Jong-Un. A video documentary that aired on North Korean television today shows the son of Kim Jong-Il in his role of military leader, driving a tank, inspecting troops and riding horses. Most analysts put the new North Korean's age at either 28 or 29.
And birthday celebrations also planned for the duchess of Cambridge tomorrow. The former Kate Middleton turned 30. She and her husband prince William walked the red carpet a few hours ago at the London premiere of Steven Spielberg's film "Warhorse."
And, another birthday for the ageless David Bowie, turning 65 today. David Jones adopted the name David Bowie in the late '60s and a string of hits and Grammys soon followed.
And one more special day on the calendar, this one in South Africa. The liberation movement that became the political party, the African national Congress turned 100 years old this weekend. Former president Nelson Mandela we're told will not attend the festivities due to his failing health.
And a thrilling tourist adventure goes horribly wrong, could have been worse, though. This is Erin Worth, a tourist from Australia, plunging toward the river right there. Oh, my God. And then the cord of that bungee breaks. Watch the cord, one more time there. She falls to the water below, 300 feet, and amazingly, she actually survives that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ERIN LAUNG WORTH, SURVIVED PLUNGE INTO RIVER: It went back straightaway and I felt like I had been slapped all over. I actually had to swim down and yank the bungee cord out of whatever it was caught under. I think it is definitely a miracle I survived.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Wow! A miracle indeed! It turns out the cord broke at just the perfect moment if there is a perfect moment. And somehow, she avoided serious injury because it broke when she was already so close to the surface of the water. So, she's bruised pretty badly as you saw in this pictures. That river is known for being filled with crocodiles, by the way. That is nuts then, knowing about the crocodiles especially.
So, I want to bring in CNN's Errol Burnett right now. He is actually in Cape down South Africa. So, I'm going to call you crazy now too. You did that plunge, although you're lucky, the cord didn't break. So, tell me, what is the fascination with the jumping that way into the river?
ERROL BARNETT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fred, the reason I was there and doing it, I must admit, was for professional purposes. It was for -- I'm on CNN international called inside Africa where we go to the most remote and interesting places on the continent and reveal the most fascinating parts about it.
So, we were there doing news. This is the location by the way is divided between Zimbabwe and Zambia. And now, Zambia is just trying capitalizing on Zimbabwe's problems and attracting tourists to this location. What you are seeing now was kind of the kicker. When I did that jump that Erin Laung just did, I did this just Christmas at the end of last year, it was thrilling, it was amazing. And as anyone who has jumped from a plane or bungee jumped or paraglide knows, it is a thrill that you're seeking. That's why you decide to risk your life and do something that everyone else sees as --
WHITFIELD: So Errol, my heart is stopping as I'm watching this tape of you taking that plunge. And you're spread eagle there like, you know, this is no big deal. So, along the way, there are many actually before you took the plunge, was there ever a moment where you were saying, my God, will this cord -- will it support me?
BARNETT: Absolutely. That's the fear everyone has when you do something like this. And to be, you know, just to put a sober note on what happened to Erin, when you do an extreme event like bungee jumping, you're taking your life into your own hands, you do sign a release and say to yourself, after signing your life away, I hope now that this cord stays tight. Now, it could possibly have been the same cord that I bungee jumped on that Erin bungee jumper with that snapped.
WHITFIELD: How did that cord look to you? It looks tattered in this picture.
BARNETT: Well Fred, do you know how to inspect a bungee cord because I sure don't.
WHITFIELD: I'm not when I take a big plunge, I'm going to inspect everything. That's just me.
(LAUGHTER)
BARNETT: I completely agree with you. The company that I bungee jumped with, Erin bungee jumped with and the cord snapped, they're under investigation by the local government there in Livingston. And when you go somewhere, the bungee cords, you mentioned how the cord broke before she reached the surface of the water. You know, these cords, they do stretch, they do give, and these agencies are monitored and rated. And this incident could happen anywhere in the world, a mistake. Something goes wrong. So, it is not really appropriate for us to say this is a Zambian issue. It could happen in New Zealand, it could happen anywhere.
WHITFIELD: OK. You are right which is why I'm not signing up for that. But I'm really glad that you're courageous enough to do so, Eroll. Thank you so much. I'm so glad that you had a successful bungee jump.
BARNETT: Thank you, Fred. Thank you.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you so much. Appreciate that. Enjoy Cape Town. Beautiful city.
Alright Aretha Franklin on the red carpet in this country. She accepted a special honor on behalf of her late father. We'll hear from the legendary soul singer coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Alright, one year ago today, gunfire at a Tucson, Arizona, shopping center left six dead and 18 wounded including Arizona congresswoman Gabby Giffords. She and so many others impacted are reflecting on the tragedy and the recovery.
And earlier today people gathered around the Safeway store and rang bells at 10:11 a.m., the exact time that shooting broke out.
And live pictures right now by way of a web cam at an event called reflections that are happening right now. People are honoring the survivors and the lives of the shooting victims, including one of the youngest victims, 9-year-old Christina Taylor Green, who went to the store that tragic day to meet Congresswoman Gabby Giffords. Cristina's two best friends are expected to speak at that event. And it is also an emotional day for congresswoman Gabby Giffords. She was shot in the head and has been on an incredible road to recovery. Giffords and her husband astronaut Mark Kelly will attend a vigil this evening at the University of Arizona.
Earlier today, our Thelma Gutierrez spoke exclusively with Giffords' chief of staff, Pia Caresone.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GUTIERREZ: How is she doing right now?
CARESONE: Good. I saw her yesterday. We had -- she wanted to stop by the Safeway. She hadn't been yet. So o I was with her for that experience and, you know, it is a very intense feeling to stand in the space where, you know, six people lost their lives and 12 others were injured and --
GUTIERREZ: And her life changed.
CARESONE: And her life changed, exactly. And you know, some memories started to come back actually yesterday while being there, this which was interesting for her. But -- and from there we went to the ICU where, you know, she doesn't really have any memory of being there. But for her family, it was an intense environment, that ICU over at UMC Medical Center. So, she was there to thank the doctors and nurses which was really special.
GUTIERREZ: So much of her time is now spent in Houston where she's undergoing rigorous rehab. How is she able to get her work done on behalf of her constituents? I know it has been a top priority for her.
CARESONE: Absolutely. I mean, she, you know, when she took office five years ago, her priority - her number one priority was serving this district and the 600,000 constituents roughly that she represents. And you know from day one, hiring staff like Gabe Zimmerman who, you know, already at a young age. He's dedicated his life to public service and then was able to do the same in her office was really, really important to her.
So, we have continued that. We have opened the office the Monday after the shooting, bright and early like we normally would and began receiving constituents and their concerns like any other week.
GUTIERREZ: Video conferences.
CARESONE: And as the year wore on, we were able to plug the congresswoman in more. So now, we talk regularly over video chats and telephone obviously. So she's gotten more and more involved the better she gets.
(END VIDEOTAPE) WHITFIELD: In other news, police investigating Jerry Sandusky may have gotten some of their biggest breaks by reading his book. The former Penn State University coach's autobiography published in 2000 is called "touched."
Joining me by phone is Sara Ganim, reporter for "the Patriot News" in state college, Pennsylvania. So Sara, tell us how Jerry Sandusky's own words may have helped investigators.
SARA GANIM, REPORTER, THE PATRIOT NEWS (via telephone): Very interesting. I talked to the mother of victim six who was found because her son actually came forward back in 1998 and had made allegations with another boy against Jerry Sandusky about an incident in the shower of the Penn State locker room. That case though wasn't pursued by the district attorney in 1998, but fast-forward about ten years when police were looking into new allegations of assault, of sex assault, on one minor boy. They saw that report. They found this mother's name and number in that older police report, called her up, and she sat down with them.
Police at this point had been investigating Jerry Sandusky for about a year, maybe a little bit more at that point, but they only had one alleged victim at that point when they sat down with his mother and she opened this book and basically opened their case. And said to them, you know, my son was friends with a lot of boys when he was -- when he accused Jerry Sandusky. I think you should talk to those boys too. They all hung out together. They all hung out with Jerry Sandusky and she basically pointed them in the direction of four more alleged victims and that's when their case really exploded from one allegation by one boy to multiple allegations over multiple years. And that's what took it to the point that we are now.
WHITFIELD: So, was it the case or is the police response that perhaps they were unaware of the book? They didn't know that there might be this kind of material available to them in this book?
GANIM: You know, that's unclear. Police aren't really talking about the story. The victim six's mom told me, they didn't respond to my request for comment on this. They said only that, you know, investigations evolved, and it is true that this investigation took a significant amount of time. It took three years. So, the grand jury involved and that can sometimes slow down the process, but the governor who was the attorney general at the time that this investigation was happening has come under heat and questions about why it took three years and did it -- could it have gone faster, did it take too long, was it stalled in any way.
If you go back and look at some of his other pedophile investigations, over his time as the attorney general, there are several cases where arrests were made sooner, however, you know, every investigation is different. And it is not always a comparison that you can make, but that is something he's getting a lot of questions about lately.
WHITFIELD: Alright, Sarah Ganim of "the Patriot News," thanks so much. Alright, we're two days away from the New Hampshire primary and, you know the Sunday talk shows were talking about that today; the New Hampshire debates and looking ahead to South Carolina. We break it down for you right here.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Alright, two days before the New Hampshire primary and guess what the Sunday morning talk shows were talking about. Politics you think? Here are the highlights.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CANDY CROWLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Are you totally comfortable as a former speaker and head of the Democrats, majority leader of the Democrats, with a president running against congress?
REP. NANCY PELOSI (D), HOUSE MINORITY LEADER: To answer your question, I have no problem with the president's statement. I think he should run against this do nothing congress.
REINCE PRIEBUS, CHAIR, REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE: The president has to, though, live within the rules and within the confines of something called the United States constitution. He may not like it, but the reality is that this president is making -- they're not even recess appointments, but making appointments when the Senate is not in recess.
MITT ROMNEY (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Thank you.
RICK SANTORUM (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Well, if his record was so great as governor of Massachusetts, why didn't he run for re-election? Why did you bail out?
ROMNEY: People who spend their life in politics imagine that if you get in politics that that's all you want to do, that if been elected to something you want to be elected and re-elected. I went to Massachusetts to make a difference. I didn't go there to begin a political career.
NEWT GINGRICH (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Can we drop a little bit of the pious baloney? The fact is you ran in '94 and lost, that's why you weren't serving in the Senate with Rick Santorum. The fact is you had a very bad re-election rating. You dropped out of office. So, this idea that suddenly citizenship showed up in your mind, just level with the American people.
DAVID AXELROD, SENIOR OBAMA CAMPAIGN ADVISER: It is clear there are a majority of Republicans who are resistant to him. He only got a quarter of the vote in Iowa. This is essentially his home state. He has one of his homes here and he was the governor of the neighboring state. So we'll see how this process goes. But his fundamental problem is one of trust. I don't think conservatives trust him.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What about if they decide to block us of at the straits of Hormuz? LEON PANETTA, DEFENSE SECRETARY: I think they need to know that if they take that step, that they're going to get stopped. We made very clear that the United States will not tolerate blocking of the straits of Hormuz. That's another red line for us and that we will respond to that.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: All right, the best political team on television has you covered. Primary night, New Hampshire, Tuesday night, our coverage begins 7:00 p.m. Eastern with Wolf Blitzer, Erin Burnett, Anderson Cooper, Candy Crowley and John King for our live coverage. Again, Tuesday night 7:00 Eastern right here on CNN.
Alright, we're also going to take a quick look at what the 2011 financial year was like and how unemployment numbers stacked up at the end of the year. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Unemployment, the auto industry and corporate earnings, our money team is keeping an eye on all of that. Let's start with Alison Kosik in New York.
ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Hi Fredricka. The jobs report confirmed that 2011 was a year of improvement. The unemployment rate finished the year at 8.5 percent, the lowest it's been in almost three years. Two hundred thousand positions were added in December, bringing the tally for the year to 1.6 million jobs. The jobs situation has come a long way from 2009 when the economy lost five million jobs.
Kodak shares took a beating falling almost 30 percent. There was talk of a possible bankruptcy filing, though nothing was confirmed. The New York stock exchange did, however, warn Kodak that it is in danger of being delisted because they traded below $1 a share for 30 days. Felicia?
FELICIA TAYLOR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Thanks, Alison. 2011 was a surprisingly good year for the American auto industry. GM, Ford and Chrysler all posted double digit sales increases with Chrysler sales rising 26 percent. The big three also gained market share for the first time in decades.
There was also a milestone in the music industry. Digital music outsold physical CDs last year. The first time that's ever happened. Billboard and Nielsen say digital sales accounted for more than 50 percent of all music sales. Poppy Harlow has a look at what's coming up in business news - Poppy.
POPPY HARLOW, CNNMONEY.COM: Thanks so much, Felicia. While Wall Street turns its attention to corporate earnings this coming week. Aluminum giant Alcoa and JPMorgan chase will kick things off. Overall, analysts expect companies in the S&P 500 to report 12 percent growth in fourth quarter earnings. That's not bad, but just a few months ago expectations were higher. We'll also get the latest look at retail sales, the Fed's Beige book, that's a look at economy activity across the country and the latest consumer sentiment reading and in Detroit the auto show kicks off. CNN money will have a team of reporters in Detroit tracking it all for you. Fred, back to you.
WHITFIELD: Alright. Thanks so much, ladies. Appreciate that. We have got much more straight ahead in the NEWSROOM with our Don Lemon.
DON LEMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Just a few minutes away, right? These debates, the pious, let's cut the pious whatever. I was like, wow. OK, that was interesting. Two big debates, Fred, this weekend as the candidates prepare for the first presidential primary in New Hampshire. I am going o be talking with, get this, CBS -- former CBS News anchor Dan Rather about the election. You know, he's not holding back. He has got a few choice words and folksy, you know run through a car wash --
WHITFIELD: So many presidential races. He has a lot to offer.
LEMON: Yes. And he's working for HD net now. He has a show there. So, he is covering it. He'll be there. He says the Republicans are playing with dynamite now that they're talking about major changes. And he thinks, Fred, that there could be some surprises on Tuesday. So we'll see.
Also, you were getting the latest from reporter Sarah Ganim. We are at least about the Penn State investigation. We will be talking with sports illustrated John Wertheim as well about their new head coach. He is not a former Penn State player or coach. So, did they choose an outside on purpose? There is a bit of controversy, you know the Letterman's club, whatever, many of them not supporting him. And also, the live report from New Orleans.
WHITFIELD: Like going home.
LEMON: Yes, where my LSU tigers are getting ready to play for the college football championship against Alabama.
WHITFIELD: And today, they're not wearing purple and gold?
LEMON: Because I will be wearing it tomorrow, where I'm going to the game. Someone got me tickets.
WHITFIELD: Save your tie.
LEMON: Yes, go tigers! Sorry. I lost my mind.
WHITFIELD: I feel sorry for Alabama. They are playing Alabama?
LEMON: They're playing Alabama. Roll tide. I'm so tired of hearing roll tide. I was on the airplane the other day and had my LSU hat on. The flight attendant said when I got up the plane, she said thank you. And I said thank you guys for (inaudible). Thank for flying us here then she goes, roll tide.
(LAUGHTER)
WHITFIELD: That's what happens when you advertise.
LEMON: Yes. So, Wednesday, I'll be back at work and probably will be talking like this from screaming.
WHITFIELD: As long as you have a little fun. It will be a lot of fun, my goodness.
LEMON: You wear the purple for me.
WHITFIELD: Yes. You know, I wasn't thinking. But you know, I was just wearing purple because I thought it was a nice, soothing color for the day. I wasn't thinking about LSU.
(LAUGHTER)
LEMON: Sure, you are.
WHITFIELD: Well good, we look forward to seeing you later on this evening.
LEMON: Go! Tigers!
WHITFIELD: I'm for all the teams. There you go. I have no favorites.
LEMON: Take a stand.
WHITFIELD: Alright. Thanks, Don.
Alright, fans have been waiting for months for this. You know what, right?
LEMON: Mama.
WHITFIELD: Can you say that you've seen a lot of pictures of her pregnant? I have not. Apparently, there's been quite a rollout of images. Anyway, their latest production between Jay Z and Beyonce unveiled soon.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Who can forget that moment from the video music awards last August, Beyonce announcing to the world she was expecting by rubbing her little belly there as she was performing "Love on Top." There it goes, right there. The reveal.
Well today, she is reportedly a mom and crazy in love. E! Online says the superstar gave birth to a little girl last night in New York. It's her first child with rapper Jay Z and E! Online also reports Jay Z is telling friend's the baby's name, Blue Ivy Carter.
Alright, the queen of soul was in Atlanta this weekend to accept a trumpet award on behalf of her late father. Aretha Franklin received the red carpet treatment at the award ceremony at Clarence Suban Franklin or was a Baptist minister who worked to end discrimination against African-American auto workers in Detroit. Reverend Franklin was recognized for his civil rights work. The legendary soul's spoke with CNN's Soledad O'Brien about how her father inspired her.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Tell me a little about your dad's impact on your music. He obviously performed in his church.
ARETHA FRANKLIN, SINGER: Very early on, he taught me a number of things having to do with timing and praising and different things like that and coaching me in different ways.
O'BRIEN: Do you think he knew just how famous and successful you would be?
FRANKLIN: I don't know. He did say at one point that one day, I would sing for kings and queens. He did say that. And I have, subsequently, I have.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: WHITFIELD: And you can see more of Soledad's interview tomorrow morning on "starting point."
And now, Jacqui Jeras here with a look at the weekend weather. More warmth or a cold front moving in?
JACQUI JERAS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: I know. Well, the cold front moved through, but a cool front.
(LAUGHTER)
WHITFIELD: We should call it.
JERAS: The temperatures have gone down, but it's still crazy above where we should be this time of year. Everybody on average, you know, east of the Rockies, a good ten degrees above normal. We've got an area of low pressure that's developed. This is what's bringing the heavy snow across parts of New Mexico for today. And this is going to be a storm that we're going to be tracking the week ahead, so we get through tonight and tomorrow and we're talking about real rough travel conditions along i-10 as well as i-20. And we're expected to see several inches of accumulation, but you get up into the high country, it will be more like six to ten before all is said and done. And this is going to be a big weather maker for you in the southeast, for you in to the northeast as this track across parts of Georgia up to the Carolinas, into D.C. and then in to New England as we head into your third Wednesday, Thursday, for you as you make those travel plans. Expect to see a lot of delays as a result of this.
And this is a rainmaker. Not a snowmaker because the temperatures are so high. It will get cooler on the backside of it, as well as the little bit breezy. However, it's not going to be a heavy snow for those of you across parts of the great lakes. So, that's big picture as we head into your Monday and the temperatures to put it into perspective for you, in terms of where we're going to be and where we should be. Look at the high in Minneapolis tomorrow, around 44. That's 21 degrees above average, 53 in St. Louis, 14 above the norm and Atlanta, 65 degrees. That's 13 degrees above where you should be. So, the mild air continues. That is the winter, it almost beautifully that feels like it didn't happen.
WHITFIELD: I know.
JERAS: See that snow and everybody is trying --
WHITFIELD: We've gotten so spoiled, but I'm afraid of what's around the corner. Winter, I'm sure, is going to make another arrival.
JERAS: Got a few months to go yet.
WHITFIELD: Alright. Thanks so much Jacqui Jeras. Appreciate that.
Alright, that's going to do it for me. Thanks so much for being with me this afternoon. I'm Fredricka Whitfield. Much more of the NEWSROOM straight ahead with -- where is he? My friend, Don Lemon, on the way. OK, very good. And I'm going to warned up for you.
LEMON: I can do it as well as you could.
WHITFIELD: You're funny.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
