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Condemnation Of Marine Corps Video; Evangelical Leaders Hesitant About Romney; Oprah's OWN Hit Show; Obama Raising Campaign Funds; Shatner Hitting Broadway Solo; IRS Catches More Taxpayer Mistakes; Political Ads Blitz South Carolina
Aired January 12, 2012 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: We begin this hour with the U.S. Marine Corps investigation into a shocking video that's now drawing calls of condemnation from around the world. The video seems to show a marine sniper team urinating on Taliban corpses in Afghanistan.
We're not going to show you the video. It's just too disturbing. But Barbara Starr, we do have a still photo and you actually just got a statement from Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and he's saying -- well, actually what he's saying definitely matches the outrage we're seeing overseas.
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, that's right Kyra. The Defense Secretary issuing this statement. Now after seeing the video, we are told last night, and finding it very disturbing.
He says, quote, in part of his statement, "I have seen the footage and I find the behavior depicted in it utterly deplorable. I condemn it in the strongest possible terms. This conduct is entirely inappropriate from members of the United States military and does not reflect the standards or values our armed forces are sworn to uphold.
"There will now be a criminal investigation by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, the NCIS officials, with the International Security Force in Afghanistan. Also we'll conduct an investigation."
The reality is they do believe this video is accurate, legitimate, that it does show what it purports to show. In fact, they believe it most likely comes from a unit that served in Afghanistan last year and is now home. They are likely to be able to hone in on this very quickly, figure out who these Marines are, and they could -- they could now face charges -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Following the investigation, Barbara Starr from the Pentagon, thanks.
Now let's get to the outrage over nearly 200 pardoned prisoners, the ones who are still behind bars will actually stay there, at least for now. And a judge has put a hold on the releases. But many of the convicts are already out. The injunction's in response to a move made by former Governor Haley Barbour, who pardoned 199 convicts on his way out the door, including 14 murderers.
State's attorney general compares to something out of "Dukes of Hazzard."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MISSISSIPPI ATTORNEY GENERAL JIM HOOD: Former Governor Barbour, he kind of ran the state and the governor's office like Boss Hog. I mean, he didn't follow the law. This is a very simple constitutional provision.
And Governor Barbour just didn't even follow it. I mean, it was very clear that he had to have this information. He didn't obtain it before he signed these pardons. And now it's caused, well, probably safety issues. These families are afraid out here. And these victims have been through a terrible amount.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Ed Lavandera is live in Dallas. So, Ed, what's the constitutional issue here, and does Haley Barbour give any explanation?
ED LAVANDERA, CNN REPORTER: Well, what Attorney General Hood is arguing is that time any inmate is up for a pardon, that they must announce that publicly 30 days in advance. That can be done through a newspaper ad in the community where the crimes happened. Attorney General Hood is saying, in the vast majority if not all of these cases, that did not happen.
So that's what they're arguing. And that was good enough for a judge to issue a temporary injunction. So everything has kind of slowed down. I believe that there are five inmates who had already been released. They must check in with prison officials every day, and everything else is on -- has been halted for the time being.
There's a hearing coming up on January 23rd, where we'll hear more arguments in this case. But we have finally heard, Kyra, from Governor Haley Barbour. He issued a lengthy statement last night. It said, in part, approximately 90 percent of these individuals were no longer in custody. And a majority of them had been out for years.
The pardons were intended to allow them to find gainful employment. Half of the people who were incarcerated or released were placed on indefinite suspension due to medical reasons because their health care expenses while incarcerated were costing the state so much money. They are not threats to society.
And he also went on to say at one point that he wanted them to be able to get gainful employment and get professional licenses as well that would allow to hunt and vote. You can imagine that that last part of that comment has not gone over well in many parts of the state, Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right. Ed Lavandera, thanks so much.
Well, the battle is on for South Carolina as the clock ticks down to the January 21st primary. This hour, Rick Santorum, meeting with voters at a faith, family and freedom town hall in Bluffton. He's sitting in second place with 19 percent of the vote, according to the latest CNN-Time-ORC poll.
And frontrunner Mitt Romney still under attack from the Right for his record at Bain Capital. Take a listen to Sarah Palin calling for more transparency.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SARAH PALIN, (R), FORMER VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Governor Romney has claimed to have created 100,000 jobs at Bain, and, you know, people are wanting to know, is there proof of that claim? And was it U.S. jobs created for United States citizens? That's not negative campaigning. That's fair to get a candidate to be held accountable to what's being claimed.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: CNN political editor, Paul Steinhauser live in Washington -- so we just heard from Romney last hour. How is he defending himself?
CNN political editor, Paul Steinhauser: He is defending himself and his record. And as you said, Kyra, we've heard this for five days now, Romney coming under attack. Listen, as he runs for president, his main selling point, I'm a businessman. I know how to create jobs. I can do a better job at it than the current person in the White House, President Obama.
Palin's comments are interesting. Listen, she'd thought about flirting with running for the White House. But she decided at the end not to. She's still very influential with a lot of conservatives. Romney, a little while ago, about an hour ago, in Greer, South Carolina, defending his record. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FORMER GOV. MITT ROMNEY, R-MASS., PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: It's pretty straightforward. Just look at those companies I mentioned. Staples, Bright Horizons, let's see, Steel Dynamics and the Sports Authority. And you can go on the websites. You can see they're well over 100,000.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
STEINHAUSER: Romney, of course, talking about his time at Bain Capital. That's the private equity firm he headed in the 1980s and 1990s.
You know, some of the other presidential GOP candidates have been going after him (inaudible) on this, but they've been laying off him the last day or two after pushback, Kyra, from a lot of conservative groups who are saying, hey, knock it off. You're playing into the Democrats' hands.
PHILLIPS: Now, Newt Gingrich is comparing the South Carolina race to the end of days. We heard the Armageddon bite. Here's what he told our Piers Morgan. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FORMER REP. NEWT GINGRICH, R-GA., PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: This is going to be Armageddon. I mean, they will come in here with everything they've got, every surrogate, every ad, every negative attack.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Paul, Armageddon? That's quite a battle.
STEINHAUSER: Yes, maybe he's blowing it up a little too much. But seriously, listen, we know South Carolina, a lot of politics can be rough-and-tumble.
Hey, that super PAC, that independent group that's backing Mitt Romney, Restore Our Future, they're up this morning with new ads in South Carolina that go after Gingrich, that criticize Gingrich for some of his past actions. And that group says they're going to spend a couple million dollars, about $2.5 million in South Carolina on these ads. You can see that new one on TV there.
Gingrich's super PAC as well -- the independent group backing Gingrich, up with ads. And Rick Santorum's super PAC up with ads as well. Kyra, it is hot and heated in South Carolina. It 's only get more so in the next nine days.
PHILLIPS: Oh, yes, Paul Steinhauser, thanks. And we'll going to get more coverage out of the South Carolina primary throughout the day. And a reminder for all the latest political news, you can always go to our website, cnnpolitics.com.
Well, a French journalist is struck by a mortar and killed while covering a pro-government rally. Now the Syrian opposition is blaming security forces for the death. CNN's Zain Verjee is in London. What do you know, Zain?
ZAIN VERJEE, CNN REPORTER: Hi, Kyra. What this major Syrian opposition group is saying about the killing of the French journalist is that basically shows that the regime of Bashar al-Assad is trying to intimidate the media. The same group is calling for an independent probe into the journalist's killing.
Let me just show you some of the newspaper headlines around the world. "The National" has this headline, and it really slams the Arab League, saying essentially that they're useless.
It says, "When lost, continue walking around in circles. That's the motto of the Arab League in dealing with the crisis in Syria. There is no Arab momentum to side with the Syrian population against their leaders.
The "International Herald Tribune," their headline, Assad appears in public addressing rally. It says, "Mr. Assad has not deviated from the notion that he remains popular. A victim of a conspiracy financed by outsiders offering the same kind of logic that was heard in Libya and Egypt before uprisings brought down long-time autocrats."
Finally "The Globe and Mail," its headline, Kyra, "A Dangerous Delusion." It says "The Arab League's halfhearted attempt to monitor the conflict in Syria has evidently encouraged President Bashar al- Assad to threaten to govern with an iron fist."
Many people in the region, Kyra, as well as in the United States among senior officials, the State Department and in other diplomatic circles saying that the Arab League is essentially ineffective here -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Zain Verjee from London. Zain, thanks.
Well, a group of evangelical leaders will meet in Texas tomorrow. They'll probably talk about picking one GOP candidate and sticking with him. So why can't it be this guy? Coming up, we're going to talk to one influential pastor who will be at that meeting.
And glass from a high-rise building in Sacramento crashing to the sidewalk, workers say it's not the first time. We'll go cross-country after break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Let's go cross-country for stories you may have missed. Starting in Pittsburgh, Penn State alumni venting their frustration over the school's handling of the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How could the board have not had a crisis plan?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The bond between the administration and the board has sometimes been too close.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I was disgusted at the lack of response from the university.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: University President Rodney Erickson told the alums that they need to remind people about the positive aspects of a Penn State education.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Protesters angrily are reacting the to the Tucson school board's vote to suspend the Mexican-American studies department. A judge had said the program violated a new state law, and the state had threatened to withhold $15 million in annual aid.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) (END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: And some glass falling from a building in Sacramento, smashing on the sidewalk. Nobody was hurt, but people who work in that building say glass also fell from it seven years ago. They're investigating.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Well, as many as 150 evangelical leaders meet tomorrow in Texas. They're going to talk about picking one Republican candidate that they all can support. But there's word out there that this is actually a scramble to stop Mitt Romney.
After Jim Garlow of Skyline Church, La Mesa, California, will actually be at the meeting. Dr. Garlow, good to see you. You actually told me earlier that you don't know if this meeting is actually about stopping Romney. But you can talk to me about what you think about him first. Does Romney's Mormon faith bother you like other evangelical leaders?
JIM GARLOW, PASTOR, SKYLINE CHURCH: I think the real issue is not necessarily his Mormon faith. I think it's a concern whether or not he's trustworthy on the foundational issues. Evangelicals are painted oftentimes as single-issue people on the abortion issue. We're much more than that, much more than just the definition of marriage.
We also care about the economic issues and we care about Biblical imperatives. And I personally see Romney as very untrustworthy at this point.
PHILLIPS: What is it you don't trust?
GARLOW: I don't know where he stands on the foundational issue, the issue of life. I don't know that he's really pro-life. He says that he is now. I don't know that his support for traditional marriage is rock solid at all.
And I'm concerned that, on the economic issues, you know, there's a principle, thou shall not steal from future generations, if I can paraphrase a part of Scripture. I'm not concerned -- I'm quite concerned that he actually is not one of us in that arena.
PHILLIPS: Do you think he made his money --
(CROSSTALK)
GARLOW: -- (inaudible) trying to keep this nation --
PHILLIPS: Let me ask you: do you think he made his money in an immoral way?
GARLOW: Well, that I cannot comment on. I really don't know for sure. I do believe that capitalism is lifted up by Scripture as long as it has the parameters of the Judeo-Christian values of serving one another. I have no expertise on commenting on how he achieved his particular funds.
But I just do not think he's a trustworthy candidate in the contrast. That's why, for example, I'm for Newt Gingrich and abashedly so, because I believe he does stand right on those issues.
PHILLIPS: Well, let's listen to what Mitt Romney had to say when he defended his career at Bain Capital. This was actually from a campaign stop today in Greer, South Carolina.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROMNEY: I think any time a job is lost it's a tragedy, for the family, for the individual that loses a job. It's just devastating. And every time that we invested in a business it was try to encourage that business to have ongoing life.
The idea of making a short-term profit actually doesn't really exist in business, because nobody wants to buy something or buy stock in a company that's just going to be a short-term success. You want it to be long-term.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Now that happened just this morning when he was -- or asked about his career at Bain. What is your reaction to that?
GARLOW: I can't comment intelligently about Romney and Bain. I wish I could. I cannot. But my concern has to do with the overarching issues, what I would call Biblical imperatives. And I don't believe he stands on the Scripture on this issue.
Some raise the question, well, what about him being a Mormon? I wish he was a much better Mormon and would follow fundamental Mormon theology on some of those issues as it relates to the defense of life and to defense of the traditional definition of marriage.
PHILLIPS: Well, let me ask you, then, you bring up the Scripture aspect. So where is it within Scripture that doesn't match with his life, with regard to dealing with money? What is that you are not comfortable with? What doesn't mesh for you?
GARLOW: Well, I would -- I'd broaden the category.
I would start with the issue of the sanctity of life, that the Scripture is very clear on that one, and he's been a pro-abortion governor in the state of Massachusetts, even writing into RomneyCare the issue of support of Planned Parenthood, which is responsible for the major number of abortions, of tearing up babies in the womb of their mothers in this nation.
And the second factor I would come to is the issue of the definition of marriage. The Scriptures are very, very clear. The Bible begins with the issue of a marriage, and it ends with the issue of a wedding. And Revelation, Genesis to Revelation, it's one man, one woman. And Romney has not stood consistently for that through the years.
He says he's there now. I don't know whether that's the case. His record as governor does not bear that out.
PHILLIPS: Do you think he's reached out to evangelicals?
GARLOW: Not that I'm aware of. If he has, I have not heard about it.
PHILLIPS: What would you want from him, and could he change your mind in any way? What would you need to hear from him?
GARLOW: Well, I'm parked, as I said earlier, on supporting Newt Gingrich, because I think he brings to the table those issues that are cardinal to me as a follower of Jesus Christ, including the issue of economic issues. And he stands for life. He stands for marriage.
So I'm not looking to support Romney. I've decided who I'm supporting at this time and am staying there. I believe that Newt Gingrich offers a little bit of a Winston Churchillian fortitude in the midst of a very perilous time our nation is in.
I'm happy if Romney wants to reach out to evangelicals. He has every right to do so. I'm supporting Newt Gingrich and remain there at the present time. And we have other good evangelical candidates as well.
PHILLIPS: Well, we're interested to see what happens at this meeting on Friday. Dr. Jim Garlow, thank you for your time.
GARLOW: Thank you. Good being with you.
PHILLIPS: Pleasure. Still ahead, a shadowy group in posting the personal information of police officers online for one specific reason.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hopefully you'll think twice before he pulls out his baton against somebody who is holding a sign saying we just want peace.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Well, they consider themselves the Air Force of the Occupy movement. Just who are these hackers?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Well, you've heard of the hacker group that calls its Anonymous. They're hacking activists -- Wall Street Occupiers, they love them. Corporate security hates them and the FBI is tracking them down. Just so who are these people? CNN has taken an in-depth look at the group. Here's CNN's Amber Lyon. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey, back up, back up, back up.
AMBER LYON, CNN REPORTER (voice-over): It's a dark and disturbing vision, a world where riot police attack with impunity.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What happened? What happened?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He got shot!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Get back. Get back.
LYON (voice-over): Where democracy is corrupted by greed, and defense is crushed. That's how Anonymous sees America. And they say that's why they're fighting back.
ANONYMOUS: We are legion. We do not forgive. We do not forget.
LYON (voice-over): Troy, not his real name, is one of them. We met him at the Occupy Wall Street camp at Zuccotti Park.
"TROY": There's no specific person that talks through us. It's more like a hive, you know, an idea is brought up and whoever agrees with it, if the overwhelming majority of people that agree with it, then we go with it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are anonymous.
LYON (voice-over): Anonymous likens itself to the Air Force of the Occupy movement.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Everyone, everywhere will be occupying their towns, their capitals and other public spaces.
LYON (voice-over): When they see evidence of what they believe is police misbehavior, Anonymous strikes back, releasing personal information about specific officers.
"TROY": Hopefully he'll think twice before he pulls out his baton against somebody who's holding a sign, saying we just want peace.
LYON: And how are they getting the telephone numbers and personal information of these officers or bankers?
"TROY": I'd rather not say.
LYON (voice-over): The Department of Homeland Security has put out several alerts to law enforcement and corporate security, focused mainly on the group's hacking activities. And the FBI has made more than a dozen arrests.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We are living in a police state with --
LYON (voice-over): But there's no indication that has cramped Anonymous' style.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all on Planet Earth.
LYON (voice-over): On Christmas Day, members crashed the website of a security research company, hacking its client list along with their credit card numbers in order to steal $1 million for donations to charity.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are Anonymous. Expect us.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Amber Lyon, joining me now from Los Angeles. So, Amber, what is Anonymous' final goal? Why are they so involved with the Occupy movement?
LYON: Well, Kyra, I can't speak for the entire collective, but I can speak for a couple Anons we spoke with.
And they say that their ultimate goal as they did in the Middle East is to really galvanize the movement, the Occupy movement, here in the U.S., and to, for some Anons, they want to see an all-out revolution here in the United States. And they say that they will use their power online and their power to kind of embarrass their critics, as we've seen in the past, to make this succeed.
Also, their goal is to protect the human rights of these protesters against what they believe is -- are cases of police brutality, Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Well, and Anonymous has been posting the personal information of these police officers that they believe mistreated these protesters online. Have police taken any legal action?
LYON: Well, we were hard pressed in this piece, Kyra. It shows the amount of fear against this group. We were hard pressed to find any law enforcement, whether it be local or federal, to speak with us on camera about Anonymous. They said they feared that their officer or representative would then be kind of -- become a victim of the group.
So we weren't able to get necessarily that side of the story as much as we would have wanted to. But I spent a lot of nights out on the streets and Zuccotti Park in New York City.
And you could really feel the tension between the Anons and the police department as the police knew they were being monitored by this group, and that if they did anything the group thought was against what they believed were protecting the human rights of the protesters, their information could be released.
PHILLIPS: Amber, thanks. And don't miss Amber's revealing look inside the secret world of Anonymous. Her complete report airs on "CNN PRESENTS" Saturday night at 8:00 pm Eastern, right here on CNN. Well, Casey Anthony is back in the headlines. Just days ago, she surfaced on the Web in a video diary talking about her life and keeping her whereabouts a secret. Well, now new, shocking details are released. Psychiatric notes claiming that Anthony was drugged and raped while unconscious during a party -- a date rape, she says -- that may have left her pregnant with Caylee.
Joining me once again live from New York, our Ashleigh Banfield.
So, Ashleigh, you just got off the phone with your sources in the prosecutor's office. Did they tell you why that these psychiatric reports never surfaced in court?
ASHLEIGH BANFIELD, ANCHOR, "EARLY START": Yes, and I actually have some very interesting information. Those psychiatric reports came in two different batches. Number one was the competency hearing. That's ordered by the court. So both sides should have access to that.
Number two, Jose Baez, who was the attorney for Casey Anthony, actually ended up hiring those two psychiatrists and then having them depose Casey. And all of that material ended up in those reports. Her defense could have put that out there.
And the conventional wisdom here is that they did that so that they could get this really awful story that Casey had about being a victim herself, and that's why she lied for those 31 days where we thought that the little girl was missing. They needed to explain that some way. But they didn't want to put her on the stand.
So if you have the psychiatrists get up on the stand and say all of these things about her terrible -- alleged terrible lifestyle at home and when she was a child, that would do it for them.
But the idea here is the stories are so crazy, and they're so overboard and they're also somewhat contradictory, that there was no way they could do this. There was no way they could get those reports into court without the jury saying, are you kidding me? And going right over the top.
And then the other thing is, there really wasn't a logistic way, a legal way, that Casey's defense attorney could put those doctors up on the stand and ask them questions about those depositions, because it would be hearsay if their client, Casey, didn't take the stand herself. So they were kind of caught between a rock and a hard place.
And then, of course, the prosecutors, who would loved to have that stuff out there, they couldn't do it, either, because Casey didn't take the stand. Had she taken the stand, all of that stuff would have been fair game.
And by the way, as you were mentioning, Kyra, you know, coming into me, that one of the really shocking allegations is that she said she was date raped and that's how she got pregnant with Casey, because heretofore she had said she didn't know who the dad was. She also alleges to these doctors that she thinks her father just outright killed little Caylee, drowned her in the pool, because she also alleges probably to cover up for some kind of a sexual molestation that her father was perpetrating on that little girl. So just really fantastic allegations being made.
PHILLIPS: Ashleigh Banfield out of New York for us, Ashleigh, thanks.
And Newt Gingrich's positive campaign is a distant memory now. He's not just going after Mitt Romney in South Carolina, he's going after Mutt Romney, too. Yes, the family dog. Is that fair to do? It is fair to Fido? Our political buzz weighs in.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Checking "Top Stories" now Defense Secretary Leon Panetta condemning a shocking video that's stirring outrage around the world. He calls it, "utterly deplorable". The video seems to show a Marine sniper team urinating on Taliban corpses in Afghanistan. It isn't clear who shot or posted this 39-second video, but the military says it wants to find out.
And a judge has issued a temporary injunction, stopping the release of anymore prisoners pardoned by outgoing Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour. The state's attorney general says Barbour violated the state Constitution when he pardoned close to 200 criminals, including 14 convicted killers. Four of them are already free.
And good numbers out today from the housing market, but it isn't necessarily good news. Foreclosure filings and repossessions are at their lowest levels since 2007. But it might only be because of bank processing delays.
All right, "Political Buzz", your rapid fire look at the best political topics of the day. Three questions, 30 seconds on the clock. And playing today: Democratic strategist Robert Zimmerman; founder and editor of Citizen Jane Politics; Patricia Murphy and CNN contributor Will Cain.
First question guys, the attack ads getting vicious in South Carolina. Not even the family pet is safe. Here's Newt Gingrich, a Web video. Targeting Romney -- Romney rather for putting his dog in the crate on top of the car for a 12-hour road trip.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MITT ROMNEY (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We love the dog. It was where he was comfortable. We had five kids inside the car. And my guess is he liked it a lot better in his kennel than he would have like it inside.
Who let the dogs out? Who? Who?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: All right. Low blow or an indication of what's ahead? Robert?
ROBERT ZIMMERMAN, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: Yes on both counts. I'm not -- I'm not sure I trust Newt Gingrich with the family pet quite frankly. But I don't believe Mitt Romney hates his family dog or -- and I think is there are so many more important issues to focus on.
For example, when he was Governor of Massachusetts, fast taping 47th in job growth, his notion of outsourcing jobs overseas to create economic development. Advocating and deporting 11 million undocumented workers, ending Medicare for future recipients. Those are the substantive issues I think really count that the American people have the right to a debate about.
PHILLIPS: Will?
WILL CAIN, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: You know Kyra, I've kind of made a bad habit of surrounding myself with liberal friends like Robert and Roland Martin and so when you ask me is this foreshadowing, I can say with some confidence that it is. I might have heard some of these arguments before. Not from you Robert. But I might have heard some of these points made before about corporate personhood. These -- these are all in the (INAUDIBLE) Newt Gingrich.
In fact, it sounds like such an attack from the left. Sometimes I wonder maybe Newt is doing this for Mitt. Maybe he's getting it right out of the way. Maybe it's so good he's doing it for them now.
Look, one more point am I never in pursuit to pander to the audience and get a lot of fans out there? I recognize the place that dogs have in our society but let's point out we put horses in trailers. Maybe Mitt doesn't see the distinction.
PHILLIPS: Patricia?
PATRICIA MURPHY, FOUNDER/EDITOR, CITIZEN JANE POLITICS: I have a lot of horses in my background. A trailer is different than a crane on top of a 70 miles an hour car. Yes, it's very different.
Anyway, reporters have been wondering who would stoop low enough to bring Shamus, the family dog, into this campaign. And of course, it was Newt Gingrich and of course it is in South Carolina. But it tells us as much about Mitt Romney as it does about Newt Gingrich. There's an ongoing story line that Newt Gingrich no longer wants to be president. He just wants to make sure Mitt Romney is not president. He's willing to do anything to make that happen. I -- if I were Newt Gingrich he needs to be striding very carefully here.
PHILLIPS: Conan O'Brien lampooned Ron Paul after his strong New Hampshire showing. Take a listen.
CONAN O'BRIEN, TALK SHOW HOST: Last night's New Hampshire primary was how well Ron Paul did. He did so well, yes a big surprise. He gave a speech afterwards. In Ron Paul's speech last night, did you see this, he described himself to the crowd as dangerous. One of his handlers fed him some warm milk through an eyedropper and he fell asleep in a shoe box.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: All right. All jokes aside. In this race, who is Ron Paul most dangerous to? Will?
CAIN: You know what it's a -- a little bit political insider here, but I think the answer to that is Jon Huntsman. Many people don't realize is -- but Jon Huntsman has a pretty strong libertarian streak running through his policies, from breaking up the banks because they're not free market institutions to embracing civil unions.
I think if Ron Paul jumped out of the race and people recognized this about Jon Huntsman's policies. Some of that support should -- will lead all with him. Would it, I don't know but I think that you could say, he's most dangerous to Jon Huntsman.
PHILLIPS: Robert?
ZIMMERMAN: Ron Paul is most dangerous to the Republican Party in the general election. He could demand a role in the convention where he would articulate his views about Iran -- his support of Iran having a nuclear bomb as tolerance of it. His advocacy against foreign aids to countries like Israel.
He could certainly play a role as a third party candidate, which clearly hurt the Republican field. Or he could do nothing and his supporters could stay home. Ultimately Ron Paul represents the extremism that is undermining the Republican Party.
PHILLIPS: Patricia?
MURPHY: I partially agree with Robert. That Ron Paul is dangerous to the Republican establishment. He has a ton of money and he has a group of supporter who are going to vote for nobody but Ron Paul. Millions and millions of voters who he can say vote for me or vote for nobody. If he runs as a third party candidate, that will absolutely hurt the Republican running in the race, it could absolutely take down the Republican running against Barack Obama.
So Ron Paul is making a lot of demands on the Republican Party, wants to see changes in the platform, wants to see the Fed audited, wants to return of the gold standard. If he doesn't get what he wants, he could take the Republican Party down in 2012.
PHILLIPS: You're "Buzzer Beater" now 20 seconds each on this one. Newt Gingrich on the wave of attacks coming in, in South Carolina.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NEWT GINGRICH (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: This is going to be Armageddon. I mean they will come in here with everything they've got, every surrogate, every ad, every negative attack.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: All right so if South Carolina primary. There was a biblical story of some sort, what would it be? Robert?
ZIMMERMAN: Kyra, the last thing we need is injecting religion -- more religious discussion into politics, or using the Bible as a political prop. So I think the issue here, especially with Newt Gingrich, who represents the seven deadly sins, the issue here with Newt Gingrich is not that this primary is Armageddon. This primary represents political global warming. And like the real global warming human beings are creating it.
PHILLIPS: Will?
CAIN: Robert said we're not going to inject the Bible into it. And then he did. The seven deadly sins. I don't know about a biblical metaphor. But I will kind of go with a politically incorrect religious metaphor. There are groups of people out there who look to take down other people regardless of the consequences and whoever else it takes down including themselves. This looks like that to me.
Newt Gingrich is going to take down Mitt Romney or do the best he can even if it means the end of his own career.
PHILLIPS: Patricia?
MURPHY: I will do a biblical metaphor. Yes I'm going to get along with it.
PHILLIPS: She's going for it.
MURPHY: I'm going to go for it. This -- South Carolina is usually the Exodus for Republicans. They spend a lot of time wondering in the desert looking for their candidate. Hurting themselves; South Carolina picks the president, or at least picks their nominee for the Republicans every time since 1980. They should be able to do it again, they'll get out of the desert with their nominee chosen.
PHILLIPS: Oh Patricia has been reading the Bible.
MURPHY: I like to do it.
PHILLIPS: Will and Robert. Thanks guys.
All right, after a 50-year break William Shatner is making the trek back to Broadway.
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PHILLIPS: All right. Well, it looks like viewers want to be part of Oprah Winfrey's next chapter. They actually made her new cable show a hit.
"SHOWBIZ TONIGHT's" A.J. Hammer here to explain from New York. So A.J. have you watched the show? A.J. HAMMER, HLN HOST, "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT": I have. I actually caught the first two episodes. I just saw them both last night with Steven Tyler and the Osteen episode. Both are really terrific. And really not a huge surprise the show did so well Kyra.
Just over 1.5 million people tuned in to see Oprah with the Osteens on, the second episode which aired on Sunday, the network's biggest rating since the launch last year. And look while she certainly has a terrific cast of personalities on her network, they haven't been getting big ratings. You put Oprah, and the audience will come.
Get her on the network and there they are. And I'm sure while it probably wasn't a huge surprise to anyone over there that the show did so well, they are probably breathing a sigh of relief over at the Oprah Winfrey Network, right now. They've had a tough year finding an audience.
Perhaps now they're going to have a solid foundation to work from with viewers showing up for Oprah's next chapter.
And as I said Kyra, there's really some terrific programming on that channel. As we know, it's really tough to launch a new network when you have so many choices out there these days.
PHILLIPS: All right. Well, here's a choice that you want to make. He's got to be one of the funniest guys I've ever met. William Shatner, now he's coming to Broadway.
HAMMER: Yes. Count me in on this one. Shatner's actually coming back to Broadway, by the way Kyra. You know, before he was Captain Kirk -- you know this -- he was a Broadway actor. He appeared in several plays. Although he hasn't been on the Great White Way since 1962. So he's doing this new one-man show. It's going to be called, "Shatner's World, We Just Live in It", which as we all know is true.
A press release for the show went out. And it said it's going to offer Shatner stories about his journey from Shakespearean stage actor to internationally known icon and raconteur.
Now Shatner released his own statement. He says his plan has always been to return to Broadway every 50 years. He added, "I can't ask my fans to wait for me longer than Haley's Comet, so I'm coming back. Now, the show's going to open up on February 16th. It's only scheduled to run until March 4th.
But again according to Shatner's own words. If you miss it, he'll be back, Kyra, in another 50 years.
PHILLIPS: He just keeps coming back. I think that guy is just going to stay the same age for eternity.
HAMMER: Yes. Well, remember he's lived for generations, at least what we've seen of him on various television programs and movies. PHILLIPS: Thanks A.J.
Coming up tomorrow, Oprah is actually going to talk to us about her school's first graduating class. 72 students in her leadership academy for girls in South Africa are going to college. Keep it here for our one on one.
Also ahead, the tax man catching more mistakes on our returns. We're going to look at why and whether it can actually work to your advantage.
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PHILLIPS: Alison Kosik at the New York Stock Exchange. The IRS is finding more of the boo-boos, shall we say, we make on our tax returns. Is that a good thing or a bad thing?
ALISON KOSIK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You know what; sometimes it actually works in your favor. But when it doesn't, forget it. It can be one big headache to clean up all that mess.
But what's happening here is that the IRS is actually finding more mistakes because it's relying more on automated systems. In fact, look at 2010. The IRS flagged almost 11 million math and clerical errors. That's up from just 4 million in 2005.
Of course, it's great if the mistake, of course, means you get more money back. That was actually the case in 2010 with many of the errors that were found. If you think the return was right, take a deep breath, count to ten because I'll tell you fight these automated systems can be frustrating. It could be time consuming. And most likely means your refund is going to be delayed and possibly less than what you were expecting -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right. Before you go, let's talk about what is happening with the market.
KOSIK: Markets are lower right now. The Dow is down 59 points. You know just as for at least one day, investors are less worried about Europe. Now we get some disappointing economic reports about the U.S.
December's retail sales, a gauge of the all important holiday season. They didn't rise much at all. That's partly because stores did so much discounting which hurt the total sales numbers. And also more Americans filed those first time jobless claims last week. They rose by 24,000. Some of that is because the temporary workers no longer have those jobs and they're coming back on the unemployment roll.
Bit disappointment for Wall Street today, once again the Dow down 60 points -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right. Alison, thanks. Well the listeria outbreak that killed 30 people last year could have been avoided if safety measures had been enforced. That's the conclusion of a congressional committee looking into the outbreak among cantaloupes.
The panel says that Jensen farms in Colorado ignored several federal safety guidelines. But it says a company that carried out an inspection before the outbreak gave the farm near perfect safety marks.
South Carolina residents are under siege in their homes, their cars, everywhere.
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RON PAUL (R), PRESIDENTIAL DANDIDATE: From a jobs economic growth plan.
It's the attack of the political ads. Candidates reaching out, voters pushing back. That's next.
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PHILLIPS: While the Republicans are fighting for the nomination, the President is raking in the money. Paul Steinhauser here to talk about how much money we're talking about. Paul?
STEINHAUSER: Well, we may have records. Again, remember our last time around the president. He was then Senator Obama raised a record $750 million. Well, maybe he'll do more this time.
Look at this. Kyra these are brand new numbers out from for the Obama re-election team in Chicago. For the fourth quarter. That's October, November, December. Re-election team raised $42 million. And the Democratic National Committee has added $24 million. They were trying to raise -- the goal was $60 million. So they beat that. If you add it all together, since they started the re-elect back in April last year, over $200 million.
Kyra, the President himself last night was helping in the cause. He was at fund-raisers in Chicago; he had three of them in Chicago last night. Three fund raisers for him. Of course, the money raised there now goes towards the first quarter of this year.
Kyra, this is way ahead of what the Republicans are raising. But remember right now they're battling each other for the nomination. And of course, factor in all those third party groups. Those super Packs, and all that. We're talking about a lot money. going to be spent in the 2012 election.
PHILLIPS: Well, Some people say that Romney may run away with it. But aren't we far, far away from anyone getting enough delegates to win the nomination?
STEINHAUSER: Well, he's definitely got the momentum right now. But look at this. Here is where the delicate count stands right now. After Iowa and after New Hampshire and You can see right here. Mitt Romney on top with 25 delegates.
Ron Paul, who's ahead of everybody else in single digits. Look at the top though, 1, 144 delegates are needed to clinch the GOP nomination. Kyra I know Mitt Romney has the momentum right now going into South Carolina, but we're a long way away from anybody clinching this nomination, Kyra.
Karl: Paul Steinhauser, thanks so much. We just can't escape political ads in South Carolina right now. Most voters have a message for the campaigns. "These ads are not helping your candidate." Tom Foreman is taking a closer look.
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TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: South Carolina is under attack.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. Working together.
FOREMAN: Campaign ads from Republican contenders are being fired around the clock now.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's a moral imperative.
FOREMAN: All aimed squarely at undecided voters like Cam Spencer in Charleston.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank goodness for the mute button.
FOREMAN: And it's not just the TV. She starts receiving robo calls before she can even make her morning coffee.
CAM SPENCER, SOUTH CAROLINA REPUBLICAN VOTER: It's 8:30. Than it is in.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I have a jobs and economic growth plan.
SPENCER: I don't feel like it's more than it is in '08. Or in '10.
FOREMAN: Yes, but it's still not down to the wire.
SPENCER: Well, that's true too. I hate to tell you what once we do get down to the wire.
FOREMAN: Already she and many others here are finding the onslaught almost inescapable. During her commute to work as a medical researcher, the radio rattles with more. There are also print ads, e mails, flyers, yard signs. By lunchtime she's already had her fill.
Between the ads that you see on TV and hear on the radio and read and get in e-mails. How many are you getting a day?
SPENCER: At least 20 or more.
FOREMAN: What do you expect next week?
SPENCER: Double that.
FOREMAN: Really.
SPENCER: At least.
FOREMAN: Will any of these change your mind?
SPENCER: No.
FOREMAN: None?
SPENCER: None of the ads.
FOREMAN: Are they wasting your money?
SPENCER: Yes, I believe they are.
FOREMAN: She may be onto something. This focus group of undecided voters organized by CNN and Southern Methodist University. Watched several ads. Liked some. Disliked others. But generally agreed voters are being hit with way too many.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're seeing a very increase and ads on YouTube.
As a matter of fact, I changed the channel three times. There were different ads but all political. On every channel.
FOREMAN: At the same time.
Do all the ads make a difference to you?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Actually they don't make a difference to me. They somewhat annoy me. Cam Spencer is still making up her mind who to vote for but of one thing she is certain.
FORMER: Are you tired of the ads, yet.
SPENCER: I've been tired of the ads.
But she knows from sun up to sun down until primary day it will only get worse. Tom Foreman, CNN, Charleston, South Carolina.
We're going to have political updates all day long. And a reminder for all the latest political news, go to our Web site, cnn.politics.com
So does your bottom line need a boost. Want to know what you can do to improve your financial situation. Next hour CNN NEWSROOM" personal financial expert Suze Orman will answer be answering your money questions. There's two ways you can send your questions to Suzanne Malveaux to ask. You can post them on facebook.com/suzannecnn or tweet them at suzannemalveaux.
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PHILLIPS: Well, time now to fast forward events happening later today. At 2:00 Eastern, Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig goes in front of the camera. He's expected to announce a two-year extension that will keep him in charge through 2014 in Alabama.
At 2:30 Eastern, a judge will hear a request to declare Natalee Holloway dead. She vanished in Aruba in 2005.
And 5:30 Eastern. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta visits Ft. Bliss for a town hall meeting. The focus will be on future challenges based by soldiers, family members and civilian workers.
That does it for us. We'll be back here bright and early tomorrow morning. Suzanne Malveaux takes it from here. Good morning.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning will it lead to good afternoon.
Yes, we've been talking to Suze Orman about finances. Which way to go -- one of our favorite folks here.
Hey, in rough times we could use that advice, that's for sure.
PHILLIPS: I can use it.
