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Romney Courts Hispanic Voters; Obama At Univision Forum Today; Official: Terrorists Attacked U.S. Consulate; Holder Cleared In "Fast And Furious" Report; More May Pay Obamacare Penalty; Colorado Shooting Suspect Back In Court; More Job Cuts For Bank Of America; NHL Cancels Some Preseason Games; "This Campaign is About the 100 Percent"; Joel Osteen on Homosexuality; Amanda Knox's Ex-Boyfriend Speaks Out; iPhone 5 Goes on Sale Tomorrow

Aired September 20, 2012 - 10:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Apple's newest smartphone goes on sale tomorrow, but the iPhone 5 may not be generating the buzz previous phones received. So why are people not showing the iPhone 5 lots and lots of love? NEWSROOM starts now.

Good morning. I'm Carol Costello. Thank you so much for joining us this morning. We begin with Mitt Romney, reaching out to Latino voters and trying to get past those secretly recorded comments.

Remember, Romney dismissing 47 percent of Americans as being dependent on government handouts. Well, Romney is now pitching new numbers. Listen to his appearance last night on Univision, the Spanish language network.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MITT ROMNEY (R), PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: This is the campaign about the 100 percent. And over the last several years, you've seen greater and greater divisiveness in this country. We had hoped to come back together, but instead you've seen us pull apart and politics has driven us apart in some respects. So my campaign is about the 100 percent in America and I'm concerned about them.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Rafael Romo is CNN's senior Latin American affairs editor. Thanks for being with us. So Romney has been on sort of a tear, appearing before many different Latino groups. Can he make up what he needs to, though? I mean, President Obama leads Latinos by, what, 68 percent?

RAFAEL ROMO, CNN SENIOR LATIN AMERICAN AFFAIRS EDITOR: It's 66 percent, 67 percent. That's the percentage that went into 2008. But the reality is that Mitt Romney is facing an uphill battle.

Some of the comments that he made during the primary season, regarding, for example, self-deportation, which essentially means that the life becomes so miserable for Latino immigrants in the United States that they have no other option but to go back to their country. Those are the comments he made in the primary season and alienated a large number of Latino voters. But last night at the forum hosted by Univision, the number one Spanish language TV network in the United States, he had a golden opportunity to address those concerns.

And I'm not sure that he did it. Let's listen to how he answered the question as to what are you're going to do with 11 million undocumented immigrants in this country.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ROMNEY: We're not going to round up people around the country and deport them. I said during my primary campaign time and again, we're not going to round up 12 million people, that includes the kids and the parents and have everyone deported.

Our system isn't to deport people. We need to provide a long-term solution. I described the fact that I would be in support of a program that said that people who served in our military could be permanent residents of the United States.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMO: Now, Carol, another golden opportunity that he missed was he failed to address the question as to what is he going to do with the children of immigrants, the young children of immigrants who are here in this country and who are going to be -- their deportations are going to be deferred on the Obama program.

He didn't really answer that question. That would have scored him some points in this category. But as you know, his father George was born in Mexico, in the state of Chihuahua in the last century and he migrated to the United States when he was 5 or 6.

And so a funny moment during the forum, one of the anchors asked him whether he considers himself Latino by virtue of his father being born in Mexico and this is what he answered.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Are you sure you're not Hispanic?

ROMNEY: I think for political purposes, that might have helped me here at the University of Miami today. But truth is, as you know, my dad was born of American parents living Mexico. But he came back to this country at age 5 or 6 and was helped to get on his feet and recognize this was the land of opportunity.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMO: This is a question we've been talking about in the Hispanic community. Some advertising experts have told me that he probably should have taken advantage of the fact that his father was born in Mexico even though he's not ethnically Mexican.

But then again, you're walking a very fine line. He could have alienated the conservative base with the Republican Party and he really needs that for the election.

COSTELLO: It seemed like he repeated the joke that he said in those secretly recorded tapes, and the audience didn't really react, so maybe that doesn't matter after all. At least that part is good for Romney.

ROMO: In theory, if he wanted to ever do that, he could actually apply for a Mexican passport because his father being born in Mexico could have been a Mexican national.

COSTELLO: Would have been nice if he could have taken that out of his pocket. Rafael Romo, thanks so much.

ROMO: Thank you.

COSTELLO: Let's take a look at what's at stake here. There are more than 50 million Latinos in the United States. That comes to about one in every six Americans.

In the 2008 presidential race, two of every three Latino voters backed Obama. That's according to a CNN national exit poll, 31 percent voted his Republican rival, Senator John McCain.

Now here are the states with the highest population of Hispanic voters. New Mexico is tops with nearly 39 percent. Texas and California are not far behind with 30 percent and 27 percent respectively.

President Obama speaks at the same Univision forum today, and again, the focus will be on the issues important to Latino voters. In all, 20 million Hispanic-Americans are expected to vote in the presidential election.

So let's look ahead with White House correspondent Dan Lothian. So Dan, what is the president going to do to hang on to Hispanic votes? Does he need to do anything?

DAN LOTHIAN, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, we're seeing a couple of things. Yes, the president leading Mitt Romney among Hispanics, registered Hispanics, but he's still pushing very hard.

You see the president first of all running Spanish language ads in key battleground states, heavy Hispanic populations like Florida, Colorado, and Nevada, and in these ads touting his accomplishments.

This one that you're looking at right there is talking about how President Obama appointed the first Hispanic to the Supreme Court so the president pushing very hard and has spent heavily on these ads.

According to the Campaign Media Analysis Group, which tracks ad spending, the president's campaign has spent more than $5.1 million on these Spanish language ads. Of course, Mitt Romney, who's also trying to get a piece of the Hispanic vote, has spent himself $3.1 million on these Hispanic ads. Of course, you know, you talked a little bit about the polling, the exit polling from 2008. So that's very clear. And what we're seeing now in the most recent Gallup polls, the president is pretty much mirroring what he got in 2008, the president leading Mitt Romney 66 percent to 26 percent, but again, both campaigns fighting very hard for the Hispanic vote -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Dan Lothian, reporting live from the White House.

The late ambassador to Libya, Chris Stevens worried constantly about security threats and said that his name was on an al Qaeda hit list. This new information coming from a source close to Stevens, who also said the diplomat worried about the growing al Qaeda presence in Libya.

As you know, Stevens died in an attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi last week along with three other Americans. During a Senate Homeland Security hearing, a counter-terrorism official said the attack was not carried out by people simply protesting an anti-Islam film.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MATTHEW OLSEN, DIRECTOR, NATIONAL COUNTERTERRORISM CENTER: I would say yes, they were killed in the course of a terrorist attack on our embassy.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: And the presence of radical Islam in Libya has some top senators worried about the United States' relationship with that country.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN (R), ARIZONA: Libya is very weak. As you know, their borders are forests. There are radical Islamist elements throughout the country. But still, it is the obligation of the host country to protect our consulates, our embassies and our personnel.

And it's partially ours, but we have to depend on the host country and we have to then sort out and rethink what presence we're going to have and what relationship we're going to have with these countries.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: U.S. intelligence officials are still investigating the incident. At least one suspect from the attack in Libya is in custody.

And we're finding out that one of the actresses that appeared in that anti-Islam film that sparked so much violence in the Middle East is now suing the film's producer.

Cindy Lee Garcia is also naming YouTube and Google for not removing the video. She says she's a victim of fraud, invasion of privacy and has received death threats since the film gained worldwide attention.

Miguel Marquez is at the Los Angeles Superior Courthouse to tell us more. Hi, Miguel.

MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello there, Carol. Just stole all of my thunder. Yes, Cindy Lee Garcia is going to be here very bright and early in the morning in Los Angeles. We spoke to her last week.

At the time that we spoke to her, she wasn't aware whether or not her voice had been dubbed over in that video. Well, now in this lawsuit, she says it hasn't. Not only that. She was playing a mother in that film, "The Innocence of Muslims."

What she knew as "Desert Warrior," but when she saw the part that she played, just want to read you this one bit of the lawsuit, instead, the defendant, Bacile, Sam Bacile a.k.a. Nikoula Basseley Nikoula made an anti-Islamic propaganda film in which the plaintiff is falsely made to appear to accused to be the founder of Islamic religion being a sexual deviant and child molester.

And this is what she is upset about. She says she can't see her grandchildren now. She can't go to work. She's received death threats and running for life. She also said she's moved out of her house now because she's gotten so inundated with all of this.

They are here early this morning because they want to go right into the judge's office and ask him to order Google and YouTube to take that video down. They say they have refused to do it.

But this obviously becomes a first amendment issue. Her lawyers say they're not going after the first amendment. They just want her privacy protected.

But at the moment, it is going to be a massive struggle. This is also in L.A. Superior Court. It's difficult to imagine a superior court judge here in L.A. will be able to take that video down worldwide and force YouTube and Google very easily to take that video down.

The companies say they've already looked at that video and unfortunately it meets their standard for videos online.

COSTELLO: Interesting. Let's talk about the filmmaker now, because we understand he's getting lawyered up. Do we expect a hearing on his probation, probation that's based on nothing connected to the film?

MARQUEZ: Yes, it is nothing connected to the film. This is probation -- he's on supervised release from a 2010 conviction for fraud. And we expect that there will be a probation hearing at some point because of a couple of points.

He has 26 different conditions in his probation order that he has to fulfill. One is he can't have any device or access to internet without his probation officer's OK. He can't use any other names than his true legal name. And it's not entirely clear whether Sam Bacile is a name that his probation officer allowed him to use. His real legal name is Nikoula Basseley Nikoula.

So on those two points alone, those two obvious points, it seems that there may be a probation hearing scheduled. He is getting lawyered up at the moment. I think that process is almost done. Once he does, my guess is we will see action in the federal courts over his probation fairly soon -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Miguel Marquez reporting live from Los Angeles.

Also happening this hour, House Oversight Committee members are resuming their hearing into the botched "Fast And Furious" operation. The Department of Justice's inspector general is among those testifying right now.

The inspector general's report targets 14 federal officials for possible punishment, but the report also takes pressure off Attorney General Eric Holder saying he was not informed of the operation in a timely manner.

"Fast and Furious" allowed weapons to be taken across the border in order to trace them to drug cartels, but those weapons wound up at crime scenes and also at the site of U.S. Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry's murder.

Terry's cousin spoke on CNN's "EARLY START."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ROBERT HEYER, BRIAN TERRY'S COUSIN: We're disappointed at the tone of that statement by the attorney general. Nobody should be doing a victory dance right now.

Anything less than a sober reflection of the mistakes made and the negligence by many officials within the Department of Justice and ATF, anything less than that is a disservice to Brian's sacrifice.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: The botched operation led House Republicans to accuse the Obama administration of a cover-up and that resulted in a House vote to cite Holder for contempt.

Mortgage rates are back to historic lows. This comes after the Federal Reserve's decision last week to keep interest rates low in an effort to stimulate the economy. An average 30-year fixed mortgage matched its all-time record of just 3.49 percent.

While the average 15-year fixed rate hit a new all-time low of -- get this, 2.77 percent. Wow. One controversial part of President Obama's health care law would face many Americans without health insurance to pay penalties.

Now the Congressional Budget Office is estimating that two million more people than previously thought may face those penalties.

CNN's Maribel Aber is at the Nasdaq market site to breakdown of the numbers. Hi.

MARIBEL ABER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Carol. Well, the Congressional Budget Office and Joint Committee on Taxation, they initially estimated that in 2016, four million Americans would pay for a penalty for not having health care, but that number has gone way up.

A revised estimate now has it closer to six million and why is this happening? We can blame it pretty on the economy, a higher jobless rate and lower wages and salaries, really means fewer people will be able to afford medical insurance.

Presumably, because either they don't have a job and aren't getting it through their employer or lower wages mean they can't afford insurance on their own. So there are also been some legislative changes since the CBO did the initial estimate.

And just a small percentage of the increase is a result of the actual Supreme Court decision. It gives states the option to expand Medicaid coverage or not. So they have that option there. So what type of figures are we talking about for people paying?

It goes up every year, starts in 2014. So by 2016, we're looking at a penalty of about $2,085 per family, or 2.5 percent of income, whichever is the greater there. For an individual, penalty will be $695, some big numbers there -- Carol.

COSTELLO: You're right about that. Maribel, thanks so much.

The world may be changing its stance on same-sex marriage and homosexuality, but what about the church? Listen to what televangelist Joel Osteen had to say about it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOEL OSTEEN, TELEVANGELIST: It seems like in Christianity, sometimes we categorize sin. I mean, pride is a sin, being critical is a sin, being negative is a sin. The scripture says anything that is a faith --

RICHARD SOCARIDES, WRITER, NEWYORKER.COM: Are you saying we're all centered? So homosexuality is not so bad, right?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: We'll have more from Osteen's visit when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: This news just in to CNN. You're taking a look at the Chrysler plant in Detroit, Michigan. We understand that one worker has been stabbed inside Chrysler's Jefferson plant.

Witnesses say the suspect then fled the scene. We're not sure if it involved two workers or if someone went into the plant that's not connected to Chrysler. Of course, police are still trying to gather details. When we get more information, we'll pass it along to you.

It's 18 minutes past the hour now. Checking our top stories, it's President Obama's turn to face Hispanic voters. He'll take part in a Univision town hall meeting this afternoon in Miami. His Republican challenger, Mitt Romney addressed the same forum last night.

Colorado movie theatre shooting suspect is back in court this morning. Prosecutors want to add 10 new charges to the 142 that James Holmes already faces. Lawyers will likely argue whether a notebook Holmes allegedly mailed to his psychiatrist before the shooting can be entered at trial. Twelve people killed, 58 wounded in that attack.

In "Money News," America's largest bank will no longer be Bank of America. That's according to "The Wall Street Journal," which reports that Bank of America will cut another 16,000 jobs by the end of the year. Another 200 branches will also close. After the cuts, JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup, and Wells Fargo would all be bigger.

Turning now to sports, where the NHL lockout has claimed its first games. The National Hockey League says all preseason games scheduled this month are cancelled. The league and its players are still trying to work out a new labor agreement.

Talk about a close call. Watch this. Police officers in Lubbock, Texas, were responding to a minor accident last week. That's when that van loses control, hits a police car and then hits the officer, who had pushed the other accident victim out of the way. Both the officer and accident victim had minor injuries, but will be OK. The driver of the van faces DUI charges.

Mitt Romney appeared at a Univision forum last night in Miami. Forget the 47 percent. Last night, it was all about the 100 percent.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Now is your chance to talk back on one of the big stories today. The question for you this morning, is redistribution of wealth the answer to our economic woes?

Mitt Romney is coming out swinging after his 47 percent gaffe using a newly uncovered tape of President Obama in 1998. I am sure you've heard it by now.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: The trick is figuring out how to we structure government systems that pool resources and facilitate some redistribution, because I actually believe in redistribution, at least at a certain level to make sure that everybody's got a shot.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Redistributor in chief, it's a familiar charge. President Obama wants to take money from the wealthy and spread it around. Many of Obama's critics call that socialism. Romney's running mate, Paul Ryan.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REPRESENTATIVE PAUL RYAN (R), VICE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: President Obama said that he believes in redistribution. Mitt Romney and I are not running to redistribute the wealth. Mitt Romney and I are running to help Americans create wealth.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: So what is redistribution anyway? It basically means using the progressive income tax system to raise money from the wealthy and use it to invest in things like public works, education, and aid for the poor.

Mr. Obama puts it this way. Quote, "There's nothing wrong with us giving each other a helping hand." Still to be decided how voters will come down on redistribution versus 47 percent.

So the talkback question this morning, redistribution of wealth, is it the answer to our economic woes? Facebook.com/carolcnn. Your responses later this hour.>

Tiger Woods has often been called the world's best golfer, but there is a young man that's giving him a young for his money. So is Tiger intimidated by Rory? Wait until you hear his answer.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: We are approaching 30 minutes past the hour. Good morning. I'm Carol Costello.

Checking our top stories, the late Ambassador to Libya, Chris Stevens worried constantly about security threats, said that his name was on an al Qaeda hit list.

New information coming from a source close to Stevens who also said the diplomat worried about the growing al Qaeda presence in Libya. Stevens died in an attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi last week along with three other Americans.

On Capitol Hill, the focus is on "Fast and Furious," as the Justice Department's inspector general is set to testify at the House lawmakers about his report into the weapons trafficking program.

That report recommends punishment for 14 people, but says there is absolutely no evidence, Attorney General Eric Holder or President Obama knew about the tactics used in that program, which of course, led to the death of a U.S. border patrol agent.

There's a new sign that tough economy has changed people's behavior for the better. Compared to last year, there were 1.4 million fewer people in the lowest credit scoring range. Experts say many people who had high debt loads and poor credit before the recession have since cut down on spending and their credit is actually better.

Mitt Romney said hello to the 100 percent last night at a Univision forum in Miami. Governor Romney was reaching out to Latino voters and he didn't mention the 47 percent. Instead, saying that his concern was quote, "all about the 100 percent."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ROMNEY: This is a campaign about the 100 percent. And over the last several years, you've seen greater and greater divisiveness in this country. We had hoped to come back together, but instead you've seen us pull apart and politics has driven us apart in some respects. So my campaign is about the 100 percent in America. And I'm concerned about them.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: He's not a divider, he's a uniter. That's what he's saying.

Joining me now from New York, CNN contributor, Will Cain who leans right and Democratic strategist, Robert Zimmerman. Welcome to both of you.

WILL CAIN, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Hi.

ROBERT ZIMMERMAN, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: It's good to be with you, good morning.

COSTELLO: Good morning, so Will, effective line?

CAIN: Yes. Well, it's the right line, right? I mean, I hope the campaign is about 100 percent because the ideology, conservatism, the eventual governance would be about 100 percent. We, as conservatives, believe that our economic philosophy is one that not just benefits the richest among us, but benefits the poorest among us as well.

I mean, Milton Freeman said it best. There is no system, no system tried by any society on the history of this planet that has pulled more people out of poverty than the free market system. And that is the one that you would hope Mitt Romney would be proselytizing. That's the one you should be selling and it helps the 100 percent.

(CROSSTALK)

ZIMMERMAN: The problem with that -- the problem is Will.

COSTELLO: Go ahead.

ZIMMERMAN: -- is that it's a bit hard to say you represent 100 percent when you've already shown disdain for 47 percent of the population, including our service men and women, our senior citizens on Social Security and our students.

And it's even a bit more frustrating while he criticizes those segments for not paying federal taxes. He says nothing about the 3,000 Americans who make over $2 million every year and don't pay federal income taxes because of capital gains or because of carried interests.

So he has really very much represents two sets of America. He looks at America in a very divisive way and he speaks up for one segment but not the 47 percent.

COSTELLO: And Will, there is a Gallup poll that came out, that I think it was 29 percent of people said they're less likely to vote for Governor Romney after those comments. That's not the right poll. We'll take that one down.

But -- so it is having an effect. So how many times does he need to say this 100 percent line to like you know, cancel out that 47 percent thing?

CAIN: Well look, it's a little rich to hear Robert and any Democrat talk about the politics of divisiveness. It's just a little rich to hear that coming from a campaign on the left that talks about dividing Americans based upon age, gender, race, sexuality, no matter what. That's the -- that the politics of the left.

(CROSSTALK)

ZIMMERMAN: Why is it rich -- why is it rich, Will?

CAIN: -- telling each individual -- telling each individual group how your policies are going to be catered to them in some way that's going to make their lives, but not all Americans' lives, better.

The point I was making earlier Robert and the point that's important here is that conservatism, especially on the economic front and that's the one that Mitt Romney was speaking to, is one that applies to 100 percent of Americans.

See, what I'm not doing right now is I'm not defending the 47 percent remark because that was a mistake. It's a mistake --

(CROSSTALK)

ZIMMERMAN: But this is out of it. This is not a political theory class, Will. It's an election. We have to make a choice. We understand what Mitt Romney and the right-wing fringe that he advocates for represents. And that is an America where if you're making over $2 million a year, you get a pass on criticism about not paying federal taxes.

(CROSSTALK)

CAIN: See -- see here's the thing, Robert -- you say this is not --

ZIMMERMAN: You criticize --

COSTELLO: Ok let's --

CAIN: Here is the thing, no, no, I've got to respond to that. Carol I'm sorry.

COSTELLO: Ok.

CAIN: This is a political theory, he says. This is a political election. That comment right there is indicative of the problem of our political discourse. See, what Mitt Romney should stand for and I'm constantly trying to ascertain whether or not he does, is the political theory that I'm talking about, the one that benefits everyone.

What's not helpful is to reduce that comment to a political talking point because hey, look, we're in an election season. This is politics. People do need to make a choice, Robert, but they need to make it based upon what we really know these guys stand for, not how we can spin a comment.

(CROSSTALK)

ZIMMERMAN: Oh you know where Barack Obama stands. Yes Carol.

(CROSSTALK)

COSTELLO: Ok well, let's talk about -- let's talk about the debates because the debates are coming up and they're critical for Mitt Romney right now.

If Mitt Romney does a pretty good job in the debate, Robert, won't these comments just be a distant memory in voters' minds? I mean voters have short memories, let's face it.

ZIMMERMAN: Well, you know something Carol, you make a very good point. And I've been physically present at every president -- most every presidential debate since 2000. And I can tell you presidential debates are driven by perception more than by the reality on the stage.

George W. Bush famously said "If I don't fall off the stage, I'm a winner." And in fact the perception of him were so low that he actually was able to win the buzz from that and win -- win the perception, even though he didn't carry himself well in the debates.

So I think ultimately the debates are very defining in this election. They will really I think determine the outcome. The problem is Mitt Romney has put all his markers on the first presidential debate. He set a very high bar for himself and it's very hard to explain away a lot of his rhetoric and a lot of his positions.

COSTELLO: Well, I do think the debates will be fascinating in this respect Will, because the two men have very different theories about what will fix our economy. And that's sure to come out in the debate and -- and they'll have an intelligent conversation about it.

CAIN: We can only hope, right?

COSTELLO: Right.

ZIMMERMAN: Will, have you missed me?

CAIN: I hope to hear a debate that centers upon political theory honestly, that what I really hope to hear. Economic and political theory.

COSTELLO: Well, we'll hope voters better understand what both men's solution is to our economic woes with lots and lots of specifics. We'll see.

ZIMMERMAN: Absolutely.

CAIN: Yes.

COSTELLO: Robert Zimmerman and Will Cain thanks for the discussion this morning.

CAIN: Yes, you bet.

ZIMMERMAN: Thank you.

COSTELLO: Let's talk about something really important. Shakira -- big news for Shakira. She always said that hips don't lie. We will tell you what her hips are saying next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: I guess the hips don't lie. They can't lie. Pop star Shakira announcing on her Web page that she's got a bun in the oven.

A.J. Hammer joins me now. I know that was -- that was cheesy wasn't it?

A.J. HAMMER, HLN HOST, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT: Yes I mean, really the -- the title of the song can't be ignored when you're talking about Shakira being pregnant. So congratulations to Shakira and her soccer star boyfriend Gerard Pique, because they are expecting a baby.

And when she broke the news on her Web site she also added this. She said that "At this time we've decided to give priority to this unique moment in our lives and postpone all the promotional activities planned over the next few days."

Now she was supposed to be appearing this weekend at a big iHeart Radio Music Festival in Las Vegas but she hasn't announced that she is backing out of her just announced new gig as a judge on the next season of "The Voice".

Now Carol, as you and I were talking about just the other day, she and Usher are going to be stepping in for Christina Aguilera and CeeLo Green. Those guys are taking a break from the show in the spring to work on other projects. And now I guess we know that this will likely be a one-season run for Shakira who clearly has a major project of her own to work on after that job wraps up.

COSTELLO: She sure does.

Let's talk about the Soul Train Awards. Any expected nominations?

HAMMER: Well, it's a -- it's really an interesting year, because Usher, speaking of him, may have the most nominations as he's up for five trophies this year. But the big buzz today is about two posthumous nominees -- Whitney Houston and Amy Winehouse are both up for awards. Now Whitney is nominated for best gospel inspirational performance. Amy Winehouse is nominated for best international performance.

And the other name that people are talking about this morning is R. Kelly. R. Kelly has two nominations this year, he's up for a song writing award and for best album. But those two nominations now give him a career total of 21 for the Soul Train Music Awards. That's the most ever for this particular award show.

But Carol, I am afraid this morning I do have some bad news for you and the rest of the crew in Atlanta. This year the awards will be handed out in Las Vegas on November 8th. They're going to be shown later that month. I know CNN was very well represented last year at the show and the party when it all went down in Atlanta.

But I'm thinking given the location and the date, November 8th, I think Soul Train regular Wolf Blitzer will have to miss this one.

COSTELLO: Yes, I think he'll be a little tired actually on that date. He'll be exhausted.

A.J. Hammer, many thanks to you.

HAMMER: You got it.

COSTELLO: Join A.J. Hammer on "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" 11:00 Eastern on HLN.

Tiger Woods intimidated on golf course? Well, fellow golfer Greg Norman suggested Tiger Woods is indeed intimidated by Rory McIlroy. The two are playing together today at the PGA Tour championship in Atlanta with the FedEx Cup on the line. Tiger says hey, golf's not like football.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TIGER WOODS, PRO GOLFER: No one the size of Ray Lewis is going to hit me you know coming around the middle, so this is a different kind of sport. We go out there and we play our own game. And see where -- where it falls at the end of the day.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Expecting a little humor there, but we didn't get it. Tiger is not intimidated; maybe others playing on the East Lake course this weekend should be. McIlroy is on a roll lately, topping the FedEx Cup standings. We'll keep you always informed.

Even Amanda Knox's ex-boyfriend thought she was acting bizarre during the investigation into her roommate's death. Hear about what he says about Knox now that they're both free. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Joel Osteen is one of the most recognizable faces of Christianity in America today, from his television sermons, which reach millions across the country. He's trying to bring his ministry into homes around the world.

Now Osteen's got a new book out. And he was on CNN this morning to talk about that and then this happened.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: You would say the scripture says homosexuality is a sin.

JOEL OSTEEN, SENIOR PASTOR, LAKEWOOD CHURCH, HOUSTON: Exactly.

O'BRIEN: So then -- but -- so this is what I'm trying to understand. I go to church regularly. But I'm not so strong on the bible, so you'll have to walk me through some of this.

OSTEEN: Sure, sure.

O'BRIEN: And there's some pastors who disagree. They say the scriptures don't defend that and Jesus didn't weigh in on homosexuality.

OSTEEN: Yes.

O'BRIEN: So my question is when you are talking the your 45,000 people in your service and some of them are gay, you're saying to them you're a sinner.

OSTEEN: Well, Soledad, first off, in my services, I don't cover all these issues that we talk about here.

(CROSSTALK)

O'BRIEN: Yes. But you make it clear that you think that homosexuality is a sin.

OSTEEN: I believe -- when I read the scripture that's when I believe that the scripture condemns it, or says it's a sin. But it also says that, you know, lying is and that being prideful is.

O'BRIEN: Right. So then, you shouldn't lie. But for people who are gay, you're saying you shouldn't be gay?

OSTEEN: Well, you can't not to be gay.

RICHARD SOCARIDES, WRITER, "NEW YORKER": You can't choose something.

(CROSSTALK)

OSTEEN: I think that's the big debate. And the scripture says you have to work out your own salvation. SOCARIDES: You think you can choose to be gay or not gay? You think you choose to be straight?

OSTEEN: I know I have not chosen to be straight. I feel like that's who I am.

SOCARIDES: So how could I choose to be gay?

O'BRIEN: One question at a time.

SOCARIDES: Sorry.

I'm trying to be respectful. I'm a big admirer of your work. I think you're trying to lift people up.

OSTEEN: I am. And I don't understand all those issues. And so, you know, I try to stick on the issues that I do understand. And I know this. I'm for everybody, I'm not for pushing people down. Obviously I've watched the story on bullying and stuff, other things like that that comes from it.

I don't know where the fine line is. But I do try to stay in my lane. And you know, lift people's spirits.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Osteen's book is "I Declare: 31 Promises to Speak Over Your Life".

46 minutes past the hour. Checking our top stories. The Kroger grocery store chain is issuing a voluntary recall over concerns that ten-ounce bags of Fresh Selection bagged spinach could be contaminated with listeria. The bags in question are stamped with "Best if used by date of September 16th". No illnesses have been reported.

Final voyage of the space shuttle Endeavour continues. The shuttle flying piggy back from Florida to California today. Endeavour left Houston. It will cross over Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona before landing at Edwards Air Force Base this afternoon. Endeavour will reach its final stop, Los Angeles, tomorrow.

And buckle up for some brawling. This surveillance video from a school bus where a mom is wailing on a boy that she says has been bullying her son. This 35-year-old Florida woman is now charged with child abuse and trespassing. She says she has no regrets, though, because she was simply defending her boy.

Amanda Knox's ex-boyfriend and co-defendant has written a memoir detailing his murder trials and his time in an Italian prison. Raffaele Sollecito and Knox were convicted of murdering Knox's British roommate Meredith Kercher. Two years later, they were freed on appeal.

Sollecito wrote that even he thought Knox's appeal was bizarre during the investigation, but he told Anderson Cooper they're still friends.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN HOST: You're still in touch with Amanda Knox?

RAFFAELE SOLLECITO, ACQUITTED OF MEREDITH KERCHER'S MURDER: Yes. We Skyped yesterday, actually.

COOPER: You Skyped yesterday. What is that connection? What is that conversation like? You've been through something that nobody really else can imagine.

SOLLECITO: In our conversation, we talk about family, about relationships with friends, about movies, books, music, CDs, anything -- like friends. We're like very good friends. We are now almost -- yes, we are almost like brother and sister. We passed through a lot together.

COOPER: She's seeing somebody else. You're not involved romantically.

SOLLECITO: No, no. She has a boyfriend now and I'm moving on with my life separately.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: His book is called "Honor Bound: My Journey to Hell and Back with Amanda Knox". Knox is writing her own book. That's scheduled to come out this spring.

Could become the best selling smart phone of the year, maybe of all time. The iPhone 5 about to go on sale, but could Apple's latest smart phone be a bust?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Tomorrow's going to be another big day for Apple. The iPhone 5 goes on sale, you know, in stores nationwide. There are lines already forming outside of Apple stores. Some people have been in line for almost a week now.

Apple even says it had more than two million pre-orders for its newest smart phone in just the first 24 hours. So why are some customers not so excited about the latest iGadget?

Mario Armstrong is an HLN contributor, he's an expert in all these things. He joins us live now. Good morning, Mario.

MARIO ARMSTRONG, HLN DIGITAL LIFESTYLE EXPERT: Good morning. How are you?

COSTELLO: I'm good.

So where is the extreme, over-the-top love for the iPhone this time?

ARMSTRONG: What do you mean? Two million pre-orders? That seems pretty extreme to me.

COSTELLO: It is, I'll admit it. But some people are still complaining about the new model.

ARMSTRONG: Yes. You're absolutely right. There have been some complaints about this.

Look, they came out with the phone early 2000s and it hasn't really had any change in its actual shape since then, Carol. So this is the first time that you're actually getting a different sized iPhone. It's going to be thinner, it's going to be lighter. It's a tad bit longer.

And it has something that's changed. In order to make the phone thinner, it had to change the connection port on it to be smaller. That means all of the older accessories and things like these chargers that you used to have no longer will work with the new iPhone 5 unless you pay for a $29 adapter. And that has a lot of people a little upset about that particular change.

COSTELLO: Yes, because, you know, it's not exactly cheap to buy one of those things.

ARMSTRONG: No, and you have these docks and you have all these other things that your phone would fit into, and the question now becomes with an adapter connected to the new phone, will it fit? Will it not fit? What about all those hotel rooms? Do those -- are alarm clocks obsolete now? Your car charger.

So a lot of those things seem to have a little bit of frustration. Apple and others say look, we're going wireless. You can take your speakerphone and go Bluetooth so you don't really even need those cables. But if you want the old stuff to kind of work, you kind of need those adapters. That's got a little frustration for folks.

COSTELLO: Yes. That's a lot of money.

Ok. Let's talk about size some more, because you know size matters. When it comes to mobile phone screens, that's what I'm talking about, some critics think the iPhone 5's bigger screen isn't big enough.

ARMSTRONG: No, that's right. I mean you're talking now of the iPhone 5 has a four-inch screen. Up until now, it was 3.5 inches. So it's still a significant increase in the size of the screen that you're going to see. And it's going to look great when you're looking at that HD video. You're not going to have all that letter boxing going on. It's going to look good.

But the thing is Samsung Galaxy, the S3, specifically that phone, it was already at 4.8 inches in terms of its screen size. So there are already phones that are out in the marketplace that are actually bigger than that particular screen. And some are just a little more hopeful, I think. Apple fans probably would have liked a little bit more screen, but they're still going to be in line anyway.

COSTELLO: Yes, they already there. Mario Armstrong reporting live.

ARMSTRONG: You know, I've been telling people if you're on the 4S, you may really want to reconsider, especially if you can't get the upgrade pricing. But if you have an iPhone 4 or older, it definitely makes sense to upgrade. And don't forget their new software just came out yesterday. That can give you a lot of benefits without necessarily having to buy the hardware.

COSTELLO: Good advice. Mario Armstrong, thanks, as always.

ARMSTRONG: Thank you, Carol.

COSTELLO: Our Talk Back question today, "Is the redistribution of wealth the answer to our economic woes?" Your comments next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: A trip to the doctor's office is one of most dreaded things many men have to do, but in today's "Daily Dose Dr. Travis Stork from TV's "The Doctors" shares what key symptoms men should never ignore.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. TRAVIS STORK, "THE DOCTORS": Obviously, there are more than three symptoms that men should not ignore. You can go down from head to toe and say if you're having visually difficulties, don't ignore that.

But what I think of with men is heart disease is the number one killer. I see it all too often in the emergency department. So I tell men don't ever ignore chest pain. Don't ignore unexplained shortness of breath. And if you have unexplained generalized weakness and fatigue, you can no longer walk up the stairs, that's a sign that something's going wrong.

So don't ignore it, get it checked out. Men, we have so much pride and sometimes we ignore things because we don't want to admit we're not feeling well. But when it comes to your health, that's not a mistake you want to make.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: To our Talk Back question now. The question: "Is the redistribution of wealth the answer to our economic woes?"

This from ken. "It's pretty much the same as the Romney plan. Redistribute the money cut from social programs to make up for the tax cuts of the highest income earners. The one difference is Obama's plan will raise revenue as well."

From Wilma, "Every tax you pay is redistributed, period."

This from Patty, "If your vision of America is a country split between a very wealthy ruling class and masses of poor uneducated people with no path to a better future, then no, let's not redistribute anything."

Facebook.com/CarolCNN if you want to continue the conversation.

Thanks for joining me today.

"CNN NEWSROOM" continues now with Ashleigh Banfield.