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Possible Parole for Manson Follower; Yahoo! Ends Telecommuting; New Defense Secretary Makes Remarks

Aired February 27, 2013 - 10:30   ET

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

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: At any time in the next five days we could find out if a convicted killer and Manson follower will be released on parole. Bruce Davis will be the first Manson follower freed solely based on good behavior.

CNN's Kyung Lah is following the story from Los Angeles. Good morning.

KYUNG LAH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning Carol.

Any time you hear the name Charles Manson, it certainly sends chills down people's spines especially here in southern California. Now California's governor has that very difficult decision on his desk whether one of Manson's closest followers deserves to be freed.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LAH: The face of evil, Charles Manson, who unleashed terror in a murder spree in 1969. The face you don't know, Bruce Davis 40 years ago, eerily similar in looks to Manson and a once devoted follower.

BARBARA HOYT, FORMER MANSON FAMILY MEMBER: Where Bruce Davis goes people died.

LAH: Barbara Hoyt knows that because she was just 17 when she joined the so-called Manson family in 1979. That's when she met Davis.

HOYT: These people wanted to start a race war. They wanted to end society as we knew it. They wanted millions of people to die.

LAH: Manson wanted to lead an apocalyptic race war that he'd trigger himself by inflaming racial tensions between blacks and whites. He dubbed it "helter-skelter." Manson's plan was to leave behind misleading clues in a series of murders, evidence that would indicate black assailants in the killings of whites. Davis was one of the Manson followers implicated in a murder at this home that started it all, musician Gary Hinman. At Davis's trial this mannequin was used to show how brutally Hinman was treated. He was held and tortured, at one point Manson slicing it's ear with a sword. At a crime scene the words "political, piggy, and blood" and this a bloody print an unsuccessful attempt to convince the police the Black Panthers were behind the murder.

Two weeks later similar bloody messages left at two other infamous murder scenes that took the lives of pregnant actress Sharon Tate and six others. Davis was not part of those murders but was at the Manson hangout and helped murder and mutilate stuntman Donald "Shorty" Shea. Barbara Hoyt testified she heard Shea scream. A man who could do that says Hoyt should never walk free.

HOYT: No. I'm not wrong. I know what he's capable of. I heard the screams. I know exactly what he's capable of.

MICHAEL BECKMAN, BRUCE DAVIS'S ATTORNEY: Bruce Davis would be a poster child for rehabilitation, I really believe that.

LAH: Michael Beckman is Davis's attorney, 40 years in prison has changed Davis, says Beckman. Davis earned a doctorate in the philosophy of religion. And now ministers in prison the picture of a model inmate who has faced the parole board 27 times.

BRUCE DAVIS, CONVICTED MANSON FAMILY MEMBER: I'm sorry about my ever becoming involved with Manson and ever having his influence in my life.

LAH: His attorney says 70-year-old Davis has paid the price for his proximity to a criminal monster.

BECKMAN: Yes, I think he'd be home right now.

LAH: If Charles Manson --

BECKMAN: If Charles were not connected -- yes.

LAH: Two years ago Davis almost walked free but Governor Schwarzenegger rejected the parole board's decision.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LAH: We are expecting to hear from the Governor. I did speak to the governor's office. He should have a decision, Carol, before the close of business on Friday.

COSTELLO: Now but seriously how likely is it that he will be freed because not many of Manson's followers have gotten out on parole.

LAH: And he would be the very first to be released solely on good behavior. It's very difficult to tell whether or not the Governor will grant this. You know his attorney says he deserves this. He should based on the criminal record, but when you consider the name Charles Manson being connected to Bruce Davis, it's very difficult to know what the Governor is going to do here.

COSTELLO: You know, I read the book "Helter-Skelter," and it remains with me to this day even though I read it what -- decades ago. It's just terrible crime.

LAH: It's chilling.

COSTELLO: Kyung Lah thanks so much.

Chuck Hagel is our nation's new Defense Secretary is set to speak -- oh we're believing he's set to speak with his preliminary remarks as the new Secretary of Defense any moment now. When he does begin speaking, we'll take you back to Capitol Hill.

Also coming up it's the dreaded test most high school grads take to get into college. Now the SAT's are getting revamped. We'll tell you about the big changes.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: The college admissions test known as the S.A.T. is getting a makeover. The College Board says the new test will focus more on knowledge and skills high schoolers need to succeed in college. No word on when students will begin taking the brand-new test.

And it's a move that's sparking controversy in and outside of Silicon Valley. Tech giant Yahoo! banning employees from working at home.

Ok. I'm going to interrupt that story for just a second. And take you back to Capitol Hill, Chuck Hagel now speaking, America's new Defense Secretary.

CHUCK HAGEL, U.S. DEFENSE SECRETARY: Thank you. I am honored to be (inaudible)

COSTELLO: All right. Well, actually they're having audio problems on their end, not on our end, so when we get this all worked out with them, we'll go back to Chuck Hagel as he makes his remarks as America's new Defense Secretary.

So -- ok. We're going back to the Yahoo! piece now. As you know Yahoo! executives said in order for the company to be the best it can be, workers must no longer telecommute. They have to come into the office physically. Critics say a successful workplace though needs flexibility.

CNN personal finance correspondent Zain Asher has more for you.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ZAIN USHER, CNN PERSONAL FINANCE CORRESPONDENT: You might say PR consultant and new mom Menka Lamba pulls a Marissa Mayer late last year.

MENKA LAMBA, WORKS FOR HOME: I was actually able to get a job when I was seven months' pregnant and continue working right to the moment I gave birth and even after I had a baby two weeks after I was on the phone.

ASHER: But Lamba definitely disagrees with the Yahoo! CEO's latest moves to put an end to its flexible work policy and make everyone come to the office.

LAMBA: I don't know exactly what she's thinking and I'm sure she's got the best interest of the company and her employees in mind, but in my experience having that flexibility is helpful and you're able to continue to contribute and be productive. ASHER: The online backlash against Yahoo! has been less polite and decidedly one-sided on Twitter. The consensus, Marissa Mayer has it all wrong.

JENNIFER OWENS, EDITORIAL DIRECTOR, WORKING MOTHER MEDIA: I think it's incredibly disappointing, I think it's incredibly backward- thinking and I think they're shooting themselves in the foot as they limp themselves into the future.

ASHER: Yahoo!'s ban will put the company in the clear minority. While only about 10 percent of employees work from home on a regular basis, 98 percent of companies today offer employees at least one type of tele-work option. A 2012 analysis found a flexible work policies led to increased work productivity, higher attention rates and better overall job performance.

OWENS: I once worked with a guy who played solitaire for four hours a day in my Newsroom. So it doesn't matter where you are, it doesn't matter where people are working. It matters how they're working.

LAMBA: I was planning on going back to work anyway so this isn't a full time excursion for me. It's more allowing the flexibility to continue and not disrupt my work or disrupt my life.

1040

ASHER: Zain Asher, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Ok. In a statement Yahoo! says "We don't discuss internal matters. This isn't a broad industry view on working from home. This is about what's right for Yahoo! right now."

Ok. I'm going to take you back to the Pentagon now because they figure it out at Pentagon Chuck Hagel's microphone was not on. It's turned on right now. He's addressing his new employees at the Pentagon as the new Defense Secretary. Let's listen.

(BEGIN LIVE FEED)

CHUCK HAGEL, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: -- we've got the Chief of Staff of the Army. He makes me shake a little being an old Army Sergeant -- but the Sergeant Major of the Army scares the hell out of me, so -- I think he does the general, too, actually.

And all of you who are so important to our country, thank you. I -- a couple of hours ago took the Oath of Office to become the 24th Secretary of defense. It's a great honor. It's a privilege.

Yes. For me, my family, but to be part of your team who you are is the honor. That's the great privilege. You're not joining my team. I'm joining your team.

And I want you to know how proud I am of the opportunity the President of the United States has given me and the Congress of the United States has given me. And I would tell you that as I had told the President, as I told the Congress, that I will do everything in my power to be the kind of leader that you expect and you deserve.

Also the kind of leader the country expects and deserves. We are living in a very defining time in the world. You all know that. It's a difficult time. It's -- it's a time of tremendous challenge. But there are opportunities. And I think it's important that we all stay focused obviously on our jobs, on our responsibilities which are immense, but not lose sight of the possibilities for a better world.

If there's one thing America has stood for more than any one thing is that we -- we are a force for good. We make mistakes. We've made mistakes. We'll continue to make mistakes. But we are a force for good.

(CROSSTALK)

(END LIVE FEED)

COSTELLO: Ok we're going to jump out of this. Chuck Hagel, former senator and now new Defense Secretary of the United States of America. He's addressing his new employees at the Pentagon. He's a Vietnam War veteran, won two Purple Hearts so he has a special bond with many of the military personnel sitting in that audience today.

Another look at our "Talk Back" question this morning. Should the Republicans embrace Chris Christie. Your responses and our panel discussions coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: It's 45 minutes past the hour. Time to check our top stories.

The investigation into a deadly balloon crash in Egypt that killed 19 tourists could take two weeks. Preliminary reports confirm no foul play was involved. The province of Luxor where the crash happened has banned all hot air balloon flights until further notice.

A sinking boat off Monterey, California might have been a hoax. The Coast Guard called off its search for the people that a distress call claimed were on board that boat. Officials say the search has already cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Get ready for a mission to Mars. Later today Paragon Space Development will announce plans to send a man and woman on a fly-by of Mars. The launch could happen as early as 2018. The group telling CNN that trip will take 501 days and will cost around $1 billion and it's not asking NASA for any money. It's a private venture.

And big changes for the entertainment magazine "Variety". The publication will end its daily print edition next month and will print only a weekly edition and in a push toward Internet presence, "Variety" will allow viewers to access its online content free instead of paying for a subscription. A reminder of our Talk Back question this morning. Should Republicans embrace Chris Christie. Your responses and our panel discussion coming up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Time now to "Talk Back". Joining me today: CNN political analyst Roland Martin; CNN contributor and senior political columnist for Newsweek and the "Daily Beast", John Avlon; and Ron Christie, former special assistant to President George W. Bush. Welcome to all of you.

ROLAND MARTIN, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Hey.

RON CHRISTIE, FORMER SPECIAL ASST TO GEORGE W. BUSH: Good morning.

COSTELLO: Ok. I was making sure everyone was awake. It's a good thing -- I know it's early. Yes.

MARTIN: That's right.

COSTELLO: The question this morning, should the GOP -- should Republicans embrace Chris Christie? I'm going to set this up this way.

CPAC, the Conservative Political Action Conference that's an influential conservative group. It's inviting Sarah Palin, Mitt Romney, Jeb Bush, Bobby Jindal, Rand Paul and a host of others but not Chris Christie who just a few years ago was a conservative god. So Roland what happened?

MARTIN: First of all they are ignoring people who were actually elected. If you want to understand where your presidents are likely going to come from, it's likely going to come from governors, the people who have actually been running states. So it's nonsensical to say "Fine, you want Sarah Palin who loss; Mitt Romney, who lost."

If you're CPAC -- think about the future. They get invited by anybody they want but I would think you would be trying to get Christie and McDonnell and you get Walker or you even get, you know, the governor of Florida, Rick Scott as well. So I don't get why you ignore governors. That's where your bench is. That's where your power is.

COSTELLO: Especially Chris Christie because his approval rating is through the roof and not only with Republicans but Democrats too. And that's an unusual kind of political animal these days, John.

JOHN AVLON, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: It is. And that's exactly why the Republican Party should be running towards Chris Christie trying to figure out what he's doing right. He's got the highest approval rating on record in New Jersey, 74 percent. In a state where Barack Obama won by 17 points and Republicans only make up one fifth of the electorate. Look if they put a Republican governor out there, who has 70 percent approval rating from women like Chris Christie does, that has a 68 percent support from non-whites like Chris Christie; that has independence overwhelmingly, you've got to figure out what he's doing right and replicate that on a national stage.

If CPAC wants to preoccupy itself with Sarah Palin, you know, they can knock themselves out. But they're not only playing to the base, they're playing to the past.

COSTELLO: And Ron what is it that's so turned off conservatives? Was it this supposed -- well, he did, he embraced President Obama after Superstorm Sandy hit because he thought President Obama was helpful to his state of New Jersey. Was it that that drove conservatives away?

CHRISTIE: I think it's part of that. And I have to say as a caveat as I start here, even though I was born in New Jersey, Carol, I have no relation to Governor Christie. So let me just me put that out there to begin with. But in all seriousness --

COSTELLO: You're not his other brother?

CHRISTIE: No, not his other brother from another mother, no. In all honesty, I think the Republicans are saying governor Christie embraced President Obama during the election campaign at a time when it was critical for Mitt Romney and they in part blame him for the loss. I would say to my two friends here, look, this is not the GOP convention. This is the Conservative Political Action Convention. And the conservatives are allowed to invite whoever they want.

I do agree with John though -- for a guy who has well above 70 percent of approval rating in a very, very blue state, he has to be doing something right to have all those folks -- Republicans, Democrats and Independents to New Jersey supporting him. So I think that Republicans they should embrace him. And see what he's going right.

COSTELLO: We should point out, the primary is pretty controlled by conservatives so you need a conservative embrace to win a Republican primary, right?

CHRISTIE: Right.

COSTELLO: My next question is -- right, so CPAC is inviting Sarah Palin? She's not even on Fox News anymore -- Roland.

MARTIN: Well, look. Look first of all, remember. If you're at a conference, what you're trying to do is you're trying to draw big names to be able to get your people excited. And I totally get that.

But here's the other piece, Carol. This is an off year. It's 2013. It's not like the campaign is going to start going up big time in terms of really getting going. And so that's what it's all about. Clearly they want to penalize governor Chris Christie. I get it.

And so if you're Christie, you were saying fine. In fact, if I'm Christie you know what I will probably do. I probably would probably set up a major speech at the exact same time somewhere that will likely all draw all the media coverage and say look, we showed you guys how this whole thing is done and so. Christie's saying, have your party, that's great. In fact, what Christie should do. He ought to send some donuts over the CPAC to help her speak and to say hey good luck with your conference this year.

COSTELLO: I would actually enjoy that.

Just Ron -- one more question. CPAC is also inviting Mitt Romney and he's so over.

CHRISTIE: Well, look, I think there's a little of nostalgia for Governor Romney right now.

COSTELLO: Really.

CHRISTIE: I don't blame them. Yes, I think there is. I think, you know, Governor Romney -- we can criticize. Yes, otherwise why would they invite him.

They would not have invited Romney once they thought he was going to be a popular. And let's not also forget, carol. This is all about money. It might be a convention but it's about money and it's about people buying tickets and spending hotel money and I think that they think Mitt Romney can be a draw. So there's clearly some nostalgia for him..

COSTELLO: So the nostalgia is for money, not exactly Romney?

Oh, Ron.

Remember, Carol, you know, someone once said that every great political movement becomes a business and then it becomes a racket. I think we're at a racket stage to some extent.

AVLON: Look The Republican party has been busy burning down the big tent. And this is just the latest symptom of they that. They're not only excluding Chris Christie, they're excluding two prominent gay Republican groups as well. They don't want to be associated with that. That's dangerous game to play. That's clearly not what's on their mind.

COSTELLO: All right. Ron Christie, John Avlon, Roland Martin. Thanks for playing today. Appreciate it.

AVLON: Thanks, carol.

COSTELLO: Yes.

CHRISTIE: Always.

COSTELLO: I want to pass on to you what our viewers think of this question. Should the GOP embrace Chris Christie. This from Vern. "He's the only one with common sense. I'm not from New Jersey but I would vote for him for anything."

This from Ivory. This man is clearly a leader and is in charge of his character and his choices. They can't manage him. He will not fit in. Thank God."

Keep the conversation going, facebook.com/Carol CNN or tweet me. Tweet me @carolCNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Police are now releasing photos of a woman wanted for questioning in last week's deadly shooting and fiery crash on the Las Vegas Strip. They say 22-year-old Tunisia Howard was inside the black SUV when shots were fired. Howard's mother tells CNN the suspected shooter is the young woman's boyfriends. That boyfriend, Amar Harris is still at large.

Today a slow steady recover under way from Texas to Illinois. A wicked combination of strong winds and up to 20 inches of snow knocked out power to thousands of homes and businesses. In many areas work crews scrambling to restore power. They had to be accompanied by snow plows.

For millions of people those impassable roads left them stranded at home or at work. Air travel also ground to a halt in much of the nation's midsection. In Chicago alone more than 1,000 flights were canceled yesterday. Hundreds more are likely today.

An Australian billionaire has unveiled plans for a full-scale replica of the Titanic. It's called Titanic II . It's set to sale in 2016. Look at those pictures.

The cruise line says passengers -- and yes, you can buy a ticket, you will wear 1912-style clothing though and there will be enough lifeboats for everyone so don't worry about that.

I'm Carol Costello. Thank you so much for joining me today. CNN NEWSROOM continues right now.

ASHLEIGH BANFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Thank you Carol. Hello everyone, I'm Ashleigh Banfield. You know, it takes a lot these days to get the President and senior lawmakers in the very same room. Today we can thank Rosa Parks for making it happen.

Let's take a look at this live picture as we speak, a dedication ceremony is getting under way in the U.S. Capitol.