presidents spent for theirs. the president's retails for $15,600 and mitt romney got back to us and town and country they say, you are wrong. his $3,000 tag is a $300 nixon watch and we heard back from the president's team he said he had a watch from the secret service which was a gift. but he owns another watch which is a tag but we will be watching. anderson cooper 360 starts now. >> good evening. we begin tonight with a mother who is asking the toughest question a mother can. why is my son dead? that is all pat smith wants to know. her son, sean smith one of the americans killed in the attack in benghazi on september 11th.

a month after, she watched her son's casket come off a cargo plane, a month after she says promised her answers, she says she is still waiting to hear. still waiting for answers. waiting for a call. congress held hearings today. we'll talk about that shortly, but first, my conversation with sean smith's mom, pat. i appreciate you being with us. i'm so sorry for your loss. what do you want people tonow about sean? >> so god. he was my only child. he was good at what he dand he d it. >> he loved working with computers? computers, radios. >> did he always do that? always good with computer hes?

>> we'll, when he was a kid, computers weren't out yet. and then they were out and i got a computer and he started showing me how you could build a flame thrower by watching a c computer and that is how it started. >> he lived in the netherlands were you able to communicate a lot. was?you allay know wheree >> wn he told me. for example, this time he was in the hague and that is where he was stationed. he was supposed to be there for about two years. and then he would transfer to some place else. i did not know he was going to be in libya. >> did he ever talk about the dangers that came along with his

job? he serve ed in iraq as well. >> yes, in fact i still have it on my computer where he sent me, this thing he was in working in the palace over there. >> in baghdad. >> yeah, in baghdad, and he says, got to go, and suddenly he just disappeared and i said what is happening over there. and he said listen. and suddenly i heard boom. where they were shooting at him. >> you must have worried a lot. >> when that was over. i can't spend my life worrying about it. i accepted what he wanted to do. >> i want to play for our viewers what president obama said about your son when he returned home. >> sean smith it seems lived to serve. first in the air force and then with you in the state

department. there in benghazi he surely thought of heather and samantha and nathan and he laid down his life in service to us all. today, sean is home. >> he's mentioning his wife and children. when you heard the president say that, what did you think? >> this is the first time i heard the president say that. >> it is really? >> yes, he never toned ld me th he knew he was in a bunch of scary places. i didn't expect him to get blown up and to die. >> do you feel that you know what happened or are you still searching for answers. have you been in contact with the state department? >> that is a funny subject. i begged them to tell me what

happened. i said i want to know all the details all of the details no matter what it is and i'll make up my own mind on it. and all the big shots over there told me that they promised me that they would tell me what happened. as soon as they figure it out. no one not one person has ever, ever gotten back to me other than media people and the gaming people. >> her son was a big video gamer. >> we are going to have more with pat smith after a quick break. she has tough words for this administration. also tonight, the latest on today's congressional hearings on the attacks. join us next. so... [ gasps ]

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we're talking tonight with pat smith whose son sean smith was killed in the benghazi attack. today his son asked mitt romney to stop invoking her son's name on the campaign trail. pat smith did not speak about anyone's political agenda tonight. she is, however, bitter ly disappointed with the search for

answers. >> who told you that they would give you information? >> you will love this. obama told me, hillary promised me. joe biden was a pressure and a real sweetheart. they all told me that -- they promised me. i told them please, tell me what happened. just tell me what happened. >> so you, are still waiting to find out what happened to your son what they know, or even what they don't know. >> right. officially yes. i told them don't give me any bologna you can keep your political stuff, just tell me the truth. and i still don't know. in fact, today i heard that he died of smoke inhalation.

>> you don't know the cause of deng? death. >> no, i don't. i look at tv and i see bloody hand prints on walls thinking is that my son's? i don't know. they haven't told me anything. they are still studying it. and the thing that is they are telling me are outright lies. that susan rise, she talked to me personally and she said this is the way it was. it was -- it was because of this film that came out. >> so she told you personally that she thought it was a result of the video of the protest. >> oh, absolutely. in fact all of them did. all of them did. leon panetta actually took my face in his hands like this and he said trust me. i will tell you what happened.

and so far, he's told me nothing. nothing at all. and i want to know. >> it is important for you to know all of the details no matter how horrible or tough they are to hear. >> exactly. i said if it is such a secret thing fine, take me in another room and whisper in my ear and fine we'll go from there. at first i was so proud because they were treating me so nice. i cried on obama's shoulder. and then he kind of looked off into the distance. so, that was worthless to me. i want to know for god's sakes. or for ala's sake or for who ever's sake is there. >> you deserve answers. >> i think so.

i believe i do. i believe it. it is my son. i had him -- i told obama personally, i said look i had him for his first 17 years and then he went into the service and then you got him. and -- i won't say it the way i said it. but i said you screwed up you didn't do a good job i lost my son. and they said we'll get back to you. i promise, i promise you. i will get back to you. >> some of the administration have said we are investigating and still trying to find out answers. >> they still are. >> you want them to contact you and keep you aprised of the investigation of where things are. you would think that they would at least do that. >> that would be so nice. they would at least acknowledge that they have a right to know

something other than we are checking up on it. or trust me. i like that one the best of all. i like that one. trust me, i will let you know. well i don't trust you anymore. i'm not going to say lied to me, but you didn't tell me and you kno knew. >> pat smith, thank you. >> grieving mother. we are joined now by fran fou foundtownsend and we should say fran recently traveled to libya and met with ambassador steve vens. obviously mrs. smith is upset. what is the procedure though for

keeping a family informed. she said we will let you know what happened? you would think somebody would be in contact with her. >> there is an office in the justice department. the office of victim witness assistance. they are supposed to get updates and make sure that the families are kept aprised. but you also expect and every department has this. if it is a member of our law enforcement or intelligence service that is agency makes sure to shepherd the person around the system. it is sort of incomprehensible to me these are people, the family members were identified and met with senior officials and it is not as though they don't know where she is.

>> initially i thought maybe they were in contact with sean smith's wife who is i guess in the netherlands? >> that is right. with a family that has lost someone, there is more than one person. there is the family and you may have the spouse. and it becomes the government's responsibility to keep the family in formed. >> you reached out to the state department what are they saying? >> they are saying since the beginning they have made it a priority to maintain contact. they say in the last 24 hours before the hearing they reached out by phone to at least one member of the family and told them what would be reported at the congressional hearing and they also said that the mother of sean is contacted by us.

so, they won't get into a lot of specifics but they maintain that they have been in contact with the families in some way or another since the beginning. >> they are now say that go they will contact mrs. smith. >> yes, they say they will make sure that they are. >> at this point, who are they supposed to believe? >> there have been so many different stories out there and now there is lots of political allegations and we had this hearing today and some saw it as a political hearing. >> you know look, this is really hard. in the first 48 to 72 hours, the first facts are often wrong. the american media and people of ten understand that. tomorrow is a month since the attack. it is hard to imagine that no one has talked to this woman.

the results of that are understood by investigators and there is no excuse for not sharing that information with this victim's mother. >> let's talk about the hearing that happened today. which the state department defended the administration's handling of the attack. did it resolve anything? >> anderson, you know, i didn't hear a lot of new information at all. i think, i and some others who were watching it were struck by the fact that it turned into his sparring and it was very, very personal between you know the republicans and the democrats. i don't think that it accomplished very much when you get down tohe nuts and bolts of what was learned. >> the state department said that they had the appropriate

number of people on the ground and there was a review from the panel saying how can you say that given four americans are dead. >> right. and not to explain away, but their view would be based on the information that they had at that point coming from their agencies and others on the ground. they believe that they had the adequate amount of staffing. now, they say that basically nothing a few more people or protective measures could not have protected from something that they are describing as military combat attack. >> there is a military investigation. >> well, as we have said and reported, there is an

accountability review board and there are these hearings. in the end, the definitive version of the facts will come from the fbi who are responsibility for putting together the prosecution. they will be the keepers of the evidence. but i must tell you the answer on his face fails the common sense test. when you talk to average americans who have no dog in this fight. if we are looking to assign blame, the terrorists are looking to assign blame for the tests. we want to understand how to assign blame. we want to make sure how do we assess threats. >> they said that no amount of the usual security would have been able to deal with attackers

who will be heavily armed. if it is not possible to protect from the threat that is present, then you shouldn't be there. this is less to me about blame than it is about accountability. >> you don't want this to happen again and there are other facilities that we have that are like this. >> jill, i appreciate your reporting time. let us know what you think right now on twitter. just ahead. mitt romney seem to move to the middle on abortion and moves right back. what does he believe and was it

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look at what mitt romney says about abortion. his statements and positions as a candidate past and present. his record as an elected official and how it all comes together which may explain why mr. romney seemed to be sounding more mot rate on a range of eshes issues. now listen to his q and a prompt reporter.

>> right after he said that, however, governor romney would support legislation for life. and later today mr. romney said what he would do as president. >> i think i said that time and again i'm a pro life president. the actions i will take imimmediately would be for a pro life budget. >> he supported extending 14 at length protections. and he sawas his statement to se moines paper an attempt to

tailor the message there? his views have changed over time and of ten coinciding where he is running for office. in 1994 he was running against senator kennedy in the senate. >> i believe that since row v wade has been the law for 20 years that we should sustain and support it. >> he lost that election eight years later running for governor in massachusetts he said this. >> so when asked will i preserve a woman's right to choose, yes, i will. >> once elected though, mr.

romney vetoed a bill expanding emergency contraception. fred thompson made an add using that 1994 pro-choice clip. i asked him about that. >> i don't know how many times i could tell it i was wrong. i was pro-choice when i ran for office. if people in this country are looking for someone who is not willing to admit that they are ever wrong. they are going to have to find somebody else. this happened when he was governor the first time the bill came to my desk. i could not sign a bill that took away human life. >> tonight, it is that. his record that has many on the left crying flip-flop.

folks on the right saying he was mistaken. joining us now kellyanne, i want to play a clip of what he just told abc news. >> this is another example of his hiding positions that he has been campaigning on for a year and a half. >> do you think that he has moved to the scenter? >> not on abortion. the campaign said to go back and look at thehe interview that he game in 2011. >> i read his quote and i believe it was probably more of an oversight and he said there is no legislation that he can think of.

he said he would sign legislation for pain. >> do you see it on other issues in the debate? >> not away that would put close any kind of day light between president obama and governor romney. i think that he was talking about his health care plan last week. i believe they are more exposetory on the issues. >> he is saying pre-existing conditions are not covered. he is talking about if you have health insurance and you lose your job, you can continue with coverage if you pay the premiums. >> that is right flt and. and i read that his senior adviser clarified after the

debate. i want to say that the whole abortion has been talked to death. i know his spokesman connected him after ward. why did he need to be corrected? was that an attempt to appeal to a wider range of people? you would have to ask governor romney why he said what he said. i think we should ask president obama why he tried to appeal to nobody. >> well look, i think we were reminded that mitt romney was willing to say and do anything to be president even if it means hiding to his own positions. to issues on women's health care and immigration. those are positions that are the

far right wing of the party and we are going to hold his feet to the fire. it amazes me that he had one good night. we are looking forward to the next debate. we are looking like we are running five points behind. there is a little bit of overconfidence on the team. >> i'm not part of the romney team but no over confidence here. this race is not over and the late in the game deciders are not female. they think about cardiovascular issues and obesity nutrition and diabetes. they don't think about abortion. it was called abortion and then it is called choice and now women's health. >> a lot of those are pre-existing conditions. i still don't understand why

governor romney would be saying that this health care covers pre-existing conditions, when his plan doesn't cover that. >> i would like an answer. >> i don't understand how any candidate who has been running for a long as mitt romney is could get his policy so wrong unless he was trying to appeal to a wider range of people than if you are papting with a broad brush. >> president obama is not a liar and go on tv in a debate and

lie. he got that part wrong. >> he did last week. >> and in any event. >> so you are saying he got it wrong. >> that is what his adviser said. >> do you believe it was just a mistake? >> i'm saying this is becoming pattern. you have to wonder what is behind it and why mitt romney is so uncomfortable with his own positions. >> it will be a fascinating debate. >> appreciate it. thank you. >> thank you. >> the family of lillian carey is speaking out tonight. they want you to know she is more than just a statistic in the deadly outbreak of meningitis tonight. and a bigger company with ties to it that is next. [ man ] in hong kong, on my way to the board meeting...

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seven tme tour de france winner, lance armstrong was the most successful winner and they say they have documents to back up the claim. we'll have the latest on that ahead. up isn't easy, and we ought to know. we're in the business of up. everyday delta flies a quarter of million people while investing billions improving everything from booking to baggage claim. we're raising the bar on flying and tomorrow we will up it yet again.

keeping them honest. important information tonight on the deadly meningitis out break involving ten states. 12 people have died. injections made by a company called new england compounding company. its owners are not taking questions. he was told to leave. he managed to take a look behind the facility though. a recycling site with wasted garbage. turned out the recycling center is owned by the same guy.

here is what he found. >> necc this is the place where the deadly meningitis outbreak started. we came here looking for answers. but we soon found out no one would talk. is there someone we can talk to? >> i went to the home of the owner of the facility. there was a car parked at the end of the driveway. there was something else we noticed. look closely at the name of this garbage facility connected to the end of the nec. this is the name of his wife, lisa, she is also listed as a pharmacist here. we found out that lisa's brother and the facility and this

medical facility, they wouldn't let us on the parking lot here. necc has 21 employees and generated $8 million in revenue. ameridose, 400 employees and $100 million a year. ameridose also does a form of compounded regulated by the state pharmacy board. there is a woman here who was appointed to the state pharmacy board back in 2008. we asked them about that and they say she has recused herself to all matters related to the necc. both have done business with the government. order wrz place orders were

placed with them since 2007. and now both have shut down their operations. >> and i'll tell you as well, the massachusetts department of health did not say there is evidence of contamination when it comes to products for ameridose. what is the connection between the companies and what that might mean for consumers going forward? the bottom line is the federal officia officials is not responsible for overseeing the quality at these compounding pharmacies. >> ameridose does manufacture but they do add mixing where they are mixing together different medicines.

>> we have a woman that died two weeks ago and is more than a statistic of course. she was a wife, a mom a grandmother. her family held a memorial service for her. lillian's husband got a steroid shot made by necc. george carry joins me now. i'm sorry for your loss. and i guess i want to ask you what do you want people to know about lillian? >> first of all, she was a wonderful woman that she had a love for life. she was part of our family, and that this should not have happened. this is a tragedy that goes beyond our family. from our standpoint. we wish to express our condolences to the other people.

>> you had injections from the same center. what have you been told about your own risk? how do you feel? >> i was advised on friday afternoon of the connection between lillian and i and the batch and number of the recalled fga steroid. on saturday afternoon i had a spinal tap. those tests were sent out. i still haven't received any information regarding them. i, like many other people, have steroid injections as a result of neck pain. neck pain is one of the symptoms

of meningitis. it is something that i live with. as a result i'm watching other body function to try to keep on top of it. >> heather, when you heard that these injections came from a pharmacy that is not regulated by the fda what did you think? did you know that? >> i was not aware of that at first. i can say that shock, frustration anger, and a little bit of disgust were definitely emotions that crossed my mind. i think it is crazy that these companies in this day and age weren't mandated to have inspections and this completely preventible death and tragedy had to happen due to these oversights. >> there were a lot of folk that

is may have exposed to these shots. and again, let me add as well, george and heather, it was tough to hear. your story, it is difficult with this type of meningitis, a mun gal meningitis as you may know is more rare than bacterial and viral. neck pain is one of the simp toms. people can develop not wanting to be out in the light at all. they are taking the flu wid and trying to see if they can see evidence within the flu wid. >> it doesn't mean that if they don't find it, i don't know if

they told you, but in 28 days or so, you may need to get checked out. >> have the answers you have gotten be satisfactory? >> you have called this a wake-up call for the country. >> well, i think that the lobbyist and corporations have been a part of the political process regarding important issues. and i think this is an important part of the process. >> i definitely think that the corporations should be held accountable. i think they should enforce strakter guidelines. think that the state is not

held reresponsibilitible and ensure that the american public is getting safe drugs. >> the fda is investigating the nec facility and today ameridose owned by the same people. when a facility applies for a license, they have a process that they go through. as far as we can tell, unless there is a problem, something happens and then the organization comes back into sort of check things out. this facility in 2002 as we have talked about was cited for unsterile practices. ten years later you see what is

happening. >> is there preventive treatment for people who don't yet know whether or not it is going to give them the meningitis? >> the one thing, should we treat somebody as if they have confirmed it. >> i don't know if they spoke to this with you. the treatment is a longer course of what are called anti-fungal medications. you want to have confirmed medications. sometimes it involves being in the hospital for a few days. >> i appreciate you being on again. we are so sorry for your loss.

>> thank you our biggest concern was putting a face to the statistics. these are human beings and loved ones and people. i think everyone is going to think about lillian every time they hear about this and the others as well. thank you so much. stay strong. another deadly day in syria. 77 people killed in damascus. lth clinical brush. its pro-flex sides adjust to teeth and gums for a better clean. the pro-health clinical brush from oral-b. for a better clean. when you take a closer look... ...at the best schools in the world... ...you see they all have something very interesting in common.

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ask your doctor about cialis for daily use and a 30-tablet free trial. following a number of stories, let's check in with isha. >> 197 people died in violence throughout the country today. they say government forces detained and tortured anti-regime activists. girl was shot on her way home from school yesterday. the taliban claimed responsibility for the attack. spokesman for the taliban said

if she survives this time she won't next time, quote we will certainly kill her. the amateur film maker was in federal courtroom in california today. precutorers are trying to evoke his probation from a 2010 bank fraud case. evidence against lance armstrong includes sworn testimony from 11 teammates who say they saw him doping. anderson, a zoo in florida is offering an unusual attraction letting guests swim with a tiger cub or a alligator whose mouth is typed shut. >> thank you very much. we will be right back.

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