tv Anderson Cooper 360 CNN February 21, 2012 1:00am-2:00am EST
1:00 am
1:01 am
it is not about you. it is not about you or your quality of life, not about your jobs. it is about some phony ideal. some phony the elegy. not theology based on the bible, different theology. >> that phrase, a different theology sparked controversy which senator santorum seem to race. here is what he said when he asked about it later that day. >> obviously, he is now forcing people to do things he believes that they have the right they should do. the catholic church has a theology that says this is wrong and he is saying no, i have a different -- you want to call it a theology, you may call a secular values. it is a different world that is. and the president of the united
1:02 am
states is exercising his values and trumping the values of the church. if you don't want to call it a theology, on him find, let them know what they want to call it. but it is a different set of moral values. i am suggesting that obviously, as we all know in the christian church, a lot of different stripes of christianity. and so you can say -- i am saying he is imposing his ideas on the church and i think that is wrong. >> he is opposing his values on the christian church here keeking characterize those values in a way he wants. i am not going to. the president says he is a christian, he is a christian. >> you are the center say you don't have to call a theology but in the next snc calls those differences a different set of moral values and accuse the president of opposing those
1:03 am
values on the christian church. the very next day on sunday, yesterday, when asked about his initial marks, he seemed to say this wasn't about the president or religion. but was about the environment. >> i've got to ask you, what in the world were you talking about, sir? >> i was talking about the environmental mess. i was talking about energy, this idea that man is here to serve the earth as opposed to has spent in a good story of the earth. i think that is the ideal. i don't believe that is what we're here to do. that man is here to use the resources and use them wisely, to care for the earth, the start of the earth. we're not here to serve the earth. the earth is not the objective. and is the objective and a lot of radicals have an upside down. >> how does that translate into some sort of theology, the
1:04 am
president's theology is not based on the bible? that suggests he is not a christian. >> i wasn't suggesting the president is not a christian. i accept the fact he is a christian. >> rick santorum 1 "face the nation" 9 he was implying anything about barack obama's christian values. trumping the moral values of the church, you can decide for yourself. let's get into rock politics. de believe he was just talking about environmental policy? >> i think he used inappropriate words. i think he was trying to make the case about the president's ideology and i am all for a fair fight and a robust 5 about etiology. we should respect each other's theology and it should not be a part politics. rick santorum recognizes that and he was trying to take it
1:05 am
back. that he used words and think he will use again and i think it is a part of politics. it should not be a part of politics. it should be left on the side. >> do you think these words should not have been using? >> he is running for president of the united states. not chief of the deacons board. theology has nothing to do with it. you can debate about someone's values, there etiology, whether they're right for the country. to go into the elegy, look. we have spent a wreak on his theology and it is not the media doing it. my conservative friends are knocking me and others. it is not the media, this is what he is talking about. responding to what rick santorum has talked about. he should get back to jobs at the economy and leave the theology to others. >> i recall rick santorum sang in michigan he was going to run about jobs in the economy. seems he is talking about everything but. >> i am not sure what has happened to santorum. he suddenly goes off the
1:06 am
reservation do you think he is talking about environmental? >> this is like front-runner fever or something where all this said he thinks everybody wants to hear every wish lists he has ever had. i went to san former allies in small towns in new hampshire and eric is right. this is what this guy has been saying ever since he started running for president. he is not talking about jobs of the economy. he actually has a tax plan that conservatives like better than mitt romney. it doesn't talk about it. he really wants the entire country today here to his dogma of christianity and if he is president, he has talked about openly. that is what he will pursue. >> do you think he should just get back to the economic issues? >> no, actually, if you take a deep breath with this, the first time today in this race, rick
1:07 am
santorum has a decent chance of beating mitt romney for the nomination. two things happened over the weekend and have been developing. one is the conservative angst with mitt romney is coming to a head. people are saying we don't want to support him. is that on some deals to go to. and rick santorum has energized the social wing of the republican party. a very powerful and vociferous part of the party. different than the tea party where rick santorum has to get back to pick in the process of the conservative collapse of romney with a social movement toward rick santorum, he really has propelled themselves forward into this primary contest. >> you think he could get the nomination? >> i really did. i am prepared to say that. for the first time i can say that. i thought this was an open race and anything that happened. it was a wild year. but don't underestimate what has happened with people going to rick santorum and he needs to broaden its. the social issues motivate him.
1:08 am
that the script and what he said over the weekend. that was just rick santorum. " to make sure he gets to the economic issues and focuses on those economic issues as well. >> you are seeing absolutely believe that? >> he absolutely believes it. what is interesting is for a while mitt romney was running against newt gingrich and he was able to be steady or more thoughtful because gingrich was all over the place. with rick santorum, we are seeing mitt romney who is doubling down on his radical conservatism who is trying to push things that are going to be rejected by women. and this notion that women should be prevented from having birth control that women should stay home and home school their children rather than being in the workforce, let me finish. i let you talk. when mitt romney now has to compete with rick santorum and
1:09 am
that sort of top level, there is no way in a general election once against the nomination that he can come back to the center and disavow all he is starting to say now. and i think that is the republican conundrum. >> i know radical conservatives. they are great friends of mine and santorum is not a radical conservative he is off the reservation. he should be getting back to jobs in the economy and he wants to talk about values picky capris in a different way. i have to say there is this problem shaping up for romney, santorum, and being rich in while i may agree with medtronic or what rick santorum says some days. we shouldn't say agreement that doesn't make it a political liability in the general election. it seems like our candidates are wanting to amplify their political liabilities instead of downplaying them and that will come out in the general election in a not good way for them. >> do you agree that santorum to get the nomination? >> the ego, hillary.
1:10 am
as a matter of fact, as recently as last month, i was and the rick santorum will not be the nominee. if he wins michigan, he will be the nominee. the bronte spokesman came out today and said it is not important for him to win michigan which means it is absolutely important for romney to win michigan. >> it seems the gap is closing a little bit in michigan. romney coming back up. >> well, i think it will be a close contest in michigan. we will cross that on super tuesday, the ten states that vote on tuesday, march 6. rick santorum has momentum and the states and mitt romney is dead. he has been eclipsed in a significant part. let me make this point about rick santorum and the things he says. at first glance many sound too inflammatory. but he often makes a nuanced statement about such as birth control. he made the point that it was a personal issue. and then he said i've got a for contraception and the past. what you have to be careful of is don't let one side make him
1:11 am
into a caricature by distorting what he has said in these positions. there are deep nuances to social policies and also why it's so hard for politicians to talk the most intractable social policy is in america, as soon as you try, due get caricatured. rick santorum did lend himself to do this because he didn't talk with subtlety. his point is not that women shouldn't get birth control, that's not adequate he said. >> republicans are going into these two states, michigan and ohio, looking from the '80s, reagan democrats, independents who will switch party line, conservative social values and conservative economic positions, but the problem is, is that neither candidate is offering for those voters what barack obama has offered, a growing economy, auto industry recovery and lowering unemployment. those candidates are not talking about those issues.
1:12 am
they don't have answers for them. that's why i don't think they will get them. >> hillary rosen, ari fleischer and eric erickson. good to leave it at a point where eric and ari or disagreeing with hillary. >> wait a minute. i want the record to reflect i agreed with eric tonight. facebook, google plus, isle be tweeting tonight in the hour ahead. next up, growing pressure on america to do something to stop the growing slaughter in syria. is there something for america to do, though? we'll talk to darwa, who just got back from being inside of homs and had snuck across the border. later, mind blowing, a school district that finances plastic surgery for teachers. millions of taxpayer dollars for surgery, nose jobs and breast augmentation. you name it. the question is, how did this happen and why is it still happening in the middle of a budget crunch? ok, guys-- what's next ?
1:13 am
chocolate lemonade ? susie's lemonade... the movie. or... we make it pink ! with these 4g lte tablets, you can do business at lightning-fast speeds. we'll take all the strawberries, dave. you got it, kid. we have a winner. we're definitely gonna need another one. small businesses that want to grow use 4g lte technology from verizon.
1:14 am
i wonder how she does it. that's why she's the boss. because the small business with the best technology rules. contact the verizon center for customers with disabilities at 1-800-974-6006. dave, i've downloaded a virus. yeah. ♪ dave, where are we on the new laptop? it's so slow! i'm calling dave. [ telephone rings ] [ sighs ] i need a new i.t. guy. [ male announcer ] in a small business, technology is all you. staples easy tech experts are here to help. you must be... ...dave. [ male announcer ] with everything from new computers, to set-ups, to tune-ups. stapes. that was easy. agents, when it comes to insurance, people feel lost. that's a dead end.
1:15 am
don't know which way to turn. this way. turn around. [ woman ] that's why we present people with options to help them find coverage that fits their needs. almost there. whoo! yay! good work. that's a new maze record. really? i have no idea. we don't keep track of that kind of stuff. well, you should. [ male announcer ] we are insurance. ♪ we are farmers ♪ bum, ba-da-bum, bum, bum, bum ♪
1:16 am
1:17 am
[ speaking foreign language ] another day of children grieving for wounded parents. [ speaking foreign language ] when asked who did this, the child replied the filthy dog, bashar al assad. for 2 1/2 weeks, people have been the targets of weapons aim ed from tanks and troops. and this is a new group opening up on a civilian neighborhood. the question, of course, is -- one of the questions -- one of the many questions, what should america or some other country do? joint chiefs chairman sat down and took one option off the table for now.
1:18 am
>> what would you say to those who argue that the united states should arm the opposition movement in syria? >> i think it's premature to take a decision to arm the opposition movement in syria because i -- i would challenge anyone to clearly identify for me the opposition movement in syria at this point. and two senators took opposition. >> a massacre is taking place today and ideas should be on the table. >> the idea of arming the opposition forces should be considered, very much considered. at the end of the day, what happens in syria really can change the course of the middle east. i really do hope we can break them away from iran. >> that's a strategic concern. the focus for civilians in syria remains solely on staying alive and getting rid of their
1:19 am
government. as with almost all the video, can't be independently verified, the assad regime keeps sirius out however arwa damon was with those trying to hang on for one more day. >> reporter: these are some of the families who have nowhere else to go. finding relative safety in this makeshift bunker but little comfort. we're not sleeping at night, we're not deeping during the day. the children are always crying, the bombs are always coming down like this. they huddle in near darkness. some cover their faces, afraid they'll lose more than they already have. >> one woman's son been detained since august, and another one, this woman here, for a month and a half.
1:20 am
we just walked in and we've been swamped, bombarded by these people's tragic stories here. at a wood cutting factory, turned bunker nearby, this baby is cradled in her grandmother's arms. her 19-year-old mother gave birth to her in this makeshift shelter 24 hours ago. there are no painkillers. i couldn't sleep all night, she tells us, still in excruciating pain. activists gather the children for the camera, leading a song against the regime. >> my husband died on the first day of the bombing. they didn't let me see his body. it was shredded to pieces, she recalls. his blood is still in the streets and feel his son. he is sick, and there is no medicine. he keeps crying, saying, i want daddy, i want daddy. i can't bring his daddy back. what is the world waiting for? for us to die of hunger and
1:21 am
fear? >> arwa damon is now out of syria. i spoke to her earlier tonight. today was the 17th straight day of shelling in homs. you were just there. the images you brought back are horrific. the situation seems desperate for the people there and basic supplies just aren't available. >> reporter: that's exactly it, anderson. the problem is the situation is catastrophic and there is absolutely no one at this point in time stepping in to help these people. that is why we keep hearing them calling out asking the same questions over and over again. how is it that the international community is seeing what we're going through and not doing anything to help? also people wanting to know how long are they going to have to try to survive like this? those are questions no one at this point in time can answer. the harsh reality is the longer this drags on, the more of those images we're going to be seeing of people dying, people injured, people dying because of their wounds, because they can't get medical help and the more people
1:22 am
will continuously be crowded into those bunkers trying to keep themselves and their families somehow safe. >> for both side, all side, there's no going back. for the assad regime, it doesn't seem like backing down is an option. certainly for the people in the neighborhood you were in, in homs, going back is not an option. or the red cross is talking about creating some sort of humanitarian corridor. is that possible? >> reporter: if that were to somehow materialize, it most certainly would provide a very significant element of relief for those families. one also has to remember that the syrian government's position has been, look, we're not at war so why should there be a cease-fire? that would make the creation of this type of humanitarian corridor incredibly challenging? arwa damon, i'm glad you were able to get there and back safely. thanks. >> we look into what the united states can and should do. joining us is united states cnn officer and a member of the
1:23 am
cia's external advisory committee. the possibility of somehow arming the opposition, how realistic is that? >> look, there are all sorts of problems with the u.s. doing that directly. when you listen to what senators mccain and graham are saying, they're really talking about, can we act through the arab league? our arab partners have a better sense of what's going on, the factions on the ground. i think general dempsey is right. it's difficult for us from a distance to understand who's in the opposition? we've seen bombings. there's belief in the intelligence community, al qaeda in iraq may be active inside syria, trying to take advantage of the situation. if you want to arm the opposition, you're better to rely on arab partners who have a better sense and closer relationships with the different factions. >> bob, from your vantage point, how possible is it on the ground to arm the opposition if we know who the opposition is?
1:24 am
and given that there's so many regional players in this who have vested interests in what's happening inside syria? >> anderson, look at the geography. you've got limited choices. you could send arms through lebanon, which is not possible because of hezbollah that could take lebanon over the edge. jordan is not going to come across the border. you have the possibility of the kurds in iraq sending arms and, in fact, some are going across. it's really about trying to supply these people both with arms and medicine. the other thing is the dissidents in syria, the opposition is spread out all over. it's really quite a mess there because a city like homs is divided by sects. alawites, christians and sunni muslims and they're all in small neighborhoods. it's a mosaic. anderson, what i'm worried about is this is really starting to spin out of control.
1:25 am
two iranian ships and you have iranians saying they're going to intervene and problems on the turkish border. is this going to spread? we have to do something. >> in terms of the level of danger in this region, fran, how does this compare to what we've seen over the last decade or so? >> as bob rightly says, this is now -- the powder keg's ignited. you have not only the iranian ships, we're talking about getting weapons and russians are supplying weapons to the assad regime they're using to slaughter their own people. that's right and they have this port in charteuse the russians are using to bring in a nuclear warship. this is areal, akin to the proxy war we saw in southeast asia, vietnam 40 years ago. we have to be careful because of the varying interests. iranians are very much in play
1:26 am
as are russians and weapons of both of those countries. we have to be careful about being pulled into a potsie war but we can't use that as excuse, shield to let the slaughter continue. we're going to have to exert ourselves and show a leadership role. so bob, what other options are there? what about the notion of some humanitarian corridor, trying to get relief supplies into these neighborhoods in homs, which have just been under systematic attack? >> i think we should establish a place in northern syria, along the turkish border that would provide refuge for these people. it's winter there, snowing, cold, you have women and children dying. they have to be able to go some place, the best people to protect them are the turks. i don't know what the turks want to do at this point. they're very nervous about it. we're coming to the point there should be a humanitarian corridor. >> but can you do that, fran, without a permission of the regime in syria? and the syrian regime is saying there's no need for this because
1:27 am
there's not a war going on in our country. these are just some armed terrorists we're dealing with? >> this brings us back to the shameful embarrassment of the u.n. security council. what we need now, more than anything, is an effective security council resolution that includes russia and china. it looks like there's been some small amount of movement on china's part that can see the humanitarian crisis. i don't know that you can move russia, other than to shame them by these horrific videos we see arwa damon has now. the other thing, we need to have the international community push for is the safe passage of journalists. the most important thing in terms of moving the international community and shaming governments like russia is to have international unbiased observers that journalists are. to have arwa damon and ivan watson and other of our colleagues having to sneak in and out at their own personal risk is outrageous. there's a good reason the syrians don't want them there. >> but bob, the syrian regime has said things which are just factually incorrect and lies. they claimed for months, we had
1:28 am
them on this show claiming journalists are free to travel wherever they want, there's no holding them back. it's just not true. >> well, fran is absolutely right. it kept the arab league observers away from the real fighting. they're lying to the outside world. this is a regime on the edge. you have about 14% of the population that are alawites. they won't give up. have heavy armor in and will fight to the last because they believe their survival is at stake. this is not ghadafi. the alawites will fight to the very end. >> thanks. explosive allegation in arizona against a sheriff and rising conservative star, the allegations he's facing tonight. he's quit his job as mitt romney's campaign co-chair in arizona. we'll tell you why ahead.
1:29 am
also ahead a tense standoff in a police station captured by a camera and police officers wear it like a headset. >> announcer: with nothing but his computer, an identity thief is able to use your information to open a bank account in order to make your money his money. [whoosh, clang] you need lifelock, the only identity theft protection company that now monitors bank accounts for takeover fraud. lifelock: relentlessly protecting your identity. call 1-800-lifelock or go to lifelock.com today. we're the wassman family from skagway, alaska. happened to come across quicken loans online. [ chris ] quicken loans constantly kept us updated and got us through the process twice now. quicken loans is definitely engineered to amaze. they were just really there for us. my son and i never missed opening day. but with copd making it hard to breathe, i thought those days might be over. so my doctor prescribed symbicort. it helps significantly improve my lung function,
1:30 am
starting within 5 minutes. symbicort doesn't replace a rescue inhaler for sudden symptoms. with symbicort, today i'm breathing better, and that means... game on! symbicort is for copd, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema. it should not be taken more than twice a day. symbicort may increase your risk of lung infections, osteoporosis, and some eye problems. tell your doctor if you have a heart condition or high blood pressure before taking it. [ whistle ] with copd, i thought i might miss out on my favorite tradition. now symbicort significantly improves my lung function, starting within 5 minutes. and that makes a difference in my breathing. today i'm back with my favorite team. ask your doctor about symbicort. i got my first prescription free. call or click to learn more. [ male announcer ] if you can't afford your medication, astrazeneca may be able to help.
1:32 am
1:33 am
of all the illegals in america, more than half come through arizona. border security has been babeu's defining image. when this ad was shot, he was a first-term sheriff and today, running for congress and president of mitt romney's presidential campaign in arizona. the primary is a week away. he resigned as co-chairman after a former boyfriend who's mexican went public about their relationship and accused the sheriff of threatening to deport him if he told anyone about it. the local paper broke the story friday. here's what babeu said the next day. >> i'm here to say that all the allegations in these newspapers are absolutely completely false except for the issues that refer to me being gay. because that's the truth, i am gay. >> that revelation is the only part of the story that's not in dispute. we talked to the man who's been making accusations against the sheriff.
1:34 am
>> reporter: sheriff paul babeu built a national reputation taking a hard line on illegal immigration. but now allegations about his personal life are threatening to cut short his budding political career. in 2006, he met this man, jose, on the dating site, gay.com. >> reporter: did you fall in love with him? >> yes. >> reporter: do you think he was in love with you? >> i don't think so, no. >> reporter: that's hard, isn't it? >> yes. >> reporter: jose from mexico claims he's in the u.s. legally on a ten-year multiple entry tourist visa, even running a business here. it doesn't add up. immigration experts say you can't come and go for months at a time on a tourist advise is a and you can only run a business in a very limited way. sheriff babeu said he never asked about jose's status because he assumed he was in the u.s. legally. >> reporter: did he ever have you if you were here legally? >> no. >> reporter: never did?
1:35 am
as the relationship soured, babeu accused jose of hacking his account and putting in slanderous remarks. he showed us a message saying you can never have business after this and you will harm me and many others in the process, including yourself and your family. jose's attorney says another threat came from babeu's lawyer, chris derose. >> mr. derose said it's come to my attention that your client is here illegally and he's here on an expired student visa. >> reporter: sheriff babeu and his lawyer categorically deny anyone ever threatened deportation or pressured jose to leave the country. >> at no time did i or anyone who represents me ever threaten deportation. >> reporter: while the sheriff has resigned from the romney campaign, he's not giving up his
1:36 am
run for congress though it's not clear he can still call upon the support he so far enjoyed from conservatives in this very conservative state. >> miguel joins us now. so this guy, why isn't he -- if he's making these allegations against the sheriff, he's not willing to show his face at this point even though he says he's here legally? >> reporter: he is not. he says it's matter of concern because the sheriff is a powerful guy and arizona is a conservative state and if he comes out, as it were, probably a bad choice of words, if he does that, he fears there will be violence against him by others who support the sheriff or something terrible could happen to him. >> is this -- is this pretty much over? because this guy has made these allegations against the sheriff. the sheriff denied anything inappropriate. is there anywhere else for this story go? >> well, there's a possibility that it will get a little broader before it's over. the local station, the local
1:37 am
newspapers are certainly digging around much more. i understand there are many more allegations out there, that the sheriff was a prolific online dater. if you remember the anthony weiner situation, which i'm sure you do, there may be more evidence out there in the form of pictures and others who come forward and we may not see the end of this. >> but those would just be salacious stories of his personal life opposed -- it seems what had made this a real story was the allegation that he had somehow threatened this guy and/or knew this guy's immigration status, if in fact it's not legal. >> reporter: sure, except that he is running his congressional campaign, and would certainly like to win that. if these allegations continue to come up in dribs and drabs and throughout the campaign, it's going to be very very difficult for him to keep that campaign up. he wants to put a lid on it right now.
1:38 am
it's not clear that he can do that. jose, i think, for this piece of the story, it seems to be over. the sheriff says he is not going to press charges against jose for hacking in or getting access to his twitter account, however he did it. jose says at this point, he just wants to be left alone. for this particular episode or chapter of this drama, that may be over. >> miguel, appreciate it. thanks. still ahead, a story that seemed too outrageous to be true but it is true. you won't believe what a teacher's contract in buffalo, new york, covers. plastic surgery on taxpayers' dime. botox, facelift, nose jobs. we'll have the full story ahead. susan? a horrific scene at a kfc restaurant in maryland. one person was killed, four were hurt, when a car crashed into the building. local reports quote witnesses saying the car appeared to be traveling as fast as 100 miles an hour, when it lost control, hit the curb and flew through the air.
1:39 am
that is the aftermath. >> soout korea fired live artillery drill off the peninsula. north korea called it a provocation. two years ago, north korea responded to a drill in the same area with deadly shelling. you have to see this. a camera worn like a headset captured a tense moment in a minnesota police station. a man with a knife came inside. you heard the officer telling him to put it down. his neck was bleeding. they ordered him to drop the knife and call for backup. the suspect, who turned out to be suicidal was tasered. you see him there. an amazing story out of sweden. local reports say a snowmobilers found a man alive inside this car covered with snow. he told police he had been living in the car since the middle of last year and hadn't eaten in two months. he was emaciated and barely able to speak. apparently he was living on snow. >> that's bizarre. that's hard to believe. thanks, we'll check in with you later. coming up, free plastic surgery for teachers in buffalo,
1:40 am
new york. last year, the school spent almost $6 million giving teachers facelifts, breast implants, you name it. meanwhile, the district was $42 million in the hole. and elizabeth smart, we'll tell you about her weekend wedding. hohow w arare e yoyou? wewe'r're e gogoining g toto h e inintetervrvieiew.w. jojohnhn, , jijillll.....m.mr. whwhatat's's i it t lilikeke d e fufusisionon h hybybri? yoyou u cacan n rereadad e evet isis o opeperaratitingng b by ya bubuttttonon.. itit's's l likike e drdrivivin.
1:41 am
whwhatat w wououldld b be e thtg fofor r yoyou u toto g gi? ththe e mimileles s peper r gag. whwhenen y youou'r're e ususeder cacar r upup o oncnce e a, ththenen s sududdedenlnly y one weweekeks,s, bebelilieveve e meme i it'tg didiffffererenencece g go. ask me. [ male announcer ] if you think even the best bed can only lie there... ask me what it's like when my tempurpedic moves? [ male announcer ] ...talk to someone who owns an adjustable version of the most highly recommended bed in america. ask me about my tempur advanced ergo. ask me about having all the right moves.
1:42 am
[ male announcer ] these are real tempur advanced ergo owners. find one for yourself. check out twitter. try your friends on facebook. see what they have to say unedited. goes up. ask me what it's like to get a massage anytime you want. goes down. ergonomics. ergonomics. [ male announcer ] tempurpedic brand owners are more satisfied than owners of any traditional mattress brand. [ laughs ] [ woman ] ask me why i'm glad i didn't wait till i'm too old to enjoy this. [ male announcer ] start asking real owners. ask me how to make your first move. [ male announcer ] it's the perfect time to save up to $200 on your own ergo. find out more at tempurpedic.com. tempurpedic. the most highly recommended bed in america. when it comes to home insurance, surprises can be a little scary. and a little costly. that's why the best agents present their clients with a lot of options. because when it comes to what's covered and what's not, nobody likes surprises. [ click ] [ chuckles ]
1:43 am
we totally thought -- [ all scream ] obscure space junk falling from the sky? we cover that. moving on. aah, aah, aah, aah. [ male announcer ] we are insurance. ♪ we are farmers ♪ bum, ba-da-bum, bum, bum, bum ♪ "keeping them honest" tonight, free plastic surgery for teachers on the taxpayer dime. everyone agree, including the teacher's union that it should be done away with. a strange policy in place for 40 years in buffalo, new york. teachers have a rider in the contract that lets them get face lifts, nose job, breast augmentation, all covered and when they go under the knife, the taxpayers are the ones footing the bill. raising eyebrows, figuratively and literally. >> reporter: this buffalo plastic surgeon has a lot of happy patients. >> let's say i was a woman who weighed over 300 pounds and lost maybe 150 to 160 pounds. >> reporter: indeed, that's what happened to valerie
1:44 am
schoolteacher. it's not the results that make her happy, the sweet deal she gets. the sweet deal all the 3400 teachers in buffalo are eligible to get under one of their insurance plan options, they're billed nothing for any plastic surgery procedures, such as botox, liposuction, tummy tucks and there is no deductible. linda teaches second grade and says she gets regular treatments. >> i think it's great for us. i wouldn't want to see it taken away. >> reporter: dr. bangoo has been a plastic surgeon in buffalo for 0 years. >> i feel the teachers pay their dues and would be wrong to take it away from them. >> reporter: while he does have plenty of non-teacher patients, he says 3 out of every 10 are buffalo teachers and the school district insurance covers every single penny. >> they come in for hair removal on their lips, face.
1:45 am
>> do they also come in for liposuction? >> yes. >> breast enhancement? >> yes, they do. >> face lift? >> yes. >> rhinoplasty? >> yes. >> so it's busy? >> yes. >> dr. banghoo is one of many plastic surgeons that advertise. and they spent $5.9 million on teachers plastic surgery last year, which is also known as a cosmetic requireder which has been going on for four decades. >> i've been unable to find one like this. >> reporter: you might think they must be flush with cash for free plastic surgery? wrong. projecting a $42 million deficit in next year's budget. >> if you had this $5.9 million that wasn't spent on plastic surgery, what would you be doing now? >> hiring 240 teachers. >> you don't have to be a brain surgeon to know that a plastic surgeon or a teacher would like this policy more than the
1:46 am
typical taxpayer. but the teachers will tell you there's a lot more to this story. they say the contract ended more than a decade ago. negotiations failed. and they add they are woefully underpaid. quite interesting to hear what the president of the teacher's union says about the plastic surgery benefit. >> we told the district from the beginning of negotiations six or eight years ago we're willing to give it up. as long as the district comes to the table and negotiates with us it's gone. >> do you feel as a gesture of good faith, they should say, no more plastic surgery. >> it would be a wonderful gesture of good faith. we're willing to give it up. all the district has to come to do is go to the table and negotiate with us. >> but you're not willing to do it unilaterally? >> no. >> reporter: the fact is the fire departments have similar programs but not dealing with the same financial programs as the school system. >> everybody works and pays their tithes and offerings as everybody else. >> i don't think it's right the taxpayer pays for that for free.
1:47 am
>> reporter: as for now, the policy remains in a school district with a unique mix of brain and beauty. >> have teachers been laid on over years because of the plastic surgery policy? >> there are currently 3400 teachers. the board of education is telling us five years ago in 2007 there were hundreds more and they say the plastic surgery policy is part of the reason those teachers are gone. they also add, though, that there are fewer students in the district than five years ago and they get less state funding from the state of new york. >> are teachers' family members also eligible for free plastic surgery? >> yeah. everybody is eligible. husbands, wives, daughters, sons, everybody can get the plastic surgery if their loved one is a teacher. what's so fascinating about this story is that what we're being told at this point, there are fewer students in this district and a lot fewer teachers, very important to stress.
1:48 am
>> i've been tweeting about this. a lot of teachers on twitter are very surprised to hear this in the country and puts teachers in a bad light because most teachers are doing this for very low pay. appreciate it. we will continue to talk about it on @anderson cooper. still to come, happy weekend for elizabeth smart. we'll tell you about her wedding. and an avalanche on as many as a dozen skiers and three did not survive. ou take it? well, there is. [ male announcer ] it's called ocuvite. a vitamin totally dedicated to your eyes, from the eye-care experts at bausch + lomb. as you age, eyes can lose vital nutrients. ocuvite helps replenish key eye nutrients. [ male announcer ] ocuvite has a unique formula not found in your multivitamin to help protect your eye health. now, that's a pill worth taking. [ male announcer ] ocuvite. help protect your eye health. whoa. [ male announcer ] ocuvite.
1:49 am
whoa. how do you top great vacations? whoa. getting twice the points on great vacations. whoa! use chase sapphire preferred and now get two times the points on travel, and two times the points on dining and no foreign transaction fees. whoa! chase sapphire preferred. a card of a different color. apply now at chasesapphire.com/preferred
1:50 am
when it comes to home insurance, surprises can be a little scary. and a little costly. that's why the best agents present their clients with a lot of options. because when it comes to what's covered and what's not, nobody likes surprises. [ click ] [ chuckles ] we totally thought -- [ all scream ] obscure space junk falling from the sky? we cover that. moving on. aah, aah, aah, aah. [ male announcer ] we are insurance. ♪ we are farmers ♪ bum, ba-da-bum, bum, bum, bum ♪
1:52 am
rueters wire news saying the eu failed to bail out greece for the second time. in addition, they will make a decisional cuts to reduce their national debt. here at home, three people died in an avalanche in washington state. 12 skiers were swept up to 2,000 feet. a spokewoman says all the skiers were experienced but, quote, nature happened. elizabeth smart was married in a private ceremony in hawaii over the weekend. the couple met while smart was doing missionary work in france. she is 24 now. she was 14 when she was abducted and held captive for nine months. and you have to see this. an amazing scene from yosemite national park.
1:53 am
it's the sun hitting a water fall. for two weeks in february, the setting sun creates this illusion at horsetail fall. pretty neat. anderson, back to you. our daily challenge to viewers, chance to out-do our staffers by coming up with a better caption for a blog. will ferrell kick of bacchus frank the tank gets set to put the roc cows in bacchus. will ferrell goes through intensive auditions for game of thrones. newt gingrich wants brad pitt to play him in a movie, and we don't think there's anything wrong with that. ♪ they see me rollin' ♪ they hatin' ♪ patrolling and tryin' to catch me ridin' dirty ♪ ♪ tryin' to catch me ridin' dirty ♪
1:54 am
♪ tryin' to catch me ridin' dirty ♪ ♪ tryin' to catch me ridin' dirty ♪ [ mom ] hi, there. why do we always have to take your mom's car? [ male announcer ] the security of a tiguan, one of nine volkswagen models named a 2012 iihs top safety pick. ♪ tryin' to catch me ridin' dirty ♪ oh there's tons. french presses, espresso tampers, filters. it can get really complicated. not nearly as complicated as shipping it though. i mean shipping is a hassle. not with priority mail flat rate boxes from the postal service. if it fits it ships, anywhere in the country for a low flat rate. that is easy. best news i've heard all day! i'm soooo amped! time now for the really kind of in between. have you ever thought about decaf? do you think that would help? yeah. priority mail flat rate shipping starts at just $5.15, only from the postal service. a simpler way to ship.
1:55 am
your finances can't manage themselves. but that doesn't mean they won't try. bring all your finances together with the help of the one person who can. a certified financial planner professional. cfp. let's make a plan. why you fell in love with her in the first place. and why you still feel the same. but your erectile dysfunction -- that could be a question of blood flow. cialis for daily use helps you be ready anytime the moment's right. you can be more confident in your ability to be ready. and the same cialis is the only daily ed tablet approved to treat ed and symptoms of bph, like needing to go frequently or urgently. tell your doctor about all your medical conditions and medications, and ask if your heart is healthy enough for sexual activity. do not take cialis if you take nitrates for chest pain, as this may cause an unsafe drop in blood pressure. do not drink alcohol in excess with cialis. side effects may include headache, upset stomach, delayed backache or muscle ache.
1:56 am
to avoid long term injury, seek immediate medical help for an erection lasting more than four hours. if you have any sudden decrease or loss in hearing or vision, or if you have any allergic reactions such as rash, hives, swelling of the lips, tongue or throat, or difficulty breathing or swallowing, stop taking cialis and get medical help right away. ask your doctor about cialis for daily use and a 30-tablet free trial. but proven technologies allow natural gas producers to supply affordable, cleaner energy, while protecting our environment. across america, these technologies protect air - by monitoring air quality and reducing emissions... ...protect water - through conservation and self-contained recycling systems... ... and protect land - by reducing our footprint and respecting wildlife. america's natural gas... domestic, abundant, clean energy to power our lives... that's smarter power today.
1:57 am
domestwill be giving away enerpassafree copieslives... of the alcoholism & addiction cure. to get yours, go to ssagesmalibubook.com. time now for the "ridiculist." and we're adding those who scoff that newt gingrich would want brad pitt to play him in a movie. >> why not go for it, you know? >> is it because you both look so much alike? >> i don't look like him at all. he's thinner, better look, he's younger. you asked me if i had anybody to play me in a movie, why not go for brad pitt. >> there's been some tittering about it. and he played the man who aged backwards in the age of benjamin button and do we not think he couldn't play newt gingrich, in case this happened and he isn't
1:58 am
available, go with the actor playing him in "snl" and here in 1935, showing up at a house meeting. >> all right. here we go. let's show americans how many bills the republican congress can pass in 10 minutes when we're not hampered by bizarre, weird democrats. how about even though we had nothing to do with it, we take credit for ending the baseball strike, huh? change hail to the chief to hail to the speaker. and make "saturday night live's" ratings better. all in favor? >> great chris farley. my point is this, so what if pitt and gingrich doesn't look anything alike. gingrich was asked who he would like to play him in a movie, not which star he most looks like. and from the super pac of rick santorum, gingrich looks more like paula deen. and gingrich and dwight from the office.
1:59 am
here is gingrich in his younger years and dwight. only a matter of time before there is a schrute gingrich bobblehead. i think i'd like jon hamm from "madmen" to play me. although i'd probably look a little different, like roger sterling. and some people think i look like this cat and this website totallylookslike.com and i actually kind of agree. i'm sorry, i can't show that without showing this. perhaps the most famous animal celebrity combination -- sorry, let's see that again. makes me giggle every time. the most famous animal celebrity combination of them all, larry king. [ laughing ] and this monkey. curious george, you're on with bill maher. what's your question?
144 Views
IN COLLECTIONS
CNN Television Archive Television Archive News Search Service The Chin Grimes TV News ArchiveUploaded by TV Archive on