aaron schock. let's say you're a u.s.ongressman in a state that's expected to take up the issue of gay marriage in the coming weeks, and let's say you have a history of supporting a federal amendment that would ban it entirely. in those circumstances you might expect it to be a hot topic with reporters, right? illinois congressman aaron schock apparently never saw it coming. >> why don't you support that issue, by the way? >> well, i just haven't. >> i mean, is there a reason? it seems to be a few states have passed it. obviously the needle is moving in a lot of polls. i'm wondering what the reason is? >> i think everybody has a set of beliefs on issues, social issues in particular, that are a reflection of how they were raised and their set of beliefs. i think why you're seeing some of these changes in laws is because people's views in society have changed. >> well, that was illuminating. schock has said he's considering a run for governor of illinois. >>> a rough week for some members of the 49ers. it started when chris

aaron schock. let's say you're a u.s.a state that's expected to take up the issue of gay marriage in the coming weeks, and let's say you have a history of supporting a federal amendment that would ban it entirely. in those circumstances you might expect it to be a hot topic with reporters, right? illinois congressman aaron schock apparently never saw it coming. >> why don't you support that issue, by the way? >> well, i just haven't. >> i mean, is there a reason? it seems to be a few states have passed it. obviously the needle is moving in a lot of polls. i'm wondering what the reason is? >> i think everybody has a set of beliefs on issues, social issues in particular, that are a reflection of how they were raised and their set of beliefs. i think why you're seeing some of these changes in laws is because people's views in society have changed. >> well, that was illuminating. schock has said he's considering a run for governor of illinois. >>> a rough week for some members of the 49ers. it started when chris culliver made

illinois congressman aaron schock is our guest. john kiriakou, a former fbi agent going to prison.nd mark o'mara, george zimmerman's defense attorney. it's february 27th. "starting point" begins right now. >>> welcome, everybody. pope benedict and his final public farewell. 1.2 billion catholics, making his last public appearance in st. peter's square, telling tens of thousands of followers his decision to step down comes with a deep peace of mind. >> translator: i have taken this step in full awareness of the gravity, seriousness and a profound serenity in my soul. >> chief international correspondent christiane amanpour joins us live from rome this morning. >> reporter: good morning, soledad. pilgrims streaming out of st. peter's square behind me, where they gathered several hours ago for the final public audience by pope benedict xvi. he did something rather unprecedented for these what are weekly audiences. he toured around the square in his pope mobile and tens of thousands of people inside the square got a first-hand look at him. lots of waving, lots of cheering, and he deliv

the house ethics committee is recommending a full investigation of illinois congressman aaron schock. schock is accused of soliciting more than five thousand dollars for a political action committee to help fellow republican adam kinzinger in the 16th district g-o-p primary last year. investigators say three days before the primary. the "campaign for primary accountability" pac received at least 115 thousand dollars in contributions as a result of efforts by schock and his campaign committee. schock has denied any wrongdoing. drew peterson's former attorney joel brodsky is suing another peterson attorney and the tribune company, among others charging he was defamed. brodsky's libel suit says a letter from attorney steven greenberg claimed brodsky was a liar and an incompetent lawyer. brodsky accuses greenberg, seen here in the white shirt, of writing the letter as revenge for brodsky's attempt to fire greenberg as one of peterson's attorneys. the tribune company is named in the lawsuit for publishing information from greenberg's letter. to slap heavier fines on people get drunk. every

coming tomorrow we'll talk to george zimmerman's defense attorney mark o mara and congressman aaron schock and steve israel, budget cuts day two, we're not calling it the cliff anymore but technically in two days we head over that cliff. >>> "cnn newsroom" with carol costello begins right now. i'll see everybody back here tomorrow morning for "starting point." have a great day. >>> breaking news, a balloon in cairo explodes and plummets thousands of feet. >>> also a blizzard for the history books. >> this one could be more treacherous to travel in. >> snow falling horizontally in middle america this morning. >> we declared a state of emergency for kansas city, missouri. >> plus marijuana nation. >> marijuana cultivation, distribution and consumption is going to happen with or without their acceptance. the choice that we have to make is whether we want to regulate and tax it. >> reporter: and tax it they will. some dispensaries could see tax rates as high as 75%. >>> plus this. a year after the shooting death of trayvon martin, artist, activist chuck dee joins to us talk about his new proje

coming tomorrow we'll talk to george zimmerman's defense attorney mark o mara and congressman aaron schockt the cliff anymore but technically in two days we head over that