. >> reporter: whatever the genetic recipe is, "new york times" media reporter and columnist david carrcertain it is wired into his d.n.a. did you come close to dying? >> yeah, quite a few times. >> reporter: carr has been clean and sober for 20 years now, but nearly lost everything after years of drug and alcohol addiction, all of it chronicled in his lyrical 2008 memoir the night of the gun. so you think there's probably some genes inside you that make you want this more than others? >> since i've been three or four years old, i would spin around until i got dizzy and then fall down. i think the desire to feel different than i feel right at this moment and see how pretty much baked in me. >> reporter: which brings us back to dr. schuckit's scientific saloon. >> the tests i take under the influence will determine how sensitive i am to alcohol. >> reporter: he designed the regime for a long-term study of 450 men. it's been underway for 30 years now. schuckit found those who get tipsy easily are about three times less likely to become alcoholics, but those who have to drink a lot before

international press institute. 119 journalists have been killed this year, a statistic noted by david carrreporter by the new york times. in his article titled "using war as cover to target journalists", he also wrote on tuesday, november 20th, three employees of news organizations were killed in gaza by israeli missiles. rather than suggesting it was a mistake or denying responsibility, an israeli defense forces spokeswoman, the lieutenant told people were relevance to terror activity. why is this guy getting criticized? >> he's getting criticized appropriately, jon, he has confused people idf perhaps didn't say it explicitly enough for mr. carr accused of being terrorists. now, let's be straight here, you can have a journalist who has strong opinions about how terrible what israel is doing in gaza. you can have a journalist who says, we've the got to defend israel. what you can't have is someone who is a member of a terrorist organization working for a news organization that is branned as an arm of that terrorist organization, masquerading as a journalist and complain when the israelis t

international press institute. 119 journalists have been killed this year, a statistic noted by david carra reporter by the new york times. in his article titled "using war as cover to target journalists", he also wrote on tuesday, november 20th, three employees of news organizations were killed in gaza by israeli missiles. rather than suggesting it was a mistake or denying responsibility, an israeli defense forces spokeswoman, the lieutenant told people were relevance to terror activity. why is this guy getting criticized? >> he's getting criticized appropriately, jon, he has confused people idf perhaps didn't say it explicitly enough for mr. carr accused of being terrorists. now, let's be straight here, you can have a journalist who has strong opinions about how terrible what israel is doing in gaza. you can have a journalist who says, we've the got to defend israel. what you can't have is someone who is a member of a terrorist organization working for a news organization that is branned as an arm of that terrorist organization, masquerading as a journalist and complain when the israelis

david: melissa francis is next. melissa: i'm melissa francis and here is what is "money" tonight. the tax cliff is coming. over norqrquistays upper earners are getting hit with higher taxes for parts of the health carr law. why isn't that enough? he is here to kp fighting the fight. >> plus venezuela just surpassed saudi arabia with the world's largest oil reserves. now hugo chavez has announced his cancer is back. a chart, chging of the guard there could have a huge impact on the globlt oil market. we'll ha details. >>> so much pot, so few answers. legalized marijuana la take effect in washington state and colorado. from driving high to trafficking weed over sttte borders the legal and financial nightmares are just beginning. but we're convening a pot power panel to help clear the smoke. even when they say it's not it is always about money. melissa: first let's look at the day's market headlines. some breaking news on aig just out a short time ago. the treasurynnounced it is sellg all of its remaining 234 common shares in the insurance giant however treasury will continue to hold warrants urchase aig common sck. investors refusing to give up hope on the fiscal cliff. the dow and s&p 500 gained post