Transcripts For CNNW American Morning 20120216 : comparemela

Transcripts For CNNW American Morning 20120216



whitney houston on a dangerous path days before her death. she drank heavily in the days before her death. she started drinking 10:00 in the morning poolside. also, have we got a deal for you. and i mean it. a payroll tax cut deal is now actually in place. the lawmakers using a word they haven't used in a while, the big c word, compromise. iran showing off a new level of nuclear know-how and playing the oil card, as well. what does iran want and what is it capable of? we're speaking to an expert who has been inside iran. if you are about to or in the middle of packing your children's school lunch, you will love this one. does the government know better than you what to put in that lunch box? aapparently in one town they seem to think they do. is it going too far? find out what was in the lunch box and what the mom got in trouble for. >> what they replaced it with is what shocks me. singer whitney houston was drinking heavily at her hotel just days before she was found dead. tmz photo here taken by the hotel pool where the sources claim she ordered several drinks. we don't know, however, what is in the glass beside her, but we do know some of those same sources say she was arguing with a bartender because she thought they were putting too much ice in her drinks. >> they haven't yet determined the cause of death, have to wait for the toxicology on that, take a look at this. this is her death certificate and if you zero right in on cause of death, it is listed as deferred. they're waiting to hear what the toxicology may determine and, of course, manner of death after that. a private funeral service on saturday that's what the family decided. they will stream the images online and television possible, as well. friends and family chose the private service and they wanted to remember whitney houston at only they knew her. >> this is my daughter. this is my sister, this is my mother. this is my friend and we want to do this with dignity. we don't want to have a parade. we loved her when she was nippy in new jersey. the world loves her because of her voice. but if she could not sing, the houston family would love her. >> pastor marvin winans, who actually married bobby brown and whitney houston and will proceed over the funeral services, as well. susan standing by with the latest on the investigation. the pastor said they want to remember whitney the way they remember her. and they're now looking at the subpoenas that have been going out to doctors and to pharmacies. what's happening? >> you can't forget about her brilliant career, but this is the hard reality that coroners have to look at what led to her death. you indicated the disturbing details. drinking as early as 10:00 in the morning on tuesday and thursday. remember, her body was found on saturday. ordering drinks and complaining to the bartender that they were watered down and too much ice in them. people describing her as doing somersaults and running in and out of the pool and wearing mismatched clothes and erratic behavior that didn't sound rith. they're trying to piece together medications she was on, what she was drinking and whether there was any interaction and whether any of this had anything to do with her death. >> i'm sorry, i thought you were throwing to a sound bite there. let me ask you about the people who are expected to be coming to this funeral because it is the invitation only services we are told and pretty significant vips and actually even performers, right? >> oh, absolutely. aretha franklin. i mean, come on, she's been invited to sing. how could she turn that down. dionne warwick, these are relatives. chaka cahn. some live in new york and l.a. they're all going to be here. a huge list of invitas. again, private funeral, you have to have a ticket to get in. >> susan candiotti, thank you. cnn will air special coverage of whitney houston's funeral and it gets under way saturday at 11:00 in the morning eastern time. it is five minutes past the hour, switching gears here. china is sending a top envoy to syria for talks on ending the violence there. no let up for the crackdown on the opposition. syrian forces are said to be storming towns in search of military defectors. cnn's arwa damon is seeing the bloody onslot first hand in the city of holmes. >> the bombardment at some points was so intense that buildings were shaking, glass was shattering. a 9-year-old girl that was caught in the house that we were in burst into tears and absolutely no way to comfort her. we also spent a couple hours that medical clinic inside the neighborhood that has been the hardest hit in this most recent government onslot. nonstop shelling residents here are telling us is going on for 11, 12 days now. the doctors now are beside themselves. >> arwa is there with the cnn news team. the u.n. general assembly set to take up a symbolic resolution condemning syria. china and russia blocked that security council action earlural. ivan watson will join us from syria with a live report. >> arwa damon is the only one of the major networks in america that could breach the border and now this is two correspondents that we were able to get into this country. since march we have been trying to get people in and we were able to go in with weapons and monitors not weapons but monitors, but this is really quite remarkable and we can't understate how incredibly dangerous this is for anybody to be doing this. this is remarkable risk to them. just want to make sure we underscore that. the gop presidential candidate rick santorum gave it up. tax returns, not just a couple. four years worth, that is the most any republican candidate has coughed up. >> christine romans is here with us and she's been pouring over them this morning. >> taxes are so much fun first thing ing the morning. >> he has been on the campaign trail for a while it has taken him some time because he said, i do them myself. >> it says self-repaired right on his four years of returns. what we know about rick santorum, even as he was trying to put himself very apart from mitt romney and his vast wealth. he made more than $900,000 last year. he paid a higher tax rate than mitt romney and the others. 28.3% was his tax rate there. we also know he gave $16,000 to charity. two kids in college and a house that lost 40% and he points out that the reason why he pays a higher tax rate because he earns his money and goes out and works for his money and just doesn't make money with money. listen. >> i don't have any income that would come from investments or wealth. i mean, almost 90% plus of the money on the tax returns i went out and earned and as a result i am paying social security taxes on them earned income and that's why i pay they can make more money than any of us will ever make. >> talk to me about the policies. the poll that breaks down all the gop policies and what policies favor the rich? >> that's what this whole tax story. everyone wants to see the tax returns because these candidates are trying to position themselves as relating to us. to real people. to real working americans, right? and this poll shows how well they're doing. who favors the rich. romney, 65% said that his policies favor the rich. gingrich and romney are seen as favoring the rich but santorum does better on this front and then president obama, 26%. a whole narrative right now, right, about rich versus poor. who is going to work for me, who will work for the haves and the have notes. all playing out on the campaign trail. that's why they're figuring out everyone's tax rates. >> just as you pored over them, did you find anything surprising? >> i was surprised about the $16,000 last year to charity. they didn't list who they gave money to and the like. i would like to see more about the charitable donations, especially because you're talking about values and talking about your fellow man. >> i bet charitable donations are down across the board especially for everybody. >> especially if you have college and your house value is down and for people who run charities and religious organizations, they would like to give a little bit more. still to come, reports of armed militias running wild in libya, torturing detainees. the same liberators who toppled gadhafi. first, though, to rob marciano for the travel forecast with anybody who is headed somewhere. good morning, rob. >> good morning, guys. a big shield of rain moving across the eastern third of the country, moving into colder air. for the most part a colder event. 32 in buffalo and spreading to the i-95 corridor, as well, throughout the day today and into parts of tomorrow, as well. not a ton of severe weather with this overnight but bringing beneficial rains to parts of the southeast. this will ride up the appalachians and tap moisture from the east coast over the next day and a half. what we're really worried about is the next storm that will come through the mid-atlantic come sunday. if you're upstate weatherwise, "early start" is coming right back. my job is to find the next big sound. they sound awesome tonight. and when i do find it, i share it with the world. you landed the u.s. tour ? 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[ female announcer ] yoplait. it is so greek. okay... ♪ ♪ one, two, three, four ♪ you say ♪ flip it over and replay ♪ we'll make everything okay ♪ walk together the right way ♪ do, do, do, do we are talking catwalks this morning. what it takes to become a top model. but what is it like to be on top? that was like, i lived that song in the '80s, right? >> alina cho, didn't that song bring you right back? >> i'm too sexy for this segment. >> listen, it's always fun to follow a top muddle, right? you think about it, naomi, christie, gisele. that is the case with joan smalls. seemingly overnight she went from catalog model to catwalk stunner. what is it like to be jones? we followed her during fashion week. one look at her and it's clear, joan smalls is not just a super model, she's a star. >> it's kind of like a go-getter heart. like i'm coming. i'm coming to get it. i'm coming to be great. >> on the catwalk at louis vuitton, mark jacobs, gucci. the it-girl designers must have like derek lam. >> she's like a seasoned actr s actress. >> jason wu. >> she represents the girl that i feel i design for. the girl that who never gives up. >> reporter: what does it take to be joan smalls? >> how did it happen? >> it happened with a leap of faith. >> reporter: born in puerto rico, in the early days joan was a catalog model. three years ago, she wanted more. she switched managers who directed her to change her approach. for instance, at casting calls, dress the part. >> high heels. >> high heels. show off those legs and show off that great body of yours. >> reporter: joan started booking jobs. her biggest breakthrough, an exclusive contract in january of 2010. during high fashions, most coveted runway, catour. >> don't go anywhere else, i have goose bumps all over my body and i smiled so hard. >> reporter: did you realize that would be a breakthrough moment for you? >> i think you realize when you want something so bad and something great happens, i think it's instinct. this is the moment that is going to change everything. >> reporter: it did. >> her second job was italian steven and then afterwards, vogue and shortly afterwards to represent estee lauder. >> reporter: the cosmetic giant's first lutina face. a multi-year contract at a rate of more than $1 million a year. have you seen what it has done to models and career? >> it definitely makes a household name immediately. >> reporter: fitted by vera wang, stella mccartney and most recently chanel. >> i always wanted the greater and the bigger. i came here with a purpose and to be an inspiration to others. >> what can you say? she's gorgeous and she's nice. so, what's next for joan smalls? she says her big dream is to land the cover of american vogue. vogue does not comment on covers, but a top vogue editor did tell me that joan is a pleasure to work with and she is a friend of vogue. vogue does not take its relationship with models very lightly. they say they have become embasders for the magazine and they nurture these models and don't discard them. being in vogue as a model, as you know, i'm sure. >> i don't know. >> trust me. >> last time i was in "vogue" it was very different. >> the one thing i will say about joan smalls. in january of 2010, not that long ago, the designer ricardo very respected in the industry believed in her. signed her to that exclusive and that was it. the phone never stopped ringing after that. >> here, two things, a good agent and never give up. that's what she said. she said, i'm coming to get it. >> you have to want it. her agent said beauty is the standard in the industry, you have to bring the personality. >> all right, alina, thank you very much. >> you bet. >> don't miss alina's special. "fashion backstage pass" it airs next saturday at 2:30 p.m. eastern on cnn. you will not want to miss it. we'll be right back. all right, so, 20 minutes past the top of the hour now. let's get you caught up on the top stories as you're heading out the door or just getting ready for your day. a source telling us whitney houston was ordering a lot of alcohol at her hotel in the days just before her death. her death certificate is listing her cause of death as deferred until they find out more. some militias that helped topper mogar ammar gadhafi are engaging in torture and abuse of the prisoners they took. a payroll tax cut deal is in place this morning. congressional negotiators sealed the deal late last night that legislation to renew the tax cut for 160 million workers and the jobless benefits from millions more. general motors is ending pensions for 19,000 salaried workers. the automaker is moving the traditional pension plans to 401(k)s. they hope to lower financial risk for the investors. coming up in just a moment, it's not easily done, but arwa damon has done it and now a second correspondent for cnn has done it, as well. breached the borders of syria. we're going to take you live for a report inside northern syria in just moments. a first-hand look. [ tires squeal, engine revs ] ♪ ♪ ♪ [ male announcer ] not everything powerful has to guzzle fuel. the 2012 e-class bluetec from mercedes-benz. see your authorized mercedes-benz dealer for exceptional offers through mercedes-benz financial services. welcome back to "early start." we do have breaking news here. no apparent let up in syria's government crackdown on the opposition. >> our ivan watson has been able to get over the border into northern syria this morning. an area that has seen a lot of fighting in recent days. ivan, i know you're joining us and we're not going to give away your location, obviously. are you able to see specific evidence of what has been reported by the opposition members for so many months now? >> ashleigh, i think what is astounding here is that the countryside in northern syria, much of it is in open revolt. this is a rebellion of farmers, of carpenters and of high school teachers and we have traveled from village to village to town and sat in town council, village council where people sit in circles, young men, old men, chain smoking and brandishing what appear to be assault rifles that they've gotten within the last couple of months. it does appear that villages and towns in northern syria have been, basically, out of government control for several months now except when government forces have tried to conduct deadly incursions into these towns that are temporary at best. nearly everybody we talked to was able to show photos in their cell phones of neighbors and relatives who have been killed in some of these incursions. an additional point that is fascinating is that these communities are now experimenting in self-rule, providing their own services to their communities. in many cases, hosting hundreds of defected syrian soldiers who they identify as the free syrian army. from positions that we have been in, syrian government forces have only been a few forces away. within line of sight, actually. we've gotten one view of one of the largest cities in the region and it's incredible. you can see the syrian government flag flying in the center of that city, less than a mile away in the center of the city, you can also see the rebel flag flying. these are government and rebel forces very close together and, in some cases, engaging in fierce battles with a daily report of casualties of civilians dying as a result of these deadly clashes. >> so, ivan, so many questions. but, obviously, right off the bad, he says he's dealing with a handful of bad terrorists and what you're reporter teachers, farmers and carpenters with small arms. sounds like something completely different. are you seeing any evidence of increased artillery being brought in to help these people to do what they're trying to do? >> so far the only weaponry we have seen are assault rifles which can't really do a lot of damage, ashleigh, against the kind of armor and air power that the syrian government has. what we're hearing, but we have not seen with our own eyes from the opposition here is that they're trying to defend their communities, their villages and towns with improvised explosive devices. land mines and they're using them to ring some of these communities. yesterday, we're told, that one of the villages in the area was attacked by artillery, by tank shells and that it killed at least two residents of that community. they do seem to be preparing for the possibility of a syrian military offensive that they know they won't have considerable weaponry to defend themselves against. what many of the people here have said is because of the brunt of the syrian military is targeting much larger population centers like the city of holmes, which are much larger population centers. that is occupying the syrian military and allowing the people in these areas in northern syria to continue living, as they call it, in liberated territory. >> obviously, let's hope that they lay maps when they lay those land mines down because that could be an entirely different crisis later on. ivan watson, goes without saying, be extraordinarily careful. we want to remind our viewers the kind of danger that ivan and arwa damon are in. we will be right back after this break. with a selec-terrain dial that adjusts the jeep grand cherokee's performance for specific weather and road conditions, even heavy snowstorms won't keep you from getting to work... our apologies. 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. and a very good morning to you, 31 minutes past 6:00 on the east coast. i'm ashleigh banfield. >> i'm zoraida sambolin. they issued a lot of subpoenas. pakistani intelligence officials say a u.s. drone strike killed five suspected militants in the tribal region along the afghan border. the drone fired at a suspected militant com

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