Return to Transcripts main page

CNN NEWSROOM

Men Charged in Tulsa Killing Spree; North Korea Stokes Nuclear Tensions; Jennifer Hudson to Attend Murder Trial; Remembering Newsman Mike Wallace; Investors React Badly to March Jobs Data

Aired April 9, 2012 - 09:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, Christine. Good morning to all of you. I'm Carol Costello. Stories we're watching right now in the NEWSROOM.

Judgment in Oklahoma. The shootings of five black men by two white men rallying a community and raising questions. Was this a hate crime?

Up close and personal. CNN getting rare access inside North Korea's rocket station just hours before launch time. In a country where people go hungry, North Korea remains defiant. We are live in Pyongyang.

The famed monster. Jennifer Hudson in court for the trial of the man charged with murdering her mother, brother and nephew. Jury selection is today. The question, tough, will they find 12 people who won't be swayed by Hudson's celebrity?

Text from Hillary Clinton. A Tumblr page going viral showing the secretary of state with a wicked sense of humor. This morning the hip side of Hillary.

God's quarterback Tim Tebow pulling in tens of thousands for an Easter service in Texas. The pastor joking that in Christianity right now, it's the Pope and Tebow. We're talking football and faith and a New York Jet.

Masters green. Bubba Watson winning his first major championship title. The leftie from Florida slipping on both the green jacket and a spot in golf history.

We begin this morning, though, in Oklahoma. We're waiting on the court appearance of two men accused of a deadly shooting spree in Tulsa, Oklahoma. They are 19-year-old Jake England and 33-year-old Alvin Watts. They're accused of four separate shooting attacks that left three people dead, two others were wounded. The victims appeared to have been targeted at random.

Now investigators are trying to determine whether the violence was racially motivated. The hearing is set for the top of the hour.

Jason Carroll is in Tulsa this morning. So, Jason, do race and revenge play a part in this?

JASON CARROLL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, I think that's one of the components that police will be looking at, specifically they will be looking at a Facebook page from Jake England. He's the 19-year-old that you mentioned.

Just a little bit of history here with England. Two years ago, Carol, his father was killed by an African-American man and, apparently, England really never got over that. He wrote about it on his Facebook page. He used a racial slur. He said at one point, quote, "It might just be the time to call it quits." He also made reference to -- for people to get ready for another funeral. So these are just some of the things that investigators will be looking at in terms of whether or not they decide to charge these two suspects with hate crimes.

I actually this morning had an opportunity to speak with the police -- speak with the police chief and I spoke to him about what sort of criteria is used in deciding whether or not hate crime charges are brought.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHIEF CHUCK JORDAN, TULSA, POLICE: It has to be against a protected class and it has to be derogatory or threatening statements. You know, that's basically all it takes. But, you know, in this case, to be quite frank with you, we're going to give any information we have to the D.A.'s office.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CARROLL: So once again, it'll be up to the district attorney's office to make that final determination.

Another point with all of this, Carol, oftentimes when you see hate crime charges brought, it's when you've seen a lever crime occur, a misdemeanor. And authorities are looking to sort of up the ante, provide more teeth by throwing on top of that hate crime charges as well.

In this particular case, what you see is two people who are charged with capital offenses but having said that, when I spoke to one of the local councilman here this morning, he said if this is an issue of a hate crime, he says, this is something that I clearly -- this is the councilman's words, I clearly see as being a hate crime -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Jason Carroll, live in Tulsa, Oklahoma, this morning.

Now another story that's touched the nation's racial nerve, the Trayvon Martin case in Florida. This week we could see a breakthrough. A grand jury might take up the case as early as tomorrow. Two prosecutors are working to determine if there is enough evidence to bring charges against George Zimmerman. He, of course, is the neighborhood watch captain who says he killed Martin in self- defense.

The special prosecutor says she's never used a grand jury to decide on charges in a justifiable homicide case before.

Today, the U.S. Navy will start giving out checks to people who lost their homes and belongings when a jet crashed into their apartment complex. The first payouts will cover housing, meals and clothing about $2300 per person total. Families get more.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CAPT. BOB GEIS, U.S. NAVY: We'll have a Navy lawyer available as well to talk to any residents that have any questions or they need assistance. Any time we have a mishap, we want to get to the bottom of it and any people that have pictures or they have witness statements they want to provide the investigators, we'd love to have that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: The crash on Friday in Virginia Beach destroyed dozens of apartments. No one was killed or seriously hurt.

And expect some fireworks when Congress starts hearings on one of the most controversial Vegas blowouts in years. Last week we told you how the General Service Administration spent more than $800,000 of taxpayer money for a conference complete with that mind reader, a clown and commemorative coins.

Here's what Senator Dick Durbin said about it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. DICK DURBIN (D), ILLINOIS: Yes, I'm glad that the GSA administrator left. It's one of the agencies that I have responsibility for under the Appropriations Committee. We are going to have a hearing as to what or actually happened here. It's an absolutely outrageous expenditure of taxpayers' money.

The White House made it clear that the group in charge was going to be dismissed and resigned and they did. So we got to see whether it's Democrats, Republicans, whether it's a state of Illinois, Ohio or Washington, that kind of misuse of taxpayer funds is totally unacceptable.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: The first congressional hearing on the GSA's Vegas bash is next week.

This morning nuclear tensions are spiking over North Korea and its latest efforts to taunt the international community. Some time this week, the communist regime is due to launch this rocket. The U.S. and its allies see it as a possible test for a long-range missile that could reach American shores. South Korea's leader scoffed at the idea. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JANG MYONG JIN, HEAD OF LAUNCH SITE (Through Translator): I'm very disturbed.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He can deny that? He can deny that it's -- that it's --

(CROSSTALK)

JANG MYONG JIN (Through Translator): Look for yourselves with your own eyes. Then you can judge whether it's ballistic missile or whether it's a launch of --

(CROSSTALK)

COSTELLO: So what is it?

CNN's Paula Hancocks is in Seoul, South Korea.

Tell us more, Paula.

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Carol, the concern that South Korea has at this point is that North Korea may actually be preparing for a third nuclear test. And there's a South Korean intelligence officials report which CNN has obtained which says there is evidence of a freshly dug tunnel in the area of North Korea where two of these nuclear tests have been carried out before.

Now they've shown us satellite imagery which shows that there is a tunnel in the final stages of being built. That's earth and sand around the entrance. And the report says that over -- the past few weeks that has been increasing in size so they do believe that there could be a third nuclear test after this rocket launch that North Korea will be carrying out, it says, in the next few days.

Now the intelligence source says this would be a grave provocation and what North Korea might do is wait for the international condemnation that is sure to come after this satellite launch and then use that as an excuse to carry out a third nuclear launch. So certainly this is of great concern to South Korea, to all of the regional powers and to the United States as well.

And analysts say there's really not a way for the U.S. to penalize North Korea at this point because the sanctions are so crippling already -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Paula Hancocks reporting live from Seoul, South Korea this morning.

Jury selection begins today in the trial of a man accused of murdering Jennifer Hudson's mother, brother and her nephew. The "American Idol" singer is expected to play a crucial role in the trial, but her celebrity status could complicate things.

Here's CNN's Ted Rowlands. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TED ROWLAND, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In October 2008, singer/actress, Jennifer Hudson was told her mother Darnell and mother Jason were murdered, and her 7-year-old nephew Julian was missing. Hudson returned to Chicago where a frantic search was under way for Julian and for the gunman.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Neighbors in the neighborhood did report hearing gunshots sometime earlier this morning about 8:00, 9:00 this morning.

ROWLANDS: Three days later the little boy's body was found inside this abandoned SUV. He died of a gunshot wound. And a police investigation led to the arrest of 27-year-old William Balfour.

(On camera): The Hudson family knew William Balfour quite well. He grew up here in their neighborhood on the south side of Chicago and ended up marrying Jennifer Hudson's older sister Julia.

(Voice-over): Balfour known as Flex on the streets has a long criminal history and according to people who know the family, the Hudsons, including Jennifer, didn't want Julia to marry Balfour. Prosecutors say Balfour killed his ex-wife's family members because he was jealous that she was seeing another man.

The defense says there are no eyewitnesses and no fingerprints linking him to the murder scene which has Hudson's neighbor Michael Jones concerned that Balfour could walk.

MICHAEL JONES, NEIGHBOR: In a murder, especially in the black community, is so easy to beat.

ROWLANDS: Three and a half years later the Hudson home in Chicago is boarded up. Jennifer Hudson has said very little publicly about the murders but she recently talked to Piers Morgan about her mother.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JENNIFER HUDSON, SINGER/ACTRESS: My mother was a very wise and strong person and I feel like she raised us well and she prepared me well. And so that's what I live by.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROWLANDS: Opening statements are scheduled to begin April 23rd. Jennifer Hudson who's on the witness list is expected to attend.

Ted Rowlands, CNN, Chicago.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: This morning a man named Bubba sits atop the golf world. Florida native Bubba Watson won the U.S. Masters in a toiling sudden death playoff after a short putt clinch to victory. Watson broke down in tears and regained his composure only long enough to don the legendary green jacket.

The 33-year-old says he's as surprised as anyone to have won his first major title on the legendary course.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BUBBA WATSON, 2012 MASTERS CHAMPION: I've never had a dream go this far, like I've been saying, so I can't really say it's a dream come true. The thing is, is golf is not my everything. I'm not going to go home. If I would have lost today I'm not going to go home and pout. But for me to come out here and win it's awesome for a week and then get back to real life. I haven't changed a diaper yet so probably have to change a diaper pretty soon.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Yes, he will because just two weeks ago, Watson and his wife completed the adoption of a baby. The process four years in the making. Watson is known for his brilliant play and hair trigger tear ducts. He says, he'll cry, quote, "at everything."

Strong emotions also for Tiger Woods who was going for a fifth Masters win but those hopes unraveled along with his composure. He finished tied for 40th, his worst ever finish in Augusta. Just two weekends earlier Woods won his first PGA Tour event since 2009 when injuries and scandal derailed his dominance.

The first family is hosting a holiday tradition in the next hour. It's the Easter Egg Roll of course on the White House South Lawn. You're looking at pictures from last year's event. We are expecting the president to kick off this morning's activities with the remarks around 10:30 Eastern. When that comes, we'll have that for you live.

Tim Tebow having some fun at an Easter event in Texas. A pastor tries to get the former Florida Gator to put on an LSU helmet? Tebow kicks it away.

(LAUGHTER)

COSTELLO: But the current New York Jets quarterback got serious when talking about his faith.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TIM TEBOW, NEW YORK JETS QUARTERBACK: Whatever happens in life, good or bad, whether you're the hero or the goat, whether you like it or not, you know that someone has a plan for your life and it's a special plan. When you can trust that and you have hope in that, then you have peace in all decisions and everything that you do and it brings a lot of joy to your life.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Tebow says he's happy to get others thinking about their faith. Coming up on NEWSROOM, iconic journalist Mike Wallace showed a tough side when he interviewed people. We'll hear what his colleagues are saying this morning plus get insight from a historian who talked often with him.

And trapped in a deep dark hole for about an hour. Details on how a man got there and how he finally got out.

Plus, a "Titanic" memorial cruise is on its way across the Atlantic. A grandson of one survivor of that disaster shares his story.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: "60 Minutes" iconic journalist Mike Wallace has died at the age of 93. There's not much less to be said about Wallace that's not already been said for years. He's aggressive, legendary, pit bull-like.

Mike Wallace's name is synonymous with bold reporting. Love him or hate him, the one thing people did was respect him.

Long time colleague Morley Safer remembers Mike Wallace this way.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MORLEY SAFER, LONGTIME COLLEAGUE OF MIKE WALLACE: Well, he was fearless really. I mean, he would -- he interviewed some pretty nasty guys in his long career, and he was absolutely fearless. He would -- he would get to the very core of the story and the very core of -- he loved villains. He loved villains because they made such great copy and he has had the charm to talk to the broadcast initially, and then the tenacity to eviscerate them or allow them to eviscerate themselves.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Former CBS evening news anchor Dan Rather said, quote, "Mike Wallace was from the beginning and for many years the heart and soul of '60 Minutes.' In that role, he helped change American television news. Among the ways that this change was for the better, TV news became more investigative, more aggressive and relevant. Mike was sharp and quick of mind, a fierce competitor and a master interviewer," end quote.

A long time colleague and a close friend of Mike Wallace was another esteemed journalist, Walter Cronkite. Once known as the most trusted man in America, Cronkite died, as you know, in 2009. Douglas Brinkley's biography "Cronkite" reveals some close moments between Mike Wallace and Walter Cronkite.

And Doug is sharing some of those moments with us this morning.

Hi, Doug.

DOUGLAS BRINKLEY, AUTHOR, "CRONKITE": Good morning to you.

COSTELLO: Good morning. You talked with Mike Wallace while Cronkite's biography. What was he like on the other side of the interview?

BRINKLEY: Well, I was at CBS for a while as a historian. I knew Mike and Don Hewitt before Don Hewitt died. They just were both minces to a young person. They were warm, funny. They were at the top of their game in many ways going on the way out.

But I've written in Cronkite really less about Mike or anything personal with me, but the history of CBS News. It's key to remember that Mike Wallace served in World War II and was a graduate of the University of Michigan, a college guy going into TV and radio.

And I think the turning point was in 1962 for Wallace, because Doug Edwards at CBS was losing his newscast and they were looking for replacement and Wallace was high on the list but they chose Cronkite over Wallace and others because they thought he was too tough of an interviewer, that in order to break through the glass and in people's living room and TV, you need to have avuncular style like Cronkite had.

So, he ended making being the tough interview really who he was. And even as late as '86, he was kind of floundering, as was Don Hewitt within the CBS culture. Nixon, of all things, offered -- running in 1968 for president, offered Mike Wallace to be his press secretary. Wallace said no and, instead, got escorted out in the famous Chicago Democratic convention where things blew up in a mayhem.

And really from '68 onwards, he just kept perfecting the type of interrogator that would just drill down on a subject looking for truth and as Morley Safer rightfully said, he just loved villains.

COSTELLO: That's amazing how long he kept at it, too. I mean, well into his 80s. You write about the conversations the two men had, sharing one story Walter Cronkite's partner Joanna Simon shared.

You write, "Walter: Don't you want to die? I've done everything I've wanted to do. How about? Cronkite answers: No, absolutely not. I want to live forever. I get one look at the water, the sunshine, the beach, and the trees here, every day, Mike is a blessing."

So, kind of parse that out for us. It's usual for somebody to say I've done everything I've wanted to, I'm ready.

BRINKLEY: Well, that's right. But the Wallaces were a part of the Martha Vineyard set that included Cronkite and, you now, Art Buchwald, William Styron and many others. And at this particular moment, they were all sitting, just relaxing and out of nowhere like a bomb, Mike Wallace said, you know, kind of I'd like to be dead.

Now, we know he had a great history of depression. But he said it in a kind of a normal conversation way and it startled Cronkite so much that, along with Joanne Simon, they decided after that evening talking about it that they were going to do their last things they wanted to do in their 80s before they became infirmed with health problems. So, they really traveled the world.

So, for Cronkite having this exchange with Wallace on the Vineyard was quite meaningful. It gave him an extra impetus to not get that way in his last years. But as we know, Mr. Wallace the last few years has really being taken care of. He wasn't somebody you could talk to or interview because his illness had sort of sidelined him the last few years.

COSTELLO: OK. Last question -- are you planning to write Mike Wallace's biography? And if you are, what would be the first sentence describing Wallace?

BRINKLEY: Tenacious, pit bull interviewer, and somebody who was our national journalistic watchdog.

You mentioned Dan Rather a moment ago. You know, when Rather had his problem with the National Guard and George W. Bush, there was a famous battle of the bathroom where Rather got really balled out for Mike Wallace for not quitting. There was real journalistic idea that Edward R. Murrow that a reporter in any minute should quit, pick up their papers and walk out the door if you had a dispute over a story.

So, he was the real deal. He was kind of a lost breed in journalism. But it continues on the legacy with his son Chris Wallace, who has become one of our nation's great interrogators particularly of politicians on FOX News.

COSTELLO: So much like his dad, it's scary sometimes.

Doug Brinkley, thank you so much for joining us.

BRINKLEY: OK, thank you.

COSTELLO: For Wall Street, Good Friday is not going to equal a good Monday. Stocks have to take a dive following Friday's disappointing jobs numbers. Opening bell is just minutes away.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Checking stories across the country:

In California, efforts are under way to find out exactly what killed famed American painter Thomas Kinkade -- seen here in this file interview on "LARRY KING." The artist died unexpectedly at his home on Friday. Family spokesman blames it was from natural causes. An autopsy is set to begin today. Kinkade was just 54 years old.

In San Francisco, a utility worker had to be rescued after falling 10 feet into a man hole. He apparently hit his head during the fall and was unable to crawl out on his own. The worker was trapped about an hour until firefighters managed to pull him out.

And in Los Angeles, it wasn't usual Easter egg hunt. Instead of searching for hidden egg, a crowd at Crosspoint Church waited for the eggs to drop from the sky. Ten thousand Easter eggs fell from a helicopter. They were stuffed with candy and vouchers for prizes including Disney tickets and iPod Touch and an Xbox.

Wow! No one got hurt, don't worry.

Now is your chance to talk back on one of the big story of the day. The question for you today, what should President Obama's campaign slogan be? Strange question, right? But according to the Web site Politico, the 2012 Obama campaign has a problem with branding. In 2008, it seemed to come so easy with a slogan "change we can believe in."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, THEN-PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We can prove that the one thing more powerful than that kind of politics is the will and the determination of the American people to change this country. Yes, we can.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Pundits hail the Obama campaign team in 2008 as branding geniuses although later critics like Sarah Palin found it easy to pan the president's quote hopey changey stuff. But I digress.

Mr. Obama could take a page from past presidents whose catchy slogans helped them clinch reelection. Ronald Reagan had "Morning in America." Bill Clinton, "Bridge to the 21st century".

GOP challenger Mitt Romney has his slogan, "Believe in America."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MITT ROMNEY (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I believe the principles what this country was founded upon. That's why our phrase is "Believe in America." Believe in the principles that made us the nation we are.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Still, even a great slogan can't win an election. Democratic strategist Robert Zimmerman says a candidate needs to have a clear and defined agenda to give a slogan relevance. Zimmerman says in 2008, it was about hope and change. In 2012, it should be about progress and results.

But the talk back question for you today. What should President Obama's 2012 campaign slogan be? Facebook.com/CarolCNN, Facebook.com/CarolCNN. I'll read your responses later this hour.

Have you seen the texts from Hillary Clinton? They are not real but they are realistic, hilarious and they have become an Internet sensation. We'll talk about the hip side of Hillary in just a few minutes.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: All eyes on Wall Street as the opening bell is about to ring. That disappointing jobs report on Friday is shaking the market already.

Our biz whiz Christine Romans is here to break it all down.

Good morning, Christine.

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Biz whiz? I want to trademark that. That's good, Carol.

COSTELLO: I'm glad you like it.

ROMANS: Well, maybe 1 percent loss in the early going for the Dow and S&P. And I'll tell you why, Carol. They didn't get a chance to react to that March job data on a Friday, only for a little bit in the bond market and it was disappointing. I mean, for three months in a row, we've had 246,000 on an average jobs created -- 120,000 wasn't enough to get people excited.

And so, you've got the Dow probably falling below the 13,000 mark today as investors try to assess, Carol, whether the job market is going to kind of falter here or whether this was just one month. We simply don't know quite frankly.

But something to keep in mind -- stocks the S&P is up 30 percent since last October so if you're looking for an excuse to take profits as they say, some investors are doing that this morning. And the politics of this is icky too, because you start to see both sides, you know, blasting each other about the direction of jobs and who is better to create jobs.

Already the Democrats or Debbie Wasserman Schultz and the Democratic Party and some others have said, look, you know, the Republicans want a weak jobs picture so they can blame the president, they like weak jobs markets. And Republicans and conservatives say this president is squandering to recovery. His policies are making it so businesses don't want to hire.

So, this is where you start to get the politics step into it too even as investors are selling stocks this morning, Carol.

COSTELLO: Oh, I'm seeing those numbers in the negative range rise.

Anyway, I know you'll keep an eye on it for us. Christine Romans, thanks so much.

ROMANS: Yes. Thanks, Carol.

(MUSIC)

COSTELLO: And good morning to you. Stories we are watching right now in the newsroom.

We could se a breakthrough in the Trayvon Martin case this week. A grand jury might take up the case as early as tomorrow. Two prosecutors are working to determine if there's enough evidence to bring charges against George Zimmerman, the neighborhood watch captain who says he killed Martin in self-defense.

People who lost their homes Friday when a Navy jet crashed into their apartment complex will get payouts for their losses, the checks actually going out today. The money will cover housing, meals and clothing, about $2,300 per person total.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CAPT. BOB GEIS, U.S. NAVY: We'll have a Navy lawyer available as well to talk to any residents that have any questions or they need assistance. Any time we have a mishap, we want to get to the bottom of it and any people that have pictures or they have witness statements they want to provide the investigators, we'd love to have that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: The crash Friday in Virginia Beach destroyed dozens of apartments. No one was killed or seriously hurt.

And expect some fireworks when Congress starts hearings on one of the most controversial Vegas blowouts in years. Last week, we told you, the General Services Administration spent more than $800,000 of taxpayer money for a conference, complete with a mind reader, a clown and commemorative coins.

Here's what Senator Dick Durbin said about it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. DICK DURBIN (D), ILLINOIS: I'm glad that the GSA commissioner left. That's one of the agencies I have responsible for under the appropriations committee. We are going to have a hearing as to what actually happened here. It's an absolutely outrageous expenditure of taxpayers' money. The White House made it clear that the group in charge was going to be dismissed and resigned and they did.

So we got to see whether it's Democrats, Republicans, whether it's a state of Illinois, Ohio or Washington, that kind of misuse of taxpayers' funds is totally unacceptable.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: The first congressional hearing on the GSA's Vegas bash begins next week.

Hillary Clinton, cool? The U.S. secretary of state is not only fueling Internet jokes in a good way but Democrats are practically begging her to run for president in 2016. Who knows if she will or won't. One thing for sure, we won't be seeing this at the Democratic convention this year.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HILLARY CLINTON, THEN-PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Whether you voted for me or you voted for Barack, the time is now to unite as a single party with a single purpose.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: No, but that was then. According to "The Huffington Post," for the first time since 1968, Clinton will skip the convention because she sort of has to.

CNN contributors L.Z. Granderson and Will Cain are here to talk everything Clinton.

Welcome.

WILL CAIN, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Hi.

COSTELLO: Hi.

L.Z. GRANDERSON, CNN.COM CONTRIBUTOR: Good morning, Carol.

COSTELLO: Good morning.

So, Clinton's people say she can't attend the convention because as secretary of state, she can't engage in anything political. But is it a bummer for all those unenthusiastic Democratic voters not to see Clinton at the convention, L.Z.?

GRANDERSON: Well, you know, first of all, I'm trying to figure out who exactly is unenthusiastic Democratic voter. I think any Democrat that is watching the GOP debates found their enthusiasm. They may have some disappointment in Barack Obama's policies but they would definitely have some enthusiasm to vote Democrat in November.

With that being said, you know, Hillary Clinton has been, is, and always will be a rock star. And so, yes, you will miss seeing her. But, fortunately, she's got her backup showing up, bill Clinton. So I think we're going to be OK.

COSTELLO: Yes, I was just going to ask, Will, that Bill Clinton indeed be at the convention?

CAIN: Yes. So I guess he's a good second place to Hillary.

COSTELLO: That's all you have to say?

CAIN: No. I mean, I think it's worth pointing out. We just talked about Bill Clinton playing backup to Hillary here. I think it's kind of telling.

COSTELLO: Oh, yes.

CAIN: It's interesting. And I would actually be interested in L.Z.'s feedback on this. I mean, I don't know that Hillary Clinton, is, always has been a rock star. There wasn't always this kind of rock star or popular aura around Hillary Clinton. And something has happened since the 2008 election has elevated her status. I mean, her popularity amongst Democrats I think is at an all-time high.

Why? So, why? Why has she gotten so popular all of a sudden?

COSTELLO: OK. L.Z., before you answer that, did you see this text from Hillary? I mean, it's become an Internet sensation. We picked out three. There are a lot more. And most of them are hilarious.

So, let's see the pictures now. There it is. Joe Biden asked, so you know what the bartender says? Hillary, really, Joe?

This says, the second one. Let's go to the second one. OK. So Mitt Romney supposedly texting Hillary, any advice? Hillary, drink!

And here is another one. President Obama, hey, Hil, what you doing? Hillary, running the world.

I mean, there are a lot of these and they're hilarious and they portray Hillary Clinton in this kind of cool way that you don't really think of Hillary Clinton or at least you didn't.

GRANDERSON: Right. You know, Hillary Clinton has been through a lot of changes but I think her base, I think women have always gravitated towards her because they appreciate her strength. They appreciate the fact she never ever allowed herself to stay in the shadow of any man that was in her life. And the fact that she's got even stronger since becoming secretary of state, I think, has a lot to do with the fact that, overall, President Obama's foreign policy has gotten some pretty good views in terms of how he has handled conflicts and, obviously, the death of Osama bin Laden coupled with it.

And then last year, Hillary Clinton gave one of the most powerful most touching speeches at the U.N. which she said that gay rights are human rights. I think that really --just catapulted her from being just a political figure head to someone who was more of a human rights activist that women love, that gay people love, that people really saw a strong leader in.

So, that's why they want to see her run in 2016.

CAIN: Let me answer my own question real quick as well, Carol, if I can, is that I think she has seen the rise in popularity for Hillary for two reasons. I think you have to recognize there is some level of disappointment among Democrats in Barack Obama. I don't understand it. It seems to me like he's fulfilled the Democratic agenda very well, but I have talked to many Democrats and they consistently express some sentiment of disappointment.

And second, she, Hillary, has managed to avoid the political quagmire of the last several years this kind of back and forth, you know, heel biting, pettiness. She, secretary of state, whether or not you agree with everything that has happened in foreign policy substantive the last couple of years, she's managed to remain out of that. I think that's why she's so popular.

I would add this one little fact. If she does run for president, like we all talk about, in 2016, she'd be 678. If elected she would be one of the oldest presidents. And I think that will a storyline in 2016. I mean, Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush would be the only presidents older than what Hillary would be.

COSTELLO: Well, Hillary Clinton, as you know, Will, just said she's not running.

GRANDERSON: You know the backlash?

COSTELLO: What? Go ahead. Go ahead, L.Z., what backlash?

GRANDERSON: Well, I was going to say, do you know the backlash you would hear if you start saying Hillary Clinton, a woman, is to old to run for president?

CAIN: I knew you were going to say that!

(CROSSTALK)

GRANDERSON: You know I was going to say that because it's true!

CAIN: You can talk about John McCain's age. You can talk about Ron Paul's age. But don't talk about a woman's age, whatever you do.

COSTELLO: That's right, Will Cain, whatever you do.

GRANDERSON: I'm just keeping it real, man. I'm just keeping it real.

COSTELLO: OK. I'm going to let you guys fight that out behind the scenes.

Thank you for an interesting discussion this morning.

A new investigation and, yes, it involves Lindsay Lohan. Find out what the actress is being accused of this time that could land her back behind bars.

And Whitney Houston's daughter has her sights on being a star. She wants to play her mother in her first starring role. More on that ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Just weeks after being released from strict supervised probation, Lindsay Lohan may be in trouble again.

"Showbiz Tonight" host A.J. Hammer is here.

Oh, please, really?

A.J. HAMMER, HOST, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT: Well, no, not necessarily, Carol. We don't want to jump the gun here. The operative word here is that she may be in trouble.

Here is the story. The West Hollywood Sheriff's Department has confirmed to "Showbiz Tonight" that a woman is accusing Lindsay Lohan of battery. She's alleging that Lindsay shoved her at a nightclub last Thursday. Now, the sheriff's department wouldn't confirm any other details at this point and they said they will look into the incident while being very quick to point out at this stage, this is just an allegation and the prevailing opinion seems to be that it's not actually a big deal.

Now, the incident that may have happened on Thursday wasn't reported until Saturday. There are some reports that Lindsay wasn't at the club in question. And her publicist responded to our question about this incident, telling us this, you have to wonder about someone who calls the media before the police.

And the other factor is here, of course, Lindsay's recent change in probation status. You know, any arrests that had taken place when she had been under supervised probation, Carol, would have led to jail time. She doesn't face that kind of threat now. But certainly she doesn't need to get caught up anything like this.

So, we're just going to have to wait and see if this investigation leads anywhere. But, Carol, I am not putting much stock into the story at this point. I'll be following it for you but I don't think it's going anywhere.

COSTELLO: OK. Thanks, A.J.

A.J. will be back bus the next hour with more showbiz headlines. Coming up: an Alec Baldwin fan gets too close for comfort and ends up getting arrested.

Also, head, a brutal attack involving students at a Colorado State University. And the main suspects are members of the school's football team.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Checking stories cross country now.

In Fort Collins, Colorado three members of the Colorado State University football team have been suspended. They are accused of brutally attacking several students on Friday night. Police say four people were injured in the brawl two of them seriously.

Strong winds are fueling several brush fires in Central Florida. Firefighters spent much of the weekend knocking back the flames from fires burning just north of Orlando. So far no homes or resident have been evacuated.

And in Ohio etch-a-sketch makers are cashing in on the political blunder by the Mitt Romney campaign that made the toy a household name again. Ohio Arts is launching a new ad campaign and products that poke fun at politics in general. The ads will appear on social media. New products are expected in stores by late spring or early summer.

Ok, we asked you to "Talk Back" on a big story of the day. The "Talk Back" question was, "what should President Obama's campaign slogan be?

This from Cylinda, "She said his slogan should be preserve Social Security and Medicare."

This from Michael, "Do-over".

From Nadia. "Keep believing in Change".

This from Steve. "I killed bin Laden but the rest is all their fault".

And this from Eric, "The other guys, really?"

I love that one. Please continue the conversation at Facebook.com/CarolCNN. Facebook.com/CarolCNN and thanks as always for your comments.

After the break, the "Titanic" epic anniversary. The cruises and survivor stories next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Memorial cruises, movie releases, news specials and survivor stories are marking the Titanic's 100th anniversary -- actually making it an epic event. The 3D version of James Cameron's "Titanic", number three at the box office, still able to bring in the big bucks 15 years after the original release.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LEONARDO DICAPRIO, ACTOR: All right, open your eyes.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Box Office Mojo estimates the movie banked more than $17 million this weekend as some people enjoyed some movie at the movie theaters. Titanic's memorial cruise left south Hampton harbor in England where the luxury liner set sail 100 years ago. The 12- night voyage retraces the doomed ship's original route.

CNN's Dan Rivers spoke to the grandson of a Titanic survivor. He shares his grandfather's story.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PHILIP LITTLEJOHN, GRANDSON OF TITANIC SURVIVOR: There is a picture of him on the rescue ship, on the (inaudible), quite clearly, still dark hair and dark mustache. Six months later, he goes back to work, he's issued with a new discharge book. And in the front of that, it says, color of hair, white. So between April and October, he went completely white through the effects of shock.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Wow. The Titanic Memorial voyage is scheduled to arrive in New York on April 19th.

Stories we are working on in the CNN NEWSROOM. At 10:30 Eastern, President Obama makes remarks during the Annual Easter Egg roll on the south lawn of the White House. About an hour later, he meets with Brazil's president in the Oval Office.

At 12:45 Eastern Kansas basketball standout Thomas Robinson holds a news conference on his future plans, he's already said he will enter the NBA draft.

We're following a lot of developments in the next hour of the CNN NEWSROOM. Let's check in with Jason Carroll.

JASON CARROLL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: And Carol, two suspects charged with shooting five African-Americans here in Tulsa are due to be arraigned in court any minute. Will they be charged with hate crimes? I'll have the story coming up at the top of the hour.

TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Ted Rowlands in Chicago. William Balfour, the man accused of killing three -- of killing three members of Jennifer Hudson's family is in court today as jury selection in his murder trial continues. We'll have more coming up at the top of the hour.

DAN LOTHIAN, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: I'm Dan Lothian at the White House. Easter may have been officially yesterday but it continues here at the White House with lots of entertainment, lots of eggs and a whole lot of people. I'll crack open the details at the top of the hour.

COSTELLO: Oh, Dan. That was bad but I enjoyed it. Thanks to all of you.

Also rising tensions with North Korea: it plans to launch a rocket in days but will the North be launching a satellite as it claims or is it something else? This is South Korea now thinks the North is planning another nuclear test.

Just ahead, CNN's Stan Grant is in North Korea and takes us along for a close-up look.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: You have to love it when a man named Bubba wins at Augusta. I love that.

Jeff Fischel is here to tell us more.

JEFF FISCHEL, HLN SPORT: Yes Bubba from Baghdad, no less. Bubba is from -- Bubba Watson grew up in Baghdad, Florida, played at the University of Georgia. He's never had a golf lesson, totally self- taught. Now at 33, he is your Masters champ winning his first major title.

It was a great battle with South Africa's Louis Oosthuisen. Check out his second shot on the par 5 second hole. This is from 253 yards out. This has never been done before in the history of the Masters. A double eagle at this whole for Oosthuisen. Some call it the albatross in the hole.

Oosthuisen and Watson would finish the round tied. So a sudden- death playoff -- look at the reaction. How good is that -- the first time ever on that hole.

All right. let's go to the playoffs. Second playoff hole, Sunday. This is the incredible shot from Bubba Watson. It will be the shot that defines his career from the (inaudible). He hooks it about 30 or 40 yards around the trees on to the green.

Watson was so emotional. He lost his father a year and a half ago to cancer. Then he steps up onto the green and taps in for the win, shares a huge hug with his caddie, breaks down in tears. Watson gets the green jacket, $1.4 million, but he's still keeping things in perspective.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BUBBA WATSON, 2012 MASTERS CHAMPION: For me to come out here and one win, it is awesome for a week and then get back to real life. I haven't changed a diaper yet. So I'm probably going to have to change a diaper pretty soon.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FISCHEL: That's awesome. He's talking about changing diapers. His wife wasn't there because they just adopted a baby boy this past week.

What a week for Bubba. It is great story. It's great. Bubba is truly one of those guys everybody is rooting for on tour.

Ok. Let's do NBA hoops, Chicago Bulls superstar Derrick Rose, back in the line up after being out 12 games with a groin injury. Playing the Knicks in Madison Square Garden. Watch Rose hit the three foul -- so it is a four-point play. But the Knicks answer thanks to Carmelo Anthony, a huge game from Carmelo, 43 points.

Watch this three-pointer as time is running out. Hits it. Forces overtime with the Bulls. In overtime, it is Melo again. He sinks another three to win it for New York. The Knicks playing well right now. They win it 199 in overtime.

Baseball's opening weekend. The Tigers going for the sweep with the Red Sox in the 11th. Carol loves this. Alex Avila goes deep for the walk-off home run. The Tigers get three in the ninth to tie, three in the 11th to win. 13-12. This was a celebration at the home plate and this was a celebration in your house, as well, I think right?

COSTELLO: Oh my God, we were jumping with joy.

You know, Jim Leyland looked as happy as Jim Leyland could possibly look but Bobby Valentine, he had the death face on.

FISCHEL: The Red Sox are 0-3. So are the Yankees; the Red Sox and Yankees both getting swept on.

COSTELLO: It's a shame.