Global Stocks Fall After Elections
COSTELLO: Just about 15 minutes past the hour. Checking our top stories now. An American held captive by Al Qaeda this morning is begging the president for help. The 70-year-old Warren Weinstein appears in this video that was posted on several Islamist websites. He's urging the president to accept his kidnappers list of demands so he will not be killed. The development consultant was abducted from his home in Pakistan last August. U.S. military officials are trying to determine how this army captain died in Afghanistan. Captain Bruce Clark's wife says he suddenly slumped over as they were talking via Skype last week. She says it took nearly two hours for someone to come to his aid. She also spotted a bullet hole in a closet behind him, but military officials say they found no wounds on the captain's body. And storm chasers captured this tornado touching down in Kansas. Our meteorologist, Rob Marciano says it was one of six reported yesterday. It did not cause much damage, but as with any tornado, it still left people in the area running for cover. Mitt Romney is in a dead heat with President Obama. That's according to a new poll from "Politico" and George Washington University. The poll questioned 1,000 likely voters from across the nation. Romney has a 10-point lead over the president among independents. Vice President Joe Biden's comment that he is absolutely comfortable with the idea of same-sex marriage has set off a Twitter explosion. Let's hear his comment and then the buzz.</s>JOE BIDEN, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Look. I am the vice president of the United States of America. The president sets the policy. I am absolutely comfortable with the fact that men marrying men, women marrying women, and heterosexual men and women are entitled to the same rights and civil liberties and quite frankly, I don't see much of a distinction beyond that.</s>COSTELLO: Many people are wondering if Biden's remarks signal a change in the president's position. President Obama has previously said his views on the issue are evolving. But both the Biden spokesperson and campaign adviser, David Axelrod are suggesting there is no further evolvement in the president's position. So let's talk more about this. Darlene Nipper is here to talk about Biden's comments and about the Obama team's response. Darlene is the deputy executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. Welcome, Darlene.</s>DARLENE NIPPER, DEPUTY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, NATIONAL GAY AND LESBIAN TASK FORCE: Thank you, Carol. I'm so glad to be here.</s>COSTELLO: I'm glad you're here with us. So do you think Biden's comments are a signal that the president might evolve?</s>NIPPER: I hope they are a signal he might evolve. I mean, I think that it's clear that many Americans already believe in our families and in love and in commitment. And believe that we ought to have the same fairness and ability to marry as anyone else does. So hopefully, this is a sign and a signal that the next person we'll hear this from will be President Obama.</s>COSTELLO: Some people might say the president has done enough for the gay community. With "Don't Ask Don't Tell" going away, in your mind, is that enough?</s>NIPPER: Well, I think this administration has done a lot for the LGBT community and they ought to be acknowledged for what they've done, but there's a lot more to do. This is among the things that we expect and hope the president will do. It's important for the administration to come out unequivocally in support of fairness and families and love. There are also many other things the president can do. Frankly, there's still room for us to move forward on employment protections. And we think the president and obviously Congress needs to move forward with that for our families. So the president has done a fantastic job so far, but there's much more to do. This is a country that's built on fairness.</s>COSTELLO: Why don't you think the president has fully embraced the idea of gay marriage?</s>NIPPER: Well, I think that's a fantastic question, Carol. I wish that I knew why he hasn't done it. I believe that like other advocates do that the American people have been evolving and have grown to accept this issue. So it's kind of difficult to understand why the president has not come out. I mean obviously, there's plenty of chatter about not wanting to do it before the election and so on. But the reality is the American people are already there. And the president can make the final step by coming out for our families and for fairness. And I really don't know why he hasn't done that yet.</s>COSTELLO: I guess, our latest poll show 53 percent of Americans support gay marriage so, I don't know maybe you have a point there. But I guess, does he really need to do this to energize the base? I mean, is that an important part of his re-election campaign? Or does he not need to do that so he won't accept those other Americans who aren't ready to fully embrace gay marriage? I mean, why take the chance?</s>NIPPER: Here's the thing. One thing we all know is that the American people do believe very strongly in fairness. So I think there's a fine line here that we have to be concerned about. The reality is that there are many people who will come out and who will be energized that may not otherwise come out if the president does stand for fairness so it's a political question.</s>COSTELLO: I hear you, Darlene. But you know, everything is about the economy and these social issues will just fall by the wayside because I think many Americans don't want to hear about them right now. This election has to be about the economy because that's what's going to get the president re-elected. If he can convince voters that he has a plan for his second term about the economy I mean.</s>NIPPER: Absolutely. I think it's an interesting point to make and the reality is that our families are struggling in part because we need to have the same fairness and opportunity that every other family has. These issues are not disconnected. I do believe very strong in the task force, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force where I'm the deputy executive director, is an organization who has said over and over again, the issue is jobs. The issue is employment. The issue is fairness. All of those things are connected. And our families are, like I said, continuing to need the support of the president to make sure that all Americans actually have the opportunity to go into a place of employment as who they are. And to be able to love who they are. This is a non-issue in many ways because the reality is in terms of the social aspect of it, the reality is that people care about love and family and commitment. That's great. That's all we're saying. The bigger issue is, can we get that off the table and move forward with the next phase and the next important issues, which is how will we take care of those families? What is it we need to ensure that our families are able to survive and thrive in this society? And believe me, acceptance and fairness is just one amongst the many things that we need obviously, employment, and our community, employment protections unfortunately because there still continues to be a lot of discrimination.</s>COSTELLO: And we have to leave it there. Darlene Nipper, thanks so much for joining us this morning.</s>NIPPER: Thank you.</s>COSTELLO: Election 2012 is going to play out among middle class voters. And a lot of voters have questions and concerns like Mana Boon, a mother of three who lives in Georgia. Coming up, a new look at middle class concerns and how we are going to help you get answers to your questions.