PBS NewsHour; December 21, 2011 6:00pm-7:00pm PST

Captioning sponsored by MacNEIL/LEHRER PRODUCTIONS

>> Brown: BANK OF AMERICA WILL PAY $335 MILLION TO SETTLE ALLEGATIONS THAT ITS COUNTRYWIDE UNIT DISCRIMINATED AGAINST AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND HISPANIC BORROWERS. GOOD EVENING, I'M JEFFREY BROWN.

>> Ifill: AND I'M GWEN IFILL. ON THE "NEWSHOUR" TONIGHT, WE HAVE A NEWSMAKER INTERVIEW ABOUT THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SETTLEMENT WITH THE ILLINOIS ATTORNEY GENERAL WHO HELPED BRING THE CASE, LISA MADIGAN.

>> Brown: THEN, JUDY WOODRUFF UPDATES THE POLITICAL IMPASSE IN WASHINGTON OVER EXTENDING THE PAYROLL TAX CUT.

>> Ifill: WE ASSESS NEW E.P.A. RULES CURTAILING TOXIC MERCURY EMISSIONS FROM POWER PLANTS.

>> Brown: FROM MOROCCO, RAY SUAREZ REPORTS ON MUSLIM CLERICS TACKLING A TABOO SUBJECT.

>> Ifill: MARGARET WARNER LOOKS AT EGYPTIAN WOMEN ON THE FRONT LINES OF PROTEST, SOME OF THEM BRUTALLY ATTACKED.

>> Brown: AND WE CLOSE WITH POET MARK DOTY ON A COMMUNITY COMING TOGETHER TO SING A CHRISTMAS TRADITION, HANDEL'S MESSIAH.

>> Brown: THAT'S ALL AHEAD ON TONIGHT'S "NEWSHOUR." MAJOR FUNDING FOR THE PBS NEWSHOUR HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY:

>> INTELLIGENT COMPUTING TECHNOLOGY IS MAKING ITS WAY INTO EVERYTHING FROM CARS TO RETAIL SIGNS TO HOSPITALS; CREATING NEW ENRICHING EXPERIENCES. THROUGH INTEL'S PHILOSOPHY OF INVESTING FOR THE FUTURE, WE'RE HELPING TO BRING THESE NEW CAPABILITIES TO MARKET. WE'RE INVESTING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN R&D AROUND THE GLOBE TO HELP CREATE THE TECHNOLOGIES THAT WE HOPE WILL BE THE HEART OF TOMORROW'S INNOVATIONS. I BELIEVE THAT BY INVESTING TODAY IN TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES HERE AT INTEL, WE CAN MAKE A BETTER TOMORROW.

>> AND BY THE BILL AND MELINDA GATES FOUNDATION. DEDICATED TO THE IDEA THAT ALL PEOPLE DESERVE THE CHANCE TO LIVE A HEALTHY PRODUCTIVE LIFE. AND WITH THE ONGOING SUPPORT OF THESE INSTITUTIONS AND FOUNDATIONS. AND... THIS PROGRAM WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING. AND BY CONTRIBUTIONS TO YOUR PBS STATION FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU. THANK YOU.

>> Brown: THE U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED A MAJOR SETTLEMENT TODAY OVER ALLEGED RACIAL BIAS IN HOME-MORTGAGE LENDING. BANK OF AMERICA AGREED TO PAY $335 MILLION IN A CASE INVOLVING COUNTRYWIDE MORTGAGE, WHICH THE BANK BOUGHT IN 2008. ATTORNEY GENERAL ERIC HOLDER SAID COUNTRYWIDE ENGAGED IN SYSTEMATIC DISCRIMINATION AGAINST BLACKS AND HISPANICS.

>> THESE ALLEGATIONS REPRESENT ALARMING CONDUCT BY ONE OF THE LARGEST LENDERS IN THIS COUNTRY DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE HOUSING MARKET BOOM. FOR EXAMPLE, IN 2007, A QUALIFIED AFRICAN AMERICAN CUSTOMER IN LOS ANGELES, BORROWING $200,000, PAID AN AVERAGE OF ROUGHLY $1,200 MORE IN FEES THAN A SIMILARLY QUALIFIED WHITE BORROWER.

>> Brown: THE SETTLEMENT STEMS FROM AN INVESTIGATION THAT BEGAN IN 2008. TWO YEARS LATER, ILLINOIS ATTORNEY GENERAL LISA MADIGAN FILED HER OWN LAWSUIT AND SHE WORKED WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE TO GAIN TODAY'S SETTLEMENT. I SPOKE WITH HER A SHORT TIME AGO. LISA MADIGAN, WELCOME. FILL IN THE PICTURE. WHAT EXACTLY WAS COUNTRYWIDE ACCUSED OF DOING? GIVE ME AN EXAMPLE.

>> COUNTRYWIDE HAS BEEN ACCUSED OF DISCRIMINATION IN LENDING. SO IF YOU WERE AN AFRICAN AMERICAN OR A LATINO BORROWER YOU WERE LIKELY PUT INTO A SUBPRIME LOAN WHEN YOU QUALIFIED FOR A PRIME RATE LOAN, FOR A LOWER-RATE LOAN. IN ADDITION, EVEN IF YOU WERE AN AFRICAN AMERICAN OR LATINO AMERICAN BORROWER WHO WAS PUT IN A SUBPRIME LOAN, YOU WERE CHARGED HIGHER INTEREST RATES AND FEES. SO IT'S BOTH WHAT WE WOULD CALL STEERING CLAIMS AS WELL AS PRICING CLAIMS SO DISCRIMINATION NOT JUST IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS BUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

>> Brown: AND WHEN ATTORNEY GENERAL HOLDER SAYS " THIS HAPPEN? DO THE HIGHER UPS KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON?

>> THEY DON'T HAVE POLICIES IN PLACE THAT PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING SO WE FOUND NOT JUST A STATISTICAL SIS OF THE LOANS THAT THEY DID IN ILLINOIS BUT IT ALSO INVOLVED US LOOKING AT WHAT WERE THE POLICIES IN PLACE WHEN SOMEBODY CAME IN? WE LEARNED BY TALKING TO BROKERS IN VARIOUS OTHER COUNTRYWIDE EMPLOYEES THAT THEY WERE GIVEN THE DISCRETION TO BE ABLE TO DECIDE WHAT THE INTEREST RATE WAS GOING TO BE WHAT THE THE WERE GOING TO BE AND THERE WAS A COMPANY POLICY THAT GAVE COUNTRYWIDE EMPLOYEES AN INCENTIVE TO PUT PEOPLE INTO HIGHER INTEREST LOANS WITH THESE TOXIC FEATURES SO THEREFORE THOSE LOANS ARE MORE LIKELY TO GO BAD AND END UP IN FORECLOSURE.

>> SO NOT WRITTEN DOWN AS A RULE CLEAR YOU WOULD MAKE MORE MONEY IF YOU PUT PEOPLE INTO PA POOR QUALITY HIGHER PRICE LOAN.

>> Brown: NOW WE KNOW THEM AS THE BUBBLE YEARS. PUT THIS INTO THE LARGER CONTEXT OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN THE HOUSING MARKET AND THE ROLE THAT COUNTRYWIDE PLAYED.

>> WELL, COUNTRYWIDE AT THE TIME DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE HOUSING BUBBLE WAS THE LARGEST LENDER OF EVERY TIME OF MORTGAGE PRODUCT IN THE COUNTRY. AND IT REALLY CHANGED FROM IN ONE YEAR THEY MIGHT HAVE BEEN DOING 19% ADJUSTABLE RATE MORTGAGES, I BELIEVE IN 2003. IN 2004 THE NUMBER WAS 49% AND THESE ADJUSTABLE RATE MORTGAGES WERE THE REAL TOXIC ONES. PEOPLE GOT IN AT LOWER RATES AND THEN THEY JUST EXPLODED AND PEOPLE WERE NEVER QUALIFIED TO EVEN START WITH SOMETIMES THE LOANS WHEN THEY GOT THEM AT THE LOWER RATE TO PAY AT A HIGHER RATE. BUT WHAT WE FOUND FROM LOOKING IT OVER, 83,000 LOANS THAT WERE ORIGINATED IN ILLINOIS BETWEEN 2005 AND 2007 WAS THAT IF YOU WERE AFRICAN AMERICAN OR LATINO YOU WERE THREE TIMES AS LIKELY TO BE PUT INTO A SUBPRIME LOAN THAN IF YOU WERE A SIMILARLY CREDIT SITUATED WHITE BORROWER.

>> Brown: BANK OF AMERICA WHICH BOUGHT COUNTRYWIDE AFTER THIS IS NOT AGREEING TO... ACCEPTING OR DENYING GUILT.

>> CORRECT, THIS IS A SETTLEMENT AND THEY PURCHASED COUNTRYWIDE IN 2008 AND AT THIS POINT THEY'VE BEEN IN A POSITION TO CLEAN UP THE MESS THAT COUNTRYWIDE CAUSED.

>> Brown: A MESS IN MANY WAYS FOR BECAME.

>> ABSOLUTELY. BUT A WORSE MESS FOR PEOPLE WHO GOT INTO TERRIBLY TOXIC LOANS AND PAID MORE FOR THOSE LOANS NOT JUST IN TERMS OF THE ECONOMICS OF WHAT WAS THE PRICE OF YOUR LOAN BUT THE IMPACT THAT HAS ON THEIR CREDIT, THE IMPACT THAT HAS ON THEIR ABILITY TO THEN CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES. IT'S AN ENORMOUS PROBLEM.

>> Brown: THE AMOUNT OF THE SETTLEMENT, I UNDERSTAND, DWARFS ANYTHING IN THE PAST. IT GOES... SOME OF IT GOES TO... WHAT HAPPENS TO IT?

>> ALL OF IT IS GOING TO GO TO THE BORROWERS WHO WERE THE VICTIMS OF DISCRIMINATION. SO PEOPLE WHO WERE PRICED IN A DISCRIMINATORY MANNER, PEOPLE WHO WERE STEERED INTO SUBPRIME LOANS WILL GET MONEY.

>> Brown: THEY COME AND TRY TO SHOW THEIR... HOW THEY WERE HURT?

>> THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE TO DO THAT. BECAME HAS THE NAMES OF THE PEOPLE. THEY WILL BE PROVIDING THAT INFORMATION AND THEN EACH BORROW THERE WILL BE A CALCULATION DONE TO DETERMINE THE ECONOMIC HARM THAT THEY'VE FACED BECAUSE OF THAT.

>> Brown: I'M CURIOUS. YOU STARTED LOOKING AT THIS IN 2008. I UNDERSTAND FROM THE FILINGS TODAY THAT THE FOREVER REFERRED THIS ISSUE TO THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT IN 2007. WHY DID IT TAKE SO LONG? WHAT HAPPENED THEN AND WHY DOES IT TAKE SO LONG TO GET TO THIS STAGE?

>> WELL, IN 2008 WE ISSUED SUBPOENAS TO COUNTRYWIDE WE GOT INFORMATION BACK LATE IN 2008. IT TOOK ABOUT A YEAR TO DO THE ANALYSIS. IT'S A VERY INTENSIVE STATISTICAL ANALYSIS. WE SPENT A YEAR ONCE WE HAD OUR INFORMATION AND OUR EVIDENCE WITH THE DISCRIMINATION NEGOTIATING WITH THEN BANK OF AMERICA OVER THESE COUNTRYWIDE CLAIMS AND THEN ONCE WE REALIZED THAT THAT WAS NOT GOING TO WORK OUT WE FILED A LAWSUIT IN JUNE OF 2010 AND ULTIMATELY THIS ALL GOT SETTLED. SO THE WHEELS OF JUSTICE SOMETIMES SPIN SLOWLY BUT LUCKILY THEY STILL SPIN.

>> Brown: AND SPEAKING OF STILL SPINNING, I MEAN, HERE WE ARE STILL IN A FORECLOSURE CRISIS. NOW THIS WHOLE ISSUE OF PREDATORY LENDING, I KNOW YOU'RE STILL LOOKING INTO IT. FIT THAT INTO THE... THE ISSUE OF PREDATORY LENDING INTO WHAT CONTINUES TODAY.

>> THE WAY I LOOK AT IT IS THE FRAUDULENT SUBPRIME LOANS, THEY'RE AT THE HEART OF THE CHANCE OF OUR ECONOMY. AND SO OUT OF ILLINOIS WE WENT AFTER COUNTRYWIDE... THIS IS OUR SECOND LAWSUIT AGAINST COUNTRYWIDE BUT THERE WAS OTHERS THERE WAS AMERIQUEST, HOUSEHOLD FINANCE. AND THIS PIECE OF IT REALLY DEALS WITH JUST THE DISCRIMINATION. SO THE DISCRIMINATORY ASPECT OF THOSE LOANS AND THE IMPACT THEY HAD ON AFRICAN AMERICAN AND LATINO FAMILIES IN ILLINOIS AND NOW THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY SO IT'S ONE PIECE OF A MUCH LARGER PUZZLE. THERE CONTINUE TO BE CLAIMS OUT THERE AND THEY'RE BEING INVESTIGATED AND WILL ULTIMATELY BE RESOLVED.

>> Brown: AND THIS PIECE OF IT, WAS IT SHOCKING TO YOU TO SEE IN THIS DAY IN AGE THAT THIS KIND OF DISCRIMINATION WOULD GO ON?

>> ABSOLUTELY. WHEN I HEARD IF YOU WERE AFRICAN AMERICAN MAKING $100,000 YOU WERE STILL MORE LIKELY TO BE PUT IN THE A SUBPRIME LOAN THAN IF YOU WERE WHITE MAKING $35,000 A YEAR. THAT WAS ABSOLUTELY SHOCKING AND I SAID WE'RE ISSUING SUBPOENAS, WE'RE GOING TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS AND WE DID.

>> Brown: LISA MADIGAN, THE ILLINOIS STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> MY PLEASURE, THANK YOU. <BV><PASS>

>> Ifill: STILL TO COME ON THE "NEWSHOUR": THE LATEST WASHINGTON STANDOFF; THE E.P.A.'S NEW CLEAN AIR RULES; MOROCCO'S BATTLE AGAINST H.I.V.- AIDS; EGYPTIAN WOMEN ON THE PROTEST LINES AND A COMMUNITY COMES TOGETHER TO SING THE MESSIAH. BUT FIRST, WITH THE OTHER NEWS OF THE DAY. HERE'S HARI SREENIVASAN.

>> Sreenivasan: THE EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK THREW A LIFELINE TO HUNDREDS OF BANKS ON THE CONTINENT TODAY. THEY BORROWED $639 BILLION OVER THREE YEARS UNDER A PROGRAM MEANT TO EASE A CREDIT CRUNCH. IT WAS THE CENTRAL BANK'S LARGEST INTERVENTION SINCE THE EURO CAME INTO BEING 13 YEARS AGO. BUT THE MOVE FAILED TO IMPRESS THE MARKETS. THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE GAINED JUST FOUR POINTS TO CLOSE AT 12,108. THE NASDAQ FELL 25 POINTS TO CLOSE BELOW 2,578. IRAQI PRIME MINISTER NOURI AL- MALIKI DEMANDED THAT KURDISH AUTHORITIES HAND OVER IRAQ'S VICE PRESIDENT TODAY. TARIQ AL HASHEMI IS THE HIGHEST RANKING SUNNI FIGURE IN IRAQ. HE FLED TO THE KURDISH NORTH THIS WEEK TO ESCAPE AN ARREST WARRANT. THE SHI-ITE-DOMINATED GOVERNMENT CHARGES HE RAN TERROR SQUADS THAT TARGETED GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS. AT A NEWS CONFERENCE IN BAGHDAD TODAY, MALIKI REJECTED HASHEMI'S CLAIM THAT THE CHARGES ARE POLITICALLY MOTIVATED.

>> ( translated ): I WILL NOT PERMIT MYSELF, OTHERS, OR THE RELATIVES OF MARTYRS TO POLITICIZE THIS ISSUE. THERE IS ONLY ONE PATH THAT WILL LEAD TO THE OBJECTIVE, AND THAT IS THE PATH OF THE JUDICIARY, NOTHING ELSE. HE SHOULD APPEAR BEFORE COURT, EITHER TO BE EXONERATED OR TO BE CONVICTED. THE CAUSE OF AL-HASHEMI SHOULD NOT ENTER INTO POLITICAL BARGAINING.

>> Sreenivasan: LATER, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE PRESIDENT OF THE KURDISH REGION REJECTED THE DEMAND. THE POLITICAL FIGHT CAME AS U.S. TROOPS HAVE FINISHED THEIR WITHDRAWAL FROM IRAQ. LAST NIGHT, VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN CALLED MALIKI AND URGED HIM TO RESOLVE THE CRISIS. IN SYRIA, DISSIDENTS REPORTED GOVERNMENT FORCES KILLED MORE THAN 100 PEOPLE ON TUESDAY IN AN ORGANIZED MASSACRE. THE ACTIVISTS SAID A VILLAGE IN IDLIB PROVINCE WAS SURROUNDED AND THEN BLASTED BY ROCKETS, TANK SHELLS, BOMBS AND GUNFIRE. AND MORE SCENES OF VIOLENCE UNFOLDED ELSEWHERE. AMATEUR VIDEO SHOWED A MAN HIT BY RANDOM SNIPER FIRE WHILE DRIVING HIS CAR IN HOMS. AND PRO-GOVERNMENT GUNMEN PATROLLED NEIGHBORHOODS AROUND DAMASCUS. FIVE NATO TROOPS-- ALL OF THEM POLISH-- WERE KILLED IN A ROADSIDE BOMBING IN AFGHANISTAN TODAY. THE SOLDIERS WERE IN A CONVOY HEADED TO A MEETING IN EASTERN GHAZNI PROVINCE WHEN THE BOMB WENT OFF. IT WAS THE DEADLIEST SINGLE ATTACK EVER INVOLVING POLAND'S 2,600 TROOPS IN AFGHANISTAN. EIGHT U.S. ARMY SOLDIERS HAVE BEEN CHARGED IN THE APPARENT SUICIDE OF A FELLOW SOLDIER IN AFGHANISTAN. PRIVATE DANNY CHEN WAS FOUND DEAD IN A GUARD TOWER IN OCTOBER. THE ARMY SAID IT APPEARED HE SHOT HIMSELF. THE CHARGES ANNOUNCED TODAY RANGED FROM DERELICTION OF DUTY TO NEGLIGENT HOMICIDE AND INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER. SUPPORTERS OF CHEN'S FAMILY, IN NEW YORK'S CHINATOWN, SUGGESTED HE WAS BULLIED TO THE POINT HE TOOK HIS OWN LIFE. BY THE MANY THOUSANDS, NORTH KOREANS BRAVED HEAVY SNOW TODAY, TO PAY RESPECTS TO THE LATE DICTATOR, KIM JONG IL. CROWDS GATHERED IN THE CENTRAL SQUARE IN PYONGYANG. STATE MEDIA SAID MORE THAN FIVE MILLION PEOPLE HAD GATHERED AT MONUMENTS AND MEMORIALS IN THE CITY, SINCE KIM'S DEATH WAS REPORTED OVER THE WEEKEND. MEANWHILE, THE OFFICIAL MOURNING WENT ON AMID A GLOBAL GUESSING GAME ABOUT NORTH KOREA'S FUTURE. ANGUS WALKER OF "INDEPENDENT TELEVISION NEWS" HAS THIS REPORT FROM SOUTH KOREA.

>> Reporter: KIM JONG-UN, NORTH KOREA'S DICTATOR IN WAITING GREETING FOREIGN ENVOYS PAYING THEIR RESPECTS AS HIS FATHER LIES IN STATE. IN THE DARK SUIT JUST OVER HIS SHOULDER KIM'S UNCLE, A HARDENED VETERAN OF NORTH KOREA'S EXTERIOR POLITICS WILL SHARE POWER. ALONG THE FROSTY FRONTIER BETWEEN NORTH AND SOUTH, RELATIONS ARE IN A DEEP FREEZE. PROTESTS ON THE BORDER, ON ONE SIDE OF A LEAFLET, QADDAFI, ON THE OTHER, KIM JONG-UN. THOUSANDS LET FLY BALLOONS AND AIMED AT THE NORTH. WHICH DIRECTION THE REGIME IS HEADING IN WORRIES THE WORLD. ON EITHER SIDE OF THIS HEAVILY FORTIFIED BORDER, BOTH ARMIES ARE ON HIGH ALERT. THE NORTH KOREANS HAVE MISSILES AND NUCLEAR CAPABILITY AND WHILE POWER IS SHIFTING, THE SECRETIVE STATE IS PERHAPS MORE UNPREDICTABLE THAN IT'S EVER BEEN.

>> Sreenivasan: NORTH KOREA IS CONDUCTING AN 11-DAY MOURNING PERIOD, ENDING WITH A STATE FUNERAL AND NATIONAL MEMORIAL SERVICE ON DECEMBER 28 AND 29. IN THE U.S. PRESIDENTIAL RACE, TOP REPUBLICANS TRADED NEW JABS OVER CAMPAIGN ADVERTISING. NEWT GINGRICH DEMANDED THAT MITT ROMNEY CALL OFF A POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE THAT'S RUNNING NEGATIVE ADS AGAINST GINGRICH. ROMNEY SHOT BACK THAT HE CAN'T TELL THE PAC WHAT TO DO. AND HE SAID, "THIS IS POLITICS." THE NATION'S AIRLINES WILL HAVE TO MAKE SURE PILOTS GET MORE REST. THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION TODAY ORDERED AT LEAST TEN HOURS OF REST BETWEEN BEING ON-DUTY-- AN INCREASE OF TWO HOURS. AND TOTAL WORK PERIODS ARE LIMITED TO 14 HOURS. TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY RAY LAHOOD REJECTED CRITICISM THAT CARGO CARRIERS WILL BE EXEMPT.

>> SAFETY IS OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY, AND EVERYONE IN THE AIRLINE INDUSTRY GETS THIS. THE C.E.O.s UNDERSTAND IT AND I WANT THEM TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE RULE SAYS AND I WANT THEM TO ADOPT IT VOLUNTARILY.

>> Sreenivasan: SOME OF THE EXISTING RULES DATED BACK TO THE 1960s. BUT CALLS FOR CHANGE GREW AFTER A PLANE CRASH THAT KILLED 50 PEOPLE NEAR BUFFALO, NEW YORK, THREE YEARS AGO. INVESTIGATORS FOUND THE TWO PILOTS WERE EXHAUSTED. THE EUROPEAN UNION'S HIGH COURT RULED TODAY THAT U.S. AIRLINES WILL HAVE TO COMPLY WITH A NEW LAW DESIGNED TO LIMIT CARBON EMISSIONS. THE CAP-AND-TRADE PROGRAM TAKES EFFECT JANUARY FIRST. IT REQUIRES THAT AIRLINES FLYING INTO EUROPE PAY COMPENSATION FOR THE POLLUTION THEY CREATE. A TRADE GROUP REPRESENTING AMERICAN CARRIERS CLAIMED THE REGULATION WAS AN EXORBITANT TAX THAT VIOLATED NATIONAL SOVEREIGNTY. THOSE ARE SOME OF THE DAY'S MAJOR STORIES. NOW, BACK TO JEFF.

>> Brown: REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS IN WASHINGTON TRADED NEW JABS TODAY IN A STALEMATE OVER EXTENDING THE PAYROLL TAX CUT. BOTH SIDES INSISTED THE OTHER BLINK FIRST, BUT NEITHER DID SO. JUDY WOODRUFF HAS OUR REPORT.

>> Reporter: WHEREVER THEY COULD TODAY, DEMOCRATS TRIED TO PUT PRESSURE ON HOUSE REPUBLICANS TO BACK DOWN. AT A BRIEF, PRO FORMA SESSION, HOUSE MINORITY WHIP STENY HOYER COULD BE HEARD CHALLENGING THE ACTING SPEAKER REPUBLICAN MICHAEL FITZPATRICK.

>> MR. SPEAKER, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK FOR UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT WE BRING UP THE BILL TO EXTEND THE TAX CUT FOR 160 MILLION AMERICANS AS YOU WALK OFF THE FLOOR, MR. SPEAKER. YOU'RE WALKING OUT, YOU'RE WALKING AWAY JUST AS SO MANY REPUBLICANS HAVE WALKED AWAY FROM MIDDLE CLASS TAXPAYERS, THE UNEMPLOYED AND VERY FRANKLY, AS

>> Reporter: ON TUESDAY, THE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY IN THE HOUSE REJECTED A SENATE BILL EXTENDING THE PAYROLL TAX CUT BY TWO MONTHS, ALONG WITH LONG-TERM JOBLESS BENEFITS. MOST REPUBLICANS IN THE SENATE HAD SUPPORTED THE TEMPORARY MEASURE. BUT ON FOX NEWS THIS MORNING, HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER ERIC CANTOR BLAMED SENATE DEMOCRATS AND THEIR LEADER FOR PUSHING A TEMPORARY FIX.

>> THAT WAS THE ONLY DEAL HARRY REID WAS WILLING TO BRING UP IN THE SENATE, BUT IN THE END, IT DOESN'T SOLVE ANYTHING. IT MAY MAKE IT WORSE AND WE'RE BACK HAVING THIS FIGHT AGAIN AND AGAIN.

>> Reporter: INSTEAD, HOUSE REPUBLICANS DEMANDED A YEAR-LONG EXTENSION. THEY WANT TO PAY FOR IT WITH SPENDING CUTS THAT DEMOCRATS OPPOSE AND TO IMPOSE STRICTER LIMITS ON UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS. AS OF THIS MORNING, SPEAKER JOHN BOEHNER WAS STILL SAYING SENATORS NEED TO RETURN FROM THEIR HOLIDAY RECESS AND NEGOTIATE.

>> ALL WE'RE ASKING FOR IS TO GET SENATE MEMBERS OVER HERE TO WORK WITH US TO RESOLVE OUR DIFFERENCES SO WE CAN DO WHAT EVERYBODY WANTS TO. THE TIME TO DO OUR WORK IS NOW. THE TIME IS RUNNING SHORT, BUT WE HAVE AMPLE TIME TO GET THIS DONE.

>> Reporter: BUT THE SENATE MAJORITY LEADER HARRY REID WROTE TO BOEHNER, URGING THE SPEAKER TO CALL HOUSE MEMBERS BACK, AND APPROVE THE SENATE BILL. AND WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN JAY CARNEY SAID PRESIDENT OBAMA MADE A NEW OVERTURE TO BOEHNER IN A PHONE CALL TODAY.

>> THE PRESIDENT REITERATED THE NEED AND HIS COMMITMENT TO WORK WITH CONGRESS TO EXTEND THE PAYROLL TAX CUT FOR THE ENTIRE YEAR AND THE FACT THAT THE SHORT TERM BIPARTISAN COMPROMISE PASSED BY ALMOST THE ENTIRE SENATE IS THE ONLY OPTION TO ENSURE THAT MIDDLE CLASS FAMILIES ARE NOT HIT WITH A TAX HIKE IN TENS DAYS AND GIVES BOTH

>> Reporter: AN AIDE TO BOEHNER SAID THE SPEAKER, IN TURN, ASKED THE PRESIDENT TO TURN UP THE HEAT ON HIS DEMOCRATIC ALLIES. INSTEAD, THE ADMINISTRATION LAUNCHED A NEW INITIATIVE ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER OVERNIGHT. IT ASKED PEOPLE WHAT IT WOULD MEAN IF THE TAX CUT ENDS, AND THEY LOSE AN AVERAGE OF $40 PAY EACH WEEK. AT THE SAME TIME, HOUSE REPUBLICANS WERE TAKING HEAT FROM SOME SENATE REPUBLICANS, AND FROM THEIR USUAL SUPPORTERS. A "WALL STREET JOURNAL" EDITORIAL SAID: MEANWHILE, AS THE POLITICAL DRAMA PLAYED OUT, SOME 160 MILLION AMERICANS WAITED TO SEE IF THEIR TAXES WILL RISE AS THE YEAR-END DEADLINE INCHES CLOSER.

>> Ifill: THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY UNVEILED NEW RULES TODAY TO CURB MERCURY EMISSIONS FROM POWER PLANTS AROUND THE COUNTRY. THE STANDARDS APPLY TO ROUGHLY 600 COAL OR OIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS WHICH WOULD HAVE TO REDUCE THEIR EMISSIONS OF MERCURY AND OTHER TOXIC POLLUTANTS OR SHUT DOWN. THE BATTLE OVER THE RULES STRETCHES BACK TWO DECADES BUT TODAY EPA ADMINISTRATOR LISA JACKSON SAID THE NEW REGULATIONS WOULD ADDRESS A BROAD RANGE OF AIR POLLUTANTS.

>> THIS IS A FLEET OF AIR TOXIC STANDARD. IT IS MERCURY, IT IS ARSENIC, CADMIUM, CHROMIUM, CYANIDE, HYDROCHLORIC ACID, AND BECAUSE THE POLLUTION CONTROL TECHNOLOGY THAT WILL GO ON THESE PLANTS WILL ALSO GET SOME SOOT OUT OF THE AIR, IT MEANS BY ADDRESSING SOME TOXICS WE'RE ACTUALLY ADDRESSING A SUITE OF TOXICS AND GETTING A LOT OF HEALTH BENEFITS.

>> Ifill: THERE'S A REASON THE RULES HAVE TAKEN SO LONG TO TAKE EFFECT. FOR MORE ON THAT, WE GET TWO VIEWS. SCOTT SEGAL IS DIRECTOR OF AN ENERGY INDUSTRY TRADE GROUP AND JOHN WALKE IS CLEAN AIR DIRECTOR FOR THE NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL. JOHN WALKE, HOW BIG IS THE PROBLEM THAT THE E.P.A. SAYS THEY'RE TRYING TO SOLVE.

>> THIS IS THE MOST SIGNIFICANT CLEAN AIR AND PUBLIC HEALTH ACHIEVEMENT IN A GENERATION AND IT IS A HUGE PROBLEM WITH COAL-BURNING POWER PLANTS EMITTING MORE TOXINS INTO AMERICA'S AIR THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE OF POLLUTION. SO CLEANING THEM UP IS A HUGE SUCCESS STORY TO CELEBRATE.

>> Ifill: SCOTT SEGAL, DO YOU SEE IT THE SAME WAY?

>> WELL, I DON'T. I WILL SAY IT'S A VERY BIG SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENT ON THE PART OF THE E.P.A. IN THE SENSE THAT IT REPRESENTS THE MOST EXPENSIVE AIR RULE POTENTIALLY IN E.P.A. HISTORY. IT REPRESENTS THE GREATEST INTERVENTION INTO THE POWER MARKETPLACE AND FOR THAT MATTER JOB MARKETPLACE IN A GENERATION AS WELL. I GUESS WHAT I WOULD SAY IS OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS WE'VE HAD ABOUT A 67% REDUCTION IN PRIMARY EMISSIONS COMING FROM POWER PLANTS, INCLUDING MERCURY EMISSIONS AND PARTICULATE MATTER EMISSIONS WITHOUT THIS RULE. WHAT THIS RULE ADDS IS A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF COST AT THE... FRANKLY, AT THE EXPENSE OF AMERICAN JOB CREATION AND THE COMPETITIVENESS OF OUR MANUFACTURING SECTOR.

>> Ifill: LET'S TALK ABOUT COST. THE ADMINISTRATOR SAID TODAY $11 BILLION. THAT SOUNDS EXPENSIVE.

>> IT'S NEARLY $10 BILLION. THE ADMINISTRATOR ALSO SAID THAT THE HEALTH BENEFITS TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WOULD OUTWEIGH THOSE COSTS BY NEARLY 10-1, YIELDING BENEFITS OF UP TO $90 BILLION OR MORE. WHAT WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE TODAY IS THAT THE DIRTY POWER SECTOR IN AMERICA IS IMPOSING HEALTH COSTS ON THE AMERICAN PEOPLE OF NEARLY $1200 BILLION OR MORE BY NOT CLEANING UP THEIR OWN POLLUTION AND WHAT THIS DOES IS IT MAKES THE ACTORS RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT POLLUTION CLEAN UP. THAT'S FAIR; THAT'S REASONABLE, IT WILL CREATE JOBS IN THE PROCESS FROM CLEANING UP THOSE PLANTS AND ALL OF US WILL BENEFIT.

>> Ifill: LET'S BACKTRACK FOR A MOMENT. WHEN YOU SAY HEALTH COSTS, WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

>> POWER PLANTS ARE PRODUCING AIR POLLUTIONS THAT CAUSING NEUROTOXIC DAMAGE TO CHILDREN AND THE UNBORN, HEART ATTACKS, STROKES, ASTHMA ATTACKS, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO THE HOSPITAL, THEY'RE MISSING WORK, THEY ARE GOING TO THE E E.R. AND WHEN WE CLEAN UP POWER PLANTS WE AVOID THOSE HEALTH COSTS TO THE AMERICAN FAMILIES, TO THE ECONOMY, WE GET PEOPLE BACK TO WORK AND WE HAVE A HEALTHIER AND MORE SUCCESSFUL COUNTRY.

>> Ifill: DO THOSE KIND OF COSTS OUTWEIGH THE BENEFITS DORR THE BENEFITS OUTWEIGH THE COSTS?

>> WELL, FIRST THINGS FIRST, POLICIES THAT MAINTAIN AIR QUALITY IN THE UNITED STATES ARE IMPORTANT AND THEY SHOULD BE ADVANCED, I AGREE THAT. THE PROBLEM IS THIS RULE DOES NOT DO THAT. THE INCREMENTAL HEALTH CARE BENEFITS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS RULE IN OUR JUDGMENT ARE VIRTUALLY ZERO AND HERE'S WHY. MOST OF THE BENEFITS-- AND BY THAT I MEAN 99% OF THE BENEFITS-- DON'T COME FROM MERCURY BUT CONTROL OF SOOT, SOMETIMES CALLED PARTICULATE MATTER. HOWEVER, THESE WELL-CONTROLLED EMISSIONS AND THE E.P.A. IS ATTEMPTING TO CLAIM BENEFITS WHEN THOSE SAME AIR IS I CAN'T SAY THAT IT CLAIMS THOSE BENEFITS ALREADY ATTAIN STANDARDS THAT PROTECT HUMAN HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT SO WHAT THE E.P.A. IS DOING IS DOUBLE-COUNTING THE BENEFITS THAT ALREADY ARISE UNDER THE CLEAN AIR ACT. THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE. IN FACT THERE'S RECENT MATERIAL OUT FROM PROFESSOR SUSAN DUDLEY OVER AT GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY, HEAD OF THE REGULATORY STUDIES PROGRAM, THAT INDICATED INCREMENTAL BENEFITS, ZERO. IN FACT, COSTS SO HIGH THAT THE INCREASED COST OF ELECTRICITY COULD RESULT IN GREATER THREATS TO PUBLIC HEALTH THAN THIS RULE WOULD PURPORTEDLY ADDRESS.

>> Ifill: I WANT TO GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND TO THAT QUESTION THAT THEY'RE DOUBLE COUNTING THESE HEALTH BENEFITS.

>> GWEN, IF THAT SOUNDS OVERLY COMPLICATED IT'S BECAUSE THE TRUTH IS FAR SIMPLER. WHEN YOU CLEAN UP TOXIC AIR POLLUTION FROM POWER PLANTS USING A HANDFUL OF CONTROL EQUIPMENT YOU ARE SIMULTANEOUSLY REDUCING THE DEADLY POLLUTION THAT CAUSES HEART ATTACKS, STROKES, ASTHMA ATTACKS AND OTHER ILLNESSES. WE SHOULD CELEBRATE THAT OUTCOME AND WHAT LISA JACKSON SAID TODAY IS THIS RULE IS DELIVERING MORE HEALTH BENEFITS TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE OUTWEIGHING COSTS BY ABOUT 10-1 AND IT'S CAUSING THE POLLUTEERS RESPONSIBLE TO CLEAN UP THEIR OWN POLLUTION.

>> Ifill: ARE THEY PAYING MORE IN OTHER WAYS? ARE THEY PAYING MORE FOR THEIR ELECTRICITY? WILL ELECTRICITY BECOME LESS RELIABLE BECAUSE THERE ARE TO BE FEWER PLANTS.

>> THOSE ARE GOOD QUESTIONS. E.P.A. ESTIMATES THAT ANY ELECTRIC RATE IMPACTS WOULD BE ON AVERAGE ABOUT 3% TO CONSUMERS AND IN RETURN WE'RE GETTING $100 BILLION IN BENEFITS TO TO THE ECONOMY AND THE HEALTH OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. E.P.A. AND THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY HAS SAID THAT THERE IS NOT GOING TO BE AN IMPACT ON ELECTRICITY AND KEEPING THE LIGHTS ON. IN FACT, THESE PLANTS COULD LEAD TO THE RETIREMENT OF LESS THAN HALF OF 1% OF ALL ELECTRICITY PRODUCERS IN THE UNITED STATES. SO THAT IS NOT GOING TO CAUSE PROBLEMS IN MEETING ELECTRIC NEEDS.

>> Ifill: THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS I'M CURIOUS ABOUT, SCOTT SEGAL. HOW MANY OF THESE PLANTS WERE GOING TO CLOSE ANYWAY? THEY'RE OUT OF DATE AND WERE TIRED AND NEED TO BE RETIRED SO THIS WOULD NOT HAVE THE THE KIND OF EFFECT THAT PERHAPS SOME COAL OR ENERGY PRODUCERS WOULD WORRY ABOUT.

>> THERE'S NO DOUBT SOME OF THESE PLANTS WOULD RETIRE OVER THE NATURAL COURSE OF THINGS AND UNDER MARKET CONDITIONS. THE QUESTION WE HAVE TO ASK OURSELVES, IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO TRY AND RETIRE ALL OF THEM SIMULTANEOUSLY AND IN SO DOING ENDANGER 8% OF U.S. ELECTRICITY. THAT'S LIKE TAKING THREE STATES OFFLINE. IF A FOREIGN POWER WERE TO TRY TO DO THAT WE WOULD REGARD IT AS A THREAT. SO THE BOTTOM LINE IS THIS. WE DO EXPECT THERE WILL BE SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN ELECTRIC POWER COSTS. IN SOME AREAS OF THE COUNTRY THAT ARE MORE HEAVILY DEPENDENT ON COAL-FIRED POWER WE'RE LOOKING AT COSTS AS HIGH AS A 20% INCREASE.

>> Ifill: BUT WOULD IT ALL HAPPEN SIMULTANEOUSLY?

>> NO, OF COURSE NOT. THE AGENCY IS PROVIDEING MANY YEARS TO CLEAN UP THESE PLANTS OR DECIDE WHETHER THE BUSINESSES...

>> Ifill: FOUR YEARS.

>> FOUR YEARS WITH THE OPPORTUNITY FOR MORE TIME IF PLANTS DECIDE THAT THEY... FIND THAT THEY CAN'T MEET THE STANDARDS. PRESIDENT OBAMA ISSUED A VERY SENSIBLE AND REASONABLE MEMORANDUM TODAY LAYING OUT THE STEPS AVAILABLE UNDER THE LAW. THE AGENCY IS COMMITTED TO DOING THAT. THE ENERGY DEPARTMENT KNOWS WE CAN MEET OUR ELECTRIC NEEDS. SO, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE SEEING A LOT OF FEAR-MONGERING FROM SOME QUARTERS OF THE UTILITY INDUSTRY-- NOT MY FRIEND SCOTT-- AND WHAT YOU... YOU KNOW, WHAT YOU SEE ARE PLANTS THAT HAVE CLEANED UP ALREADY AND KNOW THAT WE CAN'T AND SHOULD AND SOME PLANTS THAT HAVEN'T CLEANED RUN FIGHTING THIS TOOTH AND NAIL IN WASHINGTON.

>> Ifill: BUT YOUR FRIEND SCOTT SAID THIS IS GOING TO COST JOBS.

>> IT WILL COST JOBS. ONE OF THE BEST ECONOMIC ANALYSIS PERFORMED BY A REPUTABLE ECONOMIC CONSULTING FIRM INDICATED THAT WE WILL LOSE ABOUT 1.44 MILLION NET JOBS. MEANING TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE JOB CREATION JOHN REFERRED TO EARLIER WITH RESPECT TO AIR POLLUTION COMPLIANCE JOBS.

>> Ifill: RETRO FITTING THE PLANTS WILL CREATE JOBS BUT NOT FOR LONG.

>> FOR EVERY ONE OF THOSE JOB THAT EXISTS ON A TEMPORARY BASIS-- BECAUSE AS SOON AS THE RETRO FIT IS DONE, THAT JOB IS OVER-- FOUR OF THOSE JOBS IN MANUFACTURING SECONDORS, MINING OR THE POWER SECTER ARE LIKELY TO BE LOST. THAT'S A TRADEOFF WE CAN ILL AFFORD. WE'VE HAD SO MUCH DEBATE, GWEN, ABOUT THE PAYROLL TAXES AND GIVING A THOUSAND DOLLARS TO MIDDLE... TO MIDDLE-CLASS FAMILIES IT WOULD BE A SHAME TO ACHIEVE THAT BENEFIT OF THE TAX AND THEN IN THE SAME NOTION GIVE BACK THE THOUSAND DOLLARS IN INCREASED UTILITY BILLS TO THE MIDDLE-CLASS.

>> Ifill: YOUR FRIEND JOHN IS SHAKING HIS HEAD.

>> THAT NOTORIOUS STUDY PROVED THE ADAGE THAT LOBBYISTS CAN PAY CONSULTANTS TO SAY ANYTHING IN WASHINGTON. THE TRUTH IS THAT WHEN E.P.A. AND THE ENERGY DEPARTMENT CONDUCTED THE MOST EXHAUSTIVE ANALYSIS OF THE COMPETING STUDIES AND INFORMATION OUT THERE THEY FOUND THAT THESE RULES ARE EXPECTED TO PRODUCE CONSTRUCTION JOBS OF TWO TO THREE YEARS FOR OVER 40,000 AMERICAN WORKERS AND PERMANENT LONG-TERM JOBS OPERATING THE CLEANUP EQUIPMENT OF OVER 10 JOBS. SO, YOU KNOW, THOSE NUMBERS THAT SCOTT'S PUTTING FORWARD WERE PAID FOR BY INDUSTRY AND STAND IN STARK CONTRADICTION WITH WHAT E.P.A. IS SAYING.

>> Ifill: FINALLY, IT WASN'T THAT LONG AGO WE WERE SITTING AT THIS TABLE DISCUSSING THE ADMINISTRATION'S ROLLING BACK OF ITS PLAN TO PUT TIGHTER RESTRICTIONS IN PLACE FOR SMOG REGULATIONS AND YOU WEREN'T VERY HAPPY ABOUT THAT AT THE TIME. YOU WERE NOT SO UNHAPPY ABOUT IT. IS THE ADMINISTRATION BEING TOUGHER OR ARE THEY NOT BEING TOUGH ENOUGH?

>> WHEN THE ADMINISTRATION MAKES A WRONG DECISION WE SAY SO. BUT THIS IS A HISTORICALLY RIGHT AND SUCCESSFUL ACHIEVEMENT THAT SHOULD BE CELEBRATED. THESE STANDARDS ARE HISTORIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT WILL PRODUCE A GENERATIONAL IMPROVEMENT IN AIR QUALITY AND THEY FOLLOWED THE SCIENCE AND THE LAW AND ALL AMERICANS WILL BENEFIT FROM THIS.

>> AND AS WE SEE IT TREMENDOUS ADDITIONAL COST BOTH IN THE POWER BILL AND ALSO IN JOB CREATION IN 20 DIFFERENT INDUSTRIAL SECTORS THAT ARE HIGHLY ENERGY INTENSIVE AND EXIST IN AN INTERNATIONAL MARKETPLACE. ALL OF THAT FOR VIRTUALLY NO INCREMENTAL HEALTH BENEFITS. IT'S A BAD DEAL FOR AMERICA AND AT A BAD TIME TO CONDUCT SUCH A DEAL.

>> Ifill: SCOTT SEGAL AND JOHN WALKE OF THE NATIONAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL, THANK YOU BOTH VERY MUCH.

>> Brown: NATION IN NORTH AFRICA CONFRONTS THE ISSUE OF HIV-AIDS. RAY SUAREZ REPORTS.

>> Reporter: FRIDAY PRAYER IN MOROCCO, ON AFRICA'S NORTHWEST CORNER. THOUSANDS OF WORSHIPERS GATHER IN A LARGE MOSQUE IN THE CITY OF BOUSKOURA, TO PRAY, AND HEAR PRAYERS AND PREACHING FROM THE LOCAL IMAM. WITH FEW VARIATIONS, THIS IS A FAMILIAR SCENE, REPEATED WEEKLY ACROSS THE MUSLIM WORLD. ON THIS DECEMBER DAY, THE WEEKLY MESSAGE FROM IMAM MOHAMMED ZIANI ISN'T WHAT YOU EXPECT TO HEAR AT FRIDAY PRAYERS.

>> ( translated ): DEAR BROTHERS, AIDS OR THE HIV VIRUS IS ONE OF THE MOST FATAL PLIGHTS OUR GENERATION IS FACING BECAUSE WE DO NOT TALK ABOUT IT.

>> Reporter: THE TABOO TOPIC OF H.I.V.-- THE VIRUS THAT CAUSES AIDS-- PARTICULARLY HOW TO PREVENT IT AND TREAT IT RARELY SURFACES IN SUCH A PUBLIC WAY IN MUSLIM SOCIETIES, LET ALONE AT THE MOSQUE. IMAM ZIANI, AND RELIGIOUS LEADERS ACROSS MOROCCO ARE TRYING TO CHANGE THAT.

>> ( translated ): IT IS THE DUTY OF ANY IMAM OR PREACHER TO TEACH. GOD SAID THIS IN THE KORAN, WE HAVE A SWORN OATH TO ALLAH TO CLARIFY AND TEACH, SO THIS IS MY MISSION. IT WOULD BE A SIN FOR ME TO NEGLECT THAT RESPONSIBILITY.

>> Reporter: IN MOROCCO, 20,000 IMAMS, LIKE ZIANI, HAVE BEEN TRAINED TO PROMOTE BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF AIDS, BY TEACHING CONGREGATIONS TO TREAT H.I.V. POSITIVE PEOPLE WITH COMPASSION, AND MERCY INSTEAD OF FEAR AND ISOLATION. IMAMS ARE TAUGHT BASIC SCIENCE ABOUT THE H.I.V. VIRUS PREVENTION, AND THE FIGHT AGAINST AIDS IN MOROCCO AND THROUGHOUT AFRICA. THE PROGRAM AIMS TO REACH 45,000 IMAMS. ZIANI SAYS THE RESPONSE TO HIS MESSAGES OF H.I.V. AWARENESS AND PREVENTION HAS BEEN SURPRISINGLY POSITIVE. WORSHIPERS ROUTINELY THANK HIM AND CALL HIM COURAGEOUS.

>> ( translated ): MY OBJECTIVE IN PREACHING TODAY WAS TO RAISE PEOPLES AWARENESS ABOUT THE DANGERS AND ABOUT HOW TO STOP ITS SPREAD BY TAKING PRECAUTIONS.

>> Reporter: H.I.V. INFECTION IN MOROCCO IN GENERAL IS LOW. IN A POPULATION OF 32 MILLION, JUST ONE TENTH OF 1% ARE H.I.V. INFECTED. BUT HEALTH OFFICIALS HERE QUICKLY FIGURED OUT THAT NOT TALKING ABOUT H.I.V./AIDS WOULD LIKELY SPREAD THE DISEASE FASTER. BUT THEY HAD A TRICKY TASK: HOW TO GET THE PREVENTION MESSAGE ACROSS WITHOUT OFFENDING DEEPLY CONSERVATIVE MOROCCANS. HERE, WOMEN WEAR HEADSCARVES AND LONG TUNICS TO HIDE PHYSICAL FEATURES LIKE HAIR AND THE SHAPE OF A WOMAN'S BODY. THEY BELIEVE SHOWING SUCH FEATURES COULD PROVOKE SEXUAL ATTRACTION. TEACHING PEOPLE TO PRACTICE SAFE SEX OUTSIDE OF MARRIAGE HERE IS DAUNTING. IN A WAY IT MAKES SENSE THAT THE MOSQUE GOT THIS ASSIGNMENT, A TRUSTED INSTITUTION IN A CONSERVATIVE RELIGIOUS COUNTRY. IT WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN A GOOD IDEA TO GO BIG THE WAY SOME OTHER AFRICAN COUNTRIES HAVE WITH H.I.V. EDUCATION. LIKE T.V. ADS URGING CONDOM USE OR BILLBOARDS AROUND THE BIGGEST CITIES.

>> WE DON'T SPEAK ON TV, WE DON'T SPEAK IN NEWSPAPER ABOUT WHAT WE ARE DOING. WE DON'T WANT TO PROVOKE A POPULATION WHO DON'T AGREE WITH WHAT WE ARE DOING.

>> Reporter: DR. HAKIMA HIMMICH HELPED FOUND THE FIRST ANTI-AIDS GROUP IN NORTH AFRICA, THE ASSOCIATION OF THE STRUGGLE AGAINST AIDS, A.L.C.S. IN FRENCH. THOUGH A.L.C.S. HAS THE SUPPORT OF GOVERNMENT, IT MUST OPERATE IN A KIND OF SECRECY CONDUCTING H.I.V. EDUCATION WORKSHOPS, LIKE THIS ONE FOR SEX WORKERS, WITHOUT USING PUBLIC AIRWAVES OR OUTLETS TO PROMOTE THEM. EVEN WITH LOW RATES OF INFECTION, 3,000 NEW H.I.V. CASES ARE RERTED EVERY YEAR. PROGRAMS ARE AIMED AT THE GROUPS AT HIGHEST RISK-- SEX WORKERS, I.V. DRUG USERS AND TRUCKERS. TARGETING HOMOSEXUAL SEX IS EVEN TOUGHER.

>> ABSOLUTELY NOT ACCEPTED, SEX RELATION BETWEEN MEN ARE CRIMINALIZED IN MOROCCO. THERE IS NO PUBLIC GAY CULTURE. WE HAVE GAY MEN, BUT NO PEOPLE CAN SAY, "I AM A GAY MAN."

>> Reporter: THIS WOMAN HAS COVERED UP TO PROTECT HER IDENTITY. SHE CONTRACTED H.I.V. FROM HER HUSBAND-- THE ONLY SEX PARTNER SHE HAS EVER HAD. IT WASN'T UNTIL HE AND THE COUPLE'S YOUNG BABY BOTH BECAME ILL AND DIED THAT SHE DISCOVERED SHE HAD H.I.V. SINCE THAT TIME, SHE HAS KEPT HER H.I.V. POSITIVE STATUS A SECRET-FEARING EVEN HER PARENTS WOULD BE OSTRACIZED IF ANYONE KNEW.

>> ( translated ): IF I SHOW MY FACE, ADMIT TO HAVING HE DISEASE, RELATIVES MAY STOP COMING TO VISIT MY FAMILY, AND THE NEIGHBORS WILL REJECT THEM.

>> Reporter: KNOWING IMAMS ARE AT THE HEART OF FAMILY AND COMMUNITY ACCEPTANCE OF AIDS-- THE GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION OF RELIGIOUS LEADERS CONDUCTS 12-15 IMAM H.I.V. SENSITIVITY TRAINING SESSIONS EVERY YEAR. THE SESSIONS HAVE RECEIVED A $9 MILLION GRANT FROM THE GLOBAL FUND TO FIGHT AIDS, MALARIA, AND TUBERCULOSIS, A PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP THAT FINANCES PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAMS. IMAMS RESPONSIBLE FOR DELIVERING FRIDAY PRAYER ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE INVITED, AND COACHED ON HOW TO WORK H.I.V. INTO SERMONS. DR. AHMED ABBADI IS THE PRESIDENT OF AN ISLAMIC THINK TANK, THE MOHAMMEDIA LEAGUE OF MOROCCAN ULAMA, AND A PROFESSOR OF ISLAMIC THOUGHT.

>> WE'VE BEEN USING VERY SIMPLE, I WOULD EVEN SAY SIMPLISTIC METAPHORS, SUCH AS IF THERE IS SOMEONE WHO IS SPIRITUALLY WEAK AND WHO BROKE INTO A HOUSE TO STEAL, IT WOULD BE BETTER IF HE DOES HIS THEFT AND LEAVES, OR ROB THE HOUSE, AND LEAVE AND GO. DON'T KILL. DON'T BURN THE HOUSE. IF YOU DO INSIST TO HAVE SOME DANGEROUS SEXUAL INTERCOURSES AT LEAST USE CONDOM BECAUSE IT WOULD BE THAT YOU ARE PROTECTING YOURSELF AND YOUR PARTNERS. WE HAVE SOME RULES IN OUR RELIGION ISLAM THAT YOU SAY PLEASE BE ALWAYS KEEN TO PUSH THE GREATER DAMAGE EVEN BY A SMALLER DAMAGE.

>> Reporter: PROSTITUTES HAVE BEEN INVITED TO WORKSHOPS TO TALK AND IMAMS AND THEOLOGIANS LIKE FARIDA ZUMORROD ASKED TO LISTEN.

>> ( translated ): I MET SOME OF THE FEMALE SEX WORKERS AT A WORKSHOP. AT FIRST, THEY WERE FRIGHTENED OF US RELIGIOUS LEADERS, THINKING WE WOULD ATTACK THEM AND CALL THEM WHORES, INSTEAD WE LEARNED HOW POVERTY PUSHED THEM INTO PROSTITUTION.

>> WE SUCCEEDED IN HAVING THOSE WHO SUFFER FROM THE DISEASE WORKING WITH US TO SPREAD THE MESSAGE OPENLY AND I THINK THAT THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL FORMS OF PATRIOTISM. LOOK, WE ARE HERE. WE DON'T WANT YOU HERE. TAKE CARE.

>> Reporter: ABBADI SAYS THE IMAM TRAINING PROGRAM HAS ALREADY LED TO SUCCESSES. ONE EXAMPLE, A SIZABLE INCREASE IN H.I.V. TESTING IN HIGH RISK GROUPS. THIS MOBILE CLINIC HEADED OUT TO A CASABLANCA TRUCK STOP TO OFFER FREE H.I.V. SCREENINGS TO TRUCKS DRIVERS WHO TRAVEL THE LENGTH OF THIS COUNTRY, THE CROSSROADS BETWEEN EUROPE AND AFRICA.

>> ( translated ): WE TARGET THE SEX WORKERS IN THE STREETS WHO SERVE THE DRIVERS WHO USE THE ROAD EVERY DAY, EVEN MECHANIC TECHNICIANS AND STREET MERCHANTS IN THE STREETS. IT'S THE USERS OF ROADS THAT WE TRY AND REACH.

>> Reporter: MOROCCO'S UNIQUE UNION OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND RELIGION IS NOW BEING LOOKED AT AS MODEL FOR H.I.V. PREVENTION IN MUSLIM COUNTRIES ACROSS THE REGION.

>> Ifill: RAY'S NEXT STORY LOOKS AT MOROCCO AFTER THE ARAB SPRING WITH A NEW CONSTITUTION AND HOPES FOR GREATER DEMOCRACY.

>> Brown: NOW, WOMEN TAKE TO THE STREETS OF CAIRO IN LARGE NUMBERS, ADDING A POWERFUL NEW ELEMENT TO EGYPT'S POLITICAL STRUGGLES. MARGARET WARNER HAS THE STORY.

>> Warner: IT WAS THIS GRAPHIC IMAGE THAT OUTRAGED MANY PEOPLE ACROSS EGYPT AND AROUND THE WORLD. A FEMALE PROTESTER STRIPPED HALF NAKED BY EGYPTIAN SOLDIERS-- BEATEN, KICKED AND STOMPED ON. IT HAPPENED DURING WEEKEND CLASHES IN CAIRO. SOLDIERS AND SECURITY FORCES USED TOUGH NEW TACTICS TRYING TO ROUT PROTESTERS OPPOSED TO CONTINUED MILITARY CONTROL. AND THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER REPORTS OF ATTACKS ON WOMEN BY SECURITY FORCES IN RECENT DAYS. BUT ON MONDAY, A MEMBER OF THE RULING MILITARY, MAJOR GENERAL ADEL EMARA, INSISTED THE INCIDENT HAD BEEN BLOWN OUT OF PROPORTION. AND HE DEFENDED THE USE OF FORCE BY TROOPS.

>> ( translated ): THERE WAS A UNIQUE MODEL OF EGYPTIAN PEOPLE COOPERATING WITH THEIR OWN ARMY SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE REVOLUTION AND THIS COOPERATION HAS BOTHERED FORCES THAT HAVE BAD INTENTIONS FOR THIS COUNTRY. THIS POWER AIMS TO TOPPLE THE STATE, AND GET EGYPTIANS INVOLVED IN UNREST WITH THEIR OWN ARMY.

>> Warner: THE ATTACKS ON WOMEN- - AND THE MILITARY'S DEFENSE OF IT-- BROUGHT A STERN REBUKE FROM WASHINGTON. ON MONDAY, SECRETARY OF STATE HILLARY CLINTON CALLED IT SHOCKING.

>> THIS SYSTEMATIC DEGRADATION OF EGYPTIAN WOMEN DISHONORS THE REVOLUTION, DISGRACES THE STATE AND ITS UNIFORM, AND IS NOT WORTHY OF A GREAT PEOPLE. AS SOME EGYPTIAN POLITICIANS AND COMMENTATORS HAVE THEMSELVES NOTED, A NEW DEMOCRACY CANNOT BE BUILT ON THE PERSECUTION OF WOMEN, NOR CAN ANY STABLE SOCIETY.

>> Warner: THE EGYPTIAN FOREIGN MINISTER REJECTED THE CRITICISM AS UNWARRANTED FOREIGN INTERFERENCE. BUT YESTERDAY, EGYPTIAN WOMEN TOOK MATTERS INTO THEIR OWN HANDS. NEARLY 10,000 MARCHED INTO TAHRIR SQUARE, IN ONE OF THE LARGEST WOMEN-ONLY PROTESTS IN EGYPTIAN HISTORY. THEY SHOUTED AND WAVED SIGNS DENOUNCING THE ATTACKS, MANY DEMANDING THAT THE GENERALS TO STEP DOWN.

>> ( translated ): THE WOMEN IN EGYPT ARE CONSIDERED A RED LINE, JUST LIKE EGYPTIAN MEN ARE CONSIDERED A RED LINE, AND THEY THE MILITARY HAVE CROSSED ALL OF THESE LINES.

>> ( translated ): WOMEN WERE BEATEN, WOMEN WERE STRIPED IN THE STREET THIS IS THE ARMY WHO WERE SUPPOSED TO PROTECT US AM HERE TO SAY DOWN, DOWN WITH THE MILITARY COUNCIL.

>> Warner: YESTERDAY, THE MILITARY ISSUED A STATEMENT EXPRESSING ITS UTMOST SORROW FOR THE GREAT WOMEN OF EGYPT. IT POINTEDLY DID NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY VIOLENCE. FOR SOME WOMEN, CASTING THEIR BALLOTS IN ANOTHER ROUND OF PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION RUN-OFFS, IT WASN'T ENOUGH.

>> ( translated ): AN APOLOGY IS NOT ENOUGH. THIS IS A CRIME THAT HAPPENED AND IT'S A CRIME AGAINST ALL THE WOMEN OF EGYPT, ESPECIALLY THIS WOMAN AND THOSE SOLDIERS SHOULD BE PUT ON TRIAL.

>> Warner: IN THE MEANTIME SMALL GROUPS OF PROTESTERS CONTINUED GATHERING IN TAHRIR SQUARE. AND I AM JOINED NOW BY MAY NABIL, WHO PARTICIPATED IN YESTERDAY'S DEMONSTRATION. SHE IS A CORPORATE EXECUTIVE IN CAIRO. WHY DID SO MANY WOMEN TURN OUT FOR THIS PROTEST YESTERDAY, FOR THIS MARCH?

>> HELLO, MARGARET, HOW ARE YOU? THANKS FOR LETTING ME HAVE THE CHANCE. IN THE PAST THERE HAS BEEN PRESSURE HAPPENING IN THE STREET AND THIS HAPPENED ON SATURDAY WHEN THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED TO OUR FELLOW EGYPTIAN GIRL AND EVER SINCE EACH WAS VERY HANGRY AND EVERYONE HERE IN CAIRO WAS COVERING ON IT. PEOPLE FELT LIKE THIS IS SOMETHING THEY HAVE TO DO SO THERE WAS A CALL ON THE INTERNET FOR ALL THE WOMEN TO GATHER AND GO DOWN AND PROTEST AND MARCH TO SUPPORT THE GIRL SO THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY.

>> Pelley: WERE YOU SURPRISED AT THE SIZE OF THE CROWD?

>> WELL, WHEN I WAS ON MY WAY TO THE PROTEST I DIDN'T THINK AND I WAS PROUD THAT MANY OF THE WOMEN HERE LIKE ANSWERED THE CALL MANY OF THEM DIDN'T HAVE ANY INTERNET ACCESS SO THEY HEARD FROM OTHER WOMEN WHO HAD IT AND IT WAS GETTING BIGGER AND BIGGER OVER THE HOURS SO IT STARTED AT 4:00 P.M. CAIRO LOCAL TIME AND DURING THE MARCH OTHER WOMEN JOINED US FROM THE STREETS, NORMAL WALKING EVEN THE ONES WHO DIDN'T HEAR ABOUT THE MARCH, THEY SIMPLY JOINED IN. SO, YES, I WAS SURPRISED BUT I WAS PROUD AND I HAD HOPE THAT THIS MIGHT BE A CALL, PEOPLE ARE MORE AWARE NOW.

>> Warner: AND WHAT HAPPENED AT THE PROTEST? WAS THERE ANY VIOLENCE? ANY ROUGHNESS SHOWN BY THE SECURITY FORCES TOWARD YOU?

>> NO, NOT AT ALL. THERE WERE NO SECURITY FORCES. THEY WERE ACTUALLY ABSENT FROM THIS. IT WAS ALL WOMEN AND WE HAD LAYERS OF MEN PROTECTING THE MARCH SINCE IT STARTED TILL IT REACHED THE SQUARE. SO I DIDN'T SEE WITH MY BARE EYES ANY SECURITY, ANY MILITARY. NOBODY WAS THERE, JUST THE PEOPLE.

>> Warner: NOW YOU SAID THAT, OF COURSE, A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T HAVE ACCESS. HOW WIDELY WAS THAT VIDEO WHO WAS HALF STRIPPED DOWN HER BLUE DRAW BRA. HOW WIDELY WAS THAT SEEN IN EGYPT? WAS IT ON STATE T.V.?

>> I DIDN'T SEE IT. I ONLY SAW IT ON THE INTERNET. BUT MANY INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPERS PUT IT ON THE FIRST PAGES AND A LOT OF ACTIVISTS PRINTED OUT THE PHOTO TO SHOW IT TO PEOPLE IN THE STREETS. THIS IS HOW THE AWARENESS HAPPENED BECAUSE MANY DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT IT. SOME HEARD OF IT BUT THEY DIDN'T ACTUALLY SEE IT. SO IT WAS INDEPENDENT EFFORT TO SPREAD THE PHOTO ALL OVER THE STREET.

>> Warner: WAS THIS UNUSUAL BEHAVIOR ON THE PART OF THE EGYPTIAN SECURITY FORCES?

>> WELL, NOT REALLY. A FEW MONTHS AGO MANY HAD CERTAIN VIOLENCE OF THIS SO, NO, IT'S NOT NEW. IT HAPPENS BEFORE IN APRIL TO CERTAIN OF GIRLS AND I'M NOT SURE YOU HEARD OF IT OR NOT BUT THEY ENCOUNTERED SUCH VIOLENCE BUT IT WASN'T ACTUALLY FILMED SO WE ONLY HEARD THEIR TESTIMONY. THEY SAID THAT IT HAPPENED TO THEM BUT THIS WAS THE ONLY DOCUMENTED EVENT. THAT'S WHY PEOPLE BELIEVED IT.

>> Warner: SO WHAT ARE YOU TRYING OR WHAT WERE YOU TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH WITH THIS MARCH YESTERDAY?

>> IT WAS FIRST A MARCH OF ANGER WE WERE ANGRY ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO THAT GIRL AND WE WERE TRYING TO SPREAD THE WORD AND TELL PEOPLE THAT IT'S NOT RIGHT THAT FORCES DID THAT AND MIGHT DO THAT TO US AS WELL ANY TIME ANYWHERE, IN THE STREET OR INSIDE OUR HOUSES SO FIRST IT WAS LIKE AN ANGRY VOICE. WE WERE ANGRY AND WE WANTED TO SUPPORT THE GIRL. WE WANTED HER TO HERE THAT WE ARE ALL CONSOLIDATED TOGETHER. WE ARE ALL TRYING HERE TO LET HER KNOW SHE'S NOT ALONE AND WE WANTED TO INFORM THE REST OF THE POPULATION, MEN AND WOMEN, THAT THESE PRACTICES CAN HAPPEN TO THEM AT ANY POINT OF TIME.

>> Warner: NOW THE MILITARY COUNCIL LATE YESTERDAY AS YOUR DEMONSTRATION WAS WINDING UP DID ISSUE A STATEMENT APOLOGIZING FOR WHAT HAPPENED. DO YOU THINK THAT'S ENOUGH.

>> THEY DIDN'T APOLOGIZE. THEY DIDN'T ACTUALLY APOLOGIZE. THEY WERE SORRY. THEY SAID THEY WERE SORRY OF WHAT HAPPENED. ALL WOMEN MADE FUN OF THIS BECAUSE WE DON'T DO SUCH PRACTICES AND SAY WE ARE SORRY, NO. THEY SAID... THEY FEEL SORRY ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED BUT THEY DIDN'T SAY "WE ARE SORRY" ABOUT DOING THAT.

>> Warner: TO SO DO YOU THINK THIS MARCH WAS A ONE-TIME EVENT OR DO YOU THINK IT WILL BE THE BEGINNING OF SEEING MORE EGYPTIAN WOMEN MORE ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN POLITICS?

>> WELL, NO, THIS IS NOT A ONE-TIME EVENT BECAUSE TODAY IN ALEXANDRIA THEY MARCHED OVER THERE EXACTLY WITH THE SAME MASSIVE AMOUNT OF WOMEN. THEY STARTED IT SO I BELIEVE THIS IS THE START OF A CHAIN OF PROTESTS CONDUCTED BY WOMEN BECAUSE IT'S... THE FIGHT IS NOT FOR ONLY A MAN TO CONDUCT SO I BELIEVE WOMEN NOW ARE PARTICIPATING, THEY'VE BEEN PARTICIPATING BEFORE BUT RIGHT NOW THEY ARE TAKING ACTION TOWARDS WHAT'S HAPPENING AND I DON'T THINK THIS IS GOING TO END HERE SO TODAY WE HAVE ANOTHER ONE IN ANOTHER CITY IN ALEXANDRIA AND I BELIEVE IT WILL NOT STOP. WAR.

>> Warner: MAY NABIL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU MARGARET SO MUCH. THANK YOU.

>> Ifill: FINALLY TONIGHT, ONE OF THE GREAT TRADITIONS OF THE HOLIDAY SEASON TOLD THROUGH THE WORDS OF POET MARK DOTY. DOTY IS AUTHOR OF MORE THAN A DOZEN BOOKS OF POETRY, ESSAYS, AND MEMOIRS. HIS MOST RECENT VOLUME, "FIRE TO FIRE: NEW AND SELECTED POEMS," WON THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD.

>> ONE WINTER THE CORAL SOCIETY IN THE LITTLE COASTAL TOWN IN MASSACHUSETTS WHERE I LIVED DECIDED TO MOUNT A PRODUCTION OF HANDEL'S "MESSIAH." AND THIS WAS AMBITIOUS AND EXCITING BUT ALSO, YOU KNOW, A LITTLE DAUNTING AND WE WEREN'T REALLY SHOE HOW WELL THIS WAS GOING TO WORK OUT. THE AFTERNOON THAT I WENT TO THE PERFORMANCE, A BEAUTIFUL SUNSET WAS JUST BEGINNING TO FORM OVER THE CHURCH STEEPLE AND I LOOKED AT THAT AND I THOUGHT THAT IS A SURE THING. IF I GO INTO THE SANCTUARY... WELL, WE'LL SEE. THIS IS CALLED "MESSIAH, CHRISTMAS PORTIONS." "OVER THE ROOF, TWO CLOUDS PROPOSE A ZION OF THEIR OWN BLAZING COLORS OF TARNISH ON COPPER AGAINST THE STEELY CLOSE OF A COASTAL AFTERNOON, DECEMBER. WHILE UNDER THE STEEPLE THE CORRAL SOCIETY PREPARES TO PERFORM MESSIAH. POURING ON TO THE STAGE NOT SPEED, REALLY, BUT FOR FROM HERE, THE FIRST PEW, THERE ARE LOOMING CLOUD BANKS OF FAMILIAR ANGELS. THAT NEIGHBOR WHO FIGHTS ON RATALLY WITH HER GIRLFRIEND FOR ONE, AND THE FRIENDLY BEARDED CLERK FROM THE POST OFFICE, TENOR TRAPPED IN THE BODY OF A BARITONE. ALTOS FROM THE, A AND, SOPRANO FROM THE T-SHIRT SHOP. TODAY THEY'RE ALL POISED, COSTUME AND PURPOSE CONVEYING THE RIGHT NOTE OF DISTANCE AND FORMALITY, SILENT IN THE HALL, ANTICIPATORY AS THIS WERE ALL ABOUT TO OPEN A GIFT WE'RE NOT SURE WE'LL LIKE." HERE WE ARE PEOPLE I SAW EVERY WEEK AT THE POST OFFICE OR THE GROCERY STORE GOING ABOUT THEIR DAILY TASKS AND SUDDENLY THERE THEY WERE IN A DIFFERENT SPACE IN A NEW ROLE AND THEY OPENED THEIR MOUTH AND OUT POURED THIS GLORY. AND IT'S A THRILLING THING WHEN YOU REALIZE THAT RIGHT THERE IN YOUR COMMUNITY JUST UNDER THE SURFACE WAITING TO BREAK OUT IS THE GORGEOUS SPIRE OF THIS MUSIC. HOW COULD THEY COMPETE WITH SUN SUNSETS BURNISHED ORATORIO, THOUGHT WHICH IS VANISH WHEN THE VIOLINS BEGIN. WHO'D HAVE THOUGHT THEY'D BE SO GOOD. EVERY VALLEY, PROCLAIM IT IS SOLO TENOR, A SLEEK BLOND I'VE SEEN SOMEWHERE BEFORE. THE LIQUOR STORE? SHALL BE EXALTED AND IN HIS HANDSOME MOUTH THE WORD IS LIFTED AND OPENED INTO MORE SYLLABLES THAN WE CAN COUNT. CENTRAL "AH" DILATED. THIS MUSIC DEMONSTRATES WHAT IT CLAIMS: GLORY SHALL BE REVEALED IF ART'S ACCEPTABLE EMBLEMS MUSN'T WHAT LIES BEHIND THE WORLD BE AT LEAST AS BEAUTIFUL AS THE HUMAN VOICE IN THE TENORS LACK CONFIDENCE AND THE SOLOISTS-- HALF OF THEM ANYWAY-- DON'T HAVE THE STRENGTH TO FOUND THE MIGHTY KINGDOM OF THAT THESE PASSAGES PROPOSE. ♪ GLORIA, GLORIA...

>> BUT THE CHORUS ALL TOGETHER EQUALS MY BURNING CLOUDS AND SEEMS ITSELF TO BURN. ♪ GLORIA, GLORIA TO THE LORD... ♪

>> MINGLED POWERS BEADED TO A LARGER CENTERING CLAIM. THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT THAT EXPERIENCE COLLECTIVELY THAT MAKES IT MORE POWERFUL. WE UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE NOT JUST BY OURSELVES EXPERIENCING THIS SENSE OF BEING UPLIFTED BUT THAT WE DO THAT COMMUNALLY. THIS AND THAT OUR FELLOW VOICES DO IT FOR US. WE ARE CITIZENS TOGETHER IN THAT MOMENT IN A KIND OF RAPTURE. AREN'T WE ENLARGED FOR THE SCALE OF WHAT WE'RE ABLE DESIRE? EVERYTHING, THE CHOIR INSISTS. INSIDE THESE WRAPPINGS BURNS ANOTHER BRIGHTER LIFE QUICKENED NOW BY SONG. ♪ HALLELUJAH, HALLELUJAH...

>> HEAR HOW IT CASCADES IN OVERLAPPING WAVES OF PRAISE. STILL TIME, STILL TIME TO CHANGE. ♪ HALLELUJAH... (CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)

>> Brown: AGAIN, THE MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS OF THE DAY: BANK OF AMERICA AGREED TO PAY $335 MILLION TO SETTLE FEDERAL ALLEGATIONS THAT ITS COUNTRYWIDE UNIT DISCRIMINATED AGAINST BLACK AND HISPANIC BORROWERS. THE EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK LENT NEARLY $640 BILLION TO MORE THAN 500 EUROPEAN BANKS IN A BID TO EASE A CREDIT CRUNCH. AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY PROPOSED RULES TO CURB MERCURY EMISSIONS FROM POWER PLANTS. THEY'D HAVE TO COMPLY OR SHUT DOWN. ONLINE, WE HAVE MORE FROM POET MARK DOTY. HARI SREENIVASAN EXPLAINS. HARI?

>> Sreenivasan: WATCH DOTY READ ANOTHER OF HIS POEMS, CALLED "MACKEREL." THAT'S ON ART BEAT. ALSO THERE, JEFF RECAPS THE YEAR IN FICTION WITH "WASHINGTON POST" BOOK CRITIC RON CHARLES. JUDY TALKS WITH THE FORMER MAYOR OF TAMPA ABOUT HER BOOK URGING THE POLITICAL MIDDLE TO RE- ENGAGE. THAT'S ON THE RUNDOWN. AND THERE'S MORE ON MOROCCO INCLUDING RAY'S REPORTER'S NOTEBOOK AND A PAIR OF SLIDESHOWS. ALL THAT AND MORE IS ON OUR WEB SITE: newshour.pbs.org. JEFF?

>> Brown: AND THAT'S THE "NEWSHOUR" FOR TONIGHT. ON THURSDAY, WE'LL LOOK AT STORES CATERING THIS HOLIDAY SEASON TO HIGH AND LOW END SHOPPERS, BUT LESS TO THOSE IN THE MIDDLE. I'M JEFFREY BROWN.

>> Ifill: AND I'M GWEN IFILL. WE'LL SEE YOU ONLINE AND AGAIN HERE TOMORROW EVENING. THANK YOU AND GOOD NIGHT. MAJOR FUNDING FOR THE PBS NEWSHOUR HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY: AND BY THE ALFRED P. SLOAN FOUNDATION. SUPPORTING SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND IMPROVED ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE AND FINANCIAL LITERACY IN THE 21ST CENTURY. AND WITH THE ONGOING SUPPORT OF THESE INSTITUTIONS AND FOUNDATIONS. AND... THIS PROGRAM WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING. AND BY CONTRIBUTIONS TO YOUR PBS STATION FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU. THANK YOU. Captioning sponsored by MacNEIL/LEHRER PRODUCTIONS Captioned by Media Access Group at WGBH access.wgbh.org