[Erin Burnett, Cnn Anchor:] "OUTFRONT" next, the president scores a big political win today. Does that put America closer to launching a strike on Syria? Then the drug nicknamed "Molly" being glamorized in songs and pop culture. Also being blamed for deaths. Tonight we speak to an addict who tells us why that high is unlike any he's ever had. And a judge is ruling on a taboo subject. Is there ever a time it would be OK to say the "N" word at work? The judge ruled on this. Let's go "OUTFRONT." Good evening, everyone. I'm Erin Burnett. OUTFRONT tonight, a big win for President Obama. Two key Republican leaders, House Speaker John Boehner and Majority Leader Eric Cantor tonight say they support the president's plan to strike Syria. Both were on hand today when President Obama gathered key congressional leaders at the White House to try and make his case. Clearly that meeting got the job done for some and the president's hoping his secretaries of state and defense had the same effect on Capitol Hill this afternoon. We're going to be joined by Senator Rand Paul in just a moment who was in that contentious hearing, but now Jim Sciutto, our chief national security correspondent is with us from Washington.
[Sen. Bob Corker , Tennessee:] Today you're beginning the formal request of asking each of us to make the most important decision many of us will make during our tenure in the United States Senate.
[Jim Sciutto, Cnn Chief National Security Correspondent:] For senators, a rare chance to debate a president's decision to launch military attacks abroad. The administration's three spokesmen all with very personal experience of war delivered the same message the world is awaiting America's response.
[John Kerry, Secretary Of State:] Hezbollah is hoping that isolationism will prevail. North Korea is hoping that ambivalence carries the day. They are all listening for our silence.
[Sciutto:] Left to make the military case for attacks the chairman of the Joint Chiefs who had been a skeptic of broad military actions.
[General Martin Dempsey, Chairman, Joint Chiefs Of Staff:] I have never been told to change the momentum. I have been told to degrade capability.
[Sciutto:] Senators and the administration came face to face with an American public deeply skeptical of another conflict in the Middle East.
[Unidentified Male:] Thank you, Mr. Secretary. The committee will be in order.
[Unidentified Female:] Don't go to war.
[Kerry:] The first time I testified before this committee when I was 27 years old I had feelings very similar to that protester. And I would just say that is exactly why it is so important that we are all here.
[Sciutto:] With that reluctance in mind the administration took extra care to clarify what military action would be.
[Kerry:] Limited, targeted effort that will not be American boots on the ground with respect to the civil war.
[Sciutto:] And would not even when Secretary Kerry for a moment seemed to open the door to U.S. boots on the ground.
[Kerry:] I don't want to take off the table an option that might or might not be available to the president of the United States to secure our country.
[Burnett:] Obviously that gets to the heart of it, you know, leaving that door open. Jim, was the administration able to change any minds today? I know we were talking about John Boehner and Eric Cantor obviously significant development there, but there are still so many who are undecided who are leaning voting no.
[Sciutto:] Well, you got a window on the administration strategy here, clearly they had something for the skeptics and that is the constant return to the sense that this would be a very limited action, in scope and in time frame, and then for those other side, Senator McCain among them, who were questioning whether a limited action really has any effect, really will make any difference. Secretary Kerry went to a broader strategy saying that it is indeed the administration's goal still to remove Assad by supporting the opposition. So, they are trying to gain both the hawks and the doves on this and at least in the committee it does appear they have the votes just based on the kinds of questions that were coming to Secretaries Kerry and Hagel.
[Burnett:] All right, obviously, a big development. Jim, thank you very much, and by the way, welcome. We're thrilled to have you here at CNN. Welcome.
[Sciutto:] Great to be on.
[Burnett:] All right, Republican Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky sits on both the Foreign Relations and Homeland Security Committees. Obviously he was in that room today with John Kerry. And thanks very much for being with us, Senator Paul. We really appreciate you taking the time. You and Secretary Kerry got into it today during the hearing and I waited all day for it and then, of course, you delivered. Over the question of whether Assad would use chemical weapons and I just wanted to play that little exchange briefly for those that didn't get a chance to see it. Here you are
[Kerry:] If the United States of America doesn't do this, Senator, is it more or less likely that Assad does it again? You want to answer that question?
[Sen. Rand Paul , Kentucky:] I don't think it's no.
[Kerry:] Is it more or less likely that he does it again?
[Paul:] I think it's unknown whether you have the attack.
[Kerry:] Senator, it's not unknown. If the United States of America doesn't hold him accountable on this with our allies and friends, it is a guarantee Assad will do it again, a guarantee.
[Burnett:] You looked a little skeptical there. How do you feel now? Did Secretary Kerry win you over at all?
[Paul:] Well, he sounds like he must be a clairvoyant because he can predict the future now and we should ask him for stock picks, who name it, who will win the Kentucky derby next year if he can guarantee the future. No one can guarantee the future. We don't know how Assad will react and I think there's an equal argument to be made if the U.S. bombs him that it will be more likely that he launches another gas attack, more likely that he might attack his real, more likely that there will be more instability in the region. More likely that the Russians might get involved or Iran might get involved. So, I think there are arguments to be made on both sides of this, but it's not some kind of slam dunk guarantee that Secretary Kerry makes it out to be. He's overstating his ability to predict the future.
[Burnett:] Now, you said the president's request to strike probably will pass the Senate today. But you don't agree that the president has the constitutional authority to order a strike on Syria without congressional approval. You were also very clear on that. And I wanted just to play, Secretary Kerry, as you snow got very passionate when you said that to him, and here is what he said to you
[Kerry:] We don't want to go to war. We don't believe we are going to war in the classic sense of taking American troops and America to war. The president is asking for the authority to do a limited action. That will degrade the capacity of a tyrant who has been using chemical weapons to kill his own people. The president is not asking you to go to war. He's not asking you to declare war. He's not asking you to send one American troop to war.
[Burnett:] But obviously he did leave boots on the ground as an option on the table. Do you
[Paul:] And here's the thing is, soldiers, you know, or sailors, they are air force pilots, there are technicians, CIA. There are all kinds of people who will be involved in this effort. To say this is not war is just plain not accurate. To say it's a small war, well, he's starting out with a small war, but can a small war like Vietnam that he served in become a big war? No, I think he's not accounting for the fact that the constitution does not differentiate between small war and big war. The constitution says the legislature gets to decide and what I pressed him on I am proud of the president for coming to Congress, but the president says he has to say he will adhere to our verdict. He can't come to us in theatre and say, you guys get to vote but it may not count if I don't like your vote. He can't do that.
[Burnett:] Now, Senator, before we go, I have to ask you one more thing, though, because obviously high-ranking Republicans as you know have come around saying they're going to support the president. On that list you've got John McCain who wanted the president to go further, you have John Boehner, you have Eric Cantor. They say voting against him would undermine the office of the president of the United States and here is John McCain and John Boehner
[Sen. John Mccain , Arizona:] A vote against that resolution by Congress I think would be catastrophic because it would undermine the credibility of the United States of America and the president.
[Rep. John Boehner , House Speaker:] This is something that the United States as a country needs to do. I'm going to support the president's call for action. I believe my colleagues should support this call for action.
[Burnett:] Do you have any concern that your vote, which I know is a firm no, would hurt the office of presidency of the United States?
[Paul:] You know, I take my responsibility very seriously and I'm not too concerned about the president's public relations. I am concerned, though, about young men and young women who serve in our military. And I vote as if it's my son or your son going to war. I can't send them to war to fight for stalemate. I can't send them to war with no clear military objective and I can't send anybody to war when our goal is not victory. Our goal is stalemate. They've already said they don't even want to topple Assad. They just want a negotiated settlement after they blast him with a few bombs. I can't see anyone's son or daughter fighting for that.
[Burnett:] All right, Senator Rand Paul, thank you very much. Always good to talk to you.
[Paul:] Thanks, Erin.
[Burnett:] And still OUTFRONT, Microsoft making a $7 billion bet that you will want a different phone. Not the iPhone, not the Galaxy. Let's see Richard Quest has to say about it. And Japanese officials still admit there's a major problem with radiation leaking from the Fukushima nuclear plant and apparently they have a resolution that seems to come out of the fictional world of "Game of Thrones." And tonight, a ruling on whether the "n" word can be used in the work place by a judge, we're going to hear a recording for the first time of a rant that started the controversy and only gets stranger in the tale of Dennis and the dictator.
[Unidentified Male:] Keep the communication gap going as far as I could. I just want to go over there to meet my friend Kim.
[Burnett:] Our second story, OUTFRONT, Ambassador Dennis Rodman. You think that I jest but I do not. The former basketball star returned to North Korea today for the second time in 2013. It's hard enough for most people to ever get there once in their life. He raised speculation about he's trying to guarantee the release of Kenneth Bay who had been put into maximum security, working labor camps, suffered major health problems. Walking through the Beijing airport Rodman insisted, though, this trip is actually about basketball.
[Dennis Rodman, Former Nba Basketball Player:] Keep the communication gap going as far as I can, I just want to go over there to meet with my friend, Kim, the marshal, and try to start a new basketball league over there and stuff like that.
[Burnett:] Meet my friend Kim and start a new basketball league in North Korea. OUTFRONT tonight, Gordon Chang, expert on North Korea, author of "nuclear Showdown North Korea Takes On The World." Obviously, Gordon, it's hard to cover this without smiling, but it is a deadly serious subject. Second time this year that Dennis Rodman has gone to North Korea to visit his, quoteunquote, "friend Kim Jong- Un," how does this guy keep getting access to one of the most brutal dictators in the world?
[Gordon Chang, Author, "nuclear Showdown: North Korea Takes On The World":] Because the North Korean regime is using Rodman for its purposes. We got to remember the first time he went there was the end of February and people thought that because of the visit that North Korea would turn a new leaf. But as soon as he left, the North Koreans embarked on this series of provocations and they had planned that. And now, you know, we've had a couple of months of charm offensive, you know, until last Friday when north when our North Korean envoy was denied permission to go there, now Rodman shows up. This is part of a plan. We don't know what the plan is, but we know it's part of a plan.
[Burnett:] Now, Rodman told Reuters that he's not going to discuss the American Kenneth Bay, who the man I just mentioned, who has been now he is a hostage in North Korea, had served time in a maximum security labor camp, horrific conditions. He said he's not going to negotiate for his release, but last week, Dennis Rodman told "The Huffington Post" that he might do just that. I wanted to play that for you.
[Dennis Rodman, Former Nba Player:] If the marshal said, Dennis, you know, you want me to let him loose? And if I actually got him loose I'm just saying this out of the blue, I would be the most powerful guy in the world.
[Burnett:] You said, Gordon, he's being used by the North Koreans Dennis Rodman that is, right? That they have a plan. Would you be surprised, though, if he were able to get Bae released?
[Chang:] I would be a little bit surprised. Because what the North Koreans want is a senior U.S. political figure or an official to go to Pyonyang so they can have the pictures of him standing next to Kim Jong-un, the ruler. Now, Dennis Rodman has no official position with the U.S. government. And so I don't think he really serves its purposes. Now, this is North Korea, so anything could happen, but I don't think Rodman will come back with Kenneth Bae.
[Burnett:] All right. Well, thank you very much, Gordon Chang. Obviously this is a fascinating story. When he said he would go back, right, who thought he actually meant it and would go back and visit him this summer? Dennis Rodman was not lying. All right. Thanks, Gordon.
[Chang:] Thank you.
[Burnett:] And now our third story OUTFRONT, Microsoft $7 billion bet. The software company announcing it's forking over $7.2 billion to buy Nokia smartphone business. Which you may say, oh, Nokia, whatever. But you know, Nokia used to be the hottest, sexiest, most amazing phone on the planet. Anyway, it's a move to attempt to revive two companies that aren't exactly thriving in the mobile phone market these days. Will the gamble pay off for Microsoft, or is it too little too late? Richard Quest is OUTFRONT. All right, Richard. Is this be enough to resuscitate
[Richard Quest, Cnn International Business Correspondet:] Well, I have the evidence! I've got the evidence in front of me because that's what this is all about. Let's start with this. This is the phone that was put together by Microsoft and Nokia. It's one of the Lumia range. People love it! Those who have used it absolutely adore it. But unfortunately, it's got no market share because, fIRSt of all, Nokia was knocked out of the park by dear old Apple with the iPhone. And then they were knocked out of the park, switch it on, so you can get a good idea of who it is, by an Android phone from Samsung. And it's left these two absolutely wondering what on earth is happening
[Burnett:] Oh, no!
[Quest:] to them. BlackBerry
[Burnett:] My BlackBerry!
[Quest:] Well, BlackBerry and, of course, Nokia. So, you put the two together, and you end up with the fact that Nokia and Microsoft had to do something.
[Burnett:] All right. So, then, so paying $7.2 billion and now having Nokia as your problem, how does that solve it for Microsoft? Which is, by the way, such a cash cow, right? Rich, successful, amazing company that is perceived as the sloth of American companies.
[Quest:] But they have not managed to get into Windows phones in any numbers. Look at their numbers, and it will show you. If you look at Nokia, every number, vroom. If you look at the share price, look at the worldwide market share for Nokia, it's on a downward trend.
[Burnett:] That's terrible.
[Quest:] Look at the United States! I mean, it's flatlining at the moment. So, in that scenario, Microsoft, one percent or something, Microsoft now has got hold of it. But this was a deal that was really done two or three years ago when they partnered in 2011. What Microsoft is now doing is doubling down more than doubling down. Ten-timing down on what it's already invested in it. It's put $300 million in. It's going for $7 billion. This is a big play to say they can do it.
[Burnett:] Well, we will see if they can.
[Quest:] And the core question for viewers is if I give you a choice very simple, there you are. Take your pick. You can have any one of them. If I was going to give you any one, the iPhone, the Samsung, the BlackBerry, the Lumina, the Nokia phone, which would you take?
[Burnett:] I don't know! I'm torn. Because I mean, I love the BlackBerry, but that's because I like the keyboard. So, I'm an old fogey. But
[Quest:] Shamelessly I'm going to promote myself. @Richardquest, the Twitter name.
[Burnett:] Let Richard know! Haha!
[Quest:] All right. I'm not going to give you anything. But which would you have if you could have one of them?
[Burnett:] All right, please tweet Richard and let him know. And we'll let you know what you vote. All right, thanks. Still to come, did the IRS target certain groups for political reasons? a lot of people have been asking this question. Tonight a special ERIN BURNETT OUTFRONT investigation, the truth about IRS. That's later on in this program. And then, a just-released audiotape of an employer using the n-word at the workplace. You've never heard this before. It went all the way to court. Some claim it can be used by some people, but not by others. A judge rules. And next, how bad is the new drug molly? Some are calling it ecstasy on steroids.
[Louie Sabbatasso, Recovering Addict:] I know people who have been who are, were, you know, cocaine experimented with cocaine and heroin and have been drinking for years and years and years. And took half a hit of ecstasy and died.