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CNN Live Today
Nearly a Dozen Explosions Cause Massive Carnage in Madrid's Commuter Rail System
Aired March 11, 2004 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, ANCHOR: Good morning from CNN headquarters in Atlanta. I'm Daryn Kagan. And let's start by checking the headlines at this hour.
First to Spain, where nearly a dozen explosions caused massive carnage this morning in Madrid's commuter rail system, at least 173 are dead with more than 600 wounded. Spanish officials suspect that Basque separatists were behind the attacks, with bombs aboard several trains going off at the same time. A live update from Madrid is straight ahead.
Todd Bertuzzi of the Vancouver Canucks has been thrown out of professional hockey for the rest of the season including the playoffs. That is the punishment handed down today by the National Hockey League, after Bertuzzi broke the neck of Steve Moore of the Colorado Avalanche, during a game Monday night in Vancouver. A live report from Toronto is straight ahead.
Jurors in the Jayson Williams manslaughter trail are expected to hear testimony today from members of the Harlem Globetrotters. A live picture there from New Jersey, and there you see the defendant Jayson Williams. The Globetrotters that will testify today were at Williams' home on the night that a limousine driver was shot to death last year. The trail has been in recess for a couple of days because Williams' attorney had a death in the family.
In New York, illness has delayed the trial of former Tyco CEP Dennis Koslowski. The defense had been expected to make summations this morning. Now that's been moved to Monday morning because Koslowski's attorney is ill.
The first hour of CNN LIVE TODAY begins right now.
We are tracking things live on Capitol Hill this hour. Questions about college sports and sex. A House subcommittee opens hearings into reports that the University of Colorado and other schools used sex to recruit high school athletes. C.U.'s president will testify about that embattled program and rape accusations against some of its student athletes and recruits.
We are going to begin this hour in Madrid. And we will have the latest from Madrid in a moment, but U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan speaking in New York City. Let's listen.
KOFI ANNAN, SECRETARY-GENERAL, UNITED NATIONS: As of affairs of Spain, to the government and people of Spain, and to the people and friends who were killed or injured. And I hope that the perpetrators will be brought to justice as swiftly.
QUESTION: Have you had any contact with the Spanish government about who might have done this or any (UNINTELLIGIBLE)
ANNAN: Not yet. I haven't been in touch with them this morning. And so I can't -- I really don't know.
QUESTION: Mr. Secretary-General, the families of the Guantanamo detainees on Saturday, they were saying that the incident is a matter of international. I'm wondering what is your opinion or do you think it's matter of international law or do you think it's a matter of U.S.?
ANNAN: Sorry, you said they were -- we have visitors from Guantanamo Bay or the rela...
KAGAN: Well, they're moving on to other topics. We will check back in at the United Nations later if Kofi Annan has more to say about the situation in Spain.
But once again, it is our top story. A massively coordinated attack. More than a dozen explosions at the same time around Madrid's commuter system.
Our Al Goodman standing by with the latest on the injured and dead -- Al.
AL GOODMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Daryn. Well, King Juan Carlos was due to go to one of the hospitals, where many of those injured, about 600 people injured in these attacks that came without any warning against three sets of commuter trains. And to give you an idea of the magnitude of this tragedy, the funeral chapel has too many bodies, 173 at the current count, to go to the usual mortuary -- major mortuary. They're going to take it out to the main convention center, where they usually have the giant trade fairs. The pavilions out there will now have a grim load of the remains of people, and we expect terrible scenes out there as well.
Now, these series of attacks happened just before 8:00 a.m. local time. The morning rush hour, the trains were coming in to various stations including the one right behind me. We talked to an eyewitness on the train that was coming in to this station. He reported three explosions on that train alone. In all, 10 explosions against these three trains. And there were in addition, there were several other controlled explosions, one of which we felt the government -- Daryn, as you know, is the blaming the Basque separatist group, ETA for these attacks. ETA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union, has never done anything on this scale in its 30 years prior to this fighting for Basque independence in northern Spain. It is blamed for killing about 800 people in 30 years; now, in one day, 173 more -- Daryn.
KAGAN: And there was a growing sense that there might be some danger coming in Spain with the coming elections?
GOODMAN: Indeed, Daryn. The elections are scheduled for Sunday, the parliamentary elections for the prime minister and for the parliament. The nation had been on high alert. and there had been a series of police successes against ETA in recent days and weeks. They foiled a bomb attack that was intended against the other big train station in Madrid on Christmas Eve, just a few months ago. And just two weeks ago, they captured a couple of ETA couple suspects an hour from where I'm standing in an eastern Quinta Province. One of them had a van filled with explosives that authorities said was coming to the capitol.
So, they have been on high alert. They had had some successes. And now they've had this. Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar, addressing the nation and saying that there will be no negotiations; he's vowing to crush these terrorists -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Al Goodman with the latest from Madrid. We'll be checking back with you throughout the morning. Thank you for that.
Well, now to President Bush, who has phoned Spain's prime minister to voice his sympathies, saying, quote, "Solidarity with the people of Spain at this difficult moment.
Kathleen Koch is at the White House with an unexpected start to what was supposed to be a day that was going to be focused on campaigning -- Kathleen.
KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Daryn, the president placed that phone call to Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar just about two hours ago now. A national security spokesman Sean McCormick says the president expressed -- condemned these, what he called, quote, "vicious acts of terrorism" in the strongest possible terms. The president also expressed his condolences to the families of those killed and wished a full and speedy recovery to the hundreds injured. We don't know if any Americans yet are among the dead and killed there -- the dead and wounded.
Now this is the worst terrorist bombing on Spanish soil comes the same day that President Bush is heading to New York State to, among other things, attend the ground breaking for a new 9/11 memorial, this one on Long Island. The Nassau County 9/11 Memorial. About two hours later, the president will be attending a fund-raiser in East Meadow, New York for his campaign. And that has prompted an outcry from some family members of victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. They insist that this, just like the controversial Bush television ads, gives the appearance that President Bush is using 9/11 for political gain.
However, White House spokesman Scott McClellan denies that. He says that the president got the invitation to attend the ground breaking about a month after the fund-raiser had already been planned. And McClellan explained that the president did not want to turn down the invitation to the ground breaking. He says that President Bush takes every opportunity he can to honor those who were killed on 9/11 -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Kathleen Koch at the White House. Kathleen, thank you for that. So as Kathleen was mentioning, President Bush planning to go outside the beltway. His presumptive Democratic challenger will focus on Capitol Hill today. John Kerry plans to meet with former presidential rival John Edwards and attempt to rally other House and Senate Democrats to his campaign.
Our national correspondent Bob Franken is also in Washington with the latest on that.
Bob, good morning.
BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning. And what you're not seeing behind me right yet, is John Kerry walking through this corridor. He's completed his meeting with members of the congressional -- The House Democratic Caucus here in the library of Congress building behind closed doors. He has a series of meetings today with various legislative groups today. And then a meeting later with John Edwards, his former opponent, to try and reconcile strategy. It's a meeting later this afternoon.
But of course, the controversy right now is about the remarks Kerry made yesterday that were captured on microphone, which he said "These guys" -- and I'm just quoting. "These guys are the most crooked, you know, lying group of people I have ever seen." Aides later explained that he was talking about those who have been putting out all the attack ads. This morning Kerry was stopped by CNN producer Ted Barrett, as he left a meeting of the Congressional Black Caucus. Here's what he said to producer Barrett. "I didn't say it about the Republicans. I said it about the attack dogs."
Now, we're told Senator Kerry is not going to stop and answer questions here. We have a mike stand up. Hope does spring eternal.
As far as the meeting inside is concerned, it was a closed meeting. Sources inside have said he attacked the Republicans for being anti-middle class. At one point he was quoted as saying, "They have no agenda for this country," this is Kerry, "They have no agenda for this country, and every agenda for the most fortunate among us."
As I said, that is not the quote that's generating the controversy this afternoon -- today, rather. We're hoping at some point Senator Kerry is going to stop and talk, and try to explain it. The Republican chairman of the Bush campaign committee, Mark Racicot is saying that there should be an apology from Senator Kerry. No word yet that that is forth coming -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Meanwhile, what can you tell us about the meeting with John Edwards?
FRANKEN: John Edwards, there's a meeting now scheduled for 5:00 p.m. Eastern. Edwards had called this meeting to thank his supporters. Now he suggested that Kerry join the meeting and solicit their support and Kerry is expected to attend.
Kerry, this morning, attended a meeting with members of the Congressional Black Caucus. Some of the sources inside that meeting said he mainly listened. And the members of the caucus said that is exactly what they wanted from the Democratic presidential candidate.
So what he's trying to do today, Daryn, is to try and get the party together on the same message, and try and fend off the controversy over his remarks yesterday.
KAGAN: All right. Bob Franken, Capitol Hill, thank you so much.
For all the latest on politics, visit our continually updated Web site. The address is cnn.com. AOL keyword, as always is CNN.
The debate over gay marriage returns today to Massachusetts, the first state where the highest court ruled that gays have a constitutional right to wed. Protesters have already started gathering outside the state capitol, where Massachusetts's lawmakers today revisit that issue. House and Senate leaders are predicting the passage of an amendment that would ban gay marriage but legalize civil unions.
Let's get more now from Heather Unruh of CNN affiliate WCVB.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HEATHER UNRUH, WCVB CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): On the eve of Round 2 of the constitutional convention, gay marriage supporters held a candle light vigil at the state house.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My question is to the legislators, what is it about liberty and justice for all that you don't understand?
UNRUH: Gay marriage advocates marched the marble halls all day lobbying lawmakers. The Boston Gay Men's Chorus even hand delivered CDs of the song they wrote called "Marry Us." There were plenty of signs of opposition to same-sex marriage as well. Black ministers from around the country came to Boston to denounce those who compare the fight for gay marriage to the civil rights movement.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The two are not similar because blacks were denied the right to vote and declared inhuman. The entire same sex marriage comparison is grounded and rooted in a lie.
UNRUH: And Catholic Archbishop Sean O'Malley reaffirmed his stance that marriage is a union between one man and one woman saying, "Our legislators must protect the unique benefit to society that the marital bond creates and the good that this bond produces for children."
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAGAN: That report coming to us from Heather Unruh of CNN affiliate WCVB.
Legal and political forces have set the stage for a showdown in Asbury Park, New Jersey. The city council is snow seeking court ruling on whether a same-sex marriage, performed there on Monday, is legal and whether it can resume accepting applications from gay couples. The state's attorney general has warned that he will pursue criminal charges if the city performs any more wedding ceremonies for same-sex couples.
A low blow sidelines Todd Bertuzzi for the season and perhaps even longer. A live coming up next from Toronto.
And explosions rock Madrid as Spain prepares for national elections this weekend. One issue, the political future of the Basque region, we'll take a closer look.
And this is ahead.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOE ARPAIO, SHERIFF, MARICOPA COUNTY, AZ: I am not going to change my policies. I serve 3.2 million people here. I don't serve Amnesty International, civil liberties and all these do good organizations.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAGAN: Oh, Sheriff Arpaio is up to it again. Arizona's Maricopa County's sheriff back in the headlines. This time with juvenile offenders on a chain gang.
CNN LIVE TODAY continues in a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: Coming up next...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TODD BERTUZZI, ATHLETE, CANADIAN CANUCK: To the fans of hockey and the fans of Vancouver, for the kids that watch this game, I am truly sorry.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAGAN: Is that apology enough to keep Todd Bertuzzi in the game? A Live report coming up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: Good look at our crew behind the scenes. Appreciate them.
As we told you at the top of the hour, the National Hockey League has given Todd Bertuzzi, of the Vancouver Canucks, a season suspension for devastating -- devastating, actually cheap shot during Monday's game against Colorado. The blow landed Steve Moore, of the Avalanche in the hospital with serious injuries including a broken neck.
Joining us from Toronto now with details of today's action is Nick Dixon from Global TV. '
Nick, good morning. NICK DIXON, GLOBAL TV CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn. And yes, that hit has, of course, been generating headlines across North America for the last 48 hours. The hit, as we know, happened Monday night in the game against Vancouver. And this morning, the NHL have suspended Bertuzzi for the rest of the season, the duration of the playoffs and they've left it open-ended. It's going to come down with a meeting between Mr. Todd Bertuzzi and Gary Bettman, the commissioner of the NHL, at the start of the 2004/2005 season, where they will review the hit, that devastating hit from Monday night.
They will be reviewing that hit, reviewing the circumstances around it. Whether this was premeditated based on a hit from February 16 of a game between the Avalanche and Canucks. And they're going to decide then whether Bertuzzi will be playing in the 2004/2005 season.
Of course, this fine of half a million dollars to Bertuzzi could grow if he sits out part of the 2004/2005 season. But last night, Bertuzzi did make a very tearful apology on television.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BERTUZZI: To the fans of hockey and fans of Vancouver, for the kids that watch this game, I'm truly sorry. I don't play that -- I don't play the game that way. I'm not a mean spirited person. And I'm sorry for what happened.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DIXON: Now, Bertuzzi, of course, looks very sorry and was very tearful. Will it be enough to save him from a further suspension in 2004/2005? We won't know. That is one element that Bettman and Bertuzzi will discuss at the start of the next season.
We do know that Mr. Moore's condition right now is looking more positive than it was a couple of days ago. He is expected to make a full recovery, though will be a while. And he certainly is out for the rest of the NHL season-- Daryn.
KAGAN: Nick, how is this playing in Canada where, of course, hockey is a national pastime. To me there's a certain sense of being a little bit hypocritical about this because people love hockey, they love the fights, and then when it goes too far, they're horrified about what eventually happens.
DIXON: You're right, Daryn. The outrage has certainly been around. I mean all of the headlines of our national and local newspapers have discussed the outrage about this hit. This was a brutal hit. The fallout was tremendous. And people certainly aren't happy about this.
Now of course, not many people were surprised to find out that he's off for the season and for the playoffs. What is interesting right now is this open-ended suspension. That's what a lot of people are talking about right now. How long will the suspension last? This is a little bit unprecedented for the NHL, to not be exactly precise on how long Bertuzzi will be out for. So that's the question. The NHL is talking to the media, and hopefully we'll get a little more insight into the full extent of Bertuzzi's suspension -- Daryn.
KAGAN: All right. Nick Dixon of Global TV, thank you so much for that.
DIXON: Thank you.
KAGAN: Then there's the strange twist from the case of an accused Canadian serial killer. The details are disturbing. A warning though is necessary.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: All right. A warning for you here, the next story out of Vancouver is very disturbing. Pigs slaughtered from at farm belonging to a suspected serial killer of women may have been contaminated with human remains.
Sara Galishan of our CTV has the report. Again, viewer discretion is advised.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: As a result of...
SARA GALISHAN, CTV CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A horror story to begin with, it's now an issue of health.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have reason to believe that there is a strong possibility that some of the product from the Pickton farms and how much the RCMP, we simply do not know, may still be sitting in some people's freezers in the lower mainland.
GALISHAN: That product, pork, slaughtered and processed on the Pickton farm, the same property that RCMP have spent the better part of the last two years looking for and finding the DNA of many of Vancouver's missing women, most of them prostitutes. Now there's a chance there could have been cross contamination.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Cross contamination could mean that human remains did get into or contaminate some of the pork meat that was produced.
GALISHAN: Creating bacteria that could cause illness if the pork were eaten. While it's been more than two years since pigs were slaughtered on the farm, if frozen, the bacteria would survive if not cooked. To date, there are no illnesses in the province. And officials insist the meat was not sold widely through retail grocery stores.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So, some was given away. Some was served as barbecues and some was given to a number of close associates of Mr. Pickton's.
GALISHAN: Associates that police hope will check their deep freezers. As for the family members of the missing women...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They will be very troubled by it. It may be devastating to some of them.
GALISHAN: The farm owner, Robert Pickton has been charged with 15 counts of murder and more are expected.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAGAN: And then there's this story. For the last several days, you've been hearing about the problems that UCLA Medical School over its donated cadavers program. Well, now problems have propped up at Tulane University in New Orleans. The medical school there paid a distribution company to take some of its surplus of donated cadavers. Tulane says it thought the cadavers were going to other medical schools. Instead, the company sold seven of them to the U.S. Army. And the Army used them to test, protective footwear on land mines. Tulane says it has stopped doing business with that company.
We're going to have more on the situation at UCLA in the next hour. We'll speak Charlie Ornstein of "The New York Times" about his recent reporting on the controversy.
The death toll rises after simultaneous explosions rock Madrid. The latest in the check of our top stories is just ahead.
And later, teen convicts working on the chain gang. It is the latest move by a controversial Arizona sheriff. That story is just ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: This just in to CNN. Federal prosecutors in Maryland saying they have arrested an American citizen, a woman, on charges that she spied for the former Iraqi government. Her name is Susan Lindower; she's 41 years old. She's accused of conspiring to act as a spy for the Iraqi Intelligence Service and engaging in prohibited financial transactions involving the government of Iraq. More on the arrest of that American woman charged with spying for the former Iraqi government just ahead.
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Madrid's Commuter Rail System>
Aired March 11, 2004 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, ANCHOR: Good morning from CNN headquarters in Atlanta. I'm Daryn Kagan. And let's start by checking the headlines at this hour.
First to Spain, where nearly a dozen explosions caused massive carnage this morning in Madrid's commuter rail system, at least 173 are dead with more than 600 wounded. Spanish officials suspect that Basque separatists were behind the attacks, with bombs aboard several trains going off at the same time. A live update from Madrid is straight ahead.
Todd Bertuzzi of the Vancouver Canucks has been thrown out of professional hockey for the rest of the season including the playoffs. That is the punishment handed down today by the National Hockey League, after Bertuzzi broke the neck of Steve Moore of the Colorado Avalanche, during a game Monday night in Vancouver. A live report from Toronto is straight ahead.
Jurors in the Jayson Williams manslaughter trail are expected to hear testimony today from members of the Harlem Globetrotters. A live picture there from New Jersey, and there you see the defendant Jayson Williams. The Globetrotters that will testify today were at Williams' home on the night that a limousine driver was shot to death last year. The trail has been in recess for a couple of days because Williams' attorney had a death in the family.
In New York, illness has delayed the trial of former Tyco CEP Dennis Koslowski. The defense had been expected to make summations this morning. Now that's been moved to Monday morning because Koslowski's attorney is ill.
The first hour of CNN LIVE TODAY begins right now.
We are tracking things live on Capitol Hill this hour. Questions about college sports and sex. A House subcommittee opens hearings into reports that the University of Colorado and other schools used sex to recruit high school athletes. C.U.'s president will testify about that embattled program and rape accusations against some of its student athletes and recruits.
We are going to begin this hour in Madrid. And we will have the latest from Madrid in a moment, but U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan speaking in New York City. Let's listen.
KOFI ANNAN, SECRETARY-GENERAL, UNITED NATIONS: As of affairs of Spain, to the government and people of Spain, and to the people and friends who were killed or injured. And I hope that the perpetrators will be brought to justice as swiftly.
QUESTION: Have you had any contact with the Spanish government about who might have done this or any (UNINTELLIGIBLE)
ANNAN: Not yet. I haven't been in touch with them this morning. And so I can't -- I really don't know.
QUESTION: Mr. Secretary-General, the families of the Guantanamo detainees on Saturday, they were saying that the incident is a matter of international. I'm wondering what is your opinion or do you think it's matter of international law or do you think it's a matter of U.S.?
ANNAN: Sorry, you said they were -- we have visitors from Guantanamo Bay or the rela...
KAGAN: Well, they're moving on to other topics. We will check back in at the United Nations later if Kofi Annan has more to say about the situation in Spain.
But once again, it is our top story. A massively coordinated attack. More than a dozen explosions at the same time around Madrid's commuter system.
Our Al Goodman standing by with the latest on the injured and dead -- Al.
AL GOODMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Daryn. Well, King Juan Carlos was due to go to one of the hospitals, where many of those injured, about 600 people injured in these attacks that came without any warning against three sets of commuter trains. And to give you an idea of the magnitude of this tragedy, the funeral chapel has too many bodies, 173 at the current count, to go to the usual mortuary -- major mortuary. They're going to take it out to the main convention center, where they usually have the giant trade fairs. The pavilions out there will now have a grim load of the remains of people, and we expect terrible scenes out there as well.
Now, these series of attacks happened just before 8:00 a.m. local time. The morning rush hour, the trains were coming in to various stations including the one right behind me. We talked to an eyewitness on the train that was coming in to this station. He reported three explosions on that train alone. In all, 10 explosions against these three trains. And there were in addition, there were several other controlled explosions, one of which we felt the government -- Daryn, as you know, is the blaming the Basque separatist group, ETA for these attacks. ETA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union, has never done anything on this scale in its 30 years prior to this fighting for Basque independence in northern Spain. It is blamed for killing about 800 people in 30 years; now, in one day, 173 more -- Daryn.
KAGAN: And there was a growing sense that there might be some danger coming in Spain with the coming elections?
GOODMAN: Indeed, Daryn. The elections are scheduled for Sunday, the parliamentary elections for the prime minister and for the parliament. The nation had been on high alert. and there had been a series of police successes against ETA in recent days and weeks. They foiled a bomb attack that was intended against the other big train station in Madrid on Christmas Eve, just a few months ago. And just two weeks ago, they captured a couple of ETA couple suspects an hour from where I'm standing in an eastern Quinta Province. One of them had a van filled with explosives that authorities said was coming to the capitol.
So, they have been on high alert. They had had some successes. And now they've had this. Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar, addressing the nation and saying that there will be no negotiations; he's vowing to crush these terrorists -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Al Goodman with the latest from Madrid. We'll be checking back with you throughout the morning. Thank you for that.
Well, now to President Bush, who has phoned Spain's prime minister to voice his sympathies, saying, quote, "Solidarity with the people of Spain at this difficult moment.
Kathleen Koch is at the White House with an unexpected start to what was supposed to be a day that was going to be focused on campaigning -- Kathleen.
KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Daryn, the president placed that phone call to Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar just about two hours ago now. A national security spokesman Sean McCormick says the president expressed -- condemned these, what he called, quote, "vicious acts of terrorism" in the strongest possible terms. The president also expressed his condolences to the families of those killed and wished a full and speedy recovery to the hundreds injured. We don't know if any Americans yet are among the dead and killed there -- the dead and wounded.
Now this is the worst terrorist bombing on Spanish soil comes the same day that President Bush is heading to New York State to, among other things, attend the ground breaking for a new 9/11 memorial, this one on Long Island. The Nassau County 9/11 Memorial. About two hours later, the president will be attending a fund-raiser in East Meadow, New York for his campaign. And that has prompted an outcry from some family members of victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. They insist that this, just like the controversial Bush television ads, gives the appearance that President Bush is using 9/11 for political gain.
However, White House spokesman Scott McClellan denies that. He says that the president got the invitation to attend the ground breaking about a month after the fund-raiser had already been planned. And McClellan explained that the president did not want to turn down the invitation to the ground breaking. He says that President Bush takes every opportunity he can to honor those who were killed on 9/11 -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Kathleen Koch at the White House. Kathleen, thank you for that. So as Kathleen was mentioning, President Bush planning to go outside the beltway. His presumptive Democratic challenger will focus on Capitol Hill today. John Kerry plans to meet with former presidential rival John Edwards and attempt to rally other House and Senate Democrats to his campaign.
Our national correspondent Bob Franken is also in Washington with the latest on that.
Bob, good morning.
BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning. And what you're not seeing behind me right yet, is John Kerry walking through this corridor. He's completed his meeting with members of the congressional -- The House Democratic Caucus here in the library of Congress building behind closed doors. He has a series of meetings today with various legislative groups today. And then a meeting later with John Edwards, his former opponent, to try and reconcile strategy. It's a meeting later this afternoon.
But of course, the controversy right now is about the remarks Kerry made yesterday that were captured on microphone, which he said "These guys" -- and I'm just quoting. "These guys are the most crooked, you know, lying group of people I have ever seen." Aides later explained that he was talking about those who have been putting out all the attack ads. This morning Kerry was stopped by CNN producer Ted Barrett, as he left a meeting of the Congressional Black Caucus. Here's what he said to producer Barrett. "I didn't say it about the Republicans. I said it about the attack dogs."
Now, we're told Senator Kerry is not going to stop and answer questions here. We have a mike stand up. Hope does spring eternal.
As far as the meeting inside is concerned, it was a closed meeting. Sources inside have said he attacked the Republicans for being anti-middle class. At one point he was quoted as saying, "They have no agenda for this country," this is Kerry, "They have no agenda for this country, and every agenda for the most fortunate among us."
As I said, that is not the quote that's generating the controversy this afternoon -- today, rather. We're hoping at some point Senator Kerry is going to stop and talk, and try to explain it. The Republican chairman of the Bush campaign committee, Mark Racicot is saying that there should be an apology from Senator Kerry. No word yet that that is forth coming -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Meanwhile, what can you tell us about the meeting with John Edwards?
FRANKEN: John Edwards, there's a meeting now scheduled for 5:00 p.m. Eastern. Edwards had called this meeting to thank his supporters. Now he suggested that Kerry join the meeting and solicit their support and Kerry is expected to attend.
Kerry, this morning, attended a meeting with members of the Congressional Black Caucus. Some of the sources inside that meeting said he mainly listened. And the members of the caucus said that is exactly what they wanted from the Democratic presidential candidate.
So what he's trying to do today, Daryn, is to try and get the party together on the same message, and try and fend off the controversy over his remarks yesterday.
KAGAN: All right. Bob Franken, Capitol Hill, thank you so much.
For all the latest on politics, visit our continually updated Web site. The address is cnn.com. AOL keyword, as always is CNN.
The debate over gay marriage returns today to Massachusetts, the first state where the highest court ruled that gays have a constitutional right to wed. Protesters have already started gathering outside the state capitol, where Massachusetts's lawmakers today revisit that issue. House and Senate leaders are predicting the passage of an amendment that would ban gay marriage but legalize civil unions.
Let's get more now from Heather Unruh of CNN affiliate WCVB.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HEATHER UNRUH, WCVB CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): On the eve of Round 2 of the constitutional convention, gay marriage supporters held a candle light vigil at the state house.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My question is to the legislators, what is it about liberty and justice for all that you don't understand?
UNRUH: Gay marriage advocates marched the marble halls all day lobbying lawmakers. The Boston Gay Men's Chorus even hand delivered CDs of the song they wrote called "Marry Us." There were plenty of signs of opposition to same-sex marriage as well. Black ministers from around the country came to Boston to denounce those who compare the fight for gay marriage to the civil rights movement.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The two are not similar because blacks were denied the right to vote and declared inhuman. The entire same sex marriage comparison is grounded and rooted in a lie.
UNRUH: And Catholic Archbishop Sean O'Malley reaffirmed his stance that marriage is a union between one man and one woman saying, "Our legislators must protect the unique benefit to society that the marital bond creates and the good that this bond produces for children."
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAGAN: That report coming to us from Heather Unruh of CNN affiliate WCVB.
Legal and political forces have set the stage for a showdown in Asbury Park, New Jersey. The city council is snow seeking court ruling on whether a same-sex marriage, performed there on Monday, is legal and whether it can resume accepting applications from gay couples. The state's attorney general has warned that he will pursue criminal charges if the city performs any more wedding ceremonies for same-sex couples.
A low blow sidelines Todd Bertuzzi for the season and perhaps even longer. A live coming up next from Toronto.
And explosions rock Madrid as Spain prepares for national elections this weekend. One issue, the political future of the Basque region, we'll take a closer look.
And this is ahead.
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JOE ARPAIO, SHERIFF, MARICOPA COUNTY, AZ: I am not going to change my policies. I serve 3.2 million people here. I don't serve Amnesty International, civil liberties and all these do good organizations.
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KAGAN: Oh, Sheriff Arpaio is up to it again. Arizona's Maricopa County's sheriff back in the headlines. This time with juvenile offenders on a chain gang.
CNN LIVE TODAY continues in a moment.
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KAGAN: Coming up next...
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TODD BERTUZZI, ATHLETE, CANADIAN CANUCK: To the fans of hockey and the fans of Vancouver, for the kids that watch this game, I am truly sorry.
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KAGAN: Is that apology enough to keep Todd Bertuzzi in the game? A Live report coming up next.
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KAGAN: Good look at our crew behind the scenes. Appreciate them.
As we told you at the top of the hour, the National Hockey League has given Todd Bertuzzi, of the Vancouver Canucks, a season suspension for devastating -- devastating, actually cheap shot during Monday's game against Colorado. The blow landed Steve Moore, of the Avalanche in the hospital with serious injuries including a broken neck.
Joining us from Toronto now with details of today's action is Nick Dixon from Global TV. '
Nick, good morning. NICK DIXON, GLOBAL TV CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn. And yes, that hit has, of course, been generating headlines across North America for the last 48 hours. The hit, as we know, happened Monday night in the game against Vancouver. And this morning, the NHL have suspended Bertuzzi for the rest of the season, the duration of the playoffs and they've left it open-ended. It's going to come down with a meeting between Mr. Todd Bertuzzi and Gary Bettman, the commissioner of the NHL, at the start of the 2004/2005 season, where they will review the hit, that devastating hit from Monday night.
They will be reviewing that hit, reviewing the circumstances around it. Whether this was premeditated based on a hit from February 16 of a game between the Avalanche and Canucks. And they're going to decide then whether Bertuzzi will be playing in the 2004/2005 season.
Of course, this fine of half a million dollars to Bertuzzi could grow if he sits out part of the 2004/2005 season. But last night, Bertuzzi did make a very tearful apology on television.
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BERTUZZI: To the fans of hockey and fans of Vancouver, for the kids that watch this game, I'm truly sorry. I don't play that -- I don't play the game that way. I'm not a mean spirited person. And I'm sorry for what happened.
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DIXON: Now, Bertuzzi, of course, looks very sorry and was very tearful. Will it be enough to save him from a further suspension in 2004/2005? We won't know. That is one element that Bettman and Bertuzzi will discuss at the start of the next season.
We do know that Mr. Moore's condition right now is looking more positive than it was a couple of days ago. He is expected to make a full recovery, though will be a while. And he certainly is out for the rest of the NHL season-- Daryn.
KAGAN: Nick, how is this playing in Canada where, of course, hockey is a national pastime. To me there's a certain sense of being a little bit hypocritical about this because people love hockey, they love the fights, and then when it goes too far, they're horrified about what eventually happens.
DIXON: You're right, Daryn. The outrage has certainly been around. I mean all of the headlines of our national and local newspapers have discussed the outrage about this hit. This was a brutal hit. The fallout was tremendous. And people certainly aren't happy about this.
Now of course, not many people were surprised to find out that he's off for the season and for the playoffs. What is interesting right now is this open-ended suspension. That's what a lot of people are talking about right now. How long will the suspension last? This is a little bit unprecedented for the NHL, to not be exactly precise on how long Bertuzzi will be out for. So that's the question. The NHL is talking to the media, and hopefully we'll get a little more insight into the full extent of Bertuzzi's suspension -- Daryn.
KAGAN: All right. Nick Dixon of Global TV, thank you so much for that.
DIXON: Thank you.
KAGAN: Then there's the strange twist from the case of an accused Canadian serial killer. The details are disturbing. A warning though is necessary.
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KAGAN: All right. A warning for you here, the next story out of Vancouver is very disturbing. Pigs slaughtered from at farm belonging to a suspected serial killer of women may have been contaminated with human remains.
Sara Galishan of our CTV has the report. Again, viewer discretion is advised.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: As a result of...
SARA GALISHAN, CTV CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A horror story to begin with, it's now an issue of health.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have reason to believe that there is a strong possibility that some of the product from the Pickton farms and how much the RCMP, we simply do not know, may still be sitting in some people's freezers in the lower mainland.
GALISHAN: That product, pork, slaughtered and processed on the Pickton farm, the same property that RCMP have spent the better part of the last two years looking for and finding the DNA of many of Vancouver's missing women, most of them prostitutes. Now there's a chance there could have been cross contamination.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Cross contamination could mean that human remains did get into or contaminate some of the pork meat that was produced.
GALISHAN: Creating bacteria that could cause illness if the pork were eaten. While it's been more than two years since pigs were slaughtered on the farm, if frozen, the bacteria would survive if not cooked. To date, there are no illnesses in the province. And officials insist the meat was not sold widely through retail grocery stores.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So, some was given away. Some was served as barbecues and some was given to a number of close associates of Mr. Pickton's.
GALISHAN: Associates that police hope will check their deep freezers. As for the family members of the missing women...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They will be very troubled by it. It may be devastating to some of them.
GALISHAN: The farm owner, Robert Pickton has been charged with 15 counts of murder and more are expected.
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KAGAN: And then there's this story. For the last several days, you've been hearing about the problems that UCLA Medical School over its donated cadavers program. Well, now problems have propped up at Tulane University in New Orleans. The medical school there paid a distribution company to take some of its surplus of donated cadavers. Tulane says it thought the cadavers were going to other medical schools. Instead, the company sold seven of them to the U.S. Army. And the Army used them to test, protective footwear on land mines. Tulane says it has stopped doing business with that company.
We're going to have more on the situation at UCLA in the next hour. We'll speak Charlie Ornstein of "The New York Times" about his recent reporting on the controversy.
The death toll rises after simultaneous explosions rock Madrid. The latest in the check of our top stories is just ahead.
And later, teen convicts working on the chain gang. It is the latest move by a controversial Arizona sheriff. That story is just ahead.
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KAGAN: This just in to CNN. Federal prosecutors in Maryland saying they have arrested an American citizen, a woman, on charges that she spied for the former Iraqi government. Her name is Susan Lindower; she's 41 years old. She's accused of conspiring to act as a spy for the Iraqi Intelligence Service and engaging in prohibited financial transactions involving the government of Iraq. More on the arrest of that American woman charged with spying for the former Iraqi government just ahead.
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