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American Morning

Condoleezza Rice Fires Back at Former Bush Advisor; Kobe Returns to Court Today; Grand Jury to be Chosen to Hear Michael Jackson Evidence

Aired March 25, 2004 - 09:00   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.


BILL HEMMER, CO-HOST: Good morning. Former counter terrorism czar Richard Clarke leaving no doubt who he thinks is to blame for the failures that led to 9/11.
One of the most critical decisions for Kobe Bryant's defense team, that may shape the entire trial, hanging in the balance at a hearing again today.

In the Michael Jackson matter, better not mess with the grand jury. The judge overseeing that case laying down the law.

All ahead this hour on AMERICAN MORNING.

ANNOUNCER: This is AMERICAN MORNING. Here is Soledad O'Brien in New York and Bill Hemmer in Washington.

HEMMER: All right; 9 a.m. here in the nation's capital. And good morning from D.C.

Soledad, good morning to you, as well. Good morning to you.

SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CO-HOST: Hey, Bill. Thank you very much. Good morning to you, as well. We miss you over here. We'll see you back here tomorrow.

Other stories that we're following today.

Democrat John Kerry is done with his vacation. It's back to work as a presidential candidate. He's also got another endorsement coming today, one that perhaps nobody saw coming a few months ago. We'll explain.

HEMMER: Also, Soledad, protests in California in support of a woman going back to prison because of a mistake that was not her fault. She's turned her life around, but that may not be enough. We'll get to that, as well.

And also, Donna Brazile sitting ever so close to me, Soledad. Just a matter of a moments away. And it's not even Friday. Give me a minute.

O'BRIEN: Be sure to tell her we say hey since you get to see her in person.

HEMMER: You got it. O'BRIEN: Jack Cafferty is back.

JACK CAFFERTY, CO-HOST: A little change of pace in the e-mail department. What is it, 600 American soldiers killed in Iraq looking for weapons of mass destruction that apparently don't exist?

And last night the president doing jokes about the fact that they can't find the WMDs. Well, the people watching this program this morning don't think the president was very funny. I'm going to read you some of the e-mail ahead at 9:25.

O'BRIEN: That will be interesting to hear. Jack, thanks.

Top stories now.

A U.S. soldier killed in Iraq early this morning. Army sources say a roadside bomb went off in Bakuba (ph), about 30 miles north of Baghdad. Two other soldiers were wounded in that attack. The bombing follows an attack yesterday outside the Iraqi capital, which killed one U.S. soldier and injured another.

An historic but brief meeting in Tripoli for British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Libyan leader Mohammed -- Moammar Gadhafi. Prime Minister Blair had praised Gadhafi for renouncing terrorism and giving up weapons of mass destruction.

He says Libya's actions should set an example for other Arab nations to turn their backs on Islamic extremism.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TONY BLAIR, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: Who could ever have imagined that 3,000 people would die on the streets of America as a result of an organization that is based in Afghanistan?

Now, exactly the same extremist forces are trying to ensure that countries, including countries like this, are also turned into Taliban-like states, also become breeding grounds for terrorism.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O'BRIEN: Blair said that despite Libya's history, it should be welcomed back by the international community.

Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry picking up an official endorsement from a former rival. Senator Kerry, back in Washington after a couple of days rest, is expected to get the backing of Howard Dean today at George Washington University. The event is set for 11:15 a.m. Eastern. CNN's going to carry that live.

The FAA says it is taking steps to help ease flight congestion. The agency announcing yesterday it will begin intentionally holding back some flights at secondary airports in an effort to prevent gridlock in the air. The plan is to briefly delay some takeoffs, give others priority, creating express lanes in order to ease some congestion. And an update on that endangered white whale that's tangled in some fishing gear. A team of scientists trying to save the whale had to turn back yesterday because of rough seas off the coast of the Carolinas. They say they're going try again very soon.

One veterinarian warns that the whale will eventually die if they cannot remove that fishing gear. Sad story there.

(WEATHER REPORT)

HEMMER: Back in Washington now, a town gripped by the very personal battle being waged between the White House and its former counter terrorism czar, Richard Clarke.

For about a week, Clarke has been slamming the White House and its handling of terrorism. And last night on CNN's "LARRY KING LIVE," Clarke accused the national security advisor, Dr. Condoleezza Rice, of not doing enough prior to 9/11 to get ready for the possibility of attacks here in the U.S.

He contrasted Rice's actions with those of her predecessor before the millennium celebrations of 2000.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RICHARD CLARKE, FORMER COUNTERTERRORISM ADVISOR: If she had a hands-on attitude for being national security advisor when she had information that there was a threat against the United States. That kind of information was shaken out in December 1999. It would have been shaken out in the summer of 2001 if she had been doing her job.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HEMMER: Those comments did not go far before the White House responded. There was an extraordinary session yesterday by Dr. Rice when she called reporters into the White House. The words were exchanged in return.

And Dana Bash has more on that this morning from the front lawn.

Dana, good morning there.

DANA BASH, CNN CORRESPONCENT: Good morning, Bill.

And these charges, these -- this war of words, as you called it, are getting more and more angry, and certainly they are continuing today.

The White House is saying that they are going to continue to combat Richard Clarke's charges that the president did not do enough, was not aggressive enough in fighting al Qaeda at the beginning of his administration.

And as you mentioned, a very angry Condoleezza Rice called reporters into her office late yesterday and said, quote, "The American people need to have an answer to this scurrilous allegation that somehow the president of the United States was not attentive to the terrorist threat."

She said that Richard Clarke did not show up for all the meetings he was supposed to. He did not give adequate recommendations on this issue. And she also said that July 5, 2001, just two months before September 11, she ordered Clarke to alert domestic agencies of the need to be on alert, because of the increased chatter, if you will, on the intelligence on this issue -- Bill.

HEMMER: Dana, quickly, we've seen this letter earlier in the week, this letter of resignation which literally praised the president, this e-mail that was sent out some time ago, too.

If you say the White House would continuing its battle and its counter-punch, what is expected at this point?

BASH: Well, what is expected is really to continue to try to use Richard Clarke's words, his own words from when he worked here for President Bush, against him to try to show that they think he has a credibility issue and that perhaps they say he is simply trying to sell a book at this point.

The White House took an unusual step of also releasing the identity of Richard Clarke. Clarke is somebody who briefed reporters in August 2002, defending and even praising the president's strategy as aggressive in going after al Qaeda.

Condoleezza Rice also declassified an e-mail that Richard Clarke wrote to her September 15, 2001, just four days after the attack, where he clearly was in damage control mode, worried about questions about the White House preparation. He said, quote, "The White House did ensure that domestic law enforcement (including FAA) knew that the CSG believed that a major al Qaeda attack was coming and it could be in the U.S. and did ask that special measures be taken."

So, as Condoleezza Rice put it herself, they are going to continue to show that what he says now, what he said now, 180 degrees difference -- Bill.

HEMMER: Dana, thanks.

Now, the political fallout from the hearings of the past two days. Donna Brazile, CNN political analyst, also the former manager of the Al Gore campaign.

Good morning to you, Donna.

DONNA BRAZILE, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Good morning.

HEMMER: Nice to see you in D.C. Had Ken Melman on for the Bush campaign last hour here.

It's very difficult to separate the politics from this story. And if you listen to Democrats who are praising Richard Clarke, in part these words again, saying had Condoleezza done her job, 9/11 may have been avoided.

Is that the right thing to say? Is that the appropriate thing to say to lay the deaths of 3,000 on one individual?

BRAZILE: No. I believe that the Bush administration needs to continue to explain their actions prior to September 11 and of course, what happened after September 11.

Dr. Rice should have showed up at that hearing yesterday. She should have put on the record before the public, before the victims, before their families exactly what the administration did, what steps they took to avert 9/11.

Rather, she waited until after Mr. Clarke testified and, of course, she went on an attack. That's not going to stop the fallout from this episode. The White House is under attack now.

HEMMER: Dr. Rice has given about four hours of private testimony. She said she'll offer herself up even more. But what you're suggesting is that, had she come in and followed Richard Clarke, you'd throw that trump over the ace and perhaps you'd beat it?

BRAZILE: Let me tell you something. I would have advised Condoleezza Rice, who is very smart, very intelligent, to go out there and testify before the American people, hold up her right hand and say this is what happened.

She was actually his boss, and I believe that she owed not just the victims and their families, but she owed the American people an explanation, on the record, in front of the cameras.

HEMMER: You heard what Dana was reporting about this -- this meeting with reporters yesterday at the White House. On the screen now, our viewers can take a look at part of the quote from yesterday.

Quoting now from Dr. Rice, "This story has so many twists and turns. He needs to get his story straight."

There's another suggestion that Richard Clarke has this credibility problem. How do you answer that?

BRAZILE: Well, first of all I think the White House needs to get their story straight.

This is not about Richard Clarke or his book. This is about what they did and what they failed to do. And I believe they owe the American people an explanation.

They've spent months trying to lay the blame on Bill Clinton. The Clinton administration officials came forward. But somehow or another the Bush administration decided that Condoleezza Rice should not go public. And she should go public to explain herself.

HEMMER: You have been in this town for a long time. You understand Washington. You understand the machinations and the political sense on both sides.

How much longer does this story run in this town and across the country? Is it this week? Is it next week or at that point do we move on to another issue? What do you think about that?

BRAZILE: We have about 220 days left in the electoral season. This story will run from now until the election day, in part because the president is running on his record as commander in chief and his -- on the war on terrorism.

So John Kerry, who's laid out a very credible plan on how he would avert attacks in the future, will not only talk about this issue. But I also believe Democrats have a right to continue to question this administration. Republicans should join in, as well.

HEMMER: Donna Brazile, let the debate continue. I don't think it's going to stop any time soon.

BRAZILE: Well, I have to tell Soledad that she missed your finest moment last night.

HEMMER: Which was what?

BRAZILE: Well, you looked cleaner than the Board of Health.

Soledad, if I had a biscuit, I would have soaked him up last night. He was looking good, girl.

O'BRIEN: He is.

HEMMER: Is that with Louisiana gravy or not?

BRAZILE: You know, I would have put a little more Tabasco on you. But he looked so good last night.

O'BRIEN: I have heard that from so many people. You are not the first woman to tell me that, what a little hotty Hemmer was last night in his outfit.

BRAZILE: I think I'm going to keep him here in Washington, D.C., until tomorrow.

O'BRIEN: No, send him back. Send him back. Send him back.

HEMMER: You're paying me, right?

O'BRIEN: Pay her the 20 bucks you owe her now.

BRAZILE: Thank you very much.

O'BRIEN: Bye, Donna. Nice to see you.

Still to come this morning, Kobe Bryant's accuser going to give details of her sexual past in a closed door hearing again. Should that be admissible as evidence? We'll take a look at that up next.

HEMMER: Also a veil of secrecy thrown over the grand jury proceedings in the Michael Jackson case. We'll go live to Santa Barbara, California, for more on that. O'BRIEN: Plus J. Lo and Ben. They were once known as Bennifer. Well, they're back on the big screen together in "Jersey Girl." But will "Scooby Doo 2" do better at the box office? Our "90 Second Pop" panel makes their predictions, just ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

O'BRIEN: Kobe Bryant hooping it up on the basketball court last night in Los Angeles. He scored 36 points for the Lakers, helping them defeat the Sacramento Kings, 115-91.

He flew to L.A. from Denver, where he was in court for the first day of a pretrial hearing in his sexual assault case. And, in fact, day two of Bryant's pretrial hearing will bring more questions about his accuser's sexual behavior.

The NBA star will return to court today. The alleged victim will not. She testified for more than three hours yesterday about her sex life. The closed-door hearing will determine whether the information will be heard at trial.

Reporter Alex Stone is covering this case for KOA Radio in Denver. He joins us now from Eagle, Colorado.

Alex, nice to have you back. Thanks so much for being with us.

ALEX STONE, KLA RADIO CORRESPONDENT: Yes, good to be here again. Thanks, Soledad.

O'BRIEN: Thank you. Tell me a little bit about the demeanor of this young woman. How did she appear to hold up before and after her testimony?

STONE: Well, she appeared to be very strong yesterday. It was the first time, at least here at the courthouse, that we have seen the accuser here at the courthouse.

And she was very, very straight-faced as she came into the courthouse yesterday. Did not show much emotion. In fact, many people said that she almost looked like -- and it would be understandable if she was a bit nervous yesterday.

She was facing Kobe Bryant for the first time. She was facing all the media, the hundred or so reporters that are outside, maybe a couple hundred reporters. And she was going to have to tell the X- rated details about her sex life.

She came out one time with somewhat of a grin on her face, but overall she looked very, very serious through most of it.

O'BRIEN: As you mentioned, so much media, and yet everyone is trying to take steps to protect her identity. How are they doing that?

STONE: Well, the photographers yesterday had to agree to only show the back of her head as she walked in. So all of the pictures, all of the video that you'll see is only the back of her head.

She came in through a fire exit. They shuffled her in through a way that the cameras wouldn't be able to get pictures of her outside of the courthouse and inside the courthouse.

The deal from the judge was, either no pictures at all or just pictures of the back of the head. So they made the deal for the back of the head as part of trying keep her privacy.

O'BRIEN: We only have a few seconds left, Alex. What was Kobe Bryant's demeanor like?

STONE: And Soledad, I've lost you. I can't hear you any more.

O'BRIEN: All right. Well, Alex Stone is joining us this morning from KOA Radio. Thank, Alex, for your update. We're going to check back in with you, of course, as this continues on. We appreciate it.

Grand jury selection in Michael Jackson's child molestation case will get underway in Santa Barbara, California. Security, of course, extremely tight there. Anybody who tries to talk to a prospective juror could be slapped with a contempt charge.

CNN's Miguel Marquez is in Santa Barbara for us with the very latest.

Miguel, good morning.

MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESONDENT: Good morning, Soledad.

And even more than that, the court system here in Santa Barbara saying that, even if we capture images of some of those grand jurors, that we could face contempt charges, as well.

We are at the Santa Barbara courthouse, where some of those proceedings may be happening. But they are right now having an off- site location because of those secrecy concerns.

The 19 grand jurors are beginning to be selected today. They will be selected tomorrow. And CNN has confirmed that the grand jury will hear evidence in the Michael Jackson case.

It's a regular process for them to select grand jurors four times a year. They hear many things. Michael Jackson will be among them.

Tom Sneddon, the district attorney here for Santa Barbara County, will present evidence to the grand jury, starting as soon as Monday on the Michael Jackson case for the next two to four weeks and will presumably ask jurors to indict Mr. Jackson on charges of...

O'BRIEN: Obviously, we're having some technical difficulty. We've lost our satellite there. So we're going try to get Miguel to come back and finish up on what he was reporting about the changes in the Michael Jackson case and what's happening there, especially the tight security as it relates to the potential jurors in that case -- Bill. HEMMER: Soledad, in a moment here, the press corps laughing at the president last night, designed to get laughs it was. He was in charge of the standup comedy. But not everyone today thinks it was necessarily funny. More on that in a moment from D.C. and New York, after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HEMMER: Welcome back to AMERICAN MORNING. Twenty-two minutes past the hour here in our nation's capital. A split schedule for you today. Live in D.C. and also live back in New York with Jack and Soledad.

It is tradition in Washington for the president to bring a bit of humor at the annual Radio and TV Correspondents' Dinner here in Washington. A sample from the event from last night now.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Now on long flights, the staff and I often play cards. The key to playing poker is keeping a straight face and never letting your opponent know what you're thinking.

Actually, this is on the way to the G-8 summit. Once I got these trading cards, it's easy to remember the names of the foreign leaders.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HEMMER: President also went on to show a number of pictures of him in the Oval Office, saying he's looking for the WMD, which solicited a lot of laughter last night, also.

But in some corners apparently not everyone thinks that was necessarily funny. For more on that, back to New York and Soledad.

O'BRIEN: You're absolutely right, Bill. And in fact, it's been added to the question of the day, because we've been getting a lot of e-mail on it.

Jack's got that.

CAFFERTY: All morning long, Bill has been talking about attending the White House correspondents' dinner last night in Washington, where President Bush made jokes about the search for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.

Some of the people watching this program didn't think it was very funny.

Fran in Burlington, Massachusetts writes, "Seeing our president joke about WMDs at a comedy function was terrible. How can a thinking, caring human being joke about the lie that led to body bags and broken young men and women? I was appalled."

Josh writes, "It's good the president can joke about blowing $87 billion on a phantom weapon search in Iraq. He obviously has a better sense of humor than the American taxpayer."

Ron in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: "I couldn't believe my ears when I heard Mr. Bush joking about weapons of mass destruction. It was tasteless and childish. It shows the true man, or child in his case. Why didn't he throw in a few September 11 jokes, as well?"

Paul in Portland has a different view: "Sometimes I've written some very critical letters of the president's policies, but yesterday the president was actually very funny."

And T. Friedman in Glen Cove, New York: "I caught some of Mr. Bush's performance last night and can't believe that you inside the beltway people actually laughed that he would have the audacity and insensitivity to make jokes about finding weapons of mass destruction when he sent hundreds of our young soldiers to their deaths in search of them was stomach turning. I wonder if the families of our soldiers patrolling there today, who died there yesterday, who may die there today, thought it was funny."

O'BRIEN: It was interesting some of the family members who were sitting in on the 9/11 commission hearings said similar things. Watching the commission members who have been going through hours and hours of testimony when they would turn and laugh at sort of at a private joke.

It was just very painful for the family members, for whom, you know, this sort of thing is so utterly, you know, emotional and painful. It's just not a laughing matter, any of this stuff.

All right, Jack. Interesting. Thanks.

Still to come this morning, the John Kerry campaign getting a boost from a former Kerry rival. A look at that is ahead as AMERICAN MORNING continues.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

O'BRIEN: Still to come this morning, Ben Affleck's new movie hits theaters tomorrow.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are you going to be my girl?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O'BRIEN: "Jersey Girl" and the other weekend box office offerings are just part of our "90 Second Pop." That's just ahead here on AMERICAN MORNING. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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Aired March 25, 2004 - 09:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CO-HOST: Good morning. Former counter terrorism czar Richard Clarke leaving no doubt who he thinks is to blame for the failures that led to 9/11.
One of the most critical decisions for Kobe Bryant's defense team, that may shape the entire trial, hanging in the balance at a hearing again today.

In the Michael Jackson matter, better not mess with the grand jury. The judge overseeing that case laying down the law.

All ahead this hour on AMERICAN MORNING.

ANNOUNCER: This is AMERICAN MORNING. Here is Soledad O'Brien in New York and Bill Hemmer in Washington.

HEMMER: All right; 9 a.m. here in the nation's capital. And good morning from D.C.

Soledad, good morning to you, as well. Good morning to you.

SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CO-HOST: Hey, Bill. Thank you very much. Good morning to you, as well. We miss you over here. We'll see you back here tomorrow.

Other stories that we're following today.

Democrat John Kerry is done with his vacation. It's back to work as a presidential candidate. He's also got another endorsement coming today, one that perhaps nobody saw coming a few months ago. We'll explain.

HEMMER: Also, Soledad, protests in California in support of a woman going back to prison because of a mistake that was not her fault. She's turned her life around, but that may not be enough. We'll get to that, as well.

And also, Donna Brazile sitting ever so close to me, Soledad. Just a matter of a moments away. And it's not even Friday. Give me a minute.

O'BRIEN: Be sure to tell her we say hey since you get to see her in person.

HEMMER: You got it. O'BRIEN: Jack Cafferty is back.

JACK CAFFERTY, CO-HOST: A little change of pace in the e-mail department. What is it, 600 American soldiers killed in Iraq looking for weapons of mass destruction that apparently don't exist?

And last night the president doing jokes about the fact that they can't find the WMDs. Well, the people watching this program this morning don't think the president was very funny. I'm going to read you some of the e-mail ahead at 9:25.

O'BRIEN: That will be interesting to hear. Jack, thanks.

Top stories now.

A U.S. soldier killed in Iraq early this morning. Army sources say a roadside bomb went off in Bakuba (ph), about 30 miles north of Baghdad. Two other soldiers were wounded in that attack. The bombing follows an attack yesterday outside the Iraqi capital, which killed one U.S. soldier and injured another.

An historic but brief meeting in Tripoli for British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Libyan leader Mohammed -- Moammar Gadhafi. Prime Minister Blair had praised Gadhafi for renouncing terrorism and giving up weapons of mass destruction.

He says Libya's actions should set an example for other Arab nations to turn their backs on Islamic extremism.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TONY BLAIR, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: Who could ever have imagined that 3,000 people would die on the streets of America as a result of an organization that is based in Afghanistan?

Now, exactly the same extremist forces are trying to ensure that countries, including countries like this, are also turned into Taliban-like states, also become breeding grounds for terrorism.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O'BRIEN: Blair said that despite Libya's history, it should be welcomed back by the international community.

Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry picking up an official endorsement from a former rival. Senator Kerry, back in Washington after a couple of days rest, is expected to get the backing of Howard Dean today at George Washington University. The event is set for 11:15 a.m. Eastern. CNN's going to carry that live.

The FAA says it is taking steps to help ease flight congestion. The agency announcing yesterday it will begin intentionally holding back some flights at secondary airports in an effort to prevent gridlock in the air. The plan is to briefly delay some takeoffs, give others priority, creating express lanes in order to ease some congestion. And an update on that endangered white whale that's tangled in some fishing gear. A team of scientists trying to save the whale had to turn back yesterday because of rough seas off the coast of the Carolinas. They say they're going try again very soon.

One veterinarian warns that the whale will eventually die if they cannot remove that fishing gear. Sad story there.

(WEATHER REPORT)

HEMMER: Back in Washington now, a town gripped by the very personal battle being waged between the White House and its former counter terrorism czar, Richard Clarke.

For about a week, Clarke has been slamming the White House and its handling of terrorism. And last night on CNN's "LARRY KING LIVE," Clarke accused the national security advisor, Dr. Condoleezza Rice, of not doing enough prior to 9/11 to get ready for the possibility of attacks here in the U.S.

He contrasted Rice's actions with those of her predecessor before the millennium celebrations of 2000.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RICHARD CLARKE, FORMER COUNTERTERRORISM ADVISOR: If she had a hands-on attitude for being national security advisor when she had information that there was a threat against the United States. That kind of information was shaken out in December 1999. It would have been shaken out in the summer of 2001 if she had been doing her job.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HEMMER: Those comments did not go far before the White House responded. There was an extraordinary session yesterday by Dr. Rice when she called reporters into the White House. The words were exchanged in return.

And Dana Bash has more on that this morning from the front lawn.

Dana, good morning there.

DANA BASH, CNN CORRESPONCENT: Good morning, Bill.

And these charges, these -- this war of words, as you called it, are getting more and more angry, and certainly they are continuing today.

The White House is saying that they are going to continue to combat Richard Clarke's charges that the president did not do enough, was not aggressive enough in fighting al Qaeda at the beginning of his administration.

And as you mentioned, a very angry Condoleezza Rice called reporters into her office late yesterday and said, quote, "The American people need to have an answer to this scurrilous allegation that somehow the president of the United States was not attentive to the terrorist threat."

She said that Richard Clarke did not show up for all the meetings he was supposed to. He did not give adequate recommendations on this issue. And she also said that July 5, 2001, just two months before September 11, she ordered Clarke to alert domestic agencies of the need to be on alert, because of the increased chatter, if you will, on the intelligence on this issue -- Bill.

HEMMER: Dana, quickly, we've seen this letter earlier in the week, this letter of resignation which literally praised the president, this e-mail that was sent out some time ago, too.

If you say the White House would continuing its battle and its counter-punch, what is expected at this point?

BASH: Well, what is expected is really to continue to try to use Richard Clarke's words, his own words from when he worked here for President Bush, against him to try to show that they think he has a credibility issue and that perhaps they say he is simply trying to sell a book at this point.

The White House took an unusual step of also releasing the identity of Richard Clarke. Clarke is somebody who briefed reporters in August 2002, defending and even praising the president's strategy as aggressive in going after al Qaeda.

Condoleezza Rice also declassified an e-mail that Richard Clarke wrote to her September 15, 2001, just four days after the attack, where he clearly was in damage control mode, worried about questions about the White House preparation. He said, quote, "The White House did ensure that domestic law enforcement (including FAA) knew that the CSG believed that a major al Qaeda attack was coming and it could be in the U.S. and did ask that special measures be taken."

So, as Condoleezza Rice put it herself, they are going to continue to show that what he says now, what he said now, 180 degrees difference -- Bill.

HEMMER: Dana, thanks.

Now, the political fallout from the hearings of the past two days. Donna Brazile, CNN political analyst, also the former manager of the Al Gore campaign.

Good morning to you, Donna.

DONNA BRAZILE, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Good morning.

HEMMER: Nice to see you in D.C. Had Ken Melman on for the Bush campaign last hour here.

It's very difficult to separate the politics from this story. And if you listen to Democrats who are praising Richard Clarke, in part these words again, saying had Condoleezza done her job, 9/11 may have been avoided.

Is that the right thing to say? Is that the appropriate thing to say to lay the deaths of 3,000 on one individual?

BRAZILE: No. I believe that the Bush administration needs to continue to explain their actions prior to September 11 and of course, what happened after September 11.

Dr. Rice should have showed up at that hearing yesterday. She should have put on the record before the public, before the victims, before their families exactly what the administration did, what steps they took to avert 9/11.

Rather, she waited until after Mr. Clarke testified and, of course, she went on an attack. That's not going to stop the fallout from this episode. The White House is under attack now.

HEMMER: Dr. Rice has given about four hours of private testimony. She said she'll offer herself up even more. But what you're suggesting is that, had she come in and followed Richard Clarke, you'd throw that trump over the ace and perhaps you'd beat it?

BRAZILE: Let me tell you something. I would have advised Condoleezza Rice, who is very smart, very intelligent, to go out there and testify before the American people, hold up her right hand and say this is what happened.

She was actually his boss, and I believe that she owed not just the victims and their families, but she owed the American people an explanation, on the record, in front of the cameras.

HEMMER: You heard what Dana was reporting about this -- this meeting with reporters yesterday at the White House. On the screen now, our viewers can take a look at part of the quote from yesterday.

Quoting now from Dr. Rice, "This story has so many twists and turns. He needs to get his story straight."

There's another suggestion that Richard Clarke has this credibility problem. How do you answer that?

BRAZILE: Well, first of all I think the White House needs to get their story straight.

This is not about Richard Clarke or his book. This is about what they did and what they failed to do. And I believe they owe the American people an explanation.

They've spent months trying to lay the blame on Bill Clinton. The Clinton administration officials came forward. But somehow or another the Bush administration decided that Condoleezza Rice should not go public. And she should go public to explain herself.

HEMMER: You have been in this town for a long time. You understand Washington. You understand the machinations and the political sense on both sides.

How much longer does this story run in this town and across the country? Is it this week? Is it next week or at that point do we move on to another issue? What do you think about that?

BRAZILE: We have about 220 days left in the electoral season. This story will run from now until the election day, in part because the president is running on his record as commander in chief and his -- on the war on terrorism.

So John Kerry, who's laid out a very credible plan on how he would avert attacks in the future, will not only talk about this issue. But I also believe Democrats have a right to continue to question this administration. Republicans should join in, as well.

HEMMER: Donna Brazile, let the debate continue. I don't think it's going to stop any time soon.

BRAZILE: Well, I have to tell Soledad that she missed your finest moment last night.

HEMMER: Which was what?

BRAZILE: Well, you looked cleaner than the Board of Health.

Soledad, if I had a biscuit, I would have soaked him up last night. He was looking good, girl.

O'BRIEN: He is.

HEMMER: Is that with Louisiana gravy or not?

BRAZILE: You know, I would have put a little more Tabasco on you. But he looked so good last night.

O'BRIEN: I have heard that from so many people. You are not the first woman to tell me that, what a little hotty Hemmer was last night in his outfit.

BRAZILE: I think I'm going to keep him here in Washington, D.C., until tomorrow.

O'BRIEN: No, send him back. Send him back. Send him back.

HEMMER: You're paying me, right?

O'BRIEN: Pay her the 20 bucks you owe her now.

BRAZILE: Thank you very much.

O'BRIEN: Bye, Donna. Nice to see you.

Still to come this morning, Kobe Bryant's accuser going to give details of her sexual past in a closed door hearing again. Should that be admissible as evidence? We'll take a look at that up next.

HEMMER: Also a veil of secrecy thrown over the grand jury proceedings in the Michael Jackson case. We'll go live to Santa Barbara, California, for more on that. O'BRIEN: Plus J. Lo and Ben. They were once known as Bennifer. Well, they're back on the big screen together in "Jersey Girl." But will "Scooby Doo 2" do better at the box office? Our "90 Second Pop" panel makes their predictions, just ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.

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O'BRIEN: Kobe Bryant hooping it up on the basketball court last night in Los Angeles. He scored 36 points for the Lakers, helping them defeat the Sacramento Kings, 115-91.

He flew to L.A. from Denver, where he was in court for the first day of a pretrial hearing in his sexual assault case. And, in fact, day two of Bryant's pretrial hearing will bring more questions about his accuser's sexual behavior.

The NBA star will return to court today. The alleged victim will not. She testified for more than three hours yesterday about her sex life. The closed-door hearing will determine whether the information will be heard at trial.

Reporter Alex Stone is covering this case for KOA Radio in Denver. He joins us now from Eagle, Colorado.

Alex, nice to have you back. Thanks so much for being with us.

ALEX STONE, KLA RADIO CORRESPONDENT: Yes, good to be here again. Thanks, Soledad.

O'BRIEN: Thank you. Tell me a little bit about the demeanor of this young woman. How did she appear to hold up before and after her testimony?

STONE: Well, she appeared to be very strong yesterday. It was the first time, at least here at the courthouse, that we have seen the accuser here at the courthouse.

And she was very, very straight-faced as she came into the courthouse yesterday. Did not show much emotion. In fact, many people said that she almost looked like -- and it would be understandable if she was a bit nervous yesterday.

She was facing Kobe Bryant for the first time. She was facing all the media, the hundred or so reporters that are outside, maybe a couple hundred reporters. And she was going to have to tell the X- rated details about her sex life.

She came out one time with somewhat of a grin on her face, but overall she looked very, very serious through most of it.

O'BRIEN: As you mentioned, so much media, and yet everyone is trying to take steps to protect her identity. How are they doing that?

STONE: Well, the photographers yesterday had to agree to only show the back of her head as she walked in. So all of the pictures, all of the video that you'll see is only the back of her head.

She came in through a fire exit. They shuffled her in through a way that the cameras wouldn't be able to get pictures of her outside of the courthouse and inside the courthouse.

The deal from the judge was, either no pictures at all or just pictures of the back of the head. So they made the deal for the back of the head as part of trying keep her privacy.

O'BRIEN: We only have a few seconds left, Alex. What was Kobe Bryant's demeanor like?

STONE: And Soledad, I've lost you. I can't hear you any more.

O'BRIEN: All right. Well, Alex Stone is joining us this morning from KOA Radio. Thank, Alex, for your update. We're going to check back in with you, of course, as this continues on. We appreciate it.

Grand jury selection in Michael Jackson's child molestation case will get underway in Santa Barbara, California. Security, of course, extremely tight there. Anybody who tries to talk to a prospective juror could be slapped with a contempt charge.

CNN's Miguel Marquez is in Santa Barbara for us with the very latest.

Miguel, good morning.

MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESONDENT: Good morning, Soledad.

And even more than that, the court system here in Santa Barbara saying that, even if we capture images of some of those grand jurors, that we could face contempt charges, as well.

We are at the Santa Barbara courthouse, where some of those proceedings may be happening. But they are right now having an off- site location because of those secrecy concerns.

The 19 grand jurors are beginning to be selected today. They will be selected tomorrow. And CNN has confirmed that the grand jury will hear evidence in the Michael Jackson case.

It's a regular process for them to select grand jurors four times a year. They hear many things. Michael Jackson will be among them.

Tom Sneddon, the district attorney here for Santa Barbara County, will present evidence to the grand jury, starting as soon as Monday on the Michael Jackson case for the next two to four weeks and will presumably ask jurors to indict Mr. Jackson on charges of...

O'BRIEN: Obviously, we're having some technical difficulty. We've lost our satellite there. So we're going try to get Miguel to come back and finish up on what he was reporting about the changes in the Michael Jackson case and what's happening there, especially the tight security as it relates to the potential jurors in that case -- Bill. HEMMER: Soledad, in a moment here, the press corps laughing at the president last night, designed to get laughs it was. He was in charge of the standup comedy. But not everyone today thinks it was necessarily funny. More on that in a moment from D.C. and New York, after this.

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HEMMER: Welcome back to AMERICAN MORNING. Twenty-two minutes past the hour here in our nation's capital. A split schedule for you today. Live in D.C. and also live back in New York with Jack and Soledad.

It is tradition in Washington for the president to bring a bit of humor at the annual Radio and TV Correspondents' Dinner here in Washington. A sample from the event from last night now.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Now on long flights, the staff and I often play cards. The key to playing poker is keeping a straight face and never letting your opponent know what you're thinking.

Actually, this is on the way to the G-8 summit. Once I got these trading cards, it's easy to remember the names of the foreign leaders.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HEMMER: President also went on to show a number of pictures of him in the Oval Office, saying he's looking for the WMD, which solicited a lot of laughter last night, also.

But in some corners apparently not everyone thinks that was necessarily funny. For more on that, back to New York and Soledad.

O'BRIEN: You're absolutely right, Bill. And in fact, it's been added to the question of the day, because we've been getting a lot of e-mail on it.

Jack's got that.

CAFFERTY: All morning long, Bill has been talking about attending the White House correspondents' dinner last night in Washington, where President Bush made jokes about the search for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.

Some of the people watching this program didn't think it was very funny.

Fran in Burlington, Massachusetts writes, "Seeing our president joke about WMDs at a comedy function was terrible. How can a thinking, caring human being joke about the lie that led to body bags and broken young men and women? I was appalled."

Josh writes, "It's good the president can joke about blowing $87 billion on a phantom weapon search in Iraq. He obviously has a better sense of humor than the American taxpayer."

Ron in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: "I couldn't believe my ears when I heard Mr. Bush joking about weapons of mass destruction. It was tasteless and childish. It shows the true man, or child in his case. Why didn't he throw in a few September 11 jokes, as well?"

Paul in Portland has a different view: "Sometimes I've written some very critical letters of the president's policies, but yesterday the president was actually very funny."

And T. Friedman in Glen Cove, New York: "I caught some of Mr. Bush's performance last night and can't believe that you inside the beltway people actually laughed that he would have the audacity and insensitivity to make jokes about finding weapons of mass destruction when he sent hundreds of our young soldiers to their deaths in search of them was stomach turning. I wonder if the families of our soldiers patrolling there today, who died there yesterday, who may die there today, thought it was funny."

O'BRIEN: It was interesting some of the family members who were sitting in on the 9/11 commission hearings said similar things. Watching the commission members who have been going through hours and hours of testimony when they would turn and laugh at sort of at a private joke.

It was just very painful for the family members, for whom, you know, this sort of thing is so utterly, you know, emotional and painful. It's just not a laughing matter, any of this stuff.

All right, Jack. Interesting. Thanks.

Still to come this morning, the John Kerry campaign getting a boost from a former Kerry rival. A look at that is ahead as AMERICAN MORNING continues.

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O'BRIEN: Still to come this morning, Ben Affleck's new movie hits theaters tomorrow.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are you going to be my girl?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O'BRIEN: "Jersey Girl" and the other weekend box office offerings are just part of our "90 Second Pop." That's just ahead here on AMERICAN MORNING. Stay with us.

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