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CNN Live Sunday
Interview With Ben Stein; Hundreds of Thousands Of Abortion Activists March In Washinton Today; "NASCAR" Dad's Firmly Support Bush
Aired April 25, 2004 - 16:00 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.
KELLI ARENA, CNN ANCHOR: Hundreds of thousands march in Washington, could their cause tip the scales in a close presidential election this November?
As American soldiers fight in Iraq, 1 Republican celebrity fights to increase their pay. Ben Stein's plan to finance the pay raise may surprise you and anger some of his friends.
How high will gasoline prices go? Is there a political solution to this economic problem?
Hello and welcome to CNN SUNDAY. I'm Kelli Arena in Washington. All that and more after this check of the headlines.
Washington police say as many as 300,000 people have turned out for a rally highlighting abortion rights and women's health issues. About 200 anti-abortion activists lined the march route as well. We'll have a live report in a moment.
One aide worker calls the scene apocalyptic. The Red Cross says the death toll from Thursday's train explosion in North Korea is at least 161. The blast reportedly destroyed about two-thirds of the city's center. The government blames the disaster on carelessness.
The Food and Drug Administration reports finding lead contamination found brands in some candy sold in California. Most of the candies are made in Mexico and popular with latino children. Even low lead exposure can delay mental and physical development in children. The FDA is working with Mexican officials to resolve the problem.
Well, the pain at the pump appears to be getting worse. A new national survey shows that in the last two weeks the cost of a gallon of gas rose just over three cents. That puts the national average for a gallon of regular unleaded at $1.83.
A bitterly debated issue is taking center stage in Washington today for abortion rights activists and anti-abortion protesters. Many believe the public is as hotly divided over abortions rights now as when the landmark Roe vs. Wade ruling was handed down three decades ago. Our Elaine Quijano is in the capital with more on today's massive demonstration -- Elaine.
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well hello to you, Kelli. Well, it is is still unclear how many turned out. We know the number is in the hundreds of thousands. Estimates vary, but certainly a very vocal crowd that has come here to the National Mall here today.
Abortion rights activists are call this the march for women's lives. And they say, that while the issue of abortion is at the top of their agenda, they are also focused on other issues: issues of women's healthcare, and reproductive rights. They say things like access for women to birth control and sex education are important issues that they say are not being paid enough attention to.
These people have been mobilized by some 1,400 groups, familiar names like Planned Parenthood, NARAL Pro Choic America. As you can hear very loud, energetic crowd. There are also some lesser known organizations, like the Black Women's Health Imperative and the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health.
Now the activists all share a common disdain for President Bush, their message very clear on that. They say under the Bush administration, they believe their reproductive rights been under attack, specifically they point to the legislation President Bush signed into law banning certain late term abortions.
At the same time, though, behind the public debate, they say that this election year, of course, they are vowing to vote against President Bush, but they also trying to reach out to a younger generation of activists. They say that 31 years after the Supreme Court's Roe vs. Wade decision legalizing abortion, they want to energize their movement.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Many young people have forgotten that it's very, very hard to get good healthcare and abortion unless we have the law. When I was young and growing up, none of our friends could have an abortion. They had to sneak away and it's very important that Roe vs. Wade stay.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
QUIJANO: Now, there have been some counter demonstrations. About 200 counter demonstrators, anti-abortion activists who had turned out for this. And according to a spokesman for U.S. park police, 16 of the counterdemonstrators were arrested for protesting without a permit.
As for the events here on the National Mall, they continue at this hour with a rally and a number of speeches, speakers, including celebrities, lawmakers, entertainers and others, and that continues that the hour -- Kelli.
ARENA: All right, Elaine thanks very much. Elaine Quijano.
Well, we're not finished with this emotional issue quite yet. Later in the show I'll talk with opponents and supporters of abortion rights. Whatever your feelings are on this volatile subject, it is a discussion that you don't want to miss.
The U.S. Navy says a third American service member has died from yesterday's attacks on Iraqi oil terminals in the persian Gulf off Basra. In a roadside bombing ing northeast Baghdad killed a U.S. soldier today. CNN's Jim Clancy recap a weekend of bloodshed and tension throughout Iraq.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JIM CLANCY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A U.S. military humvee burned furiously, churning up clouds of black smoke Sunday after a roadside bomb attack that sent the toll of dead and wounded higher in Iraq. One American soldier was killed and two others injured. Iraqi police reported one school boy killed and eight other injured when they gathered around the burning vehicle.
The wounded boys told officials they had been fired on by U.S. troops. That version of events could not be confirmed. Iraqi civilians and coalition troops came under fire from insurgents across Iraq, creating an atmosphere of insecurity, even as the capital welcomed a staunch supporter of the war, Prime Minister John Howard.
Australia's prime minister laid a wreath during a short visit to Baghdad. A visit kept secret until he landed at the capital's international airport. John Howard's trip coincided with Anzac Day, when Australia remembers its war dead and those who served in its armed forces.
JOHN HOWARD, PRIME MINISTER OF AUSTRALIA: I want to say from the bottom of my heart to the men and women of the Australian defense force who are serving in the name of their nation here in Iraq, thank you for the wonderful work that you are doing.
CLANCY: Howard's political opponents at home want the remaining 850 Australian troops back by Christmas, saying their work as air traffic controllers at the airport is not critical to the Iraq mission.
Apparent suicide bombers atempted to hit Iraq's main oil terminal overnight about ten kilometers offshore in the Gulf. The al Amaya terminal is Iraq's main oil export route for loading crude onto tankers.
The troubled town of Fallujah was relatively quiet west of Baghdad Sunday as coalition troops said they would allow more than 60 families to return as part of the uneasy truce there. That truce has been extended, although coalition commanders threaten, unless progress is made, U.S. marines could storm the city. At the same time, the coalition has been straining to reinforce that truce, and get gunmen off the streets and Iraqi police back in control.
The coalition is trying to difuse the situation in Fallujah and the surrounding area through talks. They are also holding out the carrot of tens of millions of dollars in reconstruction aid. Still, the problem remains getting the gunmen to lay down their arms in return. Jim Clancy, CNN, Baghdad.
(END VIDEOTAPE) ARENA: Let's find out how the Bush administration is responding to the standoff in Fallujah and this weekend's widespread insurgent attacks in Iraq. CNN White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux is with us -- Suzanne.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, President Bush has been hunkered down in Camp David over the weekend. That is where he's been conferring with top military advisers, his national security team, getting the latest, the updates on Iraq.
We have heard from coalition and military officials later in the day who say that there was progress in these negotiations and these talks with the insurgents. That they will hold off in invading Fallujah.
That is because they're looking at Tuesday as a very important benchmark, that is the new deadline that has been set for the insurgents to hand over their weapons to coalition forces. It is also the date in which coalition forces, as well as Iraqi police, will jointly participate in patrols in that troubled city to try to remain calm.
Of course, they call this combat patience. They say that they are trying for the political track here, but again, military leaders warning that they still have the option to use forces.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEN. MARK KIMMITT, U.S. ARMY: Our patience is not infinite. And if we see foot dragging, if we see a slowdown, if we see a lack of adherence to some of the terms that have been set out, we certainly have more than sufficient military capability.
SEN. JAY ROCKEFELLER, (D) WEST VIRGINIA: I don't think, ultimately, that we have a choice but to go in if they don't lay down their heavy arms. Because if you don't crack that nut and you don't control that, particularly that city, it becomes a symbol for all of Islam.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: And Kelli, of course, the big risk here is, how is this going to complicate the situation in turning over power back to the Iraqi people by the June 30 deadline. Certainly the U.N. Special Envoy, Lakhdar Brahimi saying, with trouble on the ground inside of Iraq it certainly complicates that effort -- Kelli.
ARENA: Sure does. Suzanne, has the administration given themselves any wiggle room whatsoever on that June 30 date?
MALVEAUX: No, they're standing by the June 30 deadline, because they say, quite frankly, that it would undermine the whole process. The Iraqi people, for instance, they don't want to be occupied. They say they want U.S. presence, at least a political presence, to be out of there. At the same time, however, of course, we know that U.S. military is going to have a very strong presence for a long period of time. The big test here is whether or not they can really pull this off and make this work. There are a number of people here who are saying, of course, that it's going to be a very difficult task -- Kelli.
ARENA: All right. Suzanne Malveaux, good to see you. Thank you.
An aide worker kidnapped in Iraq says his captors beat him and burned him with cigarettes during his first days as a hostage. Fadi Fadel is a Syrian born Canadian working for the International Rescue Committee. Gunmen abducted him in Najaf April 6 and held him for two weeks. Fadel is now back home in Montreal and today he told us of his ordeal.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FADI FADEL, TAKEN HOSTAGE IN IRAQ: A gang of people stormed the house and they took me, blindfolded me, tied my hands behind my back and then put me in a car and drove away with me.
There was a lot of, you know, maltreatment by them. They want me to confess that I'm Israeli spy, that I collaborate with coalition forces. And I kept stressing the fact I'm a humanitarian aide worker. I'm here to help the children.
I went there, I was very happy, international community was doing a great job there. We were well-received. So this is the work of a few, not the work of the people, the many people, and the many clergy and community leaders that I met over there. And there is a humanitarian crisis going on in Iraq and a need for humanitarian workers to go back. But unfortunately, the security situation is not permitting us to do so.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ARENA: Two Americans remain missing after being taken hostage in Iraq. Army reserve PFC, Keith Maupin of Ohio and Thomas Hamill of Macon, Mississippi.
When it comes to the abortion issue, there are some Republicans who refuse to toe the party line. Still to come, we'll introduce you to the GOP element of today today's abortion rights rally, and up next...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: I'm Bill Schneider cruising the NASCAR track at the big race. Can that other race, the other one for president, keep up? I'll tell you about NASCAR Nation when CNN returns.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ARENA: It's said that NASCAR enthusiasts are the most loyal of fans, but is that for just speedy driving or politics too? Our senior political analyst Bill Schneider has been spending time at the Talladega Speedway in Alabama trying to find if they're the voting block that could influence the next presidential election.
Bill, so tell me, this NASCAR dad influence, fact or fiction?
SCHNEIDER: Well, NASCAR dads that I've spoken to here in Talladega, you can see them behind me, they're watching the big race. It's going on right now. They really are Bush's base. They're saying pretty loyal to Bush, just like they're loyal to their drivers and loyal to the sponsors of NASCAR.
Their view is, Bush is good. Bush is strong. Bush is aggressive. Bush is protecting the country. That doesn't mean they don't have any problems.
I mean, you hear complaints about the economy, particularly outsourcing of jobs. You hear complaints about Iraq. They're raising questions, do we know what we're doing? Is this going as well as it should be? They're a little bit disappointed.
But right now, one driver estimated to me that 85 percent of these NASCAR fans would vote for George Bush, because they tell me they want someone who is strong and aggressive. What they say is, look, bad guys are threatening us, what we want to do is go get 'em and that's what Bush is doing.
ARENA: You mentioned Iraq and we've had a bad few weeks in Iraq. It does not seem to be hurting the president in the polls. Why not?
SCHNEIDER: Because Americans still believe in the mission. These NASCAR fans certainly do. And what we're finding in our polls, is Americans do not believe the war in Iraq was a mistake. They believe we're doing the right thing, but we're not doing it right. There's something wrong with the way things are going there. They wish there were a better plan.
Now at the moment, there are casualties that continue to mount. There could be a decisive showdown in Fallujah, in Najaf, where we have these radicals.
You know, the plan in Iraq was to build a coalition for democracy against the forces that want to restore Saddam's dictatorship, against the forces that want to impose an Islamic Republic. Those are not popular causes in Iraq, so we figure we could build a coalition for democracy. It doesn't seem to turn out that way. Instead, the radicals, the extremists seem to be building an anti-American coalition and that's very, very dangerous.
ARENA: Bill, the fans there are just the type of voting base that Howard Dean had said that he would try to make a grab for. Any pining over the loss of that candidate going on?
SCHNEIDER: There are a lot of southern white men here with confederate flags in their pickup trucks, there are a lot of them. But you know what? This may surprise you, but none of them seem to be Howard Dean voters. These people right now are happy with George Bush.
But let me tell you something, they're very reluctant to be critical of John Kerry. The most important criticism they make of Kerry is, why does he have to be so negative towards our president? We wish he'd stop complaining about our president. Other than that, they don't want to say much negative about John Kerry who is, after all, a war hero.
ARENA: All right, Bill, I must say, you are looking quite daper in that gettup there.
SCHNEIDER: Thanks very much.
ARENA: Have fun. It's good to see you, Bill.
SCHNEIDER: My pleasure.
ARENA: Well, the battle over abortion rights hits the national mall. Thousands of people turned out to send the Bush administration a message. I'll speak with one of them, comedian and activist, Janeane Garofalo, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ARENA: Among the voices energizing the crowd at the massive women's rally in Washington today, actress Janeane Garofalo. She is a strong supporter of women's right to choose, and she is joining us to talk about today's demonstration. Janeane, thanks for joining us.
JANEANE GAROFALO, COMEDIAN/ACTRESS: Hi. I can barely -- hopefully I'll be able to hear you.
ARENA: Give us a sense of the women's...
GAROFALO: Oh no, I can't hear.
ARENA: You cannot hear me.
GAROFALO: OK, go.
ARENA: You know what? Well, give us a sense of the women that have joined the cause today. Does it span across age, race?
GAROFALO: Oh, yes.
ARENA: Go ahead.
GAROFALO: It's a very, very versatile group. There's small children and old people and young people. It's a very, very diverse group of people who are here to show their support for reproductive rights.
ARENA: Do you really think that protests like this eventually make a difference?
GAROFALO: Well, yes. We have to assume that, because society always keeps moving forward. I mean, if they didn't work, we'd still have a segregated society, we wouldn't have any birth control, we wouldn't have child labor laws or environmental protections or any of the other wonderful things that we do enjoy that are liberal reforms.
ARENA: Talk to us about what concerns you most about this issue right now.
GAROFALO: Well, you know, it's always very troubling when there is threats against women's reproductive rights, or also, you know, the threat of discrimination against gays that might be a part of the constitution. That's alarming.
And also, I just don't understand the logic of how there can be a prolife, prowar, progun, prodeath penalty Christian. It doesn't make a lot of sense. The policies of the Bush administration are not tying to women and children. They tend to cut funds for social programs that help women and children. They are dishonest about the levels of pollutants and mercury and lead in the environment that are harmful to fetal development in children.
And you know, the invasion occupation in Iraq, the depleted uranium they use over there is also not good for fetal development and women and children. So I don't really understand where this administration is coming from.
ARENA: Janeane, have you had an opportunity to talk to any of the anti-abortion activists that are there scattered throughout the crowd? Have you been able to have any one on one discussions?
GAROFALO: Did you ask me if I've been able to talk to some of the people here today?
ARENA: Well, specifically the anti-abortion activists. We're told that there are some sprinkled throughout the crowd.
GAROFALO: Oh, yes, there's some anti-choice activists here on the side lines. There's very few of them. I haven't had the chance to speak to anyone. They certainly are welcome to their opinion.
But, some of them that I have talked to, not today, support war, and they don't have a lot of opinions about gun control, and they seem to be fine with the Bush administration's economic underfunding of social programs that help women and children.
So again, I think a lot of, especially the men that are on the side lines that are anti-choice, do seem to have a touch of the misogyny.
ARENA: What are your plans to keep this issue on the agenda as we head toward November?
GAROFALO: Well, the plan is to definitely try and support candidates at every level of government who support a women's right to choice. Women's rights are human rights. This is an issue for everyone to be concerned about. Because, what if a decision is made that men can no longer have access to birth control or vasectomies or anything like that? It's an issue that needs to concern everyone.
ARENA: All right. Janeane Garofalo, thanks for taking the time. I know it's pretty loud out there. We appreciate it.
GAROFALO: Thanks. Thank you.
ARENA: Coming up, the other side of the abortion debate. At the half hour, we'll hear from a woman who had an abortion years ago and now is an anti-abortion activist.
Are American voters prepared to punish the president for record high gas prices? We'll talk with an analyst about the true political power of the pump.
A long time Republican says he knows how to give American troops a $10,000 raise, a special tax on the rich. Our talk with Ben Stein is still to come. Plus this...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is my son Jerome.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey Jerome. How are you doing?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ARENA: How a toddler's celebrity search turned him into an Internet star.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ARENA: Hello, I'm Kelli Arena. Here is what's happening at this hour. A potentially explosive situation may be brewing in Najaf, Iraq. Coalition officials say weapons are being stockpiled in Mosques, Shrines and schools in the holy Shiite city. U.S. troops are massed outside the city that's under the control of radical cleric Muqtada al Sadr and his militia.
Divers near Huntsville, Arkansas are searching for a 2-year-old boy missing since yesterday when his flash flood swept his mother's pickup truck off its bridge. The accident killed his 3-year-old sister. The mother and another child survived. Heavy rains have flooded roads in several counties and killed killed 2 campers just across the border in Oklahoma.
Well, hundreds of thousands of people gathered on the National Mall in Washington to support abortion rights. A much smaller contingent of anti-abortion activists lined the streets of the march route.
While the massive's women's rally marched down Pennsylvania Avenue, anti-abortion activists held their own protest in Washington today. There were several shouting matches, but no violence.
Antoinette Carr is an anti-abortion activist joining us to present her side of the issue. I want to thank you so much for joining us.
ANTOINETTE CARR, ANTI-ABORTION ACTIVIST: You're welcome.
ARENA: Tell me you had an abortion several years ago.
CARR: Yes.
ARENA: And have now come full circle and changed your mind. Tell us what led to you that decision?
CARR: Well basically, I'm here because there are people that need to stand up for the rights of the unborn child. They talk about women's rights, but what about the rights of the unborn child? They need to have a voice, and I plan to be that voice for those children that cannot speak for themselves.
ARENA: To give us a little insight into your personal journey and what brought you full circle. Do you -- obviously, you feel that you made the wrong decision.
CARR: Yes, I am here because I'm in mourning and there are several other people, grandparents, parents, children of sisters and brothers, excuse me, siblings of those unborn children, and basically, when I got a full understanding that this was a real human being with a heartbeat, I said, "I need to take a stand. I regret what I've done and I would hope that no other woman would make that choice," which is a bad choice and the wrong choice, which is to kill, and I believe its murder.
ARENA: Was it just that you are now in a different spiritual place than you were before or do you feel you got the wrong guidance at the time? What was it?
CARR: I would say all of the above. All of the above. Yes, I'm in a different arena, but also, I believe in the sanctity of human life and I believe that abortion is taking a life. You've got a lot of people in jail for murder. Well, I believe abortion is murder also.
ARENA: Not as many people representing your point of view out there today as there are expressing the opposite point of view. What do you make of that?
CARR: Well, there's always the minority, but you know what? If enough of us speak out, there are more that really believe it, but they just don't take a stand. I was one of those people, quiet at home, reserved. I did not believe in pro-choice but now I'm coming forward and I'm hoping to gather the masses and maybe the next go- round there will be a lot more of us.
ARENA: Do have you an opportunity to have any personal discourse with people who you disagree with and to see where they're coming from?
CARR: Yes, I do. As a matter of fact, I have a lot of friends that are pro-choice, but I have to take a stand. There's a decision to be made, and someone has to speak up for the unborn child. ARENA: Do you think that this is a religious issue or a political issue? Explain where you're coming from?
CARR: It's a human rights issue. It's not a woman's issue; it's not a political issue. It's not a spiritual issue. It's a human rights issue, and to take it a step further, yes, it is a spiritual issue in a sense, because they're children, and it's a life, and god is for life, and it is a choice that I believe we should make.
ARENA: Do you think that there are more people who believe, like you do, but just aren't coming out in the masses that we see today, and what would it take to mobilize those folks?
CARR: I believe a lot of women are ashamed. Like I was for years, I was ashamed. I was in denial, and then I was ashamed, and a part of me still grieves and mourns, and I believe after you get through the grieving process, I believe they will come forward, if they see other people like me to come to the world and say, yes, I did make a bad choice, and I want you to come forward and I'll stand with you.
ARENA: And do you believe that right now this time, we're at a critical juncture on this issue?
CARR: Oh, yes, because the election that's coming up, yes. This is very important, that we take a stand now.
ARENA: All right, Antoinette Carr, we thank you for joining us and thanks for sharing some of your personal insights with us.
CARR: You welcome. Thank you.
Well President Bush has voiced his opposition to abortion often during his tenure at the White House but there are some people in his party who see the issue differently. Alina Cho has the story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The rally is called the March for Women's Lives but these women are in the minority. In a sea of Democrats who are staunchly anti-Bush, the women here are Republicans and supporters of abortion rights.
JENNIFER BIEL-STOCKMAN, REPUBLICAN PRO CHOICE: Nobody owns this issue. The Democrats don't own this issue. The Republicans don't own this issue.
CHO: A few thousand of these Republican women came to Washington, many of them voted for President Bush in 2000. They are now disappointed in him.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They're restricting a woman's right to have an abortion, to have the access and availability of abortion.
CHO: They point to the president's signing of a bill banning certain late term abortions and the new unborn victims of violence act. They say the administration they voted into power is now trying to chip away at a woman's right to choose. You want to send him a message and what is that message?
STOCKMAN: The message is that if he wants to win in November, he's got to reach out to the tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands of Republicans who believe in a women's right to choose.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This wouldn't even be a close election. He would have this in a walk if he had a better record on choice.
CHO: Those on the other side of the abortion debate question the women's influence.
BILL THOMSON, CHRISTIAN COALITION: Whether they'll turn the election, I guess we'll have to wait and see, but I don't think so.
CHO: Others like this Republican-turned-Democrat say the Republican abortion rights activists should just switch parties.
EMILY RHINELANDER, FAVORS ABORTION RIGHTS: I don't see how they could be a Republican when our current president is any choice.
CHO: These women say theirs is the conservative position, keeping government out of the bedroom, and many agree, with about half of America saying a woman should have the right to choose. Alina Cho, CNN, Washington.
ARENA: CNN has just confirmed reports that cosmetics queen Estee Lauder has died. She took a family recipe for skin cream and turned it into a $10 billion empire. A company spokesman says Estee Lauder was 97 years old.
Democratic presidential hopeful John Kerry is revisiting the place that turned his campaign around. He's in Des Moines, Iowa, today, for a rally at a Veteran's Memorial Center. CNN's Kelly Wallace has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT, (voice over): A day off the trail but not away from the cameras. John Kerry cruises along the Charles River in Boston Saturday before a ride of a different sort. A bus tour this week through battleground states including West Virginia, Michigan and Ohio. Kerry expected to hit President Bush on jobs and taxes.
JOHN KERRY, (D) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: George Bush and his friends are happy to see the people at the top walk away with more. Taxes have actually gone up for middle class America.
WALLACE: But one of Kerry's major challenges, observers say, signs the economy is improving. Friday's labor department numbers show that 14 of 17 battleground states now have lower unemployment rates than the national average. That's according to the political report, the hotline. Another challenge -- some Democrats say Kerry needs to do more to define himself, and make the case for a yes vote for Kerry, not just a no vote for President Bush. Aides say the senator is doing that, pointing to speeches on the economy and Homeland Security planned for this week and a recent ad focusing on his plan for Iraq.
KERRY: Let me tell you exactly what I would do to change the situation in Iraq. I would immediately reach out to the international community in sharing the burden, the risk.
WALLACE: That ad released just days after a CNN/"USA Today" Gallup survey found that despite some tough weeks for the president, he still leads Kerry significantly by more than a dozen points when it comes to fighting terrorism and dealing with Iraq. Another challenge -- the paper trail. Kerry released his military records and his meetings with lobbyists, but will the campaign give in to Republican calls to disclose his multimillionaire wife's tax returns?
An adviser says Teresa Heinz Kerry filed an extension. So it's a non-issue at this point.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WALLACE: Senator Kerry's heads Sunday to Iowa, his first visit back to the place, which turned his campaign around. Coincidentally his campaign is facing challenges now just as it did before his surprise showing in those Iowa caucuses.
Kelly Wallace, CNN, New York.
ARENA: As if you needed evidence, the national survey finds gas prices continue to rise. Lundberg's says a gallon of self-service regular hit an average price of $1.83 this week. That's up almost 35 cents since December. And it's up a little more than three cents a gallon in just the last two weeks. Analysts cite OPEC cuts on certainty over Iraqi oil and strong world demand for the increase.
Saudi ambassador to the U.S. Prince Bandar Bin Sultan underscore his denial that the White House made a secret oil deal. The allegations surfaced last week, involved Woodward's new book -
(AUDIO GAP)
ARENA: Drive down oil prices before the November election. Both the administration and Bandar say the claims of a secret deal are false.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PRINCE BANDAR BIN SULTAN, SAUDI AMBASSADOR TO U.S: Saudi oil policy is that we want the prices to stay between $22 to $28. Anything above that, we think it's no good for the consumer, no good for and is not much good for us, because any time the oil prices affect the world economy, that's recovering now, it will affect our economy as well.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ARENA: Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry says if the report of a secret oil deal turns out to be true, it would be a bad deal for Americans.
Will gas prices fuel the election? When we put the question to "Business Week" political correspondent Alexandra Starr she joins us from our Washington bureau. Thank you so much joining us on a Sunday.
ALEXANDRA STARR, "BUSINESSWEEK:" My pleasure.
ARENA: So do you think that this whole allegation of a secret deal is resonating with voters at this time?
STARR: I don't think it's resonating quite at this moment but I think it has the potential to and there are a couple of reasons, I would say primarily because President Bush has such strong ties to the oil industry, you know Vice President Dick Cheney, who is CEO of Halliburton, his father obviously made his fortune in oil, his top contributors come from the industry. There are a lot of links there and that's why I think this could eventually have legs.
ARENA: But does - - is the public able to separate the president from gas prices or does he just get pounded by that? Is he blamed?
STARR: I don't think he's blamed at this point but there's the opportunity for Democrats to make that argument. You know they'll talk about the fact that he hasn't tapped the strategic petroleum reserve, which would bring down prices and he's adamantly refused to do that. They can talk about the fact also that this war in Iraq has driven up prices. They'll talk also about the fact that there are new environmental regulations coming on this summer that will drive prices up. At the same time people are getting into their cars to go on vacation.
ARENA: So come November, though, summer driving is over, you know that is sort of all behind. People have short attention spans, you know I mean in November, you may not be doing the summer driving that you did right?
STARR: No, that's very true and it's sort of up to the Democrats to make this issue stick. And it has to play into the broader point, this idea that President Bush you know isn't out there for the little guy, but that he's looking out for his big campaign contributors. If they can use this to make that larger point, I think they could gain some traction. Otherwise, I think you're right; it's one of those things that they think voters think about in June and forget about in November.
ARENA: Well there's a larger issue according to some economists that the real problem, the larger problem beneath all of this is a weak dollar. Is that even something that is on the radar screen in the political arena at this point?
STARR: I don't think it is but it's a good point. President Bush wants a weak dollar because it helps the manufacturing industry and that in effect ends up bringing down unemployment, and that is not something that he wants to be high in November. At the same time, oil- exporting countries, they sell their oil in dollars, and so when the price, when the dollar is weak, they get less bang for their buck and that's an added incentive to keep oil prices high. It's really a tight rope that President Bush has to walk on this issue. Let's see if he is able to do it.
ARENA: I mean much of the reserve and tapping the reserve, and I remember that was almost political death when Al Gore brought that up as an option.
STARR: You know that's a very good point. And then candidate Bush really hammered him on it. I think, though, for Vice President Gore, the issue is a little bit different. And that is because there was this broad perception that Vice President Gore would do anything to get elected. And so it fed into this broader perception that here is this guy cantering again, you know does he stand for anything? President Bush doesn't face that same issue. In fact you could say his Achilles heel is a little bit the opposite, but he's not looking out for you. So in that since we'll see how the issue plays out.
ARENA: All right, we'll see. We'll have you back.
STARR: All right.
ARENA: Alexandra Starr thank you.
STARR: It was a pleasure. Thanks.
ARENA: Well time now for news around the world. In China, more SARS. The ministry of health reports four suspected new cases in Beijing. It's collaborating with the World Health Organization to try to prevent an epidemic, 337 people are under observation. On Friday, two confirmed cases were announced.
In Afghanistan, the president tries to make peace in a surprise move, and Karzai reached out to the ousted Taliban and invited them to vote in the country's first ever presidential and parliamentary election in September. He also said his government was trying to negotiate peace with insurgents; this on the same day that police arrested a man trying to assassinate Karzai.
And in Cyprus deep division a U.N. reunification plan fell apart after Greek Cyfrus overwhelmingly voted against it, and that means that only the Greek side of the island will join the European Union May 1st. The Turkish Cyprus voted for the plan; the EU is now looking for ways to help the Turkish side.
Well how does this idea sound? A 5 percent tax surcharge on the rich to give American military men and women a raise? Well that's what Ben Stein is proposing. We'll talk to the long time Republican next, plus this.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's an awesome feeling. I waited for this a year and now it's actually come by. And I'm so glad to be home.
ARENA: Emotional scenes from another National Guard homecoming.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) ARENA: There's no place like home for 120 National Guard troops returning to bases in New York. Members of the 105th Military Police were reunited with their loved ones today after a year in Iraq. The troops are from Niagara Falls and Stratton Airbases. Two members did not come home. Sergeant Keith McMillan and Specialist Michael Williams were killed in two separate roadside attacks.
Well there's a lot of support our troops bumper stickers on the road these days. But one man has come up with a more tangible way to thank them. You know him from TV's "Win Ben Stein's Money" and "Star Search." now Ben Stein brings us his latest brainchild. Thanks for joining us.
BEN STEIN, AUTHOR, "HOW TO RUIN YOUR FINANCIAL LIFE:" My pleasure.
ARENA: Ben so lay out your idea. Tax the rich?
STEIN: Well the military pay in this country is outrageously low, it's a disgrace, and it is immoral. It is really, really, really an outrage how bad it is. A family living on a sergeant's pay or a corporal's pay is at poverty level. That is a disgrace for people offering up their lives.
My idea is to have a surcharge on the income taxes of the top 1 percent of income taxpayers in this country, a surcharge of 5 percent on their tax. That would yield enough money to give a $10,000 bonus to everybody serving in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, National Guard, Reserves, and I think that should be continued and it should be part of a nationwide plan to bring military pay to decent levels.
We just have an outrageously immoral situation here, where people are offering up their lives while at home, there's a frenzy by $2 million and $4 million vacation homes and these guys are offering up their lives and their families are getting day-old bread in church basements and having to go door to door asking for handouts.
ARENA: Ben do you think that the idea is gaining any traction? Have you gotten feedback?
(CROSSTALK)
STEIN: I've gotten tremendous amount of feedback, all of it positive. There is just something wrong in this country when there are ten pages of ads in Friday's "Wall Street Journal" for vacation homes, each one is $2 million and up, and there are so many rich people that can absorb that many houses and yet the people who fight and die and leave their families behind to keep this country free and prosperous are not paid a decent wage.
ARENA: But Ben don't you think though -- let me ask you this, I mean tax surcharges, tax increases, we all know how the Hill works. They come and they go. Don't the military men and women deserve something more permanent?
STEIN: I think this should be permanent. I'm not saying this should be a one-time thing. I think there should be a 5 percent surcharge on the rich. And believe me I'm one of them. I'm happy to pay it, but there should also be on ongoing review to bring military pay up to civilian levels. We have guys who have responsibility for hundreds and thousands of soldiers. The same as executives in big private corporations making barely enough to feed their families. Their pay has to be increased drastically. It is a slap in the face to every man, woman and child to fight on the job in Fallujah if they have to worry what their family is going to be living on at home. There are also giant problems with the military retirement pay as well.
ARENA: Do you think that there should be any difference in terms of dealing with military men and women with children or families versus those that are single?
STEIN: Yes, there should be a difference, but I say start out right now, give each of them additional $10,000, then have a commission, a responsible and compassionate people, not people just say who they're compassionate, but people who are compassionate about the military to bring their pay up to decentancy (ph) levels. We owe that to them. We could live forever without Hollywood. If Hollywood were wiped off the map by a tornado, the country would go on completely as before. If we didn't have the military we wouldn't last a week. We owe them a heck of a lot more than we're doing for them.
ARENA: All right, Ben Stein thanks so much for joining us.
STEIN: Thank you.
ARENA: Well you got to have a gimmick to stand out in the online world. So how about a toddler posing with stars? Jerome's story after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ARENA: He's just 2 years old, but already, he's grabbing the attention of the rich and famous and our Jeanne Moos shows us this New York toddler has the pictures to prove it.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT, (voice over): He may be just learning to talk.
JEREMY ZOREK: Uh-oh.
MOOS: But somehow, he's managed to talk his way into dozens of celebrity photo ops, from Leno to Billy Crystal, to Robin Williams, to Halle Berry.
MICHAEL ZOREK, JEREMY'S DAD: It's not the best picture of Jeremy but my god she looks beautiful.
MOOS: Jeremy's dad posts them all on the Web site, whothatwithJeremy.com. From Water Gate to Playboy, though Jeremy's a boy who plays, he's not a playboy. Back in the '80s, Jeremy's dad was an actor in a dress in a mow hawk. Now his son poses with actors like 007, singers like Billy Joel, they run into celeb's on the street go to dozens of book signings. Jeremy's most photographed moment was with none other than Madonna.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MOOS: Are you doing it for fun or do you want a showbiz career?
M. ZOREK: It's for fun. I mean he models which is fine but none of us...
J. ZOREK: Mommy!
MOOS: We tagged along when Jeremy lined up to meet Danny Aiello signing his new CD.
M. ZOREK: Can you say hi Danny Aiello?
J. ZOREK: Hi Danny Aiello.
M. ZOREK: Well this is my son Jeremy.
DANNY AIELLO: Hey Jeremy, how are you doing? He said hi Danny Aiello.
M. ZOREK: Can I get a photograph of you?
AIELLO: Sure.
MOOS: A few say no, among them, Mikhail Gorbachev and Paul McCartney. The Ringo pose. Can you say p. diddy?
J. ZOREK: P. diddy.
MOOS: From rapper to former president, there's even a parody Web site now, who is that eating Jeremy. And someone photo shot Jeremy's head on a Michael Jackson's dangling baby. Once in awhile Jeremy fusses.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Make it one more for the road.
M. ZOREK: If you know the ABC song he likes that better.
J. ZOREK: Ab, c, d --
MOOS: This kid is too cool to drool on a celebrity, posing with Santa seem quaint.
Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ARENA: Watch out Disney, there's a new kid on the block in the world of animation. "NEXT@CNN" takes you behind the technical wizardry of Sabin Studios. Then on "CNN Live Sunday" a mother who lost her daughter and then donated her organs to others in need talks with us about her decision. And her new mission to meet those people that she helped save.
And stick around for "People in the News" to learn a little more about Oscar Winning actor Denzel Washington. Thanks for joining us. I'll be back with the headlines after a quick break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired April 25, 2004 - 16:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KELLI ARENA, CNN ANCHOR: Hundreds of thousands march in Washington, could their cause tip the scales in a close presidential election this November?
As American soldiers fight in Iraq, 1 Republican celebrity fights to increase their pay. Ben Stein's plan to finance the pay raise may surprise you and anger some of his friends.
How high will gasoline prices go? Is there a political solution to this economic problem?
Hello and welcome to CNN SUNDAY. I'm Kelli Arena in Washington. All that and more after this check of the headlines.
Washington police say as many as 300,000 people have turned out for a rally highlighting abortion rights and women's health issues. About 200 anti-abortion activists lined the march route as well. We'll have a live report in a moment.
One aide worker calls the scene apocalyptic. The Red Cross says the death toll from Thursday's train explosion in North Korea is at least 161. The blast reportedly destroyed about two-thirds of the city's center. The government blames the disaster on carelessness.
The Food and Drug Administration reports finding lead contamination found brands in some candy sold in California. Most of the candies are made in Mexico and popular with latino children. Even low lead exposure can delay mental and physical development in children. The FDA is working with Mexican officials to resolve the problem.
Well, the pain at the pump appears to be getting worse. A new national survey shows that in the last two weeks the cost of a gallon of gas rose just over three cents. That puts the national average for a gallon of regular unleaded at $1.83.
A bitterly debated issue is taking center stage in Washington today for abortion rights activists and anti-abortion protesters. Many believe the public is as hotly divided over abortions rights now as when the landmark Roe vs. Wade ruling was handed down three decades ago. Our Elaine Quijano is in the capital with more on today's massive demonstration -- Elaine.
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well hello to you, Kelli. Well, it is is still unclear how many turned out. We know the number is in the hundreds of thousands. Estimates vary, but certainly a very vocal crowd that has come here to the National Mall here today.
Abortion rights activists are call this the march for women's lives. And they say, that while the issue of abortion is at the top of their agenda, they are also focused on other issues: issues of women's healthcare, and reproductive rights. They say things like access for women to birth control and sex education are important issues that they say are not being paid enough attention to.
These people have been mobilized by some 1,400 groups, familiar names like Planned Parenthood, NARAL Pro Choic America. As you can hear very loud, energetic crowd. There are also some lesser known organizations, like the Black Women's Health Imperative and the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health.
Now the activists all share a common disdain for President Bush, their message very clear on that. They say under the Bush administration, they believe their reproductive rights been under attack, specifically they point to the legislation President Bush signed into law banning certain late term abortions.
At the same time, though, behind the public debate, they say that this election year, of course, they are vowing to vote against President Bush, but they also trying to reach out to a younger generation of activists. They say that 31 years after the Supreme Court's Roe vs. Wade decision legalizing abortion, they want to energize their movement.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Many young people have forgotten that it's very, very hard to get good healthcare and abortion unless we have the law. When I was young and growing up, none of our friends could have an abortion. They had to sneak away and it's very important that Roe vs. Wade stay.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
QUIJANO: Now, there have been some counter demonstrations. About 200 counter demonstrators, anti-abortion activists who had turned out for this. And according to a spokesman for U.S. park police, 16 of the counterdemonstrators were arrested for protesting without a permit.
As for the events here on the National Mall, they continue at this hour with a rally and a number of speeches, speakers, including celebrities, lawmakers, entertainers and others, and that continues that the hour -- Kelli.
ARENA: All right, Elaine thanks very much. Elaine Quijano.
Well, we're not finished with this emotional issue quite yet. Later in the show I'll talk with opponents and supporters of abortion rights. Whatever your feelings are on this volatile subject, it is a discussion that you don't want to miss.
The U.S. Navy says a third American service member has died from yesterday's attacks on Iraqi oil terminals in the persian Gulf off Basra. In a roadside bombing ing northeast Baghdad killed a U.S. soldier today. CNN's Jim Clancy recap a weekend of bloodshed and tension throughout Iraq.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JIM CLANCY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A U.S. military humvee burned furiously, churning up clouds of black smoke Sunday after a roadside bomb attack that sent the toll of dead and wounded higher in Iraq. One American soldier was killed and two others injured. Iraqi police reported one school boy killed and eight other injured when they gathered around the burning vehicle.
The wounded boys told officials they had been fired on by U.S. troops. That version of events could not be confirmed. Iraqi civilians and coalition troops came under fire from insurgents across Iraq, creating an atmosphere of insecurity, even as the capital welcomed a staunch supporter of the war, Prime Minister John Howard.
Australia's prime minister laid a wreath during a short visit to Baghdad. A visit kept secret until he landed at the capital's international airport. John Howard's trip coincided with Anzac Day, when Australia remembers its war dead and those who served in its armed forces.
JOHN HOWARD, PRIME MINISTER OF AUSTRALIA: I want to say from the bottom of my heart to the men and women of the Australian defense force who are serving in the name of their nation here in Iraq, thank you for the wonderful work that you are doing.
CLANCY: Howard's political opponents at home want the remaining 850 Australian troops back by Christmas, saying their work as air traffic controllers at the airport is not critical to the Iraq mission.
Apparent suicide bombers atempted to hit Iraq's main oil terminal overnight about ten kilometers offshore in the Gulf. The al Amaya terminal is Iraq's main oil export route for loading crude onto tankers.
The troubled town of Fallujah was relatively quiet west of Baghdad Sunday as coalition troops said they would allow more than 60 families to return as part of the uneasy truce there. That truce has been extended, although coalition commanders threaten, unless progress is made, U.S. marines could storm the city. At the same time, the coalition has been straining to reinforce that truce, and get gunmen off the streets and Iraqi police back in control.
The coalition is trying to difuse the situation in Fallujah and the surrounding area through talks. They are also holding out the carrot of tens of millions of dollars in reconstruction aid. Still, the problem remains getting the gunmen to lay down their arms in return. Jim Clancy, CNN, Baghdad.
(END VIDEOTAPE) ARENA: Let's find out how the Bush administration is responding to the standoff in Fallujah and this weekend's widespread insurgent attacks in Iraq. CNN White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux is with us -- Suzanne.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, President Bush has been hunkered down in Camp David over the weekend. That is where he's been conferring with top military advisers, his national security team, getting the latest, the updates on Iraq.
We have heard from coalition and military officials later in the day who say that there was progress in these negotiations and these talks with the insurgents. That they will hold off in invading Fallujah.
That is because they're looking at Tuesday as a very important benchmark, that is the new deadline that has been set for the insurgents to hand over their weapons to coalition forces. It is also the date in which coalition forces, as well as Iraqi police, will jointly participate in patrols in that troubled city to try to remain calm.
Of course, they call this combat patience. They say that they are trying for the political track here, but again, military leaders warning that they still have the option to use forces.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEN. MARK KIMMITT, U.S. ARMY: Our patience is not infinite. And if we see foot dragging, if we see a slowdown, if we see a lack of adherence to some of the terms that have been set out, we certainly have more than sufficient military capability.
SEN. JAY ROCKEFELLER, (D) WEST VIRGINIA: I don't think, ultimately, that we have a choice but to go in if they don't lay down their heavy arms. Because if you don't crack that nut and you don't control that, particularly that city, it becomes a symbol for all of Islam.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: And Kelli, of course, the big risk here is, how is this going to complicate the situation in turning over power back to the Iraqi people by the June 30 deadline. Certainly the U.N. Special Envoy, Lakhdar Brahimi saying, with trouble on the ground inside of Iraq it certainly complicates that effort -- Kelli.
ARENA: Sure does. Suzanne, has the administration given themselves any wiggle room whatsoever on that June 30 date?
MALVEAUX: No, they're standing by the June 30 deadline, because they say, quite frankly, that it would undermine the whole process. The Iraqi people, for instance, they don't want to be occupied. They say they want U.S. presence, at least a political presence, to be out of there. At the same time, however, of course, we know that U.S. military is going to have a very strong presence for a long period of time. The big test here is whether or not they can really pull this off and make this work. There are a number of people here who are saying, of course, that it's going to be a very difficult task -- Kelli.
ARENA: All right. Suzanne Malveaux, good to see you. Thank you.
An aide worker kidnapped in Iraq says his captors beat him and burned him with cigarettes during his first days as a hostage. Fadi Fadel is a Syrian born Canadian working for the International Rescue Committee. Gunmen abducted him in Najaf April 6 and held him for two weeks. Fadel is now back home in Montreal and today he told us of his ordeal.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FADI FADEL, TAKEN HOSTAGE IN IRAQ: A gang of people stormed the house and they took me, blindfolded me, tied my hands behind my back and then put me in a car and drove away with me.
There was a lot of, you know, maltreatment by them. They want me to confess that I'm Israeli spy, that I collaborate with coalition forces. And I kept stressing the fact I'm a humanitarian aide worker. I'm here to help the children.
I went there, I was very happy, international community was doing a great job there. We were well-received. So this is the work of a few, not the work of the people, the many people, and the many clergy and community leaders that I met over there. And there is a humanitarian crisis going on in Iraq and a need for humanitarian workers to go back. But unfortunately, the security situation is not permitting us to do so.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ARENA: Two Americans remain missing after being taken hostage in Iraq. Army reserve PFC, Keith Maupin of Ohio and Thomas Hamill of Macon, Mississippi.
When it comes to the abortion issue, there are some Republicans who refuse to toe the party line. Still to come, we'll introduce you to the GOP element of today today's abortion rights rally, and up next...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: I'm Bill Schneider cruising the NASCAR track at the big race. Can that other race, the other one for president, keep up? I'll tell you about NASCAR Nation when CNN returns.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ARENA: It's said that NASCAR enthusiasts are the most loyal of fans, but is that for just speedy driving or politics too? Our senior political analyst Bill Schneider has been spending time at the Talladega Speedway in Alabama trying to find if they're the voting block that could influence the next presidential election.
Bill, so tell me, this NASCAR dad influence, fact or fiction?
SCHNEIDER: Well, NASCAR dads that I've spoken to here in Talladega, you can see them behind me, they're watching the big race. It's going on right now. They really are Bush's base. They're saying pretty loyal to Bush, just like they're loyal to their drivers and loyal to the sponsors of NASCAR.
Their view is, Bush is good. Bush is strong. Bush is aggressive. Bush is protecting the country. That doesn't mean they don't have any problems.
I mean, you hear complaints about the economy, particularly outsourcing of jobs. You hear complaints about Iraq. They're raising questions, do we know what we're doing? Is this going as well as it should be? They're a little bit disappointed.
But right now, one driver estimated to me that 85 percent of these NASCAR fans would vote for George Bush, because they tell me they want someone who is strong and aggressive. What they say is, look, bad guys are threatening us, what we want to do is go get 'em and that's what Bush is doing.
ARENA: You mentioned Iraq and we've had a bad few weeks in Iraq. It does not seem to be hurting the president in the polls. Why not?
SCHNEIDER: Because Americans still believe in the mission. These NASCAR fans certainly do. And what we're finding in our polls, is Americans do not believe the war in Iraq was a mistake. They believe we're doing the right thing, but we're not doing it right. There's something wrong with the way things are going there. They wish there were a better plan.
Now at the moment, there are casualties that continue to mount. There could be a decisive showdown in Fallujah, in Najaf, where we have these radicals.
You know, the plan in Iraq was to build a coalition for democracy against the forces that want to restore Saddam's dictatorship, against the forces that want to impose an Islamic Republic. Those are not popular causes in Iraq, so we figure we could build a coalition for democracy. It doesn't seem to turn out that way. Instead, the radicals, the extremists seem to be building an anti-American coalition and that's very, very dangerous.
ARENA: Bill, the fans there are just the type of voting base that Howard Dean had said that he would try to make a grab for. Any pining over the loss of that candidate going on?
SCHNEIDER: There are a lot of southern white men here with confederate flags in their pickup trucks, there are a lot of them. But you know what? This may surprise you, but none of them seem to be Howard Dean voters. These people right now are happy with George Bush.
But let me tell you something, they're very reluctant to be critical of John Kerry. The most important criticism they make of Kerry is, why does he have to be so negative towards our president? We wish he'd stop complaining about our president. Other than that, they don't want to say much negative about John Kerry who is, after all, a war hero.
ARENA: All right, Bill, I must say, you are looking quite daper in that gettup there.
SCHNEIDER: Thanks very much.
ARENA: Have fun. It's good to see you, Bill.
SCHNEIDER: My pleasure.
ARENA: Well, the battle over abortion rights hits the national mall. Thousands of people turned out to send the Bush administration a message. I'll speak with one of them, comedian and activist, Janeane Garofalo, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ARENA: Among the voices energizing the crowd at the massive women's rally in Washington today, actress Janeane Garofalo. She is a strong supporter of women's right to choose, and she is joining us to talk about today's demonstration. Janeane, thanks for joining us.
JANEANE GAROFALO, COMEDIAN/ACTRESS: Hi. I can barely -- hopefully I'll be able to hear you.
ARENA: Give us a sense of the women's...
GAROFALO: Oh no, I can't hear.
ARENA: You cannot hear me.
GAROFALO: OK, go.
ARENA: You know what? Well, give us a sense of the women that have joined the cause today. Does it span across age, race?
GAROFALO: Oh, yes.
ARENA: Go ahead.
GAROFALO: It's a very, very versatile group. There's small children and old people and young people. It's a very, very diverse group of people who are here to show their support for reproductive rights.
ARENA: Do you really think that protests like this eventually make a difference?
GAROFALO: Well, yes. We have to assume that, because society always keeps moving forward. I mean, if they didn't work, we'd still have a segregated society, we wouldn't have any birth control, we wouldn't have child labor laws or environmental protections or any of the other wonderful things that we do enjoy that are liberal reforms.
ARENA: Talk to us about what concerns you most about this issue right now.
GAROFALO: Well, you know, it's always very troubling when there is threats against women's reproductive rights, or also, you know, the threat of discrimination against gays that might be a part of the constitution. That's alarming.
And also, I just don't understand the logic of how there can be a prolife, prowar, progun, prodeath penalty Christian. It doesn't make a lot of sense. The policies of the Bush administration are not tying to women and children. They tend to cut funds for social programs that help women and children. They are dishonest about the levels of pollutants and mercury and lead in the environment that are harmful to fetal development in children.
And you know, the invasion occupation in Iraq, the depleted uranium they use over there is also not good for fetal development and women and children. So I don't really understand where this administration is coming from.
ARENA: Janeane, have you had an opportunity to talk to any of the anti-abortion activists that are there scattered throughout the crowd? Have you been able to have any one on one discussions?
GAROFALO: Did you ask me if I've been able to talk to some of the people here today?
ARENA: Well, specifically the anti-abortion activists. We're told that there are some sprinkled throughout the crowd.
GAROFALO: Oh, yes, there's some anti-choice activists here on the side lines. There's very few of them. I haven't had the chance to speak to anyone. They certainly are welcome to their opinion.
But, some of them that I have talked to, not today, support war, and they don't have a lot of opinions about gun control, and they seem to be fine with the Bush administration's economic underfunding of social programs that help women and children.
So again, I think a lot of, especially the men that are on the side lines that are anti-choice, do seem to have a touch of the misogyny.
ARENA: What are your plans to keep this issue on the agenda as we head toward November?
GAROFALO: Well, the plan is to definitely try and support candidates at every level of government who support a women's right to choice. Women's rights are human rights. This is an issue for everyone to be concerned about. Because, what if a decision is made that men can no longer have access to birth control or vasectomies or anything like that? It's an issue that needs to concern everyone.
ARENA: All right. Janeane Garofalo, thanks for taking the time. I know it's pretty loud out there. We appreciate it.
GAROFALO: Thanks. Thank you.
ARENA: Coming up, the other side of the abortion debate. At the half hour, we'll hear from a woman who had an abortion years ago and now is an anti-abortion activist.
Are American voters prepared to punish the president for record high gas prices? We'll talk with an analyst about the true political power of the pump.
A long time Republican says he knows how to give American troops a $10,000 raise, a special tax on the rich. Our talk with Ben Stein is still to come. Plus this...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is my son Jerome.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey Jerome. How are you doing?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ARENA: How a toddler's celebrity search turned him into an Internet star.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ARENA: Hello, I'm Kelli Arena. Here is what's happening at this hour. A potentially explosive situation may be brewing in Najaf, Iraq. Coalition officials say weapons are being stockpiled in Mosques, Shrines and schools in the holy Shiite city. U.S. troops are massed outside the city that's under the control of radical cleric Muqtada al Sadr and his militia.
Divers near Huntsville, Arkansas are searching for a 2-year-old boy missing since yesterday when his flash flood swept his mother's pickup truck off its bridge. The accident killed his 3-year-old sister. The mother and another child survived. Heavy rains have flooded roads in several counties and killed killed 2 campers just across the border in Oklahoma.
Well, hundreds of thousands of people gathered on the National Mall in Washington to support abortion rights. A much smaller contingent of anti-abortion activists lined the streets of the march route.
While the massive's women's rally marched down Pennsylvania Avenue, anti-abortion activists held their own protest in Washington today. There were several shouting matches, but no violence.
Antoinette Carr is an anti-abortion activist joining us to present her side of the issue. I want to thank you so much for joining us.
ANTOINETTE CARR, ANTI-ABORTION ACTIVIST: You're welcome.
ARENA: Tell me you had an abortion several years ago.
CARR: Yes.
ARENA: And have now come full circle and changed your mind. Tell us what led to you that decision?
CARR: Well basically, I'm here because there are people that need to stand up for the rights of the unborn child. They talk about women's rights, but what about the rights of the unborn child? They need to have a voice, and I plan to be that voice for those children that cannot speak for themselves.
ARENA: To give us a little insight into your personal journey and what brought you full circle. Do you -- obviously, you feel that you made the wrong decision.
CARR: Yes, I am here because I'm in mourning and there are several other people, grandparents, parents, children of sisters and brothers, excuse me, siblings of those unborn children, and basically, when I got a full understanding that this was a real human being with a heartbeat, I said, "I need to take a stand. I regret what I've done and I would hope that no other woman would make that choice," which is a bad choice and the wrong choice, which is to kill, and I believe its murder.
ARENA: Was it just that you are now in a different spiritual place than you were before or do you feel you got the wrong guidance at the time? What was it?
CARR: I would say all of the above. All of the above. Yes, I'm in a different arena, but also, I believe in the sanctity of human life and I believe that abortion is taking a life. You've got a lot of people in jail for murder. Well, I believe abortion is murder also.
ARENA: Not as many people representing your point of view out there today as there are expressing the opposite point of view. What do you make of that?
CARR: Well, there's always the minority, but you know what? If enough of us speak out, there are more that really believe it, but they just don't take a stand. I was one of those people, quiet at home, reserved. I did not believe in pro-choice but now I'm coming forward and I'm hoping to gather the masses and maybe the next go- round there will be a lot more of us.
ARENA: Do have you an opportunity to have any personal discourse with people who you disagree with and to see where they're coming from?
CARR: Yes, I do. As a matter of fact, I have a lot of friends that are pro-choice, but I have to take a stand. There's a decision to be made, and someone has to speak up for the unborn child. ARENA: Do you think that this is a religious issue or a political issue? Explain where you're coming from?
CARR: It's a human rights issue. It's not a woman's issue; it's not a political issue. It's not a spiritual issue. It's a human rights issue, and to take it a step further, yes, it is a spiritual issue in a sense, because they're children, and it's a life, and god is for life, and it is a choice that I believe we should make.
ARENA: Do you think that there are more people who believe, like you do, but just aren't coming out in the masses that we see today, and what would it take to mobilize those folks?
CARR: I believe a lot of women are ashamed. Like I was for years, I was ashamed. I was in denial, and then I was ashamed, and a part of me still grieves and mourns, and I believe after you get through the grieving process, I believe they will come forward, if they see other people like me to come to the world and say, yes, I did make a bad choice, and I want you to come forward and I'll stand with you.
ARENA: And do you believe that right now this time, we're at a critical juncture on this issue?
CARR: Oh, yes, because the election that's coming up, yes. This is very important, that we take a stand now.
ARENA: All right, Antoinette Carr, we thank you for joining us and thanks for sharing some of your personal insights with us.
CARR: You welcome. Thank you.
Well President Bush has voiced his opposition to abortion often during his tenure at the White House but there are some people in his party who see the issue differently. Alina Cho has the story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The rally is called the March for Women's Lives but these women are in the minority. In a sea of Democrats who are staunchly anti-Bush, the women here are Republicans and supporters of abortion rights.
JENNIFER BIEL-STOCKMAN, REPUBLICAN PRO CHOICE: Nobody owns this issue. The Democrats don't own this issue. The Republicans don't own this issue.
CHO: A few thousand of these Republican women came to Washington, many of them voted for President Bush in 2000. They are now disappointed in him.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They're restricting a woman's right to have an abortion, to have the access and availability of abortion.
CHO: They point to the president's signing of a bill banning certain late term abortions and the new unborn victims of violence act. They say the administration they voted into power is now trying to chip away at a woman's right to choose. You want to send him a message and what is that message?
STOCKMAN: The message is that if he wants to win in November, he's got to reach out to the tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands of Republicans who believe in a women's right to choose.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This wouldn't even be a close election. He would have this in a walk if he had a better record on choice.
CHO: Those on the other side of the abortion debate question the women's influence.
BILL THOMSON, CHRISTIAN COALITION: Whether they'll turn the election, I guess we'll have to wait and see, but I don't think so.
CHO: Others like this Republican-turned-Democrat say the Republican abortion rights activists should just switch parties.
EMILY RHINELANDER, FAVORS ABORTION RIGHTS: I don't see how they could be a Republican when our current president is any choice.
CHO: These women say theirs is the conservative position, keeping government out of the bedroom, and many agree, with about half of America saying a woman should have the right to choose. Alina Cho, CNN, Washington.
ARENA: CNN has just confirmed reports that cosmetics queen Estee Lauder has died. She took a family recipe for skin cream and turned it into a $10 billion empire. A company spokesman says Estee Lauder was 97 years old.
Democratic presidential hopeful John Kerry is revisiting the place that turned his campaign around. He's in Des Moines, Iowa, today, for a rally at a Veteran's Memorial Center. CNN's Kelly Wallace has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT, (voice over): A day off the trail but not away from the cameras. John Kerry cruises along the Charles River in Boston Saturday before a ride of a different sort. A bus tour this week through battleground states including West Virginia, Michigan and Ohio. Kerry expected to hit President Bush on jobs and taxes.
JOHN KERRY, (D) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: George Bush and his friends are happy to see the people at the top walk away with more. Taxes have actually gone up for middle class America.
WALLACE: But one of Kerry's major challenges, observers say, signs the economy is improving. Friday's labor department numbers show that 14 of 17 battleground states now have lower unemployment rates than the national average. That's according to the political report, the hotline. Another challenge -- some Democrats say Kerry needs to do more to define himself, and make the case for a yes vote for Kerry, not just a no vote for President Bush. Aides say the senator is doing that, pointing to speeches on the economy and Homeland Security planned for this week and a recent ad focusing on his plan for Iraq.
KERRY: Let me tell you exactly what I would do to change the situation in Iraq. I would immediately reach out to the international community in sharing the burden, the risk.
WALLACE: That ad released just days after a CNN/"USA Today" Gallup survey found that despite some tough weeks for the president, he still leads Kerry significantly by more than a dozen points when it comes to fighting terrorism and dealing with Iraq. Another challenge -- the paper trail. Kerry released his military records and his meetings with lobbyists, but will the campaign give in to Republican calls to disclose his multimillionaire wife's tax returns?
An adviser says Teresa Heinz Kerry filed an extension. So it's a non-issue at this point.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WALLACE: Senator Kerry's heads Sunday to Iowa, his first visit back to the place, which turned his campaign around. Coincidentally his campaign is facing challenges now just as it did before his surprise showing in those Iowa caucuses.
Kelly Wallace, CNN, New York.
ARENA: As if you needed evidence, the national survey finds gas prices continue to rise. Lundberg's says a gallon of self-service regular hit an average price of $1.83 this week. That's up almost 35 cents since December. And it's up a little more than three cents a gallon in just the last two weeks. Analysts cite OPEC cuts on certainty over Iraqi oil and strong world demand for the increase.
Saudi ambassador to the U.S. Prince Bandar Bin Sultan underscore his denial that the White House made a secret oil deal. The allegations surfaced last week, involved Woodward's new book -
(AUDIO GAP)
ARENA: Drive down oil prices before the November election. Both the administration and Bandar say the claims of a secret deal are false.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PRINCE BANDAR BIN SULTAN, SAUDI AMBASSADOR TO U.S: Saudi oil policy is that we want the prices to stay between $22 to $28. Anything above that, we think it's no good for the consumer, no good for and is not much good for us, because any time the oil prices affect the world economy, that's recovering now, it will affect our economy as well.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ARENA: Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry says if the report of a secret oil deal turns out to be true, it would be a bad deal for Americans.
Will gas prices fuel the election? When we put the question to "Business Week" political correspondent Alexandra Starr she joins us from our Washington bureau. Thank you so much joining us on a Sunday.
ALEXANDRA STARR, "BUSINESSWEEK:" My pleasure.
ARENA: So do you think that this whole allegation of a secret deal is resonating with voters at this time?
STARR: I don't think it's resonating quite at this moment but I think it has the potential to and there are a couple of reasons, I would say primarily because President Bush has such strong ties to the oil industry, you know Vice President Dick Cheney, who is CEO of Halliburton, his father obviously made his fortune in oil, his top contributors come from the industry. There are a lot of links there and that's why I think this could eventually have legs.
ARENA: But does - - is the public able to separate the president from gas prices or does he just get pounded by that? Is he blamed?
STARR: I don't think he's blamed at this point but there's the opportunity for Democrats to make that argument. You know they'll talk about the fact that he hasn't tapped the strategic petroleum reserve, which would bring down prices and he's adamantly refused to do that. They can talk about the fact also that this war in Iraq has driven up prices. They'll talk also about the fact that there are new environmental regulations coming on this summer that will drive prices up. At the same time people are getting into their cars to go on vacation.
ARENA: So come November, though, summer driving is over, you know that is sort of all behind. People have short attention spans, you know I mean in November, you may not be doing the summer driving that you did right?
STARR: No, that's very true and it's sort of up to the Democrats to make this issue stick. And it has to play into the broader point, this idea that President Bush you know isn't out there for the little guy, but that he's looking out for his big campaign contributors. If they can use this to make that larger point, I think they could gain some traction. Otherwise, I think you're right; it's one of those things that they think voters think about in June and forget about in November.
ARENA: Well there's a larger issue according to some economists that the real problem, the larger problem beneath all of this is a weak dollar. Is that even something that is on the radar screen in the political arena at this point?
STARR: I don't think it is but it's a good point. President Bush wants a weak dollar because it helps the manufacturing industry and that in effect ends up bringing down unemployment, and that is not something that he wants to be high in November. At the same time, oil- exporting countries, they sell their oil in dollars, and so when the price, when the dollar is weak, they get less bang for their buck and that's an added incentive to keep oil prices high. It's really a tight rope that President Bush has to walk on this issue. Let's see if he is able to do it.
ARENA: I mean much of the reserve and tapping the reserve, and I remember that was almost political death when Al Gore brought that up as an option.
STARR: You know that's a very good point. And then candidate Bush really hammered him on it. I think, though, for Vice President Gore, the issue is a little bit different. And that is because there was this broad perception that Vice President Gore would do anything to get elected. And so it fed into this broader perception that here is this guy cantering again, you know does he stand for anything? President Bush doesn't face that same issue. In fact you could say his Achilles heel is a little bit the opposite, but he's not looking out for you. So in that since we'll see how the issue plays out.
ARENA: All right, we'll see. We'll have you back.
STARR: All right.
ARENA: Alexandra Starr thank you.
STARR: It was a pleasure. Thanks.
ARENA: Well time now for news around the world. In China, more SARS. The ministry of health reports four suspected new cases in Beijing. It's collaborating with the World Health Organization to try to prevent an epidemic, 337 people are under observation. On Friday, two confirmed cases were announced.
In Afghanistan, the president tries to make peace in a surprise move, and Karzai reached out to the ousted Taliban and invited them to vote in the country's first ever presidential and parliamentary election in September. He also said his government was trying to negotiate peace with insurgents; this on the same day that police arrested a man trying to assassinate Karzai.
And in Cyprus deep division a U.N. reunification plan fell apart after Greek Cyfrus overwhelmingly voted against it, and that means that only the Greek side of the island will join the European Union May 1st. The Turkish Cyprus voted for the plan; the EU is now looking for ways to help the Turkish side.
Well how does this idea sound? A 5 percent tax surcharge on the rich to give American military men and women a raise? Well that's what Ben Stein is proposing. We'll talk to the long time Republican next, plus this.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's an awesome feeling. I waited for this a year and now it's actually come by. And I'm so glad to be home.
ARENA: Emotional scenes from another National Guard homecoming.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) ARENA: There's no place like home for 120 National Guard troops returning to bases in New York. Members of the 105th Military Police were reunited with their loved ones today after a year in Iraq. The troops are from Niagara Falls and Stratton Airbases. Two members did not come home. Sergeant Keith McMillan and Specialist Michael Williams were killed in two separate roadside attacks.
Well there's a lot of support our troops bumper stickers on the road these days. But one man has come up with a more tangible way to thank them. You know him from TV's "Win Ben Stein's Money" and "Star Search." now Ben Stein brings us his latest brainchild. Thanks for joining us.
BEN STEIN, AUTHOR, "HOW TO RUIN YOUR FINANCIAL LIFE:" My pleasure.
ARENA: Ben so lay out your idea. Tax the rich?
STEIN: Well the military pay in this country is outrageously low, it's a disgrace, and it is immoral. It is really, really, really an outrage how bad it is. A family living on a sergeant's pay or a corporal's pay is at poverty level. That is a disgrace for people offering up their lives.
My idea is to have a surcharge on the income taxes of the top 1 percent of income taxpayers in this country, a surcharge of 5 percent on their tax. That would yield enough money to give a $10,000 bonus to everybody serving in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, National Guard, Reserves, and I think that should be continued and it should be part of a nationwide plan to bring military pay to decent levels.
We just have an outrageously immoral situation here, where people are offering up their lives while at home, there's a frenzy by $2 million and $4 million vacation homes and these guys are offering up their lives and their families are getting day-old bread in church basements and having to go door to door asking for handouts.
ARENA: Ben do you think that the idea is gaining any traction? Have you gotten feedback?
(CROSSTALK)
STEIN: I've gotten tremendous amount of feedback, all of it positive. There is just something wrong in this country when there are ten pages of ads in Friday's "Wall Street Journal" for vacation homes, each one is $2 million and up, and there are so many rich people that can absorb that many houses and yet the people who fight and die and leave their families behind to keep this country free and prosperous are not paid a decent wage.
ARENA: But Ben don't you think though -- let me ask you this, I mean tax surcharges, tax increases, we all know how the Hill works. They come and they go. Don't the military men and women deserve something more permanent?
STEIN: I think this should be permanent. I'm not saying this should be a one-time thing. I think there should be a 5 percent surcharge on the rich. And believe me I'm one of them. I'm happy to pay it, but there should also be on ongoing review to bring military pay up to civilian levels. We have guys who have responsibility for hundreds and thousands of soldiers. The same as executives in big private corporations making barely enough to feed their families. Their pay has to be increased drastically. It is a slap in the face to every man, woman and child to fight on the job in Fallujah if they have to worry what their family is going to be living on at home. There are also giant problems with the military retirement pay as well.
ARENA: Do you think that there should be any difference in terms of dealing with military men and women with children or families versus those that are single?
STEIN: Yes, there should be a difference, but I say start out right now, give each of them additional $10,000, then have a commission, a responsible and compassionate people, not people just say who they're compassionate, but people who are compassionate about the military to bring their pay up to decentancy (ph) levels. We owe that to them. We could live forever without Hollywood. If Hollywood were wiped off the map by a tornado, the country would go on completely as before. If we didn't have the military we wouldn't last a week. We owe them a heck of a lot more than we're doing for them.
ARENA: All right, Ben Stein thanks so much for joining us.
STEIN: Thank you.
ARENA: Well you got to have a gimmick to stand out in the online world. So how about a toddler posing with stars? Jerome's story after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ARENA: He's just 2 years old, but already, he's grabbing the attention of the rich and famous and our Jeanne Moos shows us this New York toddler has the pictures to prove it.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT, (voice over): He may be just learning to talk.
JEREMY ZOREK: Uh-oh.
MOOS: But somehow, he's managed to talk his way into dozens of celebrity photo ops, from Leno to Billy Crystal, to Robin Williams, to Halle Berry.
MICHAEL ZOREK, JEREMY'S DAD: It's not the best picture of Jeremy but my god she looks beautiful.
MOOS: Jeremy's dad posts them all on the Web site, whothatwithJeremy.com. From Water Gate to Playboy, though Jeremy's a boy who plays, he's not a playboy. Back in the '80s, Jeremy's dad was an actor in a dress in a mow hawk. Now his son poses with actors like 007, singers like Billy Joel, they run into celeb's on the street go to dozens of book signings. Jeremy's most photographed moment was with none other than Madonna.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MOOS: Are you doing it for fun or do you want a showbiz career?
M. ZOREK: It's for fun. I mean he models which is fine but none of us...
J. ZOREK: Mommy!
MOOS: We tagged along when Jeremy lined up to meet Danny Aiello signing his new CD.
M. ZOREK: Can you say hi Danny Aiello?
J. ZOREK: Hi Danny Aiello.
M. ZOREK: Well this is my son Jeremy.
DANNY AIELLO: Hey Jeremy, how are you doing? He said hi Danny Aiello.
M. ZOREK: Can I get a photograph of you?
AIELLO: Sure.
MOOS: A few say no, among them, Mikhail Gorbachev and Paul McCartney. The Ringo pose. Can you say p. diddy?
J. ZOREK: P. diddy.
MOOS: From rapper to former president, there's even a parody Web site now, who is that eating Jeremy. And someone photo shot Jeremy's head on a Michael Jackson's dangling baby. Once in awhile Jeremy fusses.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Make it one more for the road.
M. ZOREK: If you know the ABC song he likes that better.
J. ZOREK: Ab, c, d --
MOOS: This kid is too cool to drool on a celebrity, posing with Santa seem quaint.
Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ARENA: Watch out Disney, there's a new kid on the block in the world of animation. "NEXT@CNN" takes you behind the technical wizardry of Sabin Studios. Then on "CNN Live Sunday" a mother who lost her daughter and then donated her organs to others in need talks with us about her decision. And her new mission to meet those people that she helped save.
And stick around for "People in the News" to learn a little more about Oscar Winning actor Denzel Washington. Thanks for joining us. I'll be back with the headlines after a quick break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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