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American Morning
America Votes 2004: John Kerry's Security Plan, Election Summer
Aired May 28, 2004 - 07:30 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.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: It's pandemonium here on AMERICAN MORNING. It's Friday.
O'BRIEN: A little bit. Let's start again, shall we? Because it is, in fact, just half past hour on this AMERICAN MORNING.
COOPER: See, when I come? I don't think this happens when Bill is here.
O'BRIEN: You know what? Not...
COOPER: It's something about me (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
O'BRIEN: Not even a little. But you know what? Well, we are grateful you are filling in. Bill Hemmer, as we mentioned earlier this morning, has the day off. Had yesterday off. Has today off. He'll be back on Monday. So, Anderson is filling in. Thank you. We appreciate it.
COOPER: It's my pleasure.
O'BRIEN: Well, John Kerry continues his foreign policy campaign today. Suddenly, both candidates seem to have rolled up their sleeves. Jeff Greenfield joins us this morning to talk about the start of the long, hot political summer.
COOPER: Also, we're going to hear about Logo, MTV's gay TV network, and the actresses from "Sex and the City" have moved on. Our "90-Second Pop" crew will tell us what they will and won't do now.
O'BRIEN: Also them, we're going to hear from Richard Quest in his Friday "Over There" report.
COOPER: Oh, no! What's he doing there?
O'BRIEN: I always try to do that with a British accent.
COOPER: Oh, goodness.
O'BRIEN: But I can't pull it off.
COOPER: I'm not sure I want to see this.
O'BRIEN: Women, apparently, can stop nagging their husbands about putting down the toilet seats.
COOPER: All right.
O'BRIEN: Must-see TV this morning.
Well, let's get right to it this morning.
Warning the day is late and the situation grim in Iraq, Senator John Kerry yesterday criticized President Bush, contending that America has made -- the president, rather, has made America less safe. His remarks opened what's expected to be a two-week critique of the White House over national security.
We begin with national correspondent, Kelly Wallace.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KELLY WALLACE, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): John Kerry continues his visit to Green Bay today, meeting with military families, as he tries to convince Americans his team would keep the county safer than team Bush.
SEN. JOHN KERRY (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: They bullied when they should have persuaded. They've gone it alone when they should have assembled a whole team. They've made America less safe than we should be in a dangerous world.
WALLACE: In a national security speech in Seattle Thursday, long on vision, short of details, Kerry said he would build stronger alliances, modernize the military and not be afraid to use force when necessary, especially to deal with al Qaeda.
KERRY: As commander-in-chief, I will bring the full force of our nation's power to bear on finding and crushing your networks.
WALLACE: His strategy as someone who voted for the Iraqi war resolution challenged the president on leadership.
KERRY: Attracting international support in a situation like Iraq is a clear test of presidential leadership. It is what capable and confident presidents do.
WALLACE: A challenge for Kerry, however: leading a Democratic Party which includes more liberal-leaning members going further than he is.
AL GORE, FORMER VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Donald Rumsfeld ought to resign!
WALLACE: With Al Gore demanding multiple Bush team resignations over Iraq and a coalition of more than 40 anti-war groups calling for a U.S. troop pullout.
(on camera): A senior Kerry advisor says the campaign does not feel any pressure from within the Democratic Party to deliver an exit strategy for Iraq -- at least not yet. The focus now, trying to persuade American Kerry would be a stronger leader, it is a debate the Bush-Cheney team says it welcomes.
Kelly Wallace, CNN, Green Bay, Wisconsin.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN: Senator Kerry also contends that President Bush is trying to draw international support for the effort in Iraq -- quote -- "Only reluctantly and at the last minute" -- Anderson.
COOPER: As always, Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer. This year, it also signals the beginning of what promises to be a long, hot political season. By the time Labor Day rolls around, the presidential landscape could be dramatically different.
CNN's senior analyst, Jeff Greenfield, is here to tell us what to expect between now and then.
Jeff, a couple of events obviously making the summer important, the conventions. What else should we be looking for?
JEFF GREENFIELD, CNN SENIOR ANALYST: Well, what I think the summer means is that after months, years even, of meaningless polls with premature evaluations and analyses of voter opinions, way before anybody is making up their minds, the summer is actually going to be when real opinions about the issues begin to take real shape.
I mean, as one big example, by Labor Day opinions about the economy tend to have firmed up. What happens after that is usually politically irrelevant. So, by Labor Day, we will probably know, will the strong economic numbers that we saw this week translate into job growth and a booming labor market? That could really erase the anxieties in the last three years; obviously great fro Bush.
Will the specter of inflation rear its ugly head? You just heard about oil prices. Gasoline prices, college costs, health care are leading the way. If that become increasingly important, that would probably help Kerry.
And on Iraq, the provisional government is due to begin within five weeks. If it begins to show signs of progress over the summer towards stability, toward a more or less effective government, toward democracy, that would help ease what is now Bush's biggest dilemma.
So, we're actually going to learn stuff that's going to matter in the next few months.
COOPER: You're talking about the issues. Let's talk about the candidates a little bit.
GREENFIELD: Well, early August is going to bring for John Kerry by far the biggest test once he picks the vice president, so we can all stop talking about that. But it's his acceptance speech. It's the first time America sees a candidate like Kerry as the honest-to- God alternative to the president, now that he's told us he will, in fact, accept the nomination. So, will the speech and the Boston convention offer an appealing, likable candidate? Will his speech win over fence sitters who might be unhappy with the president, but either don't know Kerry well or really don't really like what they have seen so far?
And as for the president, actually there are cases where embattled incumbents have made big points with their acceptance speeches. I can think of Harry Truman in 1948, Jerry Ford in 1976. So, it's a big test for him as well.
COOPER: And would you know, at least now, that John Kerry is going to have an acceptance speech at the convention.
GREENFIELD: Yes.
COOPER: But there are also going to be a lot of unknowns this summer. I mean, Osama bin Laden, of course, is one of them.
GREENFIELD: This is the one where it makes -- why anytime people make predictions, you have to hit them very hard on the head. We don't know. The capture of Osama bin Laden could happen. What about a major terror attack on American soil? What about a Washington scandal?
What about information about either of these candidates that might change the way we think about that candidate, for better or worse? I mean, who would have thought a month ago that photos from digital cameras inside an Iraqi prison could have such a powerful policy and policy effect? So, I guess, we should all hold hands and chant together, "When people tell you they know what's going to happen, they don't know what they are talking about."
COOPER: All right, we won't make any predictions then this summer.
GREENFIELD: There you go.
COOPER: Jeff Greenfield, thanks very much.
GREENFIELD: All right.
COOPER: Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Still to come this morning, a former prison inmate says alleged abuse in Iraq by Reservist Charles Graner was no surprise based on his experience in a U.S. prison.
And the company that makes the Lean Mean George Foreman Grilling Machine is cutting back. Andy Serwer has a look at that.
Plus, life after "Sex." What the "Sex and the City" girls are up to now. "90-Second Pop" is just ahead. Stay with us. You're watching AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) O'BRIEN: I love starting the morning with some danceable tunes, huh? How about you guys? Good morning, everybody. It's time for "90-Second Pop" on this Friday. Today, we're talking about all gay TV, no more "Sex" for Samantha, and also superhero scandals.
Here to discuss, Joel Stein is a staff writer for "TIME" magazine.
Hi, Joel. Good morning.
JOEL STEIN, "TIME" MAGAZINE: Hi.
O'BRIEN: Jessica Shaw from "Entertainment Weekly."
Good morning.
JESSICA SHAW, "ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY": Good morning.
O'BRIEN: And Josh Elliott, a staff writer for "Sports Illustrated."
Hello! Wake up, everyone!
(CROSSTALK)
O'BRIEN: Good morning. All right, let's get right to it. But first, actually, we're going to talk about gay TV. There's a new network.
STEIN: Why are you looking at me?
O'BRIEN: Because I'm going to throw that first question to you.
STEIN: All right. I thought (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
O'BRIEN: You're a journalist, Joel.
STEIN: Yes, all right, all right.
O'BRIEN: You can tackle any question.
STEIN: All right, yes. No, I'm totally ready.
O'BRIEN: It's called Logo.
STEIN: Yes.
O'BRIEN: Which stands for?
STEIN: I don't know. Probably lesbians, gays and others.
O'BRIEN: You have no idea.
STEIN: No.
O'BRIEN: We'll get one of our researchers on that (UNINTELLIGIBLE) the audience in just a moment. Obviously, I think that there are shows, sort of gay shows that are on TV...
STEIN: Right.
O'BRIEN: ... that are doing really incredibly well -- "Queer Eye for the Straight Eye."
STEIN: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) is the best.
O'BRIEN: Right, well, you know, that's some coating.
STEIN: Yes.
O'BRIEN: But do people realistically think that an all-gay network can work successfully?
STEIN: Yes, gay people have lots of money, because they don't have kids. So, I don't think...
O'BRIEN: Yes, kids do suck you dry, by the way. But go ahead. That's an aside.
STEIN: And so I think they can, you know, make a lot of money, probably.
JOSH ELLIOTT, "SPORTS ILLUSTRATED": Do they want to be pandered to? And do they want to be pandered to with a network as ridiculously named as Logo?
(CROSSTALK)
O'BRIEN: Do you know what Logo stands for?
ELLIOTT: I have no idea.
SHAW: Lesbian, gay, something.
O'BRIEN: Right.
SHAW: I mean, Spike is a real straight guy network, isn't it?
ELLIOTT: Yes, I think that we have intelligent, well-to-do characters that happen to be gay on a lot of great TV shows. And so, I just don't know if they want to be that targeted.
O'BRIEN: But isn't the theory there is all those shows, all of this programming, wow, what a great idea. Take all of that programming and rerun it on a network that would appeal...
STEIN: Who doesn't like to be pandered to.
ELLIOTT: Exactly.
STEIN: We all want to be pandered to.
SHAW: Why not? Listen, it's a lot better -- there are some really bad, you know, channels on right now. There's like "MacGyver" 24/7 on some channel.
O'BRIEN: Hey, I like "MacGyver," all right?
SHAW: OK.
O'BRIEN: He can get himself out of any bad situation, ever.
SHAW: Even being on Logo?
O'BRIEN: I know. I don't know that that would be a bad situation. It might be a good thing for "MacGyver."
Let's talk about "Sex and the City." Joe, I'm going to throw this your way. Are you going to say, "Why are you asking me?"
STEIN: You know, I'm ready. I'm ready. I've been indoctrinated into the "Sex and the City" for the last couple of years.
O'BRIEN: Well, lots of scandals are beginning, because, of course, everyone claims that the women didn't really actually get along. Now, Kim Cattrall says she's not coming back for the movie and her...
SHAW: Proving that they really don't get along.
ELLIOTT: Exactly.
STEIN: No, I think she's smart and is not going to do this stupid movie.
SHAW: Why? So she can do this, like, ice princess movie?
(CROSSTALK)
ELLIOTT: Look, a lot of people were going to make a lot of money doing this movie. And I just think, you know, David Caruso some years ago when he left "NYPD Blue" taught us all a lesson, don't turn your back on a character that a lot of people loved.
STEIN: But what movie version of a TV show -- it's like when Kim Fields wouldn't do the "Facts of Life" reunion movie. I mean, do you want...
ELLIOTT: But there are a lot of people, I think, that will want to see this. If they could have kept the costs down, there are a lot of people that will want to see this. And as my wife said on the way out the door this morning...
O'BRIEN: Like she was prepping you for this segment?
ELLIOTT: Exactly.
SHAW: Her name is Samantha.
ELLIOTT: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) are more interesting. They should have given her script approval. So, that's... O'BRIEN: You know, that's all she wanted, script approval. And she also...
SHAW: And the same amount of money as Sarah Jessica Parker, like Sarah is an executive producer. She doesn't deserve that.
STEIN: Sarah just doesn't take her clothes off.
O'BRIEN: But I think, isn't Samantha...
SHAW: Oh, good point.
O'BRIEN: Isn't Samantha also approving, though -- or Kim Cattrall proving that, you know, one person who says no can actually hold out. I mean, I thought that was kind of interesting.
SHAW: Now what is Cynthia Nixon going to do with her career?
O'BRIEN: You know what? I love Cynthia Nixon, and she's very talented. She can do lots of things.
(CROSSTALK)
O'BRIEN: All right, Jessica, you have a special report, "The Shaw Report." This time you're talking about...
SHAW: Should I say, 'Why are you talking to me' also?
O'BRIEN: No, it would fit with the theme today. But, no, you don't have to do that. You're talking about superhero scandals.
SHAW: Yes.
O'BRIEN: I hadn't even realized there were any. You know, so educate me. The Catwoman scandal.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This will be on Logo.
SHAW: Well, my panel, it's all about the Catwoman scandal now. People are sort of laughing at the trailers, which does not bode well. And the scandal that apparently there's a woman named Ruthie (ph), who is Halle's body double.
O'BRIEN: OK, first of all...
SHAW: And she's vehemently denying this.
O'BRIEN: Halle Barry does not need a body double. That woman has a great body.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let's get Ruthie (ph) on.
SHAW: Well, apparently, Ruthie (ph) has a better body.
O'BRIEN: So that's the Catwoman. You don't think it's a good movie? SHAW: I don't know. I mean, I'm kind of psyched for it. I'd watch Halle Barry in a leather cat suit.
O'BRIEN: Absolutely. I would, too. I love her. OK, then the Batman scandal, you say, so five minutes ago.
SHAW: Yes.
O'BRIEN: What was the Batman scandal?
SHAW: You know, like, Christian Bale, other wardrobe issues, he kept ripping his little Batman costume.
O'BRIEN: How? Why?
SHAW: I don't know. Maybe he's just too pecked-up and pump-up and everything.
O'BRIEN: Hey, yummy. I'd definitely go see that, then.
SHAW: There's also a lot of drama about who would be cast as Batman.
O'BRIEN: And then Spider-Man, that scandal I know, Toby McGuire...
SHAW: Exactly.
O'BRIEN: ... it looked like his bad back was giving him problems.
SHAW: Yes, but his so bad back. I mean, he (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
O'BRIEN: See, I believe all of this stuff.
SHAW: It's a sort of kind of contract negotiation situation sort of thing.
O'BRIEN: His bad back.
SHAW: Yes. I mean, the producers had already been talking to Jake Gyllenhoffer (ph) to replace him. So...
STEIN: It's amazing how that sort of got him right back to work.
SHAW: Exactly.
(CROSSTALK)
O'BRIEN: It's like, all of a sudden my back is feeling a lot better, yes.
O'BRIEN: A lot of yoga and stretching is what I read made it all better.
SHAW: Right. STEIN: Each of these movies will eventually appear on the Logo channel.
O'BRIEN: Joel and Jessica and Josh, thank you.
SHAW: Thank you.
O'BRIEN: You know, you're all awake this morning. That's right.
Anderson -- back to you.
COOPER: All right, still to come, it's that time again to hop across the Atlantic for a look at what's up "Over There."
Richard Quest -- good morning.
RICHARD QUEST, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Anderson.
I'm going to show you something that probably won't appear on the Logo channel. How a talking toilet solves the perennial problem of men aiming badly. AMERICAN MORNING back in a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COOPER: Well, another CEO is headed to the slammer. Plus, by George, what's bad for Main Street is good news for Wall Street.
With that and a market preview, Andy Serwer is "Minding Your Business."
O'BRIEN: Hey, Andy.
ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: Hey, you guys again. Why is that Queen song, "Another One Bites the Dust," in my head right now?
COOPER: Sure.
SERWER: I mean, it's coming on.
O'BRIEN: That can't be good.
SERWER: Yes. Well, no, it's OK, because another one of these CEOs and executives who committed malfeasance has been sentenced.
O'BRIEN: Oh, it is good.
SERWER: So, it is a good thing, not if you are him I guess, because this is Martin Grass, the former CEO of Rite Aid, the big drugstore company, was sentenced yesterday to eight years in prison. That is a long time for a white-collar offense.
COOPER: What did he do?
SERWER: Well, he helped perpetrate a massive accounting fraud, $1.6 billion. And I was actually out at the trial in Pennsylvania, and it was, you know, overshadowed by Enron and Worldcom. But there was some interesting stuff there. When I was there, they talked about a computer that held records, and the prosecutor said, "Where is the computer?" And they said, "We threw it into the lake." You know, they just -- yes. Some really interesting stuff.
COOPER: Wow!
SERWER: So, you know, again, not quite as high-profile. And this guy is going to be serving at least six years and 10 months, even for good behavior. So, he's going to be going away for a while.
O'BRIEN: Wow! Unbelievable.
SERWER: Let's talk a little bit about an interesting stock this morning, Salton, which is the maker of George Foreman Grills.
O'BRIEN: Oh, right, right.
SERWER: And this is just another example of what's good for Wall Street is bad for Main Street. They laid off 200 people, and the stock goes up 40 percent.
COOPER: Oh, really?
SERWER: Yes. And it's interesting. I mean, the NYSE is interested in why the stock went up so much.
Also this morning, one thing that we'll also be watching is Southwest Airlines, which has offered buyout packages to 33,000 of its employees. It's never had a layoff, but saying, you know, if you guys want to take a little package here, we could use a lower head count. So, we'll be watching that.
Futures are pulling back a little bit this morning after the nice run-up we had yesterday.
O'BRIEN: All right, Andy, thank you.
SERWER: You're welcome.
O'BRIEN: Well, a European inventor is flush with excitement, so to speak, over his new gadget. It's a talking toilet seat. Ooh! And while it won't go down in history as great German engineering, women are hoping, believe it or not, that their husbands will get the message.
For more on that and also other news from across the pond, let's go "Over There" to Richard Quest in London.
Hey -- Richard. Good morning.
QUEST: And good Friday to you, Soledad. And I see the old man is taking a bit of a lie down in a darkened room. When you get to Jack's age, you need all the rest you can get.
Well, there will be no agreement on this one, Soledad. Women will say, jolly good idea, and men will say, what's the fuss? It's all about the way in which men commune with nature.
Now, women have been asking for years that you leave the seat down. Sit down when you do your business. Men, of course, say, no, the seat goes up.
Now, look at this machine. Look at this. Here we have your ordinary toilet seat, right?
O'BRIEN: Right.
QUEST: You turn up -- or the man comes in and decides it's time to do whatever. But just as he lifts the seat, this is a message that's from a little machine on the bottom of the toilet set. It's in German. And it basically says, we ask men to sit down, fasten your seat belt and don't smoke. There you are, you see.
And apparently, 1.6 million of these have been sold.
O'BRIEN: Oh, my goodness.
QUEST: 1.6 million have been sold by the company in Germany, and women say it has encouraged their men to behave a little more properly.
O'BRIEN: Oh, I'm glad to see that it's working then, Richard.
All right, let's talk about what else you have this morning. You say there's a new survey out, where teens have to rate mom and dad. And the moms are so far ahead, it's actually embarrassing, right?
QUEST: Oh, here we go. Here we go. Come on, stop flying your flag. Yes, Soledad, 36 different categories, and out of 36, 35 women won over the fathers, mums over pops.
But before you think you've got it all your own way, yes, women may do better at cooking, at fashion. They may be better listeners. They may have better shoulders to cry on. But look at these numbers, Soledad. They're also easier to manipulate. They don't lose their temper, and they are pretty good overall -- 97 percent versus 70 percent.
And here's another one to get sort of the men and the women against each other, Soledad. Apparently, when it comes to driving, now we're talking. When it comes to...
O'BRIEN: Yes, be careful here, Richard.
QUEST: Yes, men win hands down. The children prefer fathers to be their taxi drivers.
O'BRIEN: Well, that's some good news then.
COOPER: There you go.
O'BRIEN: I like that. I'm glad to hear that. Richard Quest this morning. Richard, thanks. Nice to see you. Have a great weekend.
QUEST: Have a great one. Enjoy the long holiday weekend. You can wear white shoes in the Hamptons after Monday.
O'BRIEN: Thank you. That's good to know.
COOPER: I don't think that toilet seat is going to do too well over here. If a German person started yelling at me when I'm in the bathroom...
O'BRIEN: Especially in German.
COOPER: Yes, I know.
SERWER: It's not going to make in the United States.
COOPER: No, not good.
SERWER: I just don't see it happening here.
COOPER: Right. Still to come, the presidential candidates are scrambling to get the upper hand on the oil issue. Who is saying what? In our next hour all here on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(WEATHER BREAK)
O'BRIEN: Still to come this morning, some confusion involving the followers of radical Muslim cleric, Muqtada al-Sadr. Coming up, we're going to hear from a reporter in Iraq who is covering that story. Stay with us. You're watching AMERICAN MORNING.
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Aired May 28, 2004 - 07:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: It's pandemonium here on AMERICAN MORNING. It's Friday.
O'BRIEN: A little bit. Let's start again, shall we? Because it is, in fact, just half past hour on this AMERICAN MORNING.
COOPER: See, when I come? I don't think this happens when Bill is here.
O'BRIEN: You know what? Not...
COOPER: It's something about me (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
O'BRIEN: Not even a little. But you know what? Well, we are grateful you are filling in. Bill Hemmer, as we mentioned earlier this morning, has the day off. Had yesterday off. Has today off. He'll be back on Monday. So, Anderson is filling in. Thank you. We appreciate it.
COOPER: It's my pleasure.
O'BRIEN: Well, John Kerry continues his foreign policy campaign today. Suddenly, both candidates seem to have rolled up their sleeves. Jeff Greenfield joins us this morning to talk about the start of the long, hot political summer.
COOPER: Also, we're going to hear about Logo, MTV's gay TV network, and the actresses from "Sex and the City" have moved on. Our "90-Second Pop" crew will tell us what they will and won't do now.
O'BRIEN: Also them, we're going to hear from Richard Quest in his Friday "Over There" report.
COOPER: Oh, no! What's he doing there?
O'BRIEN: I always try to do that with a British accent.
COOPER: Oh, goodness.
O'BRIEN: But I can't pull it off.
COOPER: I'm not sure I want to see this.
O'BRIEN: Women, apparently, can stop nagging their husbands about putting down the toilet seats.
COOPER: All right.
O'BRIEN: Must-see TV this morning.
Well, let's get right to it this morning.
Warning the day is late and the situation grim in Iraq, Senator John Kerry yesterday criticized President Bush, contending that America has made -- the president, rather, has made America less safe. His remarks opened what's expected to be a two-week critique of the White House over national security.
We begin with national correspondent, Kelly Wallace.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KELLY WALLACE, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): John Kerry continues his visit to Green Bay today, meeting with military families, as he tries to convince Americans his team would keep the county safer than team Bush.
SEN. JOHN KERRY (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: They bullied when they should have persuaded. They've gone it alone when they should have assembled a whole team. They've made America less safe than we should be in a dangerous world.
WALLACE: In a national security speech in Seattle Thursday, long on vision, short of details, Kerry said he would build stronger alliances, modernize the military and not be afraid to use force when necessary, especially to deal with al Qaeda.
KERRY: As commander-in-chief, I will bring the full force of our nation's power to bear on finding and crushing your networks.
WALLACE: His strategy as someone who voted for the Iraqi war resolution challenged the president on leadership.
KERRY: Attracting international support in a situation like Iraq is a clear test of presidential leadership. It is what capable and confident presidents do.
WALLACE: A challenge for Kerry, however: leading a Democratic Party which includes more liberal-leaning members going further than he is.
AL GORE, FORMER VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Donald Rumsfeld ought to resign!
WALLACE: With Al Gore demanding multiple Bush team resignations over Iraq and a coalition of more than 40 anti-war groups calling for a U.S. troop pullout.
(on camera): A senior Kerry advisor says the campaign does not feel any pressure from within the Democratic Party to deliver an exit strategy for Iraq -- at least not yet. The focus now, trying to persuade American Kerry would be a stronger leader, it is a debate the Bush-Cheney team says it welcomes.
Kelly Wallace, CNN, Green Bay, Wisconsin.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN: Senator Kerry also contends that President Bush is trying to draw international support for the effort in Iraq -- quote -- "Only reluctantly and at the last minute" -- Anderson.
COOPER: As always, Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer. This year, it also signals the beginning of what promises to be a long, hot political season. By the time Labor Day rolls around, the presidential landscape could be dramatically different.
CNN's senior analyst, Jeff Greenfield, is here to tell us what to expect between now and then.
Jeff, a couple of events obviously making the summer important, the conventions. What else should we be looking for?
JEFF GREENFIELD, CNN SENIOR ANALYST: Well, what I think the summer means is that after months, years even, of meaningless polls with premature evaluations and analyses of voter opinions, way before anybody is making up their minds, the summer is actually going to be when real opinions about the issues begin to take real shape.
I mean, as one big example, by Labor Day opinions about the economy tend to have firmed up. What happens after that is usually politically irrelevant. So, by Labor Day, we will probably know, will the strong economic numbers that we saw this week translate into job growth and a booming labor market? That could really erase the anxieties in the last three years; obviously great fro Bush.
Will the specter of inflation rear its ugly head? You just heard about oil prices. Gasoline prices, college costs, health care are leading the way. If that become increasingly important, that would probably help Kerry.
And on Iraq, the provisional government is due to begin within five weeks. If it begins to show signs of progress over the summer towards stability, toward a more or less effective government, toward democracy, that would help ease what is now Bush's biggest dilemma.
So, we're actually going to learn stuff that's going to matter in the next few months.
COOPER: You're talking about the issues. Let's talk about the candidates a little bit.
GREENFIELD: Well, early August is going to bring for John Kerry by far the biggest test once he picks the vice president, so we can all stop talking about that. But it's his acceptance speech. It's the first time America sees a candidate like Kerry as the honest-to- God alternative to the president, now that he's told us he will, in fact, accept the nomination. So, will the speech and the Boston convention offer an appealing, likable candidate? Will his speech win over fence sitters who might be unhappy with the president, but either don't know Kerry well or really don't really like what they have seen so far?
And as for the president, actually there are cases where embattled incumbents have made big points with their acceptance speeches. I can think of Harry Truman in 1948, Jerry Ford in 1976. So, it's a big test for him as well.
COOPER: And would you know, at least now, that John Kerry is going to have an acceptance speech at the convention.
GREENFIELD: Yes.
COOPER: But there are also going to be a lot of unknowns this summer. I mean, Osama bin Laden, of course, is one of them.
GREENFIELD: This is the one where it makes -- why anytime people make predictions, you have to hit them very hard on the head. We don't know. The capture of Osama bin Laden could happen. What about a major terror attack on American soil? What about a Washington scandal?
What about information about either of these candidates that might change the way we think about that candidate, for better or worse? I mean, who would have thought a month ago that photos from digital cameras inside an Iraqi prison could have such a powerful policy and policy effect? So, I guess, we should all hold hands and chant together, "When people tell you they know what's going to happen, they don't know what they are talking about."
COOPER: All right, we won't make any predictions then this summer.
GREENFIELD: There you go.
COOPER: Jeff Greenfield, thanks very much.
GREENFIELD: All right.
COOPER: Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Still to come this morning, a former prison inmate says alleged abuse in Iraq by Reservist Charles Graner was no surprise based on his experience in a U.S. prison.
And the company that makes the Lean Mean George Foreman Grilling Machine is cutting back. Andy Serwer has a look at that.
Plus, life after "Sex." What the "Sex and the City" girls are up to now. "90-Second Pop" is just ahead. Stay with us. You're watching AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) O'BRIEN: I love starting the morning with some danceable tunes, huh? How about you guys? Good morning, everybody. It's time for "90-Second Pop" on this Friday. Today, we're talking about all gay TV, no more "Sex" for Samantha, and also superhero scandals.
Here to discuss, Joel Stein is a staff writer for "TIME" magazine.
Hi, Joel. Good morning.
JOEL STEIN, "TIME" MAGAZINE: Hi.
O'BRIEN: Jessica Shaw from "Entertainment Weekly."
Good morning.
JESSICA SHAW, "ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY": Good morning.
O'BRIEN: And Josh Elliott, a staff writer for "Sports Illustrated."
Hello! Wake up, everyone!
(CROSSTALK)
O'BRIEN: Good morning. All right, let's get right to it. But first, actually, we're going to talk about gay TV. There's a new network.
STEIN: Why are you looking at me?
O'BRIEN: Because I'm going to throw that first question to you.
STEIN: All right. I thought (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
O'BRIEN: You're a journalist, Joel.
STEIN: Yes, all right, all right.
O'BRIEN: You can tackle any question.
STEIN: All right, yes. No, I'm totally ready.
O'BRIEN: It's called Logo.
STEIN: Yes.
O'BRIEN: Which stands for?
STEIN: I don't know. Probably lesbians, gays and others.
O'BRIEN: You have no idea.
STEIN: No.
O'BRIEN: We'll get one of our researchers on that (UNINTELLIGIBLE) the audience in just a moment. Obviously, I think that there are shows, sort of gay shows that are on TV...
STEIN: Right.
O'BRIEN: ... that are doing really incredibly well -- "Queer Eye for the Straight Eye."
STEIN: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) is the best.
O'BRIEN: Right, well, you know, that's some coating.
STEIN: Yes.
O'BRIEN: But do people realistically think that an all-gay network can work successfully?
STEIN: Yes, gay people have lots of money, because they don't have kids. So, I don't think...
O'BRIEN: Yes, kids do suck you dry, by the way. But go ahead. That's an aside.
STEIN: And so I think they can, you know, make a lot of money, probably.
JOSH ELLIOTT, "SPORTS ILLUSTRATED": Do they want to be pandered to? And do they want to be pandered to with a network as ridiculously named as Logo?
(CROSSTALK)
O'BRIEN: Do you know what Logo stands for?
ELLIOTT: I have no idea.
SHAW: Lesbian, gay, something.
O'BRIEN: Right.
SHAW: I mean, Spike is a real straight guy network, isn't it?
ELLIOTT: Yes, I think that we have intelligent, well-to-do characters that happen to be gay on a lot of great TV shows. And so, I just don't know if they want to be that targeted.
O'BRIEN: But isn't the theory there is all those shows, all of this programming, wow, what a great idea. Take all of that programming and rerun it on a network that would appeal...
STEIN: Who doesn't like to be pandered to.
ELLIOTT: Exactly.
STEIN: We all want to be pandered to.
SHAW: Why not? Listen, it's a lot better -- there are some really bad, you know, channels on right now. There's like "MacGyver" 24/7 on some channel.
O'BRIEN: Hey, I like "MacGyver," all right?
SHAW: OK.
O'BRIEN: He can get himself out of any bad situation, ever.
SHAW: Even being on Logo?
O'BRIEN: I know. I don't know that that would be a bad situation. It might be a good thing for "MacGyver."
Let's talk about "Sex and the City." Joe, I'm going to throw this your way. Are you going to say, "Why are you asking me?"
STEIN: You know, I'm ready. I'm ready. I've been indoctrinated into the "Sex and the City" for the last couple of years.
O'BRIEN: Well, lots of scandals are beginning, because, of course, everyone claims that the women didn't really actually get along. Now, Kim Cattrall says she's not coming back for the movie and her...
SHAW: Proving that they really don't get along.
ELLIOTT: Exactly.
STEIN: No, I think she's smart and is not going to do this stupid movie.
SHAW: Why? So she can do this, like, ice princess movie?
(CROSSTALK)
ELLIOTT: Look, a lot of people were going to make a lot of money doing this movie. And I just think, you know, David Caruso some years ago when he left "NYPD Blue" taught us all a lesson, don't turn your back on a character that a lot of people loved.
STEIN: But what movie version of a TV show -- it's like when Kim Fields wouldn't do the "Facts of Life" reunion movie. I mean, do you want...
ELLIOTT: But there are a lot of people, I think, that will want to see this. If they could have kept the costs down, there are a lot of people that will want to see this. And as my wife said on the way out the door this morning...
O'BRIEN: Like she was prepping you for this segment?
ELLIOTT: Exactly.
SHAW: Her name is Samantha.
ELLIOTT: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) are more interesting. They should have given her script approval. So, that's... O'BRIEN: You know, that's all she wanted, script approval. And she also...
SHAW: And the same amount of money as Sarah Jessica Parker, like Sarah is an executive producer. She doesn't deserve that.
STEIN: Sarah just doesn't take her clothes off.
O'BRIEN: But I think, isn't Samantha...
SHAW: Oh, good point.
O'BRIEN: Isn't Samantha also approving, though -- or Kim Cattrall proving that, you know, one person who says no can actually hold out. I mean, I thought that was kind of interesting.
SHAW: Now what is Cynthia Nixon going to do with her career?
O'BRIEN: You know what? I love Cynthia Nixon, and she's very talented. She can do lots of things.
(CROSSTALK)
O'BRIEN: All right, Jessica, you have a special report, "The Shaw Report." This time you're talking about...
SHAW: Should I say, 'Why are you talking to me' also?
O'BRIEN: No, it would fit with the theme today. But, no, you don't have to do that. You're talking about superhero scandals.
SHAW: Yes.
O'BRIEN: I hadn't even realized there were any. You know, so educate me. The Catwoman scandal.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This will be on Logo.
SHAW: Well, my panel, it's all about the Catwoman scandal now. People are sort of laughing at the trailers, which does not bode well. And the scandal that apparently there's a woman named Ruthie (ph), who is Halle's body double.
O'BRIEN: OK, first of all...
SHAW: And she's vehemently denying this.
O'BRIEN: Halle Barry does not need a body double. That woman has a great body.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let's get Ruthie (ph) on.
SHAW: Well, apparently, Ruthie (ph) has a better body.
O'BRIEN: So that's the Catwoman. You don't think it's a good movie? SHAW: I don't know. I mean, I'm kind of psyched for it. I'd watch Halle Barry in a leather cat suit.
O'BRIEN: Absolutely. I would, too. I love her. OK, then the Batman scandal, you say, so five minutes ago.
SHAW: Yes.
O'BRIEN: What was the Batman scandal?
SHAW: You know, like, Christian Bale, other wardrobe issues, he kept ripping his little Batman costume.
O'BRIEN: How? Why?
SHAW: I don't know. Maybe he's just too pecked-up and pump-up and everything.
O'BRIEN: Hey, yummy. I'd definitely go see that, then.
SHAW: There's also a lot of drama about who would be cast as Batman.
O'BRIEN: And then Spider-Man, that scandal I know, Toby McGuire...
SHAW: Exactly.
O'BRIEN: ... it looked like his bad back was giving him problems.
SHAW: Yes, but his so bad back. I mean, he (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
O'BRIEN: See, I believe all of this stuff.
SHAW: It's a sort of kind of contract negotiation situation sort of thing.
O'BRIEN: His bad back.
SHAW: Yes. I mean, the producers had already been talking to Jake Gyllenhoffer (ph) to replace him. So...
STEIN: It's amazing how that sort of got him right back to work.
SHAW: Exactly.
(CROSSTALK)
O'BRIEN: It's like, all of a sudden my back is feeling a lot better, yes.
O'BRIEN: A lot of yoga and stretching is what I read made it all better.
SHAW: Right. STEIN: Each of these movies will eventually appear on the Logo channel.
O'BRIEN: Joel and Jessica and Josh, thank you.
SHAW: Thank you.
O'BRIEN: You know, you're all awake this morning. That's right.
Anderson -- back to you.
COOPER: All right, still to come, it's that time again to hop across the Atlantic for a look at what's up "Over There."
Richard Quest -- good morning.
RICHARD QUEST, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Anderson.
I'm going to show you something that probably won't appear on the Logo channel. How a talking toilet solves the perennial problem of men aiming badly. AMERICAN MORNING back in a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COOPER: Well, another CEO is headed to the slammer. Plus, by George, what's bad for Main Street is good news for Wall Street.
With that and a market preview, Andy Serwer is "Minding Your Business."
O'BRIEN: Hey, Andy.
ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: Hey, you guys again. Why is that Queen song, "Another One Bites the Dust," in my head right now?
COOPER: Sure.
SERWER: I mean, it's coming on.
O'BRIEN: That can't be good.
SERWER: Yes. Well, no, it's OK, because another one of these CEOs and executives who committed malfeasance has been sentenced.
O'BRIEN: Oh, it is good.
SERWER: So, it is a good thing, not if you are him I guess, because this is Martin Grass, the former CEO of Rite Aid, the big drugstore company, was sentenced yesterday to eight years in prison. That is a long time for a white-collar offense.
COOPER: What did he do?
SERWER: Well, he helped perpetrate a massive accounting fraud, $1.6 billion. And I was actually out at the trial in Pennsylvania, and it was, you know, overshadowed by Enron and Worldcom. But there was some interesting stuff there. When I was there, they talked about a computer that held records, and the prosecutor said, "Where is the computer?" And they said, "We threw it into the lake." You know, they just -- yes. Some really interesting stuff.
COOPER: Wow!
SERWER: So, you know, again, not quite as high-profile. And this guy is going to be serving at least six years and 10 months, even for good behavior. So, he's going to be going away for a while.
O'BRIEN: Wow! Unbelievable.
SERWER: Let's talk a little bit about an interesting stock this morning, Salton, which is the maker of George Foreman Grills.
O'BRIEN: Oh, right, right.
SERWER: And this is just another example of what's good for Wall Street is bad for Main Street. They laid off 200 people, and the stock goes up 40 percent.
COOPER: Oh, really?
SERWER: Yes. And it's interesting. I mean, the NYSE is interested in why the stock went up so much.
Also this morning, one thing that we'll also be watching is Southwest Airlines, which has offered buyout packages to 33,000 of its employees. It's never had a layoff, but saying, you know, if you guys want to take a little package here, we could use a lower head count. So, we'll be watching that.
Futures are pulling back a little bit this morning after the nice run-up we had yesterday.
O'BRIEN: All right, Andy, thank you.
SERWER: You're welcome.
O'BRIEN: Well, a European inventor is flush with excitement, so to speak, over his new gadget. It's a talking toilet seat. Ooh! And while it won't go down in history as great German engineering, women are hoping, believe it or not, that their husbands will get the message.
For more on that and also other news from across the pond, let's go "Over There" to Richard Quest in London.
Hey -- Richard. Good morning.
QUEST: And good Friday to you, Soledad. And I see the old man is taking a bit of a lie down in a darkened room. When you get to Jack's age, you need all the rest you can get.
Well, there will be no agreement on this one, Soledad. Women will say, jolly good idea, and men will say, what's the fuss? It's all about the way in which men commune with nature.
Now, women have been asking for years that you leave the seat down. Sit down when you do your business. Men, of course, say, no, the seat goes up.
Now, look at this machine. Look at this. Here we have your ordinary toilet seat, right?
O'BRIEN: Right.
QUEST: You turn up -- or the man comes in and decides it's time to do whatever. But just as he lifts the seat, this is a message that's from a little machine on the bottom of the toilet set. It's in German. And it basically says, we ask men to sit down, fasten your seat belt and don't smoke. There you are, you see.
And apparently, 1.6 million of these have been sold.
O'BRIEN: Oh, my goodness.
QUEST: 1.6 million have been sold by the company in Germany, and women say it has encouraged their men to behave a little more properly.
O'BRIEN: Oh, I'm glad to see that it's working then, Richard.
All right, let's talk about what else you have this morning. You say there's a new survey out, where teens have to rate mom and dad. And the moms are so far ahead, it's actually embarrassing, right?
QUEST: Oh, here we go. Here we go. Come on, stop flying your flag. Yes, Soledad, 36 different categories, and out of 36, 35 women won over the fathers, mums over pops.
But before you think you've got it all your own way, yes, women may do better at cooking, at fashion. They may be better listeners. They may have better shoulders to cry on. But look at these numbers, Soledad. They're also easier to manipulate. They don't lose their temper, and they are pretty good overall -- 97 percent versus 70 percent.
And here's another one to get sort of the men and the women against each other, Soledad. Apparently, when it comes to driving, now we're talking. When it comes to...
O'BRIEN: Yes, be careful here, Richard.
QUEST: Yes, men win hands down. The children prefer fathers to be their taxi drivers.
O'BRIEN: Well, that's some good news then.
COOPER: There you go.
O'BRIEN: I like that. I'm glad to hear that. Richard Quest this morning. Richard, thanks. Nice to see you. Have a great weekend.
QUEST: Have a great one. Enjoy the long holiday weekend. You can wear white shoes in the Hamptons after Monday.
O'BRIEN: Thank you. That's good to know.
COOPER: I don't think that toilet seat is going to do too well over here. If a German person started yelling at me when I'm in the bathroom...
O'BRIEN: Especially in German.
COOPER: Yes, I know.
SERWER: It's not going to make in the United States.
COOPER: No, not good.
SERWER: I just don't see it happening here.
COOPER: Right. Still to come, the presidential candidates are scrambling to get the upper hand on the oil issue. Who is saying what? In our next hour all here on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(WEATHER BREAK)
O'BRIEN: Still to come this morning, some confusion involving the followers of radical Muslim cleric, Muqtada al-Sadr. Coming up, we're going to hear from a reporter in Iraq who is covering that story. Stay with us. You're watching AMERICAN MORNING.
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