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CNN Sunday Morning
International AIDS Conference Gets Under Way in Bangkok; Bush Refuses to Meet With NAACP
Aired July 11, 2004 - 08:00 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.
DREW GRIFFIN, CNN ANCHOR: The next hour of CNN SUNDAY begins right now.
Good morning. It's Sunday, July 11. This is CNN SUNDAY MORNING. I'm Drew Griffin.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Betty Nguyen. Good morning, on the West Coast, thanks for starting the day with us. We have a lot to tell you about.
Last month's release of the autobiography "My Life" put Bill Clinton right back in the forefront of American debate; questions about the presidency and personal life have been topics of discussion since the days in the Oval Office. And this past week he sat down with CNN chief international correspondent Christiane Amanpour.
In the next hour, we'll bring you the next conversation. But first, here's what's happening right now in the news.
GRIFFIN: A death threat still hangs over a head of a Filipino hostage in Iraq. The Philippine government says it will not meet the kidnappers' demand to withdraw its troops a month earlier than scheduled. And as part of the ongoing negotiations, the government will fly Angelo de la Cruz's wife and brother to Iraq.
Palestinian militants claiming responsibility for a roadside bombing in Israel. The explosion at a Tel Aviv bus stop killed a woman and injured more than 20 others.
More American deaths in Iraq. Four U.S. Marines were killed while on patrol near Fallujah yesterday. The Associated Press reports the Marines died in a vehicle accident. An American soldier died today in a roadside attack that was near Mosul, in northern Iraq.
Also in northern Iraq, insurgents blew up a natural gas pipeline near Kirkuk. A homemade bomb set a small section of the pipeline ablaze. The pipeline connects the Kirkuk gas fields with power plants to the west.
NGUYEN: Now, for our top story this hour, manning the frontlines to defend against AIDS. The 15th International AIDS Conference kicks off in Bangkok, Thailand today. At issue, applauding abstinence while promoting condom use. For more on the first day of events, CNN's Aneesh Raman joins us live, via videophone from Bangkok.
Hi, there.
ANEESH RAMAN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Betty. That's right.
The conference getting under way just moments ago, and shortly we expect to hear a special address from United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan.
Annan was in town earlier today meeting with about 30 ministers from countries within the region. At that meeting, he called upon them to beef up their effort in combating the disease.
Now there is some progress already to report, the Thai prime minister announced yesterday in his weekly radio address that Thailand would provide generic antiretrovirals drugs to its neighbors. That is a significant step and one that keeps in line with the theme of the conference, as you mentioned, access for all.
The location of the conference, itself, here in Bangkok, that holds its own significance.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Help save lives.
RAMAN (voice over): He is called Mr. Condom.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is international size.
(LAUGHTER)
RAMAN: For Thai Senator Meechi Viravaidya, the country's leading advocate for AIDS prevention, the title is welcome.
MECHAI VIRAVAIDYA, THAI SENATOR: The condoms are lifesavers. We want to make people less shy. We want them to feel that the condom and a tennis ball are no different because they both come from the rubber tree.
RAMAN: As the world gathers in Bangkok this week for the 15th International AIDS Conference, the location is no coincidence. In a region where AIDS infections are rising at alarming rates, Thailand is a rare success story.
The disease first surfaced here 20 years ago. After initial inaction by the government, Viravaidya led an intense effort in the 1990s with education that emphasized prevention, passing out condoms in the red light district, small villages, and in his own restaurants, a chain called Cabbages & Condoms. The overall result, in the past 12 years Thailand has seen a 90 percent decline in new cases.
VIRAVAIDYA: You have to regard as war on your land and leaders have to be active. You have to have financial commitment, as well. Use whatever money you have to start the program.
RAMAN: But today, there is fear that Thailand's early success has given way to complacency. This week, experts, including Viravaidya, will warn that Thailand stands at a crossroads with the very real possibility of a massive resurgence in AIDS cases.
In the past few years, the demographic of new infections has started to shifted away from the country's sex workers, drug users and homosexual men toward the general heterosexual community.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
RAMAN: And Betty, with that -- and Betty, there will be much talk this week of what Thailand did right. The lessons that can be learned, but with that success, a global eye on how Thailand prepares for what could be the next great battle in the war on AIDS -- Betty.
NGUYEN: Aneesh Raman, in Bangkok. Thank you for that report -- Drew.
GRIFFIN: Well, the failure to find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq is a central part of that scathing Senate report, released Friday, criticizes the faulty intelligence used to justify the war in Iraq. But the report did conclude there were some links between Baghdad and al Qaeda.
Former director of Central Intelligence says that should quiet some of the critics of the war.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JAMES WOOLSEY, FORMER CIA DIRECTOR: Iraq was not a sponsor of Al Qaeda. Iraq didn't govern and rule Al Qaeda. And apparently, more than contact, there was clearly training. And this -- the people such as Dick Clarke, who said there was no relationship at all I think are being shown to be, by this report, quite wrong.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GRIFFIN: The Senate's report did suggest some level of contact between al Qaeda and Iraq. It states, though, there was no established formal relationship between the two.
NGUYEN: In the page-turning drama of this year's presidential race, the two Johns finished writing their opening chapter and start work now on another.
Senators Kerry and Edwards are waking up in Raleigh, North Carolina, this morning where they'll attend church. Later today, they'll appear on the CBS news program "60 Minutes," their first televised interview together.
Yesterday, the Democratic duo finished its first official campaign tour with a rally in Raleigh.
Meanwhile, another drama is unfolding in this year's presidential race. President Bush says thanks, but no thanks, to an invitation to speak at the NAACP Convention for the fourth year in a row. Now officials with NAACP, the largest and oldest U.S. civil rights group, are urging Bush to reconsider.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think it's very unfortunate that President Bush chose to ignore this convention.
KWEISI MFUME, PRESIDENT, NAACP: I have written and written and written requesting a meeting or an opportunity to talk about pertinent issues. We've written inviting him to come and address us, and we've gotten no response. There has been absolute silence.
I think the larger picture is in an election that is going to be as close as this one, no party can afford slippage or to write off an entire group of voters because you may not agree with them on one issue or another.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GRIFFIN: Well, for more on the developing political flap here is CNN White House correspondent Dana Bash.
Good morning, Dana.
DANA BASH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Drew. The last time President Bush spoke to the NAACP he was still Texas governor running for the first time for the White House. And at the time, he was trying to show that he is a different kind of Republican. Even saying to the group that he wanted to work together to advance racial harmony.
At first, the White House suggested the reason Mr. Bush is not speaking to the convention this year because of scheduling. But the president, on Friday, admitted that the reason he isn't going is much more than that.
He told some reporters from Pennsylvania newspapers, while traveling there on Friday, quote, "I would describe my relationship with the current leadership as basically nonexistent. You have heard the rhetoric and the names they have called me." That was the president speaking to some reporters in Pennsylvania on Friday.
So the president essentially saying what's the point of addressing a group that's been outwardly hostile towards him since he's been in office; particularly, the White House says that he's felt that way since after the Florida recount when there had been a lot of talk and a lot of anger over the fact that African-Americans felt disenfranchised and blamed the president for that.
That is sort of, the White House says, was the beginning of the end of the relationship between the president and that organization.
But Bush campaign officials insist they're courting the African- American vote; they are just doing so in different ways. Mr. Bush likes to promote his faith-based initiative and talks about the fact that since he's been in office, there is a record high for minority home sales, things of that nature. But it is important to note that the president did only get 9 percent of the African-American vote in 2000. That is pretty low even for a Republican, who doesn't traditionally get a lot of those votes. The White House is hoping to bump that up, but at this point polls show it hasn't really moved up much at all. So unclear how the public rift now between the president and the NAACP is going to affect that -- Drew.
GRIFFIN: Dana, and the president's schedule today? Is he campaigning?
BASH: He's not campaigning today. He's got a little T-ball here. It is something that the White House likes to do every so often, invite some children, to have a T-ball game here on the White House lawn.
But he is certainly going to get back on the campaign trail this week. He has another bus tour, he's going to hit very important states of Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota. Expect him to talk about the values issues that he started talking about last week trying to, again, paint Senator Kerry and Senator Edwards as liberals, even though they say they talk about conservative values.
GRIFFIN: Dana Bash at the White House.
New survey numbers out this morning, Dana, offer the latest snapshot of the 2004 election; in the "Newsweek" poll 51 percent say they would vote for Senators Kerry and Edwards. And 45 percent of those responding say they support the Bush/Cheney ticket.
NGUYEN: In other news, gay couples are celebrating a partial win in New Jersey. The state's domestic partnership laws took effect yesterday. Among other things, it grants some legal rights to registered couples, allows partners joint rights in filing state taxes and forces insurance companies to offer a same-sex partner option.
The New Jersey law does not legalize gay marriage and also covers unmarried heterosexual couples over the age of 62.
Meanwhile, the debate continues tomorrow. U.S. senators will continue their deliberation of a proposed constitutional amendment that would ban gay marriage. President Bush wants marriage constitutionally defined as a union between a man and a woman. A vote on the amendment could come as early as Wednesday.
We want to weigh in on the debate and want you to send us your opinion. What do you think about the proposed amendment to ban gay marriages? Send us thoughts to wam@cnn.com. We'll read your responses on the air just a little bit later.
GRIFFIN: Here's a look at some other stories making news across America. An Arizona man walked away after he crash landed the plane on the busy I-5 in Southern California. He landed in jail, though. The pilot, Mark South (ph), told police the engine quit. A wing struck the ground and the plane flipped over. Police say South failed a sobriety test at the scene. On Cape Cod, fireworks for a rescheduled July 4th show exploded prematurely. The accident sent 2,500 shells up in smoke. It destroyed a truck and started a brush fire. The head technician immediately evacuated the staging area so nobody got hurt. Local firefighters doused the brush fire.
More than a dozen New Jersey fire companies battled an oil refinery fire into the night. A huge plume of smoke blocked the view of Philadelphia. The fire was contained to one refinery unit that makes solvents. A company spokeswoman said tests that monitor for toxins in the air came back negative.
NGUYEN: The droning love songs of the 2004 cicadas -- ah, you can here it now -- they're just a memory. Over the past two months, billions of cicadas littered Mid-Atlantic sidewalks. In the next few weeks, billions of eggs deposited in tree branches will hatch. Tiny white nymphs, no bigger than sesame seeds will burrow down to tree roots and they won't emerge as adults until 2021. So, you get a little bit of a break from that noise.
It will be a Summer Olympics 100-meter dash without Marion Jones. The defending Olympic gold medalist finished fifth in the finals at the U.S. trials in Sacramento, California. But Jones can still qualify for the U.S. team in the long jump, 200 meters, and the relay.
GRIFFIN: Just ahead, it's been 50 years since California's seen a mosquito infestation like the one they have now. With it, comes a dangerous (AUDIO GAP) West Nile virus outbreak, right here on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.
NGUYEN: Also, a surfer pulled under and mauled just off the beaches of Australia. The horrifying story just ahead.
Plus, that hopeless feeling of living with a failing organ. Then having to rely on someone else to donate a body part. That's the subject of this morning's "House Call" with Dr. Sanjay Gupta at 8:30 Eastern time. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: The summer season is mosquito season, and mosquito season is West Nile virus season. California already has 17 cases of West Nile, nearly half of them in Fontana. That is where we hear from Donna Tetreault.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DONNA TETREAULT, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's that time of year again when stretching out the day is a kid's number one priority. But this summer, being outside could be dangerous. In fact, a 15-year-old boy is now in the hospital with the worst form of West Nile, invasive encephalitis. That's why state leaders want the legislature to spend $1 million to fight the disease.
DARIO FROMMER, CALIFORNIA STATE ASSEMBLYMAN: California is experiencing the most serious epidemic of the disease in 50 years of a mosquito borne disease.
TETREAULT: Of the 17 cases of West Nile in California, eight are here in Fontana, a city east of Los Angeles.
FRANK PALOMINO, FONTANA RESIDENT: We see birds sometimes out here, you know, just dead. And it kind of concerns me.
TETREAULT: In the last two weeks, the health department has sprayed pesticides here bringing the mosquito count down.
JOAN MULCARE, DEPT. OF PUBLIC HEALTH: Do I think we could stop it? No. We can't kill all the mosquitoes in California. That would be impossible. If everybody is more cautious, we will avoid more mosquito bites and more cases.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: West Nile virus can be a serious disease. So, help fight the bite.
TETREAULT: This PSA was launched earlier in the week urging everyone to be careful. But people aren't the only ones at risk.
At Santa Anita (ph) Park, trainers are being advised to vaccinate their horses.
(on camera): Experts say this is only the tip of the iceberg with the season expected to extend into October and the virus headed north into Northern California, the bite is only going to get worse, leading to more cases of West Nile virus.
Donna Tetreault, CNN, Fontana, California.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GRIFFIN: A legend of corporate America has died. Albert Casey, known for taking on big and complicated enterprises. In his long business career, at various times, he was chairman of American Airlines, U.S. postmaster general, and the boss of Resolution Trust Corporation. Al Casey, he was 84, he died in Dallas, Texas.
Stories around the world now. Police in Russia say they found the car used in a drive-by shooting of American journalist Paul Klebnikov. He was gunned down outside his Moscow office on Friday. Klebnikov was the editor of "Forbes" magazine, Russian edition. A private funeral service for Klebnikov is being held today in the Russian capital.
In Western Australia, authorities on the hunt for two massive sharks that killed a surfer. The sharks, both believed to be great whites. The 29-year-old attacked while surfing on Saturday. And ambulance workers said the man suffered extensive injuries the pelvic and abdomen.
NGUYEN: It is election day in Japan. Voters are selecting the upper house of parliament. A change of government is not at stake, but if his party makes a poor showing, the prime minister could face pressure to step down. And Prince William makes a surprise showing at a charity race in London. Completing the mile-long course in six minutes, 10 seconds. William's brother, Prince Harry, was there to lend moral support. A knee injury left the younger prince on the sidelines.
GRIFFIN: Had two different colored socks?
Take a look at this for a moment. What do you suspect they're doing under water? Think about it, we'll tell you what it is when we come back.
Plus this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BILL CLINTON, FMR. PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: This has nothing to do with my being a Democrat and your being a Republican. I just do not -- I believe objectively -- I've been reading this for eight years and I've been watching this. I think by far your biggest problem is bin Laden and al Qaeda. And it is my great regret that I didn't get him. I tried.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: Is former President Bill Clinton taking some of the blame for the war on terror? Clinton sits down with the CNN's chief international correspondent Christiane Amanpour at the top of the hour on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GRIFFIN: Headlines now. The Philippine government says it will not meet the demands made by insurgents holding a Filipino truck driver hostage in Iraq. Militants have demanded Filipino troops leave Iraq early. Fifty troops are scheduled to leave Iraq next month.
A natural gas pipeline, near Kirkuk in Iraq, has been attacked by militants. Iraqi officials say a bomb planted at the pipeline that supplies power to nearby oil fields and refineries.
The annual World AIDS Conference opens in Bangkok. Protesters are mingling with delegates and health professionals from around the world. At issue, during this 15th forum, how to get cheaper treatment to more people that are affected by HIV and AIDS.
(WEATHER FORECAST)
NGUYEN: Well, call it fantasy island in the Florida Keys. A conductor with a red snorkel baton led a troop of tuxedo and sequin clad musicians in an under water symphony at Big Pine Key. It is all a part of the Annual Underwater Musical Festival, which drew more than 400 divers and snorkelers. Instruments included a trombone fish, a harmoni-crab and a mantle-lin.
Ah, very witty.
GRIFFIN: Goofy.
Here's our e-mail question of the morning. What's your opinion about a proposed amendment to ban gay marriages? We have a lot of responses this morning. The first one comes from Michael.
NGUYEN: And he says, "I fully support a constitutional amendment to define marriage as being only between one man and one woman. Marriage is an ancient, sacred union. If we need language that 'allows' for other types of unions, so be it. But marriage should not be redefined by modern social views."
GRIFFIN: Let's do one more.
"Gay marriage is just plain wrong. It is another step to degrade America!"
And imagine for a moment that you had to depend on the generosity of some stranger to save your life. That's what's coming up. As you continue to write to us on your opinion on that.
Then know what's like to be in need of a new organ. Next on "House Call," with Dr. Sanjay Gupta. He will take a look at transplant surgery and tells you what you can do to save another life.
At the top of the hour, former President Clinton opens up to Christiane Amanpour. Among the topics, the mistakes made in the war on terror.
And at 9:45, a test case for gay rights in the state of Georgia takes place on a golf course. Headlines are next on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.
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 July 11, 2004 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DREW GRIFFIN, CNN ANCHOR: The next hour of CNN SUNDAY begins right now.
Good morning. It's Sunday, July 11. This is CNN SUNDAY MORNING. I'm Drew Griffin.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Betty Nguyen. Good morning, on the West Coast, thanks for starting the day with us. We have a lot to tell you about.
Last month's release of the autobiography "My Life" put Bill Clinton right back in the forefront of American debate; questions about the presidency and personal life have been topics of discussion since the days in the Oval Office. And this past week he sat down with CNN chief international correspondent Christiane Amanpour.
In the next hour, we'll bring you the next conversation. But first, here's what's happening right now in the news.
GRIFFIN: A death threat still hangs over a head of a Filipino hostage in Iraq. The Philippine government says it will not meet the kidnappers' demand to withdraw its troops a month earlier than scheduled. And as part of the ongoing negotiations, the government will fly Angelo de la Cruz's wife and brother to Iraq.
Palestinian militants claiming responsibility for a roadside bombing in Israel. The explosion at a Tel Aviv bus stop killed a woman and injured more than 20 others.
More American deaths in Iraq. Four U.S. Marines were killed while on patrol near Fallujah yesterday. The Associated Press reports the Marines died in a vehicle accident. An American soldier died today in a roadside attack that was near Mosul, in northern Iraq.
Also in northern Iraq, insurgents blew up a natural gas pipeline near Kirkuk. A homemade bomb set a small section of the pipeline ablaze. The pipeline connects the Kirkuk gas fields with power plants to the west.
NGUYEN: Now, for our top story this hour, manning the frontlines to defend against AIDS. The 15th International AIDS Conference kicks off in Bangkok, Thailand today. At issue, applauding abstinence while promoting condom use. For more on the first day of events, CNN's Aneesh Raman joins us live, via videophone from Bangkok.
Hi, there.
ANEESH RAMAN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Betty. That's right.
The conference getting under way just moments ago, and shortly we expect to hear a special address from United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan.
Annan was in town earlier today meeting with about 30 ministers from countries within the region. At that meeting, he called upon them to beef up their effort in combating the disease.
Now there is some progress already to report, the Thai prime minister announced yesterday in his weekly radio address that Thailand would provide generic antiretrovirals drugs to its neighbors. That is a significant step and one that keeps in line with the theme of the conference, as you mentioned, access for all.
The location of the conference, itself, here in Bangkok, that holds its own significance.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Help save lives.
RAMAN (voice over): He is called Mr. Condom.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is international size.
(LAUGHTER)
RAMAN: For Thai Senator Meechi Viravaidya, the country's leading advocate for AIDS prevention, the title is welcome.
MECHAI VIRAVAIDYA, THAI SENATOR: The condoms are lifesavers. We want to make people less shy. We want them to feel that the condom and a tennis ball are no different because they both come from the rubber tree.
RAMAN: As the world gathers in Bangkok this week for the 15th International AIDS Conference, the location is no coincidence. In a region where AIDS infections are rising at alarming rates, Thailand is a rare success story.
The disease first surfaced here 20 years ago. After initial inaction by the government, Viravaidya led an intense effort in the 1990s with education that emphasized prevention, passing out condoms in the red light district, small villages, and in his own restaurants, a chain called Cabbages & Condoms. The overall result, in the past 12 years Thailand has seen a 90 percent decline in new cases.
VIRAVAIDYA: You have to regard as war on your land and leaders have to be active. You have to have financial commitment, as well. Use whatever money you have to start the program.
RAMAN: But today, there is fear that Thailand's early success has given way to complacency. This week, experts, including Viravaidya, will warn that Thailand stands at a crossroads with the very real possibility of a massive resurgence in AIDS cases.
In the past few years, the demographic of new infections has started to shifted away from the country's sex workers, drug users and homosexual men toward the general heterosexual community.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
RAMAN: And Betty, with that -- and Betty, there will be much talk this week of what Thailand did right. The lessons that can be learned, but with that success, a global eye on how Thailand prepares for what could be the next great battle in the war on AIDS -- Betty.
NGUYEN: Aneesh Raman, in Bangkok. Thank you for that report -- Drew.
GRIFFIN: Well, the failure to find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq is a central part of that scathing Senate report, released Friday, criticizes the faulty intelligence used to justify the war in Iraq. But the report did conclude there were some links between Baghdad and al Qaeda.
Former director of Central Intelligence says that should quiet some of the critics of the war.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JAMES WOOLSEY, FORMER CIA DIRECTOR: Iraq was not a sponsor of Al Qaeda. Iraq didn't govern and rule Al Qaeda. And apparently, more than contact, there was clearly training. And this -- the people such as Dick Clarke, who said there was no relationship at all I think are being shown to be, by this report, quite wrong.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GRIFFIN: The Senate's report did suggest some level of contact between al Qaeda and Iraq. It states, though, there was no established formal relationship between the two.
NGUYEN: In the page-turning drama of this year's presidential race, the two Johns finished writing their opening chapter and start work now on another.
Senators Kerry and Edwards are waking up in Raleigh, North Carolina, this morning where they'll attend church. Later today, they'll appear on the CBS news program "60 Minutes," their first televised interview together.
Yesterday, the Democratic duo finished its first official campaign tour with a rally in Raleigh.
Meanwhile, another drama is unfolding in this year's presidential race. President Bush says thanks, but no thanks, to an invitation to speak at the NAACP Convention for the fourth year in a row. Now officials with NAACP, the largest and oldest U.S. civil rights group, are urging Bush to reconsider.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think it's very unfortunate that President Bush chose to ignore this convention.
KWEISI MFUME, PRESIDENT, NAACP: I have written and written and written requesting a meeting or an opportunity to talk about pertinent issues. We've written inviting him to come and address us, and we've gotten no response. There has been absolute silence.
I think the larger picture is in an election that is going to be as close as this one, no party can afford slippage or to write off an entire group of voters because you may not agree with them on one issue or another.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GRIFFIN: Well, for more on the developing political flap here is CNN White House correspondent Dana Bash.
Good morning, Dana.
DANA BASH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Drew. The last time President Bush spoke to the NAACP he was still Texas governor running for the first time for the White House. And at the time, he was trying to show that he is a different kind of Republican. Even saying to the group that he wanted to work together to advance racial harmony.
At first, the White House suggested the reason Mr. Bush is not speaking to the convention this year because of scheduling. But the president, on Friday, admitted that the reason he isn't going is much more than that.
He told some reporters from Pennsylvania newspapers, while traveling there on Friday, quote, "I would describe my relationship with the current leadership as basically nonexistent. You have heard the rhetoric and the names they have called me." That was the president speaking to some reporters in Pennsylvania on Friday.
So the president essentially saying what's the point of addressing a group that's been outwardly hostile towards him since he's been in office; particularly, the White House says that he's felt that way since after the Florida recount when there had been a lot of talk and a lot of anger over the fact that African-Americans felt disenfranchised and blamed the president for that.
That is sort of, the White House says, was the beginning of the end of the relationship between the president and that organization.
But Bush campaign officials insist they're courting the African- American vote; they are just doing so in different ways. Mr. Bush likes to promote his faith-based initiative and talks about the fact that since he's been in office, there is a record high for minority home sales, things of that nature. But it is important to note that the president did only get 9 percent of the African-American vote in 2000. That is pretty low even for a Republican, who doesn't traditionally get a lot of those votes. The White House is hoping to bump that up, but at this point polls show it hasn't really moved up much at all. So unclear how the public rift now between the president and the NAACP is going to affect that -- Drew.
GRIFFIN: Dana, and the president's schedule today? Is he campaigning?
BASH: He's not campaigning today. He's got a little T-ball here. It is something that the White House likes to do every so often, invite some children, to have a T-ball game here on the White House lawn.
But he is certainly going to get back on the campaign trail this week. He has another bus tour, he's going to hit very important states of Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota. Expect him to talk about the values issues that he started talking about last week trying to, again, paint Senator Kerry and Senator Edwards as liberals, even though they say they talk about conservative values.
GRIFFIN: Dana Bash at the White House.
New survey numbers out this morning, Dana, offer the latest snapshot of the 2004 election; in the "Newsweek" poll 51 percent say they would vote for Senators Kerry and Edwards. And 45 percent of those responding say they support the Bush/Cheney ticket.
NGUYEN: In other news, gay couples are celebrating a partial win in New Jersey. The state's domestic partnership laws took effect yesterday. Among other things, it grants some legal rights to registered couples, allows partners joint rights in filing state taxes and forces insurance companies to offer a same-sex partner option.
The New Jersey law does not legalize gay marriage and also covers unmarried heterosexual couples over the age of 62.
Meanwhile, the debate continues tomorrow. U.S. senators will continue their deliberation of a proposed constitutional amendment that would ban gay marriage. President Bush wants marriage constitutionally defined as a union between a man and a woman. A vote on the amendment could come as early as Wednesday.
We want to weigh in on the debate and want you to send us your opinion. What do you think about the proposed amendment to ban gay marriages? Send us thoughts to wam@cnn.com. We'll read your responses on the air just a little bit later.
GRIFFIN: Here's a look at some other stories making news across America. An Arizona man walked away after he crash landed the plane on the busy I-5 in Southern California. He landed in jail, though. The pilot, Mark South (ph), told police the engine quit. A wing struck the ground and the plane flipped over. Police say South failed a sobriety test at the scene. On Cape Cod, fireworks for a rescheduled July 4th show exploded prematurely. The accident sent 2,500 shells up in smoke. It destroyed a truck and started a brush fire. The head technician immediately evacuated the staging area so nobody got hurt. Local firefighters doused the brush fire.
More than a dozen New Jersey fire companies battled an oil refinery fire into the night. A huge plume of smoke blocked the view of Philadelphia. The fire was contained to one refinery unit that makes solvents. A company spokeswoman said tests that monitor for toxins in the air came back negative.
NGUYEN: The droning love songs of the 2004 cicadas -- ah, you can here it now -- they're just a memory. Over the past two months, billions of cicadas littered Mid-Atlantic sidewalks. In the next few weeks, billions of eggs deposited in tree branches will hatch. Tiny white nymphs, no bigger than sesame seeds will burrow down to tree roots and they won't emerge as adults until 2021. So, you get a little bit of a break from that noise.
It will be a Summer Olympics 100-meter dash without Marion Jones. The defending Olympic gold medalist finished fifth in the finals at the U.S. trials in Sacramento, California. But Jones can still qualify for the U.S. team in the long jump, 200 meters, and the relay.
GRIFFIN: Just ahead, it's been 50 years since California's seen a mosquito infestation like the one they have now. With it, comes a dangerous (AUDIO GAP) West Nile virus outbreak, right here on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.
NGUYEN: Also, a surfer pulled under and mauled just off the beaches of Australia. The horrifying story just ahead.
Plus, that hopeless feeling of living with a failing organ. Then having to rely on someone else to donate a body part. That's the subject of this morning's "House Call" with Dr. Sanjay Gupta at 8:30 Eastern time. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: The summer season is mosquito season, and mosquito season is West Nile virus season. California already has 17 cases of West Nile, nearly half of them in Fontana. That is where we hear from Donna Tetreault.
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DONNA TETREAULT, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's that time of year again when stretching out the day is a kid's number one priority. But this summer, being outside could be dangerous. In fact, a 15-year-old boy is now in the hospital with the worst form of West Nile, invasive encephalitis. That's why state leaders want the legislature to spend $1 million to fight the disease.
DARIO FROMMER, CALIFORNIA STATE ASSEMBLYMAN: California is experiencing the most serious epidemic of the disease in 50 years of a mosquito borne disease.
TETREAULT: Of the 17 cases of West Nile in California, eight are here in Fontana, a city east of Los Angeles.
FRANK PALOMINO, FONTANA RESIDENT: We see birds sometimes out here, you know, just dead. And it kind of concerns me.
TETREAULT: In the last two weeks, the health department has sprayed pesticides here bringing the mosquito count down.
JOAN MULCARE, DEPT. OF PUBLIC HEALTH: Do I think we could stop it? No. We can't kill all the mosquitoes in California. That would be impossible. If everybody is more cautious, we will avoid more mosquito bites and more cases.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: West Nile virus can be a serious disease. So, help fight the bite.
TETREAULT: This PSA was launched earlier in the week urging everyone to be careful. But people aren't the only ones at risk.
At Santa Anita (ph) Park, trainers are being advised to vaccinate their horses.
(on camera): Experts say this is only the tip of the iceberg with the season expected to extend into October and the virus headed north into Northern California, the bite is only going to get worse, leading to more cases of West Nile virus.
Donna Tetreault, CNN, Fontana, California.
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GRIFFIN: A legend of corporate America has died. Albert Casey, known for taking on big and complicated enterprises. In his long business career, at various times, he was chairman of American Airlines, U.S. postmaster general, and the boss of Resolution Trust Corporation. Al Casey, he was 84, he died in Dallas, Texas.
Stories around the world now. Police in Russia say they found the car used in a drive-by shooting of American journalist Paul Klebnikov. He was gunned down outside his Moscow office on Friday. Klebnikov was the editor of "Forbes" magazine, Russian edition. A private funeral service for Klebnikov is being held today in the Russian capital.
In Western Australia, authorities on the hunt for two massive sharks that killed a surfer. The sharks, both believed to be great whites. The 29-year-old attacked while surfing on Saturday. And ambulance workers said the man suffered extensive injuries the pelvic and abdomen.
NGUYEN: It is election day in Japan. Voters are selecting the upper house of parliament. A change of government is not at stake, but if his party makes a poor showing, the prime minister could face pressure to step down. And Prince William makes a surprise showing at a charity race in London. Completing the mile-long course in six minutes, 10 seconds. William's brother, Prince Harry, was there to lend moral support. A knee injury left the younger prince on the sidelines.
GRIFFIN: Had two different colored socks?
Take a look at this for a moment. What do you suspect they're doing under water? Think about it, we'll tell you what it is when we come back.
Plus this.
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BILL CLINTON, FMR. PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: This has nothing to do with my being a Democrat and your being a Republican. I just do not -- I believe objectively -- I've been reading this for eight years and I've been watching this. I think by far your biggest problem is bin Laden and al Qaeda. And it is my great regret that I didn't get him. I tried.
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NGUYEN: Is former President Bill Clinton taking some of the blame for the war on terror? Clinton sits down with the CNN's chief international correspondent Christiane Amanpour at the top of the hour on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.
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GRIFFIN: Headlines now. The Philippine government says it will not meet the demands made by insurgents holding a Filipino truck driver hostage in Iraq. Militants have demanded Filipino troops leave Iraq early. Fifty troops are scheduled to leave Iraq next month.
A natural gas pipeline, near Kirkuk in Iraq, has been attacked by militants. Iraqi officials say a bomb planted at the pipeline that supplies power to nearby oil fields and refineries.
The annual World AIDS Conference opens in Bangkok. Protesters are mingling with delegates and health professionals from around the world. At issue, during this 15th forum, how to get cheaper treatment to more people that are affected by HIV and AIDS.
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NGUYEN: Well, call it fantasy island in the Florida Keys. A conductor with a red snorkel baton led a troop of tuxedo and sequin clad musicians in an under water symphony at Big Pine Key. It is all a part of the Annual Underwater Musical Festival, which drew more than 400 divers and snorkelers. Instruments included a trombone fish, a harmoni-crab and a mantle-lin.
Ah, very witty.
GRIFFIN: Goofy.
Here's our e-mail question of the morning. What's your opinion about a proposed amendment to ban gay marriages? We have a lot of responses this morning. The first one comes from Michael.
NGUYEN: And he says, "I fully support a constitutional amendment to define marriage as being only between one man and one woman. Marriage is an ancient, sacred union. If we need language that 'allows' for other types of unions, so be it. But marriage should not be redefined by modern social views."
GRIFFIN: Let's do one more.
"Gay marriage is just plain wrong. It is another step to degrade America!"
And imagine for a moment that you had to depend on the generosity of some stranger to save your life. That's what's coming up. As you continue to write to us on your opinion on that.
Then know what's like to be in need of a new organ. Next on "House Call," with Dr. Sanjay Gupta. He will take a look at transplant surgery and tells you what you can do to save another life.
At the top of the hour, former President Clinton opens up to Christiane Amanpour. Among the topics, the mistakes made in the war on terror.
And at 9:45, a test case for gay rights in the state of Georgia takes place on a golf course. Headlines are next on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.
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