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American Morning
New Employment Numbers; 'Gimme a Minute'; 'Paging Dr. Gupta'
Aired August 06, 2004 - 08:30 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.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: We're looking today at a new terror warning coming down during the political campaign that you've heard plenty about. The candidates say there's no link, but other people do.
So we'll find out what the panel thinks on this.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Also, are juries across the country watching too much TV? We'll look at how shows like "CSI," changing the mindset of average citizens when they're called to jury duty, so we'll get to that as well.
Also just in to us here at CNN, want to get you to Jackson, Tennessee -- we're getting reports of a collision between a truck and a bus along Interstate 40 -- three dead, 25 injured.
Again, the Greyhound there you see in the videotape in the aerial shot. We'll get more information when we get it out of WNC, our affiliate working that story in Jackson, Tennessee this morning.
COLLINS: All right, for now, though, we're going to be talking about some new employment numbers. Still waiting on those, but Andy Serwer is here nonetheless, "Minding Your Business."
ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: Yes, they have just come in, Heidi. The new jobs report for the month of July, and it looks to be very, very disappointing.
Only 32,000 jobs created in the month of July. The forecast was for 228,000 jobs.
Obviously, that is way, way below what was anticipated, and it reinforces -- it reinforces the notion that June, which was seen as a particularly weak month for job creation -- we only created 112,000 jobs, down from 200,000 plus for the previous three months.
In other words, a lot of people were thinking that June was an aberration -- that we'd go back up.
Instead, the trend actually worsened, so the job growth situation in the United States actually weakened in July, and that is not good news for the economy, and it'll be interesting to see how the political campaigns seize upon this.
One would anticipate that the Kerry campaign might seize upon this and suggest that the economy is not as strong as anticipated.
COLLINS: Think it's going to effect stocks today?
SERWER: Yes, I think it will, and I think it will probably make things a little bit weaker at the open, Heidi, and we will be watching that an hour from now.
COLLINS: All right, very good timing.
SERWER: Yes, impeccable.
COLLINS: Andy Serwer, thanks so much for that.
HEMMER: Pretty good topic to jump off for our "Gimme A Minute" crew, time for that on a Friday morning now here in New York City.
Jay Nordlinger, managing editor of "National Review." Jay, good morning to you and welcome back.
JAY NORDLINGER, NATIONAL REVIEW: Thank you.
HEMMER: Also in D.C., Donna Brazile, CNN political contributor, fresh off of Boston for a week, "Cooking With Grease: Stirring the Pots in American Politics." That is her book, and Donna, good morning.
DONNA BRAZILE, CNN POLITICAL CONTRIBUTOR: Good morning, Bill.
HEMMER: Also here in New York, John Devore, associate editor and satirist with "Maxim" magazine. Welcome back, John. Good to have you all three with us today.
We could talk about jobs, but that's really not on the list, so let's go to our list first of all.
Jay, Howard Dean says there is ample evidence that President Bush is playing politics with terrorism, Tom Ridge saying they do not play politics at homeland security. Who is right on this issue, Jay?
NORDLINGER: Well, I think Dean is certainly wrong. I think its part of the creeping Michael Moore-ism of the Democratic Party. The administration is in a tough spot.
It has been doing what it's been accused of not doing, connecting dots, and it's sort of damned if it does and damned if doesn't. If it says nothing, it's being derelict. If it says something, it's being political and alarmist. It's too bad.
HEMMER: Donna, is Dean wrong?
BRAZILE: I think -- I think they're both right. Look, what Howard Dean was saying is that why, you know, give us information that's three years old and then tell us a day later that it was adjusted six months ago and then the next day tell us well, it was even adjusted last week.
So, stop playing politics just give us the facts.
HEMMER: All right, it's a touchy issue. John, how about it?
JOHN DEVORE, "MAXIM" MAGAZINE: I agree. Democrats can't play both sides of the fence. They couldn't criticize something when he does too little with that about terror and they criticize him when he does too much. A Democratic president is going to have this same problem.
HEMMER: It's all about code orange right now. Hey Donna, in Milwaukee on Monday night, Teresa Heinz Kerry responding to some hecklers saying "four more years." She turned around and said four more years of what? "Four more years of hell," I believe, to paraphrase.
There are questions now going forward. At some point do you want her to be more careful, and does it hurt John Kerry?
BRAZILE: No, I would hope that she continues to speak her mind because she was speaking truth to power. She was speaking for the unemployed, the uninsured, and those who are still in -- in poverty. So I think Teresa was on point.
HEMMER: Jay, how does this play in places like Michigan and Missouri?
NORDLINGER: Well, I imagine not very well. And people on my side of the political spectrum say keep talking, Teresa, keep talking. She's a wonderful loose cannon. She's kind of a Martha Mitchell for our age, but I also like that she's herself and she's not modulating herself for the political season, and I wish I could follow suit.
HEMMER: All right, John, speak your mind.
DEVORE: If there was a First Lady mud-wrestling match, I'd put my money on Teresa Heinz Kerry. But no one votes for a First Lady. I do think that Teresa could become a liability for Kerry.
HEMMER: All right, Jay, let's move on to the state of Illinois. Barak Obama now getting a challenge from Alan Keyes. Keyes is from the state of Maryland. Going to move to Illinois, apparently, and take up this offer. What's the state of politics for the Republicans in Illinois today?
NORDLINGER: Poor, very poor. I think it's a disgrace in Illinois, land of Lincoln. The Republicans have essentially forfeited that seat. Now they've brought in this ringer, but I will say this: if there's a debate between Keyes and Obama, it'll be fantastic. I would pay to watch it.
HEMMER: Donna, the point is here, you think Keyes can win, ultimately?
BRAZILE: Oh, no way. Barak Obama has laid the foundation for a very strong victory this fall. Look, the voters in Peoria want someone who understands the plight of folks in Illinois, not someone from Maryland.
HEMMER: John, you're not from Illinois, are you?
DEVORE: No, I'm not I'm from Texas. But I -- I'll tell you -- it's kind of pathetic tokenism. Alan Keyes, I've read a lot of his speeches, and he's a bit of a fruitcake.
HEMMER: Would you watch the debate?
DEVORE: I absolutely would watch the debate but Obama is unassailable. I mean it's kind of sad.
HEMMER: I think Jay made a great point. I think that debate might be must-see TV. Donna, what did we miss this past week under the radar?
BRAZILE: Well, you know, the media was focused on the horse race between Kerry and Bush, but they forgot to look at the internals. On the internals on who would serve as a better Commander in Chief, John Kerry won hands down.
By 10 points in the ABC poll and seven points in the CNN/Gallup poll.
HEMMER: Jay, your turn, what did we miss?
NORDLINGER: Well, the Olympics are coming up and that is sort of an under-covered story itself, but I'm especially interested in the fact that American athletes have been told not to wear anything that might identify them as Americans outside the competition, and I think its too bad.
Greece is infamously anti-American and of course there are terror concerns, but I wish that we could tell those anti-Greek Americans in the words of my hero, Mrs. Kerry, to shove it.
(LAUGHTER)
HEMMER: Opening ceremonies just about a week away. John, wrap it up for us.
DEVORE: Multi-millionaire John Edwards and his wife celebrate their anniversary at Wendy's, which is outrageous. Everyone knows Taco Bell is the most romantic fast food restaurant.
(LAUGHTER)
HEMMER: We'll leave it there. Well done. John, thanks. Jay and Donna. You guys have a great weekend, OK? Thanks to all of you.
BRAZILE: Thank you.
HEMMER: Take care.
COLLINS: Thirty-seven minutes past the hour now. Time for a look at some of today's other news and Daryn Kagan once again. Hi, Daryn.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: And Heidi good morning to you.
We're going to begin with some breaking news, a story that we're following for you, something that we just showed you a couple of minutes ago.
A tractor-trailer and a Greyhound bus colliding in Western Tennessee. We're looking at live pictures from there. This is close to Jackson, Tennessee.
As we understand it, three people have been killed; at least 25 people have been injured. All of those injured were transported to hospitals in Jackson. Five are listed in serious condition. We're going to work on getting even more pictures and more information about what went wrong on I-40 and bring that to you as it comes in.
Meanwhile, in just under an hour, President Bush is expected to address the Journalists of Color convention in Washington, D.C. He'll then head back onto the campaign trail in New Hampshire.
The president's appearance comes a day after his rival; Senator John Kerry spoke to the unity convention. Today the senator is in Kansas City, Missouri to announce his proposed $30 billion energy plan.
Larry King will have an exclusive interview with President and Mrs. Bush next Thursday night, 9 Eastern, 6 Pacific.
North Korea is reportedly developing a new missile system in Iran. The Bush administration tells the Associated Press that North Korea is designing a new system to deliver nuclear warheads. That technology is reportedly being tested in Iran. It's not clear whether the new missiles are powerful enough to reach the U.S.
General Motors is voluntarily recovering nearly all of its Saturn Vue sports utility vehicles due to failures during government rollover tests. We're talking about nearly 250,000 vehicles, which will need to have their rear suspension strengthened.
The SUVs did not roll over in two instances. The rear wheels collapsed after a sharp turn at 45 miles an hour.
And finally, to Memphis, Tennessee, thousands of people from around the world begin a week of celebration and remembrance for the King. Elvis Presley Week begins tomorrow and will culminate in an annual candlelight vigil to be held on August 15. The annual vigil will be simulcast over the Internet.
So, Bill, for America, your best Elvis.
HEMMER: Yes -- talk to you at 10:01.
KAGAN: Oh, come on.
HEMMER: Hunk of burning love. See you later.
(WEATHER REPORT) COLLINS: As its' called the "CSI" effect, not a case of art imitating life but instead art influencing life.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The car definitely saw her, didn't it Alex? Pattern of injury.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: One-thousand pound vehicle against a skinny girl like this. Multiple points of impact.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: The popularity of "CSI" and other crime scene shows is tainting jury polls. With more jurors expecting to see in court what they see on TV, DNA, fingerprints, or other irrefutable forensic evidence.
Joining us now from Dallas to talk about this, juror consultant Robert Hirschhorn. Thanks for being with us, Mr. Hirschhorn. You know, you're not only familiar with the "CSI" effect; you actually use it in the case of Robert Durst. Explain, if you would, exactly what we're talking about here.
ROBERT HIRSCHHORN, JURY CONSULTANT: Absolutely, Heidi. And thanks for having me on.
In the Durst case, forensics played a great role in the verdict of that jury, and the reason is because that was the case of the fellow that had dismembered his neighbor's body, and in most dismemberment cases, prior to the "CSI" effect, it would have been case closed.
But because of the information that jurors have now gotten from shows like "CSI Miami," and those type of shows, this jury became particularly interested in the forensic evidence.
You know in the past, forensics was like calculus; it scared people and intimidated them. But now because of the popularity of those shows and because of people like Barry Shreck, who brought DNA forward in the -- in the O.J. Simpson case and made it interesting for people, people are hooked on this idea of learning and getting to the bottom of it.
So in the Durst case, we picked a lot of jurors, we had a lot of jurors in that case that watched those kinds of shows because we knew that the fact that the head was missing and the head of Morris Black was where the cause of death was in the absence of that, the prosecution couldn't win that case.
COLLINS: Well I -- do you think there are any problems with this, though? I mean, couldn't it backfire in some cases?
HIRSCHHORN: Listen, the idea, Heidi, is that if the forensics are done properly, it will gut the guilty and free the falsely accused. In the Peterson case, we're already beginning to see the role that forensic evidence is playing in that case. They're stopping the jury right in the middle of the trial to look at this evidence.
In the Kobe Bryant case, we've heard this new news regarding DNA that did not belong to Kobe Bryant that was found within hours after the encounter with Kobe Bryant.
You know, that kind of forensic evidence screams out that Kobe's innocent and so you -- again, you're going to see over and over the effect that forensic evidence has on jurors, and I'm as a jury consultant -- I'm in courtrooms all over the country.
I like the fact that there's forensic evidence and I like the fact that jurors are getting more interested in it, because it makes them better jurors and it gives you better verdicts.
COLLINS: Well, but consider this, if you will. The renowned forensic pathologist Cyril Wecht says that he's now a part of Peterson's defense team, of course. He says TV is a real problem.
In fact, look at what he says exactly: "While 'CSI'-type shows are entertaining, they tend to embellish and exaggerate the science, ignore actual time lines for testing, and raise expectations to an extremely absurd and totally unrealistic level."
Can you see his point?
HIRSCHHORN: Oh, he has his feelings hurt because he doesn't have his own TV show like Dr. Lee does.
COLLINS: Really?
HIRSCHHORN: No, here's my point. TV has that ability to distort circumstances. For example in the law field, starting with shows like "Perry Mason," jurors used to think that opening statements or closing arguments only took two minutes but it takes much longer.
Cross-examination takes five minutes when it takes much longer. Is there a distortion effect? Absolutely. But you know that's what I love about the jury system. It's bringing a group of people together and collectively they get it right the vast majority of the time.
COLLINS: Robert Hirschhorn from Dallas this morning, nice to see you. Thanks so much.
HIRSCHHORN: Thanks, Heidi. Appreciate it.
HEMMER: Going to get a break here. In a moment on AMERICAN MORNING more on today's jobs report. It was out about 14 minutes ago. We'll check back in with Andy and see how the markets are reacting.
A bit later see what they're saying at the White House about all of this too.
COLLINS: Yes. Also ahead we're paging Dr. Gupta. One woman's fight to beat an addiction to painkillers and a new treatment that's giving others like her new hope. Stay with us on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: It's a radical treatment for prescription drug dependency. Rapid detox is designed to eliminate the painful withdrawal.
Dr. Sanjay Gupta joining us now from the CNN Center with more on this new -- but controversial -- method, right Sanjay?
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN SR. MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Heidi.
A traditional detox for prescription drugs can take several weeks. It's a painful process but this rapid detox is a bit controversial, as you said. But also perhaps easier taking just a couple of days.
Let's take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GUPTA (voice-over): In the "Basketball Diaries," Leonardo DiCaprio is acting the pain of drug withdrawal.
But 28-year-old Valerie Coody wishes it was just an act for her.
VALERIE COODY, RAPID DETOX PATIENT: You're cold, you're hot, you're anxious -- mostly being -- your body just craves the drug.
GUPTA: In this case, the drug was an opiate called Percocet, a prescription pain medication. Her story is not uncommon. A federal study shows 1.5 million of the 30 million patients who use prescription pain relievers in 2002 became dependent.
Years ago, after a knee operation, Valerie was prescribed Percocet for post-operative pain. Soon, she was popping 20 to 30 a day.
COODY: It's almost like you can function better when you're on them than having to go through the withdrawals.
GUPTA: Scared of withdrawal, but knowing something had to be done, and quickly, Valerie tried a relatively new technique called rapid detox.
Typically, a person is weaned from drugs slowly. With rapid detox, patients are given anesthesia and then given an opiate blocking drug called naltrexone that causes nearly immediate withdrawal.
Now if naltrexone were given without anesthesia, the heart rate would increase, breathing would become labored, and the patient would feel violently ill. But the anesthesia seems to block all those ill effects. And detox can be almost immediate, just a few hours instead of weeks.
DR. RICK SPONAUGLE, FLORIDA DETOX CENTER: They're very excited when they wake up and they're not craving. They can't believe it. GUPTA: Still, patients do require several days in the program for medications and further counseling and some doctors worry about the risks of general anesthesia.
For Valerie, it worked and life is better without the haze of Percocet.
COODY: I can look at my little boy and enjoy him because I will never have those times back.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GUPTA: There is some controversy still surrounding this, Heidi. Mainly because there's not a lot of clinical study supporting whether or not its going to work long-term or not, but obviously a lot of people getting some benefit from it now -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Yes, gosh, it looks almost like magic there. You know, obviously people spend so much time and money going through detox. But then they go and they have relapses. Why is it so hard to actually leave the drug for good?
GUPTA: Yes, you know it's a painful process actually. You see some -- saw some in that piece there. Stomach cramps and vomiting, people feel nauseated when they're going through this process. A lot of people just relapse and go back on the drug.
That makes them feel better about that and that's probably why the relapse rate is there. Really blocking those symptoms that make you so ill, make you so violently ill.
That's the key for these people. I should also point out that even with rapid detox, Heidi, it's important to get counseling. For quite a while afterwards to further enhance the likelihood that you're not going to go back on these medications, Heidi.
COLLINS: All right, some good information there. And you have some more new information coming to you. We're going to see you next hour as well?
GUPTA: Yes, next hour we're going to talk about high-carb diets. We talk a lot about diets and their effects on your weight and your heart disease, things like that. But what about its relationship to cancer? We're going to have that information coming up next hour, Heidi.
COLLINS: All right, Sanjay, we will see you then. Thanks.
Still to come, Jack stops by to tell you why you may never have to suffer though a bad date ever again. Can you believe it? "Cafferty File" straight ahead. Keep it here on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: All right, welcome back to Jack. JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: The jobs report is out and it's awful. Andy Serwer is here "Minding Your Business." This has got to be a huge disappointment to the administration. A sign the economy may be stumbling here. Bad news.
SERWER: Shocking. Is the only way to call it, Jack. The jobs report here are the numbers: 218,000 jobs was the forecast for the month of July. How many did we get? Thirty-two thousand. Boy that is disappointing. Even more significant, or just as significant: June was revised from 112,000 down to 78,000.
May revise downward as well. This whole notion of June just being a little soft patch on the way to recovery now looks like actually it was the begging of a more serious problem. Real weakening there.
Health care continues to be strong, financial services very weak. Everything else on hold. The unemployment rate falls slightly but that's not the big issue. The big issue is we didn't get the jobs we were looking to create.
And you know as you suggested, the administration is going to be looking at this but what do they do? The Kerry campaign may be making hay out of this, the Federal Reserve, Jack, that was looking to raise rates on Tuesday, they have got to be pulling their hair out because the general consensus was they were going to be raising rates.
In this environment, I think that's going to be a very, very tough call.
CAFFERTY: Yet if they don't raise rates, they're going to look like they're running scared and maybe know something worse about the economy than they're letting on.
SERWER: Yes. I mean, this could be a very significant turning point right now because...
CAFFERTY: The stock market will head south again today.
SERWER: It is the bond yields are falling because suggestion that the Fed might not raise rates and -- again, as you suggested -- what is the administration going to do? How is the Kerry campaign going to respond to this? Is the economy really actually weakening or has the recovery just slowed down? Those are the big questions...
CAFFERTY: Retail sales numbers were weak, too, which is another bad sign.
SERWER: And because of course the consumer has been the one that's been holding the economy together over the past couple of months.
CAFFERTY: All right. Thank you, Andy.
SERWER: You're welcome. With all that good news out of the way. Well let me tell you about country singer Charlie Daniels. Remember that song, "The Devil Went Down to Georgia?"
Well he's got some Arab-Americans up in Dearborn, Michigan all stirred up over a song he wrote called "This Ain't No Rag, It's A Flag."
Daniels wrote the song after September 11th. Here's a sample of the lyrics: "This ain't no rag, it's a flag, and we don't wear it on our heads. It's a symbol of where the good guys live. Are you listening to what I said?"
The Arab-American Anti-Discrimination Committee says the lyrics are derogatory and that Daniels is not welcome in their city. Highly unlikely old Charlie will be showing up at the mosque up there any time soon.
SERWER: Their city?
CAFFERTY: Yes. Cingular -- here's a -- this is clever. Cingular Wireless introduced a new service -- if you're out on a date that's just going right off the edge of a cliff, this is called "escape a date."
If you want to get out of the date you're on, you sign up for this service and suddenly in the middle of dinner you get this call and it sounds like this. Listen.
(BEGIN AUDIOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey, this is your escape-a-date call. If you are looking for an excuse, I got it. Just repeat after me and you'll be on your way.
Not again!
Why does that always happen to you?
All right, I'll be right there.
Now, tell them that your roommate got locked out and you have to go let them in.
Good luck.
(END AUDIOTAPE)
CAFFERTY: On the other hand, if the date's working out well and you think you might get lucky later, don't answer the phone.
Finally, an -- huh?
COLLINS: That's insane.
CAFFERTY: Well, it gives you options. We should all have options.
SERWER: Options are important. CAFFERTY: An 18-year-old Russian tennis fan was thrown off the court at the Rogers Cup Tournament in Montreal after he stormed on the court brandishing a ballpoint pen. He headed for Wimbledon champ Maria Sharapova. Guards were concerned because he had this pen in his hand. They didn't know if he planned to use it as a weapon.
Turned out he had some paper with him, too and on it he had written his phone number and an invitation for her to join him for dinner. Like she's going to go out with a mutant like this.
(LAUGHTER)
The cops threw him out. He wasn't arrested. But he should have been charged with just being stupid.
HEMMER: What was the deal a couple of years ago as Monica Seles was it?
SERWER: Yes.
CAFFERTY: Oh, that was a long time ago and she was stabbed. Yes.
SERWER: Well that's what they were fearful of.
CAFFERTY: I mean...
HEMMER: You make some great points in this jobs report thing. This has got some legs.
SERWER: Lot of questions.
HEMMER: All right, thanks. Let's get a break here. In a moment, two men arrested in an Albany mosque accused of trying to help terrorists launder money. We'll talk to a teacher from that mosque. Find out whether or not he thinks the suspects could commit such a crime. Back in a moment, top of the hour after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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Aired August 6, 2004 - 08:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: We're looking today at a new terror warning coming down during the political campaign that you've heard plenty about. The candidates say there's no link, but other people do.
So we'll find out what the panel thinks on this.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Also, are juries across the country watching too much TV? We'll look at how shows like "CSI," changing the mindset of average citizens when they're called to jury duty, so we'll get to that as well.
Also just in to us here at CNN, want to get you to Jackson, Tennessee -- we're getting reports of a collision between a truck and a bus along Interstate 40 -- three dead, 25 injured.
Again, the Greyhound there you see in the videotape in the aerial shot. We'll get more information when we get it out of WNC, our affiliate working that story in Jackson, Tennessee this morning.
COLLINS: All right, for now, though, we're going to be talking about some new employment numbers. Still waiting on those, but Andy Serwer is here nonetheless, "Minding Your Business."
ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: Yes, they have just come in, Heidi. The new jobs report for the month of July, and it looks to be very, very disappointing.
Only 32,000 jobs created in the month of July. The forecast was for 228,000 jobs.
Obviously, that is way, way below what was anticipated, and it reinforces -- it reinforces the notion that June, which was seen as a particularly weak month for job creation -- we only created 112,000 jobs, down from 200,000 plus for the previous three months.
In other words, a lot of people were thinking that June was an aberration -- that we'd go back up.
Instead, the trend actually worsened, so the job growth situation in the United States actually weakened in July, and that is not good news for the economy, and it'll be interesting to see how the political campaigns seize upon this.
One would anticipate that the Kerry campaign might seize upon this and suggest that the economy is not as strong as anticipated.
COLLINS: Think it's going to effect stocks today?
SERWER: Yes, I think it will, and I think it will probably make things a little bit weaker at the open, Heidi, and we will be watching that an hour from now.
COLLINS: All right, very good timing.
SERWER: Yes, impeccable.
COLLINS: Andy Serwer, thanks so much for that.
HEMMER: Pretty good topic to jump off for our "Gimme A Minute" crew, time for that on a Friday morning now here in New York City.
Jay Nordlinger, managing editor of "National Review." Jay, good morning to you and welcome back.
JAY NORDLINGER, NATIONAL REVIEW: Thank you.
HEMMER: Also in D.C., Donna Brazile, CNN political contributor, fresh off of Boston for a week, "Cooking With Grease: Stirring the Pots in American Politics." That is her book, and Donna, good morning.
DONNA BRAZILE, CNN POLITICAL CONTRIBUTOR: Good morning, Bill.
HEMMER: Also here in New York, John Devore, associate editor and satirist with "Maxim" magazine. Welcome back, John. Good to have you all three with us today.
We could talk about jobs, but that's really not on the list, so let's go to our list first of all.
Jay, Howard Dean says there is ample evidence that President Bush is playing politics with terrorism, Tom Ridge saying they do not play politics at homeland security. Who is right on this issue, Jay?
NORDLINGER: Well, I think Dean is certainly wrong. I think its part of the creeping Michael Moore-ism of the Democratic Party. The administration is in a tough spot.
It has been doing what it's been accused of not doing, connecting dots, and it's sort of damned if it does and damned if doesn't. If it says nothing, it's being derelict. If it says something, it's being political and alarmist. It's too bad.
HEMMER: Donna, is Dean wrong?
BRAZILE: I think -- I think they're both right. Look, what Howard Dean was saying is that why, you know, give us information that's three years old and then tell us a day later that it was adjusted six months ago and then the next day tell us well, it was even adjusted last week.
So, stop playing politics just give us the facts.
HEMMER: All right, it's a touchy issue. John, how about it?
JOHN DEVORE, "MAXIM" MAGAZINE: I agree. Democrats can't play both sides of the fence. They couldn't criticize something when he does too little with that about terror and they criticize him when he does too much. A Democratic president is going to have this same problem.
HEMMER: It's all about code orange right now. Hey Donna, in Milwaukee on Monday night, Teresa Heinz Kerry responding to some hecklers saying "four more years." She turned around and said four more years of what? "Four more years of hell," I believe, to paraphrase.
There are questions now going forward. At some point do you want her to be more careful, and does it hurt John Kerry?
BRAZILE: No, I would hope that she continues to speak her mind because she was speaking truth to power. She was speaking for the unemployed, the uninsured, and those who are still in -- in poverty. So I think Teresa was on point.
HEMMER: Jay, how does this play in places like Michigan and Missouri?
NORDLINGER: Well, I imagine not very well. And people on my side of the political spectrum say keep talking, Teresa, keep talking. She's a wonderful loose cannon. She's kind of a Martha Mitchell for our age, but I also like that she's herself and she's not modulating herself for the political season, and I wish I could follow suit.
HEMMER: All right, John, speak your mind.
DEVORE: If there was a First Lady mud-wrestling match, I'd put my money on Teresa Heinz Kerry. But no one votes for a First Lady. I do think that Teresa could become a liability for Kerry.
HEMMER: All right, Jay, let's move on to the state of Illinois. Barak Obama now getting a challenge from Alan Keyes. Keyes is from the state of Maryland. Going to move to Illinois, apparently, and take up this offer. What's the state of politics for the Republicans in Illinois today?
NORDLINGER: Poor, very poor. I think it's a disgrace in Illinois, land of Lincoln. The Republicans have essentially forfeited that seat. Now they've brought in this ringer, but I will say this: if there's a debate between Keyes and Obama, it'll be fantastic. I would pay to watch it.
HEMMER: Donna, the point is here, you think Keyes can win, ultimately?
BRAZILE: Oh, no way. Barak Obama has laid the foundation for a very strong victory this fall. Look, the voters in Peoria want someone who understands the plight of folks in Illinois, not someone from Maryland.
HEMMER: John, you're not from Illinois, are you?
DEVORE: No, I'm not I'm from Texas. But I -- I'll tell you -- it's kind of pathetic tokenism. Alan Keyes, I've read a lot of his speeches, and he's a bit of a fruitcake.
HEMMER: Would you watch the debate?
DEVORE: I absolutely would watch the debate but Obama is unassailable. I mean it's kind of sad.
HEMMER: I think Jay made a great point. I think that debate might be must-see TV. Donna, what did we miss this past week under the radar?
BRAZILE: Well, you know, the media was focused on the horse race between Kerry and Bush, but they forgot to look at the internals. On the internals on who would serve as a better Commander in Chief, John Kerry won hands down.
By 10 points in the ABC poll and seven points in the CNN/Gallup poll.
HEMMER: Jay, your turn, what did we miss?
NORDLINGER: Well, the Olympics are coming up and that is sort of an under-covered story itself, but I'm especially interested in the fact that American athletes have been told not to wear anything that might identify them as Americans outside the competition, and I think its too bad.
Greece is infamously anti-American and of course there are terror concerns, but I wish that we could tell those anti-Greek Americans in the words of my hero, Mrs. Kerry, to shove it.
(LAUGHTER)
HEMMER: Opening ceremonies just about a week away. John, wrap it up for us.
DEVORE: Multi-millionaire John Edwards and his wife celebrate their anniversary at Wendy's, which is outrageous. Everyone knows Taco Bell is the most romantic fast food restaurant.
(LAUGHTER)
HEMMER: We'll leave it there. Well done. John, thanks. Jay and Donna. You guys have a great weekend, OK? Thanks to all of you.
BRAZILE: Thank you.
HEMMER: Take care.
COLLINS: Thirty-seven minutes past the hour now. Time for a look at some of today's other news and Daryn Kagan once again. Hi, Daryn.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: And Heidi good morning to you.
We're going to begin with some breaking news, a story that we're following for you, something that we just showed you a couple of minutes ago.
A tractor-trailer and a Greyhound bus colliding in Western Tennessee. We're looking at live pictures from there. This is close to Jackson, Tennessee.
As we understand it, three people have been killed; at least 25 people have been injured. All of those injured were transported to hospitals in Jackson. Five are listed in serious condition. We're going to work on getting even more pictures and more information about what went wrong on I-40 and bring that to you as it comes in.
Meanwhile, in just under an hour, President Bush is expected to address the Journalists of Color convention in Washington, D.C. He'll then head back onto the campaign trail in New Hampshire.
The president's appearance comes a day after his rival; Senator John Kerry spoke to the unity convention. Today the senator is in Kansas City, Missouri to announce his proposed $30 billion energy plan.
Larry King will have an exclusive interview with President and Mrs. Bush next Thursday night, 9 Eastern, 6 Pacific.
North Korea is reportedly developing a new missile system in Iran. The Bush administration tells the Associated Press that North Korea is designing a new system to deliver nuclear warheads. That technology is reportedly being tested in Iran. It's not clear whether the new missiles are powerful enough to reach the U.S.
General Motors is voluntarily recovering nearly all of its Saturn Vue sports utility vehicles due to failures during government rollover tests. We're talking about nearly 250,000 vehicles, which will need to have their rear suspension strengthened.
The SUVs did not roll over in two instances. The rear wheels collapsed after a sharp turn at 45 miles an hour.
And finally, to Memphis, Tennessee, thousands of people from around the world begin a week of celebration and remembrance for the King. Elvis Presley Week begins tomorrow and will culminate in an annual candlelight vigil to be held on August 15. The annual vigil will be simulcast over the Internet.
So, Bill, for America, your best Elvis.
HEMMER: Yes -- talk to you at 10:01.
KAGAN: Oh, come on.
HEMMER: Hunk of burning love. See you later.
(WEATHER REPORT) COLLINS: As its' called the "CSI" effect, not a case of art imitating life but instead art influencing life.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The car definitely saw her, didn't it Alex? Pattern of injury.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: One-thousand pound vehicle against a skinny girl like this. Multiple points of impact.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: The popularity of "CSI" and other crime scene shows is tainting jury polls. With more jurors expecting to see in court what they see on TV, DNA, fingerprints, or other irrefutable forensic evidence.
Joining us now from Dallas to talk about this, juror consultant Robert Hirschhorn. Thanks for being with us, Mr. Hirschhorn. You know, you're not only familiar with the "CSI" effect; you actually use it in the case of Robert Durst. Explain, if you would, exactly what we're talking about here.
ROBERT HIRSCHHORN, JURY CONSULTANT: Absolutely, Heidi. And thanks for having me on.
In the Durst case, forensics played a great role in the verdict of that jury, and the reason is because that was the case of the fellow that had dismembered his neighbor's body, and in most dismemberment cases, prior to the "CSI" effect, it would have been case closed.
But because of the information that jurors have now gotten from shows like "CSI Miami," and those type of shows, this jury became particularly interested in the forensic evidence.
You know in the past, forensics was like calculus; it scared people and intimidated them. But now because of the popularity of those shows and because of people like Barry Shreck, who brought DNA forward in the -- in the O.J. Simpson case and made it interesting for people, people are hooked on this idea of learning and getting to the bottom of it.
So in the Durst case, we picked a lot of jurors, we had a lot of jurors in that case that watched those kinds of shows because we knew that the fact that the head was missing and the head of Morris Black was where the cause of death was in the absence of that, the prosecution couldn't win that case.
COLLINS: Well I -- do you think there are any problems with this, though? I mean, couldn't it backfire in some cases?
HIRSCHHORN: Listen, the idea, Heidi, is that if the forensics are done properly, it will gut the guilty and free the falsely accused. In the Peterson case, we're already beginning to see the role that forensic evidence is playing in that case. They're stopping the jury right in the middle of the trial to look at this evidence.
In the Kobe Bryant case, we've heard this new news regarding DNA that did not belong to Kobe Bryant that was found within hours after the encounter with Kobe Bryant.
You know, that kind of forensic evidence screams out that Kobe's innocent and so you -- again, you're going to see over and over the effect that forensic evidence has on jurors, and I'm as a jury consultant -- I'm in courtrooms all over the country.
I like the fact that there's forensic evidence and I like the fact that jurors are getting more interested in it, because it makes them better jurors and it gives you better verdicts.
COLLINS: Well, but consider this, if you will. The renowned forensic pathologist Cyril Wecht says that he's now a part of Peterson's defense team, of course. He says TV is a real problem.
In fact, look at what he says exactly: "While 'CSI'-type shows are entertaining, they tend to embellish and exaggerate the science, ignore actual time lines for testing, and raise expectations to an extremely absurd and totally unrealistic level."
Can you see his point?
HIRSCHHORN: Oh, he has his feelings hurt because he doesn't have his own TV show like Dr. Lee does.
COLLINS: Really?
HIRSCHHORN: No, here's my point. TV has that ability to distort circumstances. For example in the law field, starting with shows like "Perry Mason," jurors used to think that opening statements or closing arguments only took two minutes but it takes much longer.
Cross-examination takes five minutes when it takes much longer. Is there a distortion effect? Absolutely. But you know that's what I love about the jury system. It's bringing a group of people together and collectively they get it right the vast majority of the time.
COLLINS: Robert Hirschhorn from Dallas this morning, nice to see you. Thanks so much.
HIRSCHHORN: Thanks, Heidi. Appreciate it.
HEMMER: Going to get a break here. In a moment on AMERICAN MORNING more on today's jobs report. It was out about 14 minutes ago. We'll check back in with Andy and see how the markets are reacting.
A bit later see what they're saying at the White House about all of this too.
COLLINS: Yes. Also ahead we're paging Dr. Gupta. One woman's fight to beat an addiction to painkillers and a new treatment that's giving others like her new hope. Stay with us on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: It's a radical treatment for prescription drug dependency. Rapid detox is designed to eliminate the painful withdrawal.
Dr. Sanjay Gupta joining us now from the CNN Center with more on this new -- but controversial -- method, right Sanjay?
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN SR. MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Heidi.
A traditional detox for prescription drugs can take several weeks. It's a painful process but this rapid detox is a bit controversial, as you said. But also perhaps easier taking just a couple of days.
Let's take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GUPTA (voice-over): In the "Basketball Diaries," Leonardo DiCaprio is acting the pain of drug withdrawal.
But 28-year-old Valerie Coody wishes it was just an act for her.
VALERIE COODY, RAPID DETOX PATIENT: You're cold, you're hot, you're anxious -- mostly being -- your body just craves the drug.
GUPTA: In this case, the drug was an opiate called Percocet, a prescription pain medication. Her story is not uncommon. A federal study shows 1.5 million of the 30 million patients who use prescription pain relievers in 2002 became dependent.
Years ago, after a knee operation, Valerie was prescribed Percocet for post-operative pain. Soon, she was popping 20 to 30 a day.
COODY: It's almost like you can function better when you're on them than having to go through the withdrawals.
GUPTA: Scared of withdrawal, but knowing something had to be done, and quickly, Valerie tried a relatively new technique called rapid detox.
Typically, a person is weaned from drugs slowly. With rapid detox, patients are given anesthesia and then given an opiate blocking drug called naltrexone that causes nearly immediate withdrawal.
Now if naltrexone were given without anesthesia, the heart rate would increase, breathing would become labored, and the patient would feel violently ill. But the anesthesia seems to block all those ill effects. And detox can be almost immediate, just a few hours instead of weeks.
DR. RICK SPONAUGLE, FLORIDA DETOX CENTER: They're very excited when they wake up and they're not craving. They can't believe it. GUPTA: Still, patients do require several days in the program for medications and further counseling and some doctors worry about the risks of general anesthesia.
For Valerie, it worked and life is better without the haze of Percocet.
COODY: I can look at my little boy and enjoy him because I will never have those times back.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GUPTA: There is some controversy still surrounding this, Heidi. Mainly because there's not a lot of clinical study supporting whether or not its going to work long-term or not, but obviously a lot of people getting some benefit from it now -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Yes, gosh, it looks almost like magic there. You know, obviously people spend so much time and money going through detox. But then they go and they have relapses. Why is it so hard to actually leave the drug for good?
GUPTA: Yes, you know it's a painful process actually. You see some -- saw some in that piece there. Stomach cramps and vomiting, people feel nauseated when they're going through this process. A lot of people just relapse and go back on the drug.
That makes them feel better about that and that's probably why the relapse rate is there. Really blocking those symptoms that make you so ill, make you so violently ill.
That's the key for these people. I should also point out that even with rapid detox, Heidi, it's important to get counseling. For quite a while afterwards to further enhance the likelihood that you're not going to go back on these medications, Heidi.
COLLINS: All right, some good information there. And you have some more new information coming to you. We're going to see you next hour as well?
GUPTA: Yes, next hour we're going to talk about high-carb diets. We talk a lot about diets and their effects on your weight and your heart disease, things like that. But what about its relationship to cancer? We're going to have that information coming up next hour, Heidi.
COLLINS: All right, Sanjay, we will see you then. Thanks.
Still to come, Jack stops by to tell you why you may never have to suffer though a bad date ever again. Can you believe it? "Cafferty File" straight ahead. Keep it here on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: All right, welcome back to Jack. JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: The jobs report is out and it's awful. Andy Serwer is here "Minding Your Business." This has got to be a huge disappointment to the administration. A sign the economy may be stumbling here. Bad news.
SERWER: Shocking. Is the only way to call it, Jack. The jobs report here are the numbers: 218,000 jobs was the forecast for the month of July. How many did we get? Thirty-two thousand. Boy that is disappointing. Even more significant, or just as significant: June was revised from 112,000 down to 78,000.
May revise downward as well. This whole notion of June just being a little soft patch on the way to recovery now looks like actually it was the begging of a more serious problem. Real weakening there.
Health care continues to be strong, financial services very weak. Everything else on hold. The unemployment rate falls slightly but that's not the big issue. The big issue is we didn't get the jobs we were looking to create.
And you know as you suggested, the administration is going to be looking at this but what do they do? The Kerry campaign may be making hay out of this, the Federal Reserve, Jack, that was looking to raise rates on Tuesday, they have got to be pulling their hair out because the general consensus was they were going to be raising rates.
In this environment, I think that's going to be a very, very tough call.
CAFFERTY: Yet if they don't raise rates, they're going to look like they're running scared and maybe know something worse about the economy than they're letting on.
SERWER: Yes. I mean, this could be a very significant turning point right now because...
CAFFERTY: The stock market will head south again today.
SERWER: It is the bond yields are falling because suggestion that the Fed might not raise rates and -- again, as you suggested -- what is the administration going to do? How is the Kerry campaign going to respond to this? Is the economy really actually weakening or has the recovery just slowed down? Those are the big questions...
CAFFERTY: Retail sales numbers were weak, too, which is another bad sign.
SERWER: And because of course the consumer has been the one that's been holding the economy together over the past couple of months.
CAFFERTY: All right. Thank you, Andy.
SERWER: You're welcome. With all that good news out of the way. Well let me tell you about country singer Charlie Daniels. Remember that song, "The Devil Went Down to Georgia?"
Well he's got some Arab-Americans up in Dearborn, Michigan all stirred up over a song he wrote called "This Ain't No Rag, It's A Flag."
Daniels wrote the song after September 11th. Here's a sample of the lyrics: "This ain't no rag, it's a flag, and we don't wear it on our heads. It's a symbol of where the good guys live. Are you listening to what I said?"
The Arab-American Anti-Discrimination Committee says the lyrics are derogatory and that Daniels is not welcome in their city. Highly unlikely old Charlie will be showing up at the mosque up there any time soon.
SERWER: Their city?
CAFFERTY: Yes. Cingular -- here's a -- this is clever. Cingular Wireless introduced a new service -- if you're out on a date that's just going right off the edge of a cliff, this is called "escape a date."
If you want to get out of the date you're on, you sign up for this service and suddenly in the middle of dinner you get this call and it sounds like this. Listen.
(BEGIN AUDIOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey, this is your escape-a-date call. If you are looking for an excuse, I got it. Just repeat after me and you'll be on your way.
Not again!
Why does that always happen to you?
All right, I'll be right there.
Now, tell them that your roommate got locked out and you have to go let them in.
Good luck.
(END AUDIOTAPE)
CAFFERTY: On the other hand, if the date's working out well and you think you might get lucky later, don't answer the phone.
Finally, an -- huh?
COLLINS: That's insane.
CAFFERTY: Well, it gives you options. We should all have options.
SERWER: Options are important. CAFFERTY: An 18-year-old Russian tennis fan was thrown off the court at the Rogers Cup Tournament in Montreal after he stormed on the court brandishing a ballpoint pen. He headed for Wimbledon champ Maria Sharapova. Guards were concerned because he had this pen in his hand. They didn't know if he planned to use it as a weapon.
Turned out he had some paper with him, too and on it he had written his phone number and an invitation for her to join him for dinner. Like she's going to go out with a mutant like this.
(LAUGHTER)
The cops threw him out. He wasn't arrested. But he should have been charged with just being stupid.
HEMMER: What was the deal a couple of years ago as Monica Seles was it?
SERWER: Yes.
CAFFERTY: Oh, that was a long time ago and she was stabbed. Yes.
SERWER: Well that's what they were fearful of.
CAFFERTY: I mean...
HEMMER: You make some great points in this jobs report thing. This has got some legs.
SERWER: Lot of questions.
HEMMER: All right, thanks. Let's get a break here. In a moment, two men arrested in an Albany mosque accused of trying to help terrorists launder money. We'll talk to a teacher from that mosque. Find out whether or not he thinks the suspects could commit such a crime. Back in a moment, top of the hour after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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