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American Morning
Recapping This Weekend's Campaigning by Senator Kerry; Discussing Latest Strategy in President Bush's Bid for Reelection
Aired August 09, 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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning.
On the rails with John Kerry. Pundits say the Democrat did not get much of a bounce from his convention. Was it just a delayed reaction? We'll look at that today.
Also, new details on al Qaeda's plans, and specific, too. Terrorists talk about new methods of attack and zero in on America's weaknesses.
Plus, more trouble for Ahmad Chalabi. The one time U.S. ally may soon face Iraqi justice.
Those stories ahead this hour here on AMERICAN MORNING.
ANNOUNCER: From the CNN broadcast center in New York, this is AMERICAN MORNING with Bill Hemmer and Soledad O'Brien.
HEMMER: All right, good morning, everyone.
Eight o'clock here in New York on a Monday morning.
Soledad is off, awaiting, what did we say last week, the stork to arrive?
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Storks, plural.
HEMMER: Storks, two of them.
KAGAN: But we don't want them to arrive just yet.
HEMMER: That's right.
KAGAN: We need those babies to cook a little bit longer so...
HEMMER: So rest easy.
KAGAN: ... keep those legs crossed, Soledad.
HEMMER: This is Daryn Kagan, by the way.
KAGAN: Nice to meet you.
HEMMER: She's here in New York.
Good morning to you. KAGAN: Good to see you, my friend.
HEMMER: Doing all right?
KAGAN: Yes, I'm here with you.
HEMMER: One hour down.
Some of the headlines making news this morning.
President Bush on the campaign trail, slipping a bit in some of these polls. Maybe a delayed bounce, perhaps, for John Kerry out of Boston. Whatever the case, we'll talk with the chairman of the Bush- Cheney campaign. Marc Racicot our guest here in a moment.
KAGAN: Also, it's a setback for Al Jazeera. Iraq says the Arabic language news network is not welcome in the country, at least for the time being. We will talk to Al Jazeera's Washington bureau chief about that.
HEMMER: Also, called to duty with quintuplets on the way. We'll talk to a Marine and his wife about the challenges ahead for that family, too, in a moment. Wow.
Jack...
KAGAN: They already have two kids at home. So plus five and dad's heading off to Iraq.
HEMMER: The challenges are there, yes.
Jack is off, for the entire week, in fact.
KAGAN: Yes.
HEMMER: But Andy Borowitz is here helping us through with the e- mail so back to Andy in a moment.
KAGAN: Looking forward to that.
HEMMER: First, though, Campaign 2004 starts this hour. Senator John Kerry is in the Southwest today, campaigning at the Grand Canyon; also in Kingman, Arizona. The Democratic presidential nominee on a 21-state campaign tour. That tour continues.
And here's Dana Bash to follow it.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
DANA BASH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Some 3,300 miles behind him since leaving Boston, a weekend on the rails across the breathtaking Southwest landscape; even a rainbow. This cross-country trek is as much about presence as substance. These small New Mexican towns are Democratic. But ginning up excitement is crucial in a state that went for Al Gore by just 366 votes.
In Las Vegas, New Mexico, the senator immediately appeals to the locals.
SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Gracias. Viva! Viva Las Vegas! Gracias. Thank you.
BASH: Hispanics are 42 percent of the population and Hispanic Governor Bill Richardson is a Kerry weapon in the effort to keep those five electoral votes away from Republicans, courting them hard.
Native Americans are another key voting bloc. Kerry is invited to an intertribal powwow, a presentation of gifts and a promise.
KERRY: So I also intend to put a Native American in the White House directly responsible for our relationship, working directly with all of the tribes, all of the Indian country of America.
BASH (on camera): From New Mexico on to Arizona, it's a state the president won big in 2000, but since has seen a population explosion. And Democrats see it trending their way.
(voice-over): In Flagstaff, a pitch to moderates key to victory here.
KERRY: Well, tell me what is conservative about running up the greatest deficits in American history and piling debt on our children?
BASH: Next, Kerry visits the Grand Canyon. Then west to Nevada. New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada -- that's a trio of states the president will also visit this week. Kerry aides accuse the White House of following him to steal back local headlines. Bush aides say nonsense.
But Mr. Bush will have some publicity Kerry hasn't had here. Arizona Senator John McCain will be stumping with the president. The White House hopes that will help with independent voters, who could prove the difference in this region.
Dana Bash, CNN, Flagstaff, Arizona.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
HEMMER: On the President Bush side now, he returns to the campaign trail after a weekend at the family compound in Kennebunkport, Maine. There a family wedding took place this weekend.
After a swing through the Sun Belt, the president heads west later this week.
And Bush campaign chairman Marc Racicot is with us from Arlington, Virginia to talk about the campaign.
Good morning and welcome back here to AMERICAN MORNING.
Nice to see you again.
MARC RACICOT, BUSH CAMPAIGN CHAIRMAN: Thank you.
Good morning. HEMMER: On the screen for our viewers here, "Time" did a poll. Likely voters now giving John Kerry a 48-43 percent advantage over President Bush. Also, some other polling out of New Hampshire and Florida. In Florida, it's a seven point lead for John Kerry. In New Hampshire, likewise, 49-42.
Was there a delayed bounce for the Democrats coming out of Boston?
RACICOT: Well, you know, we've anticipated from the beginning, and we said it so many times I suspect you're tired of hearing it, Bill, that this is going to be very, very close. We expect to have a very large bounce. This is larger than what we've seen. We expected that if you take history as any measure, about a 15 point separation point at this moment in time. But that hasn't materialized.
So the fact of the matter is that we've played as if we're behind from the very beginning. We know it's going to be very close. This is a snapshot of today. I think it's clearly within the realm of what we've imagined would be the case from the very beginning.
HEMMER: Back on the "Time" poll for a moment here, when asked, "Who do you trust more to handle terrorism?," President Bush leads easily, 49-41 percent. But then when asked, "If elected, who do you trust more in the war on terror?," John Kerry by a point, 62 percent to 61 percent.
How does John Kerry now lead in that column?
RACICOT: Well, I think the American people are just beginning to understand his positions and I think it's our obligation to make certain that they do. I mean this is a man that's been all over the board in terms of his positions. They've never been consistent. Quite frankly, he's done everything from eviscerate our weapons systems, or try to with his votes in the Senate, to voting against our troops in Iraq through his denial of funding, or his would be denial of funding for everything from fuel to body armor.
So I think it's our obligation to make certain that the American people understand everything he's done in reference to intelligence and his defense votes over the course of 19 years. His position just simply doesn't make any sense down to this very day. As a matter of fact, the president has stated clearly, look, I took a position on Iraq, I would still go there, knowing what I know today.
What's John Kerry's position? He just simply will not answer that question. And I think the American people would like to know the answer to that question.
HEMMER: You are three weeks to the day, 21 days away from when the Republicans begin their convention in Madison Square Garden here in New York City. There was a report out over the weekend, in the past few days, that say that some Republicans don't believe John Kerry was critical enough of President Bush and did not go far enough to lay out his own policies.
Do we anticipate the Republicans to be more critical of John Kerry when that convention convenes?
RACICOT: Well, there are just stark and remarkable contrasts, Bill, between these two people. And I believe that providing the American people with the information about those contrasts is critically important.
But this president is going to run on a very optimistic agenda. He has a clear and very, very positive agenda for the American people, if elected to another four years. That will be the main focus of our discussions at the convention.
HEMMER: Marc Racicot, Arlington, Virginia, thanks.
We'll talk again.
RACICOT: Thank you.
HEMMER: See you in three weeks here in New York, as well.
Also, another programming note for you. The president and the first lady sit down on Thursday night with Larry King and only with Larry King in prime time. Thursday evening, 9:00 Eastern, 6:00 on the West Coast. Larry has it once again here on CNN -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Let's bring you up to date on some more developments in the war on terror.
An adviser to President Bush says the U.S. most likely disrupted al Qaeda's plans for another terrorist attack. The White House confirms that some members of Congress have been threatened, but would not provide details. "Time" magazine reporting today that al Qaeda considered putting bombs in limos, using speedboats, helicopters and divers to kill Americans in New York City and New Jersey.
And Pakistan says that a sting operation ended abruptly because the name of an arrested terrorist leaked out prematurely in the U.S. National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice addressed that matter on CNN's "Late Edition."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "LATE EDITION")
CONDOLEEZZA RICE, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: The problem is that when you're trying to strike a balance between giving enough information to the public so that they know that you're dealing with a specific, credible, different kind of threat than you've dealt with in the past, you're always weighing that against kind of operational considerations. We've tried to strike a balance. We think, for the most part, we've struck a balance. But it's, indeed, a very difficult balance to strike.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAGAN: And another chilling detail found on the computers of al Qaeda suspects involved in the construction of the Citicorp skyscraper in New York City. The terrorists noted the building is not supported on a steel frame. HEMMER: A fascinating story, too, in "Time" magazine.
Nine minutes past the hour. Other news now, Carol Costello helping us out today at the CNN Center.
I hope you had a great weekend, Carol.
Good morning again.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: I did, indeed.
Thank you, Bill.
In Iraq, some 930 U.S. soldiers have now died there since March of last year. Military sources in Iraq say a U.S. Marine was killed yesterday in Anbar Province, west of Baghdad. And in Najaf, U.S. troops in the Mahdi Army are clashing for a fifth day. Radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr is vowing to continue to fight despite calls from Interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi that fighters leave that city.
Criminal charges against a former U.S. ally, Ahmad Chalabi. A former member of Iraq's Governing Council faces criminal charges in Iraq in connection with counterfeiting. His nephew, who heads a tribunal to try Saddam Hussein, is accused in a murder warrant. Both men deny the charges.
National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice says there are signs Iran is building up its nuclear weapons program. Speaking on CNN's "Late Edition," Rice said the international community cannot allow the Iranian government to develop its nuclear program.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RICE: I think we've finally now got the world community to a place, and the International Atomic Energy Agency to a place that it is worried and suspicious of Iranian activities; that Iran is facing, for the first time, real resistance to trying to take these steps. And we're going to have to stay strong as an international community, because it would not be acceptable for the international community to accept an Iranian nuclear weapon.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: The International Atomic Energy Agency is expected to issue a strong statement next month against Iran's nuclear progress.
In Illinois, Alan Keyes will join the race as the state's GOP candidate for the U.S. Senate. The two time Republican presidential candidate, despite initial resistance, decided to run after reviewing his opponent's voting record. Keyes will go up against rising Democratic star, State Senator Barack Obama. This will be the first Senate contest between two black candidates in U.S. history.
And in sports, John Elway and Barry Sanders are taking their place alongside the NFL's all time greatest players at the Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. More than 21,000 fans cheered them. Elway is the first Denver Bronco ever to make the Hall of Fame.
Oh, but I was watching Barry Sanders -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Actually, I was actually watching all of that yesterday. It shows you what a sports geek I am.
John Elway made reference that he is the first Bronco to go into the Hall of Fame. He said he should not be the last. However...
COSTELLO: But it looks like he probably will.
KAGAN: Well, as things are going right now. Hopefully not for Bronco fans.
Let's see, perhaps the weather is good in Denver.
Carol, Thank you for that.
(WEATHER REPORT)
KAGAN: Bill.
HEMMER: All right, 12 minutes past the hour now.
The interim Iraqi government shut down Al Jazeera's news operation in Baghdad on Saturday, saying the Arab channel incited violence.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
IYAD ALLAWI, IRAQI INTERIM PRIME MINISTER: We have asked an independent commission here in Iraq to monitor Al Jazeera for the last four weeks on a daily basis and to get us a report out of the monitoring to see what kind of violence they are advocating, inciting hatred and problems and racial tensions.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: Iyad Allawi over the weekend.
The Washington bureau chief for Al Jazeera is Hafez al-Mirazi.
He joins us now from D.C.
Sir, good morning and thanks for your thoughts today.
HAFEZ AL-MIRAZI, AL JAZEERA TV: Good morning, Bill.
Thank you.
HEMMER: What's the reaction from the network regarding this decision in Baghdad?
AL-MIRAZI: Well, it's really regrettable that a government that was installed in power mainly to give and to provide a model for democracy in the Middle East is just mimicking other authorization regimes in the area, as the Committee to Protect Journalists here, based in New York, said in a statement. Just mimicking authorization regimes in the region by cracking down on independent media like Al Jazeera.
It's the same list of accusations that we got used to hearing from other regimes in the Middle East and in the Arab world. And here, unfortunately, the Iraqi government is following the same path.
HEMMER: Is it necessary, then, for your network to broadcast the images of every kidnap victim and also the question about beheadings being broadcast, too? How does that contribute to the story when it's done every time?
AL-MIRAZI: We have never broadcast a beheading or execution of anyone. The -- what Al Jazeera put on or broadcast is not much different from CNN, what CNN would put as a piece of news, that there is a kidnapping that took place with, that Filipina, a Filipino guy, or a Canadian or an American. And the news that Al Jazeera put out is no different from other Arab media or at least international media like CNN.
The problem is that the influence of Al Jazeera and the broader reach of Al Jazeera to Iraqi audience makes it very difficult, maybe, for people over there to relate bad news coming out of Iraq and it is just a classical case of shooting the messenger or blaming us for the bad news that is unfortunately coming out of Iraq during that difficult time for the Iraqi people (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...
HEMMER: Yes, Iyad Allawi cited this videotape being broadcast over the weekend, which was actually staged by an American out of San Francisco. He staged his own beheading. It never happened and yet that hit your broadcast wires and it hit the air there. That's what they are referring to there in Iraq.
Do you have a response on that?
AL-MIRAZI: Well, it's regrettable, of course, that that hoax and that tape found its place to very respectable and independent media -- Reuters, Associated Press, many put it out. Although the tape was out for a few months, but only when an Islamic Web site known to broadcast before tapes that proved to be right that Al Jazeera picked it out. And we regretted that fact.
But I don't know what is the relationship between just a tape that we said that exactly like I should pres on other, that it was a mistake that someone tried to fake it. And all these kind of accusations that Mr. Allawi was saying, especially talking about an independent commission that reviewed Al Jazeera's work. I mean we all pray and hope the day that Iraq would regain its independence. Talking about something independent in Iraq or an independent commission is a little bit over reach.
HEMMER: I don't have much time left here, though. Apparently the word is you'll be shut down out of Baghdad for about a month's time.
When you come back on the air, will anything change with Al Jazeera?
AL-MIRAZI: We are always on the air in Iraq, because we reach there, like through satellite. It is just that the reporters that they are restricted there. And we hope that we will continue our relationship with the Iraqi government and the Iraqi people, based on balance and putting both sides of the story and the views.
HEMMER: All right, Hafez Al-Mirazi, thank you, from Washington, D.C., working the bureau there for Al Jazeera.
AL-MIRAZI: Thank you, Bill.
HEMMER: Thanks for your time.
All right -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Still to come, one man is called to duty in Iraq. His wife is expecting quintuplets. Talk about a calling to duty there. They're going to join us next to talk about his decision to still go.
HEMMER: Also in a moment, was a Pakistani sting operation compromised after the U.S. prematurely released the name of a terrorist to Islamabad? And that story in a moment.
KAGAN: And soy foods are touted as a cure for everything from aging to disease. But are we expecting too much? Dr. Sanjay Gupta gives us the straight scoop on soy, straight ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: Josh Horton is preparing for deployment to Iraq this month with his Illinois Marine Reserve unit. The decision to leave behind his family is five times as difficult. As you're about to hear, his wife is going to be giving birth to quintuplets.
Josh Horton joining us now from Chicago, along with his very pregnant wife, Taunacy.
Good morning to you, Horton family.
JOSH HORTON, WIFE EXPECTING QUINTUPLETS: Good morning.
TAUNACY HORTON, EXPECTING QUINTUPLETS: Good morning.
KAGAN: Times five. Taunacy, let's start with the mother first.
You were undergoing fertility treatments and when and how did you find out that you really succeeded? Five babies on the way.
T. HORTON: Well, it was actually kind of quick and we found out at the end of April that -- we had started the injections and we heard that I was pregnant then. But they couldn't, you know, right then tell how many. And it wasn't until right before he left that we found out there was, there was five. KAGAN: There was five. You have to kind of take a deep breath even to say there was five.
All right, there is no slow news in the Horton family. So as Taunacy was mentioning, this happened just about the time, Josh, you found out you were being deployed.
J. HORTON: Right. Exactly.
KAGAN: And tell us about when you're expected to go.
J. HORTON: We don't know exactly. I've got a week home on leave. We head back to Camp Pendleton for a couple more weeks of training and then we're off to Iraq. But I don't have an exact date yet, though.
KAGAN: So was there ever any discussion in the family that you shouldn't go?
J. HORTON: There was a little bit. When I first got called up we sat down and discussed it, actually, quite a bit. But Taunacy was in the Navy and I was active duty Marine Corps for quite a while. And I trained with these guys for a couple of years and it was -- it would have been really difficult to, you know, watch them go over and not be with them.
KAGAN: And you did have that option? The Marines would have said that we have been OK?
J. HORTON: Yes, absolutely. Absolutely.
KAGAN: All right, Taunacy, we should also mention you already have two small children at home. So we're talking seven.
T. HORTON: Seven kids, yes.
KAGAN: And you're OK with your husband's decision to go?
T. HORTON: I am. There are days when I question that decision. But, no, I support him a hundred percent. And, you know, we're proud of him and it will all work out.
KAGAN: Well, people should be proud of you, as well. You're doing a bit of work back here, as well.
Do you have an army, so to speak, of people that will be able to help you?
T. HORTON: I do. You know, we live in a great neighborhood. We've got a great community and neighbors and a wonderful church group. And between both of our families, you know, we've got a lot of help coming.
KAGAN: And I would think at a certain point, Taunacy, you know what, we're so glad that you were able to join us in the bureau this morning. But you're not going to be able to be really running around. What's the time frame for you?
T. HORTON: Well, they've about shut me down on activity. But we're hoping to make at least 24 weeks with me at home and then that's when they've decided that they, you know, if everything goes OK, about, you know, 24 weeks. Or it kind of depends how I'm doing. But that's what when I'll have to go in the hospital on bed rest.
KAGAN: And when exactly is 24 weeks?
T. HORTON: We're looking like at the end of, you know, September.
KAGAN: All right. You still have some time ahead of you.
We wish you well, both in Iraq and on the home front, literally.
J. HORTON: Thank you.
T. HORTON: Thanks so much.
KAGAN: The Horton family.
Thank you for joining us.
HEMMER: They've got a lot going on in their lives.
KAGAN: Yes, they do -- Bill.
HEMMER: All right, Daryn.
In a moment here, was it a tip off to terrorists? Charges that a U.S. leak shut down an al Qaeda sting that may have nabbed Osama bin Laden. We'll get a report live in Pakistan on this ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: All right, welcome back, everyone.
Jack's at home lounging for his summer vacation.
Andy Borowitz is here.
Good morning.
ANDY BOROWITZ, BOROWITZREPORT.COM: It's good to be here.
HEMMER: Well, it's great to have you.
KAGAN: You have a Question of the Day.
HOROWITZ: I do have a question.
A California congressman is talking about introducing legislation to carve Ronald Reagan's face on Mount Rushmore. He'd be joining George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln.
So as long as we're talking about adding someone else, our question is whose face do you think should be added to Mount Rushmore.
And you're going to keep on e-mailing us, but we've got some great responses.
Steve from Bradenton, Florida says: "Sitting Bull's face should be carved onto Mount Rushmore, with the approval of the local Native Americans in the area. Nobody seems to mention anymore that Native Americans believe Mount Rushmore was stolen from them and was also considered a spiritual place to them before the mountain was carved up."
So that's a very thoughtful response.
Joy from Iowa says: "John F. Kennedy should be seriously considered as an addition to Mount Rushmore, not only as a balance to Reagan, who should also be added, but because his policies affected just as much change, not only in this country but the world."
And finally, "Anonymous" writes: "Use Kerry's face. The only problem would be they would have to put his face on both sides of the mountain."
Anonymous with the courage of his convictions.
KAGAN: Yes.
HEMMER: Do you want some quick trivia?
This guy Gutzon Borglum, the guy who did Mount Rushmore?
HOROWITZ: Yes?
HEMMER: You know what he started first before he went out to South Dakota? Daryn up from Atlanta, the answer is?
KAGAN: Probably Stone Mountain.
HEMMER: Stone Mountain. You're exactly right.
KAGAN: Yes.
HOROWITZ: Really?
KAGAN: Thanks for the reading of the e-mail.
HEMMER: He ran into some issues there.
KAGAN: The fathers of the Confederacy carved on the side of like a hill in Atlanta. They call it a mountain, but...
HOROWITZ: I did not know it.
HEMMER: Yes. KAGAN: Learn something new over here on AMERICAN MORNING.
HOROWITZ: I really did.
HEMMER: And that's why we're here. And it's only 8:27, Andy.
KAGAN: I know.
HOROWITZ: Amazing.
KAGAN: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
HEMMER: Great care.
In a moment, the facts on the latest super food. Is soy a miracle cure or are Americans expecting too much? Sanjay has the scoop on soy ahead in a moment here.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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Aired August 9, 2004 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning.
On the rails with John Kerry. Pundits say the Democrat did not get much of a bounce from his convention. Was it just a delayed reaction? We'll look at that today.
Also, new details on al Qaeda's plans, and specific, too. Terrorists talk about new methods of attack and zero in on America's weaknesses.
Plus, more trouble for Ahmad Chalabi. The one time U.S. ally may soon face Iraqi justice.
Those stories ahead this hour here on AMERICAN MORNING.
ANNOUNCER: From the CNN broadcast center in New York, this is AMERICAN MORNING with Bill Hemmer and Soledad O'Brien.
HEMMER: All right, good morning, everyone.
Eight o'clock here in New York on a Monday morning.
Soledad is off, awaiting, what did we say last week, the stork to arrive?
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Storks, plural.
HEMMER: Storks, two of them.
KAGAN: But we don't want them to arrive just yet.
HEMMER: That's right.
KAGAN: We need those babies to cook a little bit longer so...
HEMMER: So rest easy.
KAGAN: ... keep those legs crossed, Soledad.
HEMMER: This is Daryn Kagan, by the way.
KAGAN: Nice to meet you.
HEMMER: She's here in New York.
Good morning to you. KAGAN: Good to see you, my friend.
HEMMER: Doing all right?
KAGAN: Yes, I'm here with you.
HEMMER: One hour down.
Some of the headlines making news this morning.
President Bush on the campaign trail, slipping a bit in some of these polls. Maybe a delayed bounce, perhaps, for John Kerry out of Boston. Whatever the case, we'll talk with the chairman of the Bush- Cheney campaign. Marc Racicot our guest here in a moment.
KAGAN: Also, it's a setback for Al Jazeera. Iraq says the Arabic language news network is not welcome in the country, at least for the time being. We will talk to Al Jazeera's Washington bureau chief about that.
HEMMER: Also, called to duty with quintuplets on the way. We'll talk to a Marine and his wife about the challenges ahead for that family, too, in a moment. Wow.
Jack...
KAGAN: They already have two kids at home. So plus five and dad's heading off to Iraq.
HEMMER: The challenges are there, yes.
Jack is off, for the entire week, in fact.
KAGAN: Yes.
HEMMER: But Andy Borowitz is here helping us through with the e- mail so back to Andy in a moment.
KAGAN: Looking forward to that.
HEMMER: First, though, Campaign 2004 starts this hour. Senator John Kerry is in the Southwest today, campaigning at the Grand Canyon; also in Kingman, Arizona. The Democratic presidential nominee on a 21-state campaign tour. That tour continues.
And here's Dana Bash to follow it.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
DANA BASH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Some 3,300 miles behind him since leaving Boston, a weekend on the rails across the breathtaking Southwest landscape; even a rainbow. This cross-country trek is as much about presence as substance. These small New Mexican towns are Democratic. But ginning up excitement is crucial in a state that went for Al Gore by just 366 votes.
In Las Vegas, New Mexico, the senator immediately appeals to the locals.
SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Gracias. Viva! Viva Las Vegas! Gracias. Thank you.
BASH: Hispanics are 42 percent of the population and Hispanic Governor Bill Richardson is a Kerry weapon in the effort to keep those five electoral votes away from Republicans, courting them hard.
Native Americans are another key voting bloc. Kerry is invited to an intertribal powwow, a presentation of gifts and a promise.
KERRY: So I also intend to put a Native American in the White House directly responsible for our relationship, working directly with all of the tribes, all of the Indian country of America.
BASH (on camera): From New Mexico on to Arizona, it's a state the president won big in 2000, but since has seen a population explosion. And Democrats see it trending their way.
(voice-over): In Flagstaff, a pitch to moderates key to victory here.
KERRY: Well, tell me what is conservative about running up the greatest deficits in American history and piling debt on our children?
BASH: Next, Kerry visits the Grand Canyon. Then west to Nevada. New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada -- that's a trio of states the president will also visit this week. Kerry aides accuse the White House of following him to steal back local headlines. Bush aides say nonsense.
But Mr. Bush will have some publicity Kerry hasn't had here. Arizona Senator John McCain will be stumping with the president. The White House hopes that will help with independent voters, who could prove the difference in this region.
Dana Bash, CNN, Flagstaff, Arizona.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
HEMMER: On the President Bush side now, he returns to the campaign trail after a weekend at the family compound in Kennebunkport, Maine. There a family wedding took place this weekend.
After a swing through the Sun Belt, the president heads west later this week.
And Bush campaign chairman Marc Racicot is with us from Arlington, Virginia to talk about the campaign.
Good morning and welcome back here to AMERICAN MORNING.
Nice to see you again.
MARC RACICOT, BUSH CAMPAIGN CHAIRMAN: Thank you.
Good morning. HEMMER: On the screen for our viewers here, "Time" did a poll. Likely voters now giving John Kerry a 48-43 percent advantage over President Bush. Also, some other polling out of New Hampshire and Florida. In Florida, it's a seven point lead for John Kerry. In New Hampshire, likewise, 49-42.
Was there a delayed bounce for the Democrats coming out of Boston?
RACICOT: Well, you know, we've anticipated from the beginning, and we said it so many times I suspect you're tired of hearing it, Bill, that this is going to be very, very close. We expect to have a very large bounce. This is larger than what we've seen. We expected that if you take history as any measure, about a 15 point separation point at this moment in time. But that hasn't materialized.
So the fact of the matter is that we've played as if we're behind from the very beginning. We know it's going to be very close. This is a snapshot of today. I think it's clearly within the realm of what we've imagined would be the case from the very beginning.
HEMMER: Back on the "Time" poll for a moment here, when asked, "Who do you trust more to handle terrorism?," President Bush leads easily, 49-41 percent. But then when asked, "If elected, who do you trust more in the war on terror?," John Kerry by a point, 62 percent to 61 percent.
How does John Kerry now lead in that column?
RACICOT: Well, I think the American people are just beginning to understand his positions and I think it's our obligation to make certain that they do. I mean this is a man that's been all over the board in terms of his positions. They've never been consistent. Quite frankly, he's done everything from eviscerate our weapons systems, or try to with his votes in the Senate, to voting against our troops in Iraq through his denial of funding, or his would be denial of funding for everything from fuel to body armor.
So I think it's our obligation to make certain that the American people understand everything he's done in reference to intelligence and his defense votes over the course of 19 years. His position just simply doesn't make any sense down to this very day. As a matter of fact, the president has stated clearly, look, I took a position on Iraq, I would still go there, knowing what I know today.
What's John Kerry's position? He just simply will not answer that question. And I think the American people would like to know the answer to that question.
HEMMER: You are three weeks to the day, 21 days away from when the Republicans begin their convention in Madison Square Garden here in New York City. There was a report out over the weekend, in the past few days, that say that some Republicans don't believe John Kerry was critical enough of President Bush and did not go far enough to lay out his own policies.
Do we anticipate the Republicans to be more critical of John Kerry when that convention convenes?
RACICOT: Well, there are just stark and remarkable contrasts, Bill, between these two people. And I believe that providing the American people with the information about those contrasts is critically important.
But this president is going to run on a very optimistic agenda. He has a clear and very, very positive agenda for the American people, if elected to another four years. That will be the main focus of our discussions at the convention.
HEMMER: Marc Racicot, Arlington, Virginia, thanks.
We'll talk again.
RACICOT: Thank you.
HEMMER: See you in three weeks here in New York, as well.
Also, another programming note for you. The president and the first lady sit down on Thursday night with Larry King and only with Larry King in prime time. Thursday evening, 9:00 Eastern, 6:00 on the West Coast. Larry has it once again here on CNN -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Let's bring you up to date on some more developments in the war on terror.
An adviser to President Bush says the U.S. most likely disrupted al Qaeda's plans for another terrorist attack. The White House confirms that some members of Congress have been threatened, but would not provide details. "Time" magazine reporting today that al Qaeda considered putting bombs in limos, using speedboats, helicopters and divers to kill Americans in New York City and New Jersey.
And Pakistan says that a sting operation ended abruptly because the name of an arrested terrorist leaked out prematurely in the U.S. National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice addressed that matter on CNN's "Late Edition."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "LATE EDITION")
CONDOLEEZZA RICE, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: The problem is that when you're trying to strike a balance between giving enough information to the public so that they know that you're dealing with a specific, credible, different kind of threat than you've dealt with in the past, you're always weighing that against kind of operational considerations. We've tried to strike a balance. We think, for the most part, we've struck a balance. But it's, indeed, a very difficult balance to strike.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAGAN: And another chilling detail found on the computers of al Qaeda suspects involved in the construction of the Citicorp skyscraper in New York City. The terrorists noted the building is not supported on a steel frame. HEMMER: A fascinating story, too, in "Time" magazine.
Nine minutes past the hour. Other news now, Carol Costello helping us out today at the CNN Center.
I hope you had a great weekend, Carol.
Good morning again.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: I did, indeed.
Thank you, Bill.
In Iraq, some 930 U.S. soldiers have now died there since March of last year. Military sources in Iraq say a U.S. Marine was killed yesterday in Anbar Province, west of Baghdad. And in Najaf, U.S. troops in the Mahdi Army are clashing for a fifth day. Radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr is vowing to continue to fight despite calls from Interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi that fighters leave that city.
Criminal charges against a former U.S. ally, Ahmad Chalabi. A former member of Iraq's Governing Council faces criminal charges in Iraq in connection with counterfeiting. His nephew, who heads a tribunal to try Saddam Hussein, is accused in a murder warrant. Both men deny the charges.
National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice says there are signs Iran is building up its nuclear weapons program. Speaking on CNN's "Late Edition," Rice said the international community cannot allow the Iranian government to develop its nuclear program.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RICE: I think we've finally now got the world community to a place, and the International Atomic Energy Agency to a place that it is worried and suspicious of Iranian activities; that Iran is facing, for the first time, real resistance to trying to take these steps. And we're going to have to stay strong as an international community, because it would not be acceptable for the international community to accept an Iranian nuclear weapon.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: The International Atomic Energy Agency is expected to issue a strong statement next month against Iran's nuclear progress.
In Illinois, Alan Keyes will join the race as the state's GOP candidate for the U.S. Senate. The two time Republican presidential candidate, despite initial resistance, decided to run after reviewing his opponent's voting record. Keyes will go up against rising Democratic star, State Senator Barack Obama. This will be the first Senate contest between two black candidates in U.S. history.
And in sports, John Elway and Barry Sanders are taking their place alongside the NFL's all time greatest players at the Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. More than 21,000 fans cheered them. Elway is the first Denver Bronco ever to make the Hall of Fame.
Oh, but I was watching Barry Sanders -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Actually, I was actually watching all of that yesterday. It shows you what a sports geek I am.
John Elway made reference that he is the first Bronco to go into the Hall of Fame. He said he should not be the last. However...
COSTELLO: But it looks like he probably will.
KAGAN: Well, as things are going right now. Hopefully not for Bronco fans.
Let's see, perhaps the weather is good in Denver.
Carol, Thank you for that.
(WEATHER REPORT)
KAGAN: Bill.
HEMMER: All right, 12 minutes past the hour now.
The interim Iraqi government shut down Al Jazeera's news operation in Baghdad on Saturday, saying the Arab channel incited violence.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
IYAD ALLAWI, IRAQI INTERIM PRIME MINISTER: We have asked an independent commission here in Iraq to monitor Al Jazeera for the last four weeks on a daily basis and to get us a report out of the monitoring to see what kind of violence they are advocating, inciting hatred and problems and racial tensions.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: Iyad Allawi over the weekend.
The Washington bureau chief for Al Jazeera is Hafez al-Mirazi.
He joins us now from D.C.
Sir, good morning and thanks for your thoughts today.
HAFEZ AL-MIRAZI, AL JAZEERA TV: Good morning, Bill.
Thank you.
HEMMER: What's the reaction from the network regarding this decision in Baghdad?
AL-MIRAZI: Well, it's really regrettable that a government that was installed in power mainly to give and to provide a model for democracy in the Middle East is just mimicking other authorization regimes in the area, as the Committee to Protect Journalists here, based in New York, said in a statement. Just mimicking authorization regimes in the region by cracking down on independent media like Al Jazeera.
It's the same list of accusations that we got used to hearing from other regimes in the Middle East and in the Arab world. And here, unfortunately, the Iraqi government is following the same path.
HEMMER: Is it necessary, then, for your network to broadcast the images of every kidnap victim and also the question about beheadings being broadcast, too? How does that contribute to the story when it's done every time?
AL-MIRAZI: We have never broadcast a beheading or execution of anyone. The -- what Al Jazeera put on or broadcast is not much different from CNN, what CNN would put as a piece of news, that there is a kidnapping that took place with, that Filipina, a Filipino guy, or a Canadian or an American. And the news that Al Jazeera put out is no different from other Arab media or at least international media like CNN.
The problem is that the influence of Al Jazeera and the broader reach of Al Jazeera to Iraqi audience makes it very difficult, maybe, for people over there to relate bad news coming out of Iraq and it is just a classical case of shooting the messenger or blaming us for the bad news that is unfortunately coming out of Iraq during that difficult time for the Iraqi people (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...
HEMMER: Yes, Iyad Allawi cited this videotape being broadcast over the weekend, which was actually staged by an American out of San Francisco. He staged his own beheading. It never happened and yet that hit your broadcast wires and it hit the air there. That's what they are referring to there in Iraq.
Do you have a response on that?
AL-MIRAZI: Well, it's regrettable, of course, that that hoax and that tape found its place to very respectable and independent media -- Reuters, Associated Press, many put it out. Although the tape was out for a few months, but only when an Islamic Web site known to broadcast before tapes that proved to be right that Al Jazeera picked it out. And we regretted that fact.
But I don't know what is the relationship between just a tape that we said that exactly like I should pres on other, that it was a mistake that someone tried to fake it. And all these kind of accusations that Mr. Allawi was saying, especially talking about an independent commission that reviewed Al Jazeera's work. I mean we all pray and hope the day that Iraq would regain its independence. Talking about something independent in Iraq or an independent commission is a little bit over reach.
HEMMER: I don't have much time left here, though. Apparently the word is you'll be shut down out of Baghdad for about a month's time.
When you come back on the air, will anything change with Al Jazeera?
AL-MIRAZI: We are always on the air in Iraq, because we reach there, like through satellite. It is just that the reporters that they are restricted there. And we hope that we will continue our relationship with the Iraqi government and the Iraqi people, based on balance and putting both sides of the story and the views.
HEMMER: All right, Hafez Al-Mirazi, thank you, from Washington, D.C., working the bureau there for Al Jazeera.
AL-MIRAZI: Thank you, Bill.
HEMMER: Thanks for your time.
All right -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Still to come, one man is called to duty in Iraq. His wife is expecting quintuplets. Talk about a calling to duty there. They're going to join us next to talk about his decision to still go.
HEMMER: Also in a moment, was a Pakistani sting operation compromised after the U.S. prematurely released the name of a terrorist to Islamabad? And that story in a moment.
KAGAN: And soy foods are touted as a cure for everything from aging to disease. But are we expecting too much? Dr. Sanjay Gupta gives us the straight scoop on soy, straight ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: Josh Horton is preparing for deployment to Iraq this month with his Illinois Marine Reserve unit. The decision to leave behind his family is five times as difficult. As you're about to hear, his wife is going to be giving birth to quintuplets.
Josh Horton joining us now from Chicago, along with his very pregnant wife, Taunacy.
Good morning to you, Horton family.
JOSH HORTON, WIFE EXPECTING QUINTUPLETS: Good morning.
TAUNACY HORTON, EXPECTING QUINTUPLETS: Good morning.
KAGAN: Times five. Taunacy, let's start with the mother first.
You were undergoing fertility treatments and when and how did you find out that you really succeeded? Five babies on the way.
T. HORTON: Well, it was actually kind of quick and we found out at the end of April that -- we had started the injections and we heard that I was pregnant then. But they couldn't, you know, right then tell how many. And it wasn't until right before he left that we found out there was, there was five. KAGAN: There was five. You have to kind of take a deep breath even to say there was five.
All right, there is no slow news in the Horton family. So as Taunacy was mentioning, this happened just about the time, Josh, you found out you were being deployed.
J. HORTON: Right. Exactly.
KAGAN: And tell us about when you're expected to go.
J. HORTON: We don't know exactly. I've got a week home on leave. We head back to Camp Pendleton for a couple more weeks of training and then we're off to Iraq. But I don't have an exact date yet, though.
KAGAN: So was there ever any discussion in the family that you shouldn't go?
J. HORTON: There was a little bit. When I first got called up we sat down and discussed it, actually, quite a bit. But Taunacy was in the Navy and I was active duty Marine Corps for quite a while. And I trained with these guys for a couple of years and it was -- it would have been really difficult to, you know, watch them go over and not be with them.
KAGAN: And you did have that option? The Marines would have said that we have been OK?
J. HORTON: Yes, absolutely. Absolutely.
KAGAN: All right, Taunacy, we should also mention you already have two small children at home. So we're talking seven.
T. HORTON: Seven kids, yes.
KAGAN: And you're OK with your husband's decision to go?
T. HORTON: I am. There are days when I question that decision. But, no, I support him a hundred percent. And, you know, we're proud of him and it will all work out.
KAGAN: Well, people should be proud of you, as well. You're doing a bit of work back here, as well.
Do you have an army, so to speak, of people that will be able to help you?
T. HORTON: I do. You know, we live in a great neighborhood. We've got a great community and neighbors and a wonderful church group. And between both of our families, you know, we've got a lot of help coming.
KAGAN: And I would think at a certain point, Taunacy, you know what, we're so glad that you were able to join us in the bureau this morning. But you're not going to be able to be really running around. What's the time frame for you?
T. HORTON: Well, they've about shut me down on activity. But we're hoping to make at least 24 weeks with me at home and then that's when they've decided that they, you know, if everything goes OK, about, you know, 24 weeks. Or it kind of depends how I'm doing. But that's what when I'll have to go in the hospital on bed rest.
KAGAN: And when exactly is 24 weeks?
T. HORTON: We're looking like at the end of, you know, September.
KAGAN: All right. You still have some time ahead of you.
We wish you well, both in Iraq and on the home front, literally.
J. HORTON: Thank you.
T. HORTON: Thanks so much.
KAGAN: The Horton family.
Thank you for joining us.
HEMMER: They've got a lot going on in their lives.
KAGAN: Yes, they do -- Bill.
HEMMER: All right, Daryn.
In a moment here, was it a tip off to terrorists? Charges that a U.S. leak shut down an al Qaeda sting that may have nabbed Osama bin Laden. We'll get a report live in Pakistan on this ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: All right, welcome back, everyone.
Jack's at home lounging for his summer vacation.
Andy Borowitz is here.
Good morning.
ANDY BOROWITZ, BOROWITZREPORT.COM: It's good to be here.
HEMMER: Well, it's great to have you.
KAGAN: You have a Question of the Day.
HOROWITZ: I do have a question.
A California congressman is talking about introducing legislation to carve Ronald Reagan's face on Mount Rushmore. He'd be joining George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln.
So as long as we're talking about adding someone else, our question is whose face do you think should be added to Mount Rushmore.
And you're going to keep on e-mailing us, but we've got some great responses.
Steve from Bradenton, Florida says: "Sitting Bull's face should be carved onto Mount Rushmore, with the approval of the local Native Americans in the area. Nobody seems to mention anymore that Native Americans believe Mount Rushmore was stolen from them and was also considered a spiritual place to them before the mountain was carved up."
So that's a very thoughtful response.
Joy from Iowa says: "John F. Kennedy should be seriously considered as an addition to Mount Rushmore, not only as a balance to Reagan, who should also be added, but because his policies affected just as much change, not only in this country but the world."
And finally, "Anonymous" writes: "Use Kerry's face. The only problem would be they would have to put his face on both sides of the mountain."
Anonymous with the courage of his convictions.
KAGAN: Yes.
HEMMER: Do you want some quick trivia?
This guy Gutzon Borglum, the guy who did Mount Rushmore?
HOROWITZ: Yes?
HEMMER: You know what he started first before he went out to South Dakota? Daryn up from Atlanta, the answer is?
KAGAN: Probably Stone Mountain.
HEMMER: Stone Mountain. You're exactly right.
KAGAN: Yes.
HOROWITZ: Really?
KAGAN: Thanks for the reading of the e-mail.
HEMMER: He ran into some issues there.
KAGAN: The fathers of the Confederacy carved on the side of like a hill in Atlanta. They call it a mountain, but...
HOROWITZ: I did not know it.
HEMMER: Yes. KAGAN: Learn something new over here on AMERICAN MORNING.
HOROWITZ: I really did.
HEMMER: And that's why we're here. And it's only 8:27, Andy.
KAGAN: I know.
HOROWITZ: Amazing.
KAGAN: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
HEMMER: Great care.
In a moment, the facts on the latest super food. Is soy a miracle cure or are Americans expecting too much? Sanjay has the scoop on soy ahead in a moment here.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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