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Major Storms Deliver One-Two Punch; Coalition Forces Move Against Al-Sadr Forces

Aired August 12, 2004 - 15:00   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.


MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: A clearing operation, that's how one senior military official describes the offensive by U.S. and Iraqi forces in Najaf. U.S. Marines raids the home of radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr earlier today. He wasn't home. Our report is coming up.
Undoing I do. The California Supreme Court ruled two just hours ago that about 4,000 same-sex marriages performed in that state are now invalid. It says San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom overstepped his bounds when he allows marriage licenses to be issued to same-sex couples earlier this year. Live picture of a podium where Mr. Newsom and his attorney will be holding a news conference shortly. We'll bring a portion of that you live.

Getting stronger and aiming at Florida. Charley is upgraded to a Category Two hurricane. Residents of Key West getting ready for the unwelcome visitor, while hundreds thousands are asked to evacuate parts of Tampa. We'll have the latest on that straight ahead as well.

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: They're battening down the hatches in western Florida, as a pair of major storms delivers a one- two punch.

For an update, we turn to Orelon Sidney at the CNN Weather Center -- Orelon.

ORELON SIDNEY, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Thanks a lot.

We're looking now at Charley becoming much, much stronger. You can see what is left of Bonnie up here. Good luck if you want to try to figure out where it is. And, ultimately, it doesn't really matter, because it's now interacting with the trough of low pressure coming in from the Northwest and it's going to rain out and produce tornadoes. I'll show you in just a moment.

Here's Charley. You can see now a very well defined eye showing up on the infrared satellite picture. That is an indication it's becoming stronger. And I wouldn't be surprised to see it become a Category Three storm before it makes landfall somewhere in Cuba later on this afternoon. It does now look like it is going to continue to work its way north and then make a little bit more of a turn to the north, northwest, and then northeast, as we go into Friday.

So, what we're looking at is a brush by Key West by 8:00 a.m. tomorrow morning. The time of high tide is 8:42. So, that could be a problem for storm surge there. And then, sometime during the day tomorrow, perhaps as late as the evening, it is going to make an approach to Tampa and we think that currently is where it's going to make its pass inland. So, that is not going to be a good situation for folks there.

In addition to that, you're already seeing lots of rain across Florida and parts of the Southeast. There will be more rain tomorrow, so flooding is the story. And if we get to Category Three, then you're looking at damage from the wind itself from a major hurricane. So, we have got a ball game if that certainly does happen.

Here's what is going on now. A tornado watch continues across much of Florida, stretching from just north of Lake Okeechobee, continuing into southern Georgia. We have another watch box now that extends up the coast. This one is in effect until 6:00 p.m. from Savannah up through Charleston and includes parts of North Carolina.

We have a couple of tornado warnings here, most of these in North Carolina and South Carolina. But we have had scattered tornado warnings even down south of Jacksonville. So, it is going to be a very, very busy evening. It's going to be busy tomorrow and tomorrow evening. Hopefully, by late Saturday, all the tropical cyclones will be out of the picture and we will get a chance to dry out and clear out across the Southeast -- Fred.

WHITFIELD: And you will be busy throughout.

SIDNEY: Yes, I will.

WHITFIELD: Orelon Sidney, thanks a lot.

SIDNEY: You're welcome.

O'BRIEN: Now to Iraq and the decision to move on the Shiite insurgents in Najaf and other cities, mostly south of Baghdad.

A week after the militants renewed their attacks, coalition forces have launched an operation to crush them and to try to neutralize their leader, Muqtada al-Sadr.

The story now from Baghdad from CNN's Matthew Chance.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And a day of intensive fighting between the thousands of U.S. troops that have been deployed in force. Inside Najaf, the battle, the Mehdi Army, the forces loyal to the radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.

There have been several raids across various locations in the city against those Mehdi Army fighters. Our film crew went on one of those raids where there was fierce fighting. After that fierce fighting came to an end, the U.S. Marines that we were with actually secured the area, a raid on the house itself of Muqtada al-Sadr.

We have exclusive video pictures from CNN of that raid, U.S. Marines busting down the front gate to Muqtada al-Sadr's residence and moving inside to secure the area.

Now, we understand that the Marines knew that Muqtada al-Sadr was not inside the house at the time, but they clearly wanted to send a very strong message to the leader of the Mehdi Army, that this series of operations, this crackdown was an intensive one, and that no one, even the top figure, Muqtada al-Sadr, is immune to this operation from U.S. forces and Iraqi forces who are backing these Marines on the ground -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Now, Matthews, there was no expectation that al-Sadr would be in the home. But why do they feel this was an important objective in their mission anyway?

CHANCE: Again, just to show the leadership of the Mehdi Army that they would also be targeted in this new phase of the heightened offensive against the Mehdi Army.

Both the Iraqi government and the U.S. military are now taking this objective extremely seriously. They both say they want to bring to an end all of the sort of illegal militias that operate in towns and cities across Iraq, but particularly this one in Najaf, the Shiite militia, the Mehdi Army.

They started this intensive series of airstrikes and tanks and helicopter gunships battling up against them here, mainly in the town, the holy city of Najaf, much of that fighting centering around some of the most sacred areas of Shia Islam.

That's been a constraint certainly on U.S. forces. But even then, both the U.S. and the interim Iraqi government are saying that they will crack down on those insurgents wherever they are, even if that means perhaps going into the holiest sanctuaries. But then they're saying they would only use Iraqi forces, not U.S. ones.

WHITFIELD: And already there is some blame being placed on some of the damage that has been sustained on some of those holy sites. And is the U.S. bearing the brunt of that blame?

CHANCE: Well, certainly, the U.S. and the interim Iraqi government are totally blaming Muqtada al-Sadr for allowing his militants to hole up in the places like the Imam Ali mosque. This is the holiest shrine in Shia Islam.

Yet, from within the compound of that shrine a few hours ago earlier today, we were told by the Marines that they received 25 mortar shells that were fired from the inner compound of that mosque to an Iraqi police station, causing substantial damage and substantial casualties, as well.

So, that underlines the problem that U.S. and Iraqi forces are up against in this battle for Najaf. The militants have taken to the holy places, making it very difficult for the U.S. and the Iraqi forces to get them out.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: That was Matthew Chance.

Even more new video in the ongoing battle in Najaf.

CNN's Kathleen Koch is live from the Pentagon with more on that -- Kathleen.

KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fredricka, what we have to show you now is some video that was obtained and just released by the Pentagon that they say shows a mortar round being fired from the grounds of the compound -- there you see the small figures there -- the compound of the Imam Ali mosque, specifically from the courtyard just outside.

The military cannot, though, tell us precisely when this video was taken, though they do say that it was taken sometime this week by an unmanned aerial vehicle, a Predator drone. These Predator drones fly at an altitude of up to 25,000 feet. And they're in wide use in both Iraq and Afghanistan for just such surveillance purposes.

The Iraqi government at its press conference in Baghdad this morning said that this kind of thing was happening, that mortars were being fired from the grounds of the mosque. They even said that mines were being planted there. And they showed this very same video.

So, obviously, the release of this video an effort to prove that it is the militants, the members of the Mehdi militia who are holed up in the shrine, who are the ones who in the wrong, who are the ones who are endangering and, if you will, disrespecting this site, this very holy site, one of the holiest in all of Islam.

The U.S.-led coalition says, as a matter of fact, today alone, starting at 10:45 a.m. Baghdad time that some 25 mortar rounds were fired from this very same location, from the courtyard area, on the grounds of the Imam Ali mosque toward the Najaf -- the main police station there, causing a lot of damage and injuries.

And the coalition saying basically, since this all heated up just a week ago, that the militiamen have been using this holy shrine as a protective shield. The U.S. obviously very concerned that some damage could occur to that site -- back to you, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right, Kathleen Koch from the Pentagon, thanks very much.

O'BRIEN: As we've been telling you, the California Supreme Court handed down a ruling today on the subject of gay marriages, specifically in the city of San Francisco.

The mayor of San Francisco, Gavin Newsom, is now addressing reporters live in reaction to that.

Let's listen.

(JOINED IN PROGRESS)

MAYOR GAVIN NEWSOM (D), SAN FRANCISCO: And I stand by what we've done.

And I'm proud that 4,037 couples from 46 states, eight different countries, came to San Francisco to live their life out loud, to say once and for all, we matter. Our relationships matter. Our family matters. And society needs to wake up and say, enough is enough. Discrimination. Separate does not mean equal. Discrimination exists in this country and exists against gays and lesbians and bisexuals. And it is wrong.

And they took a stand. And I am proud of those 4,000 couples. I am proud of the people that had the courage to make their way to San Francisco, those San Franciscans that had the courage to stand up on principle and say, I do.

And there is nothing any judge, lawyer, politician will ever do to take away the moment those couples shared together. There is nothing any court decision or politician will ever do to take that moment away. I am proud of those 4,000 couples and my heart is heavy, because, today, based upon the Supreme Court's determination, decisions, their relationships as it relates to their status as a married couple, have been invalidated.

I respectfully disagree with the Supreme Court's decision, but I respect the court and will respect the order. I have and I will respect the order of the California Supreme Court. But now we move forward to the next level, to the next step. And that's the core question at hand, the question that has been advanced through incredible organizations like ACLU, NCLR, Lambda Legal, and of course our city attorney.

And that is the constitutionality, equal protection under the law, whether we have the right in this country to deny people their constitutionally protected rights. There's a reason we feel confident, but I hardly feel overconfident.

And that is because of what's happened not only in Massachusetts, but Vermont, Hawaii, Alaska, what happened in this country in June of last year in Lawrence vs. Texas in the anti-sodomy decision, and the fact that Supreme Courts across this country have had to grapple with this question.

And in many cases, in all those cases referenced, they've recognized the sanctity, rather the significance of the Constitution in relationship to individual's rights, freedoms and their privileges and their equal protection and that status that is afforded them under the Constitution. There's a reason the president of the United States wanted to write discrimination into the Constitution.

O'BRIEN: All right, we've been listening to the mayor of San Francisco, Gavin Newsom. Just trying to let him finish his sentence there, folks.

And we will be back with a little bit more in a moment, including a bizarre twist on TV reality shows, contestants competing for an American green card. We're tuning that one in ahead on LIVE FROM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Winter is approaching and it means that you're going to start heating your home more.

O'BRIEN: You know, what happened to summer?

WHITFIELD: Oh, I know. This wasn't much of a summer.

O'BRIEN: Gosh darn it, just like that.

WHITFIELD: But you did pay to have your A.C. cranking, though, didn't you?

O'BRIEN: Oh, yes, absolutely.

WHITFIELD: Yes.

O'BRIEN: And those energy prices are hurting.

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

O'BRIEN: Get back in the car!

WHITFIELD: I love that moment.

O'BRIEN: If you were watching LIVE FROM yesterday, you know precisely what I'm talking about right now.

WHITFIELD: But you had to have your jaw and your mouth aligned just right.

O'BRIEN: Get back in the car.

WHITFIELD: There you go.

Well, it's the case of the tasty meat loaf, the octogenarian reporter and the taxi and limo cops who made a controversial collar.

O'BRIEN: We concur with Jeff Toobin, who yesterday went into overtime with his interview, pleading, free Mike Wallace.

WHITFIELD: Free Mike Wallace.

O'BRIEN: Well, today, Jeanne Moos has jumped on the bandwagon -- or is it paddy wagon?

Here's the meat loaf of the matter.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Mike Wallace goes to pick up take-out meat loaf. While waiting outside, his driver is nabbed for double parking. But Mike is the one who ends up in handcuffs.

MIKE WALLACE, "60 MINUTES": I'm Mike Wallace. MOOS (on camera): And I'm Jeanne Moos, the Mike Wallace busted over meat loaf story and more in the next 60 seconds or so.

(voice-over): It looked like a 60 Minutes pursuit only this time it was Mike Wallace the cameras were chasing. Watch out for the branch, Mike. Blame it on the meat loaf.

WALLACE: I call ahead of time saying, make me some meat loaf.

MOOS: Called ahead to a Manhattan restaurant called Luke's but while his car and driver were double parked outside, two taxi and limousine commission officers began questioning the driver. Then Mike Wallace started asking them questions.

WALLACE: I don't get it. What is this all -- get back in the car!

MOOS: The inspectors say Wallace was disrespectful. They reportedly spun him around and slapped handcuffs on him.

ERNESTO CAVALLI, WITNESS: He's 86 years old. The poor guy -- the inspector can say what he wants. It is a lie.

MOOS: But one of the officers said Wallace lunged or was about to, to which Wallace retorts...

WALLACE: I find it difficult to lunge into bed.

MOOS: At least Wallace didn't pull a Zsa Zsa Gabor, slapping a cop.

ZSA ZSA GABOR, ACTRESS: You can't use a lady like me. "You F- ing H -- get out of the car," and put my diamonds into my wrist. It hurts, girls.

MOOS: But Wallace's wrists are fine. He spent less than 60 minutes at a police station and left with a summons for disorderly conduct. The last time he was arrested was while covering the 1968 Democratic convention. By the way, Mike did finally get his meat loaf.

WALLACE: The driver had dropped the meat loaf here.

MOOS: Let's hope the meat was worth loafing for.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Take it easy. He lunged into the car.

MOOS: Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Some political news in New Jersey coming up: an announcement about the future of the New Jersey Governor James McGreevey, coming up at about 4:00 Eastern time. We'll be bringing that live press conference to you when it happens

O'BRIEN: Checking entertainment headlines this Thursday.

Remembering a funk legend: Friends and family said goodbye to singer Rick James today at a private funeral in Hollywood. A public viewing was held yesterday. James will be buried Saturday in Buffalo.

A Hollywood bad boy is in trouble again with the law: Actor Tom Sizemore reportedly arrested yesterday at his home in L.A. He's charged with felony possession of controlled substance. Sizemore, convicted of beating ex-girlfriend and former Hollywood madam Heidi Fleiss in 2003. Tom Sizemore is best known for his part in "Saving Private Ryan."

Tom Cruise going to war. The actor is remaking the classic "War of the Worlds," based on the H.G. Wells novel. Cruise is teaming up with director Steven Spielberg. Shooting should reportedly begin in November. He is the hardest working man in showbiz. He is currently in the movie "Collateral." He just never stops making movies, does he? Amazing.

WHITFIELD: No, and making lots of bang for his buck in "Collateral," too.

O'BRIEN: You got to make hay while the sun shines. He's doing that. He's got hay for hay.

WHITFIELD: There's something about that smile.

O'BRIEN: That's it. I guess that's it.

WHITFIELD: That's the ka-ching factor for him.

O'BRIEN: It's the ka-ching. And that's why we're here, I guess.

Anyway -- all right, that wraps up this edition of LIVE FROM. I'm Miles O'Brien. Thanks for dropping by with us today.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com


Aired August 12, 2004 - 15:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: A clearing operation, that's how one senior military official describes the offensive by U.S. and Iraqi forces in Najaf. U.S. Marines raids the home of radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr earlier today. He wasn't home. Our report is coming up.
Undoing I do. The California Supreme Court ruled two just hours ago that about 4,000 same-sex marriages performed in that state are now invalid. It says San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom overstepped his bounds when he allows marriage licenses to be issued to same-sex couples earlier this year. Live picture of a podium where Mr. Newsom and his attorney will be holding a news conference shortly. We'll bring a portion of that you live.

Getting stronger and aiming at Florida. Charley is upgraded to a Category Two hurricane. Residents of Key West getting ready for the unwelcome visitor, while hundreds thousands are asked to evacuate parts of Tampa. We'll have the latest on that straight ahead as well.

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: They're battening down the hatches in western Florida, as a pair of major storms delivers a one- two punch.

For an update, we turn to Orelon Sidney at the CNN Weather Center -- Orelon.

ORELON SIDNEY, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Thanks a lot.

We're looking now at Charley becoming much, much stronger. You can see what is left of Bonnie up here. Good luck if you want to try to figure out where it is. And, ultimately, it doesn't really matter, because it's now interacting with the trough of low pressure coming in from the Northwest and it's going to rain out and produce tornadoes. I'll show you in just a moment.

Here's Charley. You can see now a very well defined eye showing up on the infrared satellite picture. That is an indication it's becoming stronger. And I wouldn't be surprised to see it become a Category Three storm before it makes landfall somewhere in Cuba later on this afternoon. It does now look like it is going to continue to work its way north and then make a little bit more of a turn to the north, northwest, and then northeast, as we go into Friday.

So, what we're looking at is a brush by Key West by 8:00 a.m. tomorrow morning. The time of high tide is 8:42. So, that could be a problem for storm surge there. And then, sometime during the day tomorrow, perhaps as late as the evening, it is going to make an approach to Tampa and we think that currently is where it's going to make its pass inland. So, that is not going to be a good situation for folks there.

In addition to that, you're already seeing lots of rain across Florida and parts of the Southeast. There will be more rain tomorrow, so flooding is the story. And if we get to Category Three, then you're looking at damage from the wind itself from a major hurricane. So, we have got a ball game if that certainly does happen.

Here's what is going on now. A tornado watch continues across much of Florida, stretching from just north of Lake Okeechobee, continuing into southern Georgia. We have another watch box now that extends up the coast. This one is in effect until 6:00 p.m. from Savannah up through Charleston and includes parts of North Carolina.

We have a couple of tornado warnings here, most of these in North Carolina and South Carolina. But we have had scattered tornado warnings even down south of Jacksonville. So, it is going to be a very, very busy evening. It's going to be busy tomorrow and tomorrow evening. Hopefully, by late Saturday, all the tropical cyclones will be out of the picture and we will get a chance to dry out and clear out across the Southeast -- Fred.

WHITFIELD: And you will be busy throughout.

SIDNEY: Yes, I will.

WHITFIELD: Orelon Sidney, thanks a lot.

SIDNEY: You're welcome.

O'BRIEN: Now to Iraq and the decision to move on the Shiite insurgents in Najaf and other cities, mostly south of Baghdad.

A week after the militants renewed their attacks, coalition forces have launched an operation to crush them and to try to neutralize their leader, Muqtada al-Sadr.

The story now from Baghdad from CNN's Matthew Chance.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And a day of intensive fighting between the thousands of U.S. troops that have been deployed in force. Inside Najaf, the battle, the Mehdi Army, the forces loyal to the radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.

There have been several raids across various locations in the city against those Mehdi Army fighters. Our film crew went on one of those raids where there was fierce fighting. After that fierce fighting came to an end, the U.S. Marines that we were with actually secured the area, a raid on the house itself of Muqtada al-Sadr.

We have exclusive video pictures from CNN of that raid, U.S. Marines busting down the front gate to Muqtada al-Sadr's residence and moving inside to secure the area.

Now, we understand that the Marines knew that Muqtada al-Sadr was not inside the house at the time, but they clearly wanted to send a very strong message to the leader of the Mehdi Army, that this series of operations, this crackdown was an intensive one, and that no one, even the top figure, Muqtada al-Sadr, is immune to this operation from U.S. forces and Iraqi forces who are backing these Marines on the ground -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Now, Matthews, there was no expectation that al-Sadr would be in the home. But why do they feel this was an important objective in their mission anyway?

CHANCE: Again, just to show the leadership of the Mehdi Army that they would also be targeted in this new phase of the heightened offensive against the Mehdi Army.

Both the Iraqi government and the U.S. military are now taking this objective extremely seriously. They both say they want to bring to an end all of the sort of illegal militias that operate in towns and cities across Iraq, but particularly this one in Najaf, the Shiite militia, the Mehdi Army.

They started this intensive series of airstrikes and tanks and helicopter gunships battling up against them here, mainly in the town, the holy city of Najaf, much of that fighting centering around some of the most sacred areas of Shia Islam.

That's been a constraint certainly on U.S. forces. But even then, both the U.S. and the interim Iraqi government are saying that they will crack down on those insurgents wherever they are, even if that means perhaps going into the holiest sanctuaries. But then they're saying they would only use Iraqi forces, not U.S. ones.

WHITFIELD: And already there is some blame being placed on some of the damage that has been sustained on some of those holy sites. And is the U.S. bearing the brunt of that blame?

CHANCE: Well, certainly, the U.S. and the interim Iraqi government are totally blaming Muqtada al-Sadr for allowing his militants to hole up in the places like the Imam Ali mosque. This is the holiest shrine in Shia Islam.

Yet, from within the compound of that shrine a few hours ago earlier today, we were told by the Marines that they received 25 mortar shells that were fired from the inner compound of that mosque to an Iraqi police station, causing substantial damage and substantial casualties, as well.

So, that underlines the problem that U.S. and Iraqi forces are up against in this battle for Najaf. The militants have taken to the holy places, making it very difficult for the U.S. and the Iraqi forces to get them out.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: That was Matthew Chance.

Even more new video in the ongoing battle in Najaf.

CNN's Kathleen Koch is live from the Pentagon with more on that -- Kathleen.

KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fredricka, what we have to show you now is some video that was obtained and just released by the Pentagon that they say shows a mortar round being fired from the grounds of the compound -- there you see the small figures there -- the compound of the Imam Ali mosque, specifically from the courtyard just outside.

The military cannot, though, tell us precisely when this video was taken, though they do say that it was taken sometime this week by an unmanned aerial vehicle, a Predator drone. These Predator drones fly at an altitude of up to 25,000 feet. And they're in wide use in both Iraq and Afghanistan for just such surveillance purposes.

The Iraqi government at its press conference in Baghdad this morning said that this kind of thing was happening, that mortars were being fired from the grounds of the mosque. They even said that mines were being planted there. And they showed this very same video.

So, obviously, the release of this video an effort to prove that it is the militants, the members of the Mehdi militia who are holed up in the shrine, who are the ones who in the wrong, who are the ones who are endangering and, if you will, disrespecting this site, this very holy site, one of the holiest in all of Islam.

The U.S.-led coalition says, as a matter of fact, today alone, starting at 10:45 a.m. Baghdad time that some 25 mortar rounds were fired from this very same location, from the courtyard area, on the grounds of the Imam Ali mosque toward the Najaf -- the main police station there, causing a lot of damage and injuries.

And the coalition saying basically, since this all heated up just a week ago, that the militiamen have been using this holy shrine as a protective shield. The U.S. obviously very concerned that some damage could occur to that site -- back to you, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right, Kathleen Koch from the Pentagon, thanks very much.

O'BRIEN: As we've been telling you, the California Supreme Court handed down a ruling today on the subject of gay marriages, specifically in the city of San Francisco.

The mayor of San Francisco, Gavin Newsom, is now addressing reporters live in reaction to that.

Let's listen.

(JOINED IN PROGRESS)

MAYOR GAVIN NEWSOM (D), SAN FRANCISCO: And I stand by what we've done.

And I'm proud that 4,037 couples from 46 states, eight different countries, came to San Francisco to live their life out loud, to say once and for all, we matter. Our relationships matter. Our family matters. And society needs to wake up and say, enough is enough. Discrimination. Separate does not mean equal. Discrimination exists in this country and exists against gays and lesbians and bisexuals. And it is wrong.

And they took a stand. And I am proud of those 4,000 couples. I am proud of the people that had the courage to make their way to San Francisco, those San Franciscans that had the courage to stand up on principle and say, I do.

And there is nothing any judge, lawyer, politician will ever do to take away the moment those couples shared together. There is nothing any court decision or politician will ever do to take that moment away. I am proud of those 4,000 couples and my heart is heavy, because, today, based upon the Supreme Court's determination, decisions, their relationships as it relates to their status as a married couple, have been invalidated.

I respectfully disagree with the Supreme Court's decision, but I respect the court and will respect the order. I have and I will respect the order of the California Supreme Court. But now we move forward to the next level, to the next step. And that's the core question at hand, the question that has been advanced through incredible organizations like ACLU, NCLR, Lambda Legal, and of course our city attorney.

And that is the constitutionality, equal protection under the law, whether we have the right in this country to deny people their constitutionally protected rights. There's a reason we feel confident, but I hardly feel overconfident.

And that is because of what's happened not only in Massachusetts, but Vermont, Hawaii, Alaska, what happened in this country in June of last year in Lawrence vs. Texas in the anti-sodomy decision, and the fact that Supreme Courts across this country have had to grapple with this question.

And in many cases, in all those cases referenced, they've recognized the sanctity, rather the significance of the Constitution in relationship to individual's rights, freedoms and their privileges and their equal protection and that status that is afforded them under the Constitution. There's a reason the president of the United States wanted to write discrimination into the Constitution.

O'BRIEN: All right, we've been listening to the mayor of San Francisco, Gavin Newsom. Just trying to let him finish his sentence there, folks.

And we will be back with a little bit more in a moment, including a bizarre twist on TV reality shows, contestants competing for an American green card. We're tuning that one in ahead on LIVE FROM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Winter is approaching and it means that you're going to start heating your home more.

O'BRIEN: You know, what happened to summer?

WHITFIELD: Oh, I know. This wasn't much of a summer.

O'BRIEN: Gosh darn it, just like that.

WHITFIELD: But you did pay to have your A.C. cranking, though, didn't you?

O'BRIEN: Oh, yes, absolutely.

WHITFIELD: Yes.

O'BRIEN: And those energy prices are hurting.

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

O'BRIEN: Get back in the car!

WHITFIELD: I love that moment.

O'BRIEN: If you were watching LIVE FROM yesterday, you know precisely what I'm talking about right now.

WHITFIELD: But you had to have your jaw and your mouth aligned just right.

O'BRIEN: Get back in the car.

WHITFIELD: There you go.

Well, it's the case of the tasty meat loaf, the octogenarian reporter and the taxi and limo cops who made a controversial collar.

O'BRIEN: We concur with Jeff Toobin, who yesterday went into overtime with his interview, pleading, free Mike Wallace.

WHITFIELD: Free Mike Wallace.

O'BRIEN: Well, today, Jeanne Moos has jumped on the bandwagon -- or is it paddy wagon?

Here's the meat loaf of the matter.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Mike Wallace goes to pick up take-out meat loaf. While waiting outside, his driver is nabbed for double parking. But Mike is the one who ends up in handcuffs.

MIKE WALLACE, "60 MINUTES": I'm Mike Wallace. MOOS (on camera): And I'm Jeanne Moos, the Mike Wallace busted over meat loaf story and more in the next 60 seconds or so.

(voice-over): It looked like a 60 Minutes pursuit only this time it was Mike Wallace the cameras were chasing. Watch out for the branch, Mike. Blame it on the meat loaf.

WALLACE: I call ahead of time saying, make me some meat loaf.

MOOS: Called ahead to a Manhattan restaurant called Luke's but while his car and driver were double parked outside, two taxi and limousine commission officers began questioning the driver. Then Mike Wallace started asking them questions.

WALLACE: I don't get it. What is this all -- get back in the car!

MOOS: The inspectors say Wallace was disrespectful. They reportedly spun him around and slapped handcuffs on him.

ERNESTO CAVALLI, WITNESS: He's 86 years old. The poor guy -- the inspector can say what he wants. It is a lie.

MOOS: But one of the officers said Wallace lunged or was about to, to which Wallace retorts...

WALLACE: I find it difficult to lunge into bed.

MOOS: At least Wallace didn't pull a Zsa Zsa Gabor, slapping a cop.

ZSA ZSA GABOR, ACTRESS: You can't use a lady like me. "You F- ing H -- get out of the car," and put my diamonds into my wrist. It hurts, girls.

MOOS: But Wallace's wrists are fine. He spent less than 60 minutes at a police station and left with a summons for disorderly conduct. The last time he was arrested was while covering the 1968 Democratic convention. By the way, Mike did finally get his meat loaf.

WALLACE: The driver had dropped the meat loaf here.

MOOS: Let's hope the meat was worth loafing for.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Take it easy. He lunged into the car.

MOOS: Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Some political news in New Jersey coming up: an announcement about the future of the New Jersey Governor James McGreevey, coming up at about 4:00 Eastern time. We'll be bringing that live press conference to you when it happens

O'BRIEN: Checking entertainment headlines this Thursday.

Remembering a funk legend: Friends and family said goodbye to singer Rick James today at a private funeral in Hollywood. A public viewing was held yesterday. James will be buried Saturday in Buffalo.

A Hollywood bad boy is in trouble again with the law: Actor Tom Sizemore reportedly arrested yesterday at his home in L.A. He's charged with felony possession of controlled substance. Sizemore, convicted of beating ex-girlfriend and former Hollywood madam Heidi Fleiss in 2003. Tom Sizemore is best known for his part in "Saving Private Ryan."

Tom Cruise going to war. The actor is remaking the classic "War of the Worlds," based on the H.G. Wells novel. Cruise is teaming up with director Steven Spielberg. Shooting should reportedly begin in November. He is the hardest working man in showbiz. He is currently in the movie "Collateral." He just never stops making movies, does he? Amazing.

WHITFIELD: No, and making lots of bang for his buck in "Collateral," too.

O'BRIEN: You got to make hay while the sun shines. He's doing that. He's got hay for hay.

WHITFIELD: There's something about that smile.

O'BRIEN: That's it. I guess that's it.

WHITFIELD: That's the ka-ching factor for him.

O'BRIEN: It's the ka-ching. And that's why we're here, I guess.

Anyway -- all right, that wraps up this edition of LIVE FROM. I'm Miles O'Brien. Thanks for dropping by with us today.

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