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CNN Live At Daybreak

Talk with African-American Delegate; Global Terror Attacks; Kids and Sleep; Protest Power

Aired September 01, 2004 - 05:30   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.


CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: The first lady, the first daughters and the first-time governor all at the Republican National Convention last night. Actor turned California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger told delegates America is back. The Bush twins introduced their dad, who appeared on a video link. President Bush then introduced his wife, Laura, calling her a voice of calm.
Get back to Governor Schwarzenegger, though, he brought back a phrase he used recently on California lawmakers. It got him in some trouble then, but this time, as he praised Republican values, the delegates cheered.

Here's more.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER (R), CALIFORNIA: Now, there's another way you can tell you're a Republican. You have faith in free enterprise, faith in the resourcefulness of the American people and faith in the U.S. economy. And to those critics who are so pessimistic about our economy, I say: Don't be economic girlie-men.

(APPLAUSE)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: As for Jenna and Barbara Bush, some waves and a lot of giggles as they took the stage. The Bush twins say some people might get the wrong impression of mom and dad.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JENNA BUSH, DAUGHTER OF GEORGE W. BUSH: But, contrary to what you might read in the papers, our parents are actually kind of cool. They do know the difference between mono and Bono. When we tell them we're going to see Outkast, they know it's a band and not a bunch of misfits. And if we really beg them, they'll even shake it like a Polaroid picture.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Mom was up next. Laura Bush says her husband made some tough decisions and stuck by them. The former elementary school librarian gave a bit of a history lesson defending the president's decision to go to war in Iraq.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LAURA BUSH, FIRST LADY OF THE UNITED STATES: No American president ever wants to go to war. Abraham Lincoln didn't want to go to war, but he knew saving the Union required it. Franklin Roosevelt didn't want to go to war, but he knew defeating tyranny demanded it. And my husband didn't want to go to war, but he knew the safety and security of America and the world depended on it.

(APPLAUSE)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: And that brings us to our DAYBREAK e-mail "Question of the Day," what did you think of last night's convention speakers? Did you like what they had to say, as in Laura Bush and the Bush twins or Arnold Schwarzenegger? Let us know what you think, DAYBREAK@CNN.com. We'll read some of your responses a little later on in the show.

Actually, are we going to read some e-mail now? Well I've only printed one. Here it is, though. I've been reading them on the computer, though.

This is from Rick (ph). He's from Pennsylvania. He says I was impressed with Arnold's speech. I was really disappointed with Laura's. Karl Rove better put the two girls back in seclusion. Wasn't really into the Bush twins' comments.

This is from Bob. He's from South Carolina. He says both parties are spewing no-brainers. They miss the real issues, attack a war that's been over for nearly 30 years and engage in he said, they said rhetoric.

Let me get one more for you. OK, this is from Kristy (ph). She says today's speeches by Arnold, Laura and the twins were really good. I really enjoyed them.

Keep those e-mails coming, DAYBREAK@CNN.com.

A land of opportunity, that will be today's theme at the Republican National Convention. Vice President Dick Cheney is the featured speaker. His message, the Bush administration has created more opportunity at home and spread freedom overseas.

Also tonight, he's known for breaking ranks with his party, and this time Senator Zell Miller is doing it in a big way. The Democrat from Georgia will give the keynote address.

And while the Republicans party inside the convention center, it is a different story outside. More than 900 people were arrested during the latest demonstrations. Among those arrested, about 200 people near Ground Zero. The city's police chief says those demonstrators disobeyed an order to stay on the sidewalk. Since demonstrations began last week, more than 1,400 people have been arrested.

African-Americans make up only 6 percent of the Republican delegates in New York. Despite their small number, they've got big hopes of converting other blacks to the GOP.

CNN's senior analyst Jeff Greenfield talked to one of the African-American delegates.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DEBORAH BURSTION-DONBRAYE, OHIO DELEGATE: That looks done?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Right.

BURSTION-DONBRAYE: It's done, isn't it?

JEFF GREENFIELD, CNN SR. ANALYST (voice-over): For 49-year-old Deborah Burstion Donbraye, dinner with relatives is a Sunday tradition.

BURSTION-DONBRAYE: You want a big piece? How's that?

GREENFIELD: Missing this evening is husband Frank, a Nigerian who's away in Africa for the summer working on the family's consulting business. But, as always, Lucy and Ricky are in the house and Donbraye knows...

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "I LOVE LUCY")

DESI ARNAZ, ACTOR: How often is Ethel's checking account overdrawn?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GREENFIELD: ... every...

BURSTION-DONBRAYE: Never.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "I LOVE LUCY")

UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Never.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GREENFIELD: ... word.

BURSTION-DONBRAYE: You want me to get it for you?

GREENFIELD: As with most African-Americans, Donbraye's relatives, her mom, niece and brother, are all Democrats, but Donbraye came to the Republican Party because of one man.

BURSTION-DONBRAYE: That whole idea of being part of the Reagan revolution, it was so attractive. And I just got sucked in willingly to it and loved it. And I haven't really left it since that time.

GREENFIELD: She began her career as a reporter for Knight Ridder, but eventually moved into politics, serving as Ed Meese's spokesperson at the Justice Department back in the 1980s. She also served as press secretary for George W. Bush's 1994 Texas gubernatorial campaign.

BURSTION-DONBRAYE: This area has been heavily Democratic for a very long time.

GREENFIELD: On this busy day...

BURSTION-DONBRAYE: Hey, how are you doing?

GREENFIELD: ... she has a series of meetings in Cleveland.

BURSTION-DONBRAYE: Are you targeting specific schools or is it...

GREENFIELD: As outreach director for the Ohio Republican Party.

BURSTION-DONBRAYE: How are you?

GREENFIELD: Her job is to bring the GOP's message to groups that usually vote Democratic.

BURSTION-DONBRAYE: I've put a face and a person to the enemy, in their minds. They'll say, well, I've never met a black Republican. I've never spoken with one. And that's the first thing. It's no different than any other salesperson. I got my foot in the door.

OK, right now I'm going to my Right to Life office.

GREENFIELD: Donbraye's other job is president of the Cleveland chapter of Right to Life. She volunteered for the anti-abortion movement after reporting a story about a child born during the second trimester.

BURSTION-DONBRAYE: And I said, but I thought I would look at something that was very strange-looking or odd, but it's hair, fingernails, eyelashes and all of those things. And that's when I realized that this isn't a choice. This is a child. And that was my moment.

GREENFIELD: This week in New York, Donbraye is bringing her message to a city where minorities vote overwhelming Democratic.

BURSTION-DONBRAYE: I'm getting them to think. And that's what I'm saying. Life and that vote, both are too important to sleepwalk through. Pay attention.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: That report from CNN's senior analyst Jeff Greenfield.

Most African-Americans want Republican and Democratic parties to do a better job of addressing issues important to the black community.

Get a ringside seat to all of the action. CNN's prime time coverage of the Republican National Convention begins tonight at 7:00 p.m. Takes you straight through until midnight.

We're going to take a short break. We'll be back with much more. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: And we're getting in new pictures from Russia on that hostage situation there. A terrible thing going on right now. Hostage takers storm a school with explosive belts wrapped around their waists and elementary school children are inside, so are their parents. And it's a terribly sad scene outside.

Our senior international editor David Clinch has some new information for us this morning.

DAVID CLINCH, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL EDITOR: Yes, Carol, it really is a horrific situation. We've been following what is presumed to be a series of Chechen terror attacks in Russia over the last week or so, two planes that went down a week ago, a bomb attack in Moscow yesterday. Now today, another level. A school taken over by very heavily armed, again presumed to be, at this point, Chechen militants near Chechnya inside Russia on the other side of North Ossetia is the name of the region.

You see the Russian military surrounding the school here. Their problem of course is that there are as many as 400 people inside this school, 200 plus of them are children. We're getting pictures in now of these desperate parents waiting behind the lines that the Russian military have formed around the school. Obviously concerned, many of them are grandparents, in fact, because the parents were bringing their children to school on the first day of school today.

COSTELLO: Do we know if there is any contact between the people inside holding these people hostage and those outside?

CLINCH: Well that's a good question. There were early reports from Russian news agencies that the militants had demanded the release of fellow militants who are being held prison in a nearby region, having themselves carried out an attack there a few months ago. That we're still checking on. But now we're hearing reports that they are opening negotiations at local officials, as opposed to the military at this point, are trying to talk to these militants.

But we're also hearing that the militants have threatened to blow up the school if they are attacked by the Russians. And of course there is precedent for that. The Russians have in the past in similar situations stormed schools, stormed other buildings where Chechen rebels have been holding hostage.

COSTELLO: Still it really brings to mind that Moscow theater when you know the same sort of thing happened.

CLINCH: Right.

COSTELLO: And then the Russian government used some sort of gas to knock everybody out and they went inside.

CLINCH: Right, and that took some time to play out. And of course it's a nightmare situation in either sense. It's a long-term siege with the trauma for the families and for the hostages themselves. And then of course the alternative, which is to storm either now or later with the possibility of hostages, and especially in this case, children being killed.

President Putin, who was on holiday in the south of Russia in another region, has returned to Moscow taking this very seriously. Of course for him, for Russia, this is their terrorism. This is the threat of terrorism now inside Russia, as well as Chechnya, something that came very close to home in Moscow yesterday. So he's back at his seat in the Kremlin and overseeing this crisis as best he can.

COSTELLO: Let's move on to another hot spot this morning, Israel.

CLINCH: Yes. Well again, having been quiet for many months, two suicide bombings on buses right next to each other in southern Israel yesterday, something which the Israelis now pondering a response to. But the early word, of course what they have done initially is what they often do in these cases, knock down the homes of the suicide bombers themselves in the West Bank town of Hebron.

The other part of their response, they are still making it clear that they are pondering the precise details of this, but some threatening words that we're hearing. The threat to again start killing Hamas leaders. But this time, the more specific threat to kill them both what they say as at home and abroad.

Always of course an option Israel has said they will take at some point, if they have to, killing Hamas leaders who they believe to be in Syria and perhaps elsewhere. That of course is something that U.S. officials always want to know very much exactly what the Israelis have in mind. So we'll be watching whether they carry through with that threat.

COSTELLO: David Clinch, many thanks to you.

CLINCH: All right.

COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports. It is 5:44 Eastern. Here is what's all new this morning.

Insurgents strike again in Baghdad. In one attack, gunmen opened fire on a former U.S. ally, Ahmed Chalabi's convoy. He wasn't hurt, but two of his bodyguards were. Later, several mortar rounds landed near the center of where Iraqi lawmakers are due to meet. One Iraqi was wounded in that attack.

It is day three of the Republican National Convention in New York today, and the nation's No. 2 man, Dick Cheney, will take center stage. It's the vice president's time to shine.

In money news, the nation's automakers will report their August sales today, and analysts say it doesn't look so great. They are expecting a slump in new car and truck sales, explained in part on the devastation caused by Hurricane Charley and less-than-effective consumer incentives offered by automakers. In culture, actor James Doohan, who played Scotty in the "Star Trek" series, is the latest star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The event may be his last public appearance. Doohan revealed that he's battling Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.

In sports, the return of prime time in Baltimore. Yes, 37-year- old Deion Sanders is back in the NFL after signing a deal with the Baltimore Ravens. Sanders, who retired after the 2000 season, is expected to play on the team's opening game on September 12.

I cannot wait to see that -- Chad.

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Carol, now if we can just get Barry Sanders to come back.

COSTELLO: To the Detroit Lions, you got that right.

MYERS: And it would be Sanders versus Sanders, then we'd have something people would watch.

Hey, good morning, everybody.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: Thank you, Chad.

Those are the latest headlines for you this morning.

Can a child's lack of attention be traced to the bedroom? In one 9-year-old's case, that discovery meant an end to drug therapy and new hope for his mom.

We get more on the story from Dan DeRoos of CNN affiliate KOIN in Portland, Oregon.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAN DEROOS, KOIN-TV REPORTER (voice-over): With school a week away, 9-year-old Fernando (ph) hopes to have a much better year.

FERNANDO, STUDENT: One day at school I would get like sent to the principal's office four or three times.

DEROOS: School psychiatrist would diagnose him with ADHD, recommend Ritalin to his mom.

ALICE PERRY, MOTHER: And I was very reluctant to do that, just because of a lot of the research I had done. But my kid was not himself.

DEROOS (on camera): But was it really ADHD or could it have been something else? A series of tests at OHSU would make a pretty interesting discovery.

(voice-over): This is the Dornbecker (ph) Pediatric Sleep Program. The question was how well was Fernando sleeping at night? Hooked up to monitors and even videotaped, they watched. And although Fernando would sleep about 11 hours a night...

DR. KYLE JOHNSON, OREGON HEALTH AND SCIENCE UNIV.: He was getting very poor quality fragmented sleep.

DEROOS: Fernando was diagnosed with sleep apnea, which means his tonsils and his adenoids were blocking his airflow while sleeping, at times going as long as 15 seconds between breaths. And while he wouldn't wake up, his brain would to start breathing again, making for a restless, poor quality night of sleep.

JOHNSON: That can have an impact on their daytime functioning, that can be problems with behavior or attention, concentration.

DEROOS: After surgery in June, his mom Alice says Fernando's sleep is better and so is his behavior.

PERRY: You know I won't pretend that all the problems have gone away, but he is generally in a much better mood in the day, much better able to handle the day-to-day routine.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: That report was from Dan DeRoos of our Portland affiliate KOIN.

Experts say that ADHD type behavior is three times higher in children with sleep disorders.

"Health Headlines" for you this morning.

Early detection can considerably reduce the return rate of cancer. A Finish study of breast cancer patients found that women were 90 percent more likely to be cancer free in their future if their tumors were found during mammograms. Mammographies generally discover tumors at a much early stage than self-exams.

Abstinence makes the sperm count stronger. A new study of 27 healthy men showed that frequent sexual activity could actually lower the sperm count. Researchers also looked at whether illness could be a possible explanation for lower counts.

You moms and dads may be holding the key to battling childhood obesity. You're being encouraged to help your children exercise at least 30 minutes every day. The American Physical Therapy Association also urges parents to set a good example by making workouts a family affair. One out of five children are overweight in this country.

For more on this or any other health story, head to our Web site. The address, CNN.com/health.

For those of you watching your weight, are you still searching for that perfect diet. In the next half-hour of DAYBREAK, our nutritionist Lisa Drayer dishes out some healthy advice.

Plus,...

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JENNIFER (ph) KLEIN, ANTI-PROTESTER PROTESTER: We're protesting the protesters.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Protests backlash, one couple's answer to protesters at the Republican Convention.

This is DAYBREAK.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: New York City is a protester's paradise right now. Protesters from the left, protesters from the right, there is something for everyone.

Our Jeanne Moos takes us outside the Republican Convention.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): There they go again hogging the spotlight. This time outside a breakfast sponsored by Halliburton for the Texas delegation. Or how about four more trucks hired by a gay group, the human rights campaign. Or this lonely soul dressed up like a Hummer protesting the gas-guzzler.

(on camera): How does it feel to be the only protester here?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It feels stupid.

MOOS (voice-over): But the demonstrators had plenty of company yelling shut up outside Fox News. Which brings us to the ultimate protesters.

J. KLEIN: We're protesting the protesters.

MOOS (on camera): C.R.A.P., Citizens Rebellion Against Protesters.

J. KLEIN: Yes.

MOOS: Did it take you a long time to think up C.R.A.P.?

J. KLEIN: No.

MOOS (voice-over): Jennifer and Paul Klein are Republicans from New Jersey.

PAUL KLEIN, ANTI-PROTESTER PROTESTER: Because there's enough freaks and weirdoes around here in the first place, we don't need the imports.

MOOS (on camera): I almost feel like you're pulling my leg. You're not pulling my leg, are you?

J. KLEIN: No.

P. KLEIN: No, no.

J. KLEIN: No, we're really not. We're kind of half-serious.

MOOS (voice-over): The police sure appreciate the T-shirts. The pair made it home.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Keep up the good work.

J. KLEIN: Thank you.

MOOS: You could say the same to this guy. But for Justin Gignac, it pays to pick up litter. He's been selling plastic cubes of New York City garbage for three years on his Web site for 10 bucks. Now he's picking up trash around Madison Square Garden for a special Republican edition.

JUSTIN GIGNAC, GARBAGE ENTREPRENEUR: The Republican garbage is going to be $100.

MOOS (on camera): I mean no one is going to pay $100.

GIGNAC: Well I didn't think anybody at first would pay $10 for it and they have.

MOOS (voice-over): But there's no guarantee you'll get litter dropped by an actual Republican. It's just from the area near the convention. Is that a Republican rubber band, a GOP band-aid? Did a delegate actually drop the wrappers found in these flowers?

(on camera): Are you artistically arranging it or anything?

GIGNAC: Yes, actually, I take a little bit of time putting each one together. I try to have a centerpiece, like this one has a coffee cup.

MOOS (voice-over): Republican delegates seemed eager to help.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'd like to help. I could chew a piece of gum and give you a wad of gum.

MOOS: Republicans really are getting trashed.

Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: It's time to dip in to the DAYBREAK inbox right now. We've been soliciting your e-mail this morning. The question, what did you think of last night's Republican Convention speakers?

This is from Rich (ph) from Tampa, Florida. He says I feel the Republican Convention is off to a great start and has a more polished positive tone. The speakers have been very good so far, even though they have taken some shots at Senator Kerry, it didn't come across as negative.

This is from Brian (ph) from Lynchburg, Virginia. He says I thought the entire evening seemed very low key. The crowd was polite and not very raucous. I've seen more excitement at a nursing home.

And this is from Karen (ph) from Orlando, Florida. She says all in all I thought Arnold Schwarzenegger was the high point, the twins were the low point and Laura Bush was somewhere in the middle.

Keep the e-mail coming, DAYBREAK@CNN.com. That's DAYBREAK@CNN.com.

In the next hour of DAYBREAK, some 400 people are taken hostage in Russia, including 200 elementary school children. We'll have a live update for you.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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Aired September 1, 2004 - 05:30   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: The first lady, the first daughters and the first-time governor all at the Republican National Convention last night. Actor turned California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger told delegates America is back. The Bush twins introduced their dad, who appeared on a video link. President Bush then introduced his wife, Laura, calling her a voice of calm.
Get back to Governor Schwarzenegger, though, he brought back a phrase he used recently on California lawmakers. It got him in some trouble then, but this time, as he praised Republican values, the delegates cheered.

Here's more.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER (R), CALIFORNIA: Now, there's another way you can tell you're a Republican. You have faith in free enterprise, faith in the resourcefulness of the American people and faith in the U.S. economy. And to those critics who are so pessimistic about our economy, I say: Don't be economic girlie-men.

(APPLAUSE)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: As for Jenna and Barbara Bush, some waves and a lot of giggles as they took the stage. The Bush twins say some people might get the wrong impression of mom and dad.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JENNA BUSH, DAUGHTER OF GEORGE W. BUSH: But, contrary to what you might read in the papers, our parents are actually kind of cool. They do know the difference between mono and Bono. When we tell them we're going to see Outkast, they know it's a band and not a bunch of misfits. And if we really beg them, they'll even shake it like a Polaroid picture.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Mom was up next. Laura Bush says her husband made some tough decisions and stuck by them. The former elementary school librarian gave a bit of a history lesson defending the president's decision to go to war in Iraq.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LAURA BUSH, FIRST LADY OF THE UNITED STATES: No American president ever wants to go to war. Abraham Lincoln didn't want to go to war, but he knew saving the Union required it. Franklin Roosevelt didn't want to go to war, but he knew defeating tyranny demanded it. And my husband didn't want to go to war, but he knew the safety and security of America and the world depended on it.

(APPLAUSE)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: And that brings us to our DAYBREAK e-mail "Question of the Day," what did you think of last night's convention speakers? Did you like what they had to say, as in Laura Bush and the Bush twins or Arnold Schwarzenegger? Let us know what you think, DAYBREAK@CNN.com. We'll read some of your responses a little later on in the show.

Actually, are we going to read some e-mail now? Well I've only printed one. Here it is, though. I've been reading them on the computer, though.

This is from Rick (ph). He's from Pennsylvania. He says I was impressed with Arnold's speech. I was really disappointed with Laura's. Karl Rove better put the two girls back in seclusion. Wasn't really into the Bush twins' comments.

This is from Bob. He's from South Carolina. He says both parties are spewing no-brainers. They miss the real issues, attack a war that's been over for nearly 30 years and engage in he said, they said rhetoric.

Let me get one more for you. OK, this is from Kristy (ph). She says today's speeches by Arnold, Laura and the twins were really good. I really enjoyed them.

Keep those e-mails coming, DAYBREAK@CNN.com.

A land of opportunity, that will be today's theme at the Republican National Convention. Vice President Dick Cheney is the featured speaker. His message, the Bush administration has created more opportunity at home and spread freedom overseas.

Also tonight, he's known for breaking ranks with his party, and this time Senator Zell Miller is doing it in a big way. The Democrat from Georgia will give the keynote address.

And while the Republicans party inside the convention center, it is a different story outside. More than 900 people were arrested during the latest demonstrations. Among those arrested, about 200 people near Ground Zero. The city's police chief says those demonstrators disobeyed an order to stay on the sidewalk. Since demonstrations began last week, more than 1,400 people have been arrested.

African-Americans make up only 6 percent of the Republican delegates in New York. Despite their small number, they've got big hopes of converting other blacks to the GOP.

CNN's senior analyst Jeff Greenfield talked to one of the African-American delegates.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DEBORAH BURSTION-DONBRAYE, OHIO DELEGATE: That looks done?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Right.

BURSTION-DONBRAYE: It's done, isn't it?

JEFF GREENFIELD, CNN SR. ANALYST (voice-over): For 49-year-old Deborah Burstion Donbraye, dinner with relatives is a Sunday tradition.

BURSTION-DONBRAYE: You want a big piece? How's that?

GREENFIELD: Missing this evening is husband Frank, a Nigerian who's away in Africa for the summer working on the family's consulting business. But, as always, Lucy and Ricky are in the house and Donbraye knows...

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "I LOVE LUCY")

DESI ARNAZ, ACTOR: How often is Ethel's checking account overdrawn?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GREENFIELD: ... every...

BURSTION-DONBRAYE: Never.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "I LOVE LUCY")

UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Never.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GREENFIELD: ... word.

BURSTION-DONBRAYE: You want me to get it for you?

GREENFIELD: As with most African-Americans, Donbraye's relatives, her mom, niece and brother, are all Democrats, but Donbraye came to the Republican Party because of one man.

BURSTION-DONBRAYE: That whole idea of being part of the Reagan revolution, it was so attractive. And I just got sucked in willingly to it and loved it. And I haven't really left it since that time.

GREENFIELD: She began her career as a reporter for Knight Ridder, but eventually moved into politics, serving as Ed Meese's spokesperson at the Justice Department back in the 1980s. She also served as press secretary for George W. Bush's 1994 Texas gubernatorial campaign.

BURSTION-DONBRAYE: This area has been heavily Democratic for a very long time.

GREENFIELD: On this busy day...

BURSTION-DONBRAYE: Hey, how are you doing?

GREENFIELD: ... she has a series of meetings in Cleveland.

BURSTION-DONBRAYE: Are you targeting specific schools or is it...

GREENFIELD: As outreach director for the Ohio Republican Party.

BURSTION-DONBRAYE: How are you?

GREENFIELD: Her job is to bring the GOP's message to groups that usually vote Democratic.

BURSTION-DONBRAYE: I've put a face and a person to the enemy, in their minds. They'll say, well, I've never met a black Republican. I've never spoken with one. And that's the first thing. It's no different than any other salesperson. I got my foot in the door.

OK, right now I'm going to my Right to Life office.

GREENFIELD: Donbraye's other job is president of the Cleveland chapter of Right to Life. She volunteered for the anti-abortion movement after reporting a story about a child born during the second trimester.

BURSTION-DONBRAYE: And I said, but I thought I would look at something that was very strange-looking or odd, but it's hair, fingernails, eyelashes and all of those things. And that's when I realized that this isn't a choice. This is a child. And that was my moment.

GREENFIELD: This week in New York, Donbraye is bringing her message to a city where minorities vote overwhelming Democratic.

BURSTION-DONBRAYE: I'm getting them to think. And that's what I'm saying. Life and that vote, both are too important to sleepwalk through. Pay attention.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: That report from CNN's senior analyst Jeff Greenfield.

Most African-Americans want Republican and Democratic parties to do a better job of addressing issues important to the black community.

Get a ringside seat to all of the action. CNN's prime time coverage of the Republican National Convention begins tonight at 7:00 p.m. Takes you straight through until midnight.

We're going to take a short break. We'll be back with much more. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: And we're getting in new pictures from Russia on that hostage situation there. A terrible thing going on right now. Hostage takers storm a school with explosive belts wrapped around their waists and elementary school children are inside, so are their parents. And it's a terribly sad scene outside.

Our senior international editor David Clinch has some new information for us this morning.

DAVID CLINCH, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL EDITOR: Yes, Carol, it really is a horrific situation. We've been following what is presumed to be a series of Chechen terror attacks in Russia over the last week or so, two planes that went down a week ago, a bomb attack in Moscow yesterday. Now today, another level. A school taken over by very heavily armed, again presumed to be, at this point, Chechen militants near Chechnya inside Russia on the other side of North Ossetia is the name of the region.

You see the Russian military surrounding the school here. Their problem of course is that there are as many as 400 people inside this school, 200 plus of them are children. We're getting pictures in now of these desperate parents waiting behind the lines that the Russian military have formed around the school. Obviously concerned, many of them are grandparents, in fact, because the parents were bringing their children to school on the first day of school today.

COSTELLO: Do we know if there is any contact between the people inside holding these people hostage and those outside?

CLINCH: Well that's a good question. There were early reports from Russian news agencies that the militants had demanded the release of fellow militants who are being held prison in a nearby region, having themselves carried out an attack there a few months ago. That we're still checking on. But now we're hearing reports that they are opening negotiations at local officials, as opposed to the military at this point, are trying to talk to these militants.

But we're also hearing that the militants have threatened to blow up the school if they are attacked by the Russians. And of course there is precedent for that. The Russians have in the past in similar situations stormed schools, stormed other buildings where Chechen rebels have been holding hostage.

COSTELLO: Still it really brings to mind that Moscow theater when you know the same sort of thing happened.

CLINCH: Right.

COSTELLO: And then the Russian government used some sort of gas to knock everybody out and they went inside.

CLINCH: Right, and that took some time to play out. And of course it's a nightmare situation in either sense. It's a long-term siege with the trauma for the families and for the hostages themselves. And then of course the alternative, which is to storm either now or later with the possibility of hostages, and especially in this case, children being killed.

President Putin, who was on holiday in the south of Russia in another region, has returned to Moscow taking this very seriously. Of course for him, for Russia, this is their terrorism. This is the threat of terrorism now inside Russia, as well as Chechnya, something that came very close to home in Moscow yesterday. So he's back at his seat in the Kremlin and overseeing this crisis as best he can.

COSTELLO: Let's move on to another hot spot this morning, Israel.

CLINCH: Yes. Well again, having been quiet for many months, two suicide bombings on buses right next to each other in southern Israel yesterday, something which the Israelis now pondering a response to. But the early word, of course what they have done initially is what they often do in these cases, knock down the homes of the suicide bombers themselves in the West Bank town of Hebron.

The other part of their response, they are still making it clear that they are pondering the precise details of this, but some threatening words that we're hearing. The threat to again start killing Hamas leaders. But this time, the more specific threat to kill them both what they say as at home and abroad.

Always of course an option Israel has said they will take at some point, if they have to, killing Hamas leaders who they believe to be in Syria and perhaps elsewhere. That of course is something that U.S. officials always want to know very much exactly what the Israelis have in mind. So we'll be watching whether they carry through with that threat.

COSTELLO: David Clinch, many thanks to you.

CLINCH: All right.

COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports. It is 5:44 Eastern. Here is what's all new this morning.

Insurgents strike again in Baghdad. In one attack, gunmen opened fire on a former U.S. ally, Ahmed Chalabi's convoy. He wasn't hurt, but two of his bodyguards were. Later, several mortar rounds landed near the center of where Iraqi lawmakers are due to meet. One Iraqi was wounded in that attack.

It is day three of the Republican National Convention in New York today, and the nation's No. 2 man, Dick Cheney, will take center stage. It's the vice president's time to shine.

In money news, the nation's automakers will report their August sales today, and analysts say it doesn't look so great. They are expecting a slump in new car and truck sales, explained in part on the devastation caused by Hurricane Charley and less-than-effective consumer incentives offered by automakers. In culture, actor James Doohan, who played Scotty in the "Star Trek" series, is the latest star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The event may be his last public appearance. Doohan revealed that he's battling Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.

In sports, the return of prime time in Baltimore. Yes, 37-year- old Deion Sanders is back in the NFL after signing a deal with the Baltimore Ravens. Sanders, who retired after the 2000 season, is expected to play on the team's opening game on September 12.

I cannot wait to see that -- Chad.

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Carol, now if we can just get Barry Sanders to come back.

COSTELLO: To the Detroit Lions, you got that right.

MYERS: And it would be Sanders versus Sanders, then we'd have something people would watch.

Hey, good morning, everybody.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: Thank you, Chad.

Those are the latest headlines for you this morning.

Can a child's lack of attention be traced to the bedroom? In one 9-year-old's case, that discovery meant an end to drug therapy and new hope for his mom.

We get more on the story from Dan DeRoos of CNN affiliate KOIN in Portland, Oregon.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAN DEROOS, KOIN-TV REPORTER (voice-over): With school a week away, 9-year-old Fernando (ph) hopes to have a much better year.

FERNANDO, STUDENT: One day at school I would get like sent to the principal's office four or three times.

DEROOS: School psychiatrist would diagnose him with ADHD, recommend Ritalin to his mom.

ALICE PERRY, MOTHER: And I was very reluctant to do that, just because of a lot of the research I had done. But my kid was not himself.

DEROOS (on camera): But was it really ADHD or could it have been something else? A series of tests at OHSU would make a pretty interesting discovery.

(voice-over): This is the Dornbecker (ph) Pediatric Sleep Program. The question was how well was Fernando sleeping at night? Hooked up to monitors and even videotaped, they watched. And although Fernando would sleep about 11 hours a night...

DR. KYLE JOHNSON, OREGON HEALTH AND SCIENCE UNIV.: He was getting very poor quality fragmented sleep.

DEROOS: Fernando was diagnosed with sleep apnea, which means his tonsils and his adenoids were blocking his airflow while sleeping, at times going as long as 15 seconds between breaths. And while he wouldn't wake up, his brain would to start breathing again, making for a restless, poor quality night of sleep.

JOHNSON: That can have an impact on their daytime functioning, that can be problems with behavior or attention, concentration.

DEROOS: After surgery in June, his mom Alice says Fernando's sleep is better and so is his behavior.

PERRY: You know I won't pretend that all the problems have gone away, but he is generally in a much better mood in the day, much better able to handle the day-to-day routine.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: That report was from Dan DeRoos of our Portland affiliate KOIN.

Experts say that ADHD type behavior is three times higher in children with sleep disorders.

"Health Headlines" for you this morning.

Early detection can considerably reduce the return rate of cancer. A Finish study of breast cancer patients found that women were 90 percent more likely to be cancer free in their future if their tumors were found during mammograms. Mammographies generally discover tumors at a much early stage than self-exams.

Abstinence makes the sperm count stronger. A new study of 27 healthy men showed that frequent sexual activity could actually lower the sperm count. Researchers also looked at whether illness could be a possible explanation for lower counts.

You moms and dads may be holding the key to battling childhood obesity. You're being encouraged to help your children exercise at least 30 minutes every day. The American Physical Therapy Association also urges parents to set a good example by making workouts a family affair. One out of five children are overweight in this country.

For more on this or any other health story, head to our Web site. The address, CNN.com/health.

For those of you watching your weight, are you still searching for that perfect diet. In the next half-hour of DAYBREAK, our nutritionist Lisa Drayer dishes out some healthy advice.

Plus,...

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JENNIFER (ph) KLEIN, ANTI-PROTESTER PROTESTER: We're protesting the protesters.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Protests backlash, one couple's answer to protesters at the Republican Convention.

This is DAYBREAK.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: New York City is a protester's paradise right now. Protesters from the left, protesters from the right, there is something for everyone.

Our Jeanne Moos takes us outside the Republican Convention.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): There they go again hogging the spotlight. This time outside a breakfast sponsored by Halliburton for the Texas delegation. Or how about four more trucks hired by a gay group, the human rights campaign. Or this lonely soul dressed up like a Hummer protesting the gas-guzzler.

(on camera): How does it feel to be the only protester here?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It feels stupid.

MOOS (voice-over): But the demonstrators had plenty of company yelling shut up outside Fox News. Which brings us to the ultimate protesters.

J. KLEIN: We're protesting the protesters.

MOOS (on camera): C.R.A.P., Citizens Rebellion Against Protesters.

J. KLEIN: Yes.

MOOS: Did it take you a long time to think up C.R.A.P.?

J. KLEIN: No.

MOOS (voice-over): Jennifer and Paul Klein are Republicans from New Jersey.

PAUL KLEIN, ANTI-PROTESTER PROTESTER: Because there's enough freaks and weirdoes around here in the first place, we don't need the imports.

MOOS (on camera): I almost feel like you're pulling my leg. You're not pulling my leg, are you?

J. KLEIN: No.

P. KLEIN: No, no.

J. KLEIN: No, we're really not. We're kind of half-serious.

MOOS (voice-over): The police sure appreciate the T-shirts. The pair made it home.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Keep up the good work.

J. KLEIN: Thank you.

MOOS: You could say the same to this guy. But for Justin Gignac, it pays to pick up litter. He's been selling plastic cubes of New York City garbage for three years on his Web site for 10 bucks. Now he's picking up trash around Madison Square Garden for a special Republican edition.

JUSTIN GIGNAC, GARBAGE ENTREPRENEUR: The Republican garbage is going to be $100.

MOOS (on camera): I mean no one is going to pay $100.

GIGNAC: Well I didn't think anybody at first would pay $10 for it and they have.

MOOS (voice-over): But there's no guarantee you'll get litter dropped by an actual Republican. It's just from the area near the convention. Is that a Republican rubber band, a GOP band-aid? Did a delegate actually drop the wrappers found in these flowers?

(on camera): Are you artistically arranging it or anything?

GIGNAC: Yes, actually, I take a little bit of time putting each one together. I try to have a centerpiece, like this one has a coffee cup.

MOOS (voice-over): Republican delegates seemed eager to help.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'd like to help. I could chew a piece of gum and give you a wad of gum.

MOOS: Republicans really are getting trashed.

Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: It's time to dip in to the DAYBREAK inbox right now. We've been soliciting your e-mail this morning. The question, what did you think of last night's Republican Convention speakers?

This is from Rich (ph) from Tampa, Florida. He says I feel the Republican Convention is off to a great start and has a more polished positive tone. The speakers have been very good so far, even though they have taken some shots at Senator Kerry, it didn't come across as negative.

This is from Brian (ph) from Lynchburg, Virginia. He says I thought the entire evening seemed very low key. The crowd was polite and not very raucous. I've seen more excitement at a nursing home.

And this is from Karen (ph) from Orlando, Florida. She says all in all I thought Arnold Schwarzenegger was the high point, the twins were the low point and Laura Bush was somewhere in the middle.

Keep the e-mail coming, DAYBREAK@CNN.com. That's DAYBREAK@CNN.com.

In the next hour of DAYBREAK, some 400 people are taken hostage in Russia, including 200 elementary school children. We'll have a live update for you.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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