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CNN Live At Daybreak
Mosul Raids; 'Today's Talker'; Toy Warnings
Aired November 23, 2004 - 06:30 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: And good morning to you. Thank you for waking up with us. I'm Carol Costello along with Chad Myers. Let's get right to the headlines, shall we?
We're just minutes away from Queen Elizabeth's speech before Parliament. Take a look at the House of Lords. Is it not beautiful? The queen and Prince Philip just sat down on some very ornate golden chairs. This is a British tradition for the queen to lay out the government's agenda for the year ahead. Her speech will highlight 32 bills, many of them dealing with security.
A sixth deer hunter has died after that weekend shooting rampage in Wisconsin. Police say a deer hunter opened fire on other hunters when told he was trespassing and he was asked to leave his hunting platform. The alleged shooter has been captured. No word yet on charges.
Rescue workers are trying to reach about 10 campers socked in by a snowstorm on southern California's Santa Rosa Peak. At least two feet of snow fell over the weekend, making the mountain road impassable.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: Now that a date has been set for landmark elections in Iraq, the rampant violence that gripped the country is getting worse. In turn, the military is clamping down on those trying to undermine the vote.
CNN's Nic Robertson is embedded with the U.S. Army in Mosul. He went along with them on a raid, and he filed this report.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What is your time going to be on the objective?
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): In worsening winter weather, a last-minute rehearsal before a raid.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All right, he's going to try to beat the system and say, hey, I'm not the guy you're looking for.
ROBERTSON: The target: a former Baath Party official an informer claims is trying to undermine upcoming elections. CAPT. ROBERT LACKEY, TASK FORCE OLYMPIA: Well, regarding the elections, the importance of this mission is to combat the threat campaign that the former Baath Party members are now waging against just the regular Iraqi people.
ROBERTSON (on camera): With an election date now set, the stakes for eradicating intimidation have been raised, making the success of raids like this even more critical.
(voice over): Within minutes, a man fitting the description is taken into custody. A frenetic search of the house and shoes; then the discovery: They're at the wrong address.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You get two squads. I still want to keep -- let's keep a squad here.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, sir.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All right?
ROBERTSON: The homeowner is released.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: But we need you to show us where this house is. Or he can show us where the house is.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Nobody can. Him.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, you can!
ROBERTSON: But appears afraid to talk about the suspect.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Three houses and he's the fourth...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you want...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: ... the fourth door.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you want Mosul to continue the way it has for the past week...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The fourth...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: ... with all of the violence and the shootings?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The fourth door, you can...
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK? Everybody in Iraq has...
(CROSSTALK)
ROBERTSON: At the next house, quick confirmation they are in the right place. (on camera): Even though the man they're looking for is not here, the search for evidence continues. In the last few weeks since the upsurge in violence, the election process here has been set back, several thousand ballot papers destroyed, and four election officials at least intimidated, threatened with death.
(voice over): Tempers fray as time runs out on the hunt for clues linking the suspect to the allegations of intimidation.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Every single thing, all right?
ROBERTSON: The pressure high to make a success of this mission.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It feels bad. It does. But the great thing about it is if this was his house, which it probably was, he knows that we're looking for him, and he knows that we're eventually going to get him.
ROBERTSON: Cat and mouse with searching seeming to favor neither side. A simple snapshot of the troubles leading up to the elections.
Nic Robertson, CNN, Mosul, Iraq.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: It's time now for our DAYBREAK "Political Briefs." A radio host in Madison, Wisconsin, is apologizing for comments he made about secretary of state nominee Condoleezza Rice. John Sylvester, the D.J., called Rice "Aunt Jemima" and referred to Colin Powell as an "Uncle Tom." Sylvester apologized for his language, but he still says that Rice is a trophy of the Bush administration. Station management says they have no plans -- no plans at all -- to discipline Sylvester.
A federal lawsuit says that New York police overstepped their bounds during the Republican National Convention. The suit was filed on behalf of the nearly 2,000 people who were arrested at demonstrations in the city. Attorneys say protesters and bystanders were arrested without cause and were treated inhumanely.
After the break, has sportsmanship gone the way of 8-track tapes? And is TV really too blame? We will hear from the left and the right in five minutes.
Plus, show and tell on what toys to avoid this holiday season. That story is at 6:50 Eastern.
But first, here's a look at what else is making news this Tuesday morning.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: OK, we're live in London at the House of Lords. You see Queen Elizabeth. And basically what she's doing is she's laying out Tony Blair's upcoming legislative agenda to the House of Lords.
Let's listen in for a bit. (JOINED IN PROGRESS)
QUEEN ELIZABETH, ENGLAND: ... goods and services on the grounds of religion, as well as race, sex and disability. A single commission for equality and human rights will be established. My government will maintain its commitment to social justice and legislate to increase the rights of disabled people.
My government will continue its reform of the National Health Service, offering more information (UNINTELLIGIBLE) and choice to patients with equal access for all and free at the point of delivery.
COSTELLO: And as you're hearing, Queen Elizabeth is talking about domestic issues. She's expected to talk about national security issues, and that might be of more interest to our viewers here in the United States. So, we'll step away and go on with the rest of DAYBREAK. And when the queen gets to that part in her speech, we'll head back live to London.
While prosecutors in Michigan mull over who to charge in that basketball brawl, Clemson's coach is charging TV with inciting his players. Where is the FCC? Isn't that worse than a wardrobe malfunction?
Listen to this: Clemson Coach Tommy Bowden suggests repeated viewings of Friday night's Pistons-Pacers fight might have been a factor in Saturday night's Clemson-South Carolina football scuffle.
So, I ask again: Where is the outcry from the FCC?
We're joined by author Peter Beinart on the left, and talk show host Armstrong Williams on the right.
Good morning, gentlemen.
ARMSTRONG WILLIAMS, RADIO TALK SHOW HOST: Good morning.
PETER BEINART, "NEW REPUBLIC": Nice to be here.
COSTELLO: I know we're veering off politics just a bit. But in light of what Coach Bowden intimated, we just had to go there.
So, let's start with you, Peter. Where is the FCC in all of this if it's, like, remotely true that violence on television, like, caused an outbreak between football players?
It's really not the FCC's job. As a matter of free speech, I think TV networks can show this stuff all they want. The real problem is the NBA. You know, if the NBA was not selling beer at its games, none of this would be happening. I don't think any fan who is not drunk is going to take on an NBA player.
But when you allow fans to get drunk in the stands, this is the kind of thing that's going to happen. It's about the NBA and the way they regulate their games, not about TV, I think.
COSTELLO: So, Armstrong, do you agree that it's nothing about violence on television, it's all about beer?
WILLIAMS: Well, violence does have an influencing factor on people's behavior when you do it repeatedly on television. But I don't think that is the case with the NBA and what happened in South Carolina. I don't think we should just indict alcohol. I certainly would not advocate alcohol at these games.
But, look, I mean, if you look at (UNINTELLIGIBLE), this is something you never see. People drink alcohol. They're very civil. They're measured in their drinking, and you don't see this kind of violence.
I think the problem here is that even though Ron Artest was given a very harsh punishment, I mean, he's had these behavioral problems. I think he represents in many aspects of what is wrong with the NBA.
The thing is that he should have never gone into the stands. The fact is when you are lying on a table, like he was, you never know who tossed the beer at you. You take a chance of hitting the wrong person. And when you're hitting the wrong person and their friends are standing around them, you're going to create a melee.
I mean, these were huge athletes throwing punches at fans. Obviously they're going to try to defend themselves. You can say those fans do not have a right. But if someone threw a punch at you, you don't know what your reaction would be...
COSTELLO: Oh, well, definitely true.
WILLIAMS: ... especially if you had nothing to do with the fracas.
COSTELLO: Definitely true. And it turns out Artest did hit the wrong man.
WILLIAMS: Yes.
COSTELLO: In fact, they've identified the man in the white hat now, and he apparently threw the beer.
But getting back to the idea of violence on television, so much was made of the Super Bowl and the Janet Jackson incident. It seems as if we're kind of hung up on sex.
I want to read to you guys something in "The Washington Post." This is by Tom Shales. He said: "At no point did anyone, including Chairman Powell" -- the FCC chairman -- ''positioned now like Attila at the head of the Huns, produce one single living creature -- man, woman, child, toddler, infant, newborn, late-term fetus, dog, cat, rooster, horse or parakeet -- who saw the briefly exposed nipple and was in any tangible way harmed by it."
And then you go back to Tommy Bowden's statement that he thought the repeated viewing of this basket brawl caused his players to brawl themselves. WILLIAMS: I just think that's a poor excuse to take no responsibility and be accountable. Tensions between these schools -- I'm from South Carolina -- have built for some time, and one of the schools are mauling others. South Carolina was beating the living daylights out of Clemson, and it just out of control, no different than what happened between Indiana and Detroit. I mean, Detroit was getting the living daylights beaten out of them by Indiana.
And here you have Ben Wallace, who I thought he was wrong in the way he pushed Artest, started inciting the fans, throwing his hands up in the air, and one thing led to another.
I think the responsibility belongs to the players first, then to the fans. But I think what you have to do is take a close examination of these athletes.
But I'll tell you the thing that was really troubling to me was watching these athletes leave and watching these fans pour beer and water on them as if you were hosing down animals. They showed no respect for them.
COSTELLO: And that's exactly right, Armstrong.
WILLIAMS: It was very humiliating.
COSTELLO: And, Peter, I want to bring you into this, too, because we've been asking viewers what they think of violence on television and if it all caused these fans to react in the way they did.
This is from one viewer: "I believe violence on TV gives young people the idea that it is commonplace, shows them the methods that can be used to escalate violence. It's no longer a big deal for them. Violence on TV is not a good thing."
So, again, why is the FCC coming hard on things sexual on TV but not on things violent?
BEINART: I think there's a question of responsibility by television networks, which is separate from the role of the FCC as a representative of the government to start telling TV networks what they should and should not show. I would be much happy, obviously, if television networks provided more edifying TV and not stuff that was so violent and so degrading.
However, in a free country and in a free market, it seems to me, the only thing you can do is exert the kind of pressure -- moral pressure on TV networks to improve the quality of what they show. You can't start telling them that they have to show this -- that they can't show this or that clip.
If the FCC had said, you know what? You can't keep showing clips of this basketball game. I think that would have been a gross violation of the FCC's powers and not the right response to this.
WILLIAMS: And also, people need to see themselves. When you look in the stands at that NBA game and you see yourself, you see the kind of behavior, and it tells you when you're in a situation like that, it instructs you on how you need to react and not react. I think seeing that over and over again you see yourself, and I think it can be for the better.
I'm not going to say that the FCC should regulate this. I believe in free speech. I don't think it should be limited. I think the marketplace should deal with that. Stern dealt with it. And just like what happened with ESPN and Terrell Owens and Nicollette Sheridan, the marketplace dealt with that. They apologized.
I think that's the best place to deal with issues like this. And Stern dealt with this swiftly. I think he did the right things. You may think it's harsh, but he sent a clear message, we will not tolerate this in the NBA. And that is what is necessary, and the fans get the message and the players.
COSTELLO: And you're talking about the NBA commissioner, David Stern.
Thanks to both of you, Peter Beinart, Armstrong Williams. I could talk about this forever. But we must end it now. Thanks to you both.
WILLIAMS: Thank you.
COSTELLO: Let's check in with Bill and Soledad now for a look at what's coming up on "AMERICAN MORNING."
Good morning.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Hi, Carol.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Now, what do you think the chances are these venues across the country are going to stop selling beer? What, they're going to take 50 percent of the profits and kick it out the door?
O'BRIEN: None. Never.
HEMMER: No chance.
COSTELLO: Yes, but at football games they stop selling alcohol at halftime.
HEMMER: That's right. And baseball games, seventh inning.
COSTELLO: So, what about basketball games? I don't know. Do they sell it the whole game?
HEMMER: I don't know actually. I don't know that answer.
O'BRIEN: But they're never, ever, ever -- and you can quote me on this -- ever going to stop selling alcohol at the games.
HEMMER: Two zeros. Carol, good morning to you. Among the headlines on "AMERICAN MORNING," there's a British terror threat. New details emerged about a possible terror plot there similar to the attacks of 9/11. It's getting a lot of attention here and overseas. And Walt Rodgers is tracking that for us this morning in London.
O'BRIEN: Also, some fallout from efforts to reform intelligence. Key Republicans are now standing firm. They are defying the president on the issue. The question is now, of course: Is that bill dead, or at least is it dead for now?
HEMMER: And more on your favorite story, Carol, the NBA brawl. We have a number of interesting players to talk about it today. Greg Anthony himself kicked out for five games back in 1994, I believe it was, and we're going to talk to a fan who was front and center for the ringside view on Friday night. So, we'll get his thoughts as well.
COSTELLO: Oh, you're going to show the man in the white hat, too, because they caught the guy...
HEMMER: Yes.
COSTELLO: ... that supposedly threw the beer at Artest.
HEMMER: Yes. Someone says he has...
COSTELLO: He has a criminal background.
HEMMER: Yes. It's a shocker.
O'BRIEN: Checkered past, yes.
COSTELLO: Interesting. We'll catch you in about, oh, 10 minutes. Thank you.
HEMMER: All right, Carol.
COSTELLO: DAYBREAK will be right back after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Let's talk celebrities for just a bit, shall we? Not all celebs stay on top of their game for as many years as you two. In fact, some of them are completely opposite. They're off the hot list right now. And the online movie magazine, "Film Threat," is keeping track, to their absolute joy.
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: It is called the "Frigid 50," those who have fallen out of some favor.
The No. 1 on the "Frigid 50" was Michael Moore. Editors say Michael should remember it's not always about you, Michael. Lose the chip on your shoulder. That's from the Web site.
No. 2, Halle Berry, because "Catwoman" was not the best follow-up to an Oscar performance. COSTELLO: Oh, that's an understatement. No. 3.
MYERS: No. 3, go ahead.
COSTELLO: Michael Eisner, he's getting bad press because of a shareholders lawsuit. And, oh, yes, Disney has had a few flops at the box office this year. Take it away.
MYERS: Giving somebody $160 million for a severance package.
No. 4, film director M. Night Shyamalan, because "The Village" fell short of the hype. Shyamalan. And...
COSTELLO: Go ahead, round out the top five.
MYERS: You don't have this here, do you? And rounding out the top five, the comic team of Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson for their appearances in what editors call "mass-produced mediocrity."
COSTELLO: I know. Do you know anyone who saw the movie, "Starksy and Hutch?"
MYERS: No.
COSTELLO: I don't either. And I really loved that show, but it's like, oh, them again.
MYERS: Yes, it's...
COSTELLO: No one is ever going to be on DAYBREAK.
MYERS: You know, you can't do -- you can't remake "Chips" either, because if you don't have Erik Estrada, you just can't get those guys to look the same. You can't redo the "Dukes of Hazzard." The memories of those guys, those faces, are in your head.
COSTELLO: I'm just thinking about a remake of "Chips," and I'm becoming frightened. Thank you, Chad.
We'll be right back with holiday season toy safety tips. You are watching DAYBREAK for a Tuesday morning.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Two days from now, FAO Schwartz will open its doors, doing what it does best, and that would be being extravagant. Earlier this year, the company declared bankruptcy and closed its landmark Manhattan store. But now, it is set to reopen on Thanksgiving Day with a stunning makeover.
Most of the stores' merchandise will be high-end. However, it's also stocking other items that cost less than 20 bucks. We don't know what those items are, but I'm sure they're very nice.
Before you rush off to buy the hot new toy for your child on your Christmas list, take note. There are some dangerous toys on the shelves.
Consumer Product Safety Chairman Hal Stratton is here to show us some of those items.
Good morning, Hal.
HAL STRATTON, CHAIRMAN, CPSC: Good morning. How are you?
COSTELLO: I'm fine. So, what's first on the list?
STRATTON: Well, the first on the list is the lead jewelry that we recalled this past July. We recalled 150 million pieces of lead jewelry out of vending machines around the country, which we were concerned about the kids putting in their mouths and getting lead poisoning.
So, we believe we have this problem resolved, but parents should be very cautious about these small pieces of very cheap jewelry when they're out shopping for their kids.
COSTELLO: Point taken. No. 2 toy. No. 2 dangerous toy.
STRATTON: Nerf football. You know, we all use these. We all play with these. This particular one, unfortunately, has a plastic frame on the inside. And as the Nerf football deteriorates, the frame doesn't, and we've had a number of lacerations with this from kids. So, these have been recalled as well.
COSTELLO: What's on the inside of that? I'm just curious.
STRATTON: Well...
COSTELLO: Is that like a little computer?
STRATTON: It's a little computer, and it's hard plastic, made out of hard plastic, so...
COSTELLO: Oh.
STRATTON: And I can't tell you exactly what the computer does, but you know how kids are with computers? You know, they've got to have one even in their footballs nowadays. So...
COSTELLO: I guess so. It's very strange.
STRATTON: Exactly. So, those have been recalled.
Here, look at this one, Carol, and tell me if you can see what you would identify on this particular toy as being a problem.
COSTELLO: Oh, the little pointy thing on the Batmobile?
STRATTON: Exactly. Exactly. Even the kids at school, when I take these to schools and show them, they know that these are dangerous. So, this was recalled because of the hard plastic points, which causes lacerations. We have a number of lacerations with them. And then the other one I brought with me this morning is this little soft book for younger kids. And it looks pretty innocuous. On the back is a mirror, and the mirror breaks. And it's a real mirror, and it causes lacerations and injuries to kids as well. So, these have been recalled also.
COSTELLO: You know what? I've always wondered about this, when the companies make these things, don't they do some sort of test or some sort of research to keep them from making dangerous toys?
STRATTON: You know, they do, and you would think they would. But things slip through the cracks on these things. When you think about the billions of toys that are produced in this country ever year and distributed, you know, yes. But some of these do get through the cracks.
You know, you look at the Batmobile and you wonder, you know, what were they thinking about?
COSTELLO: What were they thinking?
STRATTON: Yes, exactly.
COSTELLO: Exactly. So, give us a Web site or something that we can check out.
STRATTON: Well, if you want consumer information, I recommend three quick sources. No. 1 is CPSC.gov, our Web site. We have everything you could possible want there. We have a new Web site we're administering, www.recalls.gov, where you can get every recall of every federal agency.
COSTELLO: OK.
STRATTON: And also, I would watch CNN.
COSTELLO: That's good enough, because we have to go. Oh, I like that one, watch CNN, because "AMERICAN MORNING" is coming...
STRATTON: Yes, because you do a great job at covering this, Carol.
COSTELLO: Hal Stratton, thank you very much. Watch CNN, especially now since "AMERICAN MORNING" starts right now.
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Aired November 23, 2004 - 06:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: And good morning to you. Thank you for waking up with us. I'm Carol Costello along with Chad Myers. Let's get right to the headlines, shall we?
We're just minutes away from Queen Elizabeth's speech before Parliament. Take a look at the House of Lords. Is it not beautiful? The queen and Prince Philip just sat down on some very ornate golden chairs. This is a British tradition for the queen to lay out the government's agenda for the year ahead. Her speech will highlight 32 bills, many of them dealing with security.
A sixth deer hunter has died after that weekend shooting rampage in Wisconsin. Police say a deer hunter opened fire on other hunters when told he was trespassing and he was asked to leave his hunting platform. The alleged shooter has been captured. No word yet on charges.
Rescue workers are trying to reach about 10 campers socked in by a snowstorm on southern California's Santa Rosa Peak. At least two feet of snow fell over the weekend, making the mountain road impassable.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: Now that a date has been set for landmark elections in Iraq, the rampant violence that gripped the country is getting worse. In turn, the military is clamping down on those trying to undermine the vote.
CNN's Nic Robertson is embedded with the U.S. Army in Mosul. He went along with them on a raid, and he filed this report.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What is your time going to be on the objective?
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): In worsening winter weather, a last-minute rehearsal before a raid.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All right, he's going to try to beat the system and say, hey, I'm not the guy you're looking for.
ROBERTSON: The target: a former Baath Party official an informer claims is trying to undermine upcoming elections. CAPT. ROBERT LACKEY, TASK FORCE OLYMPIA: Well, regarding the elections, the importance of this mission is to combat the threat campaign that the former Baath Party members are now waging against just the regular Iraqi people.
ROBERTSON (on camera): With an election date now set, the stakes for eradicating intimidation have been raised, making the success of raids like this even more critical.
(voice over): Within minutes, a man fitting the description is taken into custody. A frenetic search of the house and shoes; then the discovery: They're at the wrong address.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You get two squads. I still want to keep -- let's keep a squad here.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, sir.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All right?
ROBERTSON: The homeowner is released.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: But we need you to show us where this house is. Or he can show us where the house is.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Nobody can. Him.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, you can!
ROBERTSON: But appears afraid to talk about the suspect.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Three houses and he's the fourth...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you want...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: ... the fourth door.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you want Mosul to continue the way it has for the past week...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The fourth...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: ... with all of the violence and the shootings?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The fourth door, you can...
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK? Everybody in Iraq has...
(CROSSTALK)
ROBERTSON: At the next house, quick confirmation they are in the right place. (on camera): Even though the man they're looking for is not here, the search for evidence continues. In the last few weeks since the upsurge in violence, the election process here has been set back, several thousand ballot papers destroyed, and four election officials at least intimidated, threatened with death.
(voice over): Tempers fray as time runs out on the hunt for clues linking the suspect to the allegations of intimidation.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Every single thing, all right?
ROBERTSON: The pressure high to make a success of this mission.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It feels bad. It does. But the great thing about it is if this was his house, which it probably was, he knows that we're looking for him, and he knows that we're eventually going to get him.
ROBERTSON: Cat and mouse with searching seeming to favor neither side. A simple snapshot of the troubles leading up to the elections.
Nic Robertson, CNN, Mosul, Iraq.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: It's time now for our DAYBREAK "Political Briefs." A radio host in Madison, Wisconsin, is apologizing for comments he made about secretary of state nominee Condoleezza Rice. John Sylvester, the D.J., called Rice "Aunt Jemima" and referred to Colin Powell as an "Uncle Tom." Sylvester apologized for his language, but he still says that Rice is a trophy of the Bush administration. Station management says they have no plans -- no plans at all -- to discipline Sylvester.
A federal lawsuit says that New York police overstepped their bounds during the Republican National Convention. The suit was filed on behalf of the nearly 2,000 people who were arrested at demonstrations in the city. Attorneys say protesters and bystanders were arrested without cause and were treated inhumanely.
After the break, has sportsmanship gone the way of 8-track tapes? And is TV really too blame? We will hear from the left and the right in five minutes.
Plus, show and tell on what toys to avoid this holiday season. That story is at 6:50 Eastern.
But first, here's a look at what else is making news this Tuesday morning.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: OK, we're live in London at the House of Lords. You see Queen Elizabeth. And basically what she's doing is she's laying out Tony Blair's upcoming legislative agenda to the House of Lords.
Let's listen in for a bit. (JOINED IN PROGRESS)
QUEEN ELIZABETH, ENGLAND: ... goods and services on the grounds of religion, as well as race, sex and disability. A single commission for equality and human rights will be established. My government will maintain its commitment to social justice and legislate to increase the rights of disabled people.
My government will continue its reform of the National Health Service, offering more information (UNINTELLIGIBLE) and choice to patients with equal access for all and free at the point of delivery.
COSTELLO: And as you're hearing, Queen Elizabeth is talking about domestic issues. She's expected to talk about national security issues, and that might be of more interest to our viewers here in the United States. So, we'll step away and go on with the rest of DAYBREAK. And when the queen gets to that part in her speech, we'll head back live to London.
While prosecutors in Michigan mull over who to charge in that basketball brawl, Clemson's coach is charging TV with inciting his players. Where is the FCC? Isn't that worse than a wardrobe malfunction?
Listen to this: Clemson Coach Tommy Bowden suggests repeated viewings of Friday night's Pistons-Pacers fight might have been a factor in Saturday night's Clemson-South Carolina football scuffle.
So, I ask again: Where is the outcry from the FCC?
We're joined by author Peter Beinart on the left, and talk show host Armstrong Williams on the right.
Good morning, gentlemen.
ARMSTRONG WILLIAMS, RADIO TALK SHOW HOST: Good morning.
PETER BEINART, "NEW REPUBLIC": Nice to be here.
COSTELLO: I know we're veering off politics just a bit. But in light of what Coach Bowden intimated, we just had to go there.
So, let's start with you, Peter. Where is the FCC in all of this if it's, like, remotely true that violence on television, like, caused an outbreak between football players?
It's really not the FCC's job. As a matter of free speech, I think TV networks can show this stuff all they want. The real problem is the NBA. You know, if the NBA was not selling beer at its games, none of this would be happening. I don't think any fan who is not drunk is going to take on an NBA player.
But when you allow fans to get drunk in the stands, this is the kind of thing that's going to happen. It's about the NBA and the way they regulate their games, not about TV, I think.
COSTELLO: So, Armstrong, do you agree that it's nothing about violence on television, it's all about beer?
WILLIAMS: Well, violence does have an influencing factor on people's behavior when you do it repeatedly on television. But I don't think that is the case with the NBA and what happened in South Carolina. I don't think we should just indict alcohol. I certainly would not advocate alcohol at these games.
But, look, I mean, if you look at (UNINTELLIGIBLE), this is something you never see. People drink alcohol. They're very civil. They're measured in their drinking, and you don't see this kind of violence.
I think the problem here is that even though Ron Artest was given a very harsh punishment, I mean, he's had these behavioral problems. I think he represents in many aspects of what is wrong with the NBA.
The thing is that he should have never gone into the stands. The fact is when you are lying on a table, like he was, you never know who tossed the beer at you. You take a chance of hitting the wrong person. And when you're hitting the wrong person and their friends are standing around them, you're going to create a melee.
I mean, these were huge athletes throwing punches at fans. Obviously they're going to try to defend themselves. You can say those fans do not have a right. But if someone threw a punch at you, you don't know what your reaction would be...
COSTELLO: Oh, well, definitely true.
WILLIAMS: ... especially if you had nothing to do with the fracas.
COSTELLO: Definitely true. And it turns out Artest did hit the wrong man.
WILLIAMS: Yes.
COSTELLO: In fact, they've identified the man in the white hat now, and he apparently threw the beer.
But getting back to the idea of violence on television, so much was made of the Super Bowl and the Janet Jackson incident. It seems as if we're kind of hung up on sex.
I want to read to you guys something in "The Washington Post." This is by Tom Shales. He said: "At no point did anyone, including Chairman Powell" -- the FCC chairman -- ''positioned now like Attila at the head of the Huns, produce one single living creature -- man, woman, child, toddler, infant, newborn, late-term fetus, dog, cat, rooster, horse or parakeet -- who saw the briefly exposed nipple and was in any tangible way harmed by it."
And then you go back to Tommy Bowden's statement that he thought the repeated viewing of this basket brawl caused his players to brawl themselves. WILLIAMS: I just think that's a poor excuse to take no responsibility and be accountable. Tensions between these schools -- I'm from South Carolina -- have built for some time, and one of the schools are mauling others. South Carolina was beating the living daylights out of Clemson, and it just out of control, no different than what happened between Indiana and Detroit. I mean, Detroit was getting the living daylights beaten out of them by Indiana.
And here you have Ben Wallace, who I thought he was wrong in the way he pushed Artest, started inciting the fans, throwing his hands up in the air, and one thing led to another.
I think the responsibility belongs to the players first, then to the fans. But I think what you have to do is take a close examination of these athletes.
But I'll tell you the thing that was really troubling to me was watching these athletes leave and watching these fans pour beer and water on them as if you were hosing down animals. They showed no respect for them.
COSTELLO: And that's exactly right, Armstrong.
WILLIAMS: It was very humiliating.
COSTELLO: And, Peter, I want to bring you into this, too, because we've been asking viewers what they think of violence on television and if it all caused these fans to react in the way they did.
This is from one viewer: "I believe violence on TV gives young people the idea that it is commonplace, shows them the methods that can be used to escalate violence. It's no longer a big deal for them. Violence on TV is not a good thing."
So, again, why is the FCC coming hard on things sexual on TV but not on things violent?
BEINART: I think there's a question of responsibility by television networks, which is separate from the role of the FCC as a representative of the government to start telling TV networks what they should and should not show. I would be much happy, obviously, if television networks provided more edifying TV and not stuff that was so violent and so degrading.
However, in a free country and in a free market, it seems to me, the only thing you can do is exert the kind of pressure -- moral pressure on TV networks to improve the quality of what they show. You can't start telling them that they have to show this -- that they can't show this or that clip.
If the FCC had said, you know what? You can't keep showing clips of this basketball game. I think that would have been a gross violation of the FCC's powers and not the right response to this.
WILLIAMS: And also, people need to see themselves. When you look in the stands at that NBA game and you see yourself, you see the kind of behavior, and it tells you when you're in a situation like that, it instructs you on how you need to react and not react. I think seeing that over and over again you see yourself, and I think it can be for the better.
I'm not going to say that the FCC should regulate this. I believe in free speech. I don't think it should be limited. I think the marketplace should deal with that. Stern dealt with it. And just like what happened with ESPN and Terrell Owens and Nicollette Sheridan, the marketplace dealt with that. They apologized.
I think that's the best place to deal with issues like this. And Stern dealt with this swiftly. I think he did the right things. You may think it's harsh, but he sent a clear message, we will not tolerate this in the NBA. And that is what is necessary, and the fans get the message and the players.
COSTELLO: And you're talking about the NBA commissioner, David Stern.
Thanks to both of you, Peter Beinart, Armstrong Williams. I could talk about this forever. But we must end it now. Thanks to you both.
WILLIAMS: Thank you.
COSTELLO: Let's check in with Bill and Soledad now for a look at what's coming up on "AMERICAN MORNING."
Good morning.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Hi, Carol.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Now, what do you think the chances are these venues across the country are going to stop selling beer? What, they're going to take 50 percent of the profits and kick it out the door?
O'BRIEN: None. Never.
HEMMER: No chance.
COSTELLO: Yes, but at football games they stop selling alcohol at halftime.
HEMMER: That's right. And baseball games, seventh inning.
COSTELLO: So, what about basketball games? I don't know. Do they sell it the whole game?
HEMMER: I don't know actually. I don't know that answer.
O'BRIEN: But they're never, ever, ever -- and you can quote me on this -- ever going to stop selling alcohol at the games.
HEMMER: Two zeros. Carol, good morning to you. Among the headlines on "AMERICAN MORNING," there's a British terror threat. New details emerged about a possible terror plot there similar to the attacks of 9/11. It's getting a lot of attention here and overseas. And Walt Rodgers is tracking that for us this morning in London.
O'BRIEN: Also, some fallout from efforts to reform intelligence. Key Republicans are now standing firm. They are defying the president on the issue. The question is now, of course: Is that bill dead, or at least is it dead for now?
HEMMER: And more on your favorite story, Carol, the NBA brawl. We have a number of interesting players to talk about it today. Greg Anthony himself kicked out for five games back in 1994, I believe it was, and we're going to talk to a fan who was front and center for the ringside view on Friday night. So, we'll get his thoughts as well.
COSTELLO: Oh, you're going to show the man in the white hat, too, because they caught the guy...
HEMMER: Yes.
COSTELLO: ... that supposedly threw the beer at Artest.
HEMMER: Yes. Someone says he has...
COSTELLO: He has a criminal background.
HEMMER: Yes. It's a shocker.
O'BRIEN: Checkered past, yes.
COSTELLO: Interesting. We'll catch you in about, oh, 10 minutes. Thank you.
HEMMER: All right, Carol.
COSTELLO: DAYBREAK will be right back after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Let's talk celebrities for just a bit, shall we? Not all celebs stay on top of their game for as many years as you two. In fact, some of them are completely opposite. They're off the hot list right now. And the online movie magazine, "Film Threat," is keeping track, to their absolute joy.
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: It is called the "Frigid 50," those who have fallen out of some favor.
The No. 1 on the "Frigid 50" was Michael Moore. Editors say Michael should remember it's not always about you, Michael. Lose the chip on your shoulder. That's from the Web site.
No. 2, Halle Berry, because "Catwoman" was not the best follow-up to an Oscar performance. COSTELLO: Oh, that's an understatement. No. 3.
MYERS: No. 3, go ahead.
COSTELLO: Michael Eisner, he's getting bad press because of a shareholders lawsuit. And, oh, yes, Disney has had a few flops at the box office this year. Take it away.
MYERS: Giving somebody $160 million for a severance package.
No. 4, film director M. Night Shyamalan, because "The Village" fell short of the hype. Shyamalan. And...
COSTELLO: Go ahead, round out the top five.
MYERS: You don't have this here, do you? And rounding out the top five, the comic team of Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson for their appearances in what editors call "mass-produced mediocrity."
COSTELLO: I know. Do you know anyone who saw the movie, "Starksy and Hutch?"
MYERS: No.
COSTELLO: I don't either. And I really loved that show, but it's like, oh, them again.
MYERS: Yes, it's...
COSTELLO: No one is ever going to be on DAYBREAK.
MYERS: You know, you can't do -- you can't remake "Chips" either, because if you don't have Erik Estrada, you just can't get those guys to look the same. You can't redo the "Dukes of Hazzard." The memories of those guys, those faces, are in your head.
COSTELLO: I'm just thinking about a remake of "Chips," and I'm becoming frightened. Thank you, Chad.
We'll be right back with holiday season toy safety tips. You are watching DAYBREAK for a Tuesday morning.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Two days from now, FAO Schwartz will open its doors, doing what it does best, and that would be being extravagant. Earlier this year, the company declared bankruptcy and closed its landmark Manhattan store. But now, it is set to reopen on Thanksgiving Day with a stunning makeover.
Most of the stores' merchandise will be high-end. However, it's also stocking other items that cost less than 20 bucks. We don't know what those items are, but I'm sure they're very nice.
Before you rush off to buy the hot new toy for your child on your Christmas list, take note. There are some dangerous toys on the shelves.
Consumer Product Safety Chairman Hal Stratton is here to show us some of those items.
Good morning, Hal.
HAL STRATTON, CHAIRMAN, CPSC: Good morning. How are you?
COSTELLO: I'm fine. So, what's first on the list?
STRATTON: Well, the first on the list is the lead jewelry that we recalled this past July. We recalled 150 million pieces of lead jewelry out of vending machines around the country, which we were concerned about the kids putting in their mouths and getting lead poisoning.
So, we believe we have this problem resolved, but parents should be very cautious about these small pieces of very cheap jewelry when they're out shopping for their kids.
COSTELLO: Point taken. No. 2 toy. No. 2 dangerous toy.
STRATTON: Nerf football. You know, we all use these. We all play with these. This particular one, unfortunately, has a plastic frame on the inside. And as the Nerf football deteriorates, the frame doesn't, and we've had a number of lacerations with this from kids. So, these have been recalled as well.
COSTELLO: What's on the inside of that? I'm just curious.
STRATTON: Well...
COSTELLO: Is that like a little computer?
STRATTON: It's a little computer, and it's hard plastic, made out of hard plastic, so...
COSTELLO: Oh.
STRATTON: And I can't tell you exactly what the computer does, but you know how kids are with computers? You know, they've got to have one even in their footballs nowadays. So...
COSTELLO: I guess so. It's very strange.
STRATTON: Exactly. So, those have been recalled.
Here, look at this one, Carol, and tell me if you can see what you would identify on this particular toy as being a problem.
COSTELLO: Oh, the little pointy thing on the Batmobile?
STRATTON: Exactly. Exactly. Even the kids at school, when I take these to schools and show them, they know that these are dangerous. So, this was recalled because of the hard plastic points, which causes lacerations. We have a number of lacerations with them. And then the other one I brought with me this morning is this little soft book for younger kids. And it looks pretty innocuous. On the back is a mirror, and the mirror breaks. And it's a real mirror, and it causes lacerations and injuries to kids as well. So, these have been recalled also.
COSTELLO: You know what? I've always wondered about this, when the companies make these things, don't they do some sort of test or some sort of research to keep them from making dangerous toys?
STRATTON: You know, they do, and you would think they would. But things slip through the cracks on these things. When you think about the billions of toys that are produced in this country ever year and distributed, you know, yes. But some of these do get through the cracks.
You know, you look at the Batmobile and you wonder, you know, what were they thinking about?
COSTELLO: What were they thinking?
STRATTON: Yes, exactly.
COSTELLO: Exactly. So, give us a Web site or something that we can check out.
STRATTON: Well, if you want consumer information, I recommend three quick sources. No. 1 is CPSC.gov, our Web site. We have everything you could possible want there. We have a new Web site we're administering, www.recalls.gov, where you can get every recall of every federal agency.
COSTELLO: OK.
STRATTON: And also, I would watch CNN.
COSTELLO: That's good enough, because we have to go. Oh, I like that one, watch CNN, because "AMERICAN MORNING" is coming...
STRATTON: Yes, because you do a great job at covering this, Carol.
COSTELLO: Hal Stratton, thank you very much. Watch CNN, especially now since "AMERICAN MORNING" starts right now.
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