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American Morning
Nationwide Manhunt for Guardians of Five Children Allegedly Tortured; Examining Controversy Surrounding President Bush's Proposal to Reform Social Security
Aired February 04, 2005 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning.
On the road again today. President Bush talking to the American people. But the audience he may have to convince is back in Washington.
A house that seven children would likely never want to see again. A manhunt now on for the Florida couple supposed to be caring for them.
And how far will this year's Super Bowl commercials go? We have a special sneak peek for you on this AMERICAN MORNING.
ANNOUNCER: From the CNN broadcast center in New York, this is AMERICAN MORNING with Bill Hemmer and Soledad O'Brien.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning.
Welcome back, everybody.
Some of the news making headlines this morning.
Some big names are being swept up in the U.N.'s Oil For Food scandal. More of the independent investigation is out. We're going to get details from the U.N. this morning.
HEMMER: Also, out of Iraq today, why are some people concerned that Saddam Hussein will not get a fair trial in that country? We'll talk about that case and we'll hear about more about "Chemical Ali," about Saddam Hussein and what the problems might be going forward. They think maybe in the spring time they could begin the trial of "Chemical Ali." But we'll see in a moment live in Baghdad on what's happening on that.
O'BRIEN: Jack's got a look at "The File" this morning, a little preview.
What you got?
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Why the delay on putting these dirt bags on trial?
HEMMER: Well, they have to figure it out first and there's a lot of training right now for the Americans trying to bring the Iraqi lawyers on board. So it's not easy. CAFFERTY: I mean they're not out looking for evidence, are they?
O'BRIEN: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
HEMMER: There's a 20-year list of evidence against him that they're working off of.
CAFFERTY: Coming up in the "Cafferty File," they should hurry up with these trials in Iraq. Also, an alternative football game to watch this Sunday that has much cuter players whom you may want to adopt. And you can, if you're so inclined. A Teddy Bear in a straitjacket is now a collector's item. It's an old "File" item that I got in some trouble with. We'll update it for you. And wait until you hear some of the stuff being donated to tsunami victims. Nobody knows what to do with this stuff. It's piling up on the shores of these countries hit by that wave. Weird, weird things.
HEMMER: Wow! That's a shame.
CAFFERTY: Yes.
O'BRIEN: OK, all right, Jack, thanks.
Let's get right to Carol Costello.
She's got a look at the headlines, as well -- good morning.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: I was puzzled by that, as well. Weird things.
O'BRIEN: Yes.
COSTELLO: Yes.
Good tease, Jack.
O'BRIEN: He'll tell us if we ask him right.
CAFFERTY: Thank you, Carol.
COSTELLO: Good morning.
Now in the news, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says a U.S. attack on Iran is simply not on the agenda. Rice's comments coming just as she wrapped up a closed door meeting with the British prime minister, Tony Blair. It's her first trip abroad since taking over the State Department. Rice stops in Berlin later today, and then in Paris next week.
Iraqi police say a female Italian journalist has been kidnapped in southern Baghdad. Authorities say the woman was snatched from her vehicle while conducting interviews near Baghdad University. According to police, gunmen fired shots into the air and pushed her into a vehicle and then they sped away.
U.S. officials say at least three Americans are among the 104 people on board a jet missing near the Afghan-Pakistani border. Afghan authorities have launched a search and rescue mission for the plane, similar to the one shown here. The jet was heading for Kabul, but was detoured to a Pakistani airport due to a snowstorm. There is no record it ever landed.
And an outpouring of prayers from well wishers as word comes that the pope's health is improving. Hospital sources say the 84-year-old pontiff is getting better. Still not clear how long he'll stay at that Rome hospital. Vatican sources say the pope is expected to deliver his regular Sunday address and he will do it from his hospital bed. There will be a special audio feed set up for him and everything.
HEMMER: That is amazing, huh?
COSTELLO: Yes. He's amazing.
HEMMER: It will take a little more than the flu to keep down, don't you think?
COSTELLO: You've got that right.
HEMMER: Thank you, Carol.
There is a police manhunt underway at this hour in Florida for a couple accused of torturing their children.
John Zarrella is live in Miami this morning -- John, what have you found out?
JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Bill, it's just the kind of a story that makes you shake your head and wonder how is it possible? A horrific story emerging from the town of Beverly Hills, which is in Citrus County, about an hour north of Tampa.
A nationwide manhunt underway for a couple that have been charged with child abuse and torture of five of seven children.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
ZARRELLA (voice-over): Friends and neighbors in this Florida town are stunned by the allegations.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We can't understand anybody abusing children. It's just very difficult to fathom that someone would do that.
ZARRELLA: Fifty-eight-year-old John Dollar and his 51-year-old wife Linda are accused of torturing five of the seven children in their home, ranging in age from 12 to 16. The allegations include malnourishment, electric shock, pulling toenails out with pliers, binding the kids with chains and using a hammer to smash their feet.
Police began their investigation two weeks ago, after one of the kids, a 16-year-old boy, was treated at a local hospital. He was bleeding from cuts on his head and doctors noticed bruises around his neck. But what concerned them most was his weight -- just 59 pounds. GAIL TIERNEY, CITRUS COUNTY SHERIFF'S SPOKESWOMAN: I've seen pictures of the children that have been, you know, been taken in connection with this case and, you know, I mean they have, they have very sweet faces. But when you look at their bodies, I mean it looks like Auschwitz.
ZARRELLA: Two of the children, 14-year-old twin boys, weighed less than 40 pounds each, the weight of a typical 4-year-old. The Dollars are not the children's biological parents, but they are their guardians. The children are now in the custody of Florida's Department of Children and Families.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
ZARRELLA: Now, two of the seven children were not, according to authorities, abused. They were "the favorites" of the Dollars.
Now, the Dollars moved to -- up to Beverly Hills from Brandon, Florida, which is just outside of Tampa. Authorities told me this morning they believe that they had been in the state for several years, had moved to Florida from Tennessee and that the abuse had been going on for years.
Now, police are looking for two vehicles that the Dollars have. One is a motor home with Florida license tag number U06YAC and a Lexus, license tag number, Florida license tag DH41D. So authorities want anyone who has seen either of those vehicles, a motor home or that gold Lexus, to please call them. They want to get their hands on these people quickly -- Bill.
HEMMER: Well, John, if they don't know where the parents are, where are the children this morning? Who's taking care of them?
ZARRELLA: Bill, I completely...
HEMMER: Sorry, John.
I'll try it again.
ZARRELLA: Go ahead, Bill.
HEMMER: Where are the children this morning if they can't find the parents? Who's taking care of them?
ZARRELLA: The children are in the custody of the department -- Florida's Department of Children and Families. I don't know exactly where they are. I believe they still could be in the Citrus County area. Some of them may be in the hospital. But, again, the authorities in Citrus County told me this morning that that is being handled by Florida's Department of Children and Families out of the Wildwood office, which is a district office in Citrus County -- Bill.
HEMMER: A disturbing story, that is, out of Florida today.
John, thanks.
John Zarrella there in Miami -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: President Bush is on the road this morning trying to sell his Social Security plan to the American people. It is part of a two day, five state tour. Yesterday, the president made stops in North Dakota and Montana. This morning he is in Nebraska. Later today, Arkansas and Florida.
Ron Brownstein is a CNN political analyst, also a writer for the "Los Angeles Times."
He's in Washington, D.C. this morning -- Ron, nice to see you.
RON BROWNSTEIN, "LOS ANGELES TIMES," CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Good morning, Soledad.
O'BRIEN: This -- good morning.
This is kind of like a campaign trip to sell Social Security. Let's talk a little bit about the hurdles, and there are many.
What are they?
BROWNSTEIN: Well, he's got three big substantive hurdles that translate into a tactical political hurdle. The first problem he's got is that opponents are reluctant to see seniors to become more dependent on the financial markets to fund their retirement. The president portrays his plan as an opportunity to expand ownership. The critics see it really as a way of shifting risk for retirement from government to individuals.
Secondly, more debt. This may be the biggest problem of all. Because of the way the Social Security system is financed today, to set up the individual accounts the president wants would require the government to borrow large amounts of money, at least a trillion dollars over the next decade, probably three times that much over the second decade. And that obviously causes a lot of concern at a time when we're already running record federal deficits of over $400 billion a year.
Third, there would be reductions in guaranteed benefits, both under the individual accounts that he would create, but also, as he suggested in his State of the Union, the fund -- to close the long- term financing imbalance in Social Security.
So when you add all of this up, right now he's in a situation where not a single Senate Democrat has come out in support of the plan and that would leave them with enough votes in a filibuster to block it. They may not even have to get that far, Soledad, because right now it's not clear there are enough Republicans to back it, as well, because of these other concerns.
O'BRIEN: All right, you laid out all the obstacles.
Is there a plan to overcome these hurdles?
BROWNSTEIN: Well, I think the president has a pretty clear plan to go, to try to build support. First, he wants to make the case that the status quo is unacceptable, that something has to be done. If you look at the long-term projections, the benefits that are promised under Social Security exceed the amount of revenue that's projected to come in. So some kind of reform will be necessary, and that's the first predicate that the president is trying to lay down.
Secondly, he's sort of emphasizing the spoonful of sugar rather than the tough medicine. He is putting the most emphasis at the outset on the part of the plan that would give people something new, an account that they could invest in stocks and bonds for their retirement. He's putting much less emphasis on what would have to be taken away, which is some reductions in the guaranteed benefits over time.
And finally, he wants to focus his lobbying efforts, as you see this week, on those Democrats from red states. There are 14 Senate Democrats who were elected in states that President Bush won twice. They are the most likely targets for him.
The problem is virtually all of them have already said they don't want the individual accounts carved out of the payroll tax, which is the heart of this plan.
O'BRIEN: And, in fact, these Democrats are not a sure thing in any way, shape or form, right?
BROWNSTEIN: Absolutely. I mean, look, part of the president's problem is that he's trying to do two things here at once. It's important to sort of disentangle this in your mind.
He wants to create individual accounts that the people can invest in the stock market or in bonds or whatever. But he also wants to close the long-term financing imbalance in Social Security.
Well, here's the problem, Soledad. The Democrats who would be most likely to consider benefit cuts required to bring the system into balance over time, those red state Democrats, they're all fiscal hawks. And as fiscal hawks, they are probably the most resistant to the borrowing that would be required to create the individual accounts.
So politically the two central elements of the plan are somewhat contradictory, politically.
O'BRIEN: It's going to be a tough sell. No one's doubting that, right, Ron?
BROWNSTEIN: Yes. Oh, it's going to be a tough fight. And a lot of Republicans are getting queasy, too, and that is going to make this probably the toughest domestic policy sell the president has had in his term and now the second term.
O'BRIEN: Ron Brownstein.
Nice to see you, Ron, as always.
Thanks.
BROWNSTEIN: Thank you.
O'BRIEN: Let's go back to Bill.
HEMMER: All right, Soledad.
A check of the weather on a Friday, looking toward that weekend.
Chad is going to bring us some good news. We know that -- good morning, Chad, again to you.
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, Bill.
HEMMER: How are you?
(WEATHER REPORT)
HEMMER: It is the number one killer in the U.S., so why then are women across the country being misdiagnosed? We're paging Sanjay on that this morning.
O'BRIEN: Also, the case against Saddam Hussein -- why some insiders say justice will not be served.
HEMMER: Also, the main attraction Sunday night might be the commercials, for some. Pepsi relying on star power this year. But which ad might end up being too racy? We'll have a look at that as we continue on a Friday morning, live in New York City, after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: It is the most watched television event every year, and not just for the action on the field, but for the breaks in the action; in other words, the commercials for the Super Bowl.
Last year's wardrobe malfunction has some advertisers playing it safe.
Here's one you will not see on Sunday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM BUD LITE COMMERCIAL)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That ends the first half. Stay tuned for what is sure to be an unforgettable half-time show.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Fresh, smooth, real, Bud Lite.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Whoa, that's something you don't see every day.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's all here.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: That ad has been pulled. "USA Today's" Michael McCarthy is here now with his take on the Super Bowl spots this year.
Good morning to you.
MICHAEL MCCARTHY, "USA TODAY": Good morning.
HEMMER: They call it the play it safe bowl.
Are they playing it safe?
MCCARTHY: They are really following a conservative game plan this year, Bill. There's not going to be many long bombs down the field. They're going to try to dink and dunk their way into consumers' hearts.
HEMMER: It all has to do with Janet Jackson last year and the wardrobe malfunction, which actually has now become a point of humor and a point for some of these ads, as well.
Let's look at some right now.
Anheuser-Busch gave us a partial advertisement that you'll see on Sunday.
Watch here.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM BUD LITE COMMERCIAL, COURTESY: ANHEUSER- BUSCH)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are you ready? Whoooo! Go! Whoooo! Are you ready?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I can't do this.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No! No way!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Not even for some Bud Lite?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: They saved the punch line.
MCCARTHY: They saved the punch line.
HEMMER: And that's the first commercial we'll see after kickoff, is that right?
MCCARTHY: Yes, that has the coveted 1A spot. It's the first spot you're going to see after kickoff and consumers are most jazzed about advertising at that moment.
HEMMER: How much did Bud pay for that? 2.4...
MCCARTHY: At least $2.4 million. Budweiser is actually going to be the largest advertiser on the game. So they're going to have five minutes of commercial time.
HEMMER: Wow!
Pepsi is advertising Sunday.
Let's look at their ad.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM PEPSI COMMERCIAL, COURTESY: PEPSI-COLA)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey, I'm ready for this awards show. Can I get a ride?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Come on, hop in.
I think you'll cause some excitement here. It's tremendous.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Look at that. I didn't know P. Diddy drove a Diet Pepsi truck.
CINDY CRAWFORD: Don't scratch it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All right, this is how I roll.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: P. Diddy, Carson Daly, Cindy Crawford.
Effective?
A lot of stars there.
MCCARTHY: Pepsi is going very young with this spot. I like the idea. The Super Bowl audience gets younger every year, Bill.
HEMMER: And we talked about playing it safe. GoDaddy.com is not necessarily doing that.
Watch their spot now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM GODADDY.COM COMMERCIAL, COURTESY: GODADDY.COM)
MR. BOB PARSONS, GODADDY.COM PROCEEDINGS: Ms. Cappelli?
MS. NIKKI CAPPELLI, GODADDY.COM PROCEEDINGS: Yes, I'd like to be on a commercial.
PARSONS: What will you be advertising?
CAPPELLI: GoDaddy.com.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh my gosh.
CAPPELLI: It's a Web site where you can register dot.com names for only $8.95 a year.
MS. ELEANOR FLATOW, GODADDY.COM PROCEEDINGS: And what exactly will you be doing on this commercial?
CAPPELLI: I could do a routine where I went like this.
MR. TOM ROSSANO, GODADDY.COM PROCEEDINGS: Oh. Surely by now you must realize that you're upsetting the committee.
CAPPELLI: I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset the committee.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: May I suggest a turtleneck?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: Advertised to get attention, and that certainly will, will it not?
MCCARTHY: That will get attention.
Janet Jackson is sort of the pink elephant in the living room that nobody wants to mention this year, Bill. So give GoDaddy credit for taking it on.
HEMMER: Let's look at MasterCard quickly, too, while we've got some time.
Here you go.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM MASTERCARD COMMERCIAL, COURTESY: MASTERCARD)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Broccoli, $1.79 on debit card.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Casserole, anyone?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Tuna, $3.59. Crescent rolls, $2.39. Getting everyone together for dinner, priceless.
There are some things money can't buy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: How do you grade the effectiveness there?
MCCARTHY: I think it's an effective spot. I mean get ready for the kinder, gentler Super Bowl. You don't get more warm and fuzzy than cartoon characters.
HEMMER: How about Paul McCartney at half-time?
MCCARTHY: Well, I think the only thing that can go wrong with Paul McCartney at half-time is if he says obladi, oblabra instead of oblida. He's a very safe choice.
HEMMER: Listen, nice to talk to you and thanks for coming in.
Michael McCarthy.
We'll be watching Sunday night.
MCCARTHY: My pleasure.
HEMMER: Terrific.
Have a great weekend.
MCCARTHY: You, too.
HEMMER: Also this weekend, on "CNN SUNDAY MORNING," CNN goes one-on-one with Paul Tagliabue, NFL commissioner. He runs that $5 billion empire known as the NFL. Sunday morning at 9:00 here on CNN -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Well, Bill, as we well know now, amazingly, nobody died in that fiery jet crash in New Jersey the other day. For one man, survival may have been a matter of picking the right person to drive to work with. We're going to explain, ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Back to Jack now and the Question of the Day.
CAFFERTY: How much would you pay to have a piece of the celebrity? $1,500 for a billiard ball from Elvis' pool table; $1 million expected when they auction off ordinary household items that belonged to Jackie Kennedy -- Mason jars, dirty oven mitts.
"USA Today" has got a great piece on this celebrity auction business, celebrity something syndrome, they call it. Three thousand dollars paid for Justin Timberlake's partially eaten toast. One fan says, "It's a connection to the person that nobody else can h."
So the question on this Friday, when you can kind of do what you want, has celebrity worship gone too far?
Charlie in Windsor Locks writes: "Yes, it's getting ridiculous. It shows the ignorance of many people. However, the only way I would show mine is to pay top dollar for your termination notice, Jack."
HEMMER: Oh.
O'BRIEN: Oh.
CAFFERTY: Have a nice day.
Kristin writes: "Your first grade teacher, she taught you how to read and write. I don't see anyone bidding for her chewing gum or toast. What does that tell you about what many in our society value? How sad."
Geo in Florida: "I'd like to get a piece of that Fox Bill O'Reilly's mind. As a collectible it would be surely in mint condition. That's a package that's never been opened."
And Charles in Savannah writes: "If people are dumb enough to pay excessive amounts for such absurd items, it proves how many people there are with more money than sense. However, what price is Hemmer asking for that shoe of yours that had the hole in the sole?"
O'BRIEN: I don't know, Bill, what are you asking?
HEMMER: Do you still have it?
CAFFERTY: I'm not revealing that information at this time.
O'BRIEN: He has it.
CAFFERTY: I don't wear it anymore. I took it off. It has a little tiny...
HEMMER: Yes (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...
CAFFERTY: ... you know, the sole wore through. There's a little tiny...
HEMMER: It got bigger and bigger by the week.
CAFFERTY: It was a...
O'BRIEN: Oh, it was like that. Please.
CAFFERTY: It was not a hole. I protest. I'm being unfairly -- it was a worn spot. You know, there's layers in the shoes, so it was just a...
O'BRIEN: What?
HEMMER: Soledad, what do you think about that? Are you buying this?
O'BRIEN: It was a big, giant hole. We made fun of you every single time you wore those shoes.
HEMMER: Yes.
O'BRIEN: And they're in your closet now and you wear them on the weekends. That's what I'm guessing.
HEMMER: Bidding starts at $50.
CAFFERTY: It's not -- are there any openings on "The Today Show?," like where you came from? I'm taking a lot of berating here.
HEMMER: Thank you, Jack.
CAFFERTY: Yes.
HEMMER: Let's get a break here.
We were talking about earlier about what's happening in Iraq and this trial against "Chemical Ali" and Saddam Hussein. Twenty years of evidence. Why do some insiders say justice will not be served? A look at that in a moment. Live to Baghdad as we continue after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: Welcome back, everybody.
Just about half past the hour on this AMERICAN MORNING.
President Bush is trying to build support for changes he'd like to see in Social Security. Democrats strongly oppose his ideas. But did former President Bill Clinton suggest just about the same thing? That's the topic for "Gimme A Minute."
HEMMER: Also, women across the country asked to wear red today to recognize National Heart Month. Dr. Sanjay Gupta tells us in a moment why there's an added concern for women and heart disease. Women wear red. What's going on over here?
O'BRIEN: We got the memo late last night and we're wearing red tomorrow on the weekend in solidarity.
HEMMER: Yes, yes, yes. Correct.
COSTELLO: Great idea, Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Thank me.
COSTELLO: I've actually gotten e-mails from people saying why aren't you wearing red? Don't you like the Republicans?
HEMMER: Really?
COSTELLO: It's like wait a minute. It has nothing to do with that, I swear.
HEMMER: A different twist -- good morning.
O'BRIEN: It never ends.
COSTELLO: Yes.
Now the headlines.
Now in the news, a search underway for a Florida couple accused of torturing five children. John and Linda Dollar, the children's legal guardians, each face a count of aggravated child abuse in Citrus County. A sheriff's spokeswoman said the children were so malnourished they "looked like pickers from Auschwitz."
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Aired February 4, 2005 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning.
On the road again today. President Bush talking to the American people. But the audience he may have to convince is back in Washington.
A house that seven children would likely never want to see again. A manhunt now on for the Florida couple supposed to be caring for them.
And how far will this year's Super Bowl commercials go? We have a special sneak peek for you on this AMERICAN MORNING.
ANNOUNCER: From the CNN broadcast center in New York, this is AMERICAN MORNING with Bill Hemmer and Soledad O'Brien.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning.
Welcome back, everybody.
Some of the news making headlines this morning.
Some big names are being swept up in the U.N.'s Oil For Food scandal. More of the independent investigation is out. We're going to get details from the U.N. this morning.
HEMMER: Also, out of Iraq today, why are some people concerned that Saddam Hussein will not get a fair trial in that country? We'll talk about that case and we'll hear about more about "Chemical Ali," about Saddam Hussein and what the problems might be going forward. They think maybe in the spring time they could begin the trial of "Chemical Ali." But we'll see in a moment live in Baghdad on what's happening on that.
O'BRIEN: Jack's got a look at "The File" this morning, a little preview.
What you got?
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Why the delay on putting these dirt bags on trial?
HEMMER: Well, they have to figure it out first and there's a lot of training right now for the Americans trying to bring the Iraqi lawyers on board. So it's not easy. CAFFERTY: I mean they're not out looking for evidence, are they?
O'BRIEN: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
HEMMER: There's a 20-year list of evidence against him that they're working off of.
CAFFERTY: Coming up in the "Cafferty File," they should hurry up with these trials in Iraq. Also, an alternative football game to watch this Sunday that has much cuter players whom you may want to adopt. And you can, if you're so inclined. A Teddy Bear in a straitjacket is now a collector's item. It's an old "File" item that I got in some trouble with. We'll update it for you. And wait until you hear some of the stuff being donated to tsunami victims. Nobody knows what to do with this stuff. It's piling up on the shores of these countries hit by that wave. Weird, weird things.
HEMMER: Wow! That's a shame.
CAFFERTY: Yes.
O'BRIEN: OK, all right, Jack, thanks.
Let's get right to Carol Costello.
She's got a look at the headlines, as well -- good morning.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: I was puzzled by that, as well. Weird things.
O'BRIEN: Yes.
COSTELLO: Yes.
Good tease, Jack.
O'BRIEN: He'll tell us if we ask him right.
CAFFERTY: Thank you, Carol.
COSTELLO: Good morning.
Now in the news, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says a U.S. attack on Iran is simply not on the agenda. Rice's comments coming just as she wrapped up a closed door meeting with the British prime minister, Tony Blair. It's her first trip abroad since taking over the State Department. Rice stops in Berlin later today, and then in Paris next week.
Iraqi police say a female Italian journalist has been kidnapped in southern Baghdad. Authorities say the woman was snatched from her vehicle while conducting interviews near Baghdad University. According to police, gunmen fired shots into the air and pushed her into a vehicle and then they sped away.
U.S. officials say at least three Americans are among the 104 people on board a jet missing near the Afghan-Pakistani border. Afghan authorities have launched a search and rescue mission for the plane, similar to the one shown here. The jet was heading for Kabul, but was detoured to a Pakistani airport due to a snowstorm. There is no record it ever landed.
And an outpouring of prayers from well wishers as word comes that the pope's health is improving. Hospital sources say the 84-year-old pontiff is getting better. Still not clear how long he'll stay at that Rome hospital. Vatican sources say the pope is expected to deliver his regular Sunday address and he will do it from his hospital bed. There will be a special audio feed set up for him and everything.
HEMMER: That is amazing, huh?
COSTELLO: Yes. He's amazing.
HEMMER: It will take a little more than the flu to keep down, don't you think?
COSTELLO: You've got that right.
HEMMER: Thank you, Carol.
There is a police manhunt underway at this hour in Florida for a couple accused of torturing their children.
John Zarrella is live in Miami this morning -- John, what have you found out?
JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Bill, it's just the kind of a story that makes you shake your head and wonder how is it possible? A horrific story emerging from the town of Beverly Hills, which is in Citrus County, about an hour north of Tampa.
A nationwide manhunt underway for a couple that have been charged with child abuse and torture of five of seven children.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
ZARRELLA (voice-over): Friends and neighbors in this Florida town are stunned by the allegations.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We can't understand anybody abusing children. It's just very difficult to fathom that someone would do that.
ZARRELLA: Fifty-eight-year-old John Dollar and his 51-year-old wife Linda are accused of torturing five of the seven children in their home, ranging in age from 12 to 16. The allegations include malnourishment, electric shock, pulling toenails out with pliers, binding the kids with chains and using a hammer to smash their feet.
Police began their investigation two weeks ago, after one of the kids, a 16-year-old boy, was treated at a local hospital. He was bleeding from cuts on his head and doctors noticed bruises around his neck. But what concerned them most was his weight -- just 59 pounds. GAIL TIERNEY, CITRUS COUNTY SHERIFF'S SPOKESWOMAN: I've seen pictures of the children that have been, you know, been taken in connection with this case and, you know, I mean they have, they have very sweet faces. But when you look at their bodies, I mean it looks like Auschwitz.
ZARRELLA: Two of the children, 14-year-old twin boys, weighed less than 40 pounds each, the weight of a typical 4-year-old. The Dollars are not the children's biological parents, but they are their guardians. The children are now in the custody of Florida's Department of Children and Families.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
ZARRELLA: Now, two of the seven children were not, according to authorities, abused. They were "the favorites" of the Dollars.
Now, the Dollars moved to -- up to Beverly Hills from Brandon, Florida, which is just outside of Tampa. Authorities told me this morning they believe that they had been in the state for several years, had moved to Florida from Tennessee and that the abuse had been going on for years.
Now, police are looking for two vehicles that the Dollars have. One is a motor home with Florida license tag number U06YAC and a Lexus, license tag number, Florida license tag DH41D. So authorities want anyone who has seen either of those vehicles, a motor home or that gold Lexus, to please call them. They want to get their hands on these people quickly -- Bill.
HEMMER: Well, John, if they don't know where the parents are, where are the children this morning? Who's taking care of them?
ZARRELLA: Bill, I completely...
HEMMER: Sorry, John.
I'll try it again.
ZARRELLA: Go ahead, Bill.
HEMMER: Where are the children this morning if they can't find the parents? Who's taking care of them?
ZARRELLA: The children are in the custody of the department -- Florida's Department of Children and Families. I don't know exactly where they are. I believe they still could be in the Citrus County area. Some of them may be in the hospital. But, again, the authorities in Citrus County told me this morning that that is being handled by Florida's Department of Children and Families out of the Wildwood office, which is a district office in Citrus County -- Bill.
HEMMER: A disturbing story, that is, out of Florida today.
John, thanks.
John Zarrella there in Miami -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: President Bush is on the road this morning trying to sell his Social Security plan to the American people. It is part of a two day, five state tour. Yesterday, the president made stops in North Dakota and Montana. This morning he is in Nebraska. Later today, Arkansas and Florida.
Ron Brownstein is a CNN political analyst, also a writer for the "Los Angeles Times."
He's in Washington, D.C. this morning -- Ron, nice to see you.
RON BROWNSTEIN, "LOS ANGELES TIMES," CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Good morning, Soledad.
O'BRIEN: This -- good morning.
This is kind of like a campaign trip to sell Social Security. Let's talk a little bit about the hurdles, and there are many.
What are they?
BROWNSTEIN: Well, he's got three big substantive hurdles that translate into a tactical political hurdle. The first problem he's got is that opponents are reluctant to see seniors to become more dependent on the financial markets to fund their retirement. The president portrays his plan as an opportunity to expand ownership. The critics see it really as a way of shifting risk for retirement from government to individuals.
Secondly, more debt. This may be the biggest problem of all. Because of the way the Social Security system is financed today, to set up the individual accounts the president wants would require the government to borrow large amounts of money, at least a trillion dollars over the next decade, probably three times that much over the second decade. And that obviously causes a lot of concern at a time when we're already running record federal deficits of over $400 billion a year.
Third, there would be reductions in guaranteed benefits, both under the individual accounts that he would create, but also, as he suggested in his State of the Union, the fund -- to close the long- term financing imbalance in Social Security.
So when you add all of this up, right now he's in a situation where not a single Senate Democrat has come out in support of the plan and that would leave them with enough votes in a filibuster to block it. They may not even have to get that far, Soledad, because right now it's not clear there are enough Republicans to back it, as well, because of these other concerns.
O'BRIEN: All right, you laid out all the obstacles.
Is there a plan to overcome these hurdles?
BROWNSTEIN: Well, I think the president has a pretty clear plan to go, to try to build support. First, he wants to make the case that the status quo is unacceptable, that something has to be done. If you look at the long-term projections, the benefits that are promised under Social Security exceed the amount of revenue that's projected to come in. So some kind of reform will be necessary, and that's the first predicate that the president is trying to lay down.
Secondly, he's sort of emphasizing the spoonful of sugar rather than the tough medicine. He is putting the most emphasis at the outset on the part of the plan that would give people something new, an account that they could invest in stocks and bonds for their retirement. He's putting much less emphasis on what would have to be taken away, which is some reductions in the guaranteed benefits over time.
And finally, he wants to focus his lobbying efforts, as you see this week, on those Democrats from red states. There are 14 Senate Democrats who were elected in states that President Bush won twice. They are the most likely targets for him.
The problem is virtually all of them have already said they don't want the individual accounts carved out of the payroll tax, which is the heart of this plan.
O'BRIEN: And, in fact, these Democrats are not a sure thing in any way, shape or form, right?
BROWNSTEIN: Absolutely. I mean, look, part of the president's problem is that he's trying to do two things here at once. It's important to sort of disentangle this in your mind.
He wants to create individual accounts that the people can invest in the stock market or in bonds or whatever. But he also wants to close the long-term financing imbalance in Social Security.
Well, here's the problem, Soledad. The Democrats who would be most likely to consider benefit cuts required to bring the system into balance over time, those red state Democrats, they're all fiscal hawks. And as fiscal hawks, they are probably the most resistant to the borrowing that would be required to create the individual accounts.
So politically the two central elements of the plan are somewhat contradictory, politically.
O'BRIEN: It's going to be a tough sell. No one's doubting that, right, Ron?
BROWNSTEIN: Yes. Oh, it's going to be a tough fight. And a lot of Republicans are getting queasy, too, and that is going to make this probably the toughest domestic policy sell the president has had in his term and now the second term.
O'BRIEN: Ron Brownstein.
Nice to see you, Ron, as always.
Thanks.
BROWNSTEIN: Thank you.
O'BRIEN: Let's go back to Bill.
HEMMER: All right, Soledad.
A check of the weather on a Friday, looking toward that weekend.
Chad is going to bring us some good news. We know that -- good morning, Chad, again to you.
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, Bill.
HEMMER: How are you?
(WEATHER REPORT)
HEMMER: It is the number one killer in the U.S., so why then are women across the country being misdiagnosed? We're paging Sanjay on that this morning.
O'BRIEN: Also, the case against Saddam Hussein -- why some insiders say justice will not be served.
HEMMER: Also, the main attraction Sunday night might be the commercials, for some. Pepsi relying on star power this year. But which ad might end up being too racy? We'll have a look at that as we continue on a Friday morning, live in New York City, after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: It is the most watched television event every year, and not just for the action on the field, but for the breaks in the action; in other words, the commercials for the Super Bowl.
Last year's wardrobe malfunction has some advertisers playing it safe.
Here's one you will not see on Sunday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM BUD LITE COMMERCIAL)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That ends the first half. Stay tuned for what is sure to be an unforgettable half-time show.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Fresh, smooth, real, Bud Lite.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Whoa, that's something you don't see every day.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's all here.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: That ad has been pulled. "USA Today's" Michael McCarthy is here now with his take on the Super Bowl spots this year.
Good morning to you.
MICHAEL MCCARTHY, "USA TODAY": Good morning.
HEMMER: They call it the play it safe bowl.
Are they playing it safe?
MCCARTHY: They are really following a conservative game plan this year, Bill. There's not going to be many long bombs down the field. They're going to try to dink and dunk their way into consumers' hearts.
HEMMER: It all has to do with Janet Jackson last year and the wardrobe malfunction, which actually has now become a point of humor and a point for some of these ads, as well.
Let's look at some right now.
Anheuser-Busch gave us a partial advertisement that you'll see on Sunday.
Watch here.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM BUD LITE COMMERCIAL, COURTESY: ANHEUSER- BUSCH)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are you ready? Whoooo! Go! Whoooo! Are you ready?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I can't do this.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No! No way!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Not even for some Bud Lite?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: They saved the punch line.
MCCARTHY: They saved the punch line.
HEMMER: And that's the first commercial we'll see after kickoff, is that right?
MCCARTHY: Yes, that has the coveted 1A spot. It's the first spot you're going to see after kickoff and consumers are most jazzed about advertising at that moment.
HEMMER: How much did Bud pay for that? 2.4...
MCCARTHY: At least $2.4 million. Budweiser is actually going to be the largest advertiser on the game. So they're going to have five minutes of commercial time.
HEMMER: Wow!
Pepsi is advertising Sunday.
Let's look at their ad.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM PEPSI COMMERCIAL, COURTESY: PEPSI-COLA)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey, I'm ready for this awards show. Can I get a ride?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Come on, hop in.
I think you'll cause some excitement here. It's tremendous.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Look at that. I didn't know P. Diddy drove a Diet Pepsi truck.
CINDY CRAWFORD: Don't scratch it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All right, this is how I roll.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: P. Diddy, Carson Daly, Cindy Crawford.
Effective?
A lot of stars there.
MCCARTHY: Pepsi is going very young with this spot. I like the idea. The Super Bowl audience gets younger every year, Bill.
HEMMER: And we talked about playing it safe. GoDaddy.com is not necessarily doing that.
Watch their spot now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM GODADDY.COM COMMERCIAL, COURTESY: GODADDY.COM)
MR. BOB PARSONS, GODADDY.COM PROCEEDINGS: Ms. Cappelli?
MS. NIKKI CAPPELLI, GODADDY.COM PROCEEDINGS: Yes, I'd like to be on a commercial.
PARSONS: What will you be advertising?
CAPPELLI: GoDaddy.com.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh my gosh.
CAPPELLI: It's a Web site where you can register dot.com names for only $8.95 a year.
MS. ELEANOR FLATOW, GODADDY.COM PROCEEDINGS: And what exactly will you be doing on this commercial?
CAPPELLI: I could do a routine where I went like this.
MR. TOM ROSSANO, GODADDY.COM PROCEEDINGS: Oh. Surely by now you must realize that you're upsetting the committee.
CAPPELLI: I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset the committee.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: May I suggest a turtleneck?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: Advertised to get attention, and that certainly will, will it not?
MCCARTHY: That will get attention.
Janet Jackson is sort of the pink elephant in the living room that nobody wants to mention this year, Bill. So give GoDaddy credit for taking it on.
HEMMER: Let's look at MasterCard quickly, too, while we've got some time.
Here you go.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM MASTERCARD COMMERCIAL, COURTESY: MASTERCARD)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Broccoli, $1.79 on debit card.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Casserole, anyone?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Tuna, $3.59. Crescent rolls, $2.39. Getting everyone together for dinner, priceless.
There are some things money can't buy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: How do you grade the effectiveness there?
MCCARTHY: I think it's an effective spot. I mean get ready for the kinder, gentler Super Bowl. You don't get more warm and fuzzy than cartoon characters.
HEMMER: How about Paul McCartney at half-time?
MCCARTHY: Well, I think the only thing that can go wrong with Paul McCartney at half-time is if he says obladi, oblabra instead of oblida. He's a very safe choice.
HEMMER: Listen, nice to talk to you and thanks for coming in.
Michael McCarthy.
We'll be watching Sunday night.
MCCARTHY: My pleasure.
HEMMER: Terrific.
Have a great weekend.
MCCARTHY: You, too.
HEMMER: Also this weekend, on "CNN SUNDAY MORNING," CNN goes one-on-one with Paul Tagliabue, NFL commissioner. He runs that $5 billion empire known as the NFL. Sunday morning at 9:00 here on CNN -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Well, Bill, as we well know now, amazingly, nobody died in that fiery jet crash in New Jersey the other day. For one man, survival may have been a matter of picking the right person to drive to work with. We're going to explain, ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Back to Jack now and the Question of the Day.
CAFFERTY: How much would you pay to have a piece of the celebrity? $1,500 for a billiard ball from Elvis' pool table; $1 million expected when they auction off ordinary household items that belonged to Jackie Kennedy -- Mason jars, dirty oven mitts.
"USA Today" has got a great piece on this celebrity auction business, celebrity something syndrome, they call it. Three thousand dollars paid for Justin Timberlake's partially eaten toast. One fan says, "It's a connection to the person that nobody else can h."
So the question on this Friday, when you can kind of do what you want, has celebrity worship gone too far?
Charlie in Windsor Locks writes: "Yes, it's getting ridiculous. It shows the ignorance of many people. However, the only way I would show mine is to pay top dollar for your termination notice, Jack."
HEMMER: Oh.
O'BRIEN: Oh.
CAFFERTY: Have a nice day.
Kristin writes: "Your first grade teacher, she taught you how to read and write. I don't see anyone bidding for her chewing gum or toast. What does that tell you about what many in our society value? How sad."
Geo in Florida: "I'd like to get a piece of that Fox Bill O'Reilly's mind. As a collectible it would be surely in mint condition. That's a package that's never been opened."
And Charles in Savannah writes: "If people are dumb enough to pay excessive amounts for such absurd items, it proves how many people there are with more money than sense. However, what price is Hemmer asking for that shoe of yours that had the hole in the sole?"
O'BRIEN: I don't know, Bill, what are you asking?
HEMMER: Do you still have it?
CAFFERTY: I'm not revealing that information at this time.
O'BRIEN: He has it.
CAFFERTY: I don't wear it anymore. I took it off. It has a little tiny...
HEMMER: Yes (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...
CAFFERTY: ... you know, the sole wore through. There's a little tiny...
HEMMER: It got bigger and bigger by the week.
CAFFERTY: It was a...
O'BRIEN: Oh, it was like that. Please.
CAFFERTY: It was not a hole. I protest. I'm being unfairly -- it was a worn spot. You know, there's layers in the shoes, so it was just a...
O'BRIEN: What?
HEMMER: Soledad, what do you think about that? Are you buying this?
O'BRIEN: It was a big, giant hole. We made fun of you every single time you wore those shoes.
HEMMER: Yes.
O'BRIEN: And they're in your closet now and you wear them on the weekends. That's what I'm guessing.
HEMMER: Bidding starts at $50.
CAFFERTY: It's not -- are there any openings on "The Today Show?," like where you came from? I'm taking a lot of berating here.
HEMMER: Thank you, Jack.
CAFFERTY: Yes.
HEMMER: Let's get a break here.
We were talking about earlier about what's happening in Iraq and this trial against "Chemical Ali" and Saddam Hussein. Twenty years of evidence. Why do some insiders say justice will not be served? A look at that in a moment. Live to Baghdad as we continue after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: Welcome back, everybody.
Just about half past the hour on this AMERICAN MORNING.
President Bush is trying to build support for changes he'd like to see in Social Security. Democrats strongly oppose his ideas. But did former President Bill Clinton suggest just about the same thing? That's the topic for "Gimme A Minute."
HEMMER: Also, women across the country asked to wear red today to recognize National Heart Month. Dr. Sanjay Gupta tells us in a moment why there's an added concern for women and heart disease. Women wear red. What's going on over here?
O'BRIEN: We got the memo late last night and we're wearing red tomorrow on the weekend in solidarity.
HEMMER: Yes, yes, yes. Correct.
COSTELLO: Great idea, Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Thank me.
COSTELLO: I've actually gotten e-mails from people saying why aren't you wearing red? Don't you like the Republicans?
HEMMER: Really?
COSTELLO: It's like wait a minute. It has nothing to do with that, I swear.
HEMMER: A different twist -- good morning.
O'BRIEN: It never ends.
COSTELLO: Yes.
Now the headlines.
Now in the news, a search underway for a Florida couple accused of torturing five children. John and Linda Dollar, the children's legal guardians, each face a count of aggravated child abuse in Citrus County. A sheriff's spokeswoman said the children were so malnourished they "looked like pickers from Auschwitz."
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