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American Morning
U.S. Aid Arriving in Pakistan as Death Toll Climbs; New Orleans Police Officers Arrested and Charged in Brutal Beating
Aired October 10, 2005 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: U.S. aid arriving in Pakistan as the death toll climbs to more than 30,000 after Saturday's powerful earthquake. But more relief is desperately needed. We're live in the region as the world responds.
New Orleans police officers arrested and charged in a brutal beating on the streets in the French Quarter. The police chief reacts. It's a CNN exclusive.
No backing down by conservative critics over Supreme Court nominee Harriet Miers. There are now questions whether there were backroom deals over how Miers might vote if confirmed.
All this on AMERICAN MORNING.
ANNOUNCER: From the CNN broadcast center in New York, this is AMERICAN MORNING with Soledad O'Brien and Miles O'Brien.
O'BRIEN: All right, the weekend's over. There's nothing I can do about it. It's Monday. We must press on.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: We must press on. It is Columbus Day.
O'BRIEN: So we shall.
COSTELLO: So Happy Columbus Day, at least.
Good morning.
I'm Carol Costello in for Soledad.
Also ahead, the pain just keeps coming for thousands of New Orleans evacuees away from home, no mail, oftentimes no jobs and no money to pay the bills. That would be the worst part.
What about your credit score? We'll talk about that just ahead.
O'BRIEN: And if you think those credit score companies are going to give you a break...
COSTELLO: Ha-ha.
O'BRIEN: Yes. Well, we'll see if we can change that.
All right, let's move our gaze overseas this morning. A terrible tragedy unfolding in South Asia. Help is on the way to Pakistan from every corner of the globe, but on the third day after that massive earthquake, victims are still largely cut off from the help of the world.
More than 30,000 now believed dead. Two roads opened today into the rugged mountains northeast of the Pakistani capital of Islamabad. But the only way to reach most of the area is by helicopter.
Satinder Bindra is on the phone now from Islamabad.
He just returned from the hard hit town of Bakram (ph) -- and, Satinder, what did you see there?
SATINDER BINDRA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Miles, I went to a small village called Chapadram (ph) and this was just a few kilometers outside of Bakram (ph). And what I saw was utter and complete devastation. All the mud and woods homes in this village had been completely flattened. It was as if somebody took a giant stick and just leveled everything.
Eighty people died in this village on Saturday, but the 1,500 odd survivors there are still living out in the open. The temperatures in the day can rise, it can get quite hot. And in the night it gets cold. So these people have had no relief.
Just today, the Pakistani Army managed to reach that village and along with the Pakistani Army, a team of Japanese rescuers. So they will be looking through these homes. They will try, as their first priority, to find survivors.
But a lot of anger, Miles, now, in some parts of Pakistan because it's been three days for them and they have been waiting for relief.
In the area that I was in today, I was told by the locals that when the first food arrived there were food riots and, in fact, two people had been killed.
So a fairly explosive mix of emotions. And over the next coming days, the Pakistani authorities will have their job cut out for them because they've got to provide relief and they've go to get this relief into the far flung areas immediately.
O'BRIEN: Satinder, so many needs, so little time to get them in place, so difficult to get there. What a combination that the Pakistani authorities are up against. Just simple things, like you say the food just came in, obviously a lot of disorganization surrounding that; drinking water.
How are they sort of prioritizing the need right now?
BINDRA: Miles, it's a very simple priority. The first thing they have to do is to identify areas, to scope out areas which they haven't been able to do, because communications are bad. A lot of roads were washed away by landslides following the earthquake. So priority number one, go and assess the damage. And that's still happening three days after. Priority number two is to find survivors. Priority number three is to evacuate the wounded. And the last priority also, which is now very important, is to provide timely relief. It's just not relief, it has to be timely, because people are getting extremely agitated.
What do people need? They need tents. They need medication. They need water. And they also need some long time -- long-term medical support, because it's been a very traumatic experience.
Even while I was there, Miles, there were aftershocks and people tend to get very traumatized.
I must also add, Miles, that the people who have suffered the most are the poorest of the poor. There's no home insurance for people like that and many of these survivors can't even look to the future. They've lost their homes, they've lost their businesses, they've lost their loved ones.
So it's going to take them some time to put their lives back together again.
O'BRIEN: Satinder Bindra in Islamabad.
Thanks very much -- Carol.
COSTELLO: President Bush quickly responded to the crisis in South Asia, pledging money, supplies, even military help for Pakistan.
Suzanne Malveaux live at the White House this morning with more -- hello, Suzanne.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Carol, as you know, Pakistan is certainly a very important ally when it comes to the war on terror, a strategic ally. This is really seen, from the administration's point of view, as an opportunity to show a predominantly Muslim country that when it comes in their time of need that the U.S. is ready and prepared to assist in whatever way possible.
It was yesterday that President Bush had an Oval Office meeting with Pakistani officials to talk about what some of their needs were, to get an assessment of the damage.
President Bush also, as well, speaking directly to President Pervez Musharraf, asking him what it was that the U.S. needed -- what it was that Pakistan, rather, needed the most.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I spoke to President Musharraf. I expressed my nation's -- our nation's deepest condolences. And I told him that we want to help in any way we can. To that end, we've already started to send cash money and other equipment and goods that are going to be needed to help the people in Pakistan.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: So, Carol, among those contributions, an initial contribution of $50 million for reconstruction and relief, as well as eight U.S. military helicopters to bring in emergency supplies, including a C-17 carrying blankets, tents, water, food supplies, a seven person disaster assistance response team to try to figure out what the long-term needs of Pakistan.
But a very clear message that the White House is sending that this is an important ally, a strategic ally, and that they're there to help -- Carol.
COSTELLO: And, Suzanne, this all comes on the heels of the president's heading to the Gulf Coast of the United States again today.
What's on his agenda?
MALVEAUX: Of course, the president also wants to convince and show the American people that he's on top of it when it comes to the recovery efforts of hurricanes Katrina and Rita. He's going to be in New Orleans first, having dinner with local and state officials.
Tomorrow, it's interesting, he is going to be helping build a home through Habitat in Humanity. That taking place in Louisiana. And then on to Pass Christian, Mississippi. That is where he's going to be meeting with families, as well.
COSTELLO: Suzanne Malveaux live at the White House this morning.
There is other news of the day.
Let's check in with Betty Nguyen.
She's at the CNN Center in Atlanta -- hello, Betty.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, Carol.
Now in the news, a new wave of attacks today in Iraq. At least a dozen are reported dead, including one American soldier. Now, the attacks come less than week before Iraqis are set to vote in a referendum on a new constitution.
Three New Orleans police officers are facing battery charges stemming from a beating of a suspect, and it was all caught on tape. We have to warn you that the images are disturbing.
Video shows what appears to be two police officers repeatedly punching a 64-year-old man. A third officer faces battery charges for allegedly assaulting a journalist helping tape the incident. A police spokesman says the department is taking this very seriously.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) CAPT. MARLON DEFILLO, NEW ORLEANS POLICE DEPARTMENT: The question that comes to mind as far as the investigators is the degree of force used by the officers and was that force appropriate? And we believe that the approach, based on the preliminary review, was not appropriate. It was not in line with the department policies and procedures. It was not in line with the department's training.
So certainly that's a great concern for the police department.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: Now, the spokesman also added that the incident comes at a time when many officers are stressed out and tired, but that did not at all excuse their behavior. The three officers are set to appear in court tomorrow.
There's a compromise in Germany that could lead the country with its first every female chancellor. Angela Merkel could replace Gerhardt Schroeder. Merkel's Christian Democrats and Schroeder's Social Democrats would form a coalition government. Neither took a clear majority in last month's elections. The agreement still needs approval from parliament.
And floodwaters continue to rise in parts of New Jersey after three days of record rainfall there. Up to 10 inches fell in some of the worst hit areas in the northern part of the state. Hundreds of people are being evacuated throughout the Northeast and more rain is expected this week, something that they don't need.
Also, Colorado is getting pummeled by snow. Look at the snow. Up to 20 inches of powder is expected in the next 24 hours.
So let's check back in now with Chad Myers at the CNN Center for the latest on the forecast -- Chad, is this snow coming a little early in the season, especially that much snow?
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Columbus Day? Absolutely.
Happy Thanksgiving to our Canadian friends up there. Even early for snow way up into Canada. Nothing up there.
(WEATHER REPORT)
O'BRIEN: Still to come on the program, bad credit. You know, like they need this. I mean give me a break. Give these people a break, please. Bad credit is now the worry for Katrina victims.
And there's a consumer group that would like to get the credit reporting agencies to give them just that. We'll tell you all about it.
COSTELLO: Yes, we'll tell you if they'll succeed.
Also, did the president make a mistake by nominating somebody close to him to the Supreme Court? Jeffrey Toobin will join us.
That's just ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: All right, did you check out "Saturday Night Live" over the weekend? The opening skit was a classic. George Bush in the Oval Office with Harriet Miers.
Watch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE," COURTESY NBC/BROADWAY VIDEO)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This wasn't a choice based on friendship. We're not even that close. All right. Ashley, send in Miss. Miers.
RACHEL DRATCH, ACTOR: Bushie!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Boldo (ph)!
DRATCH: Oh, come on, Bushie, put me down!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'BRIEN: Crony, schmony, right?
I've got to tell you, Rachel Dratch was born to be Harriet Miers. I'm sure she was quite pleased when that thing came forward.
Jesting aside, Mr. Bush is facing some tough questions about Harriet Miers and it's not coming from those liberal S&L writers. No. It's coming from his right flank. That's right, the right.
Joining us is CNN's senior legal analyst, Jeffrey Toobin -- Jeff, let's go through a couple of the columns.
JEFFREY TOOBIN, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: So I don't get to jump into your arms at the beginning like in that skit?
No, that's...
O'BRIEN: Miles-y!
TOOBIN: Right.
O'BRIEN: All right, let's do this. Let's go through some columnists here, just bullet points.
Bill Kristol. There's a conservative if there ever was one. "I'm disappointed, depressed, demoralized."
Charles Krauthammer: "If Miers were not a crony of the president, her nomination would be a joke."
Pat Buchanan: "Ms. Miers qualifications for the Supreme Court are utterly non-existent."
I'd say that's trouble with the right portion of the base.
TOOBIN: But what's interesting about this controversy is that, you know, all of the conservatives are saying she's got to commit herself to overturning "Row v. Wade," she's got to be more conservative, she's got to establish herself. That is not a majority position in the country.
She has got to worry about her left flank because...
O'BRIEN: Well, they don't care about the majority position.
TOOBIN: Well, but they've got to get her confirmed.
O'BRIEN: Yes, right.
TOOBIN: I mean, and it used to be...
O'BRIEN: Right.
TOOBIN: ... that, you know, you could not get -- I mean Robert Bork did not get confirmed because he was too conservative. Now, the Senate has changed, it's a more conservative Senate now. But, you know, I think these conservatives may be over playing their hand a little bit by saying, you know, she's got to commit to our issues when, you know, Laura Bush is for "Row v. Wade," Barbara Bush is for "Row v. Wade."
They are not necessarily, you know, representing more than a -- you know, than a small part of the country.
O'BRIEN: Right. Right. But they, I think the election emboldened this part of the party, and that's probably -- this is maybe when the bill comes due for the president.
TOOBIN: For -- that's right. The problem is it would be one thing to pick an ideological fight. But this, the cronyism makes this so much more difficult.
O'BRIEN: Right.
TOOBIN: She has no enthusiastic supporters on Capitol Hill at this point. It's, you know, look, she'll probably get confirmed. But, you know, it's harder to get confirmed when you don't have a group of people who are saying this is our person, we're fighting for her. The only Republicans who have come out even with tepid endorsements have said well, you know, she's probably qualified. She's OK. That's difficult.
O'BRIEN: All right, the president says it's a matter of faith and then to kind of push that along a little bit, James Dobson, Focus On the Family, the guy who outed poor SpongeBob...
TOOBIN: Yes.
O'BRIEN: ... on his radio show.
TOOBIN: Right.
O'BRIEN: Says this.
Listen.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
DR. JAMES DOBSON: When you know some of the things that I know, that I probably shouldn't know, that take me in this direction, you will understand why I have said, with fear and trepidation, why I have said that I believe Harriet Miers will be a good justice.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'BRIEN: Two words to that. Say what?
TOOBIN: Right. Well, yes. And if he were just a political figure, not a religious figure, you might think, well, this guy is just blowing smoke, he doesn't know anything special.
O'BRIEN: Right.
TOOBIN: But yesterday on the talk shows, you had the two senior members of the Judiciary Committee basically agreeing that he may be subpoenaed to testify about what private assurances he's received about Harriet Miers, because it is fair, as the senators are saying. If the White House knows secret information and they're sharing secret information, the Senate, which will be voting to confirm...
O'BRIEN: See, do you think that's likely that we'll see -- I mean let me ask you this. Is there a, you know, pastor devotee privilege of some kind that would be violated?
TOOBIN: No. I mean he's acting as a pol there.
O'BRIEN: All right.
TOOBIN: He's not offering counsel here.
O'BRIEN: I know.
TOOBIN: I mean he's...
O'BRIEN: I'm thinking of clever defenses.
TOOBIN: No, it is true. But he will have to testify if he's brought in. And I expect that when it's all teased out, he probably doesn't have all that much secret information. But if he's claiming that he has it, the Senate has a right to know it.
O'BRIEN: And supposedly it was Karl Rove who dropped the dime?
TOOBIN: He did say he spoke with Karl Rove.
O'BRIEN: All right. Well, there you have that.
So...
TOOBIN: So, I mean unlike Roberts, these are going to be some really interesting, contentious hearings.
O'BRIEN: A final thought. Roberts is a tough act to follow no matter who you put in there.
TOOBIN: Right, a very tough act to follow.
O'BRIEN: And maybe, I wonder if they should have flip-flopped these nominations.
TOOBIN: Well, it could have been. But, you know, the chief justice came open first. Roberts, you know, that's the job he wanted. And who wouldn't?
O'BRIEN: All right, Jeff Toobin, thank you very much -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Still to come, something new for victims of Katrina to worry about -- their credit scores. Find out how one consumers group wants to help and why the credit bureaus think it's a bad idea.
Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Victims of hurricanes Katrina and Rita may find themselves victimized again. Bad credit scores could prevent them from rebuilding their lives. And now some groups are pushing credit reporting agencies to give special consideration to hurricane survivors.
Gail Hillebrand is a senior attorney for the Consumers Union.
Gail joins us now from San Francisco.
Good morning, Gail.
GAIL HILLEBRAND, CONSUMERS UNION: Good morning.
COSTELLO: So what are you trying to do? You're trying to get these credit agencies to issue a pre-Katrina credit report.
What does that mean?
HILLEBRAND: We're asking the big three consumer reporting agencies to create and maintain in the credit file a pre-Katrina information credit score. If a Katrina victim has any late payments that get reported to the credit reporting agency, that can very significantly depress the credit score.
The credit score is that special number that often affects how much you pay for credit, as well as, in some states, for things like insurance.
So we're asking them to take a snapshot of what people's credit looked like before Katrina so that consumers have a chance to say to creditors, I was a good risk before. Take a close look. I did pay my bills before this happened to me.
COSTELLO: Yes, and 250,000 people are without jobs due to Katrina and Rita. So a lot of them may find your -- find this helpful. But the credit agencies aren't exactly going along with it. This is what two of them said: "A pre-Katrina score alongside a current score would be confusing to both the consumer and the lender." That's from Equifax. Experian says this: "Maintaining two credit files for reporting purposes would almost certainly be confusing to consumers."
They do have a point, don't they?
HILLEBRAND: We're not asking them to maintain two full credit files, simply to run the credit score on the prior information and keep it in a special place in the file, making it clear what it is, namely, it's pre-Katrina information about this person. This is a short-term fix until the credit models can be adapted to change the way they predict, so that they don't treat every late payment the same, even if it comes from a disaster.
COSTELLO: Well, I understand that. But wouldn't it be better to call your creditor and work things out with them, rather than to rely on these credit reporting agencies?
HILLEBRAND: Oh, you need to do both. But the problem is the average household has three to five credit cards, maybe two car loans if there are two cars in the family, and a mortgage. That's a lot of phone calls to make. And we're getting some reports from the field that some credit card companies are telling consumers you have to call back every single month. If you forget before you are able to resume those payments, you've got a bad mark on your credit report.
COSTELLO: Every single month.
OK, so in the final analysis, what should you do right at this time?
HILLEBRAND: Right at this time it's important that if you are going to or may miss a payment, to contact your creditors. If you have trouble finding those phone numbers, we've posted a link at Consumersunion.org. Tell the creditor you're a Katrina victim. Ask them to flag your file. Ask your creditor if they will stop reporting to the credit reporting agency and for how long, so you know how long you have to get back on your feet.
COSTELLO: And keep your temper, be very calm and very patient, because you can catch more flies with honey.
HILLEBRAND: Always.
COSTELLO: All right, Gail Hillebrand of the Consumers Union.
Thanks so much for joining us this morning.
Also tonight, Paula Zahn starts a week long series following hurricane Katrina victims trying to find news jobs.
As I said, more than 250,000 people are out of work. You might be able to help them start over again. For more info watch "My New Life." That's the series on "PAULA ZAHN NOW." It starts tonight at 8:00 Eastern on CNN.
Still to come on AMERICAN MORNING, Vegas style gambling -- is it the key to New Orleans' economic recovery? We'll take a closer look at that.
That's just ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: Well, we thought we'd show the statue of Christopher Columbus.
Keep pulling back on that. It is Columbus Day. We should show Columbus Circle. Can we go back to that shot? Oh there -- here it is. There. Now, there he is, Christopher Columbus, who is celebrated there on the southwest tip of Central Park, our doorstep here in Manhattan.
COSTELLO: I feel like this could be...
O'BRIEN: It's his day.
COSTELLO: I feel like there should be an orchestra playing behind us as you say that.
O'BRIEN: In 1492 he did sail the ocean blue.
COSTELLO: OK, enough of that.
O'BRIEN: Name his ships. You know them? The Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria.
COSTELLO: And the Santa Maria.
O'BRIEN: Very good work.
Well, Happy Columbus Day to you.
If you're at home, good for you. We're here working in honor of Christopher Columbus today.
I'm Miles O'Brien.
COSTELLO: I'm Carol Costello in for Soledad.
Thank you for joining us this morning.
Jump starting the badly damaged New Orleans economy. Efforts are now underway. Just ahead, we'll talk with a Bring Back New Orleans committee member.
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