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CNN Live At Daybreak
Bush Administration Firing Back; Guilty Verdict in Carlie Brucia Murder; Cruising for Trouble?
Aired November 18, 2005 - 05:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN ANCHOR: It is Friday, November 18. And on the other side of the world an international summit.
It's a clash of ideas in South Korea. Pacific Rim leaders discuss the future of trade, battling terrorism and bird flu as thousands of police hold back demonstrators.
Also, pointing the finger and demanding the return of Americans from Iraq. The White House is firing back.
And guilty, guilty, guilty. A kidnapping caught on tape that brought national attention and now a verdict.
And good morning, everyone. I'm Kelly Wallace, in today for Carol Costello. Thanks so much for waking up with us.
We'll have much more on the battle over Iraq in just a moment.
Also ahead, the body armor that's supposed to protect the lives of soldiers is once again coming into question. A major recall is now under way.
And abusing their religion. Who could the creators of "South Park" take on that would make even them nervous? Cruise, Katie and Scientology face the wrath of Cartman. That's all coming up.
But first, these stories "Now in the News."
It is another bloody Friday in Iraq. Five hours ago, two suicide car bombers set off their explosives near a Baghdad hotel. That hotel is popular with Western journalists. At least six people are dead, more than 40 others injured.
The Senate worked late into the night to approve a $60 billion tax cutting bill. Among the provisions, stopping a tax designed to make sure wealthy Americans pay a little more in taxes than they have been. Today the House considers its version of the plan.
And Radio City musicians will be back at work this afternoon. The musicians ended their two-week strike after agreeing to a tentative deal with the music hall. The annual Rockettes Christmas spectacular has been going on with recorded music.
To the forecast center now and Jacqui Jeras.
Jacqui, happy Friday. JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Thank you.
WALLACE: I was thinking this morning very good sleeping weather, we should say.
JERAS: Oh, I know. Don't you just love it? I love sleeping with the comforter up -- just up to your chin and getting all cozy.
WALLACE: It's just under -- it is, because it's cold outside.
JERAS: It is.
(WEATHER REPORT)
WALLACE: All right, Jacqui. We'll be checking in with you again about 10 minutes from now. Thanks so much.
And our top story this hour, the Asian-Pacific Economic Summit, it is going on right now in Busan, South Korea. And you are looking at demonstrations that were taking place a little more than a mile from the summit location. Thousands of police are there.
President Bush and the leaders of 20 other nations are involved in talks. So far, the leaders are calling on Europe to be more flexible in opening its markets to world trade.
Well, despite being on the other side of the world, President Bush can't escape the dogged issued of Iraq. John Murtha, a retired Marine colonel and Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives, says the time has come to bring the U.S. troops home.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. JOHN MURTHA (D), PENNSYLVANIA: We're charged, Congress is charged with sending our sons and daughters into battle. And it's our responsibility, our obligation to speak out for them. That's why I'm speaking out.
Our military has done everything that has been asked of them. The U.S. cannot accomplish anything further in Iraq militarily. It's time to bring the troops home.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WALLACE: Well, you can say the administration is firing back, and firing back hard at that call for an immediate withdrawal from Iraq.
Our Dana Bash is following that story. She's also covering President Bush at that Asian-Pacific gathering and joining us now from Busan, South Korea.
Dana, good to see you.
The administration clearly coming back with a tough response to the congressman. DANA BASH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: You're right, Kelly. It's really in keeping with their overall campaign-style strategy to not let any charge go unanswered with the increasingly unpopular war in Iraq. So it was a response that was swift and scathing.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BASH (voice over): No press questions here with Russia's leader. President Bush for now is letting deputies fight the latest skirmish over the Iraq war political debate back home. The gloves-off White House effort is to paint a Democratic calling for troops out of Iraq in six months as out of the mainstream.
"Congressman Murtha is a respected veteran and politician who has a record of supporting a strong America," said the White House press secretary in a blistering statement. "So it is baffling that he is endorsing the policy positions of Michael Moore and the extreme liberal wing of the Democratic Party."
By trying to link John Murtha, a known hawk, to the dovish filmmaker Michael Moore, Bush aides hope to stop Independents and Republicans already skittish about Iraq from following the influential Democrat's lead.
SEN. JOHN KERRY (D), MASSACHUSETTS: I respectfully disagree with John Murtha.
BASH: White House officials note even outspoken war critics in Murtha's own party think an immediate troop withdrawal wood be dangerous. But the Bush strategy to dismiss Murtha's biting criticism of the president's Iraq policy, like calling him part of the left-wing fringe, may be undermined by past statements like this.
RICHARD CHENEY, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: One of my strongest allies in Congress when I was secretary of defense was Jack Murtha, Democrat who was chairman of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee. We used to be able to do more together on a bipartisan basis than seems possible these days.
BASH: It's that kind of glowing comment in the heat of last year's campaign that makes the Bronze Star double Purple Heart recipient's slam at the vice president on Iraq so stunning.
MURTHA: I like guys who have got five deferments and never been there and send people to war, and then don't like to hear suggestions about what needs to be done.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BASH: And the debate over Iraq isn't just raging back home, Kelly. The White House Bush officials here in South Korea appear to be surprised by the fact that defense ministry of South Korea said that they were going to begin to draw down their 3,000 or so troops that are currently in Iraq. But the White House says that is not an official statement, not an official policy, at least that they've been informed about. They think it's simply something that is being debated in the parliament in South Korea -- Kelly.
WALLACE: And Dana, going back to Congressman Murtha's comments, how worried is the White House about these, and also about the possibility that other members of Congress could get behind what the congressman is saying?
BASH: Well, I think the best way to answer that is to look at the way the White House responded by talking about John Murtha, who is, as you mentioned, somebody who is retired military, who is very, very well respected among the military brass in the same breath as Michael Moore. And really doing it in a way that, as you know, Kelly, we usually see those kinds of statements perhaps from the RNC, from the political arm of the -- of the White House, if you will.
So the fact that this did come out of the White House so fast is probably quite telling.
The other thing that the White House is trying to do with this is illustrate that there is a split within the Democratic Party. They understand that Democrats for a long time had not been able to get one voice or be able to sort of get any traction when it came to the war in Iraq, but they sense that perhaps they are doing that. That's why they wanted to come out pretty strongly against John Murtha, especially because he is so influential on these issues -- Kelly.
WALLACE: Dana, thanks so much. And we'll be following your reports during the rest of the trip.
Dana Bash reporting from Busan, South Korea.
And we want to hear from you about this topic. It is our DAYBREAK e-mail "Question of the Day."
Following what Congressman Murtha said, the White House response, this question: Should the United States immediately withdraw from Iraq? What do you think? Is it a good idea? What could be the impact in Iraq, the impact on U.S. foreign policy?
Let us know what you think at DAYBREAK@CNN.com. And we'll be reading some of your thoughts throughout the hour.
Well, turning gears a little bit now. While Vice President Dick Cheney was lambasting Democrats a little earlier this week, and vigorously defending going to war in Iraq, a former CIA director lambasted Cheney.
In a British television interview, Admiral Stansfield Turner said the Bush administration condones torturing detainees.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ADM. STANSFIELD TURNER, FMR. CIA DIRECTOR: I'm embarrassed. I'm embarrassed that the United States has a vice president for torture. I think it is just reprehensible.
(END VIDEO CLIP) WALLACE: And Turner adds that President Bush, in his view, is lying when he denies that the United States uses torture. I don't believe there's been any comment yet from the White House about those comments.
More news now "Across America" this morning.
One of the escaped Iowa inmates is now in custody. Dogs helped corner convicted murderer Martin Moon after he fled from police in Illinois. Moon and Robert Legendre escaped from a maximum security prison in Iowa Monday. Legendre is still on the loose.
At least four children have died in a late-night apartment fire near Cincinnati. This according to The Associated Press. Firefighters say two other children were pulled from the fire by a passing motorist. It is not known what caused the fire. One resident said it is the fifth major fire in the complex in the past few years.
And a college student in Wyoming was severely burned, get this, when her cell phone exploded, setting her dorm room on fire. She was charging the phone when the battery burst into flames. The 19-year- old woman suffered third-degree burns. Her roommate escaped unharmed.
Well, the death penalty could be next for the man convicted of killing 11-year-old Carlie Brucia. That, after a Florida jury took less than a day to find him guilty on all charges.
We get the latest now from CNN's Susan Candiotti.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SUSAN SCHORPEN, CARLIE BRUCIA'S MOTHER: You will get yours.
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Carlie Brucia's mother let loose at a police van taking convicted killer Joseph Smith back to jail.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The defendant is guilty of murder in the first degree, as charged.
CANDIOTTI: After deliberating less than five hours, a jury found Smith guilty of kidnapping, raping and strangling 11-year-old Carlie Brucia nearly two years ago. Smith showed no emotion.
The victim's mother did, sobbing quietly. Carlie's father smiled and nodded as the verdict was read. The case is best known from a chilling and apparently damning car wash surveillance tape that showed Smith approaching, then mysteriously convincing his unknowing victim to go with him as she walked home from a sleepover -- Carlie's body found four days later, half-naked, in a field behind a church.
The victim's mother:
SCHORPEN: I have lost one of the most precious things to me in my life, because of an animal, a disgusting, perverted animal. CANDIOTTI: Prosecutors deluged jurors with powerful forensic evidence, a strand of Carlie's hair found in Smith's getaway car, semen that matched Smith's DNA found on the girl's shirt, and testimony from the defendant's own brother, who got Smith to confess.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Did he say anything about how it ended?
JOHN SMITH, BROTHER OF JOSEPH SMITH: Well, I asked. He wasn't sure.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What do you mean. What did you ask? And try to speak up, again. Remember, you have got to try to articulate.
SMITH: I asked if she was dead.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And what did he say?
SMITH: He said, "I don't know. She could be."
CANDIOTTI: The defendant did not take the stand. And, in a stunning move, his lawyer skipped a closing argument.
JUDGE ANDREW D. OWENS JR., 12TH CIRCUIT COURT OF FLORIDA: I'm sure that you are aware of what just occurred, but that you had an opportunity to fully discuss that with your attorney, Mr. Tebrugge, during the recess, and that you were in concurrence with Mr. Tebrugge waiving any final argument.
JOSEPH SMITH, DEFENDANT: Yes, I did, Your Honor.
ADAM TEBRUGGE, ATTORNEY FOR JOSEPH SMITH: The jury found that the evidence passed the test. I respect and accept the verdict of the jury. I will now be preparing to present further evidence on November the 28th and will be arguing that a sentence of life in prison without possibility of parole...
CANDIOTTI: Smith, a father of three daughters himself, has been in and out of jail for more than a decade for a string of mostly drug arrests, but no sex crimes.
Next, the same jury will decide whether Smith should be put to death.
Susan Candiotti, CNN, Miami.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WALLACE: We are just getting started here on this busy Friday morning on DAYBREAK. We'll have your forecast in just a moment.
Also coming up, a different view of this morning's violence in Baghdad. We'll tell you who these explosions were targeting today.
Also, this popular T-shirt star has called quite a stir in at least one school so far, but why are people unhappy with this angry snowman? And also, have these cartoon characters gone too far? We'll look at why "South Park" may be drawing the ire of Cruise and the Church of Scientology.
All that ahead. But first, here's a look at what else is making news this Friday morning, November 18.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WALLACE: And the international markets are having a very good day. Tokyo's Nikkei is up by 211 points. I'm told that is a five- year high. The London FTSE is higher by 69. And the German DAX is gaining 54 points.
In futures trading, oil is up six cents to $56.40 a barrel this morning.
Your news, money, weather and sports. It's almost 17 minutes after the hour, and here is what is all new this morning.
The military is recalling more than 18,000 body armor vests after they failed ballistics tests. The vests are designed to protect against small arms fire and bullet fragments. It is the second time in about six months that protective vests have been recalled.
A move forward for a grim task of identifying Hurricane Katrina's victims in Louisiana. The governor's office has agreed with a FEMA plan that will pay most of the costs for DNA testing. The process has been slowed by bureaucratic fighting over who should pay.
In money, remember all that talk about a windfall profits tax for the big oil companies? Not going to happen. The Senate has defeated a Democratic amendment to impose that temporary tax.
In culture, the Christmas Spectacular is back on with live music at Radio City Music Hall. Striking musicians have reached a tentative agreement with Radio City Entertainment, and they will be back on the job tonight.
In sports, baseball's tough new steroids policy is a step closer to reality. Owners have agreed to the plan which imposes heavy penalties on players caught using steroids and other performance- enhancing drugs. The Players Union must still sign on to this policy.
And to Jacqui Jeras in Atlanta.
Jacqui, what's it looking like for most of us today?
(WEATHER REPORT)
WALLACE: All right, Jacqui. But at least sunshine for a lot of us this weekend. That's a good thing.
Coming up here on DAYBREAK, how would you like to boldly own what only one man has owned before? Captain Kirk has an alien life form he wants to sell you. His latest enterprise is next. And they've taken on everything and everyone. So why are the guys from "South Park" so nervous about their latest target? Jump on your couch and stay tuned. The answer is next.
You are watching DAYBREAK for a Friday. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WALLACE: And a reminder. We want to hear from you. Our DAYBREAK e-mail "Question of the Day": Should the United States immediately withdraw from Iraq?
A Democratic congressman is saying the time has come for U.S. troops to come out. The White House says that's absolutely the wrong way to go.
We want to hear what you think. Should the U.S. immediately withdraw from Iraq? E-mail us at DAYBREAK@CNN.com and we'll read some of your responses in the next few minutes.
Entertainment headlines for you now this morning.
Want a piece of entertainment history? Well, head to eBay, where you can bid on the original HOLLYWOOD sign. The owner of a memorabilia company hopes the 30-foot letters from the 1923 version of the sign will sell for at least $300,000. The current version of the sign debuted in 1978.
And speaking of eBay, William Shatner calls it the ultimate piece of "Star Trek" memorabilia, and he wants to sell it on the online auction site. Don't get too excited, though. It is a kidney stone he passed last month.
Many of us can't quite believe this one. Shatner wants eBay to relax its rules on the sale of body parts. He says he will give all the proceeds to charity.
And Dennis Rodman is heading back to the basketball court. "The Des Moines Register" reports the former NBA superstar will play two games with, get this, the Cedar Valley Jaguars of the International Basketball League. The games are set for the end of May in Waterloo, Iowa.
Well, for nine seasons, the cartoon characters from South Park, Colorado have pushed the limits of good judgment, like last season when they did a takeoff on the Terri Schiavo case. But this time they've started slapping around what some consider the big boys.
CNN Entertainment Correspondent Sibila Vargas shows us just how far they've gone.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE, "SOUTH PARK": We're going to go play laser tag.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE, "SOUTH PARK": Yes. See you.
ELIZABETH VARGAS, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): "South Park" is the highest rated show on Comedy Central. In part because the show is not afraid to stir up controversy. It seems no one and nothing is off limits.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE, "SOUTH PARK": Have you heard of Scientology? A lot of really cool people are Scientologists, like Tom Cruise and John Travolta.
VARGAS: Last night's targets, Tom Cruise and his religion, Scientology. The innuendoes were clear. The show refers to Scientology as a cult.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE, "SOUTH PARK": We just need $240.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE, "SOUTH PARK": Look, Stan, we're really getting concerned about this cult that you're getting into.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE, "SOUTH PARK": You and I together will make $3 million. This is a scam on a global scale.
VARGAS: And Tom Cruise, who for years has battled gay rumors, and even sued to stop these rumors, well, no restraint here.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE, "SOUTH PARK": Dad, Tom Cruise won't come out of the closet.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE, "SOUTH PARK": Mr. Cruise, Mr. Cruise, come out of the closet.
VARGAS: And if you didn't get it the first time, they hammer it home.
"SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" had the counter ready to go.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE, "SOUTH PARK": Tom, you've got to come out of the closet, oh my God.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE, "SOUTH PARK": It's been four hours now, and Tom Cruise still will not come out of the closet.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE, "SOUTH PARK": Tom Cruise, this is Park County Police. Please come out of the closet.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE, "SOUTH PARK": It's time for you to come out of the closet.
VARGAS: Our unscientific tally, almost 40 references. Even for "South Park," did they cross the line? And is the show opening itself up to libel charges by Cruise?
"SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" getting the answers.
HARVEY LEVIN, MANAGING EDITOR, TMZ.COM: I think in Tom Cruise's wildest dreams there's no lawsuit here. This was strictly parody. There's no doubt about it.
I mean, this show is legendary for its parody. I don't think anybody is saying, "Wow, this must be true." There's no lawsuit here.
VARGAS: For Tom Cruise, he's been the target of ridicule and wonder ever since he famously professed his love for fiance Katie Holmes on Oprah's couch.
OPRAH WINFREY, TALK SHOW HOST: Have you ever felt this way before?
VARGAS: And went public on "The Today Show," touting Scientology's opposition to treating depression with medication.
TOM CRUISE, ACTOR: You don't know history of psychiatry. I do.
NICKI GOSTIN, "NEWSWEEK": It's just amazing. He's just been criticized this year. There's just been a million Web sites making fun of him and making fun of his relationship with Katie Holmes and making fun of his Scientology and just his aggressive happiness. I think it creeps a lot of people out.
VARGAS: Tom's used to the bad press. Check out this "New York" magazine cover, "Celebrity Psychos." He's even hired a high-powered publicist to help his image.
And now Madonna, whose own Kabala beliefs gets a lot of scrutiny, came to his defense, saying in this month's "Rolling Stone," "I don't really know what Scientology is, and because I don't know, I'm not in a position to have an opinion about it. But I don't think anybody else knows, either. They need to shut the (EXPLETIVE DELETED) up."
Some say this could be the last straw for Tom, who's not afraid to defend his name. He won a multimillion-dollar judgment in 2003 after suing a male wrestler for claiming they had an affair. So, the "South Park" team decided to make light of lawsuits, too.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE, "SOUTH PARK": We are going to sue you. You are so sued.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE, "SOUTH PARK": I'll sue you in England.
VARGAS: But just in case, no one's taking responsibility on the show's credits. Just a bunch of John and Jane Smiths.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WALLACE: And that was CNN's Sibila Vargas reporting. So far, there hasn't been any public comment about the episode from people close to Tom Cruise, so we'll just have to wait and see and watch more about that.
Well, here's what's all new in the next half-hour here on DAYBREAK.
Has the backlash against the war reached the boiling point? We'll look at what could be a turning point in public opinion next.
And new violence in Iraq, and new anger over accusations of abuse. We're live next in Baghdad.
This is DAYBREAK for a Friday. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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