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CNN Live At Daybreak
War Over the War; Tacoma Mall Shooting; Oprah's Gift Show
Aired November 22, 2005 - 5:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: It is Tuesday, November 22. More and more the war in Iraq is being fought in Washington's corridors of power and influence.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. JOHN MURTHA (D), PENNSYLVANIA: I'm trying to prevent another Vietnam.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: A war veteran speaking out about fears of repeating the past in Iraq.
Also, are some people trying to cross the Red Cross, taking advantage of aid for hurricane victims?
And rolling off the line and into trouble. Are the tires coming off General Motors?
ANNOUNCER: From the Time Warner Center in New York, this is DAYBREAK with Carol Costello.
COSTELLO: And good morning to you. We'll have more on the war over Iraq in just a moment.
Also ahead, it's raining free stuff on a group of Katrina volunteers this Thanksgiving all thanks to Oprah. We'll show you.
And if you believe the bestseller list, "The Devil Wears Prada." Now apparently so does his arch nemesis.
Controversy over some footwear that definitely is not the shoes of the fisherman.
But first, "Now in the News."
In just a few hours, Angela Merkel will be sworn in as Germany's first woman chancellor. She'll lead the government coalition in the wake of her party's slim election victory two months ago. She replaces Gerhard Schroeder.
Get ready shoppers. The highly-anticipated new Xbox video game system goes on sale today, but lines already started to form yesterday due to the expected shortage of Xbox 360.
Look at those people waiting out in the cold. It is judgment today for the White House turkey. But a tradition dictates a presidential pardon for the gobbler. And this year there is another twist. Instead of heading to a farm, the turkey and his backup are going to Disneyland.
They'll be grand marshals for Disney's annual Thanksgiving Day Parade. And then, Jacqui Jeras, those turkeys will get to live at Disneyland year round.
JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: I want to be pardoned. That sounds like fun.
Welcome back, by the way.
COSTELLO: Thank you. It's good to be here.
JERAS: It feels like you've been gone forever.
COSTELLO: Only three days.
JERAS: It feels like forever.
COSTELLO: Thank you, Jacqui.
JERAS: We missed you. Welcome back. The viewers missed you as well.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: Thank you, Jacqui.
The red-hot rhetoric over Iraq isn't getting any cooler. And Vice President Cheney is still adding his voice to the heated discussion.
During a speech, Cheney treated one Democratic critic with kit gloves. Oh, and then the gloves came off for critics who questioned why the U.S. invaded Iraq in the first place.
CNN's John King has more for you.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOHN KING, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The vice president's mission was to tone down one Iraq war political fight and sharpen the already heated rhetoric in another.
RICHARD CHENEY, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: But he is a good man, a Marine, a patriot.
KING: Those kind words for Democratic Congressman Jack Murtha, whose call to bring the troops home in six months initially drew a scathing White House rebuke.
But, before heading home from Asia, the president told senior aides the initial Murtha rebuttal was too personal and said publicly that, while he disagreed with him, the congressman is a fine man.
Echoing the president's tone, the vice president called Murtha a friend, but made clear the White House thinks his timetable carries a dangerous risk.
CHENEY: Would the United States and other free nations be better off or worse off with Zarqawi, bin Laden and Zawahiri in control of Iraq?
KING: The sharper rhetoric was aimed at Democrats who suggest the president deliberately exaggerated the Iraqi threat to win public and congressional support for the war.
SEN. JOHN KERRY (D), MASSACHUSETTS: The war in Iraq was and remains one of the great acts of misleading and deception in the American history.
SEN. HARRY REID (D-NV), MINORITY LEADER: The fact of the matter is that -- you can't escape this -- is that the administration manipulated the evidence.
CHENEY: Flaws in the intelligence are plain enough, in hindsight. But any suggestion that pre-war information was distorted, hyped or fabricated by the leader of the nation is utterly false. This is revisionism of the most corrupt and shameless variety.
KING: Rebutting the argument Mr. Bush misled the country into war because the toll on the president's credibility is mounting and has ramifications for his entire second-term agenda.
PETER HART, DEMOCRATIC POLLSTER: At this stage of the game, the American public says, "I no longer believe you." And we are not talking about those people who are liberal Democrats. We're talking about the middle of the electorate.
KING: Another reason the administration believes it can focus more on the pre-war intelligence debate is, even Democrats who label the Bush Iraq policy a disaster, like Delaware Senator Joseph Biden, disagree with Congressman Murtha's six-month withdrawal timetable.
BIDEN: The hard truth is that our large military presence in Iraq is both necessary and increasingly counterproductive. Our presence remains necessary, because, right now, our troops are the only guarantor against chaos.
KING: While tough on Bush policy, Biden said, at best, U.S. troop levels could reduced from 150,000 to 100,000 by the end of next year. And, with that the emerging Democratic consensus, many Republicans are pushing the administration to lay out a plan for beginning to reduce U.S. troop levels.
(on camera): The president has consistently said his decisions will be based on progress in Iraq, not political pressures. But senior administration officials tells CNN, if next month's Iraqi elections go well, Mr. Bush is prepared to embrace reducing U.S. troop levels, perhaps in his State of the Union address early next year. John King, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: But Congressman Murtha isn't backing down. The ex- Marine called for the withdrawal of all U.S. troops in Iraq over the next six months. Murtha told CNN's Wolf Blitzer he's simply trying to prevent another Vietnam.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MURTHA: I'm convinced that he will come around to my position. This war cannot be won militarily. We have to turn it over to the Iraqis.
The Iraqis would let us fight this war forever. I'm convinced the only way it's going to be won is politically.
I said 18 months ago, either mobilize totally or get out. A year ago, I said you can't win it militarily. I'm saying the same thing now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Murtha predicted the majority 160,000 troops currently in Iraq will be home around next year's midterm elections.
We got word just a few minutes ago that another American soldier has been killed in Iraq. The military says the soldier was killed by a roadside bomb during combat operations yesterday some 40 miles west of Baghdad. His death brings the number of U.S. troops killed in Iraq to 2,096.
In other news "Across America" now, a former Roman Catholic monsignor in Phoenix is charged with assaulting teenage boys. Fifty- three-year-old Dale Fushek is one of the highest-ranking church members to be arrested in connection with sexual abuse. The former priest is under house arrest and has been ordered to keep away from anyone under the age of 18.
There was no kidnapping involved in the Pennsylvania parents slaying case. The prosecutor's report says the 14-year-old girl voluntarily fled with her boyfriend after he allegedly shot her mother and father. The report says the girl wanted to get married and start a new life with 18-year-old David Ludwig. Ludwig faces two murder charges in the case, but the kidnapping charge will now be dropped.
Police in southern Georgia released this tape of a shooting last week. You can see the suspect -- see him point the gun, point his rifle at a Camden County sheriff's deputy? Watch as his unattended truck rolls into traffic then.
Charles Lamb (ph) was shot after he approached the deputy and he refused to drop the gun. Lamb (ph) was pulled over after a six-mile chase that started after witnesses say he pointed his gun at passing cars. A Detroit Red Wings hockey player is in good condition in the hospital this morning. Jiri Fischer's heart stopped when he collapsed on the bench during last night's game. He was revived by the team's trainer. Doctors say the 25-year-old is doing well but will be kept in a hospital for a couple of days. The rest of the game was postponed.
And we're learning more about the shooting incident at that mall in Tacoma, Washington. Six people were wounded, one critically. And he remains at Tacoma General Hospital.
Chris Lawrence has more for you.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A judge set bail at $2 million for Dominick Maldonado. But it's the not first time a court judgment has gone against him.
CNN has learned Maldonado has four prior convictions while he was a juvenile, including one for burglary that makes it illegal for him to have a gun. Maldonado pleaded not guilty on Monday to charges that he shot eight shoppers and kidnapped several others in a Tacoma, Washington, mall.
His ex-girlfriend says she is not surprised by the accusations against Maldonado.
TIFFANY ROBISON, EX-GIRLFRIEND OF DOMINICK SERGIO MALDONADO: Because of the way he's talked in the past, the way he's thought, and he said he wanted to do something stupid. He didn't go into details. He didn't explain.
LAWRENCE: Tiffany Robison says Maldonado text-messaged her cell phone, then called her as he barricaded himself inside a music store.
ROBISON: He is like: "I'm crazy. I'm crazy. I can't do this. I'm crazy." And he's like: "I have got to let you go. I'm on the other line with the police."
And that was the end of that.
LAWRENCE: Prosecutors say Maldonado walked into the mall Sunday with two guns and a bagful of ammunition.
RON COLSTON, EYEWITNESS: And I had already heard about four or five shots. And he shot about five or six times more. He had a smile on his face. And this is what I could not believe.
LAWRENCE: Ron Colston saw one woman go down after being shot and told his family to run.
COLSTON: And they ran out the door toward the back. And I looked for my wife. And I got my wife and granddaughter out the door.
LAWRENCE: Police say Maldonado barricaded himself inside the music store with four hostages. It took four hours before he finally gave up and turned over his weapons.
Doug Bird runs a security firm in Tacoma. Bird says authorities have worried for years that light security at malls make them potential terrorist targets, but they are also very vulnerable to everyday violent crimes.
DOUG BIRD, U.S. SECURITY SERVICES: By having somebody with a nice, crisp uniform on and a badge, I don't think that deters anybody. They have to have the equipment to do that. If I'm security, and somebody wants to a commit a crime, a perpetrator wants to a commit a crime, and he's armed and I'm not, what good am I?
LAWRENCE: In Maldonado's case, the security guards were not armed. But there are police officers stationed at the mall. And even security experts admit it's a lot tougher to prevent this kind of random shooting than react after it's already started.
(on camera): After he was arrested, detectives searched Maldonado's home. Prosecutors say they found bomb-making diagrams, as well as a formula for making the poison gas ricin.
Chris Lawrence, CNN, Tacoma, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: It's not exactly going to be a happy holiday season for General Motors, or its employees. Dropping sales mean job cuts. And even that may not be enough to turn things around. We'll take a closer look coming up.
Also, who needs Santa when you've got Oprah? She's showering Katrina survivors and volunteers with gifts.
And the pope has never been known for his fashion sense, but is that all changing? We'll see what he's stepping out in.
But first, here's a look at what else is making news this Tuesday.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: The international markets, ooh, they're higher this morning. Tokyo's Nikkei up 27 points. The London FTSE 16 points higher. The German DAX gaining just about two -- I don't know, 2.24, to be exact.
In futures trading let's take a look at the price of oil, because it is up 30 cents to an even $58.000 a barrel this morning amid worries about a snow storm in the Northeast this weekend. So you see, it's always something.
Your news, money, weather and sports. It's 5:15 Eastern. Here's what's all new this morning.
Changing the tone. Vice President Cheney calls Democratic Congressman John Murtha a good man and a patriot. But Cheney says he disagrees with Murtha over the quick withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq.
Michael Scanlon, the former partner of Washington lobbyist Jack Abramoff, has pleaded guilty to conspiring to bribe public officials. Under a plea deal, Scanlon will pay more than $19 million in restitution to Indian tribes. And government sources tell CNN he will testify against Abramoff.
In money news, General Motors is making massive jab cuts in order to try and revive their bottom line. As many as 30,000 workers will lose their jobs beginning next year. Operations says as many as 12 GM plants will either cease or be scaled back.
In culture, Bono says his music will live on longer than his activist endeavors. U2's socially conscious front man told CBS' "60 Minutes" that he hopes his humanitarian causes will be forgotten, because, he says, that would mean some of the world's most pressing problems will be solved.
Wow.
In sports, the Minnesota Vikings used a last-minute drive and a last-second field goal to beat, oh, the poor Green Bay Packers 20-17 last -- can you believe that? It's the second time this year the Vikings have beaten the Packers on a field goal as time expired.
And Minnesota had all that big scandal with the sex cruise. I guess they've gotten over that now, Jacqui.
JERAS: I guess so. And my husband is $10 richer. We have a $5 bet every year between my dad and my husband, Packers versus Vikings.
Woo hoo! Five bucks. We can go out to eat tonight.
COSTELLO: Yes.
JERAS: Buy donuts maybe this morning, anyway.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: Thank you, Jacqui.
Still to come on DAYBREAK this morning, a few of her favorite things. Oprah Winfrey surprised some hard-working volunteers who helped after Hurricane Katrina. Oh, we'll bring you that emotional story next.
But first, good morning, Boston.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: In entertainment headlines for you this morning, some of Bob Dylan's earliest poetry has sold for $78,000 at Christie's auction house in New York. The 16-page handwritten collection dates back to 1960, when Dylan was still a college student and his name was Robert Zimmerman and was just starting to use his pseudonym, Dylan. "Sopranos" actor Vincent Pastore has pleaded guilty to attempting to assault a former girlfriend last spring. The plea deal keeps him from getting jail time if he'd been convicted on the charges. Instead, Pastore will do 70 hours of community service, attend anger management therapy, and pay a small fine.
A big night in music. And Cedric The Entertainer is the man. He's hosting tonight's American Music Awards from the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.
Lindsey Lohan, Will Smith, Missy Elliott and dozens of other artists are either presenting or performing at the show, where the winners are picked by the public.
And David Letterman says Oprah Winfrey has finally agreed to be a guest on his late-night CBS show. Winfrey was quoted two years ago as saying she'd never go back on Letterman's show again because her two guest stints left her feeling like the butt of his jokes. But she'll be back there on December 1, the premier night of the Broadway show "The Color Purple," which she is producing.
And speaking of Oprah, you've heard about her infamous holiday gift show, right? Everybody in the audience gets a great present.
And as CNN's David Haffenreffer reports, the surprise audience was a very deserving crowd.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
OPRAH WINFREY, TALK SHOW HOST: Every single person that you see here, every single one, is a real-life American hero.
DAVID HAFFENREFFER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): These are real-life American heroes, each of them volunteers who put their lives on hold to provide help in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You just did what you had to do because you knew you had to do it.
HAFFENREFFER: They each came to the "Oprah Winfrey Show" taping thinking they were there to talk about their experiences. But what they got was a pat on the back and the shock of their lives.
WINFREY: Because of everything that you did, obviously nobody can repay you. But I wanted to at least try with a few of my favorite things.
(APPLAUSE)
HAFFENREFFER: With screams and more screams, Oprah's audience of Katrina volunteers were floored as Oprah surprised them with the news that they are this year's recipients of "Oprah's Favorite Things." It's Winfrey's annual holiday gift show, where her studio audience makes off with the must-have items of the season.
Tim McFadden, who helped clear away destroyed homes in Louisiana, was one of the volunteers Oprah honored. He came straight to "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" with all his gifts to tell us what it was like to go from the pain of Katrina to being Oprah's queens and kings for a day.
TIM MCFADDEN, FORMER HURRICANE KATRINA VOLUNTEER: You're getting teary. And then suddenly, bam, the set goes up and she's like, "It's my favorite things!" And everybody is like, "Ahh," and they start screaming. It was really hysterical.
WINFREY: But there ain't nothing wrong with a little bit of bling.
(APPLAUSE)
HAFFENREFFER: Oprah gave every member of the all-Katrina- volunteer audience a $2,000 diamond encrusted watch, a new video iPod, expensive Burberry coats, a Sony laptop, and a bunch of other gifts.
MCFADDEN: She really, really loves doing stuff like this for people.
HAFFENREFFER: The aftermath of Hurricane Katrina is a subject near and dear to Oprah Winfrey's heart. Days after the hurricane, she went to New Orleans and got an emotional firsthand look at the devastation.
WINFREY: This makes me so mad. This makes me mad. This should not have happened.
HAFFENREFFER: And though she's now rewarding the work done by the volunteers, Tim McFadden says they didn't do it for the reward.
MCFADDEN: We didn't volunteer for any of this. We volunteered because it came from a pure place of love and compassion.
Our friends, you know, we talked a lot about our feelings, about getting these gifts. You know, well, should we keep them? Should we donate them? Should we do something with them? And I think we're still all wondering. I haven't opened my stuff yet.
HAFFENREFFER: Still, it was the spirit of giving that each of the volunteers exhibited through their work. And it's what Winfrey celebrated on today's show.
WINFREY: Thank you for your generous hearts, your courage, for showing the world, the whole world, once again what the American spirit is all about.
MCFADDEN: Sometimes when you give, you get back way beyond what you could have ever imagined.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: That was CNN's David Haffenreffer reporting.
Many of those in the audience are credited with saving the lives of Katrina victims. Here's what's all new in the next half-hour of DAYBREAK.
Devastating news out of General Motors. The automaker plans to cut more than a quarter of its manufacturing jobs in North America. That's 30,000 workers that will be out of work. A look at what went wrong ahead this hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANNOUNCER: From the Time Warner Center in New York, this is DAYBREAK with Carol Costello.
COSTELLO: And good morning to you. Thank you for waking up with us.
Coming up in the next 30 minutes, millions of dollars from FEMA and the Red Cross went to the so-called hurricane victims in Jackson, Mississippi, but it might have been a case of fraud. We'll take a look.
And General Motors making massive cuts. Thirty thousand workers will be out of a job. We'll bring you more on this story ahead.
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