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American Morning
Raging Wildfire on West Coast; Coretta Scott King's Laid to Rest Today; War of Words
Aired February 07, 2006 - 08:59 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. I'm Miles O'Brien.
ZAIN VERJEE, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Zain Verjee, in for Soledad.
O'BRIEN: The Santa Ana winds come again, stirring up a raging wildfire on the West Coast. Thousands evacuated south of L.A. We're live with the latest on this developing story.
VERJEE: Even more protests as outrage builds over controversial cartoons first published in a Danish newspaper. We're live on that story.
And this...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOV. KATHLEEN BLANCO (D), LOUISIANA: The harsh reality is that for many people in Washington Katrina is yesterday's problem.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VERJEE: ... frustration from Louisiana's governor as she tours the damage from Hurricane Katrina. But why are some local lawmakers turning their backs on the governor?
O'BRIEN: And civil rights icon Coretta Scott King laid to rest today. Thousands will be there, including four U.S. presidents. The latest on the funeral plans ahead on this AMERICAN MORNING.
We begin with a wildfire on the West Coast that is threatening homes and schools this morning. But we may not have seen the worst from this fire. As you look at live pictures from our affiliate KABC -- we thank them for that -- firefighters working around the clock to keep the fire at bay while hoping those Santa Ana winds die down.
CNN's Kareen Wynter live now in Orange, California. She's about 30 miles south of the Civic Center in Los Angeles.
Kareen, what's going on?
KAREEN WYNTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Miles, good morning.
And we're just a few miles away from where that fire is burning so fiercely. This is pretty much the closest we could get because that area is so remote. It's in a mountainous part of this community. So those aerial shots really give you an idea of what those firefighters are having to battle right now.
About 950 firefighters on the ground. They have been tackling this fire, this stubborn blaze, by ground. That's their only option, Miles, because it's so dark out here. They haven't been able to resume those aerial water lifts just yet.
We do have some information to pass on that we've just received. It's now up to 3,500 acres that have burned here, seven percent containment. And as I mentioned, 950 firefighters.
You also had a chance, Miles, to speak with the public information officer, Captain Stephen Miller, out here, who spoke about the wind factor and how this could play such an important role and how it could all change without warning.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CAPT. STEPHEN MILLER, ORANGE COUNTY FIRE AUTHORITY: When we first had the fire hit, we were gusting anywhere from 35 onwards up to about 50 miles per hour. And they are heated winds, so they kind of -- the humidity goes way down, it heats up the vegetation, kind of pre-warms it, if you will. And so when the fire races through there it literally races through, and there's just no outrunning it and getting ahead of it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WYNTER: Also some good news involving that major highway, that toll road that is separating that burning brush from homes that are about a mile away. Teams have been trying to contain that area by doing controlled burns. We just learned that the lines are holding up, there's no wind pushing it in the direction of the homes. So that means no immediate threat -- Miles.
O'BRIEN: Thank you, Kareen Wynter, in Orange, California.
Let's get right to Chad Myers at the weather center.
Chad, any relief in sight?
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Not really, Miles. High pressure -- not for me either.
High pressure in control across parts of Nevada. That high pressure pushing the wind down the hill, down the slope and warming it up. High pressure beating the flow to these very high winds.
In fact, right now, Bakersfield, 23, 24, 26 miles per hour, down to 25. Just kind of back and forth. Riverside, 10; Chula Vista at about 14 miles per hour now this morning.
The winds will continue. The temperatures will warm up.
Look, 83 in L.A. That is not a typical temperature for L.A.. That only happens when the winds are coming in from the east, when they are Santa Ana winds and they are blowing in the wrong direction. (WEATHER REPORT)
MYERS: Back to you.
VERJEE: Thanks, Chad.
MYERS: You're welcome.
VERJEE: The funeral for Coretta Scott King begins three hours from now at a church in suburban Atlanta. The New Birth Missionary Baptist Church where her youngest daughter now preaches holds 10,000 people. Close to 90,000 people have paid their respects since Saturday.
CNN's Tony Harris joins us now live with more.
Tony, good morning.
TONY HARRIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And good morning to you, Zain.
I have to tell you that in the last half-hour or so the activity has really picked up here at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church. And just a stream, a steady stream of buses pouring into this huge parking lot of this huge church dropping off people.
We're talking about New Birth buses and just mass transit buses dropping people off. And they have been making their way inside to take part in the final viewing before the funeral this afternoon of the body of Coretta Scott King.
And Zain, I have to tell you, I made my way through the line a short time ago to pay my respects and to say thanks to Coretta Scott King and found the process to be very dignified, orderly and very organized. And, in fact, that's just the way it's been in this week since we all learned of the passing of Coretta Scott King.
For example, yesterday, what a wonderful juxtaposition, her body lying in repose in the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, just feet away from where her husband and her father-in-law preached. And then a few hundred feet away, at the new Ebenezer Baptist Church, this amazing memorial service where Gladys Knight sang and Oprah Winfrey talked about her friend.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OPRAH WINFREY, TALK SHOW HOST: Every time I sat with her, whether she spoke or not, I came away wiser, knowing more about how to live and what it means to be a real woman. I felt blessed always to be in her presence. She leaves us all a better America than the America of her childhood.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: Well, Zain, President Bush and three former presidents will be here today for the funeral service, and you can imagine the net of security that comes with the presidents being here in Lithonia, Georgia.
Just in my eye line here I can see a S.W.A.T. team, their vehicles and all kinds of police vehicles. A police helicopter is flying around the church right now. The funeral service begins at noon. President Bush arrives at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport at 11:00. And we will, of course, be here throughout the afternoon -- Zain.
VERJEE: We'll keep checking in with you.
Tony Harris -- thanks.
And coming up later on our program, we're going to talk to the poet Maya Angelou about her memories from a close personal friendship with Coretta Scott King. And CNN will bring you special live coverage of the funeral of Coretta Scott King. As Tony mentioned, it will begin at noon Eastern.
O'BRIEN: On Capitol Hill, a war of words is going on this morning between two of the Senate's usually cooler heads. Republican John McCain accusing Democrat Barack Obama of backing off a pledge to work on a bipartisan reform bill dealing with lobbyists and ethics. That's an important issue to Mr. McCain.
CNN's Ed Henry is in Washington with more on this interesting feud -- Ed.
ED HENRY, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Miles.
That's right, it really sounds like a prize fight almost between two of the Senate's top contenders. In one corner you do have the maverick McCain thinking about running for president again. In the other corner, of course, you have Barack Obama, who already is seen as a rising star in the Democratic Party, being talked about as presidential timber himself. But I can tell you, rather than a prize fight, when you go through these letters it really reads more like a rumble, as you suggested.
McCain believes Obama threw the first punch, a sucker punch, if you will, by privately telling McCain he would be on board with a bipartisan task force to kind of studying this lobbying reform issue and then move forward with legislation. Obama then put out the first letter and publicly suggested he was against the task force, which made it seem like McCain was dragging his feet on reform.
So we saw the first letter last night come in from McCain in which it was really dripping with acid (ph). And it said to Obama, "I would like to apologize to you for assuming that your private assurances to me regarding your desire to cooperate in our efforts to negotiate bipartisan lobbying reform legislation were sincere. I initially believed you shared that goal, but I understand how important the opportunity to lead your party's effort to exploit this issue must seem to a freshman senator, and I hold no hard feelings over your earlier disingenuousness."
Now, McCain closed that letter with the dismissive, "Good luck to you, Senator." Obama, not missing a beat, put out a letter back to McCain, but tried to take the high road, perhaps realizing it's hard to fight fire with McCain, saying, "The fact that you have now questioned my sincerity and my desire to put aside politics for the public interest is regrettable but does not in any way diminish my deep respect for you nor my willingness to find a bipartisan solution to this problem."
So obviously don't look for any holiday cards to be exchanged back and forth between these two guys later this year. But I think there's a broader, more important point beyond the spat which is that, just a couple weeks ago, it looked like a slam dunk that there was going to be bipartisan lobbying reform that would get through Congress in the wake of the Jack Abramoff scandal. But I think this spat just demonstrates that in fact that may be a pipe dream and that in fact in the end we may see very little reform because there's going to be a lot of partisanship -- Miles.
O'BRIEN: Every time I hear that talk about bipartisanship, Ed, I hang on to my wallet because something like this comes along.
Thank you, Ed Henry.
HENRY: Thank you.
O'BRIEN: Always a pleasure.
Carol Costello is off. Kelly Wallace is in the newsroom with the morning's other top stories.
Hello, Kelly.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN ANCHOR: Hello there, Miles.
And we're beginning with news coming from General Motors. The company is making cuts, lots of them. The automaker is cutting its dividend by half and slashing pay and benefits for some top workers.
We understand the chairman and CEO will have a pay cut of 50 percent. Other top officers pay cuts between 10 and 30 percent. The moves could save the company more than half a billion dollars a year. And we'll be taking a closer look at all of this, what this all means, just ahead with Andy Serwer.
Security on high alert in Kabul, Afghanistan. That's because thousands of protesters took to the streets today showing their anger at cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammed.
The violence spreading also to the northwest part of the country. Protesters armed with rifles and grenades attacked a NATO base there. There are reports of some injuries.
Turning to Iraq now, there's been a double bombing at a central Baghdad marketplace. The explosions coming just minutes apart. At least three people were killed. Some 20 others are wounded.
People in Haiti voting for a president for the first time in six years. President Jean-Bertrand Aristide was ousted two years ago. The country has really been in political turmoil ever since. Voting was off to a rocky start this morning with many polling places opening late. U.N. peacekeepers are trying to prevent any possible violence.
And President Bush showing he's light on his feet. That's right. The president getting down on the dance floor to Al Green's "Let's Stay Together."
The president and first lady Laura Bush honoring Arthur Mitchell and the Dance Theater of Harlem at a special celebration at the White House last night. And I love this: the president had such a good time dancing the night away he stayed up past his 10:00 p.m. bedtime.
So Miles...
O'BRIEN: Kelly, we want to know who the mystery lady is with the fine gams there. Who's that?
WALLACE: I don't know, but she's got some good moves. And the president seems -- the president seems to be doing quite well, I think, out there.
VERJEE: Yes. Some pretty good moves, too. I think the president has got game.
WALLACE: He does got game.
(LAUGHTER)
WALLACE: Love it.
VERJEE: You know, spinning her around.
O'BRIEN: He was shagging, he was. I'm impressed.
WALLACE: He was doing well. Doing well.
O'BRIEN: Thanks, Kelly.
WALLACE: Sure.
O'BRIEN: Some controversy for Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco. She gave a speech last night at the New Orleans Convention Center. So what's the matter with that? Plenty, according to a state legislator you're about to meet.
VERJEE: And also, distinguished poet Maya Angelou will join us live. The poet and author was one of Coretta Scott King's closest friends. We're going to ask her to reflect on Mrs. King's legacy.
O'BRIEN: Plus more on the out rage in the Muslim world. Not all of that anger was fueled by the cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammed. A closer look at that resentment toward the Western world is ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BLANCO: This convention center represents the lifeblood of the city. It has received hundreds of millions of international visitors and will do so again. It is central to New Orleans' recovery. And I say that being here is just what the doctor ordered.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'BRIEN: That's the Louisiana governor, Kathleen Blanco, at the scene of much misery five months ago, the convention center. There she was earlier in the day, a bus tour of some of the most hard-hit areas of New Orleans, including the Lower Ninth Ward, with some of the state's 144 legislators.
About half of them didn't bother to show up for the bus tour. A quarter of them steered clear of the speech. A lot of controversy over this tour and speech in New Orleans, opposed to the more traditional situation in Baton Rouge.
Among the no-shows, Louisiana State Representative Juan LaFonta. He joins us now at our CNN's New Orleans bureau. And beside him, Representative Karyn Carter, who actually went along on the tour.
Let's begin with you, Representative LaFonta.
Why were you so outraged by this notion of seeing the damage in New Orleans?
JUAN LAFONTA, LOUISIANA STATE LEGISLATURE: Well, I wasn't necessarily outraged by seeing the damage in New Orleans. I was outraged at the choice of the site for the governor's speech and assembly. I personally...
O'BRIEN: Why?
LAFONTA: ... was somebody who was here three or four days -- because I was here three or four days at the convention center helping folks out. And there was so much going on. It's a great symbol of our pain and suffering for a lot of people in New Orleans, and I don't think that should have been a backdrop for a rebuilding speech.
O'BRIEN: But shouldn't -- isn't it appropriate, perhaps, to wherever possible remind the world of that pain and suffering as New Orleans, as Louisiana tries to get back on its feet?
LAFONTA: And I think there's a lot of ways that we could have done that without having something at the convention center. I mean, we have a lot of hotels. We have a lot of area on Canal Street and downtown that we could have utilized for that speech to be held.
O'BRIEN: OK.
Representative Carter, you disagree, obviously. You were there.
What were your thoughts on the notion of having a bus tour and then departing from tradition and having that speech by the governor to legislators there at the convention center?
KAREN CARTER, LOUISIANA STATE LEGISLATURE: Well, let me first say that I don't disagree with Representative Juan LaFonta in that there was significant devastation and tragedy that occurred at the convention center. But that occurred all over the city of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast region.
And we can't walk away from the problems that exist in the devastation that occurred all over our soil. We have to instead embrace it, appreciate it, and make sure that it never happens again. And we have very similar goals in that we want to make sure that this tragedy and devastation never happens again.
O'BRIEN: Well, let me ask you this more directly. Do you think the bus tour and setting for the opening of this special session was appropriate?
CARTER: No question about it. I mean, there are many legislators that were on the bus tour from north Louisiana and central Louisiana that said, you know, "Well, I'd been down here before maybe two or three months ago. I didn't appreciate the lack of progress that has occurred."
And we need to let the nation and the world know that we're not moving forward as fast as we need to be to rebuild our economy and rebuild people's lives. There are a lot of people that are still suffering, maybe not at the level that they were suffering at the convention center and the Superdome, but they are suffering with insurance problems, lack of housing, lack of health care, no schools to go to. And so we need -- we know as state officials that we need to work in partnership with our other state and local officials, as well as the federal government, to make...
O'BRIEN: All right. Representative, we're going to run out of time for Representative LaFonta. I've got to get him in there.
CARTER: Sure.
O'BRIEN: Representative, what's the matter with seeing this with your own eyes? And what is the matter if there is a little symbolism involved here? If nothing else, yes, you could be disparaging and call it a photo opportunity, but images are what after all are what probably New Orleans and southern Louisiana need to get out to the rest of the world, don't you think?
LAFONTA: Well, I understand that. But the images that I'm talking about and most of my constituents have is basically buses that stood in the break areas outside of New Orleans when all the folks were suffering in the convention center. And the last person that a lot of my constituents want to see is the governor, who hadn't made a decision about those buses to get them in here sooner to get people out.
So to me it was kind of a spit in the face to basically tell you, OK, we're going to do this big bus tour with FEMA buses and a lobbyist-sponsored dinner to follow after all these folks sat in the convention center and suffered for three days.
O'BRIEN: So it's kind of the whole political trappings of this. But isn't it, Representative LaFonta, isn't it incumbent really important, I think, for people to see it with their own eyes and be reminded of it wherever possible?
LAFONTA: I think that's fine. I do think we need to have people see it as much as possible. But I think what we're forgetting is the community aspect that New Orleans is all about.
Without going to the community and without talking to the people who live in the city and get the input of elected officials in the city, we can't just make decisions about the city and it's redevelopment. And that's what the governor is doing.
O'BRIEN: Final thought. You've got so many big issues here, so many fish to fry. Why pick a fight on this front?
LAFONTA: Well, it's something that's very personal not only to me, but members of my district. A lot of folks -- I received calls and encouragement about my statement about the governor speaking at the convention center.
I think the reason I'm stepping out on this one is because people have forgotten the people of New Orleans. And I think that's intrinsic to the rebuilding of New Orleans.
The governor has not talked to the legislative leaders or the New Orleans delegation about the rebuilding of New Orleans. We have not been included in the plan. And she kicked it off with a speech in New Orleans as though we're included in it. And I think that I beg to differ with her opinion.
O'BRIEN: All right. Appreciate your viewpoints on this, both of you, Louisiana state representatives Juan LaFonta and Karen Carter. Thanks for being with us there in the Crescent City.
CARTER: Thank you.
LAFONTA: Thank you.
O'BRIEN: Zain.
VERJEE: Miles, coming up, those cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed might have sparked outrage in the Muslim world, but they aren't the only reasons for all the anger that we've been seeing. We're going to take a closer look at Muslim resentment toward Europe.
And also ahead, the legacy of Coretta Scott King. We're going to talk to one of her closest friends, Maya Angelou, ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: Live pictures, Andrews Air Force Base. There you see a close-up of Marine One. The president of the United States having landed at Andrews for the transfer to Air Force one and the trip to Atlanta, Georgia, for the funeral today of Coretta Scott King.
He will be among four presidents, current, himself, and former there for the funeral. Of course, his father, and Jimmy Carter, and former President Clinton. There you see the president as he goes down the steps. Salute to the Marines and a handshake to the Air Force general who is in charge there, along with the first lady, of course, beside him for this trip.
We'll be back with more. And, of course, don't forget we'll have coverage of that funeral beginning noon Eastern right here on CNN.
Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: When Sanjay Gupta comes to work, we make him work hard.
VERJEE: Really hard.
O'BRIEN: His third story of the morning, a "New You Resolution" update.
VERJEE: And with only three weeks to go, some are feeling that they've hit a plateau and that no one is -- and one is feeling a year younger.
Dr. Sanjay Gupta joins us from the CNN Center in Atlanta -- Sanjay.
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN SR. MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): You know, how to feel younger is working hard, Miles.
O'BRIEN: There you go. It's working for you.
GUPTA: You've got to show up. It makes you feel younger.
We're talking about the "New You Resolution." It's one of our favorite stories here.
Every Tuesday we've been updating you on their successes and shortfalls. A couple of quick lessons.
It takes about eight weeks to form a habit. We're at about week five now. And as Zain mentioned, that's typically when you hit the plateau.
This week's "New You" focus is on the lobbyist (ph) and a special celebration.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DONNA BRIGHTHAUPT, NEW YOU PARTICIPANT: This is not my resolution.
GUPTA (voice over): So why is Donna Brighthaupt trying to limit her smoking by taking a class at the University of the District of Columbia?
BRIGHTHAUPT: Because Sanjay Gupta asked me. And he's so cute.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: At least six of my friends have died from lung cancer.
BRIGHTHAUPT: Why do you keep looking at me? Why aren't you talking to the class?
Her first lecture was scary. It scared me. But I'm not sure it has changed me yet.
GUPTA: What about Donna's boss Frank, who just turned 40?
CHRIS PURCELL, FRANK'S WIFE: But you know, with all this new exercising and everything, maybe he's got enough breath to blow out the candles now.
GUPTA: Frank's wife made sure the festivities remained healthy by serving a light carrot cake.
PURCELL: It's not a low calorie cake. It's 302 calories per serving.
GUPTA: Other "New You" partners are also monitoring their progress.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mark has been throwing down -- talking a lot of trash. And Stuart, likewise, has been talking a lot of trash. So, you know, whether they are talking and there's any action. I don't know. I see a lot of talk.
GUPTA: Frank has lost almost 25 pounds, and Donna is toning up. She has no new weight loss to report this week, but she is gaining muscle. And she's also keeping an eye on the competition.
BRIGHTHAUPT: I've got to reply to the other "New You" participants.
You can cut this and you can bleep it. They are both smart (EXPLETIVE DELETED). And they are on my list. Mark, Stuart...
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GUPTA: Donna, you know, she doesn't like us to talk about her cigarette smoking. But we're going to get her off those cigarettes, I think. That's something we're really working on.
Frank looks great as well.
Now let's check up on the other two "New You" pairs, the twins, a doctor and a lawyer, and the Rampollas. They're a military family. Are they feeling the heat?
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED GROUP (SINGING): Happy birthday to you.
GUPTA: Stuart's son had reason to celebrate, but his dad's diet was nothing to sing about.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Four hundred calories at a time every four hours, it's been very difficult to do at work.
GUPTA: He's still skipping meals.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I've lost about seven, eight pounds. It's a lot less than I expected that I would lose.
GUPTA: Mark has been faring better.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Still getting a little hungry around 10:00, 11:00 at night. But now I try to eat more healthy snacks.
GUPTA: And is his new diet working on the road?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They'll give you a free bagel and cream cheese. I didn't eat it. Two pants sizes. One more to go.
GUPTA: Five weeks in and Denise Rampolla has a problem. She struggles to find time for breakfast. Even lunch.
DENISE RAMPOLLA, NEW YOU PARTICIPANT: I'm just multitasked all the time.
GUPTA: Her dietitian, Marcia Siegel (ph), says skipping meals is a bad idea.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Eat six small meals a day and lose weight. Keep feeding the system, keep it burning.
GUPTA: And Pedro was struggling with eating small portions.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: In regards to fat...
GUPTA: Siegel (ph) says don't be us discouraged, ups and downs are normal.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If you look at it as a chore, it's going to be a chore and it's not going to stay.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GUPTA: So, as we mentioned, week five, that plateau week. You know, we're trying to get them through the entire eight weeks. We're going to tell you how we get them through this plateau next week, but here are some plateau-busting take-home tips.
For those of you that have been following the pairs' "New You" resolution, first of all, kick up your workout by walking up or down a flight or stairs for 15 or 20 minutes before you do your other exercises. Also, track your success. We don't typically recommend measuring things, but you might be able to measure things like waist to hip ratio or your cholesterol levels. Keep an eye on those things.
Also remember stay motivated. This is normal. Plateaus are a natural part of healthy long-term weight loss.
So good luck. And for more, log on to cnn.com/newyouresolution. You can do the blog.
I actually posted my own blog this week as well, gave some advice. You can even vote for which pair is your biggest inspiration for week five.
Make sure to join us next Tuesday, 8:00 a.m., for a weekly checkup. We'll be checking in on the Rampollas.
O'BRIEN: Sanjay Gupta. The plot is thickening in "New You" land. This is very interesting.
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