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American Morning
Are We Less Safe?; Iraq; Terrorism & Politics; America Votes 2006; Iraq Violence Rising
Aired September 27, 2006 - 08:59 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: I'm Elaine Quijano at the White House.
President Bush declassifies portions of a classified national intelligence estimate. But will it be enough for Democrats?
I'll have details coming up.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Just how important is this election to both parties? A record amount of money has been raised for a midterm campaign.
Hillary Clinton stands by her man, jumping into the debate over who's tougher on terrorists.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: And we'll just end that right now since none of the video seems to be matching what we're talking about.
S. O'BRIEN: We're trying.
M. O'BRIEN: Good morning to you. It's good to have you with us this morning.
S. O'BRIEN: Good morning. Welcome back.
M. O'BRIEN: I'm Miles O'Brien.
S. O'BRIEN: Let's begin with that intelligence -- classified intelligence report. I think that is where we should start today.
M. O'BRIEN: Yes. The released portion of that classified intelligence report paints a dire picture, and it is a picture which is providing some grist for both parties as they cherry pick through that report, using it to buttress their own arguments.
Let's go to Elaine Quijano at the White House for more -- Elaine.
QUIJANO: Good morning to you, Miles.
Well, President Bush maintains that his decision to declassify portions of this classified national intelligence estimate was not made for political purposes. But with Democrats pushing for more to be declassified, it is clear this is a White House engaged in a political fight.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) QUIJANO (voice over): President Bush launch a full-throated political defense, attacking what he called the politically motivated leaking of a classified national intelligence estimate dealing partly with Iraq.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We'll stop all the speculation, all the politics about somebody saying something about Iraq. John Negroponte, the DNI, is going to declassify the document as quickly as possible. He'll declassify the key judgments.
QUIJANO: The president suggested his critics do not understand the war against terrorists.
BUSH: Well, they don't see what I see. They are out there. They are mean. And they need to be brought to justice.
QUIJANO: President Bush noted the NIE was completed in April and leaked just weeks before congressional midterm elections. The president came prepared with talking points on the subject.
BUSH: We weren't in Iraq when they first attacked the World Trade Center in 1993.
QUIJANO: But he insisted he was not declassifying it for political purposes.
BUSH: Because I want you to read the documents so you don't speculate about what it says.
QUIJANO: Democrats say it's perfectly clear what the documents say: the Iraq war has made the U.S. less safe.
REP. NANCY PELOSI (D), MINORITY LEADER: It's long overdue for this administration, the Bush administration, to speak truth to the American people on what's happening in Iraq.
QUIJANO: Afghan President Hamid Karzai, a critical U.S. ally in the war on terror, stood shoulder to shoulder with President Bush.
PRES. HAMID KARZAI, AFGHANISTAN: Terrorism was hurting us way before Iraq or September 11th. And how do we fight them? How do we get rid of them other than going after them? Should we wait for them to come and kill us again?
(END VIDEOTAPE)
QUIJANO: And another high-level meeting today. President Karzai will sit down with President Bush, as well as Pakistan's president, Pervez Musharraf. Mr. Bush hopes to ease tensions between the two key U.S. allies over a resurgence of Taliban activity along their border -- Miles.
M. O'BRIEN: Elaine Quijano at the White House.
Thank you very much -- Soledad. S. O'BRIEN: Those November midterm elections just around the corner, and Democrats are using this intelligence report as ammunition against Republicans.
CNN Senior National Correspondent John Roberts is in Washington for us this morning.
John, do you expect really that this is going to be the Achilles heel for the Republicans?
JOHN ROBERTS, CNN SR. NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Soledad.
Well, it certainly causes a couple of problems for them. And here's where it causes them problems.
They are running now in this midterm election for the third time as the party of national security. That they are the ones who can best protect America, as well that Republican policies led by President Bush are winning the war on terror.
On the face, at least, this national intelligence report would seem to raise some contradictions about those two claims, that in making Iraq the cause celebre for terrorists worldwide and increasing the number of terrorists spreading this jihad, that, in fact, America may not be as safe as Republicans would like people to believe that it has been made. And also, the fact that these terrorists are being created at a greater rate than the United States is able to defeat them, which suggests that the war on terror is not being won.
So, this does give the Democrats a lot of ammunition going into November 7th, Soledad, to say, hey, wait a minute, perhaps these policies aren't what they are being portrayed to be, perhaps it is time for a change. And that may be a point that they'll be able to drive home.
S. O'BRIEN: Is it all bad news, John, for the GOP?
ROBERTS: Bad for the Republicans? No, because as Elaine was saying, you know, you can cherry pick from this report, you can mold it like a piece of modeling clay into whatever you really want. So Democrats can take the argument that this does not make America as safe as Republicans would like.
And Republicans would say, but wait a second, this is reinforcing the notion that the president is making that Iraq is the central front on the war on terror, and because the report says if the jihadists feel that they've been defeated in Iraq, they may be dispirited and that may help to quell this rise in Islamic fundamentalism. That if we keep the pressure on them in Iraq, if we stay the course, as Republicans have been saying, that perhaps they can win this war on terror in the central front in Iraq.
So there's a little bit for both sides here. But certainly, Soledad, I think you can make the argument that the release of this information now was for political purposes. Was the White House's declassification of this NIE political in nature? I think you'd also have to say, despite what the president says, absolutely.
S. O'BRIEN: All right. John Roberts for us. He's in Washington, D.C., this morning.
Thanks, John.
And you can read the declassified report on our Web site at CNN.com.
You'll want to stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security -- Miles.
M. O'BRIEN: Happening "In America," a closed-door hearing today for former White House aid Lewis "Scooter" Libby. Libby accused of lying to investigators about the leak of former CIA operative Valerie Plame's name to the media. At issue is whether certain classified information should be disclosed in this case.
Both houses of Congress expected today to vote on a terrorist detainee bill. The measure supported by the White House. It would allow the Bush administration to put terror suspects on trial as early as this fall.
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger set to sign a bill today that will put a cap on greenhouse emissions in his state. The governor says it's just the first step in a long-term strategy to combat global warming.
And the governor has declared a state of emergency in Ventura County, California, because of so-called Day Fire. The flames moved towards some -- some houses about 70 miles north of Los Angeles. The fire began around Labor Day. Authorities urging people to leave their homes there.
Well, first it was a smoking ban. Now New York City is going after your morning doughnut or your lunchtime fries. The city proposing a ban on trans fats in its restaurants. The artery-clogging fats show up in foods like donuts and fries.
The city wants to give restaurants six months to switch to oils, margarine or shortening with less than half a gram of trans fat per serving. Restaurants that don't cooperate would face fines.
S. O'BRIEN: That's like every deli in New York City.
M. O'BRIEN: I think some delis would have some problems with that, definitely.
Supermodel Naomi Campbell back in a New York City courtroom today. She's on trial for assault. She's accused of hitting her maid with a cell phone. You remember that.
The maid just couldn't find her a pair of jeans, so she got allegedly smacked. If convicted, Campbell could go to prison for seven years. S. O'BRIEN: This fall's elections feature more African-American candidates than ever before in running for high-profile offices. Half a dozen black candidates are campaigning for three Senate seats and three governorships.
AMERICAN MORNING'S Dan Lothian has more for us.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DEVAL PATRICK, DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR GOV.: Yes, we can!
UNIDENTIFIED GROUP: Yes, we can! Yes, we can!
DAN LOTHIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): After a decisive victory in his state's recent Democratic primary...
PATRICK: Thank you very much.
LOTHIAN: ... Deval Patrick was back on the campaign trail, one step closer to becoming the first African-American governor of Massachusetts.
PATRICK: That historical milestone, or the potential of it is certainly not lost on me.
LOTHIAN: Neither is the fact he's making history, just by running.
DAVID BOSITIS, JOINT CENTER FOR POLITICAL & ECONOMIC STUDIES: But it is a record year for black gubernatorial candidates, and if you combine black gubernatorial and Senate candidates, it's a record year for the combination of the both.
LOTHIAN: Patrick, a lawyer, former Coca-Cola executive, and Clinton appointee of the Justice Department, is joined in the races for governor by former Pittsburgh Steeler hall of famer Republican Lynn Swann in Pennsylvania; and in Ohio, Republican Ken Blackwell, the current secretary of state. Running for Senate, Democrat Harold Ford Jr., a U.S. representative from Tennessee; Republican Michael Steele, the current lieutenant governor of Maryland; and democrat Eric Flemming in Mississippi, a state legislator.
(on camera): African-Americans have been visible in Congress for some time and as mayors in cities across the country. But this quest for higher office and the fact that the candidates are running serious campaigns is what's attracting so much attention.
(voice over): After all, there's only one African-American U.S. senator, Barack Obama of Illinois. And Doug Wilder, now the mayor of Richmond, became the nation's first and only black governor when he won in Virginia in 1989.
MAYOR L. DOUGLAS WILDER, RICHMOND, VIRGINIA: It's a distinction I would like to lose. I never thought it would be this long before we would have somebody as a governor that looked a little like me, and would like to think that that time is here. LOTHIAN: It took time, say political experts, for blacks in lower offices to move up, to gain clout, an ivy league education or wealth, and to broaden their appeal.
BOSITIS: Not just a black-oriented agenda or civil rights agenda or an anti-poverty agenda, but a broader agenda that speaks to a larger constituency.
LOTHIAN: But Wilder says they can't ignore black voters or the trailblazers.
WILDER: You can't forget the years of fighting for the opportunity to be able to register to vote.
PATRICK: Those struggles have opened all kinds of doors for me.
Thank you very much.
LOTHIAN: From the current field of black candidates, Patrick, according to political analysts, has the best shot at winning. In campaigns highlighted by race, the candidates say voters should make up their minds based only on the issues.
Dan Lothian, CNN, Boston.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
M. O'BRIEN: Let's get a check of the forecast now. Chad Myers at the CNN Center -- Chad.
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, Miles.
(WEATHER REPORT)
MYERS: Back to you guys in New York.
M. O'BRIEN: Thank you, Chad.
Coming up on the program, testing college students. The SAT may be just the beginning of the tests if the government has its way. We'll tell you about that.
Plus, a controversial bible camp where children are recruited to be soldiers in God's army. Does it go too far? Many Christians say yes.
That's ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
M. O'BRIEN: There's a big overhaul in the works for the nation's 3,000 colleges and universities. The Education secretary is offering up a plan to make it easier for students and parents to choose the right school. But there's much more to that.
Alexandra Robbins, whose book is called "Overachievers: The Secret Lives of Driven Kids," joins us from Washington to talk about what Margaret Spellings is proposing and why there are some concerns about it.
Alexandra, good to have you with us.
ALEXANDRA ROBBINS, AUTHOR, "THE OVERACHIEVERS": Thank you.
M. O'BRIEN: Let me just share with you a brief quote from Margaret Spellings yesterday when she was talking about this.
She said, "Is it fine that college tuition has outpaced inflation? Is it fine that only half of our students graduate on time? Is it fine that students often graduate so saddled with debt that they can't buy a home or start a family? None of this seems fine to me."
There's some serious problems there in higher education that need to be addressed, correct?
ROBBINS: That's correct. And there are parts of the report that I agree with and parts that I don't. I do agree that college is too expensive. And what that does to graduates is it affects so many different areas of their lives as they fight the debt.
M. O'BRIEN: Now, one of the issues which you have concern about is this notion of sort of taking the No Child Left Behind approach, which is used in elementary and high schools, standardized testing, rigorous testing all throughout the year, and in putting that, injecting that into colleges and universities.
What's the matter with that idea? Because it gives -- it gives parents, it gives students an idea of really how good the university might be.
ROBBINS: I don't think it does. Politicians love standardized tests because they can hang their hat on the numbers. But the numbers are really pretty meaningless.
The tests have turned the classroom experience into one about teaching to a test. Standardized tests only show how good a student is at taking that particular test on that particular day.
M. O'BRIEN: But having said that, how else would you measure, really, how good a school might be? A certain amount of accountability comes into play here. You know, you can read some of these guides and have a sense of what a school might be, but this might give something more concrete.
ROBBINS: Well, you know, I followed high school students for my book, and they already felt awful that their identities were being reduced to little more than their numbers. And now the government wants to reduce their individualized college academic freedoms to just a series of oversimplified factory-like outputs?
I mean, I know I speak for the kids in my book when I say that won't fly. What should -- what kind of information should be looked at is student satisfaction surveys on college campuses and exit interviews when we find out why a college student has dropped out.
M. O'BRIEN: Well, and that seems like a logical way to start. But, I mean, you don't think that testing doesn't just add one more piece of evidence for a parent who is about to write a very big check for tuition?
ROBBINS: I think it's a dangerous oversimplification of college. Russian majors can't be compared to, for instance, aspiring pastry chefs, neither of whom should be tested on their knowledge of Chaucer.
M. O'BRIEN: All right. So, tell me, No Child Left Behind, it's a mixed bag, the reports I see about it. Would you say it has in any way forced teachers to rise to a different level? Has it set the bar higher for American education in the elementary level?
ROBBINS: I believe it's thrown creativity out the window. Because of No Child Left Behind, there are several subjects, art, music, gym, sometimes even social studies and languages, that schools have to eliminate or reduce because they are not tested by the government. Teachers say they don't have time to address student concerns and interests and current events or tangents because they have to stick to the test.
Meanwhile, it's created this high-stakes testing environment that's causing students to be so stressed that on testing days in some elementary schools, up to two -- up to two dozen children throw up on their test booklets. I mean, what an awful environment. That doesn't teach the love of learning.
M. O'BRIEN: So you would say that that kind of environment would be transferred into colleges and universities if this were, in fact, to happen?
ROBBINS: If they are looking to expand standardized testing into colleges, that's going to be just an extension of what's already going on. And I don't think that's good for our country.
M. O'BRIEN: All right. Thank you very much.
Alexandra Robbins, who's the author of "The Overachievers: The Secret Lives of Driven Kids."
We appreciate your time.
ROBBINS: Thanks.
M. O'BRIEN: Soledad.
S. O'BRIEN: Ahead this morning, the military stretched thin. It needs more than just a few good men and women. But there is still one rule that they won't bend. We'll talk to a former military officer on the front lines of the fight against "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."
Plus, a new report says the housing bubble has officially burst. What does it mean if you want to sell your home?
We'll take a look ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
S. O'BRIEN: With America's military stretched thin, the Pentagon has lowered the bar for recruits. But it's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy on homosexuality remains strictly enforced. And some gays are trying to change that.
CNN's Jason Carroll joins us with more on this story.
This is a fascinating piece, I think.
JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It really is.
You know, thousands of gays have been discharged from the armed services under the Pentagon's policy. And they say that's hurting military readiness. So many of them are trying to re-enlist, knowing they'll be turned away but hoping it will help gain attention for their cause.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CARROLL (voice over): It's clear there's a need for more soldiers to serve in the armed forces. Troops now serving in Iraq are having to stay longer than expected. In its effort to recruit 80,000 soldiers this year, the Army is easing its entry requirements.
RHONDA DAVIS, DISCHARGED NAVAL OFFICER: This is actually one of the highest awards you can get in the Air Force.
CARROLL: Rhonda Davis, a former officer with 10 years of decorated service in the Air Force and Navy, hoped to help fill the depleted ranks by serving her country again.
DAVIS: When I showed him my discharge papers and it says "homosexual -- homosexual admission" on it, he says, "That's the one thing that we cannot give a waiver for."
CARROLL: Davis was discharged this past summer after admitting to being gay. It happened after attending a rally in support of gay marriage while in uniform. Under the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, admitted homosexuals cannot serve.
DAVIS: It makes me angry because I think, you know, in 10 years, I never even came in late.
CARROLL: Davis thought she might be granted a reprieve after seeing Army waivers that are being granted, such as the Army's high school diploma requirement, the age cap lifted from 35 to 42. And a waiver may also be allowed for admitted drug use or misdemeanor convictions.
CARROLL: If I said I did drugs in the past, they could give me a waiver for that. But homosexuality, they said, is the one thing -- it's just nothing he could do nothing about it. It was unwaiverable. CARROLL: But some military analysts say "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" should remain in place, because to lift it could compromise discipline and safety within the ranks.
ELAINE DONNELLY, CENTER FOR MILITARY READINESS: If we open the military to advancing the homosexual agenda, it would be contrary to the interests of the volunteer force. It would actually hurt recruiting. With a war going on, this would be the worst time to introduce this element of social engineering.
CARROLL: The Department of Defense told CNN its policy on the matter is clear.
Davis worries "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is hurting the armed forces, especially now. Since the policy was adopted in 1993, the Defense Department says close to 11,000 men and women have been dismissed.
DAVIS: Not to mention the fact that there's thousands of people out there who would like to serve in the military who don't, and they are perfectly qualified otherwise, and they can't serve in the military because they are openly gay.
CARROLL: Davis says while she would like to serve her country, for now she'll have to do it another way, by speaking out and fighting for a different kind of freedom.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CARROLL: Last year, the Military Readiness Act was introduced into Congress. It's a bipartisan bill aimed at repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." But again, there are many critics out there who say repealing that policy at this time just is not good for the military.
S. O'BRIEN: How likely do you think it is that, in fact, one day that policy will be repealed?
CARROLL: Well, you know, if you talk to people like Rhonda Davis, she says she's hopeful and she believes in the American people. She believes that one day the policy will be repealed in the same way, that at one time the military was segregated. She says this is another way that she believes that, you know, the country will eventually move forward. In terms of when, anyone's guess.
S. O'BRIEN: Is -- has anybody sued for discrimination?
CARROLL: You know, there was a woman who sued. She was with the Air Force, a nurse in the Air Force.
That particular case went to a federal court. The judge kicked it out. It's on appeal at this point.
So, you know, you can try suing, but the policy, according to the Department of Defense, is clear. So, where can you go with that?
S. O'BRIEN: Jason Carroll, thank you. CARROLL: All right.
S. O'BRIEN: Miles.
M. O'BRIEN: Coming up on the program, what's behind the rise in violence in Iraq? We'll tell you what a top U.S. military commander is saying.
Plus, the numbers are in and the housing bubble, well, it sure has a leak, anyhow. We'll look at what it means for homeowners ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
M. O'BRIEN: Good morning. I'm Miles O'Brien.
S. O'BRIEN: And I'm Soledad O'Brien.
The torture, the killings, the attacks, there is no letup in Iraq. In fact, just since Sunday, Iraq's police report finding 77 bodies scattered across the city. All of those bodies showing some kind of torture. That comes as a U.S. major general reports an increase in attacks over the past two weeks.
CNN's Barbara Starr is live at the Pentagon for us with more on this story.
Hey, Barbara.
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Soledad.
Well, now, with the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan, what the U.S. military and the Iraqis suggested might have happened indeed has happened. Again, attacks on the rise now, especially against U.S. troops, coalition forces and Iraqi civilians. And according to General Caldwell, the top spokesman in Baghdad, attacks on the rise in Baghdad, which was the primary focus of the U.S. security operation.
Listen to what General Caldwell had to say earlier this morning.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAJ. GEN. WILLIAM CALDWELL, MULTINATIONAL FORCE, IRAQ: In terms of attacks, this week's suicide attacks were at their highest level in any given week, with half of them targeting security forces. Last week, almost 50 percent of the vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices were suicide attacks.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
STARR: Now, Soledad, General Caldwell did not offer any specific figures, but there was an explanation that, while attacks are on the rise, casualties, actual deaths, at least, of U.S. troops, not proportionately on the rise. But we're coming to the end of the month, the end of September. So far, the statistics show that 60 U.S. troops have lost their lives in Iraq during the month of September, and that is about twice what it was back in March.
Also, what U.S. military sources are saying is they are continuing to see these attacks really the result of ever-changing tactics by the insurgents. There's now an estimate out there, an analysis if you will that insurgents are changing their tactics on these attacks as often as every three weeks. Soledad?
S. O'BRIEN: Yes, it certainly seems that way. Barbara Starr at the Pentagon for us, Barbara, thank you.
Miles?
M. O'BRIEN: Happening this morning, both houses of Congress expected today to vote on a terrorist detainee bill. The measure is supported by the White House. It would allow the Bush administration to put terror suspects on trial as early as this fall.
President Bush hosting a working dinner at the White House with the presidents of Pakistan and Afghanistan. The president aiming for a verbal truce between the two men, each accusing the other of not doing enough to fight al Qaeda and the Taliban.
A huge bill to fight the -- fund the fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan making its way through Congress. The House yesterday approving $70 billion in new military spending, part of a $448 billion record Pentagon budget. The Senate is expected to follow suit this week.
In Gaza, the Israelis take aim at what they say was a weapons cache, reports of three wounded and a 13-year-old girl dead. Israeli officials say Palestinians were using the targeted building to smuggle weapons. In just about an hour, the polygamist sect leader Warren Jeffs makes his first court appearance. The judge could set a trial date for Jeffs, he's accused of forcing underaged girls to marry older men in his sect.
And it's not exactly a houseboat, but it's a house on a boat, actually a barge. A 1910 Victorian mansion saved from the wrecker's ball by restorers. The new owners got the house for a dollar from developers who were going to knock it down. And they're paying to float the mansion 25 miles to its new location near Tampa Bay. Pretty cool.
S. O'BRIEN: It's a beautiful house, isn't it?
M. O'BRIEN: It's gorgeous, it's worth saving.
S. O'BRIEN: Here's a question that will interest millions of homeowners. After going up and up and up for years, just how far down and down and down are house prices going to fall. The housing bubble appears to have finally burst.
Gerri Willis is the host of CNN's "OPEN HOUSE." Good morning.
GERRI WILLIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning Soledad, good to see you, Miles as well. The housing market bubble has been slowly deflating in some markets across the country. But now a new report shows the trouble is more widespread. I talked to one homeowner who has a sinking feeling.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WILLIS (voice-over): Kate and Hans Koning have been trying to sell their eastern Connecticut house for nearly a year. So far there are no takers, even though they cut their price not once, but twice.
KATE KONING, HOMEOWNER: I started at $875,000, and at the time I thought that was really a reasonable price for the house, given the size.
WILLIS: The Konings are not alone. Sellers across the country are struggling with a weakening housing market. Just how weak became apparent Monday when the National Association of Realtors released its monthly housing report showing that median prices for homes fell for the first time in 11 years. Although the tumble was small, just two percent, it represents a turning point for a market that has been on fire for the past decade.
DAVID LEREAH, NATIONAL ASSN. OF REALTORS: The housing markets just went through a very big boom. We need a correction. Prices got too high and now we need prices to come down to bring people back into the buying marketplace.
WILLIS: Back into the buying market so prices can go up again. But some say a rebound won't be that easy this time. Economist Robert Shiller correctly predicted the dot com bust of the late 90's. Now he says its housing's turn.
ROBERT SHILLER, AUTHOR, "IRRATIONAL EXUBERANCE": If the U.S. housing market really starts to decline, it will harm confidence and it will cause a possibility of downward momentum in the U.S.
WILLIS: And that means pain for some homeowners.
SHILLER: The people who bought in at the top and sell out at the bottom can get really hurt. And so there will be bankruptcies, foreclosures, and people out of jobs, but we'll recover from it. And this is not nuclear war.
WILLIS: Even Lereah who had previously been optimistic says prices are headed down for a while. Most at risk are places with big backlogs of homes and already high prices like southern Florida, southern California, Nevada and Washington, D.C. Some say recovery will be months in the future. Others say it could be years. For the Konings, it can't come soon enough.
KONING: I don't know how long this is going to go and how, you know -- I mean, I may have to just decide not to go anywhere.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WILLIS: Now the downturn that the folks at the National Association of Realtors is forecasting is a three percent decline in median prices through the end of the year. Now to put that in perspective though, prices have risen 60 percent over the past five years. So, if you've owned your home for much of that time at all, you may still be ahead, even when the price correction ends.
S. O'BRIEN: So are they usually right? I mean...
WILLIS: I have to tell you the pundits do not have a perfect batting average at all. In fact, if you'll remember, the places we thought prices were going to go down first were in those hard-charging markets. San Francisco, Miami, et cetera. That hasn't happened. It's been Detroit, it's been the Midwest, where prices actually fell first and that's because of localized recessions.
S. O'BRIEN: Is there any way to gauge how long it could last?
WILLIS: I have to tell you, the predictions are everywhere. Lereah is saying through the end of the year, but Schiller says 5 to 10 years, yeah.
S. O'BRIEN: Then I go with Lereah.
WILLIS: I think we all do.
S. O'BRIEN: Gerri Willis, thanks Gerri.
WILLIS: You're welcome.
S. O'BRIEN: Miles?
M. O'BRIEN: Some news just in here. We told you earlier about Terrell Owens going to the hospital with an unknown ailment. There are reports now from WFA, our affiliate in Dallas, that the star Dallas Cowboys receiver attempted suicide last night, reportedly taking prescription pain pills.
WFAA reporting from a police report associated with this event. In that report, a woman companion stated that she saw him putting the pills in his mouth. According to the police, reported by WFAA, the woman said a prescription of 40 pills was filled on September 18th, and Owens had taken only five pills. But it's unclear how many pills he had taken. In any case, Owens was asked by the police if he had taken the rest of the prescription. His answer was yes. Asked if he was trying to harm himself, another answer of yes. According to the police report via WFAA.
He's at the Baylor University Medical Center being treated right now. Terrell Owens apparently with a suicide attempt according to our affiliate WFAA.
S. O'BRIEN: I know yesterday we were reporting that it was an allergic reaction to pain medication is what put him into Baylor Medical Center. So it will be interesting. At the time his publicist said this is not serious. So we'll see what the real story is out of all this.
(WEATHER REPORT) M. O'BRIEN: A lot of Christians went to bible camp when they were kids, but it probably wasn't quite like this one. Coming up, a closer look at a camp that many Christians say goes too far. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
S. O'BRIEN: "Jesus Camp" is a new documentary. And as you can probably guess from the name, it's emotionally and politically charged too. It's just opened in New York, it's about to open nationwide.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
S. O'BRIEN (voice-over): Young children weep for salvation, speak in tongues, call for an end to abortion, all scenes from a bible camp in North Dakota featured in a new and controversial documentary. At its heart is Pastor Becky Fischer.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This means war. Are you a part of it or not?
PASTOR BECKY FISCHER, "KIDS ON FIRE" BIBLE CAMP: One-third of that 6.7 billion people are children under the age of 15. One-third. Where should we be putting our efforts? Where should we be putting our focus? I'll tell you where our enemies are putting it, they're putting it on the kids.
S. O'BRIEN: Her goal to bring children into the army of God and make sure they don't stray later in life. The campers seem to hear the call.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're being trained to go out and train others. Train others to be God's army and to do God's will, what he wants you to do.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I feel like we're kind of being trained to be warriors, only in a much funner way.
S. O'BRIEN: Not all Christians agree with Fischer's approach.
MIKE PAPANTONIO, CO-HOST, "RING OF FIRE": The word learn is different than indoctrinate. God gave us a brain. God gave us the freedom to choose. And learning is part of that choice.
S. O'BRIEN: The filmmakers say they didn't intend to make a political movie, but that's where the subject matter took them. The influential Reverend Ted Haggard featured in the film has since denounced it. But Becky Fischer supports it, seeing it as yet another way to reach a new audience.
FISCHER: How can I enjoy heaven, with the knowledge that I never told people that meant so much to me about Jesus? That is not a burden, it is the greatest joy of my life.
(END VIDEOTAPE) S. O'BRIEN: Pastor Becky Fischer joins us this morning along with the co-directors of "Jesus Camp", Rachel Grady and Heidi Ewing. Nice to see all of you.
Thank you.
S. O'BRIEN: Do you like the way you were portrayed in the film Pastor Becky?
FISCHER: Nobody ever likes the way they look on camera, ok.
S. O'BRIEN: That is so true.
FISCHER: Ok. But, you know, this is barely a snapshot of who we are and what we do. And so there is so much you weren't able to see just because there was no time to put it in. So this is just a glimpse of what we are. Did it happen? Yes. But does it define who we are and what we do? No.
S. O'BRIEN: Why did you want to focus on evangelicals in this particular story? What moved you about it?
RACHEL DIRECTOR, CO-DIRECTOR, "JESUS CAMP": Well you know we didn't initially set out to make a film about evangelicals per se, but we were looking for a good film that focused on children and faith. And when we found Becky's ministry, we knew we had a great story, so then we approached her and she gave us access and that's where it started.
S. O'BRIEN: There are critics who say Pastor Becky is over the top, that she doesn't represent the full range, the diversity that's in the evangelical church. And as we mentioned in that little piece, there are some evangelicals like Pastor Ted Haggard who thinks that the film is a disappointment because it's not a true depiction. How do you defend it?
HEIDI EWING, CO-DIRECTOR, "JESUS CAMP": Well there are between 80 and 100 million evangelical Christians in America. So there are so many denominations and stripes and colors within that group. This is a portrayal of a certain group of evangelical Christians, mainly Pentecostals and Charismatics which make up about 28 percent of that 80 million or 100 million people. I think that their story is just as relevant as anyone else's story, it's extremely visual. They have a lot to say and I think that the group of people represented in this film has a lot more in common with the wider evangelical movement than they have differences. Especially when it comes down to sort of values, morals and their political beliefs.
S. O'BRIEN: Here's what Ted Haggard had to say. He said secularists are hoping that evangelical Christians and radicalized Muslims are essentially the same and that's why they love this film. That's one of the things he said. This is being quoted by the "Denver Post" I should mention. And then also apparently he sent an e-mail, which he called the film yellow journalism, with a quote, "strong agenda like any Michael Moore film and the cinematography of the Blair Witch Project." EWING: He's quite the movie critic isn't he?
S. O'BRIEN: My guess is it goes on and on. Again, I'm quoting this from "The Denver Post." Does this hurt you though when someone who is so influential with evangelicals says, you know, hated it!
GRADY: You know not only does it hurt us because, of course, we would love his endorsement because we would reach such a greater audience. But I think more importantly, the other people in the film, all the other evangelicals feel like it is a fair and accurate depiction of them. And I think they're very stung that their leadership is sort of rejecting the film and rejecting them.
S. O'BRIEN: Do you feel that way, Becky? When Ted Haggard says, I don't like this film.
FISCHER: You know, he's got a right to his voice. And I do think he represents probably the more conservative element of evangelicals. And there's, you know, there's a lot of people who don't like the emotionalism that they see in the charismatic movement and some of the (inaudible) subjects, for instance, we believe in healing the sick.
We believe in hearing the voice of God and being led by his spirit. We believe in miracles and we're much more vocal and if you will, just expressive in our form of worship. And there's a lot of evangelicals that take issue with that. And I think that's what they're trying to say. You know don't -- I don't worship that way. I don't know if it's a wholesale disconnect from we don't like those people or anything of that nature.
S. O'BRIEN: No, and I don't think he said that at all. The movie is political. I mean, you sort of start off with a movie about kids but it ends up being and I guess obviously because of the subject matter, it becomes a very political movie. Did that surprise you?
EWING: It did surprise us. We actually set out to make a movie about children of faith, children who are very, very devoted to their church and to their religion. And along the way, a lot of different things happened in the country. Namely, two weeks after we started shooting, Sandra Day O'Connor resigned and retired, announced her resignation. And there was a lot of jubilation among some of the subjects in our film and the kids and their parents, and I think the evangelical political movement as a whole.
So it was sort of impossible for us to sort of ignore the political because even though the people in our film don't perceive themselves as very political or political activists. I think to a lot of secular people, what appears just living their daily life and whatever they're teaching their kids can appear very, very political. I think it's all sort of intertwined with this community and we thought it was very interesting and we didn't want to ignore it.
S. O'BRIEN: The film is called "Jesus Camp." It's opened in New York already, it's about to open nationwide. Pastor Fischer, Heidi Ewing and also Rachel Grady, thank you for talking with us. Appreciate it.
Thank you.
S. O'BRIEN: It opens nationwide I should mention the date, it's on October 6th, right?
Uh-huh.
S. O'BRIEN: Great. Miles?
M. O'BRIEN: All right, thank you very much Soledad. CNN "NEWSROOM" just a few moments away. Tony Harris at the CNN Center with a look at what's ahead. Hello Tony?
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Hey, Miles. Good to see you. We are tracking a flurry of reports out of Dallas, Texas this morning that Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Terrell Owens attempted suicide last night. The latest on this story at the top of the hour in the "NEWSROOM."
Also, we will talk about dinner diplomacy. President Bush breaking bread with the leaders of Afghanistan and Pakistan, neighbors bickering about the terror battle.
Ordinary Iraqis their on the air challenging their political leaders. A radical new concept for them. And Gerri Willis will be here to tell us how to squeeze a raise out of your stingy boss. I think I have your attention. Join Heidi Collins and me in the "NEWSROOM". We get started at the top of the hour right here on CNN. Miles?
M. O'BRIEN: We'll be taking notes on that one. Thank you very much, you have a good day, Tony Harris.
HARRIS: You too.
M. O'BRIEN: Up next, Andy Serwer, "Minding your Business." Andy?
ANDY SERWER: Hey Miles. Fallout from the sagging housing market hits Wall Street. Plus, which high profile retailer has given its CEO, its founder and its pitchman, who's all the same guy, the boot. We'll tell you that coming up next on AMERICAN MORNING.
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M. O'BRIEN: Dow Industrials near an all-time high. Andy Serwer here to explain why. What's got everybody in the market so excited?
SERWER: Well I think what's going on number one is falling energy prices and number two, falling energy prices and number three, you get the point. That's really what's spurring these stocks going up. And the other point is, too, is that a lot of investors on Wall Street who had invested in commodities are now moving out, which is to say natural gas futures and options and those sorts of things are moving out and buying stocks. So that's why stocks have been moving to the upside. Let's see what's going on this morning however and go down to Wall Street. And look at that. We're just keep on keeping on here. The other thing, the other point to make about this rally is stocks always go up when you least expect it. Who would have called this?
M. O'BRIEN: Certainly for me. You should know this stuff.
SERWER: I knew this. And then, of course, there's a conspiracy theory that says that because we're coming to an election the GOP is making the market go up, which, don't believe it. If they could do that, they would be on Wall Street getting really, really rich instead.
Now, not everyone is faring so well on Wall Street right now and in the business world. Gerri Willis was just talking about the housing market and how it is getting softer and softer. And we are seeing fallout from that cooling down in other tertiary businesses. Lowe's, the nation's number two home improvement retailer, saying that it expects its results to be weaker. And get this, it says that it doesn't expect its business or the housing market slowdown to stabilize if you follow.
S. O'BRIEN: The housing market slowdown.
M. O'BRIEN: In other words, it keeps going down.
SERWER: In other words it keeps going down for another 12 to 18 months. Now Lowe's and Home Depot if you back and look at stock charts, tremendous beneficiaries of the housing boom because everyone moved into a new house and they went down to Lowe's and Home Depot and bought all this stuff and fixed it up. And, you know, we all knew at some point that was going to cool down with the housing market and apparently we have hit that point.
M. O'BRIEN: More grim news I should say.
SERWER: Well, but the stock market is going up, remember? Balanced it out. It was a balanced report.
S. O'BRIEN: And we appreciate that, Andy thank you.
Coming up at the top of the hour, an accused polygamist in court this morning. We'll cover the case against Warren Jeffs.
And a pet project. That goose right there goes for a little hog ride. Take a look at this. Yes, he can do 43 miles an hour that goose. A short break, we'll be back in a moment.
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M. O'BRIEN: Reports this morning that the Dallas wide receiver Terrell Owens is in the hospital after a suicide attempt. Rebecca Lopez with our affiliate WFAA is here with details. Rebecca?
REBECCA LOPEZ, WFAA: Yes, we obtained a copy of the police report. And according to a police report by the Dallas Police Department it says that he may have attempted to commit suicide. Now according to the report, a woman was with him at the time. She saw him put two pain pills in his mouth. She tried to get those pain pills out. She also noticed that a prescription bottle of pain medication was empty. She said that on September 18th, she filled that bottle. There were 40 pills inside. He had only taken up to five up until yesterday and then she noticed the bottle was empty. At that time, she called 911.
Now when police went to Baylor Medical Center, which is where they took Owens, they asked him if he had taken the remainder of the pills and he said yes. When they asked him if he had -- was intending to harm himself, he said, yes. So it appears that he may have tried to kill himself. According to a Dallas Police report.
M. O'BRIEN: Rebecca, he had those prescription pain pills because of an injury, right? He broke his finger?
LOPEZ: Right. He broke his finger and so he had that medication. And he had just filled it on September 18th.
M. O'BRIEN: All right, and what do we know about his condition right now?
LOPEZ: Well he's still in the hospital. We do know that his stomach was pumped overnight. And that's basically all that they're releasing at this time.
M. O'BRIEN: All right. Rebecca. Rebecca Lopez of WFAA in Dallas. Thank you very much. That's all the time we have for this AMERICAN MORNING. We appreciate you being with us.
S. O'BRIEN: CNN "NEWSROOM" with Tony Harris and Heidi Collins begins right now.
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