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Foley's Chief of Staff to Testify, Under Oath, For House Ethics Committee
Aired October 08, 2006 - 19:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR, THE NEWSROOM: And one year after a powerful earthquake rocked Pakistan, 2 million people are still homeless.
It's 7:00 p.m. in Atlanta, 4:00 p.m. on the West Coast. You're in THE NEWSROOM. I'm Carol Lin. Let's get you caught up on the headlines.
This is the very latest. New e. Coli fears, a California grower issued a recall today for lettuce sold last week. It was sold under the name Foxy, and if you have it, toss it.
A warning to North Korea, Communist ally China tells the North not to carry out its threatened nuclear test. The test didn't happen today as some thought it might.
And the bucket brigades in Indonesia, no match for seasonal forest fires that triggered health warnings as far away as Singapore. Smoke from the fires is choking road and air travel.
The price of gas falls again. The Lundberg Survey reports a national average of $2.28 a gallon, down 15 cents over the past two weeks. Expect it to go back with colder weather.
We're going to start with the Mark Foley scandal. The congressman's former chief of staff will talk to House Ethics Committee members about how he tried to stop Foley's advances toward boys. A House Republican close to the scandal may be losing support. New York's Tom Reynolds trails his opponents by 13 points now in a "Newsday" poll.
An unnamed U.S. soldier in Iraq has talked to the FBI about Foley. The soldier served as a page on Capitol Hill.
It is a month before midterms and members of Congress are absolutely consumed by the Foley scandal so we're going to start our coverage with Congressional Correspondent Dana Bash live in Washington.
Dana, a preview of the week ahead, it is going to be a busy one.
DANA BASH, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT, THE NEWSROOM: That's for sure. Hard to imagine it could be busier than last week, but it's possible.
Today, Dennis Hastert's allies took to the air waves to defend the way the embattled House speaker and other GOP leaders handled the Mark Foley matter. Republicans are also quite candid about the damage the Foley scandal is already doing to their prospects on Election Day, and there's great concern it's not over.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BASH (voice over): A Republican congressional aide who says he warned the House speaker chief of staff about Mark Foley's inappropriate conduct with pages expects to testify before the House Ethics Committee this coming week.
Kirk Fordam's attorney tells CNN Fordham plans to tell the panel, under oath, what he has said publicly, Hastert's top aide knew about Foley's worrisome conduct long before the speaker's office admits.
REP. CHARLES RANGEL, (D-NY): When you take an oath, it's entirely different, and I'm talking about the perjury that would follow, rather than the absence of memory of what's going on.
BASH: Sources familiar with Fordham's account of events, tells CNN he was so concerned about Foley's behavior, he arranged a meeting with Foley and Hastert Chief of Staff Scott Palmer, in or before 2003, to demand that Foley stop inappropriate behavior towards pages.
Palmer's only response so far is: "What Kirk Fordham says did not happen."
And the speaker's spokesman simply says they will let the Ethics Committee determine the facts. This will be the challenge for the Ethics Committee over the next few weeks. Is there documentary evidence or witnesses to prove that the speaker's chief of staff met with Foley to raise concerns.
REP. TOM DAVIS, (R-VA): Anybody that hindered this in any way kind of way, that tried to step in the way of hiding this or covering it up is going to have to step down.
BASH: Meanwhile, the Foley drama is reaching as far as Iraq, to one of Congressman Ron Lewis' constituents, a former page who is serving there.
REP. RON LEWIS, (R-KY): We had someone, who is in the military, in Iraq , contacted my chief of staff to let us know that he had been approached by Mark Foley in 2001. And that he is speaking to the proper authorities.
BASH: The lingering questions make it hard for Republicans to quiet the Foley storm, which they admit will hurt them on election day, one month away.
REP. RAY LAHOOD, (R-IL): This is going to be the most difficult 30 days in the last 12 years, that we've been the majority party.
REP. ADAM PUTNAM, (R-FL): I can think of about three seats that are under a little more heat now as a result of the fallout from the Foley scandal.
BASH: One of these seats is Tom Reynolds of New York. He abruptly canceled a long-planned TV appearance Sunday after this stunning move.
TOM REYNOLDS (R-NY): Looking back, more should have been done, and for that, I am sorry.
BASH: Airing an ad in his Buffalo district, insisting he told the House speaker about a questionable, but non-explicit e-mail, from Foley to a former male page.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BASH: GOP lawmakers continue to blame Democrats for knowing about Foley's explicit e-mails and trying to damage Republicans by leaking it close to the election. None offer proof, but one GOP congressman told CNN there should be an investigation. Congressman Ron Emanual, the Democrat in charge of getting his colleagues elected, said he didn't see the Foley e-mails and had no involvement in their release, but stopped short of saying he didn't know they existed -- Carol.
LIN: Dana Bash, thank you very much.
So how is the scandal playing out in Foley's district in Florida? Joining us from Juno Beach, CNN's Amanda Rosseter, live out there. Amanda?
AMANDA ROSSETER, CNN CORRESPONDENT, THE NEWSROOM: Hi, Carol. You know, this 16th District has gone Republican every year since 1983. But today we talked to some lifelong Republican voters who say the Foley scandal could change their minds.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ROSSETER: At Logger Head Park in Juno Beach family picnics are full of political talk about the Foley scandal.
PETER FEDOR, FLORIDA REPUBLICAN: I think there were some mistakes made, but that isn't going to change the way I vote.
ROSSETER: This family has been in the 16th District for generations, all Republicans, all surprised at the scandal.
FEDOR: I just looked at the job he was doing. To me, I thought he was doing a good job for our district. And -- but you know when I heard it that day I was like wow, I can't believe this.
ROSSETER: This mother of three organized fundraisers for Foley years ago.
KATHY ROSALIA, FLORIDA REPUBLICAN: I was sick. I was sick that I took time away from my family to do something like this. And then years later, find out that maybe he was like that, way back when.
ROSSETTER: Inocencio Provenzza says he's more of a Democrat now than ever before.
INOCENCIO PROVENZZA, FLORIDA DEMOCRAT: It's a shame. A guy like that, in that position he has, coming up now with the kind of things he do, you know.
ROSSETTER: Even life-long Republicans say they have questions for Foley.
MARK ZARUBA, FLORIDA REPUBLICAN: His personal actions are very contrary to what he's trying to accomplish in a political arena, so that in that respect the man has got a lot of explaining to do.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROSSETER: Those answers may not come before election day. Of course, Mark Foley's whereabouts still unknown -- Carol.
LIN: Amanda, thank you.
Now at the half hour, we're live with top political expert John Mercurio for his take on the Foley controversy, and how it will affect the upcoming elections.
There has been bloody action in Diwaniya. U.S. and Iraqi troops took on Iraq's powerful Shiite militia, the Mehdi Army. In Baghdad tomorrow Saddam Hussein's war crimes trial resumes without the defense. They're still boycotting the removal of the formal chief judge.
The Associated Press reports hundreds of Iraqi police got sick after a meal today, an investigation is under way in southern Iraq to see if they were poisoned.
Straight ahead, a CNN military analyst tells us what the U.S. has to do to defeat the Iraqi insurgents.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAJ. GEN. DON SHEPHERD (RET.), CNN MILITARY ANALYST: To win, we've got to go head-to-head with these militias and take them on. We've got to clear Sadr City. And after we clear Sadr City, we really have to continue to put pressure on the Iraqi forces to take on more of the load, and to fight these militias. These are really, really difficult times in Iraq. Things are not going well right now. This is more than a speed bump. It's a desperate battle for the security of Baghdad.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LIN: Well, you're going to hear more of General Shepherd's military strategy for Iraq in about 20 minutes.
Now, everyday Afghanis could welcome the Taliban back. NATO's commander, in Afghanistan, says that will happen if promised improvements don't take place. He says insurgent attacks in the south have been cut in half in the past month and he wants another 2500 troops to maintain progress.
The death of a high school principal shocked a Wisconsin community last week. Well now we hear the 911 tapes.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Front doors of the high school with a gun, he's got something in his pocket.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LIN: The story next in the CNN NEWSROOM. And this --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What keeps you inspired to keep moving?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Cause my mom's there.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Just to see him finish, I mean, it was amazing, because this course is huge.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LIN: A small boy with one huge heart. We're going to talk to him live right here in THE NEWSROOM.
(WEATHER REPORT)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LIN: Newly released tape recordings provide a chilling take on the September 29th attack at a Wisconsin high school. A 15-year-old freshman is accused of the fatal shooting of Weston High School Principal John Klang. Here's Vince Vitrano of CNN affiliate WTMJ.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: 911, what is your emergency?
VINCE VITRANO, REPORTER, WTMJ TV (voice over): The first call from Dave Thompson, a school maintenance worker.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Weston School District, we've got a kid that come in the front doors of the high school with a gun. He's got something in his pocket. I don't know if it's a handgun. I took the rifle from him and I've got it down in the kitchen. I'm on the maintenance guys.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You took a rifle, and he still has a handgun?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't know. He had something in his pocket. And I don't know where he went now, but we're all gone on lock down.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you know where the kid is now?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He was up toward the high school office. I come out down this way trying to get kids cleared out.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: All right. Get as many people out of there as you can. Whatever your protocol is, Dave, OK?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK, get them rolling.
VITRANO: The next call from teacher Chuck Keller, moments after the principal was gunned down.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK, so you have the offender in custody?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yep, he's nailed down.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And you have the gun?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I believe so.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK, you think you have the gun also.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, there's two guns, there was a rifle.
Stay there, stay there! Josh, come here.
We have the principal, who has been shot.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK, the principal and what is his condition?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't know.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK, do you know where he's at?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's in the hallway, I believe.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Also in the hallway. We have several units en route, we have EMS en route. We have Richland County en route. If you're willing to I'd like to keep you on the line with me.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK, I think I can do more out there right now.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK, all right.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, no. That's -- I mean -- there's nothing we can do.
VITRANO: Principal John Klang was rushed to a hospital, but died a short time later.
(On camera): Counselor will remain on hand and a sheriff's deputy will be stationed at the school for at least the next two weeks. Vince Vitrano, Today's TMJ 4.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LIN: The accused shooter, 15-year-old Eric Hainstock is charged with first degree intentional homicide.
Well, President Bush will hold a news conference on school violence Tuesday. Educators and law enforcement officials will visit the White House to talk about ways to keep schools safe.
Columbia University in New York has launched an investigation into this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(CHEERING, SCREAMING, STUDENTS YELLING)
LIN: Students stormed the stage during a speech by Jim Gilchrist, founder of the Minuteman. They patrol the border between the U.S. and Mexico to keep out illegal immigrants. Well, Gilchrist was speaking at the invitation of the Columbia Republican Club. The men were escorted off the stage and left through a back door.
Anguish and outrage at the murder of a Russian journalist. Shanon Cook has the details and other headlines from around the globe -- Shanon.
SHANON COOK, CNN NEWS ANCHOR: Hey, Carol. Thanks very much.
Hundreds of protesters gathered in Moscow to remember investigative reporter Anna Politkovskaya. She was gunned down in the elevator of her Moscow apartment yesterday. We actually have images of a man police say could be her killer. It is believed though, he was merely a hired gun.
Politkovskaya was an outspoken critic of President Vladimir Putin's government, the Kremlin. Her editor says she was close to publishing a story about torture and abduction in Chechnya. A prosecutor suggests her murder (sic) may be linked to her death.
The White House has just released a statement in response to the killing. It says, quote, "Like many Russians, Americans were shocked and saddened by the brutal murder of Anna Politkovskaya. We urge the Russian government to conduct a vigorous and thorough investigation to bring to justice those responsible for her murder."
I should just quickly point out -- that the Kremlin hasn't responded to the killing.
And moving on: Canadian crews are in the process of removing the rest of an overpass that collapsed last weekend in Quebec. Five people were killed when their vehicles were crushed. Investigators will look at the pieces to try and determine why the overpass failed.
Crews will also demolish a second overpass that was built at the same time. Transportation authorities have inspected 19 other overpasses and bridges in Quebec, and they say they're all safe. France will soon be calling it quits on a very, very French past time. The French prime minister says smoking will be banned in most public places in February. Bars, restaurants, hotels and dance clubs will have a little longer to comply. They have until January, 2008.
France joins a growing list of European countries, including Ireland, Spain, Italy and Britain that have banned smoking in public. So, Carol, the days of looking chic, smoking a cigarette, and drinking a coffee in Paris are numbered.
LIN: What do they mean about public places, where you won't be able to smoke by next year? I mean, how many public places?
COOK: We're talking about like train stations, stores, museums and government offices. You'll still be able to smoke in the streets. And as you can understand, some French people are a little disgruntled about this, but polls have shown that the majority of the French people are actually in favor of these bans.
LIN: Huh? All right.
COOK: There you go.
LIN: Thanks very much, Shanon.
COOK: Thank you.
LIN: Maybe we can check in with Rob Marciano, at the CNN Weather Center, to see if skies are cloudy or sunny over Paris. That's big news no smoking there.
(WEATHER REPORT)
LIN: Who could forget last year's earthquake that destroyed 600,000 homes in Pakistan? Well, 2 million people remain homeless, their story next.
Plus, the impact of the growing Mark Foley scandal. Could it end the Republican revolution?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LIN: One year ago, life turned upside down for earthquake victims in Pakistan. Today people throughout the region paused for a moment of silence for the 80,000 victims of the magnitude 7.6 quake.
The quake was cruel to Pakistan's children. Many died, and thousands more survived with no family left. They're now in orphan camps across Pakistan. CNN's Tim Lister has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TIM LISTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT, THE NEWSROOM (voice over): More than 3 million Pakistanis lost their homes in last year's earthquake, but 40,000 children lost much more. They're the quake's orphans and several hundred of them now live in this camp at Atashisha (ph).
This 10-year-old Sadua Achmed (ph) remembers the morning he lost his parents. "They were under the rubble," he says, "My sister kept telling me get them out." I said how can I? I'm alone.
They are united in loss with about 20 widows who have become their young caretakers.
The younger children crowd around Barri Anechman (ph) for story time. She, too, gets a sense of belonging from her role. "Even Allah appreciates this kind of work," she says, "Besides, I have also have no one, no mother or father, so I enjoy doing it."
The agencies running this camp are trying to provide a basic education in very basic classrooms.
HOHAMMED ABUZAR SHAH, CAMP ASSISTANT MANAGER (through translator): If the children are not educated and looked after, some will become gang members and thieves, some will beg. The generation that has lost families, the generation that has survived will end up destroyed.
LISTER: The orphans need help in overcoming the trauma of that October morning, a year ago.
MOHAMAD ALI, PAKISTAN RED CRESCENT SOCIETY: After the quake, children were not social and preferred to stay away from people. In fact, they refused to go to school out of fear of another quake. Now they have become outgoing, they take part in sports, and are generally very active.
LISTER: For some of them, a game of cricket, Pakistan's national passion, helps pass the time. And they can dream of playing for the national team one day. They may have little else, but they do still have their dreams. Tim Lister, CNN, Atlanta.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LIN: International aid organizations are still involved in earthquake relief for Pakistan. On the phone from Islamabad, Pakistan, is Cassandra Nelson, she is senior communications officer for Mercy Corps.
Cassandra, good to have you.
CASSANDRA NELSON, SR. COMM. OFFICER, MERCY CORPS.: Hello.
LIN: It is remarkable when you see these children in Tim Lister's story. How resilient they are, and it's even more remarkable to know that schools are up and running, and there is some semblance of normalcy in the quake zone.
NELSON: You know, it really is. After a year, although you may not see a lot of signs of progress in terms of construction of homes, the one thing that is really apparent from you know, a year ago, to what it is today, is that the people really have normalized. They've gotten on with their lives, even if they're still living in a tent.
They've gotten back into routines, whether it be the kids going to school, even in many cases -- in most cases -- it is tent schools. But they're back into routines and starting to rebuild their lives. And I think, you know, emotionally, they're faring much better than any of us could have expected a year ago.
LIN: But Cassandra, there's a question about international aid money, Pakistani government actually gave an allotment to some of these victims. And there's a question of where the money went. What do you know about that part of the story?
NELSON: There have been reports coming out recently, I think as the one-year anniversary is hitting, in terms of what the progress is to-date. I have seen reports that have said that there has been some corruption in terms of the government allocations of cash for homes. This is a program they started immediately after the earthquake. The government set aside money to give every individual that had lost a home a certain amount of money to rebuild.
Now a few things have happened with that money. There have been accusations of corruption, that is being investigated by the Pakistani government now. But certainly that's something they are looking at in terms of the money they gave out.
But the other thing that happened that I think people didn't expect is that a lot of that money went out to purposes that people weren't anticipating. The people lost their livelihoods, they lost everything, and they need the money to pay for other things, more than a house at that point in time, they needed it for medical bills, they needed it for food. A think a lot of that original money actually did get used but it got used on other things as well.
LIN: It gives you an idea of the desperation there.
NELSON: So, the net result today -- yeah -- that result today is that unfortunately, the home building has not taken place to the degree everybody had hoped by this point.
Whether it be because of lack of money for some people. In some cases the money came out, but it just came out way too slow. The government didn't have a system in place to do it and it was just held up.
LIN: Cassandra Nelson, we're going to have to leave it there. But really, when you see the pictures of the devastation from a year ago, the fact that they have this will to live, and that they are continuing with their lives is remarkable. Cassandra Nelson with Mercy Corps.
Well it is a scandal that could cripple Republicans. Up next, hear from conservatives who have been the backbone of the GOP.
Plus, what will it take to win in Iraq? General Don Sheppard breaks down the strategy.
And don't miss this, he showed his doctors a thing or two, after they told him he would never walk. You're in THE NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LIN: Now in the news, the U.S. military reports six American troops killed in Iraq. A U.S. offensive in Diwaniya kills 30 suspected militants.
And North Korea ups the ante, amid speculation it will soon conduct a nuclear weapons test. Today the country's state-run media says U.S. troops stationed in South Korea are preparing for war against Pyongyang.
And there's a recall on California-grown lettuce for e. coli. The lettuce was grown in the same area as the spinach and it was sold under the Foxy brand name in several western states.
Better news at the pump. The latest Lundberg survey says the average price for a gallon of unleaded gasoline has dropped 15 cents in the last two weeks.
And here's an update on the Mark Foley scandal. A lawyer for former congressional aide Kirk Fordham said Fordham expects to testify before the House Ethics Committee next week. He's expected to say that Speaker Dennis Hastert's office knew about the allegations as far back as 2003. A new poll in New York State suggests Fordham's former boss, Congressman Thomas Reynolds could lose his re-election bid. In a campaign television commercial Reynolds states that he warned Speaker Hastert's office about the questions surrounding Foley.
Another former page is said to be implicating Foley. A Kentucky congressman says he's heard from a U.S. soldier in Iraq who worked as a page in 2001. That former page said he, too, was approached.
Now in the wake of the Foley scandal, will conservative Christians still vote for the GOP? CNN's Mary Snow has been talking to voters in Virginia's Second District.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Here in the northern tip of the Bible Belt, Christian conservatives are expressing unease about Republicans in Washington. Some traditionally Republican voters say they are undecided at this point of how they will vote in November. Some Republican strategists say the worry is that they may not vote at all, in a way to send a message out. Now some of the people we spoke with today say the Foley scandal is just the latest in a list of worries.
PAT DIFFLEY, VOTER: I think they may be disappointed.
SNOW: Why?
DIFFLEY: Because of what's going on and happening. I think some people within the Republican Party, maybe not conservatives, but within the Republican Party, have not been holding the values that we hold dear. MIKE SCOZZAFAVA, VOTER: I can answer for me. When I see this, I want to fight more. I want to get out there and do what I can to promote the conservative values.
SNOW: One of the most immediate impacts of Christian conservative voting could be felt here in the Second District in Virginia. Republican incumbent Congresswoman Thelma Drake is facing a tough re-election battle against her Democratic challenger, Phil Kellum. To give an indication of how the Mark Foley scandal is paying out, this week Kellum's campaign began re-airing an ad highlighting protecting children from sexual content on the Internet.
(on camera): Mary Snow, CNN, Norfolk, Virginia.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LIN: Now, in case you missed it, let's check some of the highlights from the Sunday morning talk shows.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SEN. JIM TALENT, (R) MO: We need to find out who knew what. We need to have a zero tolerance policy for this and then let the chips fall where they may and I presume that's what the investigation is about. And I think the elections around the country are going to be about the people running in the elections.
CLAIRE MCCASKILL, (D) MISSOURI SEN. CANDIDATE: When a 50-year- old man is asking a teenage boy on the Internet for his picture, the response needs to be something other than, "I'd better go tell the chairman of the Republican Campaign Committee." clearly, what has happened here is an arrogance of power, it is about holding onto power instead of doing the right thing.
REP. RAY LAHOOD, (R) IL: Hastert has the ability to take on these big ethical challenges that our party has faced and I believe he's stepped up this week with his statement, apologizing, taking responsibility and saying that there would be an evaluation of the program, and I think he's done what he should have done maybe a few days too late.
REP. RAHM EMANUEL, (D) IL: Mark Foley runs for Congress in 2004. Even while they know there was problems. 2005, he's appointed to head the Missing and Abused Children Caucus of the Congress. When he wants to retire they ask him to run for election in 2006, even knowing clearly there's something amiss and wrong here.
TONY PERKINS, FAMILY RESEARCH COUNCIL: I think you can't underestimate the impact this is going to have on the election. I think you're going to have marginal voters that are going to drop off because of the disgust with the Republican Party. Not only on this issue but a lack of advancing many of those core social issues. I think you'll have marginal candidates that will suffer at the polls because they do not clearly articulate these issues.
(END VIDEOTAPE) LIN: John Mercurio is editor with the "National Journal's" The Hotline and he's also a former CNN political editor. Hey, John, good to have you.
JOHN MERCURIO, "NATIONAL JOURNAL": Hey, good to be here.
LIN: All right. You hear what's happening on the talk shows. Do you think there's enough pressure out there, enough heat that you're going to see Dennis Hastert resigning?
MERCURIO: I think we're a couple of days away from knowing for sure what Denny Hastert's fate is going to be. I don't see Denny Hastert stepping down unless there are additional developments over the next couple of days to a week. He made it very clear last week that he does not believe that what he did warrants or what he didn't do warrants him stepping down. There's a debate within the Republican conference, too, about whether it would be good or bad for him to step down. If he does step down, does that allow the Republican conference in the House to say look, we're accountable, we heard what the voters said and got rid of our speaker, now reelect us or does it allow Democrats to say that they won?
I think the biggest issue, though, going into this Ethics Committee investigation for Hastert is that the two Republicans working on this Ethics Committee, Ethics Subcommittee are both close Hastert allies, so it's very unlikely we're going to see any trouble coming from him.
LIN: Really? Even with the former chief of staff of Congressman Foley who claims he went to the chief of staff of Dennis Hastert and told them that there was a meeting organized? I mean, does it get to be his word against theirs or are they really open to the evidence?
MERCURIO: If you listened over the weekend, though, you heard some Republicans, you heard Tom Davis as I think you just showed talking about the accountability, the need for accountability on the part of Hastert and the leadership. You also though heard a broader coalition, I think, of House Republicans, still backing the speaker, still thinking he's the voice and the image and the face that the party needs going into the elections.
LIN: So where does that leave Congressman Reynolds who came out with the ad campaign and specifically said I told him. I told Dennis Hastert. He knew, and I thought that these charges were being investigated.
MERCURIO: It leaves Reynolds in a very bad situation. As I think you said earlier, there's a new "Newsday" poll that shows Reynolds who was pretty cruising to re-election a couple of weeks ago is trailing his opponent, his Democratic opponent by 13 points. Reynolds, I think, Deborah Pryce (ph), I think around the country, there are pockets, targeted districts that are going to be dramatically affected by this scandal. I think as a national issue, though, it still has a little ways to go to really resonate.
LIN: Ironic because Reynolds is actually in charge of trying to get GOP candidates reelected.
MERCURIO: It would be the first time I've heard of a House campaign committee chairman actually losing his own campaign.
LIN: So the "Washington Post" speculates that GOP strategists out there are hoping, they have equal parts hope and calculation, they want to see the story die on the local news level, even though it may play out with the networks and also more accusations that Democrats are exploiting a personal lapse for political gain.
Does that look like a workable strategy for the GOP?
LIN: Well, it's interesting, because I'm not so sure that this story dies on the local level. I think you see a lot of local affiliates around the country really interested in this story, sort of absorbed by the salacious details of what the story brings to us. So as we head into the next four weeks of the campaign, I think everybody's going to remain relatively glued to it.
And as we saw in a lot of polling that came out this weekend, over half of the voters, of likely voters think this is an important issue, some people think it's an extremely important issue. A lot of people think that Hastert was involved in a cover-up but whether or not people are actually going to allow this scandal to affect their vote on November 7th is an entirely different question that Republicans I think hope will ultimately lead to their victory.
LIN: John Mercurio, always a pleasure to have you. Thank you.
MERCURIO: Thank you. Good to be here.
LIN: Now back to Iraq. The U.S. continues to meet stiff resistance from insurgents. No let up in the bombings either and the death tolls continue to rise. So is it time to change course? Well, we've asked our top military analysts for their take on that I winning strategy. Here is Major General Don Shepperd.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MAJ. GEN. DON SHEPPERD (RET), MILITARY ANALYST: These are desperately difficult times in Iraq. We've all heard that. But we want to go from the big to the small and show you what's happening in Iraq right now, what U.S. and coalition forces are engaged in. We start with the map of Iraq itself. Let's zoom in on the provinces and take a look at the provinces themselves. We've heard 14 of the 18 provinces are relatively secure. That's true, but there are four major problem areas.
Anbar Province in the west, Salah ad Din Province, Diyala and of course Baghdad Province itself.
And the whole idea, if we show a map of U.S. forces around the area was that U.S. forces were going to train Iraqi forces and then support them. The Iraqi forces were going to support the police. The U.S. forces were going to stand in the background. That was the whole idea. Let's zoom in, though, because it's now centering on Baghdad. We've heard the big "B" word, the Battle of Baghdad.
Let's going into Baghdad take a look at what's actually happening in Baghdad itself. In Baghdad, you have U.S. forces dispersed into what we call FOBs or forward operating bases.
Basically, you have Camp Liberty at the airport, you have got U.S. forces in the Green Zone. You have helicopter support from places such as Taji in the north and these forward operating bases that forces deploy out to these and go to support the Iraqi forces. That's the basic idea of what's happening in Baghdad.
Now, we have neighborhoods in Baghdad to show you the complexity of what these forces are dealing with. Sadr City right here, this is a Shia area, this is the site of the Mehdi Army of Muqtada al Sadr, and right next to the Shia area you have Adhamiyah, which is a Sunni neighborhood. Basically right next to each other.
Then you have some mixed neighborhoods of Kadhimiyah and Mansour. All of these areas have to be basically cleared and the whole strategy is basically clear, hold and build.
Let's see how that's working as we zoom in on Sadr City and show you the difficulty of what all of these forces are dealing with in Sadr City. Sadr City is the northeast part of Baghdad, it's on the eastern banks of the Tigris River over there and it's an area of slums and what have you and it's an urban area. Now, take a look at the difficulty of dealing with this type of area for the forces, whether you're military or whether you're police.
You go in here, and you've got thousands and thousands of houses. You've got narrow streets. You've got intersections, each one of these is an opportunities, an opportunity for ambushes. All of these houses have to be cleared. The rooms in the houses have to be cleared and again, this is the site of al Sadr's Mehdi Army. It's a very, very difficult zone to operate in.
The whole idea was for the U.S. forces to stand in the background, support the Iraqi military, and support the police. The police are not performing well. That means that U.S. forces are drawn back into the conflict.
Let me show you what has to be done for to us get out of there. To win, we've got to go head to head with these militias and take them on. We've got to clear Sadr City and after we clear Sadr City we really have to continue to put pressure on the Iraqi forces to take on more of the load and to fight these militias.
These are really, really difficult times in Iraq. Things are not going well right now. This is more than a speed bump. It's a desperate battle for the security of Baghdad, unless you can secure Baghdad, the capital, you cannot have success in Iraq. The strategy of clear, hold and build, you can't build unless you can hold. You can't hold unless you can clear. That's what's going on in Baghdad and it's really, really tough.
(END VIDEOTAPE) LIN: That was Major General Don Shepperd. Later tonight, more expert analysis. I'll talk with Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt, who used to be in Iraq. Hear what he would do now tonight at 10:00 Eastern right here on CNN.
Still to come this hour, one young runner's inspiring story, how he proved doctors wrong. I'm going to talk to him.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LIN: Welcome back to the NEWSROOM. We have a terrific story coming up, cuts right through the violence that you often see in the news. East Tennessee's Chris Phillips is truly an unlikely hero you might say. Doctors said he would never walk much less run. Russell Bivens (ph) tells his incredibly heart-warming story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): A Tuesday evening sports event in West Knoxville.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Runners set!
RUSSELL BIVEN, WBIR-TV CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Hundreds of middle school cross-country runners are hoping to make a name for themselves. But on this day, only one takes the spotlight.
When Kris Phillips was born, doctors said he would never walk. The family took that as a challenge. And at six years of age, little Kris had rods placed in his back. A few years later, another surgery. This time, to fix a problem that was causing Chris to stop breathing.
The Carns Middle School (ph) is one of several competing in this event in Knoxville and it seems every race, the crowds get bigger and bigger.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Go!
BIVEN: While the parents are first and foremost cheering their own children on, they're also there for a sight that's almost too much to take in.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's, gives me chill bumps.
BIVEN: The runners cross the finish line.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Nice job! Nice job!
BIVEN: Then quickly get a spot to witness what sports are really all about. In the mild of the this entourage of runners who have already finished, is that little boy who doctors said want would never walk.
Kris Phillips, just four feet, 50 pounds with teammates by his side. He's in last place, yet first in the hearts of everyone looking on. At the finish line, something much better than any trophy for blue ribbon could provide. Kris' mother, Deb.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Way to go, Kris! Woo!
BIVEN: When you're real, real tired and all that kind of thing, what keeps you inspired to keep moving?
KRIS PHILLIPS, CORSS COUNTRY RUNNER: Cause my mom's there.
DEB PHILLIPS, MOTHER: Just to see him finish, it's just amazing, because this course is huge.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He's the best runner on the team. He has the most heart out of all of us. He could just inspire anybody that he talks to.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don't care if you're a mom, a dad or whatever. You cry. It's just the most incredible scene that it's just heart warming.
BIVEN: In the race of life it's not always having the fastest feet that matters but the biggest heart.
For people out there going through some hard stuff, what would you tell them?
K. PHILLIPS: To keep on going and if there's ever bad, there's always going to be a good side.
BIVEN: And sometimes, the heart of a champion is shared and strengthened by the runner, his teammates, and his competition.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LIN: Oh but the story is not over. I'm going to be talking live with Kris and his mom next here in the NEWSROOM. Hi, guys.
K. PHILLIPS: Hi.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LIN: He's overcome most odds that most people could never even imagine and now at 13, he may be the most popular cross-country runner in Tennessee. Kris Phillips and his mom, Deb, join me live from Knoxville, Tennessee. Great to have you guys.
Kris, you brought all of us to tears when the reporter asked you what got you to the finish line, what kept you going, and you just looked so plainly clear, "My mom," that's what you said. What is it about your mom that inspires you so much?
K. PHILLIPS: Because I love her.
LIN: You love her.
K. PHILLIPS: Um-hum.
LIN: Yeah. You know, Deb, you believed in this little boy from the moment he was born, didn't you?
D. PHILLIPS: Oh, yes. Very much so.
LIN: What kept you going? Because when the doctors told you that Kris had scoliosis, that he would never walk again, I think most mothers would just collapse with that news.
D. PHILLIPS: Well, it's -- the doctors really don't, they think they know a lot, but they really don't know everything.
LIN: Um-hum. I believe you.
D. PHILLIPS: Doctors can tell you things, but it's really, as far as I'm concerned, it's really up to God. If God put him here for a reason then he's here for a reason.
LIN: Kris, what does it feel like running in that race? Did you feel any pain? Was it difficult? Because you weren't wearing your special shoes. You were just wearing regular running shoes.
K. PHILLIPS: It was kind of difficult, because you just kind of stumble a lot, after you get used to them.
LIN: And then when all of those kids surrounded you toward the end, what was that like?
K. PHILLIPS: It made me feel good and like people, and that people really cared about me.
LIN: You know those kids think of you as a role model. They feel that they have a lot to learn from you. How does that make you feel?
K. PHILLIPS: It makes me feel good.
LIN: So if God has a plan for you, Kris, what do you think it's going to be?
K. PHILLIPS: I don't really know.
LIN: What's next for you? What do you want to grow up to do?
K. PHILLIPS: Probably an anchor on a TV, on the news or something.
LIN: Really? Awesome! All right, do you have any particular kind of reporting in mind? Entertainment? Sports? News?
K. PHILLIPS: I don't really know.
LIN: Well, you know what? You're getting a lot of air time as it is, Kris. You might be pretty tough competition. Deb, is there anything this little boy can't do?
D. PHILLIPS: I don't think so. He does quite a bit. Of course he can't play any sports. LIN: Any contact sports. Because he only has one kidney.
D. PHILLIPS: He just has one kidney and with the rods in his back, but he is a third degree black belt in tae-kwon-do.
LIN: Really?
D. PHILLIPS: He started that when he was three years old.
LIN: Kris! And you're also playing basketball, right, and baseball?
D. PHILLIPS: He plays challenger basketball and challenger baseball, because it is for physically and mentally handicapped kids. And that's something that he can play. It's not a contact sport.
LIN: Well, Kris, in these trying times in this world, you know, we cherish a story like yours. You're a fighter. You're a leader. You're a hero to so many people who are going through tough times. Kris, because they look at you and they say if you can do it, so can I. That's a gift. Kris Phillips, thank you so much. Deb Phillips, we're proud of you too.
D. PHILLIPS: Thank you.
K. PHILLIPS: Thank you.
LIN: You're a terrific mom.
D. PHILLIPS: Thanks.
LIN: There's still more ahead on CNN. Up next, "Inside the Killing Fields of Africa." Join CNN's Emmy Award winning correspondents for a special investigation, Africa's misery and the world's shame. That's next on CNN. TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
