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Atlanta Bus Crash; Alabama Tornado Damage; Religious Aid Groups; Lunar Eclipse
Aired March 03, 2007 - 17:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
RICK SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: We've got some animation. And you can see, as you watch the animation, that driver most likely thought he was still on the highway when suddenly -- boom -- he hit the embankment and then went over the side.
Here are the people who, as a result, died -- Tyler Williams, David Betts, Scott Harmon and David Betts. They were all members of the Bluffton University baseball team, all killed in that crash.
Today, they are -- surviving teammates are being reunited with their families. And they're pondering some very emotional questions, wondering, for example, why they made it and living now with the guilt that their buddies didn't, that they didn't survive.
Our Don Lemon, he's over at Grady Hospital, where he's been following the story of some of the injured, some of those folks being treated and some of the comments that some of these people are making.
Don, I've been watching your reports. It's really interesting to hear what people have to say after something like this, isn't it?
DON LEMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It certainly is, Rick.
And you know what?
Io want to back up a little bit and talk about what you said, because we're just getting new word from the National Transportation Safety Board. You said they were combing the scene. And they have been on the scene here since yesterday, trying to figure out what happened.
But what we're learning is that those data recorders, that's really going to be the key here because the driver, the person who was at least paying attention and who was awake at the time and saw the whole thing was the driver. And, sadly, he perished in the accident, along with his wife and then four of the players here.
But the new information we're getting from the National Transportation Safety Board -- a press briefing going on right now -- they're saying they're asking for the public's help in trying to figure out if there were any type similar accidents that happened in the past, was this particular HOV exit problematic, this particular ramp.
So that's what they want to know. So it's very interesting that the National Transportation Safety Board is coming out, wanting to know from the public, because one would think maybe that's the Department of Transportation, possibly the Atlanta Police Department, if not the Georgia State Police Department.
But, again, the NTSB asking for the public's help -- is this particular HOV exit, this particular stretch of intersection, has it been problematic in the past?
Now, let's get back to those players. A very sad story, it happening yesterday. We all saw it. I was out there covering it, saw the scene live as it was unfolding.
Those players today really, it's just starting to sink in. And for a lot of them, Rick, it hasn't really sunk in yet.
They arrived to this particular hospital just a short time ago to visit some of their friends. They have been going to visit other people here in the area, the other players. So they arrived here. It's just starting to sink in. We're going to hopefully talk to some more of them. They are just visiting their friends here at the hospital, as well.
And if we can get that for you, we'll bring it back to you.
But that's the latest from Grady Hospital.
I'll toss it back to you -- Rick Sanchez.
SANCHEZ: But, you know, I've got to tell you something, Don. And this is the thing that everybody's talking about in my neighborhood here in Atlanta. And I think people around the country are wondering, as well.
Does it appear, at this point, that it's pretty much going to be nailed down that this driver -- and I think we might have a chance to look at this animation once again. Hopefully we can back that up and show it just as he starts to -- see, he thinks he's still on the highway as he's going...
LEMON: Right.
SANCHEZ: ... as he's hitting this exit ramp, right?
LEMON: Yes. Well, that's -- that's what everyone is thinking because this, Rick -- and you were out there. You saw it. This HOV lane, obviously, most HOV lanes are in the middle of the intersection. And usually when you're trying to exit an HOV lane, from an HOV lane, there's an HOV exit, but it takes you back onto the regular intersection -- or the regular Interstate and then you exit to the right where everyone else exits.
On this particular Interstate, there was an HOV exit on the left side. So if you're not familiar with that particular Interstate, you might think that you were continuing on the HOV lane...
SANCHEZ: Right. And, in fact...
LEMON: ... and then by the time you...
SANCHEZ: In fact, the point is most exits are on the right and we've been conditioned in this country to exit on the right.
LEMON: Yes. Yes.
SANCHEZ: The fact that there would be an exit on the left, that in and of itself is somewhat confusing, is it not?
LEMON: Right. And then once -- once you get to the end -- yes. Absolutely. And once you get to the end there, there are -- it is clearly marked. But once you get to the end, you see the stop sign but then you have to turn right or you have to turn left. And if you go straight, you're going to go over that ramp, over that embankment right back onto the Interstate and that's exactly what that driver and that bus did.
SANCHEZ: Yes, god bless them.
LEMON: Yes.
SANCHEZ: You know, it looks like they didn't really stand a chance toward the end there.
Don Lemon doing a good job, hanging onto that story now for the last 24 hours or so.
We appreciate it.
We'll get back to you.
More now on the Bluffton University bus tragedy and the heartfelt reunions going on as we speak here in Atlanta.
Why?
Because CNN's Nicole Lapin, she's back talking to some of the friends and family. And, really, this is a unique perspective, because it's really not every day that you get a chance to actually be there as the information is coming in and people, family members, are reacting to it.
NICOLE LAPIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: No. One specific family to tell you about right now, the Rathum family. And I want to tell you, they have two boys. Both of these guys on this baseball team.
SANCHEZ: Yes.
LAPIN: Both survived. One walks away, the other one is in the hospital.
So, Rick, take a look at this. This is very minimally edited. This is exactly what it was like when they all reunited today at the hospital and we were there.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) MIKE RATHUM, CRASH SURVIVOR: I know you all (UNINTELLIGIBLE) praying for us. I just remember getting tossed around. The next thing I know, I was just laying there. And my leg was caught. And I think the reality that we just fell off an overpass was -- you know, it just shocked everyone. They didn't know what to do.
And two of my friends ran up to me and, you know, "Mike, you're caught. We'll try and pick the bus up."
I was laying there, it was dark. I couldn't see a whole lot. And the first thing I thought was, you know, where's A.J. and I need to get a hold of my family right away and tell them, you know, that we were in a wreck, because I figured it would be on TV, that of a wreck, and just tell them I was OK.
Just all I could think about was where's my, where's A.J. and I just didn't want to, I don't know, I just couldn't see myself going back to school without him. And I just got so scared. And he came around that corner and I saw him all beat up. And I knew -- and he was walking, so I was so happy and I just gave him a big hug.
Baseball is kind of, you know, far from our minds right now. Just getting back home with family and friends is going to be a step in the right direction for all of us.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LAPIN: And they're really going in a step in the right direction right now. They're supposed to get out of the hospital any day now. They are both walking away.
What's more amazing, Rick, is that the guy you didn't hear from, A.J. his brother, he was sitting right next to one of his best buddies.
So picture this, he's sitting next to the window. His best buddy, Cody Holp, is sitting right next to him.
SANCHEZ: Right.
LAPIN: Cody doesn't survive.
SANCHEZ: Wow!
LAPIN: He walks away.
What do you think?
Do you think it...
SANCHEZ: How is that even possible?
You'd think the guy close to the window...
LAPIN: Right.
SANCHEZ: ... would be the one who would get hurt by the glass and...
LAPIN: Right. And that's what he thought. He's going through a lot of guilt right now.
Why my buddy? Why not me?
SANCHEZ: Why did they take you in and share all of this with you?
I mean this is some very private stuff that they're going through.
And did they feel the need to talk about it?
LAPIN: They did. It's very cathartic. I think that these families are really in a daze right now. They don't know exactly what to think, because do you celebrate?
It's almost a bittersweet celebration. You say OK, well, my kids are alive, but there are a lot of families out there today who are not so lucky.
SANCHEZ: You know, all psychologists would tell you that the guilt is somewhat normal. They probably need to talk themselves through it and probably get some counseling as a result of this.
LAPIN: Right, indeed. It's very cathartic dealing with this situation out in the open. And we were just happy to tell their story...
SANCHEZ: That's good stuff.
LAPIN: ... from start to finish.
Yes.
SANCHEZ: Thanks, Nicole.
LAPIN: No problem.
SANCHEZ: Appreciate it.
A much needed boost today for thousands of storm victims. President Bush traveled south to Alabama and to Georgia to buck up the spirits after a wave of killer tornados there. In Summit, Alabama, Mr. Bush toured Enterprise High School, where eight students died when a twister roared right through on Thursday.
And then it was on to Americus, Georgia, where two people died and hundreds of homes were either damaged or destroyed.
Mr. Bush implored private citizens to help the victims somehow rebuild.
CNN's Alan Chernoff witnessed the president's roll through Americus. But we're going to start our coverage back in his first stop. This is in Enterprise, Alabama, where the school was affected, and that's where Susan Roesgen is standing by.
SUSAN ROESGEN, GULF COAST CORRESPONDENT: Rick, there is still so much damage here, so much to be done.
This is the high school that took a direct hit from that tornado, 150 miles an hour winds. And when you go up here and look inside one of the classrooms, it's amazing, Rick, because the desks are still in their straight lines, but look at the debris, the shattered glass, pieces of the ceiling tiles that fell down.
And I don't even know what this is, Rick. We'll look up here. I don't know where this came from or what this is, but can you imagine what it would have been like if the kids had been in the classrooms?
They weren't in the classrooms. They were doing what they had been told to do in tornado drills. They were in the hallways of the school. They had their backs up against their lockers. They were crouched down. They had their hands over their heads. They were waiting for this thing.
But, again, when this school, concrete and brick, even, took this direct hit, eight students just didn't h a chance.
Part of one hallway and part of the roof collapsed on them and eight students were killed.
Today, as you mentioned, President Bush came here and took a look at the school. He took a tour. He talked with state and local officials. He really got a look inside at this incredible destruction. And he talked to some students here and told them that he wanted to try to help them keep their spirits up.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MEGAN PARKS, STUDENT: You reach out your hand to -- to shake his hand and he shakes your hand, but he gives you a hug. He gives you a real hug, too, you know?
And you know that he actually thanked us for coming to see him when I -- I just couldn't believe that. And I was like thank you for, you know, coming to see us and for thinking about us. And just -- I just want to say to like everybody in the country who's praying for us, l really appreciate it. Thank you so much for all your prayers because that's -- that's probably the best thing that we could ask everyone to do for us right now, is just to pray for our town and our city.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROESGEN: Now, that young woman is Megan Parks. She is the student body president here at the school. And right now she's with many other students at a park in this area. It's not a real memorial service, Rick. It's sort of an informal, impromptu thing. The students got together today. They text messaged each other on their cell phones and decided that they would meet at this park and talk about what happened to them and really just try to sort things out -- Rick.
SANCHEZ: That's good stuff.
And I understand, Susan, later on, you're going to be reporting again on a father's memories in that town of a son who died on Thursday's killer tornado. He was known around town as a hero. Viewers will probably want to stick around for that, as well.
We thank you so much, Susan, for bringing us up to date on that story that we're going to stay on top of throughout the course of the day.
Well, after his stop in Alabama, the president followed the tornado.
How?
Well, he walked through the streets of Americus, Georgia, where a twister pummeled hundreds of homes.
Now, with that part of the story, let's go to CNN's Alan Chernoff.
He's been standing by following the story for us.
What can you bring us from there -- Allan.
ALLAN CHERNOFF, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Rick.
You know, when people hear that the president came to take a look at the damage, often people think well, he did a little flyover, spent a few minutes. The president was here for as long as two hours.
And we have the sheriff of Sumter County here, Pete Smith. He spent the entire time with president, first of all, Sheriff, the president, he seemed pretty touched from the pictures. But you tell us. You were with him all the time.
PETE SMITH, SUMTER COUNTY, GEORGIA SHERIFF: He was very, very touched by all this. He saw what, you know, he saw the devastation firsthand and he knows the problems we're facing. He knows what we're having to deal and he's genuinely concerned about it. He promised he's going to get us some help down here.
CHERNOFF: He was walking through those streets, talking with the residents, the people whose homes were actually destroyed.
SMITH: And we had two fatalities. He went by the family members over there and talked with them and told them how sorry he was for their loss. And we could have had a lot more fatalities. I mean this place looks like a war zone down here.
CHERNOFF: It still does, in many places. Now, of course, for many people, the compassion from the president is wonderful, but even better would be assistance. And, of course, I heard you say you'd like to see some federal assistance.
How did the president respond?
SMITH: The president talked with the governor and myself. And the governor and the mayor of Americus were together. And he assured us that he's going to do everything he can to get us some aide down here and get us some help. And he's already provided a lot of that. But he's, you know, he's, on a daily basis, talking with the governor and they're -- they're working out whether they can bring in a lot of inmates down here and get some work done and help clean up some of this problem.
CHERNOFF: Now, you also had an exchange regarding Habitat for Humanity, the comments between yourself and the president. The president said I'd love to see an organization like Habitat for Humanity come down here. You pointed out they're actually based here.
SMITH: Yes, sir. That's right. They're actually based here. This is the kind of effort that a lot of people need. They need some help. And this is something that's not going to happen overnight. It's going to take a lot of time to get all this stuff cleaned up and get some people back.
We've got to get the schools opened back up and get our hospital stabilized. And we're in the process of opening an emergency hospital in one of our churches. We're working very diligently with the National Guard. We just brought in several MediVac helicopters in case that we have a bad situation where our armed service is overwhelmed.
So we're making a lot of progress, but we, you know, we've got to take it one step at a time and keep working very diligently at it.
But the president was very upbeat about everything and he promised us he'd get us some help and I know he will.
CHERNOFF: Sheriff Pete Smith, thank you so much for joining us.
SMITH: Thank you.
CHERNOFF: We appreciate it.
By the way, those MediVac helicopters are just behind us in this parking lot right here, which has become a heliport, Rick. So the people here clearly getting some compassion from the president, a little bit of a pledge to federal assistance, as well.
But, clearly, a long way to go in terms of the cleanup here -- back to you.
SANCHEZ: It sounds like from what you described, the president didn't know that Americus is the headquarters for Habitat for Humanity when he said that? CHERNOFF: Well, that appeared to be the case. But...
SANCHEZ: Boy, you'd think one of his handlers...
CHERNOFF: ... I mean...
SANCHEZ: You'd think one of his -- you'd think one of his people would have told him, right?
CHERNOFF: I honestly can't say to you what he was told in advance.
SANCHEZ: Yes.
CHERNOFF: But certainly from the videotape that we viewed, from what we saw, that was certainly the impression we had.
But, hey, you know, this is a lot to take in here, you know, not to take anything away from the president at all.
I mean you come in here and you are just shocked and it is really like a war zone in many places. And you also think, hey, volunteers to help build some homes, that's just the way to go. That's just fantastic.
SANCHEZ: Yes, Habitat would be just the perfect organization to do it. And it just so happens to be an organization that's based right there where it happened.
Alan Chernoff, thanks so much.
We appreciate that.
Well, in about five minutes, we're going to be heading live to Copenhagen to find out what's sparking this massive riot in the streets of Denmark. Look at these pictures!
Also, allegations of mice and moldy plaster at Walter Reed Hospital leading to a high profile resignation. And that could be just the beginning.
Also, this...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANN COULTER: I was going to have a few comments on the other Democratic presidential candidate, John Edwards. But...
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: That's conservative Ann Coulter. She has said something that has made people mad on both sides of the aisle.
And don't forget the gay community, because that's where it may have been targeted. You're going to hear exactly what it was coming up. And let's take you to Baghdad now. This is a story that has very little to do with the fighting going on in the streets and more on what's going on up above. This is a partial lunar eclipse. We'll tell you where it's being seen all over the world.
You're watching CNN and we'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: It's a bird's eye view of some of the rioting that's taking place in Denmark. This is in Copenhagen, where youths armed with homemade gasoline bombs squared off with police. All of this began two days ago over the evacuation of squatters from an abandoned building over there.
Let's go live now to Copenhagen and CNN's Paula Hancocks, who's following it -- these are unbelievable.
What is this all about -- Paula?
PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Rick, it is unbelievable, because the fact is, this is all about a piece of real estate. It's all about this four story building that squatters have been living in for many years. They've been using it, they say, as a cultural center, where they've been having concerts, etc.
But then, about six years ago, the government actually sold it on to a Christian group. And this is what they're protesting at the moment.
Now, at this point, it is about quarter past 11 at night and there's hundreds of protesters on the streets in different pockets of areas in Copenhagen itself.
Now, the police are starting to move in in a little bit more force. Many hundreds in riot gear trying to disperse these protesters, trying to move them on whenever they have too many of them gather in one particular group.
In the last three days, there's been about 600 arrests. Now, police certainly have got many of the ringleaders behind bars. But this appears to be growing into something more. There's more than just one cause now. There's obviously, as you always have in these kind of cases, many groups that are just coming to make trouble, as well, not wanting to miss a chance to have a clash with police.
But at this point it seems they're fairly calm. But, of course, over the last couple of days, it's been a round about midnight local time where it's really kicked off, and that's in about half an hour's time -- Rick.
SANCHEZ: And a point to be made is that most of the people here are not necessarily Danes, right?
They're coming from all over the place. HANCOCKS: That's right. Yes. Many of those that have been arrested have come from Sweden. Many have come from Germany, from Finland, from the United Kingdom.
And so certainly there are those that are trying to show their support for the young, for the left-wing youth in this country. But there are also those that are just trying to come over and be part of the trouble, if you like.
But police have been swooping on properties all day, arresting people that they believe to be some of the ringleaders, some of those that are likely to cause trouble -- Rick.
SANCHEZ: But what they're fighting for is something they don't necessarily own, right?
I mean, you know, the word freeloader comes to mind when you look at this situation.
Is it too far from the truth?
HANCOCKS: Well, they are squatters. These protesters are squatters. They've been in this building, which they didn't own, for many years. But it's -- it has brought an element of legitimacy because they have some big pop stars. They have the Icelandic singer Beyork, the Australian singer Nick Cave. They have some very, you know, very impressive names. So it has legitimized itself, if you like, and of course, the government decided to try and take it back and this is when the -- when the trouble started.
SANCHEZ: Well, we thank you so much, Paula, for bringing us up to date on that.
You know what we're going to do, we're going to be checking back from time to time on these pictures and with you to see how that situation develops. Unbelievable, though, as you look at it, the pictures that we've been having -- coming in throughout the course of the day.
Questionable conditions for wounded soldiers...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERT GATES, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: I am disappointed that some in the Army have not adequately appreciated the seriousness of the situation pertaining to outpatient care at Walter Reed.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: And it's not just that. Mold, mildew, mice found inside a building as one of the military's most prestigious hospitals. The fallout on this is just beginning. As we learned, there may be 200,000 soldiers being treated after Afghanistan and Iraq.
Let's go over to Veronica now -- what have you got, Veronica.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
VERONICA DE LA CRUZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Veronica de la Cruz at the Dot-Com Desk, and I've spent the day scouring the Web for more information on these four young men who died in the Atlanta bus crash.
They were sophomore Tyler Williams, sophomore David Betts, freshman Scott Harmon and freshman Cody Holp.
You know, Cody had his own page on MySpace.com. I've been looking over his site. And he was clearly a popular young man. He was prom king and some friends described him as the class clown.
Here's how one of his friends remembered him.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Cody was just irreplaceable, really. Everybody knew Cody. I don't even think he had any enemies whatsoever. It was just -- like bad things don't happen to people like that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DE LA CRUZ: And we also want to tell you about David Betts. David was 20 years old, from a prominent family in Bluffton. In fact, David's great grandfather had once been president of the school. His two older sisters are both alumni of the university.
Scott Harmon's former high school coach remembers Scott getting hit hard once during a play right on the nose. And despite the bloody injury Harmon came back to hit a home run that helped win the game.
What I've also gathered from reading his page on Facebook.com, it seems he not only played baseball, but football, too.
Tyler Williams' high school coach remembers him as a funny, outgoing individual and a first rate athlete. He was an outfielder and his friends describe him as an outstanding student who was always smiling and laughing.
I found this on Cleveland.com, who also profiled him. It said that he wanted to be one of the few in his family to get a college degree.
Now, if you knew any of these young men or you'd like to share your thoughts about this tragedy, you can e-mail us here at weekends@cnn.com.
I'm Veronica de la Cruz for the Dot-Com Desk.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: Welcome back to CNN NEWSROOM.
I'm Rick Sanchez.
Tonight, one of those trench stories that we've seen developing over the week.
First, shocking revelations, then the departure Thursday. We saw the dismissal of the commander of Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Then Friday, the big one, really, the scandal at the nation's most recognized military hospital claimed the job of Francis Harvey, the secretary of the Army.
With the latest on this growing controversy, here's CNN's Joe Johns in Washington.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
JOE JOHNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The new defense secretary was blunt as he accepted the resignation of Army Secretary Francis Harvey. People weren't doing their jobs.
GATES: I am disappointed that some in the Army have not adequately appreciated the seriousness of the situation pertaining to outpatient care at Walter Reed.
JOHNS: To be clear, the conditions for outpatient vets at Walter Reed were deplorable.
BRIG. GEN. JAMES "SPIDER" MARKS, U.S. ARMY (RET.): That is an emotional, compassionate, sensitive subject and it's good for everybody who is involved to get emotional about that.
JOHNS (on camera): But where was the emotion two years ago when Washington all but turned its back on Walter Reed, with the U.S. at war in two countries?
(voice-over): The president agreed to a commission's recommendation to close down by 2011 what once was known as the finest military hospital around and move operations to another hospital a few miles away. It's called cost savings.
But now, look at what's happened to Walter Reed.
MARKS: And first and foremost, you've got facilities and an infrastructure at Walter Reed that needs repair and people make decisions to invest money in a facility that is providing world class care that is going away. So you're conflicted.
Do I invest the money or do I wait for this thing to close, cross my fingers that everything is going to be all right?
JOHNS: When the government decided to close it down, people started looking for other jobs.
Former Senator Max Cleland was treated at Walter Reed decades ago.
MAX CLELAND, FORMER U.S. SENATOR: You start talking about closing Walter Reed and you start having what you have now, that is a lot of the doctors that are senior, they're looking forward to retirement. A lot of the young doctors that would like to make a career in the Army -- in Army medicine, they're going to be looking for another assignment.
JOHNS: So they decided to privatize -- what else could they do? -- and went from 300 federal employees at the outpatient facility here to 60 private contractors. Again, it's called cost savings.
But what's the cost of that, especially at a time when plane loads of injured vets keep arriving home?
Keeping them honest, some people are saying it was the decision to close down Walter Reed that's at the root of all of this.
MARKS: I don't understand why, while the nation is at war, a key medical facility would be in the discussion, even in the mix.
JOHNS: Who knows how many heads will roll?
The smoking gun memos are trickling out now.
Democrats on the Hill are firing up oversight hearings and the hospital is still slated to close.
Joe Johns, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
SANCHEZ: As for the soldiers, many are complaining that they're being ignored by the V.A. They say their names are being lost, they're on waiting lists, sometimes their calls are not being returned. And now we learn that as many as 200,000 of those soldiers, those troops that have been returning from both Iraq or Afghanistan have, in one way or another, sought some type of help after getting back.
Secretary Gates has taken it seriously enough that he's now named an independent panel to review the situation at Walter Reed, and a presidential commission is promised, as well.
Also, the hospitals fired a commander, Major General George Weightman. He's expected to testify Monday before a House subcommittee on this.
Meantime, President Bush weighed in on the scandal today, and that part of the story CNN's Kathleen Koch is at the White House. She's joining us now.
Kathleen, this thing's really mushroomed, hasn't it.
KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT, THE WHITE HOUSE: It has, Rick.
And I spoke to an administration official earlier who said that the president takes this very personally.
To quote him, "Here was a guy who sent them into combat, sent them into harm's way. If they're coming back with injuries, it's because of decisions he's made. He wants to make sure they're getting the absolute best treatment they deserve." So, this official told me that the message from the president, when it comes to Walter Reed, is get it fixed and get it fixed now.
His radio address this morning made that clear. It marked the first time that the president has spoken out publicly about the situation at Walter Reed.
The White House took the unusual step of releasing the radio address a day early. And in it, not only did the president say that he was deeply troubled by the poor treatment of some outpatients there at Walter Reed, but he said it was unacceptable.
And he announced that the White House was going to take steps to see if similar problems existed at other military and veterans' hospitals.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: So I'm announcing that my administration is creating a bipartisan presidential commission to conduct a comprehensive review of the care America is providing our wounded servicemen and women.
This review will examine their treatment from the time they leave the battlefield through their return to civilian life as veterans, so we can ensure that we're meeting their physical and mental health needs.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
KOCH: The president said that he would announce the names of the commission members over the next few days, and that he would set a hard and fast deadline within which they would have to report back with recommendations.
And the Democrats, in their radio address this morning, also expressed outrage over the situation at Walter Reed.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
SEN. JOE LIEBERMAN, I-CONNECTICUT: It is outrageous that veterans are waiting months and months to see the doctors they need. It's unacceptable that service members and veterans suffering from mental illness are not receiving the proper care.
We know what the needs of our returning troops and veterans will be, and we must build a lifelong treatment system that serves their needs fully.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
KOCH: So, the White House wants to get this situation resolved, and soon. The outcry that it has prompted is certainly doing nothing to help President Bush as he pursues an increasingly unpopular war in Iraq. But it is going to remain on the front burner for the near future. There are at least four separate congressional hearings next week, Rick, slated on Walter Reed.
SANCHEZ: You know, it sounds, Kathleen, like there are just too many people coming back from Iraq or Afghanistan with serious injuries, and that nobody had really planned for this type of onslaught of soldiers and troops coming back with this type of needs.
KOCH: Well, it certainly, Rick, does appear that perhaps at Walter Reed, at least, the system has been somewhat overwhelmed.
And certainly, if you read the initial articles on this by the "Washington Post," the problem apparently is not only the physical conditions of some of the buildings, but is the bureaucratic hurdles that these service members have to leap over and struggle with on a daily basis to get the care they deserve, to get the benefits.
And again, it's something that simply outraged the president and many Americans, as well.
SANCHEZ: Hey, thanks so much, Kathleen. We really appreciate it.
Well, an unthinkable loss tempered by immeasurable pride.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TIM JACKSON, FATHER OF TORNADO VICTIM: He was a wonderful, wonderful young man. And he's in a better place.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: It's a father learning something about his son's death in Thursday's storms to help him get through the rough days ahead.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANN COULTER, CONSERVATIVE COMMENTATOR: Was going to have a few comments on the other Democratic presidential candidate, John Edwards. But ...
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: What conservative commentator Ann Coulter said, next. It drew applause from the crowd, but so far, controversy just about everywhere else.
Were they too crude?
Her comments coming up in the NEWSROOM.
First, though, new passport regulations could change your travel routines. That's a topic of today's "On the Go."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) AMY ZIFF, TRAVELOCITY: The new rule will mean that kids under the age of 18 can travel with their parents and get in with a copy of their birth certificate.
And if children the ages of 16 to 18 are traveling with, say, a religious group, a social group, a school group - something like that - they'll be able to get into the country from Canada or Mexico, the Caribbean, as well, with just their copy of their birth certificate. And that is by land or by sea.
Air travel, everybody needs a passport. That's really important to emphasize. If you're cruising or if you're driving, you don't need a passport until January 1, 2008.
For people who have any questions on how to get a passport, where to get a passport, if they want an expedited passport, renewal questions, anything like that, they can go to www.getapassport.com. It has all of the answers.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: Welcome back to NEWSROOM. I'm Rick Sanchez.
I moved over here, because I want to show you some pictures now. This is the president today.
What he's done is, he's followed the tour of the tornado that preceded him, going to several cities that have been affected by this, the tornadoes that ripped across the area Thursday, across the deep South.
Mr. Bush began his day getting a look, a first hand look, at the damage in and around Enterprise High School, where eight students died in Alabama. The president has declared Coffee County, Alabama a major disaster area.
And from there, the president then traveled to hard-hit Americus, Georgia, where two people died in the storm, Mr. Bush surprising some by making an unannounced stop in a predominately African-American neighborhood where he got a relatively warm welcome.
Let's go back to Enterprise now, where we are finding incredible tales of faith and humanity amidst the destruction of Thursday's twister.
CNN's Susan Roesgen has the story of a grieving father who finds solace in knowing that his son died while trying to save the lives of others.
(BEGIN VIDEO)
SUSAN ROESGEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT, ENTERPRISE, ALABAMA: Tim Jackson is a parent who is both proud and grieving, grieving because his son A.J. was one of the eight students who died, but proud because he knows his son saved another student's life.
TIM JACKSON, FATHER OF TORNADO VICTIM: One of the rescuers, or one of the guys that was there, had said that A.J. had kept a concrete beam from falling on a girl to save her life, and that she survived.
I don't know who the girl is, but that sounds just like A.J. With a smile on his face, he would do it again.
ROESGEN: The students were huddled in the hallways when the tornado struck. And A.J., a 16-year-old junior, made a split-second decision.
MARK SHELDON, RESCUER: He was in where the walls were collapsing and he held - basically jumped, got himself in front of the wall before it landed on her. And unfortunately, the walls landed on him.
And she slid out of the way, so she could get to safety. And we dragged her out of the building and then went back in and got more.
JACKSON: He's in a better place.
ROESGEN: Tim Jackson spent the day making funeral arrangements. His son was a school cheerleader.
JACKSON: He was a wonderful, wonderful young man, and he's in a better place. And he's up there in heaven doing stunts right now. And I can't wait till I get up there to see him again.
(END VIDEO)
SANCHEZ: Tornado victims and affected businesses can begin applying for federal disaster assistance tomorrow by registering online at www.fema.gov, or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA. That's 621- FEMA. That's all you have to do, according to federal officials we've been talking to through the day.
Is it even possible to take your own pulse? Well, that's what Republicans are trying to do right now. And by the way, they have a new darling.
Also, holy lunar eclipse, Batman! It's a rare sight and it's just minutes away. There it is. We're going to tell you more about this, as well.
You're watching CNN, the most trusted name in news.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: Welcome back. I'm Rick Sanchez.
Courting the conservative base. There is plenty of that going on at a major Republican conference in Washington.
Top GOP presidential candidates are all there - all except for one, that is, Senator John McCain. He opted out. How did his no-show affect the results of a highly anticipated straw poll? CNN's senior political analyst Bill Schneider is live at the conference. He's been following it for us.
Well, Bill, how did it affect the straw poll?
WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, it appears to have affected John McCain negatively. He came in fifth.
The man of the hour, Mitt Romney. Now, there was a view that he might be in trouble with conservatives, because of his shifting views on abortion and gay rights.
But he came in first place with 21 percent of the vote among the more than 1,700 participants in this, not Republican, but Conservative Political Action Conference.
Second place - also a bit of a surprise - Rudy Giuliani, who takes moderate positions on abortion issues and gay rights and gun control. He was second with 17 percent.
Third, a true-blue conservative - or, you might say a red, given the color of the states - Sam Brownback, the senator from Kansas, 15 percent of the vote. Newt Gingrich, an undeclared candidate - he said he'll decide whether to run this fall - 14 percent.
And in fifth place, that was where John McCain ended up, because a lot of the participants felt that he wasn't respectful, having turned down an invitation to address this conference.
SANCHEZ: You know what I'm confused about? Who are these people here who are voting? And why are they so diametrically opposed to what's going on in the rest of the country, where Giuliani seems to be sweeping the floor with Romney?
W. SCHNEIDER: Yes, well, these are conservative activists. These are grassroots conservatives. A lot of them were very young. They were from 49 states. They were from all over the country.
And, of course, they were self-selected. And Mitt Romney did a pretty good job of bringing a lot of young people here to this convention. There were a lot of young activists, college students, and the like.
But these are the foot soldiers of the conservative movement. They overwhelmingly vote Republican. But a lot of them will tell you, no, I'm not really first a Republican. I'm first a conservative.
SANCHEZ: Ah.
W. SCHNEIDER: And some of them feel betrayed by the Republican Party.
SANCHEZ: Betrayed maybe by Giuliani, as well, because of his social
W. SCHNEIDER: Not (UNINTELLIGIBLE) ...
(CROSSTALK)
SANCHEZ: ... positions, do you think?
W. SCHNEIDER: No. The most ...
SANCHEZ: No, I'm just trying to put this together.
W. SCHNEIDER: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
SANCHEZ: Why did Giuliani not do well with these folks?
W. SCHNEIDER: Well, he came in second.
SANCHEZ: Yes.
W. SCHNEIDER: And if you asked - when they were polled, they were asked their second choice, as well. And if you combine first and second choice, Giuliani actually came in first, with 34 percent support.
Giuliani is a strong candidate here - not as strong as Mitt Romney, but he did very well here. He got a warm reception.
And it's interesting that he did as well as he did in this group, which disagrees with him on the social issues. He spoke very strongly about his record cleaning up New York City, using conservative principles to turn the city around.
And most of all, the security issue, 9/11. That's what defines Giuliani, and that's what moved a lot of people in this crowd.
SANCHEZ: What is a straw poll? I mean, how is this different? I mean, a lot of people are watching us, Bill. And they're thinking, well, I know what the Iowa Caucus is, and I know what happens in New Hampshire.
How is this different?
W. SCHNEIDER: This is not terribly meaningful
(LAUGHTER)
... because it's self-selected. People choose to participate in this straw poll. They volunteer.
History is littered with people who win straw polls and go nowhere.
I remember the late Senator Alan Cranston of California won straw polls, but didn't get anywhere in the presidential contest. It gives you publicity and bragging rights.
SANCHEZ: Yes, but he had a heck of a sense of humor, didn't he.
W. SCHNEIDER: Oh, he did. Yes, he did.
SANCHEZ: Bill Schneider, great stuff. Good report. We thank you so much for bringing us up-to-date on that.
W. SCHNEIDER: Sure.
SANCHEZ: Conservative commentator, Ann Coulter, has done it again.
Known for no-holds-barred political incorrectness, she stirred up another hornets' nest, another controversy.
Here she is yesterday in Washington. She was addressing a convention of conservative activists.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANN COULTER, CONSERVATIVE COMMENTATOR: I was going to have a few comments on the other Democratic presidential candidate, John Edwards. But it turns out that you have to go into rehab if you use the word "faggot."
So ...
(LAUGHTER)
So, I'm kind of at an impasse. Can't really talk about Edwards. So I think I'll just conclude here and take your questions.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: Among those that are lining up to condemn Coulter's comments, Democratic chairman Howard Dean, Republican presidential candidates John McCain and Mitt Romney, who you just heard about a little while ago, both whom denounced these remarks through spokespersons.
CNN has sought to contact Coulter repeatedly. So far, we have done so unsuccessfully.
Now to another political hot potato. Did President Bush violate the Constitution by creating a special office to help religious charities cash in on federal funds? That's what some have argued.
The Supreme Court recently heard the arguments. Our Gary Nurenberg is looking at this fight.
(BEGIN VIDEO)
GARY NURENBERG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Heritage Baptist Church in Annapolis, Maryland, doesn't apply for federal grants for its charitable programs.
REV. HENRY GREEN, HERITAGE BAPTIST CHURCH: The federal government should stay out of the church. Period. End of story. NURENBERG: Catholic Charities, which runs a shelter for homeless veterans in Chicago, does apply for federal money to help pay for its programs.
MICHAEL BOLAND, ARCHDIOCESE OF CHICAGO: We help them and we care for them. We do not ask their religious tradition. It does not matter to us.
NURENBERG: President Bush created a White House Office of Faith- Based and Community Initiatives within two weeks of taking office.
BUSH: I want to ensure that faith-based and community groups will always have a place at the table.
NURENBERG: The office holds conferences to help faith-based charities get federal funds. But critics argue it does more than that.
ANNIE LAURIE-GAYLOR, FREEDOM FROM RELIGION FOUNDATION: They show preference for facilitating the funding of faith-based groups over secular groups.
NURENBERG: With that belief as a basis, a coalition of agnostics and atheists sued, as taxpayers, arguing the office violates the First Amendment doctrine dictating separation of church and state.
DAN BARKER, FREEDOM FROM RELIGION FOUNDATION: The government itself is actually, impermissibly, advancing religion and promoting religion with our tax dollars.
NURENBERG: The administration says it just wants faith-based groups to be on equal footing with other charities applying for federal aid. And the charities argue they aren't using federal money to preach.
BOLAND: We're not, A, selling things, or we're not - what we're trying to do is really take care of people who are the most in need.
NURENBERG: Administration critics see political motives.
GREEN: It's a payoff to the religious right, and particularly to the ultra-conservative members of the religious right, who are - who have supported their administration.
NURENBERG: The narrow legal question for the Court - do taxpayers have the right to sue - has political overtones, as well.
ED LAZARUS, CONSTITUTIONAL SCHOLAR: This question of who gets to sue is a significant piece of the conservative legal agenda. They want to narrow the circumstances in which citizens can get into court.
NURENBERG: The Court should have a decision within months.
Gary Nurenberg, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEO) SANCHEZ: Something else we're following for you on this day.
Take a look at this live picture. You see that right there? Well, the reason you can hardly see anything is because it's a - we told you before about a partial lunar eclipse. Now it's starting to look like a total lunar eclipse. I mean, most of it is covered up.
It's really just getting started.
Of all the places in the world where we're getting this from, where do you think this picture is coming in from? Baghdad, would you believe?
Also, run, run, run out of your house and take a quick look during the break, if you can. The NEWSROOM is going to be back in a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: Live from Baghdad, it's - the moon.
That's right. This is a live picture of - I don't know. Should we call this a partial eclipse? A total? I'm not an expert on eclipses.
Bonnie Schneider, are you there?
BONNIE SCHNEIDER, CNN METEROLOGIST: Yes, I am.
SANCHEZ: Is this cool, or what?
B. SCHNEIDER: It is. Look very closely at that picture on the bottom of the screen and the bottom of the moon. Do you see that orange glow?
SANCHEZ: Yes.
B. SCHNEIDER: That's the lunar eclipse that we're talking about. That's the signature of it. And it's actually going to get even more prominent as we go through the next hour.
SANCHEZ: Well, what about that - what about that little crown on top there? Is that the part that hasn't yet been covered?
B. SCHNEIDER: That's right. That's right. It's actually going to transpire over the next hour or so. We'll see more of that orange color.
SANCHEZ: Wow. How neat is that?
B. SCHNEIDER: It's really cool. We have a really interesting explainer to kind of break it down for folks so they can understand exactly how a lunar eclipse happens, and some neat facts about it.
Take a look at this. Starting around 5:30, which has already occurred, we're getting ready to the peak time of this lunar eclipse, around 6:20 in the evening.
Now, it occurs when the moon is in the earth's shadow. Really, the sun, moon and the earth are in a total straight line. It doesn't happen very often. When it does, that's when we see a lunar eclipse.
Now, what happens is, the sunlight is filtered through the earth's atmosphere, casting a reddish hue on the moon, meaning that the blue light, the blue light of the sunlight is kind of refracted, or taken or filtered from that sunlight.
So then what you have is the picture that we saw there, or you can take a look of this one. This is a really good picture of the last lunar eclipse that we saw. And you could see that reddish-gold color as the light is refracted through the earth's atmosphere.
Now, this picture was taken October 27, 2004. So if you're wondering, does it correspond to any interesting event, that's the day the Boston Red Sox reversed the curse and won the World Series. So, I don't know, Rick. Maybe there's something to it.
SANCHEZ: There's a whole lot of superstitions regarding this thing.
B. SCHNEIDER: There sure are.
SANCHEZ: I remember when I was a little kid, and my mom was pregnant with my little brother, she wouldn't go outside while she was pregnant, because she actually believed, and a lot of people told her, her friends told her that you couldn't that. You'd be cursed.
There's a lot of people that believe this stuff.
B. SCHNEIDER: There are. And, you know, the next one, in case you missed this tonight, because it's really only viewable on the eastern half of the United States. Around the world you can see it, but in the U.S., only just towards the east horizon.
You will have another eclipse on August 28th of this year. So, not too far off.
SANCHEZ: By the way, even if you don't believe in this stuff, why take chances, right?
B. SCHNEIDER: That's right. Why risk it.
SANCHEZ: Thanks a lot, Bonnie Schneider.
B. SCHNEIDER: Sure.
SANCHEZ: Still up, more coming your way on CNN. Up next, LOU DOBBS THIS WEEK. New charges of lies and cover-ups in the case of those two Border Patrol agents sent to prison for doing their jobs.
That's next on LOU DOBBS THIS WEEK, a check of the day's headlines. That's about three minutes away.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: I'm Rick Sanchez, live at CNN headquarters in Atlanta. LOU DOBBS THIS WEEK is coming up next.
But first, let's try and bring you up-to-date now on what's been happening in the news.
First of all, President Bush toured the tornado-ravaged Deep South earlier today, stopping in Enterprise, Alabama, and Americus, Georgia. Twenty people were killed in Thursday's deadly storms.
Friends and families of Boston University's baseball team are now in Atlanta, where the team's bus crashed yesterday morning. Four players, the bus driver and his wife were killed, 29 more were hurt, and some still critical.
Investigators say it may take some weeks to determine what caused this crash.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANN COULTER, CONSERVATIVE COMMENTATOR: I was going to have a few comments on the other Democratic presidential candidate, John Edwards. But it turns out that you have to go into rehab if you use the word "faggot."
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: You heard right. That's conservative author, Ann Coulter, calling, seemingly, the Democratic presidential hopeful, John Edwards, the "F" word.
National Democratic Party chairman, Howard Dean, is calling on Republicans to denounce Coulter's commentary.
CNN has reached out to Coulter's representative and has gotten so far no response.
I'm Rick Sanchez. When news breaks, I'll break in for you.
Right now, LOU DOBBS THIS WEEK starts right here.
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