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Rutgers Women's Basketball Team Accepts Imus Apology; FEMA's Spoiled Food

Aired April 13, 2007 - 14:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Hello. I'm Don Lemon, live at the CNN world headquarters in Atlanta.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Betty Nguyen.

Many say Don Imus's comments were just the tip of the iceberg and that a change has got to come in the way we all talk about each other. Well, a group of black ministers laying out their plan.

LEMON: Can you ever delete e-mails? Well, the White House said it did, but Democrats say it is a dodge worthy of Richard Nixon.

And you can forget those expensive creams, you can skip the plastic surgery, because some people think the fountain of youth can be actually injected. Chasing life or chasing trouble?

You're in the CNN NEWSROOM.

Well, so how did that meeting between Don Imus and the basketball team go last night? We're waiting to hear more about that very meeting from the Reverend DeForest Soaries. He mediated that meeting between both Imus and the team, and he's going to be speaking publicly in a news conference at actually any moment now. And so when that happens we'll bring it to you live. He's also meeting with black ministers today to launch a nationwide effort which is going to address sexist and racist hate language that demeans women and, in particular, black women.

Again, as soon as that happens, we will bring it to you live.

(WEATHER REPORT)

NGUYEN: Don Imus is out of a job, but his apology is accepted. The head coach of the Rutgers University women's basketball team said today her players are trying to forgive Don Imus. And just hours after he was fired by CBS, Imus did meet with the team at the New Jersey governor's mansion. He offered his apologies, and the coach says they were accepted.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

C. VIVIAN STRINGER, RUTGERS UNIVERSITY WOMEN'S BASKETBALL COACH: "We, the Rutgers University Scarlet Knight Basketball Team accept Mr. Imus's apology, and we are in the process of forgiving. We still find his statements to be unacceptable, and this is an experience that we will never forget."

"These comments are indicative of greater ills in our culture. It is not just Mr. Imus, and we hope that this will be and serve as a catalyst for change."

Let us continue to work hard together to make this world a better place. As adults, we must lead. As parents we must guide. We must put children and morality above all else. And we must allow children to be children. The healing process must begin."

"As for the members of the Rutgers University women's basketball team, their focus needs to be turned to their studies. We ask that you respect that. We would also like to thank everyone for the tremendous outpouring of support throughout this very, very difficult time."

QUESTION: Coach, you talk about wanting to move on, but you're (INAUDIBLE) something that's very distressing, which is hate mail. Can you say, did you receive hate mail? What did it entail?

STRINGER: We're not going to address that. I think if we're talking about the healing process, then that's what we want to do.

We have accepted Mr. Imus's apology. What he did and what he said, which we all know, was just symptomatic of the greater ills of society.

I think that America has spoken. I think that we as adults do need to lead. Let the children be children, let the corporate leaders be responsible, and let the religious leaders, you know, go forward.

This is not just Mr. Imus. Like, as we said, it's not just Rutgers women's basketball.

It spoke to women, you know, it spoke to sexism, and it spoke to racism in our society. And to think that this all happened on the same day as the death of Dr. Martin Luther King, on the same day, at age 39, 39 years later, and in the 21st century. Don't we realize that it is time for we as Americans to all hold ourselves to a higher standard?

I sense that the music industry, the film industry -- you know, as adults, educators, everyone is sharing in this responsibility. And it's good to see us, you know, have this -- the type of dialogue that we've had.

So, you know, the hate mail needs to stop. And for anyone who receives or takes part in that, they need to stop.

So we don't accept the utterances of anything like that from anyone's mouth. And I'm hoping that at the federal level we decide to, you know, employ much higher standards for our children.

QUESTION: Were you shocked that he lost his CBS job as well? How do you feel about that?

STRINGER: We didn't -- if you noticed, there was -- there was no time -- at no time did Rutgers University women's basketball team ask

for, you know, his job. And it would sadden me for anyone to lose their job. And I do mean anyone to lose their job.

You k now, good things have got to come from this. So don't make a mistake and think that this is the Rutgers women's basketball team that has called for his job.

We were happy and excited, as was he, because we had a long dialogue with parents, coaches, players, our minister, our administrators, and we got a lot -- a lot of good things. And so the opportunity to discuss, I suggest that everybody do that.

We weren't calling for his job. And he came in spite of the fact that he lost his job. So let's give him credit for that.

QUESTION: How would you characterize the way he handled himself last night, his apology, his demeanor?

STRINGER: I thought that he was -- he was expressive of himself. I thought that he shared with us the context in which, you know, it happened.

It nonetheless, you know, absolves him from what was said. And we know that. You know?

But why did it happen? You know, we can ask these questions, you know, from now until eternity. That it happened, as I said, speaks to the greater issue.

He was remorseful. He expressed his apology. We've accepted his apology.

This team and I would like to heal. We are in the process of forgiving.

We have accepted his apology. We really are. And I think that's what everybody needs to do.

These young ladies don't need to receive anything more. They're innocent. You know?

Let's give credit to everyone, including MSNBC, CBS, everybody. Give credit to all these people. For once people are standing up. And for once, I just want to say to all of you guys, like I said, those of you who are handling the camera and those of you who are doing anything else, those of you who have children, you are for once taking another level of moral standard.

So just be and do the right thing. Don't try to sell a 35-cent newspaper. Don't try to make big headlines at the expense and off the backs of these young women or at the expense or off the back of Mr. Imus.

Let this man have some level of integrity. Let him grow. Let us all learn from this.

We don't -- you know, we seem to like, as spectators sports, putting people down, stomping on their throat, and making sure they are dead. And if they're not, we're going to follow it up with, how well were they dressed in the coffin?

We have got to stop.

QUESTION: So would you mind if he somehow showed back up on radio, satellite radio?

STRINGER: That is for the corporate people to decide. I'm not going to make a judgment about this man's -- this man's direction.

All I know is that we are looking forward -- I personally am looking forward to joining forces with other people who want to bring about change for the right reasons without respect to affiliation, political side, the religious side, you know, black, white, skinny, tall, whatever, big money, little money. It's just about people. That's where we're coming from.

And as I said to my team, as well as to our administrators, I've always been a person who has spoken of social change. I really want to make sure that we move in this direction now.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

STRINGER: Thank you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: Well, Don Imus is already off the air, and this morning his wife Deirdre talked about the meeting with the Rutgers players.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

DEIRDRE IMUS, DON IMUS'S WIFE: They gave us the opportunity to listen to what they had to say, and what -- why they're hurting, and how awful this is. And I have to say that these women are unbelievably courageous and beautiful women. And one thing I want to say is that the hate mail that's being sent to them must stop.

It's -- this is -- this is wrong. If you want to send hate mail, send it to my husband.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

NGUYEN: Well, CBS fired Don Imus yesterday afternoon, one day after MSNBC canceled its cable simulcast of the Imus radio show.

And we're going to be hearing much more about this. Take a look at this live picture right now in Somerset, New Jersey. We are waiting to hear from the Reverend DeForest Soaries, Jr., who mediated that meeting between Imus and the Rutgers women's basketball team. Right now he's speaking with black ministers, in fact, in a summit that's going to launch a nationwide effort addressing sexist and racist hate language.

And as soon as that wraps up, he's going to step in front of those microphones and talk to us about the developments so far today. And we'll get some more information in to that meeting last night.

So, as soon as that happens, we'll bring it straight to you.

(NEWSBREAK)

NGUYEN: There is new criticism today for FEMA. A huge amount of food stockpiled for possible emergency use went bad because it sat in trucks too long.

CNN's Jeanne Meserve is standing by with this story.

And many people, like I said, are going to be just shocked to see how much just sat there at rotted.

JEANNE MESERVE, CNN HOMELAND SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Well, FEMA is quick to say it's going to be making some changes this year after $40 million worth of food for disaster victims was ruined or given away. You'll remember two years ago, after hurricanes Katrina and Rita, FEMA didn't have the supplies or the logistics capability to get food and water to victims quickly, so last year it bought a lot, enough to feed one million people for a week. The FEMA director bragged about it then.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAVID PAULISON, FEMA DIRECTOR: We are light years ahead of where we were last year. We're light years ahead as far as the type of commodities we stockpiled. And you have some of those numbers. We tripled and quadrupled the supplies.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MESERVE: But there were no major hurricanes. The food was unused. FEMA didn't have enough warehouse space, so it kept meals ready to eat in trucks which sat in the sun. The high heat ruined the meals to the tune, FEMA now says, of $4 million, according to FEMA. Another $36 million of so-called shelf-ready meals were about to expire, so those were given to charity to feed the hungry.

A FEMA official says if a major storm had hit the Gulf, as was predicted, the agency would have been hailed as a hero. That didn't happen, and now the official says the agency is being blasted for being too prepared -- Betty.

NGUYEN: All right. So in light of all of this, what will FEMA do differently this time around, this year?

MESERVE: FEMA says, first of all, it's going to have fewer trucks loaded with MREs, and it is going to be asking those vendors who sell it food and water to store some of those materials in their own warehouses until FEMA needs it. Also, officials say they're going to continue to work to upgrade FEMA's logistics capabilities, which they've been trying to improve since the Katrina debacle two years ago -- Betty.

NGUYEN: All right. CNN's Jeanne Meserve.

Thank you, Jeanne.

MESERVE: You bet.

LEMON: One man's wisecrack opens a much bigger can of worms. Ahead in the CNN NEWSROOM, the post-Imus pop culture debate. Where does it go next?

NGUYEN: Another shot at youth? Well, that's how some people are chasing life. Dr. Sanjay Gupta weighs in on a controversial practice. That's ahead in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Seventeen past the hour, two developing stories happening here in the CNN NEWSROOM.

One, there's Larry Birkhead arriving at court just moments ago in Nassau, in the Bahamas, for a custody hearing for 7-month-old Dannielynn. Of course the daughter of Anna Nicole Smith. DNA test results proved on Tuesday that he was actually the father.

Also, Virgie Arthur arriving there moments ago as well.

We told you about a press conference happening in Somerset, New Jersey, with the Reverend DeForest Soaries, Jr. It's happening right now and we're going to listen in.

(JOINED IN PROGRESS)

REV. DEFOREST B. SOARIES, JR., FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF LINCOLN GARDENS: All of us have been frustrated for years that the culture has produced language that has denigrated women, and there are certain segments of the culture that seems to do it more than others.

Our question as we've gone through this week and now we've had a minute to lift our heads is, what shall we do about that? In other words, what do we do beyond Imus? And we called together some very key leaders who were able to make it on short notice to think in terms of outcomes.

Imus no longer has a job at NBC and CBS, but no leader in the African-American community and no leader in the American community should consider this a real victory. This was a response to a specific act. And if we're going to have victory, then we have to address the culture that produces the language that Imus used.

And so, we've gathered to announce to you that because of the events of this week, we now begin today working on a response to the largest problem.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's right.

SOARIES: Our commitment, therefore, is to have within 30 days a community-based town hall meeting, where we will gather elected officials, we will invite media moguls, we will invite entertainers and educators and young people to begin an expanded dialogue and construct responses to and solutions for this kind of violence.

We are tricking ourselves and deluding ourselves if we think that we've won something. What we did was attempt to exact justice for 10 specific young women who are the victims of verbal brutality.

Now we move forward, and within 30 days, this group of leaders have committed itself to expanding throughout this state and partnering in other states an initiative that will commence with a town hall meeting, and we intend to have that meeting on the campus of Rutgers University. Co-chairing this initial meeting are four leaders from our state from the church community, because we believe that the church should lead the way, and I'll let them speak for themselves and introduce themselves so that you will understand the depth and breadth of the people we represent and the scope of our mission.

First, I'd like to introduce the president of the Newark and vicinity Baptist Ministers Conference, Reverend Grady James (ph).

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you, Dr. Soaries.

We have affirmed today that we will work in a unified fashion to change the mindset of the way we speak and express our feelings, one towards another. Not only do we object to what we have gone through over the last week, but we see that affirmative steps must be taken, engaging the various segments of the community to understand that what the young people speak, the way they think, is a consequence of experiences and comments that they have seen adults turn a blind eye to.

We've said it's unacceptable, but we have not acted in a way that affirms our objection to it. Therefore, by bringing these various groups together, including young people, we want to change the cycle and linguistics of putting people down, of sexism, of racism, and of classism that is more embracing of lifting society. It's going to be a great work, it will be a noble work, it will take time.

LEMON: That's the Reverend Grady James (ph), a pastor in Newark there. Also talking with -- speaking earlier, DeForest Soaries, Jr., who is a minister for the coach of the Rutgers women's basketball team, as well as a minister for certain members of the team, saying that they're going to put together -- number one, commencing with a town hall meeting for 30 days with elected officials, media moguls, members of the community, and young people to try to get some sort of handle on the language which goes out into the community, specifically probably talking about rap music and media in general.

So, again, they're holding that press conference there. You see members again -- church members talking there. They said those are going to be the base of this so-called effort here.

So we're going to continue to monitor this for you. And if there's any news that comes out this press conference that's being

held there in New Jersey, we'll bring it to you right here in the CNN NEWSROOM -- Betty.

NGUYEN: In the meantime, Don, staying healthy as we age, everyone wants to do that, right? Well, our chief medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, continues his series on how decisions we make every day may add or subtract years from our lives.

It's also the focus of his new book, "Chasing Life". One of those decisions loaded with controversy is the expanding use of human growth hormone. Although its safety is still uncertain, many aging boomers seem to think it is the fountain of youth.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Like many approaching retirement age, Ed and Beth Lothamer were starting to feel less energetic than they once did, until Beth decided to try a controversial and increasingly popular treatment -- human growth hormone.

ED LOTHAMER, USES HUMAN GROWTH HORMONE: She kept telling me how good she was feeling, and, you know, I was getting a little sluggish, but she said, you know, "Why don't you at least come and take a shot at this?"

BETH LOTHAMER, USES HUMAN GROWTH HORMONE: You just stick it there.

GUPTA: So now they each take a shot, every day. Ed Lothamer says he felt the effects within a month.

E. LOTHAMER: When I woke up I wasn't fatigued. I noticed in the gym I was much stronger. I had more endurance, my memory was sharper.

GUPTA: Click on the Internet, you'll find countless pitches for human growth hormone.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANNOUNCER: Yes, by dramatically supporting healthy endocrine function, research suggests that we can increase energy and stamina.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GUPTA: Not everyone shares the enthusiasm. Dr. Thomas Perls is an outspoken critic.

DR. THOMAS PERLS, CENTENARIAN PROJECT, BOSTON UNIV.: No one sends me any scientific articles indicating that growth hormone works for combating aging simply because they don't exist.

GUPTA: But that depends who you ask. Multiple studies have found that growth hormone reduces fat while building up bones and muscle, but those studies also found a lot of side-effects, like joint pain and swelling. And to Perls, that's not even the worst of it.

PERLS: It shortens life span and it probably increases people's risk for cancer.

GUPTA: Perls says the risk is just too big to take. But to others, the gamble is worth it.

E. LOTHAMER: I'm sure it's not for everybody in the world. For us, we think it works, and so we do it.

GUPTA: To be clear, the Lothamers are taking human growth hormone with a doctor's prescription. He diagnosed them with a deficiency. Human growth hormone for anti-aging treatment is illegal.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN, reporting.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: Well, you can catch all of Dr. Gupta's hour-long CNN special, "Chasing Life," this Saturday and Sunday at 8:00 p.m. Eastern, right here on CNN. You can also find more information on our Web site. That is cnn.com/chasinglife -- Don.

LEMON: All right, Betty.

We're going to -- we're following breaking news here, developing news. The governor of New Jersey, Jon Corzine, of course, suffered some injuries in an accident last night as he was on his way to mediate that meeting between with the Rutgers University women's basketball team and Don Imus.

He suffered multiple fractures, including his leg, ribs, sternum and lower vertebrae. Well, the acting governor, Richard Codey, will be holding a press conference shortly. And you see that there. We're awaiting that.

As soon as it happens, we'll bring it to you live right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: This just in to CNN. We want to take you straight now to Barbara Starr, our Pentagon correspondent, with the latest news on her front.

Barbara, tell us what you have.

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, Betty, there is now a message going out to all of the troops in Iraq and all of their families about this new news that emerged on Wednesday that tours of duty will now be extended to 15 months.

General David Petraeus, the top U.S. military commander in Iraq, has just sent a letter to all the troops, all their families, saying that he's very sorry, he knows it's tough on the troops, but that they have got to extend the tours of duty to make the surge continue to work. In fact, in the letter, General Petraeus starts out by saying, "This was tough news I know for those on the home front and also tough, of course, for those on the ground here in Iraq."

And, you know, the military commanders know they are facing a tough issue here with the troops already serving 12-month tours of duty in Iraq on the frontline, now extended an additional three months. But what they are telling the troops is they had no choice, they had to make this discussion, because in order to keep the surge going of troops, they simply needed to extend how long the troops were spending on the ground. It became a matter of arithmetic, they had to keep the troops there longer to make it continue to all work.

Betty?

NGUYEN: Barbara, I'm looking at a copy of the letter, and it says thank you for your sacrifice and thank you for your tireless support of your soldier, you are truly America's unsung hero. Has a letter like this ever gone out before?

STARR: Well, not that I can remember in the war in Iraq because you know, until now, until Wednesday, when this decision was announced, there was a policy, if you will, if not a hard decision that they would really try and keep the tours of duty to 12 months and 12 months at least, if not 24 months back at home with your families.

And they were having to really break that promise almost every month to so many of the troops and so many of their families, so they decided that this would be a more fair way to do it, extend everybody, give them some certainty about what they were facing.

It's an interesting thing Betty, for the troops on the frontline, for the combat troops, what the military tells us is you often find those young people have the highest morale, the highest retention rates. They sign up again and again when their tours of enlistment are up, to stay in the military.

The question may now be, however, what will the impact be on morale for new recruits? What will this mean in the future for the military, trying to go out and get young people to join up when they know they are facing such a long tour ahead of them? That's really an unknowable at this point, but General Petraeus' letter is an effort to really try and smooth the waters -- Betty.

NGUYEN: All right, CNN's Barbara Starr, thank you, Barbara.

LEMON: Several developing stories today in the CNN NEWSROOM. New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine injured in an accident last night on the Garden State Parkway. You're looking live at the State House in Trenton, New Jersey, a press conference is expected there shortly to update his condition. Holding that press conference will be the acting New Jersey governor Richard Codey.

We'll bring it to you live right here in the CNN NEWSROOM. We're back in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: All right. Live now to Trenton, New Jersey, you're looking live at a press conference -- or at a podium that where

they're about to hold a press conference. The acting governor of New Jersey Richard Codey is going to hold that press conference to update us on the condition of New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine.

Last night on his way to mediate a meeting between the Rutgers University Women's Basketball Team and radio shock jock Don Imus, he was involved in an accident on the Garden State Parkway. His injuries, Betty, multiple fractures, including his leg, ribs, sternum, and also lower vertebra. Apparently, he was in the front seat. They don't believe, according to his spokesperson, that he was wearing a seatbelt.

NGUYEN: Well, it doesn't appear that Corzine was wearing a seatbelt at the time. The governor, as you mentioned, was a front- seat passenger in an SUV driven by a New Jersey state trooper. And because of that accident, we're looking at some video of it. It was just a horrendous looking accident scene. He did have numerous injuries -- in fact, he is recovering from surgery to his leg in particular, and right now we understand he's in critical but stable condition.

LEMON: Yes, it's just outside the governor's office and this press conference is starting now. Let's listen in.

TOM SHEA, CORZINE'S CHIEF OF STAFF: Thank you all for being here. For those of you who do not know, I'm Tom Shea, I'm the governor's chief of staff. But thank you all for being here today.

On behalf of Governor Corzine and this administration, I would like to thank the people of New Jersey for the overwhelming show of support in light of the governor's situation. Many of you were down at Cooper Hospital with us earlier today. I'm happy to report that the governor's vital signs continue to improve, his children are visiting with him as we speak.

But naturally as most of you know by now, Governor Codey was designated acting governor yesterday when Governor Corzine went under anesthesia for his surgery. He continues to serve as acting governor because of Governor Corzine's inability at the moment to discharge the duties of his office under the New Jersey State Constitution.

And so we wanted to make ourselves available to you today, one, to answer questions, two, to thank the people of New Jersey for their outpouring of support for Governor Corzine, and three, to make it very clear to the people of New Jersey that the business of the state of New Jersey will continue. The people in this room and the people of this state know very well from experience and from history that we are in good hands with acting Governor Dick Codey.

And so I would like to turn the microphone over to him now, and we will both be available to answer your questions later. Thank you.

ACTING GOV. RICHARD CODEY, NEW JERSEY: Thank you, Tom, and good afternoon to everyone. First let me begin by saying this is a very somber day for the state of New Jersey. As you can well imagine, Governor Corzine is in a lot of pain at the moment. And our thoughts and our prayers are certainly with him right now.

And I want to take a moment to appeal directly to the people of this state. I want to ask every house of worship to offer up a prayer for Governor Corzine and his family this weekend. You know, Jon is a fighter, no question about it, and sometimes people forget that he's a former marine, so if anyone can come out on top of this, it's Jon Corzine. But we certainly want to send him our well wishes, nonetheless.

As for the state of New Jersey, I want to assure everyone that business will continue as usual. I'll be working closely with Governor Corzine's senior staff and cabinet members, and there will be no change in the way services are delivered in our state.

As most of you know, we're bracing for an impending nor'easter this weekend, and I can assure you that our state police and emergency management team are making all the necessary preparations to deal with any troubles that the storm may bring. New Jersey is no stranger to nor'easters, and we're fully prepared to handle the oncoming storm.

As an aside, I want you all to know that I spoke to Trooper Brezinski (ph) not too long ago. He's feeling well and expects to be released from the hospital very shortly. I also spoke to Sam Gordon (ph), as you all know her and like her, and she told me other than being sore and obviously being somewhat traumatized by the accident, she's doing very well.

I also want you all to know that as soon as possible, as soon as the family says it's OK, I myself and my wife would like to visit with the governor at the hospital. I can say -- I want to say one other thing. With our governor being on a ventilator, I can relate to him very well when my own wife was in a coma, and on a ventilator. And I know well how hard it is to sit there and stand there next to the bed, as I'm sure Tom has, and see a loved one in that condition.

So our best wishes certainly to the family, and with that, Tom and myself will answer any of your questions -- Tom.

SHEA: Thank you, sir.

Reporter: (INAUDIBLE)

SHEA: Well, there is a normal process that occurs, it happens when the governor is going to leave the state for an extended period of time. And so there is usually a letter which comes from me, the governor's chief of staff to acting Governor Codey.

If he were out of the state, it would go to the next in line of succession, the speaker, notifying them of the duration of the governor's absence and informing him that the constitutional powers -- the transfer of the executive power are being invoked. And so that was done in this instance, it will continue to be the case until such time as the governor is able to fulfill the duties of his office. I expect that will be several days certainly, possibly a week.

CODEY: And this time he did call me, which is unusual, but this is an unusual circumstance. He did it by phone first and said, Dick, the fax is coming.

SHEA: It was probably about 7:00 p.m. last night.

Reporter: (INAUDIBLE) would you fill me in on the protocol (INAUDIBLE) in terms of escorting the governor?

CODEY: OK, OK. One at a time. I'm sure there is an incredibly active search for this person who was driving this red pickup truck, without question. The circumstances was, from what I understand, he all of a sudden left the shoulder, veered on to the roadway, the car to the right of the governor's veered to avoid him and the governor's car veered to avoid the white truck, white Dodge, whatever it was, to avoid them.

So I'm sure every red pickup truck is being looked at by neighbors and everybody else. So I'm sure they'll find it. As to protocol, sir, myself, OK, I would sit in the front seat unless there was staff with me or my wife or whatever, then I would sit in the back, depending upon whether my wife would agree to sit in the front. That's the way it works. I mean, as far as a seatbelt, I always wore a seatbelt when I was in the trooper's car.

Reporter: (INAUDIBLE)

CODEY: Not that I'm aware of. But, knowing the state police for 14 months, unless there was a real emergency that I had to get to real quick, the speed was what it should be.

Reporter: Can you talk a little bit about the conversations you've had with the Republican leadership in terms of real cooperation in the government and also letting people know about this level of cooperation so there's not (INAUDIBLE).

CODEY: Leonard (ph) asked to see me just a few minutes ago, said, Dick whatever you need, and if he wants to make a comment, we're more than happy to entertain that. Leonard?

LEONARD: The state is united in the hope that Governor Corzine will have a full and speedy recovery --

LEMON: OK, you're listening to a press conference happening in Trenton, New Jersey just outside the governor's office. We heard from the governor's chief of staff, Jon Corzine's Chief of Staff Tom Shea, we also heard from the acting governor, Governor Richard Codey.

They talked about a routine transfer of power that happened last night at about 7:00 so that the acting governor, Richard Codey, would have power in the state of New Jersey. Assuring everyone there business is usual for the state of New Jersey would go on, also promising people that they would find the driver of this red pickup truck that veered into a lane and then caused another car to veer over, and then the governor's vehicle tried to avoid that car and thus you had the accident.

He also mentioned the governor is on a ventilator and said that he was -- his vital signs were improving, his family was visiting him, and the others in the car are doing well as well.

So that's the latest happening from New Jersey. Jon Corzine in an accident, in the hospital now, vital signs improving. We'll update you on the story as it warrants it throughout our broadcast -- Betty?

NGUYEN: Here's another update for you -- those missing e-mails? Well, the White House says it screwed up. Karl Rove's attorney steps up to the mic, and the Justice Department releases some new documents. There is plenty going on today in this investigation into eight U.S. attorneys being sacked.

CNN White House Correspondent Suzanne Malveaux has just left a press conference and joins us now live with the latest. What do you know, Suzanne?

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Betty, you're absolutely right. There is a lot going on. First, the White House has acknowledged here that there may be some e-mails missing that members of Congress desperately want in their investigations, and that they're through separate accounts set up through the Republican National Committee, involving 22 people or so who have those accounts.

Well, today we have learned perhaps the White House has a much bigger problem here, and that is the possibility of missing e-mails within the internal White House system, those e-mail accounts within the White House. One group that's been looking at this, studying this has released a report. This is the Citizens for Responsibility in Ethics in Washington. They say that between March of 2003 and October 2005 there were hundreds of days in which e-mails were missing within this White House system, and they estimate that roughly over 5 million e-mail messages are now missing.

Now, I brought that to the attention of Dana Perino, the deputy press secretary, I pressed her on that, whether or not they know if they're now missing e-mails within the White House.

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DANA PERINO, WHITE HOUSE SPOKESWOMAN: I'm not taking an issue with their conclusions at this point. We're checking into them, and again, you know, there's 1,700 people in the executive office of the president. I don't know how -- we'll try to find out how many e-mails a day are sent with that many people.

I can assure you it's a high number, but I also will tell you that the technical folks that we've spoken to in the preliminary discussions was that if there had been an inadvertent human error or a technical problem where there were days where e-mails might have been misplaced, that either, one -- well, one, it wouldn't have been intentional, and two, there are ways that we can try to gather those if need be.

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MALVEAUX: So Betty, the White House is saying that they're going to be reaching out to independent I.T. computer experts to figure out whether or not they can retrieve what may be missing e-mails through

these RC (ph) accounts and now possibly in these White House accounts. So this is turend into something that potentially could be much bigger, much worse for this administration -- Betty.

NGUYEN: Suzanne, Don and I have been talking. We want to be very clear -- 5 million e-mails?

MALVEAUX: That is what this particular group is claiming, 5 million e-mails, the course of what they're saying hundreds of days, that is their claim. The White House, as you heard, is not taking issue with the numbers, but they're also saying we just don't know at this point, we're going to investigate, we're going to look into this.

If it is true, Betty, it could be a big problem for this White House. As you know, members of Congress want as much information as possible, and it really is an issue here, an immediate issue of credibility, fairly or unfairly, this is all feeding into that perception that this is a White House that has something to hide -- Betty.

NGUYEN: CNN's Suzanne Malveaux, we thank you.

LEMON: And we're also reading your e-mails about the Don Imus flap and the bigger issues that has everyone talking about, where's the line, and who gets to draw that line? You're live in the CNN NEWSROOM.

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LEMON: The Don Imus incident has ignited a debate that goes far beyond one remark by a radio shock jock. In fact, we warn you in advance that our next report features some graphic images from music videos some might find offensive. But the videos illustrate the point that some of the top-selling performers in America are also creating products critics say have no place in culture. Here's CNN's Anderson Cooper in a report that first aired on AC 360.

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ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR (voice over): In this explicit, X rated music video, women are objects for sex and show, put on display, put down and humiliated. The rapper is Nelly, one of the biggest stars in the multibillion dollar hip-hop industry. Many hip-hop artists are African-American, some use lyrics laced with sexist words, aimed at fellow African-Americans, words that Imus say didn't start with him.

DON IMUS, RADIO HOST: I know that that phrase didn't originate in the white community. That phrase originated in the black community. I'm not stupid, I may be a white man, but I know that these young women and young black women all through that society are demeaned and disparaged and disrespected by their own black men.

COOPER: His argument has supporters in the African-American community. They believe their own culture has fostered and fueled an anti-black/anti-woman lifestyle.

REV. AL SHARPTON, CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER: I remember my last conversation with James Brown, he said how do we go from black and proud, which was his song, to calling ourselves niggers, hos and bitches?

BYRON HURT, DIRECTOR: What you're seeing mostly though is repetitive images as of women as boy toy, sex kittens, as sex objects, and I think that's a problem.

COOPER: While many agree it's a problem, some think this form of reflection is of times. Richard Simmons is a successful record executive and entrepreneur.

RUSSEL SIMMONS, RECORD EXECUTIVE: We're a violent and over-sexed country. That's our sad truth, you know, rappers are sometimes reflections of our sad truth.

COOPER: As the influence of hip-hop spreads, so do the questions about its message and who it's hurting. Anderson Cooper, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: Well, plenty of you do have something to say about whether pop culture should really draw a line here. We do want to give you a sample of some of your responses to our e-mail question today.

LEMON: That's right, Betty, a lot of you expressed strong opinion. Bev writes:

My son, who listens to rap music wouldn't dream of calling white women the names he hears black men calling black women. All the work I've done in teaching my children right from wrong has been overridden by these rappers.

NGUYEN: Well, Jonathan had this to say:

The line should be drawn at whether what someone says is threatening. This is America and we are allowed to say what we feel. If I am a racist, I'm allowed to express that. You don't have to like what I have to say but in America, you do have to defend my right to say it.

LEMON: Well, Adam had this to say:

The way we let sexism be marketed to our youth is unacceptable. It's about time we opened a dialogue about this disgusting aspect of our culture. I hope the Imus story will give the women of our country an opportunity to stand up and demand respect.

NGUYEN: And Patty wrote this:

Our first amendment rights were written to allow us all to speak freely our thoughts. It was not written to deliberately slander people. When you single out a person or a group of people and deliberately hurt and slander them, you have crossed the line.

LEMON: Very strong opinions there, as we say, e-mail us at CNNNEWSROOM@CNN.com. We'll share more of this later on in the CNN NEWSROOM.

NGUYEN: Well, he made it a priority to root out corruption, and now he's accused of his own. Ahead in the NEWSROOM, World Bank chief Paul Wolfowitz is in a world of trouble over a hiring decision.

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LEMON: Hello, I'm Don Lemon, live in at the CNN world headquarters in Atlanta.

NGUYEN: And I'm Betty Ngyuen. A shock jock's thoughtless ...

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