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John McCain to Formally Announce Presidential Bid; Deadly Tornado Rips Through Eagle Pass, Texas; War Funding Fight
Aired April 25, 2007 - 09:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, everyone. You are in the CNN NEWSROOM.
I'm Tony Harris.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Fredricka Whitfield, in for Heidi Collins this morning.
Watch the events come in to the NEWSROOM live on this Wednesday, April 25th.
Here's what's on the rundown.
A Texas town mourning its dead. A suspected tornado rips the border community. More dangerous storms could strike today in the South and the Midwest.
HARRIS: He's battling for time. Iraq war commander General David Petraeus asking Congress to be patient on the troop buildup. We will talk live with Senator Joe Lieberman in a moment.
WHITFIELD: He's a suspect who didn't have time for justice, bailing out of jail. What was he thinking, as if he weren't to get caught?
All right. That's straight ahead in the NEWSROOM.
HARRIS: At the top this morning, people in southwest Texas waking up and getting a good look at what used to be -- after a deadly storm -- what used to be an elementary school, what used to be more than 20 homes, now piles of mangled wires, metal and debris. The storm. possibly a tornado, killed at least stix six people in and around the town of Eagle Pass. Four people, including a small child, died in a single home.
And there was also devastation across the border in Mexico. It is reported three people were killed there, more than 120 others hurt.
Want to check in now with Chad Myers and get the latest on this storm and where it is headed today.
Chad, good morning.
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, Tony.
(WEATHER REPORT) HARRIS: Storm brewing. Most run for cover, but some actually run toward it.
WHITFIELD: Those are the folks that always amaze me.
HARRIS: Yes, and concern me, frankly. A closer look at tornado chasing coming up in the CNN NEWSROOM.
WHITFIELD: John McCain and the worst-kept secret in American politics. Today, after months of campaigning, he'll formally announce his presidential bid. That's scheduled less than three hours from now.
CNN Senior Political Correspondent Candy Crowley is in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, site of the noontime announcement.
And Candy, kind of confusing here, because I thought, and a lot of other folks already thought, that he had announced. But what's the message today?
CANDY CROWLEY, CNN SR. POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, the message today is that this is a man who has the experience to be president. Obviously, John McCain would be the oldest man to ever take over the Oval Office. Ronald Reagan previously held that record. And so, he is using that and sort of turning it on its head, saying, look, I'm the guy with the experience that can take care of some of the problems that are out there.
Obviously, McCain has been a prisoner of war more than five years in Vietnam. He's had 25 years of service in Congress. So, he is selling that expertise, Fred, as what the nation needs at this particular point.
And to your -- to your first point, this is, you know, sort of anticlimactic at this point. McCain said on "Letterman" that he was going to run. He's been out on the Straight Talk Express. But, you know, the campaign has been flagging.
He's running third in the money race. He usually runs second in the polls, sometimes third.
When Fred Thompson jumps in, and it changes the mix a little -- but mostly second. This is not where McCain needs to be. So, when you have got an opportunity to once again reintroduce yourself, once again get some headlines, you've got to take it, because it's all about momentum.
WHITFIELD: And does it seem right now in terms of momentum that John McCain is really trying to appeal to the conservatives? Because for a long time conservatives said, wait a minute, who is this McCain? He is not who we thought he was. But now, given that he is hard and fast in support of the Iraq war, the surge, is he once again appealing to the conservatives, if ever he lost that appeal?
CROWLEY: You know, he's still trying to appeal the conservatives. Basically, what the problem is the heart of the party -- and the conservatives are those who come out in this primary, so they're the most important constituency in the primaries. What their problem has been with John McCain, frankly, is campaign finance reform, because conservatives, no matter what their issue, feel that that reform muted their ability to move the debate.
So, first and foremost, that's their problem with him. And in general, their problem has been that he's been a maverick.
They're not really sure on what issues he's going to stray from the party line, so there's a little bit of hesitancy there among conservatives. But he is straight down the line in terms of social issues, probably more in line than anybody else who's currently in the race, except for perhaps Sam Brownback and Mike Huckabee. So his conservative social issues are there.
It's on the other issues that conservatives are a little worried. But I have to tell you, they're worried about others in the race, too. Nobody has clamped down and gotten all these conservatives yet. They're still out there searching.
WHITFIELD: All right. Candy Crowley, thanks so much.
Well, now a closer look at John McCain and where he stands on some of those big issues that Candy was talking about.
He opposes abortion rights, except in the case of rape, incest, or to protect the life of the mother.
McCain voted for use of military force in Iraq. And he was an early proponent of sending additional U.S. troops to the war there.
On the topic of Social Security, McCain supports diverting some payroll taxes to private accounts. And still on the topic of money, he voted against President Bush's tax cuts in 2001 and 2003. But he now supports extending those tax cuts through 2010.
On immigration, he co-sponsored immigration reform legislation that was backed by President Bush, and he supports construction of the fence on the U.S.-Mexican border.
HARRIS: Well, McCain enters a crowded Republican field, and he's near the middle of the scrum. Here's the average of all polls conducted in April.
Former New York major Rudy Giuliani holds a sizable lead. Nearly one in three Republicans want him as their nominee. Nineteen percent are backing McCain. Fred Thompson, Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich round out the pack.
CNN will have live coverage of John McCain's announcement. It is scheduled for 12:10 Eastern Time. And you can see it right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.
WHITFIELD: Out on the streets, but asking to go back to jail. A registered sex offender believes life behind bars is better for him. That's straight ahead in the NEWSROOM. HARRIS: The general calling the shots in Iraq reporting to Congress today. Live to Capitol Hill coming up in the NEWSROOM.
DANA BASH, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I'm Dana Bash on Capitol Hill, where a pointed personal exchange between the vice president and the Senate's top democrat underscores the high stakes of the Iraq political debate. I'll have more on that debate coming up in the NEWSROOM.
WHITFIELD: And a suitcase with a fat wad of cash inside. What would you do with it? Found on the side of the road.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How many people ever thought, if I could find a suitcase full of money, literally, what I'd be able to do about it?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We never thought about keeping it or spending it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It never even entered our minds.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Really?
HARRIS: Wow.
WHITFIELD: All right. Well, the payoff after making that kind of decision coming up in the NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Eagle Pass today is a community grappling with heartbreak and facing a huge cleanup job. Eagle Pass City councilman Ramsey English Cantu is on the telephone with us.
And Mr. Councilman, how many deaths are you dealing with in your area?
RAMSEY ENGLISH CANTU, EAGLE PASS CITY COUNCIL: Well, at the moment, we are looking at around six fatalities, with one family of five that is -- that was complete -- that was killed in this fatality last night. We have -- they were inside a house trailer. That house trailer was lifted, of course, with the high winds of the tornado, and was slammed against a side of an elementary school located right there in the same -- in the same vicinity.
We are looking at about 76 total patients that have been seen within our hospitals, four which have been transferred to San Antonio, Texas, in very critical condition. And, of course, there's been about 32 discharged from our local hospital with minor injuries.
WHITFIELD: And, Mr. Cantu, I understand that still a primary concern is that there may be a possibility or two of finding other bodies. Is that right? CANTU: Yes. As always, there is that concern that we have.
We have with us the National Guard, who is down here with us, and the Customs and Border Protection, and all of the emergency personnel from our area and surrounding areas that are here working with us. They've been working since 7:00 yesterday.
Of course, the tornado hit about 6:51p.m. yesterday. And they started working -- I believe it was about 7:15 when they finally got out there and started trying to get people either out from wrecked homes and the wreckage area. We are very, very pleased to have the support of the surrounding communities to come forth and assist us in this tragic event.
WHITFIELD: And you talk -- I'm sorry to interrupt you, but you talk about surrounding communities. You're right there on the border. What are you hearing about your friends in Mexico?
CANTU: Basically, we haven't heard much. Right now, we have -- our main concern is trying to get our constituency out from our area.
We have heard that there has been a fatality, though, in Piedras Negras, Coahuila. I do know that La Vita (ph), which is an area that has been hit heavily in the past with high flooding -- and of course we're not sure if tornadoes have ever hit that area, but it is an area that is normally hit.
I know that a church has been destroyed in Mexico. But, of course, these are all just comments that have been made to us that -- we have been here at city hall since yesterday at 6:00 p.m., and we have not left. We've been working around the clock to make sure that all of our constituency is being rescued from the debris at the site of the tornado.
WHITFIELD: Mr. Ramsey English Cantu, councilman there in Eagle Pass City.
We hope you are able to get all the help you need, as well as your residents there. Thanks so much for your time.
CANTU: Thank you so much.
HARRIS: And still to come in the NEWSROOM this morning, the face of a killer. Today, police reveal what they've learned so far about the Virginia Tech massacre. The investigation coming up in the NEWSROOM.
WHITFIELD: Also, a legendary music producer on trial today, accused of killing an actress. Inside the Phil Specter case. That's in the NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: And welcome back, everyone, to the CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Tony Harris. Insurgents strike again with deadly precision in Iraq. A suicide bomber detonating near an Iraqi police station in Diyala province. Four officers killed, 16 people wounded.
In Baghdad, border blasts and a roadside bomb killed four civilians and wound 13.
A new U.N. human rights report says sectarian violence continues to kill a large number of Iraqi civilians, but the U.N. says for the first time it doesn't have overall death figures from the Iraqi government. That's because the government refused to release them, calling the U.N. report inaccurate and unbalanced.
He is calling the shots for U.S. troops in Iraq, and now he is calling on Congress not to set a timetable to bring those troops home. The top U.S. commander in Iraq, General David Petraeus, heads to Capitol Hill today.
He will make the case the recent increase in U.S. troops is leading to progress in Iraq. The general will first brief House members from both parties behind closed doors. That'll happen just before a House vote on war funding. Later this afternoon, he will brief senators.
WHITFIELD: Dollars for war. Deadlines to withdraw. A looming fight between Democrats and the president.
Well, as you heard, the House votes today on that war spending bill. It calls for pulling U.S. troops out of Iraq. The president promises a veto.
Congressional Correspondent Dana Bash now with the political battle over the war.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BASH (voice over): It was an unprecedented moment -- the vice president stepped up to the Senate microphones to blast the Democratic majority leader on Iraq.
RICHARD CHENEY, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: What's most troubling about Senator Reid's comments yesterday is his defeatism. Indeed, last week, he said the war is already lost. And the timetable legislation that he is now pursuing would guarantee defeat.
BASH: Dick Cheney stood where Harry Reid usually talks to the press and accused him of inconsistent and irresponsible statements about the war. Moments later, Reid reclaimed his turf and shot right back.
SEN. HARRY REID (D-NV), MAJORITY LEADER: The president sends out his attack dog often. That's also known as Dick Cheney. And he was here again today, attacking not only me, but the Democratic Caucus.
BASH: That intensely personal war of words over Iraq was just part of the day's dizzying verbal volley up and down Pennsylvania Avenue over a Democratic bill to fund the war, but force troops to start coming home.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Instead of fashioning a bill I could sign, the Democratic leaders chose to further delay funding our troops and they chose to make a political statement.
REP. NANCY PELOSI (D-CA), SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE: This is an ethical issue. This isn't a political issue. I respect where the president is coming from on this. I wish he would respect where we are coming from, which is a reflection of where the American people are coming from.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
WHITFIELD: Dana Bash now joining us from Capitol Hill.
Dana, the House is expected to vote on the war funding measure later on, so how do we really expect this to go down?
BASH: Well, it's going to be interesting to watch, Fredricka, because remember, the last time the House voted on this issue, there wasn't even one vote to spare. There were -- it passed by 218.
And Democratic leaders this time do say that they're confident that this is going to pass, but they're going to have to spend some time today behind the scenes lobbying, because some rank and file Democrats, some who voted for this just a few weeks ago, say this particular measure, the way that they compromised with the Senate, doesn't go far enough, because what it does is it says troops should start coming home in October, but in terms of when all combat troops should come home, that's just a goal, a little bit softer, and that's this time next year.
Some Democrats in the House said that simply doesn't go far enough.
WHITFIELD: And so, among those doing the voting today, you're also going to hear from General David Petraeus. Well -- or at least we know he's going to be there. We don't know who's going to get a chance to hear from him actually.
But how much -- how might his impact -- or his input actually impact the votes?
BASH: Well, that is what is going to be another thing that's fascinating to watch today, because General David Petraeus, who, of course, is the U.S. -- the commander of U.S. forces in Iraq, is going to be here. And he's going to be here just a few hours before that House vote. He's going to talk to all House members, and then afterwards all senators in a classified way about the real deal, so to speak, on the ground.
What the president said earlier this week is that he wants the general to try to convince Democrats that a timetable is absolutely a mistake. It would hurt the mission, it would hurt troops in the field. But already, even before the general comes up here, Democrats are saying -- you know, some Democrats, even the top Democrat in the Senate, told CNN in an interview, "I don't believe him. What I believe, from the Democrats' point of view, is that this is a misguided mission and that troops should come home."
And that's why this visit is going to be interesting, because the number one argument, Fredricka, that Republicans make, as you know, is that Democrats should be listening to commanders on the ground, not making political statements here in Washington.
WHITFIELD: Well, they'll get a chance to hear him today.
BASH: Thank you.
WHITFIELD: Dana Bash, thanks so much.
HARRIS: The top general in Iraq briefing lawmakers on the war and speaking out against a timetable for withdrawal. We will discuss the general's visit to the Hill with Senator Joe Lieberman coming up in the NEWSROOM.
WHITFIELD: And investigating the Bush administration. Allegations of wrongdoing against Karl Rove. A Bush supporter going after the president's top aide. That is straight ahead in the NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: Just another reminder for you of CNN's live coverage of John McCain's announcement today. It is expected that he will formally -- what are we saying expected for? That's why he's doing this today. Right?
WHITFIELD: Yes. I think it's a done deal.
HARRIS: To announce his candidacy for president.
WHITFIELD: Yes, again.
HARRIS: OK.
WHITFIELD: Although this time it's really official.
HARRIS: It's official, official.
All right. That announcement scheduled for 12:10 Eastern. And again, you can see it right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.
WHITFIELD: So, trying to explain the unexplainable. Investigators today reveal what they have found out so far about the Virginia Tech massacre.
Police say they haven't found any link between gunman Seung-Hui Cho and any of his 32 victims. They've been examining computers, cell phone and e-mail records, and a state police update is set for 1:30 Eastern this afternoon. We, of course, will be bringing you details right here from the NEWSROOM.
HARRIS: Former Russian president Boris Yeltsin laid to rest today. A national day of mourning in Russia. Former presidents Clinton and Bush among the dignitaries on hand to pay their last respects.
Yeltsin died Monday at the age of 76. Thousands stood by as the body of the former president was carried through the streets of Moscow. The burial site not Red Square, but a 16th century cemetery next to other prominent Russians, including former premier Nikita Khrushchev and writer Anton Chekhov.
WHITFIELD: The Dow inching, and inching ever closer, to 13,000. Will today be the day? Live to the floor of the New York Stock Exchange coming up in the NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANNOUNCER: This is CNN, the most trusted name in news.
Now back to the CNN NEWSROOM.
HARRIS: And welcome back, everyone, to the CNN NEWSROOM.
I'm Tony Harris.
WHITFIELD: And I'm Fredricka Whitfield, in for -- excuse me -- mi, mi, mi -- sorry -- in for Heidi Collins.
I got my voice back now.
HARRIS: You with us?
WHITFIELD: Yes, I am.
HARRIS: All right, Fred. Good to see you, Fred. Good to have you here with us.
Wall Street is buzzing with talk...
WHITFIELD: Yes.
HARRIS: ... that today is the day for the Dow industrials to cross that milestone threshold. The opening bell just moments away here.
Let's go to Susan Liscovicz, who is live on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange to set the stage for us.
(STOCK MARKET REPORT)
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Cute kid.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Very cute.
HARRIS: Good morning, everyone. You are in the CNN NEWSROOM.
I'm Tony Harris.
WHITFIELD: And I'm Fredricka Whitfield in for Heidi Collins this morning.
Watch the events come into THE NEWSROOM live on this Wednesday, April 25th.
Here's what's on the rundown.
A Texas town mourning its dead. A suspected tornado rips the border community. More dangerous storms could strike today in the South and the Midwest.
HARRIS: He's battling for time -- Iraq War commander General David Petraeus asking Congress to be patient on the troop build-up. We will talk live with Senator Joe Lieberman in a moment.
WHITFIELD: He's a suspect who didn't have time for justice, bailing out of jail.
What was he thinking, as if he weren't to get caught?
All right, that's straight ahead in THE NEWSROOM.
HARRIS: At the top this morning, people in Southwest Texas waking up and getting a good look at what used to be -- after a deadly storm -- what used to be an elementary school, what used to be more than 20 homes. Now, piles of mangled wires, metal and debris. The storm, possibly a tornado, killed at least six people in and around the town of Eagle Pass. Four people, including a small child, died in a single home.
And there was also devastation across the border in Mexico. It is reported three people were killed there, more than 120 others hurt.
We want to check in now with Chad Myers and get the latest on this storm and where it is headed today -- chad, good morning.
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, Tony.
(WEATHER REPORT)
HARRIS: A storm brewing, most run for cover, but some actually run toward it.
WHITFIELD: Those are the folks that always amaze me
HARRIS: Yes, and concern me, frankly. A closer look at tornado chasing company in the CNN NEWSROOM.
WHITFIELD: John McCain and the worst kept secret in American politics. Today, after months of campaigning, he'll formally announce his presidential bid. That's scheduled less than three hours from now.
CNN senior political correspondent Candy Crowley is in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, site of the noontime announcement -- and, Candy, kind of confusing here, because I thought -- and a lot of other folks already thought -- that he had announced.
But what's the message today?
CANDY CROWLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, the message today is that this is a man who has the experience to be president. Obviously, John McCain would be the oldest man to ever take over the Oval Office. Ronald Reagan previously held that record.
And so he is using that and sort of turning it on its head, saying look, I'm the guy with the experience that can take care of some of the problems that are out there.
Obviously, McCain has been a prisoner of war more than five years in Vietnam. He has had 25 years of service in Congress. So he is selling that expertise, Fred, as what the nation needs at this particular point.
And to your -- to your first point, this is, you know, sort of anti-climactic at this point. McCain said on "Letterman" that he was going to run. He's been out on the Straight Talk Express.
But, you know, the campaign has been flagging. He's running third in the money race. He usually runs second in the polls, sometimes third. When Fred Thompson jumps in, it changes the mix a little, but mostly second.
This is not where McCain needs to be so when you've got an opportunity to once again reintroduce yourself, once again get some headlines, you've got to take it, because it's all about momentum.
WHITFIELD: And does it seem right now, in terms of momentum, that John McCain is really trying to appeal to the conservatives?
Because for a long time conservatives said wait a minute, who is this McCain?
He is not who we thought he was. But now, given that he is hard and fast in support of the Iraq War, the surge, is he, once again, appealing to the conservatives, if ever he lost that appeal?
CROWLEY: You know, he's still trying to appeal to conservatives. Basically what the problem is at the heart of the party -- and the conservatives are those who come out in these primaries, so they're the most important constituency in the primaries. What their problem has been with John McCain, frankly, is campaign finance reform, because conservatives, no matter what their issue, feel that that reform muted their ability to move the debate.
So, first and foremost, that's their problem with him. And in general, their problem has been that he's been a maverick. They're not really sure on what issues he's going to stray from the party line. So there's a little bit of hesitancy there among conservatives.
But he is straight down the line in terms of social issues probably more in line than anybody else who is currently in the race, except for perhaps Sam Brownback and Mike Huckabee.
So his conservative social issues are there. It's on the other issues that conservatives are a little worried.
But I have to tell you, they're worried about others in the race, too. Nobody has clamped down and gotten all these conservatives yet. They're still out there searching.
WHITFIELD: All right, Candy Crowley, thanks so much.
Well, now, a closer look at John McCain and where he stands on some of those big issues that Candy was talking about.
He opposes abortion rights, except in the case of rape, incest or to protect the life of the mother. McCain voted for use of military force in Iraq and he was an early proponent of sending additional U.S. troops to the war there.
On the topic of Social Security, McCain supports diverting some payroll taxes to private accounts. And still on the topic of money, he voted against President Bush's tax cuts in 2001 and 2003, but he now supports extending those tax cuts through 2010.
On immigration, he co-sponsored immigration reform legislation that was backed by President Bush and he supports construction of the fence on the U.S.-Mexican border.
HARRIS: Well, McCain enters a crowded Republican field and he's near the middle of the scrum. Here's the average all of the polls conducted in April.
Former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani holds a sizable lead. Nearly one in three Republicans want him as their nominee; 19 percent are backing McCain. Fred Thompson, Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich round out the pack.
CNN will have live coverage of John McCain's announcement. It is scheduled for 12:10 Eastern time and you can see it right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.
WHITFIELD: Out on the streets, but asking to go back to jail. A registered sex offender believes life behind bars is better for him.
That's straight ahead in THE NEWSROOM.
HARRIS: The general calling the shots in Iraq reporting to Congress today. Live to Capitol Hill, coming up in THE NEWSROOM.
DANA BASH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Dana Bash on Capitol Hill, where a pointed personal exchange between the vice president and the Senate's top Democrat underscores the high stakes of the Iraq political debate. I'll have more on that debate coming up in THE NEWSROOM.
WHITFIELD: And a suitcase with a fat wad of cash inside.
HARRIS: Hey, now.
WHITFIELD: What would you do with it -- found on the side of the road?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How many people have ever thought if I could find a suitcase full of money, literally, what I'd be able to do with it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We never thought about keeping it or spending it. It never even entered our minds.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Really?
HARRIS: Wow!
WHITFIELD: All right, well, the payoff after making that kind of decision, that's coming up here in THE NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Eagle Pass today is a community grappling with heartbreak and facing a huge cleanup job. Eagle Pass City Councilman Ramsey English Cantu is on the telephone with us.
And Mr. Councilman, how many deaths are you dealing with in your area?
RAMSEY ENGLISH CANTU, EAGLE PASS CITY COUNCIL: Well, at the moment, we are looking at around six fatalities with one family of five that is -- that was complete -- that was killed in this fatality last night.
We have -- they were inside a house trailer. That house trailer was lifted, of course, with the high winds of the tornado, and was slammed against a side of a elementary school located right there in the same -- in the same vicinity.
We are looking at about 76 total patients that have been seen within our hospital; four which have been transferred to San Antonio, Texas in very critical condition. And, of course, there has been about 32 discharged from our local hospital with minor injuries.
WHITFIELD: And, Mr. Cantu, I understand that still a primary concern is that there may be a possibility or two of finding other bodies.
Is that right? CANTU: Yes. As always, there is that concern that we have. We have with us the National Guard, who is down here with us, and the Customs and Border Protection and all of the emergency personnel from our area and surrounding areas that are here working with us.
They've been working since 7:00 yesterday. Of course, the tornado hit about 6:51 p.m. yesterday and they started working and I believe it was about 7:15 when they finally got out there and started trying to get people either out from wrecked homes and the wreckage area.
We are very, very pleased to have the support of the surrounding communities to come forth and assist us in this...
WHITFIELD: And you...
CANTU: ... tragic event.
WHITFIELD: I'm sorry to interrupt you, but you talk about surrounding communities. You're right there on the border.
What are you hearing about your friends in Mexico?
CANTU: Basically we haven't heard much. Right now we have a -- our main concern is trying to get our constituency out from our area.
We have heard that there has been fatalities, though, in Piedras Negras Grojilla (ph). I do know that in La Vieta (ph), which is an area that has been hit heavily in the past with high flooding and, of course, we're not sure if tornadoes have ever hit that area, but it is an area that is normally hit.
I know that a church has been destroyed in Mexico. But, of course, these are all just comments that have been made to us. We have been here at city hall since yesterday at 6:00 p.m. and we have not left. We've been working around the clock to make sure that all of the -- of our constituency is -- is being rescued from the debris at the site of the tornado.
WHITFIELD: Mr. Ramsey English Cantu, councilman there in Eagle Pass City.
We hope you are able to get all the help you need, as well as your residents there.
Thanks so much for your time.
CANTU: Thank you so much.
HARRIS: And still to come in THE NEWSROOM this morning, the face of a killer. Today, police reveal what they've learned so far about the Virginia Tech massacre. The investigation, coming up in THE NEWSROOM.
WHITFIELD: Also, a legendary music producer on trial today, accused of killing an actress. Inside the Phil Specter case. That's in THE NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: And welcome back, everyone, to the CNN NEWSROOM.
I'm Tony Harris.
Insurgents strike again with deadly precision in Iraq. A suicide bomber detonating near an Iraqi police station and Diyala Province. Four officers killed, 16 people wounded. In Baghdad, mortar blasts and a roadside bomb kill four civilians and wound 13.
A new U.N. human rights report says sectarian violence continues to kill a large number of Iraqi civilians. But the U.N. says for the first time it doesn't have overall death figures from the Iraqi government. That's because the government refused to release them, calling the U.N. report inaccurate and unbalanced.
He is calling the shots for U.S. troops in Iraq, and now he is calling on Congress not to set a timetable to bring those troops home.
The top U.S. commander in Iraq, General David Petraeus, heads to Capitol Hill today. He will make the case the recent increase in U.S. troops is leading to progress in Iraq. The general will first brief House members from both parties behind closed doors. That'll happen just before a House vote on the war funding. later this afternoon, he will brief senators.
WHITFIELD: Dollars for war, deadlines to withdraw -- a looming fight between Democrats and the president. Well, as you heard, the House votes today on that war spending bill. It calls for pulling U.S. troops out of Iraq. The president promises a veto.
Congressional correspondent Dana Bash now with the political battle over the war.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
BASH (voice-over): It was an unprecedented moment -- the vice president stepped up to the Senate microphones to blast the Democratic majority leader on Iraq.
DICK CHENEY, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The timetable legislation that he is now pursuing would guarantee defeat. Senator Reid himself has said that the war in Iraq will bring his party more seats in the next election. It is cynical to declare that the war is lost because you believe it gives you political advantage.
BASH: Dick Cheney stood where Harry Reid usually talks to the press and accused him of inconsistent and irresponsible statements about the war. Moments later, Reid reclaimed his turf and shot right back.
SEN. HARRY REID (D-NV), MAJORITY LEADER: The president sends out his attack dog often. That's also known as Dick Cheney. And he was here again today, attacking not only me, but the Democratic Caucus. BASH: That intensely personal war of words over Iraq was just part of the day's dizzying back and forth up and down Pennsylvania Avenue over a Democratic bill to fund the war, but force troops to start coming home.
GEORGE BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Instead of fashioning a bill I could sign, the Democratic leaders chose to further delay funding our troops and they chose to make a political statement.
REP. NANCY PELOSI (D-CA), SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE: This is an ethical issue. This isn't a political issue. I respect where the president is coming from on this. I wish he would respect where we are coming from, which is a reflection of where the American people are coming from.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
WHITFIELD: Dana Bash now joining us from Capitol Hill -- Dana, the House is expected to vote on the war funding measure later on.
So how do we really expect this to go down?
BASH: Well, it's going to be interesting to watch, Fredricka, because, remember, the last time the House voted on this issue, they didn't -- there wasn't even one vote to spare. There were -- it passed by 218. And Democratic leaders this time do say that they're confident that this is going to pass.
But they're going to have to spend some time today behind the scenes lobbying, because some rank and file Democrats, some who voted for this just a few weeks ago say this particular measure, the way that they compromised with the Senate, doesn't go far enough, because what it does is it says troops should start coming home in October, but in terms of when all combat troops should come home, that's just a goal, a little bit softer, and that's this time next year.
Some Democrats in the House say that simply doesn't go far enough.
WHITFIELD: And so among those doing the voting today, you're also going to hear from General David Petraeus. Well -- or at least we know he's going to be there. We don't know who's going to get a chance to hear from him actually.
But how much -- how might his impact or his input actually impact the vote?
BASH: Well, that is what is going to be another thing that's fascinating to watch today, because General David Petraeus, who, of course, is the U.S. -- the commander of U.S. forces in Iraq, is going to be here. And he's going to be here just a few hours before that House vote.
He's going to talk to all House members and then afterward all the senators, in a classified way, about the real deal, so to speak, on the ground.
What the president said earlier this week is that he wants the general to try to convince Democrats that a timetable is absolutely a mistake, it would hurt the mission, it would hurt troops in the field.
But already, even before the general comes up here, Democrats are saying, you know -- some Democrats, even a top Democrat in the Senate told CNN in an interview, I don't believe him. What I believe -- from the Democrats' point of view -- is that this is a misguided mission and that troops should come home.
And that's why this visit is going to be interesting, because the number one argument, Fredricka, that Republicans make, as you know, is that Democrats should be listening to conditions on the ground, not making political statements here in Washington.
WHITFIELD: Well, they'll get a chance to hear him today.
BASH: Thank you.
WHITFIELD: Dana Bash, thanks so much.
HARRIS: The top general in Iraq briefing lawmakers on the war and speaking out against a timetable for withdrawal. We will discuss the general's visit to the Hillary with Senator Joe Lieberman, coming up in THE NEWSROOM.
WHITFIELD: And investigating the Bush administration -- allegations of wrongdoing against Karl Rove -- a Bush supporter going after the president's top aide. That is straight ahead in THE NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: Just another reminder for you of CNN's live coverage of John McCain's announcement today. It is expected that he will formally -- what are we saying expected for?
That's -- that's why he's doing this today, right?
WHITFIELD: Yes, I think it's a done deal.
HARRIS: It's an announcement of his candidacy for president.
WHITFIELD: Yes, again.
HARRIS: OK.
WHITFIELD: Although this time it's really official.
HARRIS: It's official, official. All right, that announcement scheduled for 12:10 Eastern. And, again, you can see it right here in CNN NEWSROOM.
WHITFIELD: They're trying to explain the unexplainable. Investigators today reveal what they have found out so far about the Virginia Tech massacre. Police say they haven't found any link between gunman Seung-Hui Cho and any of his 32 victims. They've been examining computer, cell phone and e-mail records and a state police update is set for 1:30 Eastern this afternoon. We, of course, will be beginning you details, right here from THE NEWSROOM.
HARRIS: Former Russian President Boris Yeltsin laid to rest today. A national day of mourning in Russia. Former Presidents Clinton and Bush among the dignitaries on hand to pay their last respects. Yeltsin died Monday at the age of 76. Thousands stood by as the body of the former president was carried through the streets of Moscow. The burial site not Red Square, but a 16th century cemetery, next to other prominent Russians, including former Premier Nikita Khrushchev and writer Anton Chekhov.
WHITFIELD: The Dow inching -- and inching ever closer to 13,000.
Will today be the day?
Live to the floor of the New York Stock Exchange coming up in THE NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: And welcome, everyone, to the CNN NEWSROOM.
I'm Tony Harris.
WHITFIELD: And I'm Fredricka Whitfield in for (COUGHS) -- excuse me. Me, me, me.
I'm sorry. In for Heidi Collins.
I've got my voice back now.
HARRIS: Are you with us?
WHITFIELD: Yes, yes.
HARRIS: All right, Fred. Good to see you, Fred.
Great to have you here with us.
WHITFIELD: Yes, you bet.
(STOCK MARKET REPORT)
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