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Judge Orders Bush Administration Officals Appear in Court; New Orleans Housing; UNC Football Players Assaulted
Aired December 21, 2007 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Next hour the Bush administration in court and under oath. A federal judge wants to know more about the CIA's destruction of videotapes. On those tapes, terror suspects being interrogated. CNN's justice correspondent Kelli Arena is outside the courthouse this morning for us in Washington. So Kelly, what is the bottom line there. What do we really know about exactly what's on these tapes?
KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Well, that's a whole other can of worms there Heidi. We don't know exactly what else is on those tapes. We do know that their have been statements that waterboarding was on them. But what this hearing has to do with is whether or not the government violated a court order to preserve all evidence that could show any possible torture or mistreatment of detainees being held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Now, obviously we know there have been interrogation tapes that were destroyed, but the government argues look, the detainees that were on those tapes were at secret locations. They weren't being held at Guantanamo Bay, and so we didn't violate that court order, and that's what the judge is going to hear arguments about today, and that hearing should start right at 11:00. Heidi?
COLLINS: There's also some news, Kelli, about another investigation into the possible disclosure of classified information. What's that about?
ARENA: That's right. Officials tell us that the CIA as referred - made a referral over to the department of justice to ask it to look into whether or not an ex-CIA officer, John Kiriakao disclosed classified information when he made several appearances on the news. You may remember Heidi he was actually on CNN as well and he talked about an operative Abu Zubaydah and how he was taken into captivity, and then how he was waterboarded. At the time there were a lot of people scratching their heads saying can he really do this? The justice department has no comment, but we did get a statement from his lawyer who said, "A criminal referral from CIA would be both expected and normal under the circumstances. It is a routine act that the CIA undertakes even when they know that no violation has occurred." But that lawyer, Mark Zaid, also goes on to say that if justice does actually open up an investigation and decides to pursue this, they're opening up a Pandora's Box. So we'll see where that goes.
COLLINS: Yeah, I mean there are so many questions surrounding this because of when it happened. Shortly after September 11th there was a program put into place, and my understanding is that both sides of the aisle, republicans and democrats, knew about what type of interrogation techniques were used and waterboarding was part of that, was it not? Did they just not really know what types of interrogation techniques were possibly being used at that time?
ARENA: Well, it is being revealed now that some members of congress were, in fact, briefed on the enhanced interrogation measures that the White House had approved. You know, this is several years after the fact, and lots of timelines are shifting and people's recollections are shifting, but it does seem that yes, there were some lawmakers that were very much in the loop on that, but at the end of the day the question is, is that torture? Is it not torture? You know, you know that there's movement in congress to have the CIA and other agencies fall in line with what the military does and the military of course bans waterboarding. So this is an issue that is way bigger than the little pieces that we've seen so far.
COLLINS: It's going to be a long investigation, Kelli. Thanks so much, Kelli Arena for us outside the courthouse this morning. Thanks a lot.
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Also developing this hour, prayer time turns to tragedy. A bomb detonating inside a mosque in Pakistan. The explosive packed with ball bearings and nails for maximum casualties, at least 50 people are confirmed dead. Dozens more wounded. Police tell CNN they're not sure if it was a suicide attack or a bomb planted inside the mosque. They believe it targeted a former interior minister. He survived an assassination attempt eight months ago. He was inside the mosque today near his home, but was not hurt.
COLLINS: All right. Just want to let you know that we are awaiting secretary of state Condoleezza Rice to come to that podium there. She is going to be having a bit of a press conference we understand, the year end assessment, if you will, which obviously around this time of year we expect to hear from quite a few diplomats here at the state department today. So we will keep our eye on that camera for you and when she comes to the podium, we will monitor it.
HARRIS: Outrage and frustration, emotions boil over in New Orleans over the city's plans to demolish thousands of low income housing units ruined by hurricane Katrina.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's our rule.
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: It got to be a pretty crazy scene here. Scuffles broke out inside a city council meeting ahead of a vote to approve the demolition plan. It was wild outside too. Police used pepper spray and stun guns on protesters who tried to force their way into the meeting. Critics say new development will drive poor people out of their communities.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRACIE WASHINGTON, ATTORNEY: It's a race issue because the public housing developments were 100 percent black and these are the people who are not being allowed to return to the city.
ARNIE FIELKOW, NEW ORLEANS CITY COUN. PRES.: Not only are we going forward for the future, but we have safeguards in place in the interim that are going to allow us to make sure that HUD and HANO perform what they promised.
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: The city has promised to replace the development with new mixed income housing. Police say 15 people were arrested yesterday, most charged with disturbing the peace.
COLLINS: Suspected and now confirmed, the national weather service says it was a tornado that caused all this damage in Brookhaven, Mississippi yesterday. The twister part of a powerful storm system that moved through the state. One man was hurt when the tornado slammed into his home. At least three mobile homes were destroyed, two others knocked off their foundation.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COLLINS: The terminator may terminate thousands of prison sentences, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger considering early release of 20,000 inmates to save money. The Sacramento Bee" says only nonviolent offenders would be considered. Sex offenders would not be included. Only inmates with less than 20 months of jail time would be eligible. Schwarzenegger faces a state budget crisis. He says the early release plan is just one of the scenarios he's considering.
HARRIS: College athletes, an attack and allegations of sexual assault, and police say the players were the victims. Two women and a man are charged with attacking three University of North Carolina football players. It happened at an off-campus apartment. Police say the players were tied up and attacked. At least two of the players were sexually assaulted. The three suspects appeared in court yesterday on multiple charges. Authorities think robbery was the motive.
COLLINS: Not just a road. For some religious groups, a U.S. interstate is a highway to holiness.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: I'm following Brad Pitt. Good luck with that.
COLLINS: Yeah, you don't want to know what he said the other day.
HARRIS: Oh really.
COLLINS: I'm sure you're classier.
HARRIS: Welcome back, everyone to the CNN NEWSROOM, I'm Tony Harris. Armageddon on mars? Here's the story, an asteroid may be heading for the red planet. Odds are not good. A planet in peril. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: Here is the story. Just look at it myself here, is mars on a collision course with an asteroid? NASA scientists have raised the odds of a space rock that will slam into the so-called red planet next month. The current line, 1 in 75. Initial odds were even more remote, 1 in 350. Scientists say they're excited by this admitted long shot. Astronomers have never witnessed an asteroid hitting another planet.
COLLINS: Highway to heaven. Some religious groups now trying to save an interstate running through the nation's midsection. CNN's Gary Tuchman has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GARY TUCHMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Interstate 35, which runs through six states from Texas to Minnesota, has existed for about a half century. But did God know about I-35 many, many centuries before that? This Texas minister says she had a revelation about it.
CINDY JACOBS, "LIGHT THE HIGHWAY" ORGANIZER: We were reading Isaiah 35 which is a passage in the bible and we live in Dallas and we have this highway that's behind us called I-35.
TUCHMAN: Part of Isaiah 35 verse 8 declares a highway shall be there and a road, and it shall be called the highway of holiness. The unclean shall not pass over it. So Isaiah 35 has become a biblical partner of Interstate 35 for some Christians.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Move in power Jesus. Move in power God. Millions live up and down this highway, Lamb of God! Touch Oklahoma, Lord Jesus. Touch Texas, Lamb of God! Oh, Lord, touch Minnesota, sweet Jesus!
TUCHMAN: To fulfill the prophecy of I-35 being a holy highway, many of the faithful think it will take intensive prayer first.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Live in the hearts of our generation, Jesus! Move in their hearts God.
TUCHMAN: Churches in all six states have organized prayer vigils on the side of the interstate. They pray for safer neighborhoods, more godliness, and want the "unclean" to take note.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Lord I pray for purity within businesses God, we pray for holiness, we pray for (INAUDIBLE) father God!
TUCHMAN: The businesses are the kind you often see driving up and down America's interstate. Some of them have been visited by the prayerful participants in so called purity sieges.
PASTOR STEVE HILL, HEARTLAND SCHOOL OF MINISTRY: It would please me if some of these businesses would go out of business. TUCHMAN: No thank you, says the owner of Dallas' Diamond Cabaret.
RODNEY WILLIAMS, DIAMONDS CABARET OWNER: For them to want to impose their views on others, it makes me angry. We help the community out a lot, in some cases more than other church groups, fundraisers, food drives.
TUCHMAN: Not everyone here literally thinks I-35 is the highway of holiness, but it is pointed out that tragedies, ranging from the assassination of John F. Kennedy in Dallas to the recent bridge collapse in Minneapolis have happened on or near Interstate 35.
JACOBS: We just want to say, wow, why would this happen on one highway? Let's pray that there be safety for everybody on these highways.
TUCHMAN: On Youtube you can see Pat Robertson publicizing the campaign on his Christian broadcasting network.
PAT ROBERTSON: What an amazing story. Wouldn't that be wonderful I mean, for them to cut a line right down the middle of America and let it spread to both coasts.
TUCHMAN: Isaiah 35:8 is not the only part of the bible that mentions a highway. In Isaiah 40:3 it is said prepare the way of the lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God, but there have been no national prayer vigils on Interstate 40. Yet. Gary Tuchman, CNN, Dallas.
(END OF VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: Ok here we go, holiday gifts, January bills. It is a pretty good time to get your finances in order. Gerri Willis answering your e-mail questions in the NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: Let's take a look at the big board now. Wow, looking pretty good so far.
HARRIS: Yeah.
COLLINS: Dow Jones industrial average is up 170, resting now at 13,415. NASDAQ also up. Missed the number though. I know it's double digits, 39, NASDAQ up 39 as well. We're going to be checking in a little bit later with Susan Lisovicz, going to talk more about the outlook for '08. If you want to hear that, I'm not quite so sure.
HARRIS: Let's see here, debt, savings, and a passport. Some of the financial topics you are emailing us about this morning. Here is CNN personal finance editor Gerri Willis. Gerri, the thought here is we'll do, kind of extended segments here with viewer email. Make this segment totally interactive. Does that make sense? Can we do this, this morning?
GERRI WILLIS, CNN PERSONAL FINANCE EDITOR: We're doing a one two punch.
HARRIS: And you're going to be back next hour, but we'll talk about that later.
WILLIS: That's right.
HARRIS: All right, so you want to jump right into the email bag here?
WILLIS: Go, go, go, go.
HARRIS: Luigi, let me just say it again because I like that, Luigi from Florida writes, "Oh Gerri, I have most of my savings maxed out in FDIC secured savings accounts. How good is the FDIC guaranteed?
WILLIS: Well, Luigi, the FDIC means it's backed by the federal government and that means, well it's the best financial guarantee you can get. Look, if there is a problem you've got bigger issues than just the guarantee was broken. Ok. The insurance protects you against the loss of your deposits if an FDIC insured, bank or savings and loan association, failed and it doesn't matter whether it's checking or saving's account, money market deposit accounts or CD's. There are of course limits. It's up to $100,000 in each banking institution. And of course some retirement accounts like IRAs are insured up to $250,000. But hey, guess what, at the end of the day if you've got stocks, bonds, mutual funds, life insurance policies, annuities from one of these institutions, not part of the coverage. Ok? You need to know that. It only covers just the basics. Just the basic bank accounts. Now if you want to know whether your bank is FDIC insured, they usually put it in their advertising. But you can call 1-877-275-3342. So, check it out because it's really a guarantee you want..
HARRIS: One, 877, 275, 3342 for folks who weren't looking at the screen or doing some other things this morning.
WILLIS: Right, it's a good thing.
HARRIS: Yeah, it sounds like it. Mary from West, Virginia now writes, oh Gerri, "Do those debt settlement companies really lower your debt and get it paid off in 3 to 5 years? Please help, I am not sleeping at nigh.. Mary, Jesus, wow.
WILLIS: That's sad, you know, look, generally we don't advise going to debt settlement companies. Look, these companies may advise you to stop paying your debt immediately, that's a bad thing. And this will not only continue to damage your credit report but you'll still be accruing debt, late fees, interest with your creditor, plus some of these debt settlement companies, they'll have fees that you'll have to pay. But your best bet, why not chose a legitimate credit counseling organization. Look, if you can't create a workable budget on your own or negotiate your own plan with creditors, they can help you out. They work hand in hand with you, they don't just take you debt and then try to figure it out. Look, many attorney generals have toll free numbers where you can check out these organizations so you know who's good, who's bad. Or call your local better business bureau. You can also check out the national credit counseling agency at NFCC.org. Get some help. That's no fun.
HARRIS: No it's not. And then try to get some rest here. You know we talk all the time about the fact that the Dow is up year to year by about eight percent. But the reality is, the economy is tough for some people out there. We have another email from Chris, kind of indicative of this, oh Gerri, "I had to file bankruptcy in 2003. Now I am a victim of the housing/mortgage crisis. How soon can I file bankruptcy again?"
WILLIS: Yeah, well this isn't good news either. Look, to answer your specific question, it really depends on what kind of bankruptcy you filed in 2003. If you filed a chapter 7, it will be eight years before you can file chapter 7 again. So you'll have to wait. However, there is a type of bankruptcy called chapter 13 which you can do right away. Now, this doesn't wipe away your debt, but it forces you to pay it back over time, but it is some relief. Remember, even if you do file again, your credit score is going to be severely damaged. Bring yourself back from the brink by going to a credit counseling agency. It's going to be hard to repair your reputation with creditors after declaring bankruptcy twice. I would try to avoid it if I could.
HARRIS: There you go, try to avoid it. John writes, you know Gerri, "I heard that one of the ways to make money in real estate is to buy a foreclosed property. Should I go for this type of investment?
WILLIS: Well I have to tell you, I just talked to a woman this morning who got about a $100,000 discount on a foreclosed condo she bought in Florida. Look, you can make money in foreclosed properties because you really buy at a steep discount. However, the devil is in the details. There are some series drawbacks to investing in this type of property. For example, the tenant could still be in the property or you may not be able to see the condition of the property before you buy it. There may be liens against the house that you may inherit as the new owner. You have to know the laws in your own state, but if it really matters where you are, to do this go to the county clerk's office to find out what properties are being auctioned. You can also see listings in your local newspaper and do research online. Yahoo has a great website for this, too. There are other places online that list foreclosure properties like foreclosure.net and realtytrack.com. There's a ton of information on the web about this, but you really have to do your homework.
HARRIS: Hey, Gerri, you have time for one more. I mean I know you have obligations to all of the other CNN platforms. How about that? I got a little plug for all the other platforms. Ok, one more from Emily who writes, "I am 16 years old and I am trying to get my passport for the very first time. How much would it cost? How many days will it take to get my passport? Gerri?
WILLIS: Well, ok, Emily you will pay $97. If you need your passport quickly, you can get what's called an expedited passport. That's going to take about three weeks. Otherwise you're looking at four to six weeks. Check out travel.state.gov for details.
HARRIS: That's terrific. All right Gerri, are you back with us again next hour?
WILLIS: I am. We're going to have more questions, more answers. We'll talk about how to improve a bad credit score, whether canceling your credit cards will hurt your credit and how to get rid of all that junk mail. You know about that Tony.
HARRIS: Yeah, yeah, boy do I. All right Gerri, great to see you. See you again next hour.
WILLIS: Thank you.
COLLINS: Peace through a child's eyes. An Iraqi theatre festival shining new light on reconciliation.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: So ready for the holidays? How about you?
COLLINS: Yeah, I was about an hour and a half ago.
HARRIS: Welcome back everyone to the CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Tony Harris.
COLLINS: Hi there, everybody. I'm Heidi Collins.
The Bush administration is in court facing some tough questions. A federal judge wants to know why the CIA destroyed a taped interrogations of terror suspects and whether the administration gave the go-ahead. Critics want to know whether the tapes showed the torture of those suspects. President Bush says he will not comment for now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRES. OF THE UNITED STATES: I am going to reserve judgment until I find out the full facts. I know I'm going to be asked about this question a lot as time goes on. I'm just going to prepare you. Until these inquiries are complete, until the oversights are finished, I will be rendering no opinion from the podium.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: There are at least two investigations now under way, one by the administration, another by lawmakers, and today we have learned of a new investigation. It focuses on a former CIA officer who appeared on CNN last week. John Kiriakou described the capture and waterboarding of a al Qaeda terrorism suspect. According to the government officials, the CIA wants to know if he illegally disclosed classified information. Kiriakou's attorney brushes off the CIA's request, saying it's routine, even when the agency knows that no violation took place.
HARRIS: A festival for friendship. Iraqi children playing an important role in reconciliation.
CNN's Alfonso Van Marsh has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ALFONSO VAN MARSH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Abadar Fadhil plays the rabbit in the classic story "The Tortoise and the Hare," a rabbit who turns to the turtle he once shunned for help. Instead of rejecting him, the turtle agrees. A move Abadar says more Iraqis could imitate.
ABADAR FADHIL, CHILD ACTOR (through translator): The message is that we have to have friends. You may need a friend one day or your friend may need you. We must have friends to build one homeland.
VAN MARSH: In a country where divisions between Sunni and Shiite and other ethnic groups help fuel violence, this children's theater festival is meant to showcase the power of unity and pride in a post- Saddam Iraq.
BAKIR NAIF, PLAY DIRECTOR (through translator): It is no longer suitable to show children only fairy tales and stories. We need to introduce reality of their daily life. The fear they have of going to school when at any moment there could be an explosion or they could be kidnapped.
MARSH: The recent lull in violence across Iraq has seen larger numbers of child actors and attendees attending this, the fourth annual festival. Where folk dancers singing "Long Live Iraq" meet the roar of the crowd. In this play a red and green mouse team up to help their friends, proving even the weakest working together can make a difference.
FADHIL (through translator): My family says bravo.
MARSH: Festival organizers say the theater is a safe haven from the violence, where kids can express their hope for the future that peace and reconciliation don't have to be fairy tales.
Alfonso Van Marsh, CNN, Baghdad.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: An Iraq War vet finds a happy home. A bomb-sniffing dog named Lex deployed in Iraq getting reacquainted with his new family this morning. His handler, Marine Corporal Dustin Lee, was killed in Iraq while on duty with Lex. Lee's family fought to get the dog discharged early. The Marines finally said yes, sending Lex to their home, far away from the war zone.
HARRIS: New Zealanders cleaning up from a strong earthquake. It caused an estimate $23 million in damage. Yesterday's quake destroyed several buildings in the port city of Gisbon. homes and roads also damaged. Gas and water pipes broken. Sixteen people suffered minor injuries.
It started as a prank on MySpace, but ended with the death of a teen. Now a jury is deciding who's at fault.
CNN's Jason Carroll has the story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It started with a sick joke. It came from Aaron White's MySpace account, a threat, sent to a teenage girl at his high school. White testified he didn't write it. Another friend did, using his screen name.
J. CICCIARO: All of those kids believed that this was real.
CARROLL: Even White's friend, Daniel Cicciaro, believed it was real.
J. CICCIARO: The thing is, that night Daniel believed that Aaron threatened to rape a girl who was like his little sister.
CARROLL: Cicciaro's parents say Daniel just wanted to protect the girl when she spotted Aaron at a party last year. The defense says racial slurs were used after White was kicked out. White testified a group of teenaged boys called him on his cell, saying, "Get back to this party, you (EXPLETIVE DELETED)."
FRED BREWINGTON, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: We had this group of young White men who felt that they were going to defend this young White woman from the black man who said these things about her and that they felt justified to do so because of his race.
CARROLL: Cicciaro rallied a group of his friends and headed to White's home in Long Island, New York. Aaron White said they called him again, saying they were coming to his house to kill him.
That's when Aaron's father, John White, got involved. Known as a quiet, dedicated man, he grabbed his handgun, a .32 caliber Beretta and waited for the teens.
DANIEL CICCIARO SR., FATHER: He had 20 minutes to gather his thoughts, to call the police, to defuse the situation, to find out why they were coming over. And he didn't take any of those precautionary steps.
CARROLL: The defense says White was thinking of his family's past in the south, where the Ku Klux Klan attacked them at his home one night.
Once Cicciaro and the teens arrived in his driveway, there was an argument. White says his gun accidentally went off, and Cicciaro was shot in the face.
"I didn't mean to shoot this young man," White told the court. "This young man was another child of God."
Cicciaro's parents don't believe him.
J. CICCIARO: They never called, the Whites, none of them, never called 911, even after they shot Daniel, but they did call their attorney.
CARROLL: White's attorney pointed to a 911 call Daniel's friend made moments after the shooting.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (EXPLETIVE DELETED) (EXPLETIVE DELETED), I'll get them for you, Dano.
CARROLL: Daniel died that night.
J. CICCIARO: I saw the shot, the hole in his cheek. I got to tell him that I loved him and saw his eyes blank, straight open, staring at the ceiling.
CARROLL (on camera): White is charged with manslaughter. A jury is deciding whether he will lose his freedom.
The Cicciaro family says, regardless of the verdict, they've already lost what was most important to them.
Jason Carroll, CNN, Riverhead, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: And how about this bizarre story out of Arizona. You've got to see it to believe it. An accused rooftop arsonist tasered by police. It all started when a homeowner heard noises on his roof early this morning and called police. They say a man set several fires and refused to come down. He started hurling clay tiles at them. Firefighters sprayed him with water, as you can see. Look at this. Police fired rubber bullets, then they tasered him.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LT. JACKIE MACCONNELL, PHOENIX POLICE: He did not comply, even after being hit with the rubber bullets. He was tased. After he was tased he fell off the roof on the second and landed on the ground. He got up and began running.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: OK, so a K-9 unit ultimately caught the man. He is charged with arson, burglary, and -- man! -- and aggravated assault. He was taken to the hospital where he is reported to be heavily medicated.
COLLINS: Pennies from heaven.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I thought that it would be nice to give the money to kids who are really sick and that need help.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: More than just piggy bank leftovers. Kids collecting thousands of dollars, one penny at a time. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: Last minute holiday shopping. You've got your list with you, right? Well, how about your wits? Our Susan Candiotti reports you need to keep on the lookout for more than just sales.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Behind the melody, the cheer, and the bargains ...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The detectives are following two subjects that are walking around, looking into people's vehicles.
CANDIOTTI: Criminals are looking to cash in on distracted, overly busy holiday shoppers.
(on camera): You didn't know where your car was parked, did you? Admit it, right, right?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
CANDIOTTI (voice-over): A few aisles over, we found this car with a purse sitting right there on the front seat. We waited for its owner to show up.
(on camera): I have to ask ...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's stupid, I know. I'm an idiot.
CANDIOTTI: Lieutenant Norris Redding (ph) says people have to be aware of their surroundings.
LT. NORRIS REDDING: You see how the kids are just running back and forth. You have the daughter that's about five steps in front of the mother. The little son is behind the basket. She's pulling the basket. It's not a safe way to do things.
CANDIOTTI (on camera): Does it look like she has the keys in her hand?
REDDING: Don't even have the keys ready. I don't know if you have an alarm on your car.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
REDDING: You do? Try to punch it just before you get to it ...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK.
REDDING: ...so your doors and everything already be opened.
CANDIOTTI (voice-over): An undercover team with the Crime Suppression Unit of the Hollywood, Florida, police department is doing what police all over the country do this time of year: run holiday surveillance operations. They use watch towers like this one with blackened glass, but nothing, they say, replaces common sense.
REDDING: A lot of time, the crime actually starts on the inside, and why does it start on the inside? They're watching you count your money.
CANDIOTTI: And police say there is safety in numbers. We watched this family leave an elderly man on his own.
REDDING: He has to be at least 75, 80-years-old. He's a potential victim.
CANDIOTTI: Lieutenant Redding makes sure his family understands the danger.
REDDING: Stay with him, yes. We have a lot of problems up here with senior citizens, they're attacking you all, they're doing all these things.
CANDIOTTI: It's a lesson for shoppers of all ages any time of year.
Susan Candiotti, CNN, Hollywood, Florida.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: Santa may have finally arrived on Wall Street, and stocks are jumping. Susan Lisovicz on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange with the very latest.
Hey, Susan, we were up about -- oh, the Dow, 140-some odd points just a couple of moments ago. So, things are really jumping.
(BUSINESS HEADLINES)
COLLINS: Barack Obama on the offensive in New Hampshire, courting the Independent vote by playing up his own independent nature. More now from CNN's Mary Snow, part of the best political team on television.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): He shows he can pitch, but can he hit his target? Democratic presidential hopeful Senator Barack Obama is taking aim at people like Russ Ouellette, an Independent who's supporting Obama. And Obama's trying to win over more people like him by promising to reform ethics in Washington and he's sending a signal to Independents that he can reach across the political aisle.
SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: If there's a Republican out there who is the best person for any particular cabinet position or any administrative agency that is going to make a difference, then I will make that appointment.
SNOW: At a town hall meeting Wednesday, Obama threw out some Republican names, such as California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and retiring Senator Chuck Hagel of Nebraska.
RUSS OUELLETTE, INDEPENDENT VOTER: And that's great, but I don't think being Independent means just reaching across to Republicans.
OBAMA: Well, that includes Indpendents. I mean, Independents even better.
SNOW: Claiming a stake in that territory between Republicans and Democrats can prove crucial. Independents can vote for either party in the primary and they helped Senator John McCain win this state's Republican primary in 2000.
While Independents can make up a powerful block, Andy Smith, a University of New Hampshire political science professor, says they're more likely to be swayed by trust than issues.
PROF. ANDREW SMITH, UNIV. OF NEW HAMPSHIRE: Undeclared voters frankly don't pay as much attention to politics. They're not as concerned with politics. And it's the celebrity or the image of the candidate that's far more important to them than issues.
SNOW (on camera): To make his appeal, Obama's trying to project the image of the Washington outsider, vowing to cut down on lobbyists. And he says that will help him take on issues like healthcare and energy.
Mary Snow, CNN, Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: Want the most up to the minute political news anywhere available, CNNpolitics.com is your one stop shop. It's the Internet's premiere destination for political news, CNNpolitics.com.
HARRIS: And let's get you to T.J. Holmes for a preview of tomorrow morning's CNN "SATURDAY MORNING."
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: Hello there.
It's the other war, and it's heating up. Well, the Taliban getting stronger inside Afghanistan, and what it means for U.S. troops and your security.
Plus, it's a holiday weekend, of course, but hey, you don't expect these guys to take the weekend off do you? The presidential candidates, they're going to be out and about and we're going to be live on the campaign trial in Iowa and New Hampshire with the best political team on TV.
Also, spreading a little joy here on the weekend. We'll reunite some soldiers in Iraq with their families at home as we salute the troops. Surprise reunions you certainly do not want to miss.
Also, you don't want to miss this. We've got four key tips to keep your New Year's goals on track in 2008.
That's CNN "SATURDAY" and "SUNDAY MORNING" beginning tomorrow at 7:00 Eastern.
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COLLINS: Putting in more than their two cents worth. School children prove every penny counts when it comes to charity.
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COLLINS: Small change making a big difference. Some Colorado school children show every penny counts. They raised thousands of dollars for charity, one cent at a time.
Here now my buddy, Adam Schrager, of affiliate KUSA.
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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: All of these kids that you see here today have worked really, really hard.
ADAM SCHRAGER, KUSA: It's field trip day at the Young Americans Bank for dozens of Colorado's finest.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And it's designed specifically for elementary and middle school kids.
SCHRAGER: At an institution known for teaching about saving and earning, Thursday's lesson is about giving.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I learned that, like, every penny counts, even if it's only like one cent. And it can do a big difference.
SCHRAGER: Sophie Almond and kids at more than a dozen schools around Colorado have been collecting pennies for the last couple months to give back to the charities of their choice.
MIA KELLER, DENVER 4TH GRADER: I thought it would be really cool to collect pennies and donate to charities that don't have as much as the other people.
SCHRAGER: Mission accomplished.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: 1,327,467 pennies and we still have five schools to go.
SCHRAGER: One of the schools with pennies still to be counted is Skyline Vista in Adams County.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You guys worked so hard. I am just so impressed with what you did.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We collected 900 pounds which equals $1,500.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Boys and girls, did you hear that? It was $1,500 worth of pennies sitting right there.
SCHRAGER: Back at the bank, the counting continues while the teachers rave.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The Penny Harvest for us has been an opportunity to understand what community is.
SCHRAGER: Colorado's newest philanthropists figure out the next step, how to help out their communities. It's heavy lifting. for sure.
ISABELLE FRIES, DENVER 4TH GRADER: I thought that it would be nice to give the money to kids who are really sick and that need help or to kids and families who don't have a lot of things to eat.
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COLLINS: The Penny Harvest Program started in New York public schools and spread to other schools around the country.
HARRIS: Is nothing sacred this holiday/campaign season? Of course not. And you know, Jeanne Moos is going to make the most of it.
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COLLINS: Supporters of presidential hopefuls are singing their candidates' praises, literally.
CNN's Jeanne Moos reports.
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JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: For get "O Christmas Tree..."
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh Hillary, Oh Hillary...
MOOS: And there's a new little drummer boy in town...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They say that you're too green Barack Obama...
MOOS: Supporters aren't just singing their candidates' praises, they're caroling them. Even groups like the National Republican Senatorial Committee are getting into the holiday spirit, bashing liberals in song...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: On the first day of Christmas the liberals gave to me, a tax hike for every family...
MOOS: Ron Paul supporters have the same ideas...
UNIDENTIFIED GROUP: On the fifth day of Christmas Ron Paul gave to me peace in Iraq, no IRS, no foreign wars, no more income tax...
MOOS: Those Ron Paul supporters tend to think out of the box. Make that boxers.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Vote Ron Paul, vote Ron Paul, Ron Paul all the way...
MOOS: Listen to enough of these songs and you will be on your knees praying for a silent night.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: New from Capital Records, it's the Clinton classic treasury collection. Don't you just adore me. We're scared of Hillary, Barack Obama...
MOOS: At least his name works well here.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Barack Obama, rock your mama, Barack Obama...
MOOS: You know how everyone keeps mixing up Obama's name with you know who's?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think -- unfortunate name Obama.
MOOS: Not unfortunate for this guy. Meet Barack O'Llama, at the Pasado Safe Haven Animal Shelter. Thanks to his catchy name, Barack O'Llama has attracted 25,000 gift sponsorships this holiday season, more than any animal they've ever had. But enough about O'Llama, back to Obama...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's beginning to look a lot like Obama will win in Iowa and Bill and Hillary had their chance a long time ago.
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