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American Morning
Holiday Sales; Egypt Building Collapse; Ron Paul & "Pork;" TV Station Crash; O Come, All Ye Faithful; Christmas Crunch; House of Pain
Aired December 24, 2007 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ALINA CHO, CNN ANCHOR: The wait was averaging close to four hours and 300 flights were canceled this morning. As of right now, a spokesman says there are no weather-related delays at midway or O'Hare. We'll have to see what happens. They expect a smoother day today and Christmas day. We'll have to wait and see.
High winds are affecting the holiday travel and tens of thousands are coming down the Christmas day stretch without any light or heat. Snapping power lines, like that one there in Lansing, Michigan.
A live look at LaGuardia airport. Travelers are ling up and getting ready to wait. Doesn't look too bad right now. Bonnie Schneider is in the CNN weather center. She is tracking all the extreme weather for us. Bonnie, good morning.
BONNIE SCHNEIDER, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, Alina. Luckily, there are no airports delays at least not right now weather- related delays right now. We're likely to see them pretty soon.
I'll show you the reason why. Take a look at our flight explorer. What a difference an hour and a half makes. We now have 2,324 planes in the air across the U.S. Most of them on the east coast right now. That's where we're looking at the strongest in terms of air travel at this time. I want to take you to other places facing some extreme weather right now. We have blowing snow in and around Rochester. The temperature there is 31 degrees. Winds are fierce.
If you're wondering, what does it look like on the roads in Rochester, we can show you. We're looking on Google Earth. We'll take a closer look at a live camera. The route is 104 and Bay Road at the overpass. You see the snow on the ground and just a couple of cars on the road. Their headlights are on. I'm sure they are traveling very slowly, with caution. A good idea when you have weather like this. It's really going to be tough for those of you driving in this area around the great lakes because we're expecting more heavy snow there throughout the morning into the afternoon. Some of the snow advisories will actually go through tomorrow morning.
Look for airport delays today, across parts of the northeast and into the great lakes. Toronto, we're expecting delays as in Montreal. More delays in Chicago. No delays are currently in effect right now. They could get worse today because of light snow. It's not going to be anything like the way it was yesterday or the day before. Yesterday, we had delays three hours, four hours. Some was because of wind, some fog. Now, so far, so good this morning. But it's still early. Back to you.
CHO: It is still early. A lot of people concerned about spending Christmas at the airport. We'll have to hope it stays clear. Bonnie Schneider, thanks so much. John?
JOHN ROBERTS, CNN ANCHOR: Do you have your Christmas shopping done? Sure to be a mad dash at the stores and retailers are hoping that it will put them over the top. They're worried that the increase, if there is one, will only be slight over last year. It may be the smallest gain in years. Macy's Flagship in Manhattan's Herald Square has stayed open 24 hours since Friday. That's where we find Jim Acosta this morning. How is it looking at this hour?
JIM ACOSTA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: John, believe it or not, we just talked to a Macy's department store manager. They told us that at 2:30 in the morning, there were shoppers in this store with children, if you can believe that.
I've got to tell you, we've been here since 5:00 in the morning. This is not a bad time to do your Christmas shopping if you have to do some last-minute Christmas shopping. That's because the crowds are not as bad as they are when the day gets into the afternoon hours.
We were out here over the weekend. As I described it earlier, it was sort of a shopping mosh pit, a Santa-palooza, if you will. Santa's elves were not doing stage dives off the cosmetic counter, but a stage left if you were trying to brave these crowds. The retailers are doing all they can to get those last-minute procrastinators into the stores.
Also, steep discounts can be found at retail stores across the country. The big reason why is the economy. Retailers know that this economy is sluggish, that people are worried about gas prices, housing crisis, that people are hanging on to those pocketbooks like a pit bull on steroids. Essentially, they're doing what they can to get those shoppers into the stores.
Retail stores are predicting sales growth for this holiday shopping season will be somewhere in the neighborhood of 4 percent. That is down a percentage point versus the ten-year average. Even online shopping sales are not doing the brisk business that a lot of those retailers were hoping for. And, essentially, all of this is shaping up to be a disappointing Christmas season for those retailers.
Although, they've been saying that just about every year the last couple of years. There will be, you know, several days after Christmas is over before retailers can tally up those receipts and after those Christmas shoppers go out there and use those gift cards. As we know, that is the latest trend in gift giving. We'll have to wait and see just how well or how poorly these retailers did out here, John.
ROBERTS: All right, Jim. They're open until 6:00 tonight?
ACOSTA: 6:00 tonight. The 24-hour store hours ended as of last night. But if I may, reuse a joke that I used at 6:00 this morning, I did pick up that bike helmet for you, John. I understand yours is a little knicked up. So it will be there under the tree for you. My re-gifting of a joke.
ROBERTS: Appreciate that. Merry Christmas, by the way, to you and your family as well.
ACOSTA: You too. You as well.
ROBERTS: Our "Quick Vote" question, with higher gasoline prices, other economic pressures, the housing slump, what did you spend this holiday season? Was it more, less or the same amount in years past? Cast your vote at CNN.com/am. 9 percent of you say you spent more, 11 percent say you spent the same as last year and 80 percent say they spent less. We'll continue to tally your votes throughout the morning, bring you a final look at it before 9:00 eastern this morning. Alina?
CHO: All right. Thanks, John.
Rescuers in Egypt searching for survivors in the rubble of a collapsed building. No word on why the 12-story building fell apart. It was in an upscale neighborhood in eastern Cairo. The Associated Press is reporting at least five people were killed.
Also new this morning, dramatic pictures just in to us of a rescue at sea. The Navy scrambling two helicopters from the U.S. Harry Truman, picking up seven men forced from their cargo ship as it started taking on water in the Arabian Gulf. They were flown back to the Truman where they're said to be in good condition.
ROBERTS: Congressman Ron Paul is known as Dr. No on Capitol Hill because of his votes against all kinds of government spending and running for president with promises to cut out the pork. He was forced to defend himself against charges that he ear marked $400 million in federal money for his district in Texas. The congressman says his case is different, because he doesn't vote for the spending bills. He just takes home the cash after the vote is held.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
REP. RON PAUL (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Money from us. Congress has these -- not the executive branch. And I'm saying that I represent my people. They have the request. It's like taking a tax credit and I put it -- the whole process is corrupt.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let me ask you --
PAUL: I vote against everything. I vote against it. I don't endorse the system.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When it passes overwhelmingly, you take the money back home.
PAUL: I don't take it. That's the system. I'm trying to change that system.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROBERTS: Well, the first sign of convoluted logic from Ron Paul this morning?
Projects range from expanding a cancer center to promoting the Texas shrimp industry. Paul has voted against things like medals for Pope John Paul II and Rosa Parks because of the cost to taxpayers.
CHO: Some amazing video to show you now, a minivan plows into the Chicago news studio as it's on air. The crash isn't on tape, but the anchor's reaction is. Take a look.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh!
CHO: Well, that's probably how we would have reacted, too, John. You can see the WLS's 10:00 pm Ravie Backwell anchor being started from the crash. You can't blame him. He was 15 feet away from the impact. One witness says the driver appeared to run into the studio deliberately.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RYAN KAMPLAIN, WITNESS CRASH: I saw a minivan that kept on doing about four or five u-turns and he was yelling out the window the whole time saying move out of the way. He asked for something and then I saw him park on the side -- across the street and then all I heard was him speed up and I heard a big boom in the window. I heard a big crash.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHO: Incredible. The driver stayed in the van until police arrived. He was arrested. We can chuckle about this morning, because no one in the studio was injured.
ROBERTS: We would certainly be shocked if something similar happened here.
CHO: Especially because --
ROBERTS: We're on the fifth floor.
CHO: We're on the fifth floor.
ROBERTS: Christmas celebrations going on in Bethlehem this morning. The celebrations this morning are in Manger Square. This year, about 65,000 tourists are expected to come to Bethlehem. It's a big increase over last year. The tourists won't be spending their money, some are concerned. Ben Wedeman is live in Bethlehem this morning for us with what may be the reason behind that. Good morning, Ben.
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: John, we're in Manger R Square, just outside the church of the nativity. Just a little while ago the Latin patriarch came through here. There's quite a crowd, quite a press. There's more tourists this year in Bethlehem than there have been in seven years. It's not just tourists who are here. It's Palestinian Christians. They make up 20 to 30 percent of the population of Bethlehem. This is a very important opportunity for them to make noise, show that they are here, to show that they are going to stay here, despite all of the difficulties that have been going on over the last 60 or 70 years. It's a very important occasion for them to be heard, to be seen. John?
ROBERTS: Ben, what's the general atmosphere there in the holy city this morning?
WEDEMAN: It's ooh good actually. It's very festive. The weather is very nice, which is unusual. Usually this time of the year, it's quite cold and rainy. The feeling is upbeat. We spoke to some of the local merchants who have complained in recent months there are more tourists, but the tourists just come in by bus; go to the church of nativity and leave. This is one day where lots of people are here and lots of people are spending money. Because of course tourism is really the backbone of the economy of this city. John?
ROBERTS: Ben Wedeman for us this morning live from Bethlehem. Thank you very much.
Right now, Santa is somewhere over -- let's check because Norad is checking in on him. He's over Mongolia there. You can track his progress on the web. Of course, his schedule depends on how many nice kids there were this year. Our Barbara Starr is tracking the jolly one will be tracked later from the pentagon this morning. Www.noradsanta.org if you want to track Santa's progress for the kids.
CHO: Really cool to look at. Last time I checked, he was in North Korea.
ROBERTS: Moving quickly.
CHO: Moving very fast, no question.
Christmas in Iowa just isn't the same this year. Why it's getting harder to separate politics from the holiday.
The remarkable comeback can take months after doctors thought he might never walk ago. Buffalo Bills Kevin Everett walks into his team stadium. Inspirational pictures, that's ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
PFC ELLIOTT FERGUSSON, BAGHDAD: Hi, I'm PFC Elliott Fergusson in Baghdad, Iraq. I would like to wish happy holidays back to my family in Illinois. My mother, my father, my brothers, my sisters, especially my girlfriend, Rachel. Hope to be home soon.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHO: Welcome back. Some incredible shots of the morning in our Quick Hits now.
A rescue team brought a wind-surfing Santa to safety in Buffalo. The Coast Guard said the Canadian man dressed as Santa Claus was wind surfing in the Niagara River when the waves became too much. Waves were approaching eight feet when he was out there.
These Santa's were sloshed. Police in New Zealand say 50 drunken Santa's went on a rampage at a movie theater. Take a look at these pictures. They were trashing the place and cursing the customers. The raid lasted all of 20 seconds, but they pulled the fire alarm on the way out, forcing several hundred people to exit. Police believe it was a group of college students pulling a prank.
The nighttime parade featured a nativity scene, Cinderella and, of course, old St. Nick.
Black lights made angels in white gowns appear larger than normal. John?
ROBERTS: Most presidential candidates are taking a break today and tomorrow, but not much of a break for the voters. Iowa caucuses have been moved up to just nine days after Christmas. And the campaign is intruding into the holiday. Dana Bash is on the campaign trail in Iowa. Joining us live from Des Moines. A lot of voters in Iowa, all they want for Christmas is a phone that doesn't ring for 24 hours?
DANA BASH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You bet. Four years ago, John, there were three weeks between Christmas day and caucus day. That was closer than in years past. This year, it's just nine days. There is some tension between the political process that Iowans cherish and the holiday spirit they cherish just as much.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BASH: The Christmas lights are up. Wreath is hung. The tree stands proudly in the living room. With an angel above, presents below. A classic Christmas scene that could be anywhere in America. Until you see all the mail from presidential hopefuls on the table. This is Iowa.
I don't even know if you can count them. How many pieces are here? Probably 20 pieces here.
MAYOR CHAZ ALLEN, NEWTON, IOWA: Oh, yeah.
BASH: That came in just two days to the Allen household. With Christmas approaching, it's barely read.
ALLEN: A lot of it gets ignored right now, because we are focusing on the Christmas cards on the refrigerator. Put all those Christmas cards up there and this gets shuffled paper that we usually get rid of it.
BASH: It's not just the mail, but the phone.
ALLEN: 60 calls since December 1st.
BASH: 60 calls?
ALLEN: Unknown name, unknown name, unknown name? But you know the name.
BASH: For the most part, we know this campaign is calling.
Chaz Allen isn't just any undecided voter, he's a mayor, an independent. He gets special calls.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Please give me a call at 703 --
ALLEN: I explain to him I just seen Huckabee, just talked to Edwards, Obama, things like that.
BASH: Allen says he won't decide who to vote for until after the holidays.
ALLEN: She's not in right now. Can I take a message?
BASH: Not thrilled that the deluge of calls come with a proud political tradition is colliding with holiday tradition.
ALLEN: Such an incredible process that we should all be a part of. Maybe they should think about what's going on around the times they do this.
BASH: For the next couple of days, it's family time. Mail from candidates may be on the table, but the focus is Christmas.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BASH: Now, this is not just the story of one Iowa voter. Trust me, John. Travel around Iowa, talk to these voters. They tell you they are really privileged to be able to meet candidates, ask them tough questions. It's part of their tradition, of course. The inundation of calls and mail is something they can do without, especially around the holidays. You mentioned turning your phone off. One of Chaz Allen's neighbors tried to reach him and couldn't call him, because that's exactly what he did. He didn't want to have to deal with anything having to do with politics during the holiday time.
ROBERTS: That may be the only way to get peace on earth. Dana, thank you very much.
19 minutes after the hour. A big response to a segment we brought you on Friday, an interview with Steve Ellis. President of the tax payers with common sense. $550 billion pork spending bill, 9,000 ear marked projects.
Congress sent President Bush that bill loaded with ear marked projects. Ellis outlined examples of some of those projects, what he thought with an, I guess you could say, interesting ear marks.
At the top of the list, $705,000 for management of the brown tree snake in Guam and $487,000 ear marked for the Andre Agassi Prep Academy in Las Vegas.
Some of you e-mailed us to say that those programs are deserving of federal funding. The Agassi Academy benefits children who can't afford a proper education. This academy does not serve the wealthy, is located in one of the poorest communities of Las Vegas, providing not only a great education for the children they serve, they act as a sign of redevelopment in an at-risk community, from Cincinnati, Ohio.
Katherine Knoll from Madison, Wisconsin, writes "The snake is venomous and can eradicate an entire wildlife. For every tree brown snake that is allowed to escape, that is yet another potential for another island to be decimated." Apparently the brown tree snake is a huge problem, not just in Guam, but the entire south pacific.
We appreciate the comments and invite you to comment on any of the stories you see here on AMERICAN MORNING. Reach us quite easily, Am@CNN.com. Keep those cards and letters coming.
CHO: I'm going to say no comment on that one.
ROBERTS: These were burning up the computer screen.
CHO: I guess it's not pork to everyone, right?
ROBERTS: One person's pork is another person's important issue.
CHO: There you have it.
Buffalo Bills and their fans, Kevin Everett walks into his team's stadium months after a devastating injury that almost left him paralyzed. We'll have his return coming up.
You expect it to be there when you need it. But what happens when your insurance company lets you down? One family's fight against the company they say let their daughter die. That's ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: To this morning's Hot Shot. Emotions ran high yesterday as Kevin Everett returned to Ralph Wilson Stadium. The Buffalo Bills' game against the visiting New York Giants. Everett was paralyzed from the neck down after a horrible crash in a game in September. He was given a minimal chance of ever walking again. Yesterday, he came back to watch the game, at times using a wheelchair, but was also seen, as you can see here, he gets out, stands up, walks in. The Bills, unfortunately, didn't back him up. They lost to the Giants 38-21.
If you've got a Hot Shot, send it to us. The address is Amhotshots@CNN.com. Please make sure the image is yours and not someone else's.
CHO: Twenty-five minutes after the hour. Jim Ellis of "Business Week Magazine" is in for Ali Velshi. We're talking about the housing market. Pretty bad. You're saying it's going to get worse?
JIM ELLIS, BUSINESS WEEK MAGAZINE: It's going to get worse. Hope Santa gives them a time machine to go through 2008 until the next year. Bad things will happen. We'll continue to have price declines throughout the year. Housing starts will probably bottom out mid year at about a million annual rate. That's a lot down. Down from about 2.4 million just a couple of years ago. But pricing is going to stay under a lot of pressure. We're going to see pricing go down throughout the year about 7 percent. That sounds like a lot, but it's not when you think about individual markets. Certain markets like Naples, Florida, from the peak last year, 2006, to about the beginning of 2009, it's going to drop about 30 percent.
CHO: Wow!
ELLIS: Washington, D.C. market will go from ...
CHO: Get out your checkbooks.
ELLIS: 18 percent from the peak in 2006 to the beginning of 2009. This is a market that's really under pressure.
CHO: Florida really distressed right now.
ELLIS: Florida, California, Nevada. Basically, foolish lending practices got us in a lot of trouble. It's going to take a couple of years to get out of it.
CHO: When is the bottom out going to end? When are we going to see a recovery in the housing market? Should people start thinking about buying if they have the cash?
ELLIS: It's probably too early to think about buying right now. Basically the market will bottom out price wise not until the end of 2008 or really beginning of 2009. There's no big rush. Basically what you'll get, even if you don't get a better price if you wait another six months, you'll have more inventory. More people will get desperate as their adjustable rate mortgages come to reset.
CHO: Jim Ellis.
ROBERTS: Looking for a time machine, perhaps, this Christmas. Is there anything that could accelerate our way out of this?
ELLIS: Not really. Foreigners have been willing to bail us out, equity funds.
CHO: Right here in Manhattan.
ELLIS: Right here, buying up stakes in financial institutions that allow us to mop up this ugly situation.
CHO: There was an article in the "New York Times" over the weekend saying these Europeans aren't just coming over to New York to do all their shopping. They're shopping for condos too.
ELLIS: I've got a co-op they can buy.
CHO: All right. Point taken.
ROBERTS: Jim thanks. CHO: All right. Now this morning's "Quick Vote" question. With higher gas prices and other economic pressures, what did you spend this holiday season? The question is more, less or the same amount as in years past? Cast your vote at CNN.com/am. Right now you can take a look there on your screen, 8 percent say more 80 percent say less, 12 percent say they spent the same amount on holiday gifts this year as they did last year. I don't think any big surprises are there. We'll continue to tally your votes throughout that morning.
ROBERTS: I'm in that 12 percent. I tried to spend less this year.
CHO;It's kind of hard.
ROBERTS: The government's billion dollar plan to track everything from your facial features to how you walk. What the FBI plans to do with all that information. The insurance company, they say, let their daughter die. A family's emotional fight to honor their daughter's memory. That and today's headlines when AMERICAN MORNING continues.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ALINA CHO, CNN, ANCHOR: Beautiful shot there. KTVK, Phoenix, Arizona. Right now, 42 degrees. As we take a look at the moon. The sun hasn't risen yet there. The high 68 and mostly sunny. How about that? It would be nice to be in Phoenix.
ROBERTS: That's the place to be if you like the warm air.
CHO: That's right.
ROBERTS: And that's not so warm.
CHO: And I do like it warm. You're right. Good morning, everybody. It's Monday, December 24th, Christmas eve. I'm Alina Cho. Kiran Chetry has the morning off.
JOHN ROBERTS, CNN, ANCHOR: And good morning to you. I'm John Roberts.
We are watching the extreme weather and the situation at the airports this Christmas eve. It could be a dark, cold and lonely Christmas for potentially millions of people. A huge winter storm has knocked out power, and put roads and runways on ice from the plains all the way to the Great Lakes. Right now, officials say O'Hare and Midway Airports in Chicago say there are no weather-related delays, but 300 flight cancellations yesterday could certainly have a ripple effect as you try to get people out who were on board those canceled flights. Ice and white out conditions are being blamed for killing 11 people mostly on the roads. Our Bonnie Schneider is down there in Atlanta at the weather center tracking the extreme weather and the flight delays as well. How's it looking, Bonnie?
BONNIE SCHNEIDER, CNN, METEOROLOGIST: Well, John, it's looking a lot better this time than it did this time yesterday. And for those of your who are trying to catch up on a canceled flight yesterday or even a canceled flight that you found out this morning, you're advised to contact your individual airline. Because so far, according to the FAA, all the planes you see here in the sky have left on time. There's over 2,700 planes flying across the U.S. at present. Most of them in the eastern half of the country. It's still very early in the morning out west. We'll likely see the activity increase quite a bit over the next couple of hours.
And I want to talk about some of the current temperatures. Because it is cold this morning, especially in and around Chicago. We have a current temperature of 23 degrees. Wind gusts are at 25 miles per hour. So, it does feel colder. And because of the overcast skies and the strong winds, you may see some more delays and more problems in terms of travel. I want to show you a live traffic cam. We can kind of zoom in, according to weatherbonk.com. And show you what it looks like near the airport. This is Kennedy Expressway near Ohio Street. You can actually see the snow that's on the ground. Not too much traffic. But the roads look a little bit wet with snow from yesterday and light snow is in the forecast for today. So, take it slow on the roads and be extra careful as you drive along. We're going to see lake-effect snow that's going to be a problem across a good portion of the Great Lakes. For example, in Buffalo, 28 degrees. Feels like it's 13. The winds are blustery. And visibility is poor. So, it's going to be tough going in the Great Lakes or anywhere in this region because of snow and winds. John.
ROBERTS: Hey, Bonnie, just back to the airports running on time today. So all the planes are getting out of the gate and getting up on the air on time. That doesn't necessarily mean though that all those people who got bumped yesterday are on those planes.
SCHNEIDER: Exactly. Because you have the people that were scheduled for today that won't necessarily give up their seats. So, there will be a lot of people still waiting at the airport absolutely. At least today, weather won't be a slowdown.
ROBERTS: And I got to point out. We're finding it very difficult to get that specific information from the airlines this morning. One airline said they're doing their best to accommodate passengers. Other airlines aren't even calling us back. So, it's difficult to pass along accurate information. Love to hear maybe from some of the people at the airports trying to get out this morning. Maybe we can. Bonnie, thanks.
SCHNEIDER: You're welcome.
ROBERTS: Alina.
CHO: New this morning, an announcement from Saudi Arabia that it has broken up a major terrorist plot aimed at the Hajj. That's the annual holy pilgrimage to Muslims to Mecca. Officials say they arrested 28 people, 27 of them Saudis. They would only say the suspects were plotting acts to disrupt the Haaj.
At least 2.5 million Muslims came to Saudi Arabia for this year's pilgrimage. Also new this morning, a billion dollar plan from the FBI to amass a huge database of people's physical characteristics. It's called biometrics, next generation. It calls for storing fingerprints, palm patterns and digital pictures of faces now. Eventually, it would expand to include iris patterns, face shape patterns, scars and even information about how you walk and talk. Critics say the ten-year plan, shouldn't go forward until it can be proven that the new technology is successful at identifying criminals. John.
ROBERTS: Democratic Connecticut Senator Chris Dodd is fighting hard for Iowa, spending his holiday there. Dodd is the only presidential candidate, democrat or republican, who is out campaigning today. CNN's Jessica Yellin is following the Dodd campaign in Des Moines. And Jessica, he's staying there, because he lives there, right?
JESSICA YELLIN, CNN, CORRESPONDENT: That is right, John. You know, Chris Dodd has a long track record as Connecticut's senator. He, among other things, is largely responsible for making sure that all working Americans are allowed to take family and medical leave. But now he wants to be president. It's an uphill fight for him because he's at the bottom of the pack. And he's so determined to break out of the pack, he's actually moved his wife and two daughters right here to Des Moines.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
YELLIN (voice-over): Stockings from Connecticut. An improvised tree. A home-made crest from a supporter. Senator Chris Dodd and his family are making Des Moines their way away from home for the holidays.
CHRIS DODD (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Well, I get to see my family. I mean, this is, that was the motivation behind this. Six year old Grace is in a local kindergarten. And 2-1/2 years old, Cristina is a fan of the Des Moines Science Center.
JACKIE DODD, SEN. DODD'S WIFE: And you have human grossology there right now, having fun with the body.
YELLIN: The five-term U.S. senator barely ranks in the latest CNN poll of Iowa, but insists the media is wrong about this race.
DODD: If four years ago, if polling had dictated what would have happened, then Howard Dean should have won this race hands down.
YELLIN: Dodd's campaign message? After nearly 27 years in the senate, he's got a track record of making good on promises and is ready to be president.
DODD: This may be the only job in America where prior references aren't required. You wouldn't remodel your bathroom without asking a contractor if he had ever done it before. S JACKIE DODD: You want to be a change agent, actually get something done. That's what a change agent is.
YELLIN: He's not shy about criticizing his democratic opponents.
DODD: People are so sick of the bickering and this idea turn up the heat, fire up the crowd. I'll fight harder than anybody. Are there any adults running here?
YELLIN: And the questions whether the frontrunners could beat a republican.
DODD: And there's a lot of concern candidly about the so-called top tier candidates doing that.
JACKIE DODD: She wants a parrot, a (webkinz).
YELLIN: This week, the Dodd family has some pressing concerns of its own. Dad left a sign for Santa at the family's home in Connecticut and here in Des Moines and he's is hoping for a little holiday magic himself.
DODD: There's a chance to come out of here and all of a sudden be a new story here on January 4th. And I think we have a shot at being that new story.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
YELLIN: John, I asked Senator Dodd, if he doesn't get the nomination, would he accept an offer to be someone else's vice president and he said, well, you can't say no to that. Now, most candidates in his position often do say no at this stage, but he says you can't just turn something down like that out of hand. Surprising response.
ROBERTS: It is. You know, we typically hear the (inaudible) answer - well, I'm not thinking about being anybody else's running mate. I might consider who would run with me. He will cease to be an Iowa resident, I take it on January 4th. Will he then move the family to New Hampshire?
YELLIN: He is taking them on to New Hampshire and he already has a campaign operation set up there.
ROBERTS: All right. Good stuff. All right. Jessica Yellin for us this morning. Happy holidays to you as well, Jessica there in Des Moines. Alina.
CHO: A tragic story of loss this morning. A family fighting their insurance company after they say it let them down and allowed their daughter to die. CNN' Kara Finnstrom has their emotional story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KARA FINNSTROM, CNN, CORRESPONDENT: The girl's grieving family now says it will fight the insurance company who at first refused to pay for their daughter's liver transplant.
KRIKOR SARKIYAN, NATALIE'S FATHER: This Cigna people, they cannot make people's decision if they are going to live and die. The doctors, they all signed the papers they sent to Cigna. Cigna denied it two times.
FINNSTROM: Seventeen-year-old Nataline Sarkiyan have been fighting leukemia for three years. She received a bone marrow transplant from her brother, but there were complications and her liver failed. On December 11, Cigna responded to a letter from doctors at UCLA Medical Center who had requested a liver transplant. Cigna vetoed the procedure, calling it experimental in Nataline's case. That same day, doctors at UCLA Medical Center asked Cigna to reconsider, saying patients in situations similar to Nataline's who undergo transplants have a six-month survival rate of about 65%. On Thursday, about 150 people, including nurses, rallied outside Cigna's offices and learned of a dramatic change of heart.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Time is ticking. And Cigna is so wrong. Okay. Cigna - can I announce this? Cigna just approved us.
FINNSTROM: Cigna says despite a lack of medical evidence showing the procedure would work, they would make an exception in this rare and unusual case, but by that time, doctors said her condition had worsened.
SARKIYAN: I just got a phone call from the hospital. She is not doing good and we're heading there right now.
FINNSTROM: On doctor's advice, the family will made the decision to take Nataline off life support. A short while later, she died.
SARKIYAN: I'm sorry I don't have her again here with me right now. I have her pictures. I love her. My family loves her.
FINNSTROM: The family is now taking legal action. And has hired high-profile lawyer Mark Geragos.
MARK GERAGOS: We believe that they single-handedly decided that they wanted to have her die and wait so they would not have to take the after-care coverage and pay for that.
FINNSTROM: Kara Finnstrom, CNN, Los Angeles.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHO: Such a sad story all around. We want to bring in AMERICAN MORNING legal contributor Sunny Hostin now. And Sunny, Mark Geragos plans to ask the D.A. to consider manslaughter or maybe even murder charges. Is this plausible?
SUNNY HOSTIN, AMERICAN MORNING, LEGAL CONTRIBUTOR: It is completely possible. I thought about this a lot. And a lot of people have sent me e-mails. The bottom line is the corporations are legal people. They pay taxes. They have social security numbers, which are federal tax I.D. numbers. They have registered agents. They have addresses. They conduct business as people. And they have all of the liabilities that a person has. You can see sue them. You can sue them. You can sue them.
CHO: That is incredible. Now, we should mention that Cigna has not accepted our request for an interview, but they did send CNN this statement. We want to put it up on the screen there. "Our deepest sympathies are with Nataline's family" the 17-year-old girl who died there. "their loss is immeasurable and our thoughts and prayers are with them. We deeply hope that the outpouring of concern, care and love that are being expressed for Nataline's family help them at this time." The family's benefit plan did not cover experimental treatments so they have a case?
HOSTIN: I think they have a case. They not only have a civil case, certainly but also I think the government has a criminal case here. The bottom line is, who determines that this was experimental? Liver transplants happen all the time. And if the government can show that what they did, in fact, was to deny care to make profits, there could be a conspiracy. There could be a lot of things. I think they have a civil case, no question about it. But I also think it would be a wonderful example of taking an insurance company to task criminally. It's the shame on you factor.
CHO: Well, it certainly sends them a big message. And of course, the big question, if a criminal case moves forward, what kind of punishment Cigna would face if they're found culpable?
HOSTIN: Well, that's true. And the e-mails that I get, you know, is you can't put a corporation in jail. But it's the big hammer. Criminal prosecution is the big hammer. And you certainly, certainly can be fined upwards to millions of dollars and that can shut a corporation down. That will make a big, big impact. I hope that there are some prosecutors that are going to take this case.
CHO: Well, we'll have to see what happens. An interesting and a very sad case. Our legal contributor, Sunny Hostin. Sunny, thanks.
HOSTIN: Thank you.
ROBERTS: We're going to be taking a look at that little Iraqi boy, you remember, he was burned so terribly. He went from Baghdad to Los Angeles, all thanks to you, for medical treatment. An update on him, coming up.
But right now, some more messages from our men and women serving overseas on this holiday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SPECIALIST BILLIE: Hi. I'm Specialist Billie (inaudible)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And I'm stationed in Baghdad, Iraq.
SPECIALIST BILLIE: We would like to say happy holidays to all of our family in Thomasville, Georgia. And happy 1st birthday to our son, J.J..
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) ROBERTS: Hoping and praying for Youssif this holiday season. You may know his story by now. The young Iraqi boy was playing outside when masked men doused him with gasoline and set him on fire. His journey from Baghdad to Los Angeles was made possible by your compassion and generosity. CNN viewers have made 13,000 donations and now Youssif is recovering from critical surgery to repair his smile. Be sure to catch Dr. Sanjay Gupta's special "Rescuing Youssif." It premiers tonight at 10:00 p.m. Eastern and airs again Christmas day at 4:00 pm eastern.
CHO: Looking forward to that. Meanwhile, CNN NEWSROOM is just minutes away. Look at what we have here, T.J. Holmes at the CNN Center in Atlanta with a look at what's ahead. Hey, T.J., good morning.
T.J. HOLMES: Good morning. Look who we have there. Alina Cho. Good morning to you, kind ma'am. And we have these stories for you coming up in the NEWROOM rundown. The killer storm subsides a bit but road warnings remain. The snowstorm in the upper Midwest still affecting holiday travel.
Also, this is just great, an 8-year-old boy being sued. A ski slope collision turns the law into more than a lesson for one boy.
Also, breaking news. Anchor startled when a mini van crashes into the studio. I know, you all have been looking at that video this morning. I wonder how we all would have reacted to see a vehicle come crashing in as we do the news. Who knows? But please, join me in the NEWSROOM, top of the hour, right here on CNN. Alina, Merry Christmas to you, dear lady.
CHO: Oh, merry Christmas to you. Will I see you tomorrow?
HOLMES: I will be here doing something, in some capacity. I'll be in the building.
CHO: All right. We'll look for you.
HOLMES: All right.
CHO: Thanks, T.J.
Actress Katherine Heigl gets hitched. That tops your "Quick Hits" now. Celebtv.com says she the "Gray's Anatomy" star married musician Josh Kelly in a small ceremony Sunday in Park City, Utah. Kelly popped the question last summer, a little more than a year after Heigl was cast in one of his music videos.
Actress Michelle Rodriguez will spend Christmas in the slammer, The former "Law" star started a 100-day prison term in Los Angeles yesterday. A judge sentenced Rodriguez back in October for violating her probation on previous drunken driving and hit and run offenses and specified that she should not be granted work furlough, early release or home confinement.
And what they wanted was an invigorating jogs with their dog. What they got, a terrifying confrontation with a pack of wolves. The frightening details coming up.
And tracking Santa. He has already hit chimneys across Southeast Asia. The latest location of his sleigh and how you can track him on radar. That's ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: "Quick Hits" now. They are still perfect, the New England Patriots beat the Miami Dolphins 28-7 last night, to improve their record to 15-0. That's already a record. The last undefeated team in football, the 1972 Miami Dolphins had just a 14-game season. The Pats can set another record next weekend. They need just six more points to become the highest scoring team in league history. No doubt they'll achieve that.
And holiday travelers are mobbing the airport this morning. A huge winter storm is sending a ripple effect at airports across the U.S.. 300 flights were canceled at O'Hare yesterday in Chicago. Officials of both major Chicago area airports, O'Hare and Midway say things are running smooth so far this morning. But the problem that we're having is getting information from individual airlines as to whether or not they've been able to rebook people on those flights. And you know, that can be the real problem. Flights can get out of town all they want on time. But when they leave behind a number of people, that still creates problems.
The federal government has opened up some military air space on the east and west coast to commercial flights for the holiday season to try to speed things through. And the airlines say so far, that is helping.
The condition caused several deadly pile-ups, including one that shut down I-70 near Topeka, Kansas. The highway patrol says one person was killed in a 32-car crash. The 40-mile stretch of the interstate was closed for much of the day on Sunday, even the military was forced into action. Troops from Ft. Riley were on their way to catch a plane home when their bus joined the wreck.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SUSAN BASSETT, U.S. AIR FORCE NURSE: I saw the accident start, but the next thing I knew was the big 18-wheeler that came crashing through. That was horrific. The bus kept getting hit. The bus got hit between 20 and 30 times. And so we were just rocking and rocking and rocking with every hit.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: The medical team was finally able to get out and round up people who were wandering around in a blizzard. Many of them in a daze. The troops helped everyone from a 6-month-old baby to an elderly man.
CHO: And frightening moments for joggers in Alaska as a packed of wolves surrounds them and attacked, circled three women and their dogs last Thursday. It happened near Anchorage. They women used pepper spray, but it had little effect. The pack got within feet of the women and bit one of their dogs. One victim described the harrowing ordeal.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CAMAS BERKENMEYER, ATTACKED BY A PACK OF WOLVES: I was rainbowing my pepper spray and they fell back a little bit. But as soon as we would turn our backs to try to go, they would run up on us. And then we would turn around and start screaming again and I would spray my pepper spray.
ALYCIA BELERGROHSLEIN, ATTACKED BY A PACK OF WOLVES: They just kept pulling and they're so big and so many. And they started howling. And we thought they were circling us, and it got us really panicked, but we just kept screaming.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHO: Fish and game officials say the same pack of wolves may have actually killed a dog hours earlier. Experts say the wolves may have learned that dogs are easier prey than wildlife.
Now, here's a look at what CNN NEWSROOM is working on for the top of the hour.
HOLMES: See this stories in the CNN NEWSROOM.
Holiday travelers, warning. Midwest storm is leaving roads treacherous. Christmas eve campaigning. A democratic long shot hopes holiday stumping will help.
Also, when wolves attack. A casual morning jog among friends turns terrifying.
And the power of the big event. A man saves his coins to buy a $25,000 truck. NEWSROOM at the top of the hour on CNN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: Final check this morning's of quick vote question for you. With higher gas prices, the housing slump and other economic pressures, what did you spend this holiday season, more, less, the same? 9% of you said more, 80% say less and 11% said they spent the same amount on holiday gift this year. Thanks everybody for playing. We'll do it again tomorrow on Christmas morning.
CHO: And this just in to CNN. Santa Claus on the move. He has already been to town across parts of Asia and just flew over Australia. And Norad, the agency that protects North American air space is watching Santa's every move. And you can too. Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr tracking St. Nick for us. Perth, Australia, that's the latest position, right, Barbara?
BARBARA STARR, CNN, CORRESPONDENT: According to U.S. military intelligence radar, you bet, Alina. That is where Santa is right now. Norad usually busy protecting air space over the United States already reporting the intruder is on his way. Santa Claus now live on the web. Norad is tracking Santa, every move of his as he makes his journey across the world. This is a hugely popular web effort. Last year, 940 million hits from over 200 countries around the world. It all began back in 1955 when a child mistakenly dialed the U.S. military instead of a phone number in a local paper, looking for the latest information on Santa. Since then, the military has taken on the job. When you look at that website, very high-tech. Google maps refreshing Santa's position every five minutes. It's all at www.noradsanta.org. Alina, the U.S. military promises when Santa hits U.S. air space later tonight, he's not going to get stuck in any of those air traffic control delays. Santa, apparently, has his connections.
ROBERTS: That's military air space over there. Barbara Starr for us at the Pentagon. Thanks very much. Www.noradsanta.org. Also, on every city he visits you can click on it and learn more about the city.
CHO: Yes. It's very cool. Really puts you in the holiday spirit.
ROBERTS: Thanks so much for joining us on this AMERICAN MORNING. We will see you again bright and early tomorrow, Christmas day.
CHO: 6:00 am Eastern time. CNN NEWSROOM with T.J. Holmes begins right now.
HOLMES: All right. Alina, John, thank you so much. Hello there, everybody, you're in the CNN NEWSROOM and I am the aforementioned, T.J. Holmes. Tony Harris and Heidi Collins are off today. Watch events come into the NEWSROOM.
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