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American Morning
Procrastinators Provide Shopping Surge for Retailers; Pope Benedict XVI Delivers Christmas Message; Christmas at Camp Striker; Iowa Up for Grabs?
Aired December 25, 2007 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JOHN ROBERTS, CNN ANCHOR: Celebrating Christmas around the world. Pope Benedict XVI greets the faithful this morning at St. Peter's Square.
Late season rally. Procrastinators provide a shopping surge that could bail out retailers.
Plus, counting Christmas calories. Before you stuff yourself, find out just what's in that stuffing on this special holiday edition of AMERICAN MORNING.
Good morning, thanks very much for being with us on this Tuesday, December 25th, Christmas Day. I'm John Roberts.
ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Watch the pecan pie. I know you like it. Lots of calories. Good morning, everybody. I'm Alina Cho in for Kiran Chetry, who has a well-deserved morning off.
ROBERTS: We begin with a holiday tradition in Vatican City. Pope Benedict XVI delivered his Christmas day address from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica. The pope urged world leaders to find ways to end conflicts in places like Iraq, Darfur and Sudan. He also said he hopes that the miracle of Jesus' birth will bring consolation to those living with war and poverty. Earlier this morning, the pope held the traditional midnight mass and during it, he touched on environmental issues.
There are calls for peace in the holy land this Christmas day meanwhile, and they are coming from the first Palestinian to hold the Catholic Church's top position there. At midnight mass in Bethlehem, the traditional birthplace of Jesus, Latin patriarch Michel Sabbah gave a politically-charged address calling for an independent Palestinian state. Tourism officials expect about 20,000 visitors to Bethlehem today.
CHO: A holiday greeting to the troops from the commander-in- chief himself. President Bush made Christmas Eve calls to 10 U.S. troops serving in Iraq, Afghanistan and other spots around the world. There you see the photo of the president there. The White House said he thanked them for their sacrifice and wished them a very happy holiday even though they'll be far away from their families and friends. The president made the calls by the way from Camp David, where he is spending Christmas today.
Now at this time last year, President Bush was putting the finishing touches on plans to increase troop levels in Iraq. This Christmas, thousands more soldiers are in the war zone. Special meals and care packages from the states are giving them a little taste of home as they celebrate with their military family. The New Year may bring new hope as well with December on pace to be the safest month for them since the war began.
Alphonso Van Marsh embedded with the 3rd brigade 101st airborne. He is live for us at Camp Striker in Iraq. Alphonso, good morning and Merry Christmas. You are there in the mess hall, so I know these troops will be doing a lot of things this Christmas day, including eating a lot, right?
ALPHONSO VAN MARSH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That is certainly right Alina. Merry Christmas to you, as well as to our viewers. It is an American morning here at Camp Striker. A lot of service members coming through this area in waves. The dining facilities here, one of the biggest in country. What you're seeing right now is actually the lull before the storm. At any given time when the meals are being served, 1,800 people in this absolutely humongous dining facility offering a bit of morale boost for these service members so far away from home.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CROWD: O little town of Bethlehem.
VAN MARSH (voice-over): This isn't Bethlehem, it's Baghdad, where these carolers are active duty soldiers separated from their loved ones at Christmas.
CROWD: We won't go until we get some so bring it right here.
VAN MARSH: Crime scene investigator Jim Yinglin (ph) is using a Web cam to see what his family and daughter are up to at home.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She was telling me that she was eating Chex Mix and that mom was making pumpkin loaves.
VAN MARSH: Army specialist Justin Valliers (ph) shows me pictures of his new daughter e-mailed from his wife.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Just some of her first moments when she was born in the hospital laying there.
VAN MARSH: Amaya (ph) is 2-weeks-old. She's never met her father, but Valliers (ph) is beholden, not bitter.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's probably like my best gift that I get for Christmas, it's just the anticipation waiting and knowing that she was born and I can't see her. I mean, the picture was just -- it's hard to explain.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: ho, ho, ho, merry Christmas.
VAN MARSH: Meanwhile, Santa's doing his part to spread the Christmas cheer, visiting soldiers at bases around Baghdad. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Just want to see the troops and hand out some candy canes and make them smile.
VAN MARSH: Santa, who really is an army major with the 3rd brigade, has the beard and stuffed belly, but he's also carrying a pistol.
This is Christmas in the war zone. Here Santa travels by Blackhawk helicopter instead of reindeer and sleigh.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VAN MARSH: It is a tough time for many of those troops out here, away from their families on Christmas day. But this is the center of positiveness, some place where the troops can go to get a good meal. More than 10,000 portions of turkey and ham and beef being served today. A lot of people fighting the temptation perhaps to take a little nap after they eat on this Christmas day. Back to you, Alina.
CHO: 10,000 portions, looks like there might be enough for seconds. Alphonso Van Marsh live for us at Camp Striker in Iraq. Alphonso, thank you, merry Christmas.
ROBERTS: Five minutes after the hour now.
Also new this morning, a deadly suicide car bombing in a residential area of Iraq. It happened in the north city of Baiji. At least 23 people are dead, 80 more wounded. At least three of those killed are children. Authorities say a driver detonated a bomb in a vehicle right next to a truck that was loaded with cooking gas cylinders. It happened just outside of a complex belonging to the state-run oil company.
Well Washington may need to completely revamp plans to fight al Qaeda in Pakistan. The "New York Times" is reporting that billions of dollars sent to build up anti-terror forces in Pakistan may have gone to waste. CNN Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr is live for us in Washington, and Barbara, not exactly what we wanted to hear this morning.
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: No, indeed, John. Clearly, there are new stresses and strains with a key ally in the war on terror.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
STARR (voice-over): "The New York Times" headline -- "U.S. Officials See Waste in Billions Sent to Pakistan." The paper cites unnamed U.S. officials, who say aid to bolster Pakistani military units fighting Al Qaeda has been misused. Pakistan's ambassador says that's not the case.
MAHMUD DURRANI, PAKISTANI AMBASSADOR TO UNITED STATES: It's very, very sad that people make such comments. And in a partnership, when then there is a problem with partnership, people start shifting the blame. And that's, as I said, very unfortunate. This is also untrue. STARR: Pakistan has long complained the U.S. doesn't appreciate the efforts it has made against al Qaeda and that hundreds of its troops have been killed. Both sides agree more training and equipment are needed. The Pentagon is helping Pakistan expand its paramilitary Frontier Corps force. But the aid allegations come at a tough time. Campaigning is well underway for January parliamentary elections -- elections Pakistan says will show it's back on the road to democracy.
The U.S. Congress isn't convinced. Lawmakers are withholding $50 million in aid until the State Department reports the government of Pervez Musharraf is really committed to democratic rule. But the Pentagon has even deeper concerns that Pakistan is not making an all out effort to crack down on Al Qaeda.
Pointed words from Defense Secretary Robert Gates.
ROBERT GATES, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: We are beginning a dialogue with the new chief of staff of the Pakistani Army, in terms of how we can help them do a better job in counter-insurgency through both training and equipment.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROBERTS: So Barbara, what does this all mean for U.S.-Pakistan relations, which are always in somewhat of a tense status?
STARR: Tense indeed and maybe about to get even more tense. Defense Secretary Robert Gates is saying that now Pakistan has become a growing safe haven, if you will, for al Qaeda. That al Qaeda's influence and control is expanding across Pakistan. A matter of great concern, of course, that they might be using it as a safe haven to launch and plan more attacks. Pakistan, for its part, says the U.S. simply doesn't trust it, and that bothers them, because they say they're doing everything they can to fight al Qaeda. 2008 may be shaping up to be a very interesting year there, John.
ROBERTS: A big challenge for the New Year. Barbara Starr at the Pentagon. Barbara, thanks very much, Merry Christmas to you as well. Alina?
CHO: All right, thanks John. We hope you're already at your holiday destination. But if not, today's holiday drive in the Plains and upper Midwest should be a bit easier today. Calmer weather has allowed crews to clean up after a deadly storm. The death toll from that winter blast is now 22. One of the latest victim was a Michigan woman who died when her truck rolled into a watery ditch. And at least eight people were killed on icy roads in Minnesota.
Well, it's a white Christmas in Utah. Maybe a little too white in some areas. Forecasters say a storm could dump up to eight inches of snow in the valleys near Salt Lake City and up to a foot and a half in other parts of the state. But the storm will also bring with it fierce winds. Gusts could reach 75 miles-per-hour on the mountain peaks.
And some extreme weather leaves parts of Los Angeles without power this morning, a bit of a surprise there. Those Santa Ana winds returned with a vengeance tearing down power line, blowing out several transformers, cutting power to about 10,000 homes and the businesses. The National Weather Service says winds topped 94 miles-per-hour in the San Fernando Valley and conditions are ideal for another outbreak of brushfires.
Bonnie Schneider at our weather update desk right now watching all of the weather action on this Christmas morning. Good morning, Bonnie.
(WEATHER REPORT)
ROBERTS: Going to be a worrisome day there in southern California.
No coal in retailer stockings this morning. The last-minute holiday shopping looks like it helped salvage the season. According to one industry analysts, sales from this past Friday, Saturday and Sunday were up nearly 19 percent over last year. And shoppers who put their lists off until the last minute were happy to do their part.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I was like OK, I can wait, wait, wait. All of a sudden I woke up and I thought oh, my goodness, it's almost Christmas.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: There are still a few stores, believe it or not, that are open this morning. One of them, the big toy store there on Fifth Avenue, FAO Schwartz here in New York City.
CHO: You still have a little bit of time.
Your quick hits now. A landmark in Hollywood up in flames. The Little Country Church of Hollywood was destroyed last night in a fire. No one was injured. The church was converted from an old barn way back in 1934 and housed religious radio broadcasts. It closed its door in 1997. No word yet on the cause.
A holiday nightmare for at least 16 people in the city of Lawrence, Massachusetts, that's north of Boston. A three-alarm fire there ripped through a triple-decker home gutting most of it. It started yesterday afternoon and quickly spread leaving the family whose live their homeless this Christmas. No word yet on a cause there.
Mike Huckabee seems to be losing his edge in Iowa. Up next, live to Des Moines, to find out why the momentum has shifted there again.
And the heated fight over heating oil. Families stuck in the middle forced to choose between politics and providing for their families. It's a real dilemma. The burning controversy over free oil from Hugo Chavez, ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
But first, this holiday greeting from some of the men and women serving overseas.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm staff sergeant Fields (ph) from Camp Taji, Iraq. I want to say hello to my mom, dad, sister, brother Richard and Sandra and also to all of my friends from Long Beach, Florida. Happy holidays.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: Fifteen minutes after the hour. The presidential candidates are off for Christmas but they get right back into the thick of it again tomorrow. The momentum is shifting again in the Iowa race for the GOP. Mike Huckabee and Mitt Romney now running neck and neck again. CNN Election Express is in Des Moines today. That's where find our Dana Bash on this Christmas morning.
So the race has tightened up significantly. Huckabee now going the wrong way here in the final week leading up to the Iowa caucuses. What's the dynamic there? What's driving the numbers?
DANA BASH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well you know, it really is the fact that Mike Huckabee sort of came from nowhere, and he was doing very well over the past couple of weeks. He still is doing well. You talk to his advisers and they'll sort of privately admit, maybe he peaked about two weeks too early.
If you watch the TV ads and you see sort of what's going on, the dynamic on the ground here, Mitt Romney has been trying very, very hard. Even Fred Thompson, to a lesser extent, to try to show other sides, if you will, of Mike Huckabee. So that perhaps is having a bit of an affect here.
But the other thing is, as we get closer as the undecided Republicans. And if you look at our latest poll, that is about six in 10 Republicans, John, they're deciding to make up their mind and that is really potentially driving this.
And it really means that this, what we're seeing right now, the numbers, nine days away from caucus day, could change even pretty dramatically between now and by the time Republicans actually go and caucus.
ROBERTS: Mike Huckabee was on "THE SITUATION ROOM" yesterday with Suzanne Malveaux during which he said that he's more popular than Mitt Romney in the states, despite being outspent 20-1.
Now a lot of the money that Mitt Romney has been spending in that state has gone into his ground operation. Is that going to make a difference for Mitt Romney come caucus day?
BASH: It very well could. You're absolutely right. This is something that is going to potentially determine the outcome of the race, despite what we're seeing in terms of popularity. The public opinion polls now and leading up to caucus day.
What matters, we talk about it all the tile. The organization, the ground campaign matters a lot. It really, really matters in a caucus, in a situation where it's not like you go a school and you sort of pull the lever. It's a complicated process. And what's interesting about the Huckabee campaign, John, is that he is relying a lot on the fact that there are people who don't necessarily traditionally caucus. He's relying on natural coalitions, if you will, for him, former Baptist preacher, for home schoolers, for pastors. He talked to them at his events.
Many of them, they tell me, I've never done this before. So making sure that they have the passion and they have the wherewithal to actually get from the liking Mike Huckabee to going to caucus, that's a huge challenge for him. So that's going to be something that could help the other side, help Mitt Romney, because he does have the organization, because he does have the money.
ROBERTS: All right. We'll see. Today off, back at it again tomorrow. Dana Bash for us this morning in Des Moines, thanks.
And the Democrats are learning just how unpredictable Iowa can be. Several polls say it's a three-way race among Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and John Edwards. But a new poll out from the American Research Group has Clinton jumping ahead of the pack with 34 percent of the vote. Look at the difference in the numbers there. She's up five. Barack Obama is down six. John Edwards is up two. Joe Biden trailing at 8 percent. The whole dynamic is changing significantly there.
Jessica Yellin on the road with the CNN Express, Election Express. She's in Des Moines as well. What's happening to Barack Obama? He's going the wrong way, as Mike Huckabee is in these final crucial days?
JESSICA YELLIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You know, John, there are three likely explanations for this, and Dana - some of the similar situations that Dana's explained.
One is that Senator Clinton's message may be connecting finally. That she's talked a lot about electability and that she can beat Republicans and she's started a new campaign in Iowa trying to let voters get to know her as a person and fight some of these negatives she has on likeability.
Another reason is that there are so many undecideds in the Democratic side who just haven't really firmly gelled with any one of the candidates. Even on our poll, the CNN poll, 50 percent of the people who say they support someone also say they could change their mind before caucus day.
And then finally, the last point I'd make is that it's notoriously difficult to poll in Iowa, because you have to try to measure not only who's likely to go which way, but who's even likely to come out caucus night. And we might not even know until caucus night itself. ROBERTS: Dana was saying that Mike Huckabee is counting on non- traditional caucus goers to support him. At the same time, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are hoping to get first-time caucus goers. Could that potentially play in John Edwards' favor, who is looking for those old tried and true people to come out?
YELLIN: Exactly right. John Edwards, his entire organization has been working for so long to get out those voters who are typical caucus goers, have done this many times before. And those are firmly his supporters and it seems, you know, for example a major snowstorm comes through Iowa that night, it could deter first-time caucus goers from going out.
In which case, the old hands are the ones who are more likely. And that would work in John Edwards' favor. So even weather plays a roll in this. There are so many variables all the campaigns are trying to evaluate. But it's even hard for them to figure out.
ROBERTS: The Edwards campaign praying for snow on the 3rd. We'll keep an eye on the forecast. Jessica Yellin for us in Des Moines -- Jessica, thanks very much. Alina?
CHO: Coming up, caught in the middle. Mothers stuck between taking care of this kids and the political debate. The heated controversy over free heating oil from Hugo Chavez.
And NASA's road map to the moon is taking it through New Orleans. What the space agency is doing to keep high-paying jobs in the Big Easy. We'll have that story ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHO: Welcome back to the most news in the morning. He's called President Bush the devil, but to some struggling families, Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez, well looks like an angel this holiday.
ROBERTS: His gift of free heating oil is forcing some people to choose between politics and family. CNN's Jason Carroll talked to a mom who was caught in the middle of a political war.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Lenice Footman freely admits she hates talking politics, especially during the holidays. But this stay-at-home mom received a holiday present from someone politically and vehemently at odds with President Bush.
LENICE FOOTMAN, BRONX RESIDENT: I just felt like that was between him and Bush. I just looked what this man did for us, to help us as Americans.
CARROLL: The man she's grateful to, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, the same man who called President Bush --
HUGO CHAVEZ, PRESIDENT, VENEZUELA: El Diablo.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The devil.
CARROLL: Chavez's contentious relationship with President Bush hasn't stopped him from donating oil to thousands of families here in the United States to help heat homes. President Bush says it's just a political ploy, but Chavez says he's out to help poor families, like Footman's.
FOOTMAN: Who asks to be cold? And there are plenty of people outside right now, apartments that are now a part of this program.
CARROLL: Footman's Bronx public housing building was chosen to receive Chavez's gift by Citizens Energy, an American-based nonprofit providing poor families low-cost home heating oil. Joseph Kennedy founded it almost 30 years ago.
JOSEPH KENNEDY, CITIZENS ENERGY: The only country that has ever offered us actually discounted oil was the Venezuelans, through Citgo petroleum.
CARROLL: Critics ask, should Citizens Energy buy just because Chavez offers? They say it's not just because he insulted President Bush, they say it's also because Chavez has a very poor human rights record.
An internet movement to boycott Venezuelan-owned Citgo oil is underway. New York's City housing department had no comment on the program.
FOOTMAN: This is one of the hotels.
CARROLL: Last year, Chavez sponsored a free trip to Venezuela for Footman. All the poverty she saw in made her wonder something about Chavez.
FOOTMAN: Is there ever going to be a time when he will, do for the people of Venezuela what he's done for us?
CARROLL: In the meantime, Footman is thankful her family holiday will be a warm one. Jason Carroll, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROBERTS: A controversial issue, to be sure, and that brings us to today's quick vote question. Should Americans accept free heating oil from Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez? Cast your vote for us this morning at CNN.com/am.
Let's check the results here. Right now 77 percent of you say yes, Americans should accept the heating oil, 23 percent say no. Keep on going to our Web site, click on the "quick vote." We'll have a final tally of the results coming up in about 30 minutes time.
CHO: Gotten a lot of e-mails about that.
Stay with us because just ahead, thinking about that big holiday dinner tonight or this afternoon? Well before you dig in, tune in. We're counting Christmas calories, ham, pumpkin pie, stuffing, coming up. All the scoop on all your favorites.
And a very special Christmas celebration for U.S. troops in Iraq. We'll have that story and the rest of the day's news, when AMERICAN MORNING, the Christmas edition, returns.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ALINA CHO, CNN, ANCHOR: We have some breaking news of a terrible bridge collapse. It's Tuesday, December 25th, Christmas day. Glad you're with us. I'm Alina Cho. Kiran has the morning off.
JOHN ROBERTS, CNN, ANCHOR: And I'm John Roberts. Good morning to you. This is happening in Nepal during a Hindu religious festival. Police say there may have been 1,000 people standing on this suspension bridge, high above a raging river, overloaded. The supports for the bridge let go. It plunged into the river with everyone on it. So far, officials have recovered just 11 bodies. As many as 500 people are still missing. We'll keep watching the story for you, we'll bring the latest details on it to you just as soon as we get it. Alina.
CHO: Also new this morning, a multimillion dollar settlement for the family of a woman who died in a tunnel collapse at Boston's big dig. Happened back in 2006. The car, the woman and her husband were riding in was crushed when part of the tunnel's ceiling caved in. The husband escaped with just minor injuries. The accident blamed was on fast-drying epoxy though that was used to secure the ceiling but apparently wasn't strong enough. The company that makes it has agreed to pay the victim's family $6 million.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
Where two people injured, Michelle, and the weather made the rescue work all that much more -- oh!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHO: Oh, boy, remember that story? We have an update on it. We first brought it to you yesterday. The driver of that van that slammed into Chicago's WLS-TV studios will appear in court today. 25- year-old Gerald Richardson charged with felony damage to property. He was also ticketed for reckless driving and no proof of insurance. Station officials say the crash may have been deliberate. Witnesses say he made several u-turns before gunning the van into the window of the street-level studio.
The music world this morning remembers the life of jazz pianist Oscar Peterson. The legendary musician died Sunday of kidney failure in his home near Toronto. He was 82. Peterson's career spanned seven decades. He played alongside other greats like Ella Fitzgerald, and Dizzy Gillespie. Peterson's big break came back in 1949 when he was a surprise guest at Carnegie Hall. John.
ROBERTS: Well, NASA is going back to the moon but they're going to make a stop in New Orleans first. The space agency has awarded more contracts and high-paying jobs at an assembly facility in the eastern part of the city. It was the site where the space shuttle's external fuel tanks were built. Now, workers will construct the new Orion crew module as well as the upper stage of the new rocket that will send astronauts back to the lunar surface.
And astronauts aboard the International Space Station are celebrating Christmas with all the fixings. The three-man crew is enjoying smoked turkey with cornbread dressing and candied yams. Of course, it's all coming out of a foil package. Tomorrow, a Russian module will arrive with gifts for crew. Meantime, astronaut Dan Tani is looking forward to coming home next month. Last week, you'll recall, his elderly mother died when her car was hit by a train in Chicago.
CHO: A holiday tradition in Vatican City this morning, the pope delivered a global message of peace. Pope Benedict giving his Christmas day address from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica. It was broadcast around the world in 63 languages. The Pope urged world leaders to find ways to end conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan, Darfur and Sudan, just to name a few. He also said he hopes that the miracle of Jesus' birth will bring consolation to those living with war and poverty. Earlier this morning the Pope held his traditional midnight mass and during that speech, he touched on environmental issues saying that Christians need to protect the earth.
And Christmas prayers in Afghanistan. Soldiers at Camp Eggers in Kabul celebrated Christmas mass and had holiday feast in the mess hall on this seventh Christmas since the 9/11 attacks, 2,600 U.S. troops are in Afghanistan, still fighting the war on terror.
ROBERTS: And this is the Fifth Christmas that troops have been marking Christmas in Iraq. We have been talking to Alfonso Van Marsh this morning. He is embedded with the third brigade, 101st air borne division at Camp Striker. He says he sent these pictures of soldiers enjoying special holiday meals and care packages from home while they celebrate with their military family. Our Arwa Damon has spent her share of time in Iraq. She joins us now this morning from London. Not taking a look at the military perspective but Iraqi rank and file, and there's a small Christian population, Arwa, in Iraq. How are they marking this Christmas day?
ARWA DAMON, CNN, CORRESPONDENT: Well, john, it has been surprisingly for many here that are looking at it. One of the more peaceful holiday seasons that Iraq has been able to enjoy. For the first time in many years, Iraqi Christians that are left in the capital of Baghdad, many of them have fled, if you remember, fleeing persecution and the violence, were able to actually attend church. And that is something that many who you see, it's such a rarity, especially in the recent times.
The leader, the cardinal, in Baghdad, saying that he was praying for other Iraqis - urging other Iraqis that have fled the nation to try to return to their homeland, also putting forward a message of peace and unity. Unity amongst Muslims and Christians in this nation that has been so torn by sectarian violence. And it is rather interesting to note here that we do often hear messages of unity from many of the religious leaders. We do hear messages of unity. When you just speak to average Iraqis and it does seem that on the street level there does exist to a certain degree, of course, bearing in mind this is Iraq and it is all relative, a desire for Iraqis to unite, that that has yet to be translated to the upper echelons amongst political leaders.
ROBERTS: A lot of home that 2008 will bring change on that front. Arwa, you've been in the United States for the past few months following very closely the story about the young boy Youssif. He was so terribly burned, underwent many surgeries to try to reconstruct his face. We had that great special last night, airing again this afternoon at 4:00 p.m.. What's the latest on him and what was the experience like spending that much time with him and his family?
DAMON: Well, he's doing very well every day, really, the transformation is remarkable. Even though I'm here in London, his family continues to send me photographs of his recovery. They were taken out to dinner last night. They're going to be celebrating Christmas today with some of the new friends that they've made. Being a part of this has really been such an amazing opportunity and truly a privilege. Not just to be able to have brought this story, to have seen the outpouring of response from CNN viewers, but also to watch the emotional transformation that Youssif and his family have undergone. Truly at this time, I think his story is an example of how the global community, those that are fortunate enough within the global community, can really help those so desperately in need of it.
ROBERTS: Yes. 13,000 CNN viewers, by the way, contributed to the Youssif fund for them to travel here. It's a combination and ancillary charges to the operation since it was performed for free.
Hey, you're in London. Are you on your way back to Iraq now?
DAMON: In January, yes, after the new year, I'll be back there again.
ROBERTS: All right. Stay safe. And we'll see you again from there. Arwa, thanks. Always great to see you. And again, you can watch "Rescuing Youssif" this afternoon, 4:00 p.m. Eastern right here on CNN. It's just an absolutely heartwarming and compelling story you don't want to miss it.
CHO: Yes. It really is. Coming up we've got a lot ahead, including this - Are you getting ready for that big Christmas meal just a couple of hours away? Now before you go for seconds on that stuffing or pecan pie, Some surprising news on how many calories you might be taking in. We're going to be counting Christmas calories ahead.
And you finally have hard earned time off and you get sick. Just your luck, right? Maybe not. The science behind something called leisure sickness, coming up.
But first, a holiday greeting from some of the men and women serving overseas.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm Sergeant First Class (inaudible) here at LSA Anaconda, Iraq. I'd like to say hello to my beautiful son, Alex and my daughter, Tara, in (inaudible), Maryland. Happy holidays. I love you.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: You might have seen the commercial running on CNN where the mother in the red robe in bending over by the Christmas tree. It's a commercial for weight-loss and the little kid comes up behind her says, Santa!
CHO: Oh, that's something that you don't want to hear.
ROBERTS: Well, Many people love the holiday season so much that start to look like Santa.
CHO: That's right. With all the Christmas parties, all the Christmas treats and well winter clothing to cover it all up, it's hard not to pack on some pounds during the holidays. So, we got medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen looking into all of this and the holiday calories for us. So, just how many calories do you take in on an average Christmas dinner?
ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN, MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Alina, I tell you, they are going to be calling me the grinch. Elizabeth "the grinch" Cohen after this because I fear that I might be spoiling everyone's Christmas dinner but we'll have some tips for coping after I go through how many calories are in this lovely spread that you see here before me. Let's start off with three slices of ham. Three thrice slices of ham have 345 calories and 21 grams of fat. Oh, my gosh. The fat grams, that's a third of what you're supposed to get in a whole day. The sweet potatoes. This is 276 calories, and six grams of fat.
Now let's move on over to the green bean casserole - 143 calories and 8 grams of fat. The cranberry sauce, this is a good one. 209 calories and no fat at all. Now, here's a huge surprise. I got to tell you, this one really surprised me. Cornbread stuffing, looks so innocent. 366 calories and 18 grams of fat. Now, you finish up the meal with a piece of pumpkin pie. 323 calories and 15 grams of fat. Wash it all down with a glass of wine which is actually isn't all that bad. It's only about 80 calories. And let's put out the grand total for what Christmas dinner is going to be. All of those put together are 1,739 calories, and 68 grams of fat. So you're getting, in one meal, more fat than you're supposed to have in an entire day, and almost as many calories. We're not even counting about appetizers or seconds or thirds, or Aunt Doris' fabulous cookies. Got to have three of them. We're not even counting those.
ROBERTS: And Elizabeth, you have pumpkin pie on there as opposed to pecan pie, which would probably add another 340 to 400 calories.
COHEN: At least.
ROBERTS: It's at least double. Come on. It's once a year, can't you do it and survive?
COHEN: You know, you can have that philosophy. And some dietitians will tell you, that's fine. Just go crazy, it's one day a year. Don't worry about it, but we have a couple of little things that you can do that will really change things. That will really save you a lot, and it's really not much effort. For example, you can choose turkey over ham, and it's going to save you about 100 calories, and 15 grams of fat. You can also choose plain veggies over the kind of veggies that you see in a casserole, like a green bean casserole. Without all that added stuff, you're going to save yourself a lot of calories.
CHO: But it's not as much fun, Elizabeth.
COHEN: It's not but it's the little thing. Go crazy somewhere else, make those two little changes.
CHO: I think I know the answer or at least one of the answers. What's the really bad stuff that you should avoid?
COHEN: OK. There are two really bad things where you avoid them, you are going to do yourself a lot of good, and you can have fun in other parts of the meal. Eggnog. Oh, my goodness. 342 calories and 19 grams of fat in a glass of eggnog without alcohol. So, really, watch it. And you might not notice while you're drinking just how full you're getting. Pecan pie, as John mentioned, 456 calorie, and 21 grams of fat. So each one of those on their own has about one- third of the fat you're supposed to have in an entire day. Those might be foods to avoid. And you know, I have another tip that people can pay attention to right now.
CHO: Do tell!
COHEN: Eat, eat, eat. Eat now, it's relatively early in the morning. If you wait and you don't eat until Christmas dinner, you are going to stuff yourself. So eat a little bit now so you're not ravenous.
CHO: We're lucky, we're on the morning shift.
ROBERTS: You feel like you want to die later on. You know, that was actually a low ball for pecan pie. I've seen some estimates when it's close to 800 calories rather.
COHEN: Well, that's what a pecan pie with the chocolate on top, whipped cream, and the ice cream. We were being conservative.
CHO: You're still going to have it, are you?
ROBERTS: I always count on Elizabeth to bring us down. Well, Elizabeth, thanks.
COHEN: Well, merry Christmas!
CHO: Thanks a lot.
ROBERTS: Happy holidays to you as well.
CHO: Merry Christmas. CNN NEWSROOM just minutes away. Brianna Keilar at the CNN Center with a look at what's ahead. Hey, Brianna, good morning and merry Christmas.
BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN, ANCHOR: Hi, Alina and merry Christmas to you as well. We've got these stories on the NEWSROOM rundown this morning. This Santa is not bringing presents but the threat of wildfires. Santa Ana winds kicking up today in southern California.
And kids helping - one kid, rather, helping kids. A 10-year-old collects toys for homeless children, but then the presents get wrapped in red tape. And tips on tweaking your holiday meals. How small changes can make a big difference to your health. Join Don Lemon and me in the NEWSROOM and we're going to get started at the top of the hour right here on CNN. Back to you, guys.
CHO: In your holiday red.
All right. Breanna Keeler, merry Christmas again and we'll see you at the top of the hour.
Hey, if you're around the fire opening up presents, keep your TV on. We don't want you to miss some of our special Christmas day programming right here on CNN. They didn't ask for the recognition but they well deserved it. And we went all-out. If you missed even a second of CNN's all-star salute to ordinary people doing extraordinary things, you can see it again today. I was there backstage. It was just an extraordinary thing to see. CNN Heroes first at 1:00 p.m. Eastern and then again at 5:00 p.m., and from your front door to more than 13 countries around the world, this CNN documentary chronicles the threat to the world's environment and what can you do to change it. Anderson Cooper, Dr. Sanjay Gupta and Jeff Corwin, an all star line up bringing you up close and personal to a crisis in real-time. Stay tuned. Part one of "Planet in Peril" airs tonight at 8:00 p.m. Eastern with part two immediately after, only on CNN.
ROBERTS: Sean covered top your "Quick Hits" now. An appeals court has ruled that California insurance companies cannot drop people for simply running up too many medical bills. The decision came in a closely watched case involving a small business owner whose coverage was cancelled by Blue Shield of California after a disabling car accident. Do you ever get sick when you're on vacation and wonder why it didn't happen while were you at work? Well, listen up, because there may be a scientific reason for that.
A professor of clinical health psychology in the Netherlands calls it, "leisure sickness." The principle when you're working, your body is busy, releasing a adrenaline that can boost your immune system. There are several critics who say it's the wrong diagnosis though. This idea that when you go on vacation, your immune system winds down and you're more susceptible to diseases.
A new survey appears to blur the definition of childhood obesity. It may seem obvious but a new study found that many parents of extremely overweight kids don't see them that way. 43% think their child is about the right weight. 37% said slightly overweight and only 13% shows the more accurate very overweight. Experts say the results are troublesome because people are just failing to see a big problem.
A hip hop legend says he's stepping down as the president of an equally legendary hip-hop label. The question is why. That story coming up.
And got some time off between now and new year's. Why not catch a movie? Out Lola Ogunnaike has this year's hits and misses coming up.
But first, a holiday greeting from some of our men and women serving overseas.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SGT. GIBSON: Hi! I'm Sergeant Gibson.
SGT. MCCULLOUGH: Hi, I'm Sergeant McCullogh.
Seasons greetings to all our friends and family in Cleveland, Ohio! Happy holidays!
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: It's coming up to nine minutes to the top of the hour. Jay-Z says that he is stepping down as president of Def Jam Records. The legendary hip hop artist has been at the helm of the pioneering label for the past three years. Jay, whose real name is Sean Carter says he's going to leave at the end of his contract on December 31st. He says, it's time to take on new challenges. He'll continue to release music, though, through the label.
CHO: The holidays here. That means some of you are on vacation and may finally get a chance to catch up on all those movies you may have missed. Oscar contenders, Golden Globe nominees or maybe just want to see a good old-fashioned popcorn movie. So, how do you choose? Our entertainment correspondent Lola Ogunnaike is here to break it all down. First, we're talking about the holidays. Let's start with feel-good movies, what are they?
LOLA OGUNNAIKE, CNN, ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: We got a few out there. You got "The Great Debaters" starring Denzel Washington. This is actually the second directorial effort as well. So, he's doing double duty here. And for producing, exactly. The big "O" stamp on it. It actually tells the story of a young group of African- Americans debaters who want to go up against the big, strong Harvard team.
CHO: There's also another movie that comes from Judd Apatow. We've been hearing a lot about this guy. He did "40-year-old Virgin," "Knocked Up." Now, he's got another one, right?
OGUNNAIKE: It's called Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox story. This is sort of a parody of all these musical biopics like "Ray," "Walk the Line." It's laugh out loud funny. It stars John C. Reilly who has worked with Judd Apatow for years.
CHO: A lot of people with family this year. So, let's talk about family movies. I was really surprised. "Alvin and the Chipmunks."
OGUNNAIKE: Who knew? The "Alvin and the Chipmunks" remake would do so well. But it actually did really well, opening weekend $45 million. Second only to "I am Legend."
CHO: That's incredible. We'll get to that in a minute but I want to talk about "Enchanted." This is an incredible film. Tell us a little about this. I have to say you think it's just for kids but a lot of my adult friends have seen it and have said, you know what? It's actually pretty good.
OGUNNAIKE: Yes, you know, it's a modern day take on a fairy tale. You got great names - Patrick Dempsey, McDreamy. You got Susan Sarandon and you know, it's one of those films that parents can actually enjoy and not feel like they're sitting through something (inaudible) and annoying. So it's a good family - it's good for both parts of the family.
CHO: And before we go, I want to talk about "I am Legend." I mean, Will Smith is really still box office gold. It's incredible.
OGUNNAIKE: He can do no wrong. This film opened with $75 million in its first weekend. He holds the film for the first half an hour. It's just him. It's about Will Smith essentially facing off against zombies. He's the last living man on earth.
CHO: Let's not forget "Atonement" which led the Golden Globe's nominations. Seven nominations based on the best-selling novel by Ian McEwan, starring Keira Knightley. Right, this is a big film?
OGUNNAIKE: "Atonement" is huge. This is a long, sweeping epic that spans decades. It's a romance, you know, it's a historical epic as well. We also got an "No Old country for old men," the new Coen brothers film out there starring Javiar Bordem and Josh Brolin.
CHO: They did "Fargo."
OGUNNAIKE: They did "Fargo" exactly and Javier Bordem is bone chilling. So scary to the core. You're shaking. But it's an incredible nuance performance.
CHO: I know you said you loved this film. So, definitely, it got the Lola stamp on it.
OGUNNAIKE: The Debaters who got the "O" stamp. This is the "L" stamp on there.
CHO: All right, Lola. Thanks for all those movie suggestions.
OGUNNAIKE: Thank you. CHO: And we'll have plenty to watch in theaters over the holidays. Lola, thanks. Merry Christmas.
OGUNNAIKE: Merry Christmas to you, too.
CHO: All right.
ROBERTS: A lot to do between now and new year's when the year's biggest party happens. Less than a week away now. If you've got memory, pictures even videos of your favorite new year's eve celebration, we want to see them, too, and use them as part of the show. Go to cnn.com/iparty and send them to us. And remember, you can watch CNN new year's eve, the big special, ring in the new year along with CNN next Monday night, 11:00 p.m. Eastern with Anderson Cooper and AMERICAN MORNING's Kiran Chetry.
A quick look now at what CNN NEWSROOM is working on for the top of the hour.
DON LEMON, CNN, ANCHOR: See these stories in the CNN NEWSROOM.
Attack in Iraq. Suicide car bomber kills more than 20 people at a checkpoint.
Red flag warnings, conditions right for Christmas wildfires in California.
A real-life Grinch make as pickup after Christmas presents were delivered to the door.
And wrongly imprisoned for seven years. Now home for the holidays. NEWSROOM top of the hour on CNN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: Hi. Final check for this morning's quick vote, should Americans accept free heating oil from Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. 77% of you said yes, 23% of you said no. And this was a very, very controversial issue.
CHO: And we got lots of e-mails about it.
ROBERTS: People had a lot of opinion about it.
CHO: Yes. Really, really a dilemma. It helps a lot of people, too. All right. What is a stocking stuffer, the best gift you could ever get? Well, when it is a new born bundle of joy. Look at these pictures. So cute. Babies born on Christmas eve and all of them small enough to fit in Christmas stockings. The big guy himself even took some time out of his busy schedule for the special deliveries that happened in Spartanburg, South Carolina. The moms and dad's say they couldn't have asked for a better gift.
ROBERTS: They all look so cute.
CHO: They certainly do. Merry Christmas. ROBERTS: Merry Christmas to you, as well.
CHO: It's so nice to be here with you today and all year around by the way.
ROBERTS: Absolutely. It's always great to see you.
CHO: And Merry Christmas to all of our CNN colleagues especially our staff at AMERICAN MORNING who make us look good all year long.
ROBERTS: We'll be back again tomorrow morning. However, I'm going off to D.C.
CHO: Yes, you are. You got a flight to catch.
ROBERTS: To spend Christmas with my family. So, I'll see you from D.C. tomorrow.
CHO: Yes, that's right. I'll be right here in New York. CNN NEWSROOM with Don Lemon and Brianna Keilar begins right now.
LEMON: Hello, everyone. You are in the CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Don Lemon, in today for Tony Harris. Merry Christmas.
BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN, ANCHOR: Yes, Merry Christmas to you as well. And good morning, all. I'm Brianna Keilar, Heidi Collins if off.
Watch events come into the NEWSROOM live on this Tuesday, December 25th. Here is what is on the rundown. Christmas in Baghdad where U.S. troops give their families give a virtual hug and sent a pack of pistol.
LEMON: And Christmas in court. The man accused of ramming his van into a TV station faces justice. We'll hear from the anchor who is shocked.
KEILAR: And Christmas food with fear. Tweaking your menu to prevent a calorie catastrophe in the NEWSROOM.
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