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Chess Legend Bobby Fischer Dies; Primary Battles Heat Up; Stock Market in Trouble; President Bush Speaks on Economy; Tom Cruise and Scientology Come Under Fire; Genarlow Wilson Starts Over
Aired January 18, 2008 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Chess legend Bobby Fischer is dead. He died yesterday in Reykjavik, Iceland. The site of his 1972 Cold War era showdown with Soviet Chess champion Boris Spassky. The match made Fischer the first modern day U.S. world champion. He went into seclusion after that match, surfacing overseas years later. Fischer was a controversial figure throughout his life. He railed against Jews, even praised the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Bobby Fischer was 64.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, everybody. I'm Heidi Collins.
HARRIS: And I'm Tony Harris.
Stay informed all day in the CNN NEWSROOM. Here's what's on the rundown. President Bush talks of plans to put some pep in your pocket and the economy. Live coverage ahead. Is a surprise check headed for your mailbox?
COLLINS: Decision time in South Carolina and Nevada. Will young voters make the difference in 2008? We're going to ask two of them this hour.
HARRIS: And the bizarre Tom Cruise video that has everybody talking today. Friday, January 18th, you are in the CNN NEWSROOM.
Are the checks in the mail? Not yet but it soon could be for millions of you, giving you a tax rebate. One of the ways the government may try to pump up the economy. We will hear from President Bush next hour. He is not expected to go into specifics but advisers say the President wants a plan that will lead to quick results.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ED GILLESPIE, WHITE HOUSE COUNSELOR: What the president is going to highlight is the fact that any package that we agree on with Congress and bipartisan plan should be timely, should have an immediate impact in the economy, should have an a direct effect, should be simple, should be broad based, and should be big enough to have a positive impact on a very big economy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: White House counselor, Ed Gillespie, says the president favors tax relief over tax rebates. He says the bottom line is to make sure people feel confident enough to spend money.
COLLINS: Stocks falling, foreclosures rising, and nerves fraying in Washington and on the campaign trail. It's all about the economy right now.
CNN's Tom Foreman explains.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Snow is falling on D.C. but the chill is from a word, recession. With the Federal Reserve now sounding economic alarms, both parties are calling for swift action to stop a serious decline.
REP. NANCY PELOSI (D), HOUSE SPEAKER: To spark economic growth is absolutely essential.
REP. JOHN BOEHNER (R), MINORITY LEADER: If we're going to act, we need to act sooner rather than later.
FOREMAN: Democrats and Republicans say tax rebates and business incentives could put more money into the hands of consumers and push spending. But then, details get sticky with some democrats also talking about more food stamps and unemployment benefits and some republicans balking. This is delicate business.
Mark Zandi from moodyeconomy.com.
MARK ZANDI, MOODY'S ECONOMY.COM: If policy makers don't act, we are going to have a lot of unemployed people and they're going to take it out on the people who are running for office.
FOREMAN: So the candidates are echoing calls for action.
SEN. HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I want a moratorium for 90 days on home foreclosures in America.
MITT ROMNEY (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Preventing recession is an important responsibility of government.
FOREMAN: But it is not clear that a stimulus plan will work anyway. Just because consumers get more money doesn't mean they're necessarily going to spend it. And the economy is so enormous, some economists say even the most ambitious plan from the politicians could be like a row boat trying to push around an ocean liner.
Russell Roberts from George Mason University.
RUSSELL ROBERTS, GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY: They're going to try and buy a little love with these checks, with these rebates, with these extended benefits, whatever they put in the mail, but the odds that it's going to have a serious impact on the economy are pretty small.
FOREMAN: Still, both parties clearly feel that they have to do something, or pocket book voters could punish them this fall. Tom Foreman, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: We will be bringing you President Bush's remarks on boosting the economy, live right here in the NEWSROOM. We expect to hear from him at 11:50 Eastern, 8:50 Pacific.
HARRIS: South Carolina, the sun comes up and Republican candidates countdown. Tomorrow the state hosts its GOP presidential contest. The three front-runners are scrambling for votes. John McCain has rallied throughout the morning. Mike Huckabee also hit the campaign trail. He is pumping up conservative crowds by denouncing gay marriage and calling for the feds to stay out of the state debate over the confederate flag. Mitt Romney raised a few eyebrows with a testy exchange with a Associated Press reporter. Romney was saying his campaign is not being run by Washington lobbyist when the reporter interrupted.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROMNEY: Did you hear what I said? Did you hear what I said?
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Do you have lobbyists running your campaign?
ROMNEY: I said I don't have lobbyists running my campaign. He's not running my campaign.
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: He's a senior adviser.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: The journalist pointed out that one D.C. lobbyist is among one of his top advisers. The political gamble in Nevada, site of tomorrow's caucuses. At issue, a lawsuit filed by a union that backs Hillary Clinton. It's all to block Democrats from holding caucuses inside Las Vegas casinos. The suit failed and Barack Obama could benefit.
CNN's Jessica Yellin explains.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JESSICA YELLIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Listen to Senators Clinton and Obama and you'd think this lawsuit is just another petty distraction on the campaign trail.
CLINTON: Obviously, we want as many people as possible to be able to participate.
SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We are confident that our people are going to show up and I think we'll do very well.
YELLIN: When a judge ruled that tens of thousands of workers along the Vegas strip can caucus at nine casino sites this Saturday. It was great news for Barack Obama and could be a blow to Senator Clinton. That's because many of the people who work along the strip belong to a union that has endorsed the Obama campaign.
LYNN WARNE, NEVADA STATE EDUCATION ASSN.: It certainly is advantageous for one particular group of employees, those are the strip workers that are going to be at work.
YELLIN: What about the charge she and the others who brought the suit were trying to suppress the vote?
MARK FERRARIO, ATTORNEY: My client will never about disenfranchise people. This case was about fairness.
YELLIN: Democratic leaders say it's time to put this behind them.
JILL DERBY, NEVADA DEMOCRATIC PARTY CHAIRWOMAN: We're ready to move forward. All the (INAUDIBLE) on January 19th go well.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: And Jessica Yellin joins us now live from Las Vegas.
Jessica, good morning to you. So how are the campaigns reacting to this ruling?
YELLIN: Well, as you might expect, Senator Obama is praising the ruling and he says it's going to allow all the shift workers to have their voices heard, as they should be. The Clinton campaign says the ruling is unfair and gives those strip workers on the strip an advantage that others don't have. But she says she's still excited to let those voters, the caucus goers here have their voices heard. I would like to correct one thing though, Tony, the folks that brought this case did not actually endorse Senator Clinton. Some of their members are Clinton supporters but the union did not actually endorse her.
HARRIS: Got you. OK. Let's talk about another union, the union that endorsed Barack Obama is, I guess, getting some bad headlines. Is it actually being accused of voter intimidation?
YELLIN: There are a lot of stories here in Vegas about some of the union heads or some of the folks inside the casinos, strong arming the employees, telling them essentially they have to caucus for Barack Obama. Nothing that's crossed the line of legality. But it is raising a lot of eyebrows. And the Clinton campaign is also pointing to an ad they put out in Spanish telling so many of the states Latino voters that Clinton is trying to basically suppress the vote which they vehemently deny and so a lot of fire back and forth here in Vegas right now.
HARRIS: Sounds like it. OK. Jessica Yellin for us in Las Vegas. Jessica, thank you.
COLLINS: I want to give you this information we are just receiving here in the CNN NEWSROOM. There has been a third arrest made in connection with the murder of those two Atlanta police officers, Dekalb County police officers, I should say. A third arrest now. The other two arrests took place a couple of days ago. Yesterday was the second, and before that was the first.
Now, three arrests have been made in the shooting deaths of the two Dekalb County police officers -- 26-year-old Ricky Bryant Jr. was killed and 33-year-old Eric Barker were killed as they worked their off-duty security guard jobs at an apartment complex. We should also mention that there is another warrant for arrest of a fourth suspect. That arrest has not yet been made but we will continue to watch this story for you. Again, out of Dekalb county.
HARRIS: Now, let's get a check of weather with Rob Marciano.
And Rob, we've been talking about snow in the south and the southeast. You know, there's a pretty big primary, South Carolina. And we're getting some indications that the weather is impacting some events scheduled for today.
ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Already today.
HARRIS: Yes.
MARCIANO: I'm worried about tomorrow. I think folks who live, say, west northwest of I-85 especially will be impacted by some snow late today. So, you know, get out there and take it easy. You folks in South Carolina are a hardy bunch. Get it done with the best of.
Hey, I want to show you something else in the south. Tuscaloosa, this is a live shot, a gorgeous day there right now. It's along I-20. I think where I-59 meets it. WBMA, our affiliate out that way, pretty calm right now. But you're in a winter storm watch, believe it or not. Yes, some snowflakes could fall across the south tomorrow, mixing with a little bit of rain at times.
Will it look like this? Check out D.C. and the White House, there you go. They saw some snow yesterday. Remember seeing it right here live in the NEWSROOM. They were getting pounded with snow. It has moved out so far but here are some of the snowfall tallies across the mid Atlantic. Williamsburg, West Virginia, there is one by the way, eight inches. Blacksburg, Virginia, six inches. Columbia, Maryland 5.2. Look at Baltimore, Tony Harris, old stomping grounds there, 4.3 inches of snow. Now you better believe it, there's a good decent snowstorm there.
We're watching this guy as it begins to make its way towards our area or I should say the south. I don't think I remember putting this up. OK. This is old. Let's move on. So we got this moisture that's going to be teaming up with some cold air driving south from the Canadian Rockies. And from the Canadian prairie, four degrees right now in Minneapolis, 11 degrees in Chicago. And all of this is going to be heading south and east.
So we're watching this mixed with a little bit of cold air. That's why I'm worried about South Carolina, also worried about north Georgia. Also Alabama where there's winter storm watches posted for this storm that's going to be developing over the next 24 hours. I know I said that were working on a forecast. You know it's not fantasy land here. This is hard core scientific analysis. It does take some time. So, at 11:00, we'll have more concrete - better graphic presentation for you.
COLLINS: I look forward to that. I do.
MARCIANO: I hope we can produce it.
COLLINS: All right. Rob, thank you.
MARCIANO: See you.
COLLINS: Investigators at London's Heathrow Airport this morning. They are combing the wreckage of a British Airways jet that crash landed short of the runway on Thursday, 17 people were hurt. The Boeing 777 from Beijing hit a grassy area before skidding hundreds of yards from the tarmac. There was no fire but the plane sustained heavy damage as you can see from those pictures to its wings, undercarriage and engines. The crash backed up air traffic, as you would imagine, for hours. More than 50 Heathrow flights have been cancelled still today.
HARRIS: Young voters with a loud voice this election season. Heidi talks to a couple of them, next in the NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: Young Americans will have a loud voice this election season. What issues though are bringing them into the process. We have two college students active in politics. Whitney McCrea is the president of young democrats at South Carolina State University. Hello there, Whitney. And Adam Hunter, founded a republican club at Howard University in Washington. Adam, hello to you as well.
Hey, listen, guys, I want to ask straight off the top here, how excited are your friends and peers about this election -- Whitney?
WHITNEY MCCREA, SOUTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY: We are very much excited. I mean, I think we discuss politics and the election 2008 daily. Maybe all day long, but we are very excited.
COLLINS: Do you think everybody that you know will vote?
MCCREA: Most definitely. I think we're in a position where we realize now that what we do in November will determine what happens to us in the next 50, 60, or 70 years. So, I think they will definitely vote, you know.
COLLINS: Adam, what do you think the issues are, as we mentioned in the introduction to this segment, the exact issues that are going to bring young people into those voting booths?
ADAM HUNTER, HOWARD UNIVERSITY: I think the issues that will bring them into the voting booth are the economy, immigration, taxes. I think all the issues that matter to all Americans will bring them out.
COLLINS: Nothing really different? Nothing that separates the young people from that older demographic?
HUNTER: No. All right. We all worrying about our money. That's definitely the case.
COLLINS: What about the candidates though? Adam, I'll start with you. Are there specific candidates that young people seem to sort of migrate towards? We heard a lot about Barack Obama?
HUNTER: Yes. Well, my friends are going towards Barack Obama. They see something in him. He provides something -
COLLINS: Your friends, your Republican friends? Wait a minute.
HUNTER: Well, not my Republican friends.
COLLINS: Oh.
HUNTER: Most of my friends are surprisingly Democrats. And they are talking a lot about Barack Obama. My Republican friends, they like Huckabee, but myself, I'm supporting Giuliani.
COLLINS: OK. Now I'm totally confused. What about you, Whitney? Is there a candidate that you or your friends are really talking about more than any other?
MCCREA: I think that my friends are excited because the democratic party actually have three great candidates. So, I think that, you know, we're just more supportive of the democratic party right now than we are, you know, we have a particular candidate but we're so indecisive right now. And so we're just supporting the democratic party wholeheartedly.
COLLINS: OK. So you don't have any Republican friends?
MCCREA: I do have one but I'm definitely unsure who he is in support of.
COLLINS: One, OK. All right. Maybe you can meet Adam and you can have a second one. Excellent. Do you feel like though that the candidates are really talking to you as young voters -- Whitney?
MCCREA: Most definitely. I mean, I've seen them on numerous of occasions and they all just grab my attention in one way or another. So I think definitely, they are actually targeting the younger audience this year.
COLLINS: Adam, how do you think they're doing it specifically? Is it the way they speak? Is it some of the presentations, the way they hold these events? I mean, what is it that is starting to make people - younger people, that is, sit up and notice?
HUNTER: I think it's the way they speak. Barack Obama provides some hope for people. They like when he speaks. But I think it's also the way they use the internet, do Facebook. My friends on Facebook are showing their support of which candidate they like. They show Huckabee. They show Romney. They show Obama or Hillary.
COLLINS: You know, I wonder if both of you could meet with the candidates personally and there would be one thing that you could say to them, as I totally put you on the spot, what do you think that would be -- Whitney?
MCCREA: You know, I really don't know but I think that I would have to say can you assure me that my future generation will also have a shot at education just as I have because I think I'm really more - I'm leaning more towards education issues because I'm a college student. But I think my question would be concerning education.
COLLINS: OK. I think that was a great answer. What about you, Adam?
HUNTER: I think it deals with the economy. I think we have to make sure that my future will be secure.
COLLINS: What specifically about the economy, you're talking about retirement, you're talking about 401(k)?
HUNTER: I'm talking about retirement, privatizing social security. I think that for my generation, we don't need the same social security that our parents have. We want something different. We analyze our future differently than our parents do and can speak towards our future that's going to bring us into the fold and we will be able to accept what you say.
COLLINS: Well, we appreciate the insight from both of you today. Certainly. Whitney McCrae, South Carolina State University, and Adam Hunter, Howard University. Thanks, guys. Appreciate it.
MCCRAE: Thank you.
HUNTER: You're welcome.
HARRIS: Are the economy sputters, you have questions, Gerri Willis has answers. Boy, does she. Your e-mails, just ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: Don't you feel as though we need a big bounce back today? Come on, wouldn't you like to go into the weekend in positive territory at least for a day here with the Dow? Look at what we have here! Come on, inside the first hour of the trading day and the Dow is up 148 points. Let me see, where is my NASDAQ number. NASDAQ up 28 points. Early first hour of the trading day, but isn't this a positive sign? I'm not even going to talk about yesterday. Yikes! We're following the numbers in the NEWSROOM with Susan Lisovicz all morning long.
Credit cards, job losses and debt, big topics in these troubled economic times. You have big questions. Here to answer them CNN personal finance editor Gerri Willis. Gerri, great to see you. Great to see you, Gerri. I just want every one to know, you were terrific last night on the big "LARRY KING LIVE" show. Great advice. Everyone on that panel, smart people. Loving Gerri Willis. Here's Gerri Willis, a moment from last night's show and then we got questions and everything else.
GERRI WILLIS, CNN, PERSONAL FINANCE EDITOR: Oh, my goodness.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WILLIS: You may get 600 bucks in the mail but what is that going to do for your budget long term. You're going to have to be thinking more broadly about how you're going to save yourself.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: And that's a bit of advice last night and everyone on the panel applauded when you're talking about the possibility of this economic stimulus package, including a rebate, a rebate check. What do you think, Gerri?
WILLIS: All right.
HARRIS: The president is going to say today?
WILLIS: This is what we're expecting. The President is expected to outline his plan design to boost economic growth. He wants to goose the economy, Tony. Because it's in such poor shape. Now, what he's talking about is a tax rebate. And you know how that's different from a tax deduction. A deduction is lowering your taxes. A tax rebate is a check in the mail for $800, as much as that, for individuals and $1,600 for couples. Tony.
HARRIS: That's what you're hearing, as much as $800 and $1,600 for couples? That's not insignificant. Gerri, want to get you some e- mail questions?
WILLIS: Sure thing.
HARRIS: Let's do that. The first question comes from Jordan, who writes "I want to find a list of credit card companies, Gerri, rank in order of best business practices, APR, rewards, so on and so forth. Is there such a list?"
WILLIS: Well, absolutely. There is. Check out cardratings.com. On this Web siteyou'll be able to compare APR, balance transfer fees, cash back rewards, other fees. You'll also be able to get reviews of those cards from cardholders which is great news. Another great Web siteCreditkards.com, you can compare credit card deals side which is always a great thing.
HARRIS: That is great. The next question comes from, I'm going with Mwiko from Nevada, as the pronouncer on this. "I am going to be losing my job in about nine months. I would like to know what I should do, Gerri, to stay ahead." WILLIS: Well, this is a great question. Look, if you see a job loss coming down the pipe, the best thing to do right now is to start looking for a new job. Revisit old contacts, polish up your resume. If you belong to a professional group or organization starting thinking about opportunities. In the meantime, tighten your purse strings, eliminate unnecessary spending, check your bank accounts. Make sure you have a comfortable cushion. And we talk about this all the time, that's about three to six months' worth of salary. Get your debts under control. You may have to call your creditors and tell them what's going on so you can negotiate a payment schedule.
HARRIS: Again, that's great advice. You gave that advice last night on the big "LARRY KING LIVE." show. Margaret, third question here, "I am trying to correct a defaulted credit card debt and the credit car company offered me a one-time payment solution. The payment would be about half of what the total bill was. Is there any advice you can offer, Gerri?"
WILLIS: Well, Margaret, I've heard a lot about this kind of thing. It sounds like the credit card company is offering a settlement if you can afford the payment, take it and run. The settlement is common as the bank thinks they won't get paid back or if they think you will declare bankruptcy or go through a debt management plan, accepting the settlement can be smart.
But keep in mind, the settlement will be noted on your credit score and your credit reports. It's considered a negative. So, if you can't make the one-time payment, you're going to have to try and negotiate paying that off in two to three months. If you decide to take up a settlement offer. Make sure you get a letter from the bank stating that you have a zero balance and the account has been settled in full. Because you know, they settle this debt and you get more people coming after you for that debt.
HARRIS: OK. You're back again with us next hour, Gerri?
WILLIS: I believe I am. I can't wait, Tony.
HARRIS: And the other thing is, I'm not kidding, you were so good in that show last night we're going to grab a big chunk of that and run it for folks because it was just great advice in that program, Larry's program last night. So, see you again.
WILLIS: Appreciate that. See you soon.
HARRIS: See you next hour.
COLLINS: A stunning admission, police say it came from one of the teens in that deadly tiger attack in San Francisco.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: Good Friday morning to you, everybody. It's 10:30 Eastern time now.
I'm Heidi Collins. HARRIS: And I'm Tony Harris. Welcome back, everyone to the CNN NEWSROOM.
They were drinking and they were taunting. One of three teens involved in that deadly tiger attack at the San Francisco Zoo admits provoking the big cat. Court documents say 19-year-old Paul Dhaliwal apparently told the father of the boy who was killed, he says, they were all yelling and waving at the tiger while stand on a railing above the enclosure.
A witness thought it was a doll being tossed in the air. It was actually a toddler being thrown off an overpass on to a Honolulu highway. The little boy was killed yesterday. The man accused of throwing the toddler was arrested. Matthew Higa shouted, "Thank you for everything," as he was led away. The suspect lived in the same apartment complex as the boy.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: When the baby sees Matthew, he gets all happy and he runs up to Matthew.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's a loner. Like, he's always by himself, smoking a cigarette.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: "Honolulu Advertiser" reports the suspect was occasionally asked to care for the toddler. The newspaper also says the suspect had been recently sent for a mental evaluation.
COLLINS: Well, you've probably seen it online. Clips from a Church of Scientology video, featuring Tom Cruise talking about his faith. Who posted it and why, and what does it really mean?
CNN's David Mattingly investigates.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: There's no question Tom Cruise is a star who can pull fans into a theater. But moviegoers may not be used to seeing Cruise like this.
TOM CRUISE, ACTOR: When you drive past an accident, it's not like anyone else. As you drive past, you know you have to do something about it because you know you're the only one that can really help.
MATTINGLY: This is Tom Cruise talking passionately about Scientology.
CRUISE: I think it's a privilege to call yourself a Scientologist and it's something you have to earn. And because Scientologists does -- he or she has the ability to create new and better realities and improve conditions. MATTINGLY (on-camera): We asked the Church of Scientology where this video, complete with a "Mission Impossible" like sound track came from. We were told you can find it at any Church of Scientology. The church says it's from a 2004 Scientology ceremony honoring Cruise for his humanitarian work. But it was never public until what the church describes as a "pirated and edited version," showed up on the web.
(voicer-over): On a web posted version, we hear Cruise's thoughts on leaders around the world.
CRUISE: They want help and they are depending on people who know and who can be effective and do it, and that's us.
MATTINGLY: Former Scientologist, Bruce Hines, says he's heard this kind of message before among believers.
BRUCE HINES, FORMER SCIENTOLOGIST: Scientologists think that only they have the answers to the problems of the world.
MATTINGLY: And the star's confidence comes through loud and clear. This is Tom Cruise on commitment.
CRUISE: Look, you're either on board or you're not on board, OK? But just, if you're on board, you're on board just like the rest of us. You're in.
MATTINGLY: This is Tom Cruise on psychiatry.
CRUISE: I'm telling you, when you study the history of psychiatry, (INAUDIBLE) it's crimes against humanity.
MATTINGLY (on-camera): The appearance of the video coincides with the release of an unauthorized Cruise biography. The author claims that Cruise could be the church's second highest-ranking Scientologist. An idea that the church says is ludicrous.
ANDREW MORTON, AUTHOR: It could be a composition of what they call "inspector general" inside Scientology. But, because of his film commitments and obviously his other work, he has no official title.
MATTINGLY (voice-over): In an eight-page rebuttal, the Church of Scientology calls Morton's book "...a bigoted, defamatory assault replete with lies." Saying, Cruise is a "parishioner and holds no official or unofficial position in the church hierarchy."
Cruise's own attorney hints at legal action, saying the book is loaded with false statements. One video version of the Scientology awards ceremony was given to CNN by the book's publisher, who denied leaking it to the web. On it, we see Cruise exchanging salutes with Scientology chairman, David Miscavige. Former Scientologist Hines says it's a greeting common among the church's elite it.
HINES: It might have been meaningless, it might have just been for theatric purposes. But still, the fact he did it caught my eye.
MATTINGLY: CNN captured this version of the video from Radar online, including this Cruise comment about something called an "SP."
CRUISE: He said, so have you met an SP? You know, and I thought, what a beautiful thing because maybe one day it will be like that. You know what I'm saying? Maybe one day it will be -- wow, SP, it's like they'll just read about those in the history books, you know?
MATTINGLY: Turns out SP is Scientology lingo for suppressive person.
HINES: It's basically the bad guys. Those are the people that are responsible for trying to stop Scientology and its mission.
MATTINGLY: The video appeared only briefly on YouTube before it was removed for copyright reasons. A Cruise spokeswoman would only acknowledge that the video was from a private church event in 2004. She offered no comment from the star on the video going public.
David Mattingly, CNN, Los Angeles.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: There is a bit of a controversy that has erupted over the last week, maybe two weeks or so, involving the Golf Channel. One of its anchors, Kelly Tillman, and Tiger Woods and a comment made by Tillman about using the word "lynch" to describe what Tiger Woods' competitors might consider doing to the world's No. 1 player in an alley if they really wanted to compete about him. Kelly Tillman has since apologized for using the word "lynch" and she has been suspended by the Golf Channel.
Now, "Golf Week" is a magazine, obviously that is dedicated to reporting on the golf world. It published in it a picture on it's cover. We're going to show that to you right now, of a recent edition. And there you see it, "Caught in A Noose." And there is the picture of the noose. We are just receiving word that the magazine has apologized for the cover and has fired the editor responsible for that cover. And in a statement says -- the statement says, we apologize for creating this graphic cover that received extreme negative reaction from consumers, subscribers and advertisers across the country.
This statement coming from the president of the publishing company. We were trying to convey the controversial issues with the strong and provocative graphic image. It is now obvious that the overall reaction to our cover deeply offended many people. For that we are deeply apologetic. It must be said here that Tiger Woods has commented on this and he has said that he and Kelly Tillman are, and continue to be, great friends. And that the comment was no big deal for him. So just wanted to bring you the latest information on this growing controversy. And perhaps now, maybe, it is put to bed.
COLLINS: U.S. troops reportedly gaining ground in Baghdad. Surprising new security stats.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: Violence in Baghdad dramatically down. That's according to new statistics on security in the Iraqi capital reported in "USA Today." Military officials tell the paper 75 percent of Baghdad's neighborhoods are now secure -- a major increase from a year ago when just eight percent of the city was considered secure. The progress credited to a boost in troop levels there. While military leaders caution the gains are fragile, they say U.S. and Iraqi troops, "basically own the streets now."
HARRIS: The Pentagon aiming to reduce the number of U.S. troops in Iraq by 100,000 by year's end. CNN's Jamie McIntyre reports on the chances of that actually happening.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN SR. PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): As conditions in Iraq improve, there is an uneasy tension building between Pentagon planners anxious to reap a peace dividend by bringing U.S. troops home faster and front-line commanders, such as Lieutenant General ray Odierno.
LT. GEN. RAYMOND ODIERNO, CMDR., MULTINATIONAL CORPS-IRAQ: What we don't want to do is suddenly pull out a whole bunch of U.S. forces and suddenly turn things over to the Iraqi security forces. I would like to see it done very slowly over time.
MCINTYRE: The Pentagon says its goal of going from 20 to 15 combat brigades by July is on track. In fact, one brigade is already home. That will drop U.S. troop levels to roughly 130,000 by summer. But the hope for additional force cuts in Iraq from 15 to 10 brigades down to 100,000 troops will depend entirely on the judgment of top commander, General David Petraeus, who has been told by both President Bush and Defense Secretary Gates, he'll have the final word.
ROBERT GATES, DEFENSE SECRETARY: I've asked General Petraeus to make his evaluation of the situation in Iraq and what he needs and the situation on the ground, completely based on what's going on in Iraq, that he doesn't need to look over his shoulder, think about stress on the force or anything else.
MCINTYRE: General Petraeus' cautious go slow approach is butting right up against pressure from generals like George Casey, the Army Chief of Staff who told the "Wall Street Journal," "The surge has sucked all of the flexibility out of the system."
The Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs acknowledges there is tension in the upper ranks, but insists it's a good thing.
GEN. JAMES CARTWRIGHT, JOINT CHIEFS VICE CHAIRMAN: The important part here is we don't want everybody looking at the problem from the same direction.
MCINTYRE: Despite U.S. military maps like these, showing al Qaeda's waning influence and briefing charts like these, showing attacks, IEDs and U.S. casualties all nose diving, the U.S. faces the same old problem: Iraqi forces are simply not ready. That's what the U.S. general in charge of Iraqi training just told Congress.
LT. GEN. JAMES DUBIK, MULTI-NATL. SECURITY TRANSITION CMD.: But the truth is that right now, they cannot fix supply, arm or fuel themselves completely enough at this point.
MCINTYRE (on camera): That general says Iraq will add 80,000 more troops this year, but still won't be self-sufficient for four years and won't be able to defend its borders for 10 years. Until then, the U.S. will have to do more pulling back than pulling out in order to maintain a significant force to backstop the Iraqis.
Jamie McIntyre, CNN, the Pentagon.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: Savor the image, the stock market is rebounding after its biggest sell-off of the year. Susan Lisovicz is on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange looking at the numbers.
You know Susan, I wish you could sit down with my dad and just make it all better because we had a great day yesterday and then, he went and checked the computer, saw how the Dow ended and he just stormed off to bed.
(BUSINESS HEADLINES)
HARRIS: Look, the truth of the matter is, next to CNN NEWSROOM -- hah -- it is one of the hottest shows on the network. CNN's "SATURDAY" and "SUNDAY MORNING." T.J. Holmes is here with a look ahead to tomorrow morning's program.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: Tomorrow, voters' caucus in Nevada and in South Carolina, Republicans head to the polls. We're live with the best political team on television focusing on the issues that matter to you.
AL DOTSON JR., CHAIRMAN, 100 BLACK MEN OF AMERICA: It's a great time. It's a great time in America. And even in black America, when you have multiple candidates who are attuned to our issues, who are responding to our issues and excite the electorate to participate.
HOLMES: Yes, those issues, what exactly are those issues? Went to Las Vegas, meet up with members of the group 100 Black Men of America, talked to them about the great divide going on in the black community. Conversation quite interesting. Certainly one you do not want to miss. Tune in for that.
Also in Nevada, it's about the "F" word, foreclosures, that is, the highest rate in the country. Find out why so many people are losing their homes.
Also, we've got this.
GENARLOW WILSON, COLLEGE FRESHMAN: Stills (ph), I'm going to be myself, I'm going to wear my shades and everything.
HOLMES: Once in prison, serving a 10-year sentence. Now, he's in college. An exceptional ending to a story CNN has followed from the very beginning. We're the only news network with Genarlow Wilson on his first day of class.
CNN "SATURDAY" and "SUNDAY MORNING" beginning tomorrow at 7:00 Eastern.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: A magician makes a student disappear from school.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The teachers were really caught off guard that they were not aware of a magic show and just let the kids go.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: But, now he's charged with kidnapping. What happened to the girl?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: A magician charged with kidnapping. He is accused of disappearing with a nine-year-old schoolgirl in Lewisville, Texas. Here's Narissa Knight (ph) of affiliate KTXA.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHRIS WOLF, VICTIM'S FATHER: I just explained to the teacher, and said hey, I've got the permission of the principal to pull out these four girls.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think that's horrible.
NARISSA KNIGHT, KTXA REPORTER (voice-over): Wednesday afternoon, police say 22-year-old Daniel Reyes, a Las Vegas magician, who's also performed at Creekside Elementary before, was given access to the school where he allegedly pulled a nine-year-old from her class, left through a side door and took the girl to his parents' home nearby.
Detectives say he kept the girl there for an hour, videotaped her, blindfolded her and asked her sexually-explicit questions.
CAPTAIN KEVIN DEAVER, LEWISVILLE, TEXAS POLICE: ...and that the child came back and made some sort of statement which alerted the school personnel and then they contacted the parents.
KNIGHT: Cassie Kelly says her daughter was also pulled from the same fourth grade class, but that Reyes sent her back because she didn't know her new home address.
CASSIE KELLY, PARENT: According to my daughter, the teachers were caught off guard that they were not aware of a magic show and just let the kids go.
KNIGHT: After Reyes took the girl back to school and reportedly dropped her off, parents and staff called police, who arrested Reyes and later served a search warrant on the magician's boyhood home, which is less than a mile down the street from his alleged victim.
WOLF: A little let down by the school system, for sure. That's my main concern is -- I want to plead to any other children out there, plead to you that if anything ever happened to you, speak up. Don't let his threats and the fear of reprisal from him stop you from saying something.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: You know, a $20,000 bond couldn't hold Reyes. He made bail and is out of jail this morning.
COLLINS: High altitude high jinx -- as press planes get airborne, candidates and the reporters covering them have some fun.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: Candidates and reporters who cover them have a tradition of cutting up on campaign planes. So, what are they doing these days? CNN's Jeanne Moos has this mile-high report.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Don't try this on a commercial flight. On a campaign plane, where the candidates let their hair down, it's no surprise to see a wannabe president playing flight attendant.
CLINTON: Once we reach cruising altitude, we'll be offering in- flight entertainment, my stump speech.
MOOS: But Hillary wasn't first. Candidate George Bush did it eight-and-a-half years ago.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Please put your expectations securely in your overhead bins, as they may shift during the trip and can fall and hurt someone, especially me.
MOOS: Back then, the press plane could get pretty wild. As documented in the film "Journeys with George," the campaign went airborne, paper plates could serve as teleprompters, and the "Fasten Seatbelt" sign didn't always apply while landing.
And the candidate himself served cookies, demonstrated his cheerleading skills, and even roamed the aisle wearing sleeping blinders.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Are you OK, governor?
BUSH: What?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You OK?
BUSH: I can't hear you because I can't see.
MOOS: We could have used some blinders to avoid seeing President Reagan in his sweatpants. He could golf at 35,000 feet. But the favorite airborne sport seems to be rolling oranges. Mike Huckabee's plane, it's called huck-a-ball. After takeoff, while the plane's nose is pointed up, press people in back try to roll oranges up the aisle in the direction of the Huckabees, who seem to enjoy rolling them back to the media. Even prim Nancy Reagan was known to participate.
(on camera): In addition to bowling with oranges, some members of the press occasionally do something known as aisle surfing. Even button-down Al Gore reportedly aisle surfed on his vice presidential campaign plane.
(voice-over): We couldn't find any pictures of aisle surfing on a campaign plane. But this YouTube video shows a fine example of a guy on a chartered plane using laminated safety instructions as skis to surf down the aisle on takeoff.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And he's off! Get your head out of the runway, folks.
(CHEERING)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How about it?
MOOS: And though the candidates may express the bipartisan desire to cross the aisle, it's hard to imagine them surfing it.
Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
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