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Defiant Mayor Awaits Vindication; Clinton Places Call for Action to Stop Mortgage Crisis; President Bush Discusses Peace & Freedom with State Department
Aired March 24, 2008 - 15:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: It is the top of the hour. You're in the CNN NEWSROOM.
We want to talk now about 4,000. You're hearing that number a lot today. It is the number of Americans who have died in the five- year-old fight for Iraq. And it was reached just yesterday. No doubt it is a large number, but, on its own, it remains just that. It is a number.
Today, we want to go beyond the statistics to realities of war overseas and to the battles at home. Let's bring in our Pentagon correspondent, Barbara Starr, to put that 4,000 number into context for us.
Barbara, go ahead.
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, hello to you.
You know, 4,000, each one of them very clearly an individual, terrible tragedy for their families, that's what the Pentagon is saying. And it should be said that in that 4,000 included are eight civilians that worked for the Pentagon who also lost their lives over the years.
But 4,000 times now, that terrible knock at the door of an American family's home, giving them the worst possible news, that their loved ones have perished in the war in Iraq over the last five years, many, you know, sons, daughters, mothers, fathers, and, of course, children, some of these troops that have died as young as 18 and 19 years old in Iraq.
But all of this, in fact, does come as the reality goes on here in Washington and on the campaign trail that Iraq is, again, front and center. In fact, President Bush today getting a briefing from General David Petraeus about his recommendations about the way ahead in Iraq, when further troop reductions may come, all of that sparking the question, of course, at the White House briefing about the president's views about this very emotional milestone.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DANA PERINO, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: He definitely feels the loss. He gets a report about every single soldier who passes away. And he always pauses a moment to think about them and to offer a prayer for their loved ones and their family and friends. (END VIDEO CLIP)
STARR: Very difficult business.
You know, if you wonder whether the soldiers, the troops that work in this building here in the Pentagon are taking pause to for this very significant milestone, I can tell you that I was talking to a young army lieutenant colonel here in the hallway just a few minutes ago, and he told me that, when he heard about the 4,000 mark, he went just across the way from the Pentagon here, went to Arlington National Cemetery to visit the graves of some of the young troops that he lost during his combat tour in Iraq, and came to work in his battle uniform today, not his dress uniform, in honor of those who are still out in the field, those who have perished and those still fighting.
LEMON: Barbara Starr, thank you. Not just a number in this case, 4,000, isn't it?
STARR: It is not.
LEMON: All right.
STARR: It's very significant.
LEMON: Thank you very much for that reporting.
The time spent and the lives lost in Iraq, how do they compare with the other wars the U.S. has waged? Well, U.S. involvement in World War I lasted from 1917 to 1918, leaving 116,516 Americans dead. Again, 116,516 Americans died. That was World War I. The next World War involved about a five-year U.S. commitment and cost 405,399 deaths lives, 405,399 lives.
The Korean War, 1950 to 1953, 36,574 Americans dead, Vietnam, 1964 to 1973, 58,209 deaths, and the first Gulf War, 1990 to 1991, 382 American fatalities.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Well, a defiant Detroit mayor vows he will be fully exonerated.
Kwame Kilpatrick spoke today right after being charged with a number of felony counts, among them, perjury, obstruction of justice and misconduct in office. All concern accusations that he lied in court about an affair and the firing of police officers.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KWAME KILPATRICK (D), MAYOR OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN: I'm deeply disappointed in the prosecutor's decision. I can't say that I am surprised, however.
This has been a very flawed process from the very beginning. And I believe that there will be a full airing of all the facts in this case that will result in my full and complete vindication of all that has been laid before you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: Also charged today, the mayor's former chief of staff, Christine Beatty. In court last summer, both of them denied having an affair a few years earlier, but sexually explicit text messages published by "The Detroit Free Press" in January appear to indicate otherwise.
In announcing the 12-count indictment today, the county prosecutor said the city tried to block her investigation at -- quote -- "every bend and turn."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KYM WORTHY, WAYNE COUNTY PROSECUTOR: Some have suggested that the issues in this investigation are personal or private. Our investigation has clearly shown that public dollars were used, people's lives were ruined, the justice system was severely mocked, and the public trust trampled on.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: The prosecutor says she does expect the mayor and Beatty to turn themselves in by tomorrow morning. For now, though, Kilpatrick says he will continue to do the city's business.
(BUSINESS REPORT)
LEMON: The economy, of course, issue No. 1. And we will bring you all the latest financial news all week at noon Eastern. It's information you need on the mortgage meltdown, the credit crunch and more -- "ISSUE #1," 12:00 p.m. Eastern, only on CNN.
NGUYEN: Meanwhile, a search is under way for a man missing following a shooting death of five people in eastern Iowa.
The bodies of a woman and her four children were found in an Iowa City home today after police received an anonymous tip. Now, a man who lived in the house is missing, along with the family van.
And court records show he was indicted last month on money- laundering and embezzlement charges. He's accused of stealing more than $500,000 from the bank where he worked. Police are checking reports of a fiery vehicle crash on a nearby interstate possibly involving that van.
LEMON: All right, leading our political ticker today, Hillary Clinton puts the economy front and center in Pennsylvania. She got three stops in the state today. She's got three stops in the state today.
During a morning speech in Philadelphia, Clinton's comments included a new call for action on the country's mortgage crisis.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON (D-NY), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I'm calling on President Bush to appoint an emergency working group on foreclosures. That's the second part of my plan. We simply cannot wait until Congress passes legislation to find the best way to help millions of families.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Pennsylvania is considered a must-win for Clinton. The state's primary is April 22.
Democratic front-runner Barack Obama is taking a breather from the campaign trail. He's on vacation. He's in the Virgin Islands. But his Chicago church is still making headlines. On Easter Sunday, Obama's new minister talked about the firestorm over former Pastor Jeremiah Wright and his racially charged sermons. And he compared Wright's troubles to those faced by Jesus.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REVEREND OTIS MOSS III, TRINITY UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST: He had more visibility on the cross than he did throughout his entire ministry. He had more visibility on the cross than he had through his whole three years of ministry. He had more visibility being crucified than when he was not. Be careful who you lynch.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Obama has condemned the controversial comments from Wright. The Illinois senator did not attend the church's Easter services.
Just back from a weeklong trip to the Middle East and Europe, Senator John McCain is back on the campaign trail. The presumptive Republican nominee is in California today, where he's holding a town hall meeting in Chula Vista.
All the latest campaign news is available at your fingertips. Just go to CNNPolitics.com. We also have analysis from the best political team on television -- that, and more, CNNPolitics.com.
NGUYEN: Well, mayday. There is a desperate search off the coast of Alaska -- 47 crew members forced to abandon a sinking fishing vessel.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: It's 16 past the hour on this Monday, and here are three of the stories that we're working on for you in the CNN NEWSROOM.
Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick is pleading to fight -- or pledging to fight felony charges against him and stay in office. Kilpatrick and his former chief of staff, Christine Beatty, are accused of perjury for allegedly lying in court about an affair.
The bodies of a woman and her four children have been found in this Iowa City home. And now police are looking for the woman's husband. Court records indicate that he is the same man who was indicted last month for allegedly stealing more than $500,000 from the bank where he worked.
And the number of American fatalities in the Iraq war has now reached 4,000 after a Baghdad bombing yesterday killed four U.S. soldiers. Estimates of Iraqi casualties vary widely.
LEMON: And, Betty, we're also following this story, because many of the family members, some of them are just finding out. It's tragedy on the high seas. A commercial fishing boat sinks in the frigid waters about 120 miles west of Dutch Harbor, Alaska. Most of the 47 crew members of the Alaska Ranger managed to scramble into life rafts. They were rescued by the Coast Guard.
The Coast Guard is searching for one person still missing. And four others, including the captain, sadly, are dead. Relatives, are, as I said, just now getting the word.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AMY ROMAN, NIECE OF KILLED CREW MEMBER: My one uncle had called his family down in San Diego and told him that they had pulled my uncle from the boat, and he was dead. Ultimately, he died how he wanted to. If you're a fisherman, you want to die out at sea. You live to fish. This is -- if you're a true fisherman, this is how you want to go.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Well, when that boat sank, Coast Guard rescuers say winds were strong and the waves were up to eight feet.
NGUYEN: Detroit's embattled mayor now faces felony charges. And we are going to talk about his case with our political roundtable.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: OK, the president at a meeting at the State Department today, talking to the State Department about ways to strengthen the department's ability to bring freedom and peace to nations around the world, also discuss ways for the State Department to work with the Defense Department on doing that, also acknowledging this day when 4,000 American troops and lives have been lost in Iraq.
Real quickly, I want to bring in Elaine Quijano, who is standing by at the White House.
And, Elaine, we're getting the 30-second warning here. I just want to get your take on this and what the White House is saying before this is even released.
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, certainly, the White House is calling this point a sober moment in the Iraq war. That's what you're going to hear from President Bush in his remarks.
This is coming on the heels we should mention of a two-hour secure videoconference that President Bush had earlier this morning with his top U.S. commander on the ground, General David Petraeus, and U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker.
LEMON: All right, Elaine, let's listen in to the president.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We just had a very interesting dialogue on how to strengthen the State Department's capacity to bring freedom and peace around the world, how to make sure the State Department works collaboratively with the Defense Department as we, you know, deal with some of the -- some of the more difficult areas and really take advantage of some of the great opportunities that we're faced with.
And so I really want to thank you, Madam Secretary, and I thank the folks who work in this building.
Our citizens have really no idea how competent, courageous and successful the people here who work at the State Department are. I do. After now my eighth year as president, I have gotten to know the people in the State Department well, and I'm impressed, and so should our citizens.
Obviously, we want to expand the reach of the State Department by increasing its size and its efficiencies and to make sure that there's interoperability.
And along these lines, of course, you know, I'm fully aware that folks who have worked in the State Department lost their lives in -- in Iraq, along with our military folks. And, you know, on this day of reflection, I offer our deepest sympathies to their families.
I hope their families know that, you know, citizens pray for their comfort and their strength whether they were the first one who lost their life in Iraq or recently lost their lives in Iraq, that every life is precious in our sight.
And I guess my one thought I wanted to leave with -- with those who still hurt is that, you know, one day people will look back at this moment in history and say, Thank God there were courageous people willing to serve because they laid the foundations for peace for generations to come; that I have vowed in the past and I will vow so long as I'm president to make sure that those lives were not lost in vain, that, in fact, there's a, you know, a outcome that will merit the sacrifice that civilian and military alike have made; that our strategies going forward will be aimed at making sure that we achieve victory and, therefore, America becomes more secure, these young democracies survive, and peace more likely as we head into the 21st century.
So, Madam Secretary, I'm honored to be here, and I thank you very much for your hard work and your -- and your dedication.
Thank you all.
(END VIDEO CLIP) LEMON: The president of the United States with the secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice, to his right there when he was facing the cameras, walking back now into the State Department. They had a meeting this morning with the State Department.
Our Elaine Quijano was speaking before we got this tape in from the White House.
Elaine, what is the impetus for this, for wanting to expand the State Department?
QUIJANO: Well, first of all, on the Iraq grim milestone, Don, certainly, the message from the White House today is that President Bush feels the loss, that he understands full well the sacrifices that are being made because of the Iraq war.
And, of course, this is coming at a time when polls are showing that this is a deeply unpopular war with the American people. The White House is well aware of that. Nevertheless, you heard the president there talking about making sure that these sacrifices were not made in vain. In fact, just to expand on that a little bit, White House Press Secretary Dana Perino said earlier today that President Bush gets a report on every single soldier, military member that dies.
She says that the president -- she said that the president always pauses a moment and thinks about that person and offers a prayer for their loved ones and their family and friends. So, regardless of the policy differences, certainly between President Bush, Republicans and Democrats on this, the White House very much is trying to send the message that, in fact, this is a president who does understand the sacrifices being asked.
Now, that said, certainly, this is a very deeply divisive war. We saw certainly protests with the five-year anniversary of the Iraq war. The White House understands full well, of course, that there's much being said about this war on the campaign trail as well.
But what they continue to say is that the president will take his cues on this from the commanders on the ground. Again, I was saying General David Petraeus, as well as U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker, spent about two hours briefing President Bush via secure videoconference today, and the president over at the State Department, really, the White House trying to essentially look ahead, even beyond this presidency, to try and get the institutions in place to ensure that the next president will be able to push forward with a plan to help the Iraqi government stand on its own.
Now, the White House, of course, has taken a great deal of criticism. But, in the meantime, until April 8 or 9 -- that's when General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker are due to give their reports -- the White House is saying, basically, let's wait. Let's see what the general has to say.
We know already that there is talk of a troop pause perhaps in the troop drawdown. But the White House, again, is saying, let's wait and reserve judgment until we hear back from General Petraeus, again, in early April -- Don.
LEMON: Elaine Quijano at the White House, thanks for summing that up for us so well. Thank you, Elaine.
(BUSINESS REPORT)
SUSAN LISOVICZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And the Nasdaq is flying, too. So, in, particular are a couple of high flying stocks over at the Nasdaq likely to make Oprah Winfrey and Howard Stern both happy. How often can you say that?
Poppy Harlow has that big story -- hi, Poppy.
POPPY HARLOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Susan. I've got to say, love that toss. Very clever.
The gains we're seeing on the Nasdaq are almost twice what we're seeing on the Dow. We're up close to three percent. That has a lot to do with an approval of a merger just announced within the last half an hour by the Department of Justice approving the merger between XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio. The reason you see XM up better than 13 percent is because XM will acquire shares of Sirius. They are calling it a merger of equals, but, again, it will be XM Satellite Radio.
When it was announced more than a year ago, this deal was valued at $13 billion. Now, it does still hinge on approval by the FTC, but many are saying because the Department of Justice really went over all of those antitrust concerns, the FTC is expected to approve it. No word yet on when that decision will be handed down.
But, again, the big question now for you, if you one of these -- if you have XM or Sirius Satellite Radio, the question is, is it going to become more expensive for you and are you going to have to get new equipment?
That is something that we'll have to wait and see. But, again, big news in the technology sector really helping the Nasdaq out.
(STOCK MARKET REPORT)
NGUYEN: Well, we do like all that green. And I guess you planned on it today, wearing what you are. Good job.
LISOVICZ: Well, I thought it was just a spring-like color. I didn't realize it had more impact than that.
NGUYEN: Can you just wear it every single day from now on?
LISOVICZ: Yes.
(LAUGHTER)
NGUYEN: That might work. Thank you, Susan.
LISOVICZ: You're welcome. NGUYEN: And you can follow your fortunes at CNNMoney.com. We've got all the day's market news and numbers, as well as expert analysis and so much more.
LEMON: All right, this has been a big story today -- Detroit's embattled mayor now faces felony charges. We'll talk about his case with our political roundtable. You don't want to miss it.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: Thirty-five minutes past the hour.
Here are three breaking news stories that we're working on in the CNN NEWSROOM. First up, a tragic discovery in Iraq. FBI sources tell CNN the remains of two kidnapped U.S. contractors have been found. Ronald Withrow from Texas was kidnapped in January of 2007. John Roy Young of Missouri was taken in November 2006.
Officials in California call it Operation Homewrecker. They've indicted 19 people in an alleged nationwide mortgage fraud scheme and they say the suspects targeted cash-strapped homeowners, fraudulently obtaining home titles and loans. We'll have much more on this.
And the Justice Department gives its blessing to a big merger in a blossoming industry. The Justice Department has given the green light to Sirius Satellite Radio's buyout of rival XM. Consumer groups and the traditional radio industry had opposed this merger, but the Justice Department says the deal likely will not hurt competition. This merger, though, still needs the approval of the Federal Communications Commission.
All right, let's get you back to that mortgage fraud case called Operation Homewrecker.
Gerri Willis has been following all of this. And indictments were handed down today.
GERRI WILLIS, CNN PERSONAL FINANCE EDITOR: That's right, Betty.
In fact, indictments of 19 individuals announced today by the U.S. attorney in Sacramento, California in conjunction with the FBI and the IRS in something they are calling Operation Homewrecker. Essentially, they say they've uncovered a major ring of mortgage fraud artists who were taking money from people who were having a hard time paying their mortgage -- people who were facing foreclosure. A very sad case here.
In fact, this activity essentially went from sea to shining sea, from California, Texas, up the East Coast -- you name it, Florida. These folks were operating across the country, according to these indictments. We're getting the details now.
Now, individuals who were in trouble on their mortgage were offered the opportunity to have an investor added to the title of their home. The homeowners could then make rental payments to this investor for less than the full amount of their mortgage, less than what they owed.
Of course, all of this was a scam. None of it was true. In some cases, these investors actually simply took over a title. In other cases, people were just on the hooks for more and more money.
So a tragic story for a lot of folks out there. Again, it's called Operation Homewrecker. Nineteen indictments handed down. This was obviously a thoroughgoing investigation, very long time coming, announced by the U.S. attorney in Sacramento, California, the FBI and the IRS.
And I should add here, Betty, that this kind of fraud -- mortgage fraud scams have been increasing steadily across the country. In fact, the FBI says it's the fastest growing white collar crime. There are a numbers of different kinds of varieties of this.
And I just want to make sure you're not confused. There's another FBI investigation going on in mortgage fraud, but it has to do with very large investment banks and institutions -- mortgage institutions. So this is very different from that. But, again, Operation Homewrecker 19 indictments today announced -- Betty.
NGUYEN: Goodness, people preying on the desperation out there...
WILLIS: That's right.
NGUYEN: ...as folks are just trying to hang on to their homes.
WILLIS: Very sad.
NGUYEN: Gerri Willis. Yes, absolutely, it is. We'll stay on top of this story. Thank you.
WILLIS: Thank you.
LEMON: Oh, man, we have got a lot to talk about today with our political roundtable. A big city mayor now facing felony charges. Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and his former chief of staff are accused of perjury, obstruction of justice and other charges stemming from their alleged romantic relationship.
Donna Brazile has got to drink some water on that, I see.
(LAUGHTER)
LEMON: She's parched just listening to it.
Joining me now from Washington, CNN contributor Donna Brazile and Republican strategist Leslie Sanchez. And in New York, Mr. Mark Halperin, senior political analyst with "Time" magazine.
OK, guys, any time -- and you're going to know what I'm talking about -- any time you've got to pull out Jim Webb in this or Dan Webb in this, you're in some trouble.
Don't you agree, Mark? MARK HALPERIN, SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST, "TIME" MAGAZINE: Dan Webb is a heavy piece of artillery. But the mayor is in a lot of trouble. He's got to worry not just about trying to keep his job, which he says he's still determined to do, even though the city council and the attorney general of the state and others have turned against him, but he's also got to worry about staying out of jail. He's got some serious charges pending and the prosecutor is very aggressive.
LEMON: The prosecutor is very aggressive. And she was very animated in her news conference. But we're talking about Dan Webb -- for people who may remember Dan Webb's name, he represented the former governor, George Ryan, of Illinois. He was also a big player in the tobacco case and also a former U.S. attorney. So he is a big deal.
But here's what he said during the press conference. He said the mayor should not step down.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAN WEBB, KWAME KILPATRICK'S ATTORNEY: I do believe that demanding his resignation has political overtones and I just respectfully suggest to people that we be patient, we set aside our impatience. Don't let politics trump his right to a jury trial and the presumption of innocence.
Let him go to trial on this case and let a jury decide what to do and then deal with the issue of resignation. Under Michigan law, if he were convicted of these crimes, he will have to resign or be taken out of office.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Donna Brazile -- Donna Brazile, I mean, Detroit is in financial straits. It's got a crime problem. It doesn't get the best headlines. We're talking millions of dollars and seedy text messages. Should he step down?
DONNA BRAZILE, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: You know, I'm not a lawyer, so I'm not going to give him legal advice. But clearly, politically, this has been very damaging to the mayor at a time his city is struggling, like most other American cities.
So I think what's good for the city, at this point, if he can, perhaps, step aside so that he can get his legal business in order. And, you know, he's young enough to be able -- if he's exonerated by a jury of his peers -- to run for public office again. So I would say, as a good politician, perhaps this is more important that he step aside for the good of his city.
LEMON: OK. Well, let's turn the tables now. Let's talk about Hillary Clinton. We haven't heard much from Hillary Clinton -- headlines and all the news coverage, it's really about been Obama, Obama, Obama. You've seen him just about on every single news network and Hillary Clinton has really been quiet.
She's come out with an economic plan that she is touting. Is this taking the focus off of Barack Obama?
And I'll ask you this, Leslie, off of John McCain, because now she's coming out with an actual plan here and we haven't heard much in the form of economic plans from either side?
LESLIE SANCHEZ, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: Well, there's two points here. One is it's good to have a plan. But the other is you have to have a realistic plan. I think, yes, Hillary Clinton is talking economics because of Pennsylvania. Like states like Michigan and Ohio, this is a state that has the next primary. It's very economically sensitive. And she's talking particularly to home economic woes.
We saw today, you know, foreclosures are very high. People are very sensitive to this. And she's raised, you know, a variety of things that she likes to do. She wants to have a foreclosure working group. Well, you know, that already exists. It's called Hope Now. It's something that started under the Bush administration.
LEMON: OK.
SANCHEZ: And because of that, about a million foreclosures have been stopped. So there's going to be a lot -- between the rhetoric and what's real. But she's definitely trying to appeal to white, working class voters.
LEMON: OK, speaking of what's real, I've got to ask you this, Mark, how anxious do you think John McCain is to figure out who he's going to be up against come November?
HALPERIN: Well, it would nice for him to be able to focus. But I think all things considered, he'll take the status quo...
LEMON: Yes.
HALPERIN: ...which is the two Democrats beating each other up. And I think McCain is going to run pretty much the same campaign against the two of them. On the one hand, though, if Barack Obama is the nominee, he'll probably emphasize experience a little bit more.
But in both cases, I think he's going to stay I'm strong on national security, I'm strong on taxes and try to run against the Democrat the same way no matter what. So I think, overall, he'd prefer the current punch and Judy that's going on on the other side.
(LAUGHTER)
LEMON: I haven't heard that in a long time.
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: ...punch and Judy. Man, you're showing your age.
HALPERIN: I've got the finger puppets if you want them.
(LAUGHTER)
LEMON: You've got everything.
OK. Let's talk about -- this is a story -- you know what story I'm talking about -- that the Obama campaign really wants to go away. But it's not, as long as the church kind of keeps talking about it. And you knew people were going to be at Trinity this Sunday, reporters listening in. And Reverend Moss brought it up. He didn't mention the Reverend Jeremiah Wright specifically, but he did make an inference to it.
Let's take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MOSS: He had more visibility on the cross than he did throughout his entire ministry. He had more visibility on the cross than he had through his whole three years of ministry. He had more visibility being crucified than when he was not. Be careful who you lynch.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: Donna, you're from Louisiana. As we say in church on Sunday, well --
BRAZILE: Well --
LEMON: Well...
(LAUGHTER)
LEMON: ... well, what do you make of that?
BRAZILE: Well -- well, you know, this church feels, as though it has been maligned. The entire -- many members of the African-American Christian faith feel that their pastors are now under attack. And this is a response to a church where they have clearly valued the service of their pastor.
And I think what Reverend Moss was trying to do was to put it all in context. This has been a very difficult two weeks, not just for Senator Obama, as YouTube and others have gotten a hold of snippets of Reverend Wright's inflammatory commentary, but it's also been painful for African-Americans and whites and others who have had to reopen old wounds and try to figure out a way to heal these wounds while addressing some really tough issues.
LEMON: So what I'm hearing from you -- and I was going to move on to Leslie here, but, Donna, what I'm hearing from you is do you think we're focusing on the wrong thing?
Should we be focusing on the speech and the points that he made in the speech and having dialogue instead of just focusing on Wright and Moss and keep going back to that church? Is that what you're saying?
BRAZILE: You know, I love the lord and I love listening to Christian preachers, even the right-wingers, because some time they hit a very joyful note. But I would hope that we could talk about Iraq -- 4,000 Americans now dead, a war that has been mismanaged. The economy -- two million Americans facing foreclosures.
SANCHEZ: I have to --
BRAZILE: That's important.
LEMON: Yes.
BRAZILE: We can keep a conversation going about race about Wright...
LEMON: It is.
BRAZILE: ...for the next 20 years. But unless Leslie Sanchez want to have a real honest debate about these topics, all we're doing is talking about the superficial and not the substance.
SANCHEZ: I would really --
LEMON: Leslie, I have --
SANCHEZ: I have to say --
LEMON: I've got five seconds.
SANCHEZ: I agree with you completely. I think for the Clinton campaign this is probably the gift that keeps on giving. It focuses attention away from those issues and she's trying to take command of the economic issues, the war in Iraq, you know, what people are going to do there --
LEMON: OK.
SANCHEZ: It changes the dialogue.
LEMON: Republican strategist Leslie Sanchez. From "Time" magazine, Mark Halperin. I promise next time I will give you more time. I know you can't get a word in edgewise with these ladies.
BRAZILE: Not with two women. Not with two women.
(LAUGHTER)
LEMON: But, that's what I was going to say.
So I hope you guys really had a happy Easter and you had a great weekend.
Did you?
HALPERIN: Thanks, Don.
BRAZILE: Thank you.
SANCHEZ: Thanks. LEMON: Thank you guys.
All the latest campaign news available at your fingertips. Go to CNNPolitics.com. We also have analysis from the best political team on television. That and more, CNNPolitics.com.
NGUYEN: Well, do you remember these teenagers -- the Barbie bandits, who walked into a Georgia bank wanting to rob it? Well, they had their day in court. Find out what their punishment is.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: So, are you dreaming about just walking away from your job and just doing whatever you want? It sounds good doesn't it?
LEMON: Oh.
NGUYEN: Well, Christine Romans is "Right On Your Money" with advice on retiring early.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Alan Castro enjoys his vegetable garden. It's a passion in his early retirement.
ALAN CASTRO, RETIRED IN HIS 40S: You don't even have to cook them. They're good.
ROMANS: While in college, Castro and a friend cooked up a business reselling textbooks.
CASTRO: Books were going in landfills. We were taking those books away from the landfills and reselling those and started basically growing a whole industry from that.
ROMANS: The company grew and last year a competitor bought it -- allowing Castro to retire at age 44. He says the business tapped into a niche as a one-stop shop for educators.
CASTRO: I was getting them to think like a college student -- buy a used book first.
ROMANS: He also gave back, traveling to the Philippines and Kenya, donating books to villagers and helping fund a school. Giving back is one of the keys to his success. Castro says be practical and down to earth.
CASTRO: Have a good account. Know where you stand on paper. Don't fool yourself. And always try to do things that humble yourself and take you down a peg.
ROMANS: Castro says if you're trying to build wealth, don't put all your eggs in one basket.
CASTRO: It's all a risk. Every time you make a dollar, you're going to invest another dollar and learning how to be disciplined not to take anything out.
ROMANS: For Castro, his next chapter is still being written, but he's willing to take risks to keep growing.
CASTRO: When I'm gardening, that's when the next idea will come, when I'm outside.
ROMANS: Christine Romans, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: OK. Word on the Barbie bandits. Our T.J. Holmes on top of it.
Perhaps we should get a new kind of Barbie.
T.J. HOLMES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. The Barbie bandits -- some prefer to call them the holdup hotties -- but either way, one of them now has been sentenced. Yes, that's the picture everybody remembers. These two ladies pled guilty to robbing a bank -- a suburban Atlanta bank.
Well, one of them, actually, Nicole Miller, who is the 19-year- old, she's been given 10 years in prison as a sentence. However, she'll spend only two years of that in prison, the other eight on probation.
The teller, who was a co-conspirator here, Bennie Allen, a 23- year-old, sentenced to 10 years in prison. But he's going to get five of those actually in prison. The other young lady, Heather Lyn Johnston, 20-years-old, is awaiting sentencing this afternoon.
But the holdup hotties -- a lot of people remember this story. They became a bit of a sensation, if you will, Don, as far as bank robbers go. But expecting the other to be sentenced this afternoon.
LEMON: The crime, be prepared to do the time, right?
HOLMES: Yes.
LEMON: Thank you very much for that, T.J.
HOLMES: All right.
LEMON: Time to check in with CNN's Wolf Blitzer.
NGUYEN: Yes. He is standing by in "THE SITUATION ROOM" to tell us what is coming up at the top of the hour.
Hey there, Wolf.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: All right, thanks Betty and Don.
He compared Bill Richardson to Judas for endorsing Barack Obama over Hillary Clinton. Now James Carville is joining me in his first TV interview since making those controversial remarks. He's standing by live.
And an Obama supporter, the former U.S. Senator Gary Hart, he's also standing by live to join us. We'll talk about the Reverend Jeremiah Wright, the controversy involving Barack Obama, if he thinks it's hurt Obama beyond repair.
And is the delegate math so much in Hillary Clinton's favor after all? We're adding up all the numbers, what's going on.
All that, guys, and a lot more, coming up right here in "THE SITUATION ROOM."
NGUYEN: All right.
LEMON: We'll be watching, Wolf. Thanks.
NGUYEN: Yes.
The closing bell and a wrap of the action on Wall Street -- all of that straight ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Sit, stay, pray. Good doggie. Conan the Chihuahua lives in Japan. His master is a Zen Buddhist priest. One day Conan began going through the prayer motion, sitting up on his hind legs and putting his front paws together before the altar.
The priest says Conan doesn't even need to be told to pray. Next he's going to try to teach the pooch to meditate. And if he can pull that off, he could have a new dog for sure.
(LAUGHTER)
LEMON: Don't you think?
NGUYEN: Well, the closing bell is about to ring on Wall Street. And some people don't need prayers today, because it's looking pretty good.
LEMON: Susan Lisovicz is standing by with a final look at the trading day -- Susan, do you think you were busy enough today?
LISOVICZ: Oh, I think so. And one of the big stories that came out in the last hour, Betty and Don, is XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio, the two big players in that emerging format, getting their blessing after more than a year-long investigation from the Department of Justice to merge, which combines the talents of Oprah Winfrey, Howard Stern, Martha Stewart, Eminem, many others.
But if you folks who have Sirius think you're going to have Major League Baseball opening day, you will not, most likely, because the FCC still has to approve this marriage. And, also, their technologies have to be merged. They're incompatible with each other. (STOCK MARKET REPORT)
LISOVICZ: See you tomorrow, Betty and Don.
LEMON: Have a great day -- great evening, Susan. Thank you.
NGUYEN: Let's go to "THE SITUATION ROOM" now and Wolf Blitzer.
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