Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Newsroom
Details of Texas Sect Activities; China Olympic Protests Examined; More Eelection Coverage
Aired April 12, 2008 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, led by jailed polygamist Warren Jeffs, allegedly forces girls as young as 13 into arranged marriages. The Texas investigation has been under way for more than a week now. CNN's Sean Callebs has the latest now from San Angelo. What have you been able to learn out there, Sean?
SEAN CALLEBS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I think a lot of speculation now, what is going to happen to all of these children, 416, many of them being held where you see behind me at Fort Cancho. A lot of speculation they were going to be moved into foster homes rather quickly. That apparently is not going to happen. Child protective services told us yesterday that until a hearing happens on Thursday, all the children are going to be kept where they are in these two shelters.
Now just a while ago it is a very nice west Texas morning here, a little breezy, sun coming out. A handful of the teenage boys that are being held at this -- or rather staying at this fort behind me came out to get a little exercise, throwing football here in the yard, looking like perhaps teenagers anywhere across the country.
But a little bit different here. According to the tradition of the sect, the boys must wear long sleeve shirts, long pants, sleeves have to be buttoned at the cuffs. But basically right now Betty everybody is just kind of playing a wait-and-see game to find out exactly what is going to happen to all these children. Legally this is going to be quite an undertaking. There could be scores of lawyers involved. It could be quite protracted, could end up cost this county, (INAUDIBLE) county here in Texas, quite a bit of money before it's all said and done.
NGUYEN: What's next for them? Where do they go? As you have been mentioning, a lot of these children are teenage mothers. I mean are they going to end up in foster care?
CALLEBS: That's certainly the plan. We know that the people being housed here right now, the children, are 17 to just a few months old. Usually when protective services takes children out of an environment they consider harmful they don't allow parents to come with them. However, this is uncharted territory so the Texas authorities have made the decision to allow the mothers of these children to be allowed to stay here at the fort with the children if they want to. A lot of these women have apparently chosen to do that. We've tried to speak with them on a number of occasions because these women presumably are free to come and go as they please. We've been unsuccessful so far though.
NGUYEN: All right, CNN's Sean Callebs joining us live from San Angelo.
So what is next for these 400 kids and who's paying for their care? It is a big concern and we're going to take a look at that next hour in our legal briefs right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.
T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: Parts of central Tennessee are assessing the damage left behind by a possible tornado. Look at the damage. At least one home we can show you here. In one room a branch actually tore through the roof. At least eight homes in Dials County were destroyed, 30 more were damaged in Lawrence County, about 60 homes were damaged. The storm uprooted trees, took down some power lines and scattered debris all over the area.
Also video to show you here of easing the big easy. A spillway about 30 miles north of New Orleans opened for the first time in 11 years. That's the muddy Mississippi flowing toward Lake Ponchatrain(ph) there in New Orleans. The Army Corp of Engineers opened the gates yesterday, they're trying to ease pressure on the levees to make sure the city does not flood. Of course the spillway will likely be open for a month.
(WEATHER REPORT)
HOLMES: We are talking Indiana now. They're trying to figure out who is the favorite candidate in that state.
NGUYEN: That's what presidential hopefuls Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are asking folks in Indiana today, who's your favorite candidate. As they continue their fight for the democratic presidential nomination, plus this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This bill is a major positive step in the right direction.
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Tackling the mortgage crisis. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, then get ready for a long journey.
NGUYEN: Plus, they are still waiting in the wings. More canceled flights this morning? It means more stranded travelers struggling to get home.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Bitter is the word of the day on the democratic presidential campaign trail. CNN's deputy political director Paul Steinhauser is in Philadelphia for us, not bitter himself at all, but explain to us why this word has become such a big deal right now.
PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Here we are, two days in a row now, T.J., and they're arguing about the word "bitter." This all goes back about a week when Barack Obama was speaking at a private fundraiser in California and he said that a lot of people in small towns in Pennsylvania and elsewhere in the Midwest are bitter because they feel they're being ignored, the economic tough times are happening. Well it was reported yesterday, the word got out his comments, then the campaigns had a firestorm over it. Then yesterday both candidates spoke out about it and again today, Hillary Clinton just a few minutes ago speaking out on the campaign trail about Barack Obama.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. HILLARY CLINTON, (D) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I was taken aback by the demeaning remarks Senator Obama made about people in small town America. Senator Obama's remarks are elitist and they're out of touch. They are not reflective of the values and beliefs of Americans. Certainly not the Americans that I know. Not the Americans I grew up with. Not the Americans I lived with in Arkansas or represent in New York.
HOLMES: Yeah, we hear her there, of course we expected some of his political opponents to jump on it, his critics to jump on it as well. Well he didn't exactly back away from it. I mean he said, yeah, I said it and that's what I meant. He said he didn't say it the best way possibly but he didn't back away from the comment.
STEINHAUSER: Exactly. Yeah I think he says he's being taken out of context because listen, these people are bitter. They have been in economic tough times for two decades now and the government isn't listening to them so they vote on other issues because they don't think the government will even help them. Here's what Barack Obama just said moments ago.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. BARACK OBAMA, (D) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I said something that everybody knows is true, which is that there are a whole bunch of folks in small towns in Pennsylvania, in towns right here in Indiana, in my hometown in Illinois, who are bitter. They are angry. They feel like they've been left behind. They feel like nobody's paying attention to what they're going through. So I said, well, you know, when you're bitter, you turn to what you can count on. So people they vote about guns. Or they take comfort from their faith and their family and their community and they get mad about illegal immigrants who are coming over to this country. Or they get frustrated about how things are changing. That's a natural response.
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
STEINHAUSER: Barack Obama also said his campaign is all about fighting for such people and listening to such people. T.J. I think it also comes down to politics, there's a lot of middle class, a lot of union voters, a lot of small town voters in Pennsylvania who could determine who wins that primary 10 days from now.
HOLMES: All right, and of course we said McCain dipped into this a little bit as well but McCain's got his own problems, if you will. He's taking a little time off right now but he's going to get back at it, talking about an issue that many say is not his strongest issue.
STEINHAUSER: You're right. He's off this weekend. It's nice to be the nominee, he's wrapped it up already so he doesn't have to campaign on the weekends, but we're working on the weekends, by the way. This week, Tuesday in Pittsburgh, he's going to be talking about the economy, its issue number one with Americans, and the John McCain campaign feels they need to really reach out to Americans and say that he will fight for them. Just the other day he laid out a big plan to help Americans who are dealing with the mortgage crisis, this just two weeks after really not reaching out to Americans and helping them. I think he feels like he needs to reach out to average Americans and tell them he's going to fight for them when it comes to tough economic times. T.J.?
HOLMES: Where's the bus, Paul, the campaign election express, where is it?
STEINHAUSER: It ditched me. I'm in Philly. The bus is in Pittsburgh and it's with John King. Tonight at 10:00 eastern, a big show with John King out in Pittsburgh.
HOLMES: You are there all by your lonesome. The candidates left the state when you showed up, they took the bus away. I swear Paul. Well we appreciate you coming on to spend some time with us. Really, appreciate you this morning Paul, always good to see you.
STEINHAUSER: Take care.
HOLMES: Faith and politics. Combine those two topics and you're bound to get a pretty interesting conversation. In 25 minutes we'll be talking with two religious leaders who are getting ready to question Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama about their beliefs. We'll find out what they plan to ask the presidential candidates. And we'd also like to hear from you, what would you ask the candidates about faith? Send us an e-mail at weekends@cnn.com. We'll discuss some of your questions coming up in about 25 minutes.
NGUYEN: In the meantime though, congress is trying to help with the mortgage crisis, but republicans and democrats they're at odds over what exactly to do about it. Here's CNN's Kate Bolduan.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KATE BOLDUAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The vote was bipartisan and overwhelming.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The ayes are 84. The nays are 12. HR-3221 as amended is agreed to.
BOLDUAN: A senate housing package, tax breaks for homebuyers and struggling home builders, as well as money to help hard-hit communities and council people facing foreclosure.
SEN. CHRISTOPHER DODD, (D) CONNECTICUT: This bill is a major positive step in the right direction.
BOLDUAN: A step, maybe, but still far from the finish line. Even before the senate voted, the White House attacked the plan, saying it's tilted more towards lenders than homeowners.
DANA PERINO, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: The bill would likely do more harm than good by bailing out lenders and speculators and passing on costs to other Americans who play by the rules and honor their mortgage debt obligations.
BOLDUAN: Instead the administration announced its own plan, it would expand an existing government program to help more low and middle income families refinance their loans. But democrats criticize that move as far too narrow.
REP. NANCY PELOSI, (D) HOUSE SPEAKER: In terms of number of people affected, the president's initiative most recent one affects 100,000 people when it should be affecting 10 to 15 times that many.
BOLDUAN: House democrats are pushing yet another proposal -- $300 billion to help up to 2 million cash-strapped homeowners lower their mortgage payments and tax breaks for first-time homebuyers. But republicans say the measure is too expensive.
SEN. JOHN CORNYN, (R) TEXAS: I think we all are trying to do the right thing, trying to help people who need help, but at the same time we need to be good stewards of the federal taxpayers' dollar and not just throw money at problems.
BOLDUAN (on camera): With so many plans and competing ideas, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle say they don't know how or when a compromise will emerge, and there are already signs both sides are digging in. Kate Bolduan, CNN, Capitol Hill.
(END OF VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: All next week join Ali Velshi and Gerri Willis for "Issue #1." That's from noon to 1:00 eastern right here on CNN.
HOLMES: More trouble getting from here to there.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You know you just feel completely helpless and there's not much you can do. I mean we're at their mercy basically.
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: American Airlines passengers stranded and upset -- again.
Also a tearful reunion to show you as an abducted toddler is returned to her family safe and sound.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) NGUYEN: North Carolina authorities are working to bring an accused killer back to the United States and it is expected to take at least 60 days to file extradition papers for marine corporal Cesar Laurean. He was arrested in Mexico after a three-month manhunt. Now prosecutors won't seek the death penalty because Mexico won't extradite anyone who faces execution. Laurean is accused of killing another marine, Lance Corporal Maria Lauterbach who was pregnant at the time of her death. Now Lauterbach's body was found in the back of Laurean's home in Onslow County, North Carolina. On the phone with us today is Onslow County Sheriff Ed Brown. Sheriff, we do appreciate you spending a little time with us.
SHERIFF ED BROWN, ONSLOW CO., N.C.: That's no problem, glad to.
NGUYEN: So what do you think about this capture and the fact that prosecutors say that they're confident that Laurean won't fight extradition?
BROWN: Well, I think the officers and -- including the media, I must give you all a pat on the back. You've done a good job in keeping this in the fore mind of the people. I never had a doubt in my mind, not the slightest doubt that this day would come. It come quick and I think it is the result of the people of law enforcement working together both in America and in Mexico.
NGUYEN: It's been three months that this man was on the run, obviously not quick enough. I'm sure you would have wanted to capture him right away but let me ask you this, when and if he is extradited, who's going to take custody? Will your department take custody?
BROWN: Yes, he'll be housed at the Onslow County jail. Let me say this, because there has been a question mentioned about him being high-profile. Mr. Laurean will be just like any other inmate in our jail. He will be treated humane and respectful just as all the rest of them are. You don't treat people according to the crime they commit. You treat people by the fact they are human beings and that's what makes us different.
NGUYEN: Well, under Mexico law they won't extradite anyone who faces execution. If Laurean is found guilty, are you upset that he won't face the death penalty?
BROWN: Well, I have to not be upset with the judicial system when it does the right thing. They will do the right thing I think. I'm sure the president of Mexico and the citizens of Mexico have their desires and I respect that. Honestly, I would like to go to Mexico just to visit the country.
NGUYEN: You know, once captured, Laurean was asked if he killed Maria Lauterbach, and he said, "I loved her." You've been following this case. You've been a part of it. In fact, it has taken an emotional toll on you. What do you make of this guy?
BROWN: Well, I've been in this a long time. Next week it will be 41 years when I started. I've seen strange things, and this is no stranger than some of the other things I've seen. We live in a very complex world.
NGUYEN: I spoke with Maria's mother yesterday and I want you to take a little listen to what she had to say about the investigation and the outcome that she's hoping to get.
BROWN: Ok
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARY LAUTERBACH, MARIA LAUTERBACH'S MOTHER: This case really needs to highlight the need to protect other military women. Especially the young girls who don't understand the situation that they're being placed in. They absolutely need to be protected more thoroughly.
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: All right sheriff, I want to ask you honestly, do you feel that everything was done and is being done to help this grieving mother find justice?
BROWN: Betty, let me say reference to Mrs. Lauterbach's statement, we're dealing with two different things here. We did not know anything about the -- her daughter's situation with the military. And I cannot make one comment either way in what took place out there, because I still don't know the situation dealing with her and her military life. But I say regardless of whether military or civilian, we need to protect everyone, male and female. We do that with the sheriff's office.
NGUYEN: Very, very quickly sheriff, let me ask you this, federal authorities have seized a computer that Laurean's wife had been using and she was using it to stay in contact with him while he was on the run. Now we've asked you this before and she has never been a suspect, but is that going to change at all? What do you know about that?
BROWN: Evidence that is collected makes people either suspect or cleared from being suspects. And we have to deal with the evidence that may be found at this time. I don't know of any evidence that has been collected from the search of a computer. Law enforcement and the judicial system works off of prosecutable evidence.
NGUYEN: Ok, so we'll have to wait to find out what was indeed on that computer and if any way she was aiding her husband while he was on the run. Sheriff Ed Brown, we do appreciate your time today.
BROWN: You have a good day.
NGUYEN: You too.
HOLMES: Things are gradually getting better on American Airlines. But it's gradual. After canceling 600 flights yesterday, the airline only expects to cancel 200 today. One by one the airline is putting its MD-80 jets back into service after government mandated wiring inspections. American hopes to have all of those jets back in service by tonight and it is expecting normal service tomorrow.
Even though things are getting a bit better, that's not much consolation for the airline passengers who spent hours and hours stranded at the airport this week. Susan Roesgen reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I was unable to get a hold of the airline to find out if the -- my exact flight was canceled, so got here and it was canceled.
SUSAN ROESGEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): We tried to help Andrew Toupis save his family reunion, but when we left him at the American Airlines counter, it didn't look good. Thousands of passengers again were stranded. Could you have given them advance notice?
MARY FRANCES FAGEN, AMERICAN AIRLINES: We gave them as much advance notice as we could give them.
ROESGEN: American says it had to comply with what it calls "technical issues" raised by the FAA involving wiring in the wheel wells. But the FAA gave American and other airlines using MD-80s a warning about the problem in 2006.
SEN. CHARLES SCHUMER, (D) NEW YORK: The U.S. economy can't afford to have one of its major airlines just shut down for days. The FAA took no interest in enforcing these regulations until it surfaced that FAA employees were turning a blind eye to some flagrant violations.
ROESGEN: Those flagrant violations were brought to light by CNN's Drew Griffin, investigating lax inspections by the FAA on Southwest airplanes. But no comfort for passengers like Dora Toupis whose husband never did get the flight they wanted to the family reunion.
DORA TOUPIS, STRANDED PASSENGER: You just feel completely helpless, and there's not much you can do. I mean we're at their mercy, basically. You know?
ROESGEN: I hope you get home.
D. TOUPIS: Thank you.
ROESGEN (on camera): About 50 other airlines, both domestic and international, fly MD-80s, but American has the most, nearly a third of its fleet. Susan Roesgen, CNN, Chicago.
(END OF VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: The Olympic flame is heading to Tanzania.
HOLMES: That is actually the only stop for the torch in Africa. We'll have the fiery protest around the torch relay come to an end.
NGUYEN: Plus a town takes time-out to remember those killed in the Virginia Tech massacre. Stay in the CNN NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: Hello everybody, it's 29 past the hour on this Saturday. Happening right now across the world, the investigation into sexual abuse by a polygamist sect is expanding. Authorities are now looking into the alleged abuse of a 16-year-old girl in Arizona.
North Carolina is taking steps to extradite Corporal Cesar Laurean accused of murdering a pregnant fellow marine. Laurean won't face the death penalty because that's the only way Mexico will agree to extradition.
The Olympic torch has arrived in Argentina, this time only small groups staging anti-China protests.
HOLMES: Speaking of those anti-China protests, we've see them a lot, not as bad as you said in Argentina, but London, Paris and San Francisco, they were pretty bad. A lot of people are protesting China's human rights record. Well our Mr. Reality, Josh Levs is here, has been looking into this. And both sides actually have a tool they are pointing to, to either say the protests are all right or the protests should not be happening.
JOSH LEVS: A few questions arose by this. You guys were pretty struck by this today.
HOLMES: Some of the information in there.
LEVS: Yeah, some of the things that's in here about what's been allowed and not allowed. It's kind of amazing stuff. And yeah it's in a way ironic that both sides are pointing to the exact same thing. What exactly does the Olympic charter say and could it prevent protests at the Olympics?
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LEVS (voice-over): In the heated dispute over China hosting the Olympics, the different sides keep pointing to this --
The Olympic charter.
The Olympic charter.
LEVS: A 100-page document from the international Olympic committee. China says it makes clear politics should not be linked to the Olympics.
JIANG YU, CHINESE FOREIGN MIN. SPOKESWOMAN: We hope that the IOC officials can eliminate the disruptions and stick to the clearly stated principles in the Olympic charter.
LEVS: The charter says no kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic site, venue or other areas. It has no say over public streets as the torch traveled through. Many who support the protests say China isn't following parts of the charter. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and some other lawmakers say China's lack of certain human rights and its crackdown in Tibet violate the charter's call for a peaceful society dedicated to human dignity.
SEN. SHERROD BROWN, (D) OHIO: The Olympic charter makes clear the goal of an Olympic spirit which requires mutual understanding with the spirit of friendship and solidarity and fair play. We should use the games as an impetus to hold that country accountable on fair trade, on religious freedoms, on human rights.
LEVS: Can participants in the Olympics hold China accountable? Some French athletes want to make a statement with badges reading "for a better world." The head of the international Olympic committee says participants may express opinions. But if the charter's prohibition against demonstrations at Olympic events is not enforced --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This would be the end of the spirit of the Olympic Games.
(END OF VIDEOTAPE)
LEVS: Olympic organizers are considering what kinds of things may be allowed at the games, whether for participants or for spectators. If people for example try to hold big signs in some sort of protest, that could be viewed as a demonstration or political propaganda. And then officials could come along and force the Olympic charter and make whoever is there put down the signs, stop whatever they are doing.
NGUYEN: Ok, hold up. You can hold up the charter all day long, but is it really going to make a difference? We see protestors out there already.
LEVS: Right, I know and that is one of the questions. The thing is, in the end not everyone is going to say well I'm going to do everything in the charter and abide by it themselves. The IOC has to make a decision, this is what they're supposed to go by. Some people don't put a lot of faith in the charter. Let's take a look at this quote here. There's an athlete here, British Olympian Matthew Syed, I'll read this to you. He said, "Is there in the history of human literature a document more spuriously idealistic, more breathtakingly drunk on its own self-importance than the Olympic charter? It's as if the quadrennial festival, so beloved of dictators and tyrants, is about something more than one talented athlete trying to deny another a place on the podium." What he's getting at there in "The Times of London," which is relevant is there is a lot of talk right now about what the Olympic charter stands for, what the Olympics stand for. And some people are saying China's failing to do that. But throughout history the fact is all sorts of regimes have always put on a big show at the Olympics, no matter what was really going on at home.
NGUYEN: Ok, we'll be watching. Thank you.
HOLMES: Josh, we appreciate you
NGUYEN: Dialogue and respect. The Dalai Lama says those are the keys to transforming enemies. He's taking part in a conference on compassion in Seattle right now. When questioned about the turmoil in Tibet yesterday, he said his followers' conflict with China isn't a problem of ethics, religion or human rights. He said it is about either safeguarding national unification or splitting the motherland.
HOLMES: Almost a year to the day after the Virginia Tech massacre, a Virginia town is remembering the victims by unveiling a tree grove. The town of Leesburg is unveiling the memorial tree grove this morning. The 32-tree habitat honors each of the 32 victims. You are of course seeing some of the scenes from that massacre a year ago. Victims' family members were among those invited to the dedication of those trees. Tonight CNN examines campus rage. We're looking back at that Virginia Tech massacre. We're going to talk to a young man who planned a similar attack, not only on his classmates, he also wanted to kill his own mother. Find out how she spotted the warning signs and stopped him. "Campus Rage," tonight at 8:00 p.m. eastern.
NGUYEN: Where do presidential hopefuls stand when it comes to values and faith?
HOLMES: Democratic presidential candidates Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, will answer questions about faith and values Sunday night right here on CNN.
We're going to have a special live preview of the compassion forum just ahead.
NGUYEN: Also, meet mama rock. Comedian Chris Rock's mother has a new book. Find out what she says is key to raising successful kids.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Gun battles in the Baghdad neighborhood of Sadr City. Look at this. This is actually the seventh day of fighting between Shiite militias and U.S. and Iraqi forces. U.S. military says at least 13 people were killed yesterday. No U.S. or Iraqi troops among them, none of them seriously hurt, either. The fighting intensified in Sadr City yesterday after a top aide to Shiite cleric Muqtada al Sadr was killed in Najaf.
A denial from Iran. Iran says it did not taunt the U.S. Navy in the Persian Gulf. The navy told CNN Friday that three small Iranian boats approached the "USS Typhoon" in a taunting manner. Iran's official news agency is reporting that there was no confrontation between any of its boats and the U.S. fleet. The Iranian report says the U.S. media quote, "Tries to portray the Persian Gulf as a turbulent area in order to prepare the grounds for the permanent presence of U.S. forces in the region."
Two weeks now after the Zimbabwe presidential election, still no announcement of a winner. Opponents claim the long-time President Robert Mugabe is holding up the returns in a bid to remain in power there in Zimbabwe. Southern African leaders are holding an emergency summit to try to find a solution.
NGUYEN: Human rights, poverty, power struggles, we're dealing with those issues here in the U.S. too. And we'll be talking about them as part of tomorrow night's compassion forum. It's a presidential forum unlike any other with democratic presidential rivals Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton answering questions about pressing moral issues. Two faith leaders who are taking part in that forum join us now. Joel Hunter, he is the senior pastor of Northland Church in Orlando, and Eboo Patel founded the non-profit Interfaith Youth Core. He joins us from Chicago. Thank you both for being with us today.
ABUB: Great to be there.
NGUYEN: Well it is wonderful to have you. Pastor Hunter, let me ask you this. Compassion forum, help us understand why this is important, not only to you, but to voters across the nation.
JOEL HUNTER, SENIOR PASTOR, NORTHLAND CHURCH: I think when Faith and Public Life first thought of this they wanted to address the issues that were really moral issues for all the nation that transcended the different faiths, but yet had a very important faith component. And so these compassion issues, the poverty and the AIDS and torture and reducing abortion and so on and so forth, are of great concerns to the American people, and we want to make sure that the presidential candidates have a strategy on these things.
NGUYEN: But why should faith matter Eboo when it comes to a presidential candidate? A lot of people will argue you know we need a separation of church and state, so why should faith matter?
EBOO PATEL, INTERFAITH YOUTH CORE: Well, we have a separation of church and state. It's one of the great parts of America. But because democracy is about people, and people care about faith, I think that that's why faith plays a role in our public life. It plays a role in these candidates' lives. I think it's an entirely fair point of discussion. What I want to know tomorrow night when I address these presidential candidates is are they going to use these values issues of compassion, of mercy, to bring faith communities together. We live in a time of religious conflict around the world and here in America we're one of the most religiously diverse nations in human history. I think America needs to be a model of interfaith cooperation focusing on values issues like compassion, like mercy, that bring faiths together instead of divide us further.
NGUYEN: Pastor Hunter, what are some of the questions that you're going to have for the candidates?
HUNTER: Well, my main question is, I want to know, these folks if they are the president of the United States are going to make decisions that are literally life and death decisions for hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of people. I would like to know what is the moral process that they go through. How do they make that decision? What are the reference points in either scripture or prayer or who do they ask, who do they think this through with so that we know that they take them seriously and that they're making the best possible decision?
NGUYEN: Eboo, when we talk about faith in candidates, does that really give you some insight into how this person will lead?
PATEL: I'm less concerned about faith in the private lives of candidates, and more concerned about how these candidates are going to address the issue of faith in the public square. At the Interfaith Youth Corps what we do is bring young people from different faith communities together to apply the great values of compassion and mercy and hospitality and all this month we're running a program called the days of interfaith youth service, in cities like Boston and Pittsburgh and Chicago, young people from different religions are coming together to build houses, to tutor children, and to talk about how their different faiths inspire service. I like to know if Senator Obama and Senator Clinton will say this is exactly what America should be about, the Interfaith Youth Core's days of interfaith youth service. This is what our different religions call us to do, these are the types of activities that bring faiths together and this is the type of world we want to live in.
NGUYEN: So it is less their personal faith that you're interested in but more how they're going to bring faiths together. Pastor Hunter, you mentioned something a little bit different, you talked about how they would go about looking at scripture, prayer, whatnot, in the methods that they use to lead. Is that the kind of insight you're trying to get at, trying to find out how this person might lead this country?
HUNTER: I totally agree with what Eboo said. I think there is a personal side that is important to many of us, especially the evangelical community because it conveys an accountability that is simply higher than politics. I want to know that a presidential candidate has a higher accountability than simply what will work politically and simply what the mood of the country is. I think that is important to me. It is a matter of personal integrity and character, and that is one of the things that I look at in a presidential candidate.
NGUYEN: But how important is faith? I mean a lot of people, as I mentioned to Eboo earlier and I wanted to get your reaction, too. A lot of people will say you know what I want the religion aside. I want the president to deal with politics and politics only because that is his or her job.
HUNTER: Well, two responses to that. First of all, I think we don't want to argue religion. We do want to bring people of faith communities together to work together. But the other thing that's very important here is we have to realize this is a very religious country, and if we're going to mobilize citizens on issues to help them solve the problems of this nation, not just the government solve but them solve the problems of this nation, many will react from a faith basis, what their faith tells them is right, and so it's a tremendous mobilizing force in this country.
NGUYEN: Both of you looking for different things but obviously have some very important questions for these candidates. We do appreciate you sharing your time with us today.
PATEL: Thank you. NGUYEN: Don't miss Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, they are facing hard questions on faith and politics. Campbell Brown leads the CNN special event The Compassion Forum." Sunday, 8:00 p.m. eastern, only on CNN, your home for politics.
Plus, tonight it's called "Route 2008." A special look at the issues that are affecting you. CNN's senior national correspondent John King travels across Pennsylvania stopping just long enough for tonight's special, that's at 10:00 eastern.
HOLMES: All right Betty, it's spring time. You know what that means?
NGUYEN: It is. Showers? Flowers?
HOLMES: Let's make a snowman, of course!
NGUYEN: What, that does sounds strange. It's not even right. But you know what? It is the case in Minnesota. Old man winter just will not let go. We have those details on this spring time blizzard next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: There is a really good conversation that is coming up from a lady who has so much wisdom.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: You're not even talking about me!
You guys, in the noon hour, you got to hear from Mama Rock. Chris Rock's mother. Here's a taste.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROSE ROCK: All about starting very, very young.
WHITFIELD: How young is young?
ROCK: Young is when a child starts to toddle, you start to enforce rules. When they're two years old they can pick up and they can listen. So I mean you start from the cradle to the grave, period.
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: As simple as that. She's saying you know what you got to just break it down from the very beginning. We're talking about Rose Rock. She has written a book about the 10 rules of parenting. Mama Rock's Rules. It is very cute, very clever. It really gets you thinking whether you have a kid or not. She's really just talking about being instructive and being a good guy to a young person's life.
And then coming up, a Houston toddler abducted from the very place where the family thought this child was most safe. But there is a happy ending. The child was eventually found. We've got this reunion coming up and of course the story behind all of it.
NGUYEN: The pictures really warm your heart when you see the little girl is finally back.
HOLMES: Do I need to say it? Your hair is outstanding.
NGUYEN: Fabulous!
HOLMES: It is outstanding.
WHITFIELD: Oh, well thank you!
HOLMES: Can we get that one shot again?
NGUYEN: The asymmetry.
HOLMES: It is very nice, square looking. I'm sorry.
WHITFIELD: Thank you very much.
HOLMES: We look forward to seeing you and that new hair today.
WHITFIELD: I just thought I'd take the plunge. It's the shortest I've ever gone in my life.
NGUYEN: It looks fantastic.
WHITFIELD: I just decided to try something different.
NGUYEN: Summer cut early. Thank you Fred.
WHITFIELD: I'm starting summer very early.
NGUYEN: Speaking of, you know, spring is not in the air in Duluth, Minnesota. No, this is what people there are dealing with. Whiteout conditions from a blizzard. More than 10 inches of snow fell there yesterday and other parts of the state saw more than a foot of snow. Winds whipped at 60-mile-an-hour gusts across Lake Superior, prompting one official to call it a frozen hurricane. That makes me cold just to think about it.
HOLMES: Wow, a normal hurricane isn't much fun. Snow also coming down in Wisconsin, also in Michigan.
(WEATHER REPORT)
HOLMES: We're going to turn to some news across America now, we got a health alert going on in California's Contra Costa county because of what you're seeing there. A lot of black smoke from a wildfire that's burning on Sherman Island.
Also, Chicago's St. Xavier University sent the students home. Why? Police are investigating some threatening graffiti. That graffiti said "be prepared to die on 4-14."
NGUYEN: If you thought the swift boat veterans for truth were tough back in 2004, check this out.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: His name is very difficult to say. Do we want a president with a name like that?
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: They're the swift kids for truth and they leave no stone or name or pants suit unturned.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: If you like your parody pint-sized, you got to see the swift kids for truth.
NGUYEN: Yes, they are taking on pants suits, cookies, cocaine in the '08 presidential campaign? Here's CNN's Jeanne Moos.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): What the swift boat veterans for truth did to John Kerry's war record --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: John Kerry lied to get his bronze star.
MOOS: What kids for truth did to Hillary's pants suit.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Weren't you on the board of Wal-Mart?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did you get your pants suit at Wal-Mart?
MOOS: War record?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: John Kerry is no war hero.
MOOS: Pants suits.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Pants suits. Wal-Mart.
MOOS: Logan, you look really cute in that pink pant suit. From attacking Hillary's pant suit to Barack's name.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Barack Obama. Barack Obama. Barack Obama.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: His name is very difficult to say.
MOOS: These five child actors will say pretty much whatever they're told to.
LILY SCHNEIDER, SWIFT KID: John gives us the line and we just repeat it back to him.
MOOS: The parodies John Benjamin posts to the website 23 6 have just been nominated for a webbie award for online comedy. It takes a brave kid to give up his stuffed Chihuahua to do an interview. So we gave it back. What do you want to be when you grow up Logan?
LOGAN: A chef.
MOOS: But what he's cooking up now are parodies.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hillary Clinton disparaged the act of baking cookies.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why put down cookies, then offer up a recipe for cookies?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Which is it? Huh?
MOOS: The most controversial parody is titled "snow job," a pretend attack ad on Senator Obama's admission he used a little cocaine as a teen.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Cocaine.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Feels good doesn't it?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Bad, bad, bad, bad, bad, Barack.
MOOS: Bad, bad, bad swift kid creators. Psychological child abuse, posted one critic.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Cocaine.
MOOS: Logan, what's that all about?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't know.
MOOS: Well how could he, he's 5. It's just weird to have it coming out of the mouths of babes.
JON BENJAMIN, AD CREATOR: Yeah.
MOOS: Or into the noses of babes.
BENJAMIN: Well say heroin. Say it.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Heroin.
BENJAMIN: See it's like that, it's nothing.
MOOS: But when Logan's parents belatedly found out about the cocaine parody --
JAMES RULICK, LOGAN'S FATHER: I think that one does stoop a little low because kids and drugs they really don't mix.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Cocaine. Isn't that a gateway drug?
MOOS: These days when you are the target of distorted attacks, say you've been swift-boated.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When the chips were down you could not count on John Kerry.
MOOS: Chips Logan counts on chocolate. Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.
(END OF VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Jeanne Moos, she always finds (INAUDIBLE). Well it's now time for the NEWSROOM to continue with --
NGUYEN: Fredricka Whitfield.
WHITFIELD: I don't know, do I have a warped sense of humor? I just had a hard time laughing.
NGUYEN: It was kind of tough, ah, just kind of cringe sometimes.
WHITFIELD: I was a little uncomfortable on that one.
NGUYEN: All right, especially with this action.
WHITFIELD: Yeah, all right you guys, have a good one. T.J. is like, no comment.
HOLMES: Yeah, I got nothing.
NGUYEN: None.
WHITFIELD: And that's rare folks. All right you guys, have a great day.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.voxantshop.com
