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California Supreme Court Overturns Ban on Gay Marriage; President Bush Jabs Democrats: Says Opponents 'Appease' Terrorists; John McCain Lays out Ambitious Plans
Aired May 15, 2008 - 14:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: All right. And just moments ago, the California Supreme Court overturned that state's ban on gay marriages. I'll say it again. The California Supreme Court overturned that state's ban on gay marriage.
San Francisco was one of the plaintiffs trying to overturn the ban. And joining us now by telephone, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom.
A victory for you, sir.
MAYOR GAVIN NEWSOM, SAN FRANCISCO: Well, not just for me, but for literally millions of people across this country and, for that matter, around the world. What the court did is simply affirmed their lives, affirmed their rights to live their lives out loud the same way that many of us take for granted that are getting married each and every day across this country.
And it's just an extraordinary day, because California's Supreme Court, six out of seven judges which were Republican appointees, stood up, did the right thing, read the Constitution of the state of California, and noted was to me and others self-evident, that there's nothing in that Constitution that allows people to discriminate against people on the basis of sexual orientation. And that was affirmed today.
LEMON: OK. And I'm going to read exactly what you said.
"Accordingly, we conclude that the right to marry, as embodied in the Article I," which is from the statement that we have and the ruling that we have, "that it guarantees same-sex couples the same substantive constitutional rights as opposite sex couples to choose one's life partner and enter with that person into a committed, officially-recognized and protected family relationship that enjoys all the constitutionally-based incidents of marriage."
What happens in California, sir, many times spreads across the country. What do you think?
NEWSOM: Well, I do think -- I mean, it's a throwaway line, but I do think it's true. As California goes, so goes the rest of the nation.
And I don't think people should be paranoid about that. I don't think people should stop and pause and go, this is the end of civilization as we know it, as some have already asserted.
Look what happened in Massachusetts a number of years ago. Massachusetts is doing just fine. The state is doing wonderfully.
The fact is that marriage is an institution and Massachusetts has not come to an end. People are doing OK. And that is exactly what's going to happen in California. And that's inevitable, and I think as other states adopt similar strategies to do the right thing, that will happen in those respected states.
LEMON: Well, and, you know, this is no secret to you, San Francisco has a reputation as being one of the most liberal places in the country. And people are going to say, you know what? This is just going to happen in San Francisco and California because you're very liberal there. That, in fact, the country is a little too conservative and the country believes that marriage should be between a man and woman, and it's not going to happen elsewhere.
NEWSOM: Well, here's the problem. The Constitution then is the real problem. And that is why I think the president of the United States wanted to write discrimination into the Constitution of the United States, the Constitution since the Bill of Rights that's only been amended 17 times to extend people's rights -- to abolish slavery, to allow women the right to vote.
The problem is -- and this is why six out of seven Republican judges that were appointed on our California Supreme Court, at least four of them, concurred -- the point is that there's nothing in that Constitution, that document. Forget politics, let's just talk principles, the foundation of our Constitution, that allows people to discriminate based on sexual orientation.
So, unless you amend the Constitution of the United States -- and this is where I agree with the president -- there's no foundation, no justification for discrimination. That's not a liberal or conservative problem. That's just I think fundamentally and factually constitutionally protected.
LEMON: Yes. I'm going to move on and let you -- because we need to get to our justice correspondent. But you, you know, also have some things to do here. You said barring politics, but also religion as well, Mr. Newsom, because people have said that marriage should be between a man and a woman and that's what the Bible says.
NEWSOM: Yes. We're not going to touch religious institutions. Forty percent of marriages are done outside religious institutions. We're not going to offend or do anything to impose our point of view on any religious constructs. This is about civil marriage, this is about fundamental rights.
These are the same principles that we stood up as it relates to the denial of interracial marriage in 1967, when the Loving versus the State of Virginia was adjudicated by the U.S. Supreme Court. The same arguments then are the same arguments that are still being used today against same-sex marriage.
It was the right thing to do in '67, it's the right thing to do today. I'm very proud of the Supreme Court's decision.
LEMON: Gavin Newsom, the mayor of San Francisco.
Thank you, sir.
NEWSOM: Thank you.
LEMON: All right.
Let's get to our justice correspondent now, Kelli Arena. She's standing by.
Kelli, I'm looking at this ruling. And it is a huge ruling...
KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: It is.
LEMON: ... over 200 or 300 pages that we're having to go through, and several of those quotes I pulled.
What are you hearing there and what did you think of what we just said -- what we just talked to Gavin Newsom about?
ARENA: Well, you know, Don, this ruling was definitely a big shock to some legal experts. The court in California, as you heard from the mayor, does have a rather conservative reputation. And so California, shockingly, is now the second state where gay and lesbian residents can marry.
But what this ruling does not mean, Don, is that couples will not be entitled to federal benefits, Social Security and so on. But they can claim benefit status under state laws. And as you just discussed, this decision could prod other states to go ahead and pass similar legislation using California as a precedent.
Now, the court said in very plain English, it is a basic civil right to marry someone that you love, which includes all Californians, whether they're gay or heterosexual. And so as long as that ruling is, that's what it boils down to.
LEMON: All right, Kelli.
And what about politically? How will this -- or how might this, I should say -- obviously you don't have a crystal ball, but how might this play out politically getting very close to deciding the Democratic nominee? We know who the Republican nominee is.
ARENA: I'll tell you, I don't need a crystal ball. I've got a BlackBerry. And I'm already being completely inundated with e-mails from all sorts of conservative groups. I mean, there' s definitely going to be more of a focus on where the candidates stand on this issue, which hasn't been, you know, one of the top three issues we've heard about.
LEMON: It hasn't, Kelli.
ARENA: No, it hasn't. But... LEMON: What's interesting, in the last two presidential elections, and even during the Clinton term, remember "Don't ask, don't tell"?
ARENA: That's right.
LEMON: And then when George Bush was elected the first time and the second time this was a huge issue. But this time not so much.
ARENA: Not so much, but I think -- I think obviously this will put it on the radar screen. All three presidential candidates actually oppose same-sex marriage. But Democrats support the idea of civil unions.
And you know what, Don? This is going to bring a lot of attention to the courts and the type of judges sitting on the bench.
LEMON: Yes.
ARENA: And that is something that political analysts say will definitely energize conservatives. You know, they're going to call attention to that and say, look, you know, do we want, you know, someone who is liberal in the White House, which will then translate into liberals on the bench where you get decisions like this one which many conservatives obviously oppose.
LEMON: Ah, OK. Very well put.
Our justice correspondent, Kelli Arena.
Thank you, Kelli.
ARENA: You're welcome.
BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN ANCHOR: And now from Washington we head out to California for reaction to that high court decision.
CNN's Ted Rowlands in Los Angeles.
What is the reaction there, Ted?
TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Brianna, as you might imagine, a lot of reaction, a lot of emotional reaction from both sides of this very divisive issue in San Francisco, where the state Supreme Court is located. A large group of people gathered waiting for this decision, and when it came out, huge cheers went up in San Francisco, as you might imagine.
The governor has weighed in, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, saying in a statement released, "I respect the court's decision and as governor I will uphold its ruling. Also, as I have said in the past, I will not support an amendment to the Constitution" -- the state constitution -- "that would overturn this state Supreme Court ruling."
On the other side of the court, the Alliance Defense Fund is promising that they will try to push through that exact next step, and that is a constitutional amendment. They said in a statement, in part, "Marriage is now jeopardized because of this ruling." It "ignores the will of the people, and a perfect example for the need for a marriage amendment."
Gay and lesbian groups are holding press conferences throughout the day. Mayors of major cities of course -- we just talked to Gavin Newsom on the air. Antonio Villaraigosa is holding a press conference here in Los Angeles.
"The Advocate," the gay and lesbian news magazine, also coming in with a quote. "We are thrilled with today's landmark decision. It is immensely gratifying to see our community finally achieve another step towards complete equality."
The next step will be that counties will be told that they have to accommodate this, and we're going to see now in the coming weeks and months different counties around the state of California allowing these marriages to take place. And so this is just the beginning of what we anticipate of weeks and months of reaction here in California -- Brianna.
KEILAR: Ted Rowland for us in Los Angeles.
Thanks Ted.
And all three presidential candidates, they oppose same-sex marriage, but they do have some differences.
Republican John McCain opposes a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage, saying each state should decide. And he also says if courts start overturning state laws, he might support a federal ban.
Democrat Barack Obama, he opposes a constitutional ban. He supports though civil unions.
And Hillary Clinton, of course a Democrat, also opposing a constitutional amendment. She supports civil unions, as well adding that each state should make its own decision.
LEMON: Well, John McCain is predicting what America and the world would look like if he is elected in November. In Columbus, Ohio, today the presumptive Republican nominee laid out what he expects after a first term. And here's what it is on the health care front.
McCain says after his first four years in office, more small businesses would offer their workers health plans. And government insurance pools could cover Americans hard-pressed to find insurance because of pre-existing illnesses and these other predictions.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R-AZ), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Health care has become more accessible to more American than at any time in history. Reforms of the insurance market putting the choice of health care into the hands of American families rather than exclusively with the government or employers.
(APPLAUSE)
MCCAIN: Walk-in clinics -- walk-in clinics as alternatives to emergency room care, paying for outcome in the treatment of disease rather than individual procedures, and competition in the prescription drug market have begun to ring out the runaway inflation once endemic to our health care system.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: That's four years into the future for health care.
Coming up in the NEWSROOM, we'll look at McCain's economic forecast and how that might affect you.
KEILAR: Rescue efforts in China are giving way to grim reality. The odds that anyone could survive more than three days in this rubble here of this catastrophic earthquake from Monday fading fast.
The government has raised its projected death toll to more than 50,000 people. More than four million homes are said to be damaged or destroyed, 130,000 troops are mobilized for rescue and recovery efforts, and about 10 million people are said to be directly affected by this quake.
LEMON: To Myanmar now, where the official death toll from Cyclone Nargis jumped to more than 43,000. According to the Red Cross, nearly three times that many may have died.
Well, the group also says emergency food and water have reached only about a quarter million people, with up to 2.25 million still in desperate need. Today Myanmar's military junta warned against hoarding, and it announced the approval of a constitution crafted to bolster its hold on power. The public referendum was held after the storm hit May 2 and May 3.
KEILAR: President Bush is touring the Holy Land, addressing Israel's parliament, and man, oh, man, did he say something that fired up the Democrats back home. We're going to explain ahead.
LEMON: And hard times fall on a famously tiny (ph) town on the coast of California. We'll tell you what the city of Santa Barbara is doing to help women who suddenly find themselves homeless.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KEILAR: Democrats are none too pleased with something President Bush said today. He spoke to Israel's parliament on the occasion of the country's 60th anniversary. What surprised and angered Democrats was the president's reference to Nazi-area diplomacy and modern-day politics.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Some seem to believe that we should negotiate with the terrorists and radicals as if some ingenious argument will persuade them they have been wrong all along. We've heard this foolish delusion before, as Nazi tanks crossed into Poland in 1939, and (INAUDIBLE) declared, "Lord, if I could only have talked to Hitler, all this might have been avoided." We have an obligation to call this what it is -- the false comfort of appeasement which has been repeatedly discredited by history.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KEILAR: Sources close to the president say the comments were aimed at Barack Obama.
LEMON: Well, the president's comments were received in one way by the Israelis, but a short distance away, Palestinian opinion much, much different.
And to talk about that, CNN's Ben Wedeman. He joins us now from Jerusalem with more reaction to what President Bush had to say.
Two different reactions there from the Israelis and the Palestinians.
What do you have, Ben?
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Don. Well, obviously the Israelis were very pleased by this strong speech from President Bush. The Palestinian reaction was quite the opposite.
Even those who are engaged in negotiations with Israel, senior Palestinian officials in close contact with the Americans, told me they were very disappointed by this speech. They said it seemed to miss the whole point, which is that now is a unique opportunity for peace to be achieved between Israel and the Palestinians. But he only made one passing reference to the eventual creation of a Palestinian state. And by and large, these Palestinian officials tell me, he ignored the urgency of making progress in talks between the Palestinians and the Israelis -- Don.
LEMON: Ben Wedeman joining us from Jerusalem.
Ben, thank you very much for that.
KEILAR: John McCain tells us what things would be like after four years of a McCain presidency. Was his speech maybe too ambitious?
We'll hear from our senior political analyst, Bill Schneider.
(BUSINESS REPORT)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: A number of national disasters overseas -- Myanmar, and also China. And you've been seeing the incredible images coming out of there from professional journalists.
But we want to show you also some amazing images coming to our Web site, to CNN iReports, a couple of our iReporters.
This one, as we want to point out here, you can just see the amazing pictures here. This is from our iReporter who was in China. His name is Ben Geisler. And he talks about what he saw.
I'm going to just tell you, give you a little bit of his story and show how yours would be if you went to iReports. Yours would be on a page similar to this, and whatever you write, we may put it on television.
But this is the initial base from our iReporter. And here is what he says down here in the text. "What I found most interesting."
He said, "Total chaos. The extent is unbelievable. Some buildings leveled, others undamaged. People everywhere, living everywhere, crying, refugee-type camps set up amid the Red Cross tents, enormous piles of rubble, garbage et cetera. Half-destroyed buildings everywhere, unburied bodies in the street."
Just unbelievable.
Want to show you some of Ben's pictures here. This is one that I said initially on the page that he sent. This is number two.
What he says about this one, he says, "It shows a very heavily- damaged apartment building in Dujiangyan."
The first one that you saw -- let me go back to that original one just so you can see. The first one he said was a temple outside of Chengdu.
Let me make sure that's correct. No, this is the temple outside of Chengdu, right here.
Just amazing pictures.
Look at that temple, probably an historic place there, usually beautiful. All crumbled.
The second one, number two, heavily-damaged apartment building in Dujiangyan. And you can see the walls have crumbled in and a portion of the building or the overhang here going down, almost looking a little bit like it's a staircase.
OK. Let's go to the third picture that he sent.
Wow. That one gives you a little bit of a wider shot, shows another heavily-damaged building and damaged police car in the foreground there. And then you see a motorcycle in front of that.
The next picture he says shows a caravan of military vehicles and quake survivors walking out of Dujiangyan. So you see them making their way out of that heavily-damaged place.
And finally, the last picture that he sent shows a makeshift field hospital set up right in the middle of the streets. We want to thank Ben Geisler for his reporting on this. Really just amazing things coming out of there.
And you, too, can be an iReporter. Of course, we want you to stay out of harm's way. But if you're in a place where news is happening or news is breaking, go to ireport.com or go to the CNN Web site and click on the "iReport" logo.
Back to you, Brianna.
KEILAR: All right, Don.
Well, what would a President John McCain accomplish in his first term? Our Senior Political Analyst Bill Schneider listened to McCain's 2013 speech.
Joining us now from Washington, Bill Schneider.
And his speech, I mean, it ran the gamut. He even promised fewer obese kids. It was a very ambitious speech. Some say too ambitious.
What do you think?
WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SR. POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, it certainly was an ambitious speech. He said these are the things that he would accomplish during his "first term," which is a clear implication that if he becomes president, he intends this to be his first term, and he will run for a second term, even though he would be 72-years-old -- well, 71 now. I think he'll be 72 when he's inaugurated. But he clearly is talking about an eight-year presidency.
He's talking about stabilizing the situation in Iraq. He even says at one point the Iraq war will have been won by the end of his first term in 2013. Al Qaeda in Iraq will have been defeated.
He promised there still will not have been a major terrorist attack in the United States since September 11, 2001. A very tough thing for a president to accomplish.
But perhaps the key point that he made was the tone and tenor of his presidency, when he said near the end of his speech, "If I'm elected president, the era of the permanent campaign will end. The era of problem-solving will begin." That would be a dramatic departure.
KEILAR: Yes, so let's talk about that. If I'm elected president, the era of the permanent campaign will end.
Is that really within his control?
SCHNEIDER: Well, yes. A lot of it is because he'd be the president.
If he wants to stand back from partisanship and harsh attacks on his political opponents, a president can set the tone of American politics. What's interesting about that is that precisely echoes what Barack Obama is talking about in his campaign when he says he wants to deliver the promise that president -- that George W. Bush made when he first declared himself a candidate for president in 1999 and said I want to be a uniter, not a divider.
I think most Americans agree that he took a divided country and divided it even more. Barack Obama has made that promise, that he will unite the country, he'll reach across lines of red and blue partisanship, lines of age and race and gender. And now, John McCain is making precisely the same pledge.
KEILAR: So McCain also talked about doing something that kind of reminds us of something they do in Britain. He talked about having a regular Q&A time with Congress. This would be kind of like what the British -- like the British Q&A time that the prime minister has with Parliament there.
We pulled a sample of that. Let's take a listen.
SCHNEIDER: OK.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TONY BLAIR, FORMER BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: I see the absolute benefits of an I.D. card system.
DAVID CAMERON, OPPOSITION LEADER: So I would work his policy out first before he criticizes ours.
The prime minister -- the prime minister wants to know -- our policy, so I'll tell him. It's this -- yes, yes. In my view, in my view, the fit between immigration, crime and prisons is a proper fit. Those aren't actually my words. He said them at that dispatch box a year ago.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KEILAR: My first thought is, if that really came true, perhaps C-Span's ratings would definitely go up, Bill.
But I'm just wondering would we really see that happen and is it a good idea?
SCHNEIDER: Unlikely to happen. The British prime minister and the opposition leader are both a members of the House of Commons in Great Britain.
The president is not a member of Congress. It's a separate branch. He could -- he would have to be invited, as McCain said, to appear before Congress and answer their questions.
But this would be precisely the opposite of what McCain is talking about. Question time in Britain is an occasion of bitter and intense partisanship, of ridicule, of cat calls. You heard it there, the roar of parliament. It mystifies even the British people when they hear the sort of raucous behavior, the harsh and angry partisanship that goes on in the House of Commons. That would, in fact, encourage the very thing that John McCain says he's against.
KEILAR: Very interesting.
Bill Schneider joining us from Washington -- thanks.
SCHNEIDER: Sure.
LEMON: Well Congress has sent President Bush legislation that would suspend oil shipments to the nation's strategic reserve. The bill was approved last night by the Senate by the overwhelming margin of 97-1.
President Bush, so far, has refused to halt the shipments. He says the 70,000 barrels reserved daily don't affect gasoline prices, a point conceded to some degree by legislation supporters. The president hasn't said whether he'll sign the bill or shoot it down with a veto.
KEILAR: By almost any measure, the U.S. economy is hurting. Prices are up. Wages are stagnant. Foreclosures -- well they are threatening untold thousands. Those are the facts.
But here is something truly disturbing, from CNN's Thelma Gutierrez in Santa Barbara, California.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
THELMA GUTIERREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Santa Barbara, a picturesque city on the coast where the median price of a home is more than $1 million dollars.
BARBARA HARVEY, LIVES IN HER CAR: This is Barbara from the Davis Center (ph).
GUTIERREZ: It's where Barbara Harvey made a good living processing mortgage loans. So it may surprise you to learn that when Barbara leaves work, she heads for this parking lot behind the historic Santa Barbara Mission. This is where Barbara sleeps at night -- in the back of her car with two golden retrievers.
HARVEY: Get my suitcase out and that goes underneath the car.
GUTIERREZ: It isn't how this 67-year-old planned on spending her golden years.
(on-camera): How did you find yourself in this predicament?
HARVEY: I worked as a notary public signing loan documents. It went to the hell in a handbasket.
GUTIERREZ (voice-over): She lost her full-time job and now works part-time at $8.00 an hour. And even though she also gets Social Security, she still cannot afford an apartment.
HARVEY: This is my bed, my dogs -- this is my life in this car right now. GUTIERREZ: Nancy Capps, who was once homeless herself, is an outreach worker with the non-profit, New Beginnings. She says she's noticed more women living on the street.
NANCY CAPPS, "NEW BEGINNINGS": The way the economy is going, it's amazing the people that are becoming homeless. It's hit the middle class.
GUTIERREZ: It's a tough existence. People who live in their cars, like Barbara, have to constantly move them in search of parking. In California, it's illegal to sleep in your vehicle.
But the city of Santa Barbara, together with New Beginnings, came up with a safe parking program. They opened up 11 lots where people are allowed to sleep in their cars from 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. This gated lot where Barbara sleeps is for women only.
(on-camera): Describe for me a typical night.
HARVEY: Well, I arrive here before dark because that's when I can rearrange the car.
GUTIERREZ (voice-over): It's an exhausting juggle, turning her car into a sleeping space every night.
HARVEY: This is actually some Bavarian china, and it's part of a china set that I have.
GUTIERREZ: Pieces of her former life, before she lost her condo two months ago.
(on-camera): It's 10:00 and already there are a half dozen women who settled into this parking lot for the night. There's no running water here, there are no bathroom facilities, but the women say at least they feel safe.
You sleep sitting up?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, I sleep sitting up.
GUTIERREZ (voice-over): Lynn Lague lives in her car with four cats. She's 54 and used to be in the Army National Guard. Now she's on a waiting list for government housing. But the list is a year long.
(on-camera): What's the most difficult part of living like this?
LYNN LAGUE, LIVES IN HER CAR: It's hygiene. Staying clean --
GUTIERREZ: When Barbara lost her condo, her 19-year-old went to live with friends.
HARVEY: My daughter, especially, is very unhappy. Sometimes she'll cry. She'll call and say, mom, I just can't stand it that you're living in the car. She'll be very upset. I say, you know what, this is OK for right now because I'm safe, I'm healthy, the dogs are doing OK, and I have a job. And things will get better.
GUTIERREZ: Another chapter in her life that she's certain she'll get through.
HARVEY: Night-night.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KEILAR: And that story from CNN's Thelma Gutierrez in Santa Barbara, California.
LEMON: An unlikely community for alleged sexual assault victims is forming on the Internet. Why one girl went there, straight ahead in the NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: OK. So you probably heard about people sharing their deepest secrets to strangers on the Internet, but this young Florida girl takes it one step further.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Anyone, anyone that's watching this or listening to me, please, please help me. Call the governor, call somebody, ask them why they're not helping me. Please. I don't deserve this.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Wow.
Once prosecutors dropped her sexual assault case, she felt she had nowhere else to turn to but the Internet. So she posted her plea for help on YouTube. Special investigations unit correspondent, Abbie Boudreau, is here with a preview of that story.
And Abbie, it's really sad that these young girls feel that their only -- they can only result to a camera and YouTube to -- for people to hear them.
ABBIE BOUDREAU, CNN SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS CORRESPONDENT: Well, it is sad.
But when you think about it, it makes sense, considering one in four girls under the age of 18 are sexually abused. Of course, people this age talk about just about everything online, so it is a natural progression for these young girls to talk about their extremely private and most personal moments to a world of strangers.
LEMON: Yes, it's just -- OK. So you're there on the Internet, and we've been hearing about this, so take us back to this one specific girl that we saw on the video there. What happened in this instance in her case?
BOUDREAU: Well the girl in this case is angry because she says prosecutors in Florida dropped her sexual assault case. She says she was 15 when she met this 23-year-old, at that time -- like I said, the prosecutors have dropped this case. She says that he took advantage of her.
We learned from our investigation these types of cases very rarely go to court. And because they're rarely prosecuted, these girls feel that no one actually believes them and that's why they turn to the Internet to find somebody who says, you know what, I can relate to your story. This happened to me, too. That's where they're finding their support.
LEMON: But that appears to be, just for me, a little bit dangerous because then you may have someone look at that and then take advantage of the girls as well.
BOUDREAU: Right. And of course when you really think about it, you're exactly right.
Considering they're showing their most vulnerable moments to -- like I said before -- to a world of strangers. Some possible online predators who are trolling the Internet looking to re-victimize these young girls.
We did learn about an organization called Rain that offers a secured Web site for sex abuse victims to talk about their experiences online. We have that link and so much more, including a blog about the story on CNN.com. Right now it's our top story on the Web site.
We're getting thousands of people responding to this story already. So we hope that people can go out there and take a look at this story. I also want to remind people that we got this story as a result of a tip. And so we want to let people know that if you have a story idea for the special investigations unit, you can e-mail us at SIU.tips@CNN.com. We do read them and take every one seriously.
LEMON: Yes because many times people say, e-mail CNN, it's a big organization, maybe my story doesn't rise to that level. But you never know what you get these e-mails.
Abbie Boudreau, from our special investigations unit, thank you very much.
And we also want to remind our viewers that this story will air tonight. It's on our sister network, Prime News, CNN "Headline News" today at 5:00 Eastern.
KEILAR: Leading our Political Ticker, troubling new poll numbers for John McCain. In our latest general election Poll of Polls, Democrat Barack Obama leads McCain in a hypothetical match-up, 48 percent to 43 percent. Hillary Clinton leads the presumptive Republican nominee 48 percent to 44 percent. This poll is an average of three different surveys. LEMON: And Barack Obama has apologized to a Michigan reporter for calling her sweetie when she tried to ask a question. It happened at a campaign stop where the reporter asked Obama how he would help auto workers.
The reporter says, in a voicemail later, Obama said he meant no disrespect and said using the word sweetie is a bad habit of his.
KEILAR: Clinton's decisive win in West Virginia caused John Edwards to support Barack Obama, that word from Obama's aides. They say Edwards was concerned about Clinton's claim that Obama can't win white working class voters.
LEMON: Well long before we know which party will what in November, we do know this, Democrats have already won three congressional elections so far this year in districts that had been solidly Republican before. Now Republicans want to know what they're doing wrong and how to fix it.
Here is CNN's Kate Bolduan.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KATE BOLDUAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Another Democratic win ...
TRAVIS CHILDERS (D), MISSISSIPPI CONG.-ELECT: It's still about you all --
BOLDUAN: ... and the third straight special election defeat this year for Republicans, this one in Mississippi.
House Republican leaders openly acknowledge the party has problems.
REP. JOHN BOEHNER (R), MINORITY LEADER: It's another wake-up call that we have to show Americans that we can fix the problems here in Washington.
BOLDUAN: But from another Republican, a far more devastating assessment.
REP. TOM DAVIS (R), VIRGINIA: But at the congressional level at this point, the reputation is just in the trash can. The Republican brand name, if you were to put this on a dog food, the owners would just take it off the shelf because nobody is buying it.
BOLDUAN: Congressman Tom Davis, who used to be in charge of getting Republicans elected to Congress, says the party faces the worst political atmosphere since Watergate. If Republicans don't start addressing issues that matter to voters, like housing and health care, they could be headed for much bigger losses in the fall.
In a closed-door meeting Wednesday, Davis handed out a memo warning his colleagues to distance themselves from the unpopular president. DAVIS: We've got to just run separate races across the country and shift our -- strategically where we are. And yes, that means you don't want to be attached at the hip to President Bush.
BOLDUAN: At the same time, House Republican leaders are hoping to capitalize on the politically popular notion of change, rolling out their own version called Change You Deserve. Wednesday the focus was on working mothers.
REP. MARSHA BLACKBURN (R), TENNESSEE: It's time for action on issues that affect us and our families every day.
BOLDUAN: But House Democrats ridiculed the new GOP slogan saying Republicans have no new ideas and are out of touch with the American people. And that, Democrats say, is the message of Mississippi.
REP. JOHN LARSON (D), CONNECTICUT: The difference between us and the Republicans is that change is not a platitude. Change is the persistent, constant drum beat that Nancy Pelosi has put forward.
BOLDUAN (on-camera): But Republicans say the Democrats have it all wrong. In fact, they argue Democrats won those special elections in conservative districts because they ran like Republicans, highlighting conservative issues.
Kate Bolduan, CNN, Capitol Hill.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KEILAR: Ecstatic supporters at huge campaign rallies well they are often just not enough.
Our Jeanne Moos will show us how the candidates sometimes get the benefit of a colorful prop or two.
LEMON: Is that a bowling pin?
And oh look, the beautiful people -- well they're treading the red carpet in Cannes. It must be film festival time again. A full wrap-up of the opening ceremonies coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KEILAR: The stars, the films and the glitter. CNN's Brooke Anderson is checking it all out at the Cannes film festival in France.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BROOKE ANDERSON, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT (on-camera): It's been called Disneyland for adults. And day one of the Cannes Film Festival fit that description perfectly. Actor Jack Black hit town, or hit the beach rather, with about 40 life-sized versions of pandas, a stunt to promote his animated comedy, "Kung Fu Panda."
Now, the film also stars Angelina Jolie, who is making a lot of news here with her talk about her pregnancy with twins. She and Brad Pitt will soon be the proud parents of six children.
Now the festival jury faces the world media on opening day Wednesday. They paraded up the red carpet of the Pallay (ph) to hold a press conference. The nine member panel, headed by actor/director Sean Penn, will decide which films receive festival awards.
Penn, who is well known for his political activism, lashed out at President Bush when asked to weigh in on Bush's policies.
SEAN PENN, ACTOR/DIRECTOR, CANNES JURY PRESIDENT: It's almost the wrong phrase, the "politics of George Bush." It's kind of the inane stupidity and -- for lack of good, the absolute evil of it. And I think that film is about love and art is about love.
And so -- you have the insight that -- the brain actually has a purpose in connecting to the heart and when somebody operates without a brain, and without a heart, they kill hundreds of thousands of people around the world. So it's not something that is hard to disagree with. I'm just -- it's just a shame that we have to bastardize the term politics in attributing it to people like that, because politics, again, should really be an organization of helping each other.
ANDERSON: Penn also said he isn't endorsing a candidate, but is endorsing the hope and excitement Barack Obama inspires.
All right. A couple of the other high profile films premiering here on the Riviera over the next 11 days: Clint Eastwood's "Changeling," and of course, the fourth installment of "Indiana Jones."
Reporting from the 61st annual Cannes film festival in Cannes, France, Brooke Anderson, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: (INAUDIBLE) supporters at huge campaign rallies. They are often just not enough. Our Jeanne Moos will show us how the candidates sometimes get the benefit of a colorful prop, or two, or three.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: So what do bowling pins and boxing gloves and a couple of other things have to do with politics? They're the latest weapons in the war of political props.
CNN's Jeanne Moos has the story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): While the pundits parse Hillary's every word ...
SEN. HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON (D-NY), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Our vision for America -- MOOS: We have something punchier to ponder.
CLINTON: We've had the best time.
MOOS: Props that may not bowl you over, but at least you notice that bowling pin, those boxing gloves.
But haven't we seen them somewhere before?
CLINTON: The tide is turning.
MOOS: They showed up in West Virginia, Indiana, Pennsylvania.
CLINTON: Some people counted me out and said to drop out. But the American people --
MOOS: They became a mystery discussed on blogs: What's up with the black with boxing gloves? Must be a paid plant.
(on-camera): They think you're a Clinton plant.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Absolutely not. Absolutely not.
MOOS (voice-over): And how about the bowling pin?
CLINTON: I believe I'm the strongest candidate.
MOOS: The Web site Politico dubbed the pin "Prop of the Night." Though one e-mailer responded: "Spare me."
Well now we know who the boxing guy is, a New Yorker by the name of D Batista (ph) who pays his own way traveling to Hillary rallies all over the place.
(on-camera): Do you just love her?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I do love her. She inspires me.
MOOS (voice-over): The first time he managed to position himself right behind Hillary was luck. Now, the campaign knows him and let's him in to the good seats.
(on-camera): Has she signed your gloves?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She has. She signed this one right here and then Bill signed this one.
MOOS (voice-over): D says the gloves just signify that Hillary is the fighter.
(on-camera): Who was the guy with the bowling pin?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The bowling pin -- he's actually a friend of mine.
MOOS (voice-over): A film student who apparently met Hillary for the first time in a bowling alley. And here we figured the bowling pin was to dis Barack Obama for his lousy bowling game.
CLINTON: HillaryClinton.com.
MOOS: Bowling pins.
CLINTON: HillaryClinton.com.
MOOS: Boxing gloves.
(on-camera): So what's next? Some guy waving a stick behind Barack Obama ...
(voice-over): ... to signify that Obama knows how to shoot pool, even if he can't bowl.
(on-camera): Or maybe somebody should stand behind Hillary tossing back shots...
(voice-over): ... to symbolize she's one with the hard-working, hard-drinking folks.
As for those gloves, don't expect to see them on eBay any time soon. D plans to --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'll cherish them forever.
MOOS: Punch drunk over Hillary.
Jeanne Moos, CNN New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: There is no one like Jeanne Moos.
OK. Thanks for that, Jeanne.
The next hour of the CNN NEWSROOM starts right now.
