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Lou Dobbs Tonight
McCain Campaign Releases his Medical Records; Senator Obama Blasts Lou Dobbs; Phoenix, Arizona's New Police Policy; Toxic Toys; President Free Trade; United States Oil Drilling; Hillary Clinton's Robert Kennedy Comment
Aired May 23, 2008 - 19:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KITTY PILGRIM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Thanks, Wolf.
Tonight, Senator Barack Obama blasts Lou and this broadcast, but Obama's so-called facts are completely wrong.
Tonight, the city of Phoenix, Arizona reverses itself gives police officers new powers to fight illegal immigration.
And tonight, President Bush makes a new effort to impose his failed trade policies on American people and the Congress, all of that, today's news and much more straight ahead tonight.
ANNOUNCER: This is LOU DOBBS TONIGHT: news, debate, and opinion for Friday, May 23. Live from New York, sitting in for Lou Dobbs, Kitty Pilgrim.
PILGRIM: Good evening, everybody.
The McCain campaign today released eight years of his medical records to prove McCain is fit enough to be president. Now those records suggest McCain is in generally good health despite having had five skin cancers.
Meanwhile, Senator Clinton faced a storm of protests after referencing the assassination of Robert Kennedy as a reason to stay in the presidential race. Clinton later expressed regret about her remarks.
We have extensive coverage tonight. We begin with Mary Snow on McCain's medical records -- Mary.
MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kitty, the headline from McCain's doctors is that they have not seen any recurrence of the melanoma that caused him to have extensive surgery back in 2000. There is a lot of anticipation about making these medical records public and as the campaign did, it did so in a controlled setting.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SNOW (voice-over): The release of the medical records had been a long time coming. The campaign had postponed it a number of times citing scheduling conflicts. It calls this release unprecedented. One of his doctors, John Eckstein (ph), hoping to reassure the public about McCain's health. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I and my colleagues can find no medical reason or problems that would preclude Senator McCain from fulfilling all the duties and obligations of the president of the United States.
SNOW: On Thursday McCain was asked about his health and the rigors of the campaign.
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R-AZ), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I think it's obviously as you'll see excellent. I -- this issue I think is one that most Americans will see the vigor of my campaign.
SNOW: McCain has pointed out several times he hiked the Grand Canyon rim to rim in 2006, which took three days. But Northeastern University Political Science Professor Robert Gilbert, who has written several books about the health of presidents, says McCain who is 71 had no choice but to release a detailed medical history, since if he wins, he'll be the oldest first term president in history.
PROFESSOR ROBERT GILBERT, NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY: When a candidate has experienced serious cancer surgery, I really think there's a special need for complete or almost complete medical disclosure before voters go to the polls.
SNOW: Some political strategists say while the medical records show that McCain's cancer did not spread and his doctors say it's unlikely to return, it won't put to rest questions about his health, citing his age and the fact McCain gets checked every three to four months. Observers say they don't expect rivals to make McCain's health an issue (INAUDIBLE) his age. McCain often points to his 96- year-old mother and often jokes that he's older than dirt.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SNOW: And Kitty, another disclosure from the McCain campaign late in the day, it released a summary of Cindy McCain's 2006 tax returns, showing that she earned more than $6 million, paying 1.7 in taxes. Noteworthy because Cindy McCain had said she would never release them since she files her taxes separately from her husband. But she changed course, the McCain says she did not want to become a distraction -- Kitty.
PILGRIM: Mary, a lot of information for the day before the Labor Day (ph) weekend, isn't it?
SNOW: Yes, it's supposed to be a slow day, not so much.
PILGRIM: All right, thanks very much. Mary Snow.
Our chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta was among a small group of reporters who were allowed to review Senator McCain's medical files and Sanjay Gupta joins us now.
Sanjay, what did we learn more about McCain's cancer history?
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN SR. MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well you know he had the extensive operation back in 2000. That's what most people have paid attention to those scars on the left side of his face. But found out today, for example, in addition to removing the melanoma, they always took out 34 lymph nodes from his neck, which is why probably he has continued swelling in that part of his face.
We also found, for example, that he had a squamous cell carcinoma. That's a skin cancerous lesion removed from his leg in February of this year, so there was some news there you know that we hadn't heard before, lots of things to look for. You know it was interesting it was 1,200 pages of records, Kitty, and going through them in three hours was kind of like combining medical school and residency and all into one, a lot of things to look for.
His heart history, for example, something that you know needed to be paid attention to. He takes several medications including a cholesterol lowering medication, a baby aspirin; he takes hydrochlorothiazide, which is a medication to control kidney stones. But you know his heart, as Mary said, and his overall health seemed to be pretty good. For example, he had a stress test this year of his heart, which looked almost identical to a stress test from 2000, so you know it looks like overall you know he's fit to lead.
PILGRIM: You know, Sanjay, you bring up this point about you know this volume of material to get through. Someone with your expertise even having difficulty absorbing that much information, you weren't allowed notes or anything in the room, were you?
GUPTA: It was interesting. It was -- I had never experienced anything quite like it, I think it's fair to say. We were sort of taken to this private room, first they told that we couldn't leave except to go to the restroom and then had to come back. And once we left, we were no longer allowed into the room. I'm not sure and as you pointed out with Mary, this is the Friday before Memorial Day. Who knows what to make of all of that? It was a very interesting process for sure.
PILGRIM: Yeah, it is an interesting process, but I guess the sort of bottom line is there is no reason why McCain can't be president medically, correct?
GUPTA: Yeah, I think you know if you look some of the specific numbers, again people paying attention to the melanoma I think probably more than anything else. The most significant melanoma was operated in 2000. At that time they said he had a chance of having recurrence about 66 percent over 10 years. That was eight years ago.
And the further out you get from it, the better your odds are, so it looks like he's done pretty well. He's seen eight different doctors this year alone, so he's really seemingly committed to taking care of his health.
PILGRIM: Thanks very much, Sanjay Gupta. We could not do without your expertise.
GUPTA: Thank you, Kitty.
PILGRIM: Thank you. In the Democratic race Senator Clinton today invoked the assassination of Robert Kennedy as an argument to stay in the contest. Now Clinton was speaking to the editorial board of the Sioux Falls Argus Leader (ph) in South Dakota. And she also said reports that she's considering becoming Obama's running mate are quote, "flatly untrue".
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON (D-NY), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Between my opponent and his camp and some in the media there's been this urgency to end this. And you know, historically that makes no sense, so I find it a bit of a mystery.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You don't buy the party unity argument?
H. CLINTON: I don't because again I've been around long enough. My husband did not wrap up the nomination in 1992 until he won the California primary somewhere in the middle of June, right?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: June.
H. CLINTON: We all remember Bobby Kennedy was assassinated in June in California. You know, I don't understand it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PILGRIM: Now the Obama campaign said Clinton's comments about Robert Kennedy have absolutely no place in this election. Senator Clinton later expressed regret about her remarks.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
H. CLINTON: Kennedys have been much on my mind the last days because of Senator Kennedy and I you know regret that if my referencing that moment of trauma for our entire nation and particularly for the Kennedy family was in any way offensive, I certainly had no intention of that whatsoever.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PILGRIM: Now we'll have more on this with our political panel later in the show.
Senator Obama is stepping his efforts to win support of voters in Florida. Obama today focusing on Cuban Americans, a powerful group in Florida and Obama said that if he becomes president his policy towards Cuba would be based on achieving liberty for the Cuban people.
John Zarrella reports from Miami -- John.
JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kitty, Barack Obama came to what has traditionally been a Republican stronghold. His hope to wrestle Cuban American votes way from John McCain. He made a good impression, but getting those votes won't be easy.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ZARRELLA (voice-over): Cuban Americans listened politely and applauded Barack Obama, but the question is will they vote for him? The Illinois senator came to Miami to sell his vision for Cuba.
SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D-IL), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Together, we will stand up for freedom in Cuba.
ZARRELLA: Obama spoke at a Cuban American National Foundation luncheon. The organization has for decades driven U.S. policy towards Cuba. For Cuban Americans, Democrats have historically been a tough sell. Obama may be even tougher. The senator has said he would be willing to meet with Raul Castro. That does not play well here. Friday he stood by his words, saying it's time to pursue direct diplomacy without pre-conditions.
OBAMA: As president I would be willing to lead that diplomacy at a time and place of my choosing. But only when we have an opportunity to advance the interests of the United States, but even more importantly to advance the cause of the freedom for the Cuban people.
ZARRELLA: For many in his audience, any notion of talking with Cuba's current leaders, makes them uneasy.
RAMON SAUL-SANCHEZ, DEMOCRACY MOVEMENT: Make sure that that dialogue happens for the best interest of the Cuban people and not to maintain the status quo or to just do business with the Cuban regime.
ZARRELLA: Obama promised two things most Cuban Americans want. He would immediately end current restrictions by allowing Cuban Americans to visit relatives on the island and to send money to families in Cuba. Will that be enough to break the Republican stranglehold here? Bill Clinton got more votes in the Cuban exile community than any Democrat ever, and he only polled 35 percent.
(on camera): Many of the people we spoke with after Obama's speech said he made a good impression, but they wouldn't go so far as to say that they would vote for him -- Kitty.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PILGRIM: Thanks, John -- John Zarrella reporting from Miami.
A top Democrat trying to force the national leadership to recognize Florida's primary hopes a court will rule on the case before the end of this month. Florida Senate Democratic Leader Steven Geller has filed suit in federal court and he says the Democratic National Committee cannot ignore nearly two million votes. Geller wants a federal court to make a judgment before the DNC Rules Committee reviews the disputed primary on May 31.
Controversial Minister John Hagee today blasted his critics one day after Senator McCain disowned him. Hagee said the break with McCain is quote, "best for the both of us". McCain rejected Hagee's endorsement after the release of an audiotape of Hagee talking about Adolf Hitler and the Holocaust. Brian Todd has our report -- Brian.
BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kitty, Pastor Hagee said the last couple of days have been disappointing and painful for him and he said this has nothing to do with him and John McCain parting company.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thousands of dead.
TODD (voice-over): Frustrated by perceived distortions in the media, an embattled church leader uses his own air waves to strike back at critics.
PASTOR JOHN HAGEE, TELEVANGELIST: To hear people who know nothing about me or my life's work claim that I somehow excused the Holocaust is simply untrue and heartbreaking.
TODD: But Pastor John Hagee does not apologize or back away from the controversial remarks that led John McCain to reject his endorsement. A sermon in the 1990's in which Hagee said Adolf Hitler was sent by God to push the Jews out of Europe.
HAGEE: Why did it happen? Because God said my top priority for the Jewish people is to get them to come back to the land of Israel.
TODD: Following inquiries from CNN about Hagee's sermon, McCain rejected his endorsement, which the pastor then withdrew. Hagee's defense is combative.
HAGEE: To asset that I in any way condoned the Holocaust or that monster Adolf Hitler is the most vicious of lies.
TODD: Hagee said his sermon was merely an effort to explain how God could let the Holocaust take place and a popular San Antonio rabbi, who is also a close friend, supported him.
RABBI ARYEH SCHEINBERG, RODEFEI SHALOM, SAN ANTONIO: (INAUDIBLE) interpreted a biblical verse in a way not very different from several legitimate Jewish authorities.
TODD: When we asked a representative for Hagee if there was any resentment toward McCain she said she wouldn't go that far. But she said don't expect Hagee to get back into the political game anytime soon and observers say the fallout may effect other Republicans seeking the support of evangelicals.
TONY PERKINS, PRES. FAMILY RESEARCH COUNCIL: I think this is going send a pretty strong message to a lot of evangelical leaders who they need the support of. And I think they would be hesitant to make an endorsement thinking that everything they've taught on, everything they've said would be scrutinized.
TODD (on camera): And that feeling may be mutual. One political analyst told us this is the year when candidates may decide that endorsements and surrogates of any kind are simply not worth it, that they can lose you more votes than they can get for you -- Kitty.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PILGRIM: Thanks, Brian.
Brian Todd reporting from Washington. More on the presidential campaign later.
Also, important new developments in the fight against illegal immigration.
Casey Wian will have the report -- Casey.
CASEY WIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kitty, city officials in Phoenix, Arizona are finally listening to their constituents. Phoenix is ending its sanctuary policies for illegal aliens. We'll have details coming up, Kitty.
PILGRIM: Thanks, Casey. We look forward to your report.
Also Senator Obama launches an astonishing and inaccurate attack on Lou and this broadcast.
And President Bush refuses to change his failed policies on so- called free trade. We'll have a special report, war on the middle class.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PILGRIM: Senator Barack Obama last night told a Florida crowd that Lou contributed to a rise in hate crimes in this country. This is not the first time Senator Obama has attacked Lou and this broadcast and it's not the first time the senator has been wrong on the facts. Bill Tucker reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BILL TUCKER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Lou Dobbs is clearly on Senator Obama's radar from before the presidential primaries...
OBAMA: We're not going to solve the problem if we're just shouting about it like Lou Dobbs and folks on television.
TUCKER: On the campaign trail in the middle of the primaries.
OBAMA: And so when I hear Rush Limbaugh or you know Lou Dobbs or some of these people talking about how we need to send them all back. We're not going to send them all back. First of all, this is a country of immigrants.
TUCKER: And as the primary season comes to a close at a fundraiser closed to cameras in Florida Thursday night the senator again took aim at Lou, saying quote, "There's a reason why hate crimes against Hispanic people doubled last year. If you have people like Lou Dobbs and Rush Limbaugh ginning things up, it's not surprising that would happen." The senator's campaign staff could not tell us where he got his stats. But they're wrong, according to the FBI, hate crimes against Hispanics rose at a much slower rate than other groups and they certainly didn't double in 2006. Reported hate crimes against physically or mentally disabled individuals rose 49 percent.
Hate crimes against Muslims and gays increased 22 percent. Hate crimes against Jews rose 14 percent. Reported hate crimes against Hispanics rose 10 percent. In sheer number there were 576 hate crimes reported against Hispanics in 2006; 522 in 2005. Given the estimated increase in the Hispanic population through legal and illegal immigration, the Federation of Americans for Immigration Reform, which advocates for reduction in all immigration, argues the numbers show a very different picture over time.
JACK MARTIN, FDN. FOR AMER. IMMIGRATION REFORM: If you look the data from 1995 up to 2006, the trend in the number of hate crimes per 100,000 Latinos is actually down.
TUCKER: The largest number of reported hate crime offenses in 2006, based on just the numbers is anti-Black crime, at 2,640.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TUCKER: As for speaking hate, Lou has been very clear on this topic repeatedly. He has the utmost respect for the vast majority of illegal immigrants whom he calls hard working, good people. That fact, however, doesn't make unlawful entry into the country and illegal employment legal. Illegal immigration and legal immigration, Kitty, are two distinct separate issues.
PILGRIM: Well any viewer of this broadcast would know that we do make the distinction between legal and illegal immigration and we make it very, very clearly.
Thanks very much, Bill Tucker.
Mexico today confirmed what we reported frequently on this broadcast the death toll from drug cartel violence is rising at a staggering rate. More than 1,300 people have been killed so far this year. That's almost a 50 percent jump in homicides from last year.
Now the stunning announcement was made by Mexico's attorney general. He said more than 4,000 people have been killed since December, 2006. Many of the recent killings have been concentrated along the U.S. border. The city of Juarez alone just across the border from Texas, has had more than 200 drug-related killings so far this year.
The city of Phoenix, Arizona tonight launching a new effort to crack down on illegal immigration; Phoenix has long been criticized for blocking police from contacting immigration authorities when they arrest suspected illegal aliens. Now apparently public pressure has convinced city officials to change that so-called sanctuary policy.
Casey Wian reports. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WIAN (voice-over): Phoenix police officers will now check the immigration status of every criminal suspect they arrest. It's a dramatic shift for a city that long has been accused of offering sanctuary to illegal aliens and immigration officials say it's the busiest gateway for illegal alien smuggling.
CHIEF JACK HARRIS, PHOENIX POLICE DEPT.: I have always subscribed to the philosophy, that if you commit crimes in this city, you will be arrested, prosecuted, you will serve your sentence. And if you're in the country illegally, you'll be deported.
WIAN: Previously, Phoenix police officers only were allowed to question serious felony suspects about their immigration status. Now they can question all suspects, even witnesses to crimes, and report them to Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Advocates for expanded illegal alien rights are skeptical.
SALVADOR REZA, OPERATES DAY LABORER CENTER: Phoenix police from what I can see is not going look for them actively. But I can guarantee you some individual officers will.
WIAN: Public pressure to change the policy intensified after Officer Nick Erfle (ph) was killed by last year by an illegal alien with an arrest record. The officer's widow supports the change.
JULIE ERFLE, WIFE OF SLAIN OFFICER: For far too long we have done nothing and because of that people across this country have paid dearly. And some have paid with their lives, doing nothing should not be an option.
WIAN: Border security activists began a recall effort against Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon three weeks before he announced the policy change.
MAYOR PHIL GORDON, PHOENIX: When it comes to going after the illegal immigrants who have committed criminal acts, we are the best, far and away the best city. So to anyone who believe or believes that Phoenix is a sanctuary city, I say to you, you're wrong.
WIAN: Leaders of the recall effort say it will continue because the new policy still requires police officers to obtain a supervisor's approval before reporting illegal aliens to federal immigration agents.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WIAN: Still the Phoenix Police Union calls the policy a major improvement. Other supporters include Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and County Attorney Andrew Thomas. They of course are already aggressively enforcing immigration law -- Kitty.
PILGRIM: Interesting, an important development, thanks very much Casey Wian. Now Phoenix is the fifth largest city in the United States, so we asked the police departments of the four larger cities whether they ask immigration status of criminal suspects; in New York, the NYPD has a long-standing policy not to ask victims or witnesses about immigration status. But they do ask suspects if they are in the country illegally.
The LAPD is guided by their Special Order 40 and it discourages police from asking the immigration status of suspects. Chicago police told us they simply don't ask the question of those who are arrested or anyone else that is their policy.
And the Houston police pointed us to their written policy. It says once a person is arrested and taken to jail they're asked about their immigration status.
So that brings us to our poll tonight. Do you believe that all police departments should routinely check the immigration status of those under arrest? Yes or no. Cast your vote at loudobbs.com and we'll bring you the results a little bit later in the broadcast.
More than 900 illegal aliens in California are facing deportation tonight. They were arrested in a three-week-long enforcement operation by federal authorities. Now many of those arrested were fugitive illegal aliens who had ignored earlier deportation orders. And about 25 percent of those arrested had criminal histories in addition to being in the country illegally.
Up next, Senator McCain's releases his medical records. Now will they put an end to questions about the senator's health or raise more questions.
Also families demand action from Congress to stop tainted toys from communist China from entering this country. We'll have a special report.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PILGRIM: The Consumer Product Safety Commission announced recalls of more products imported from communist China, Taiwan and India and those recalls because of dangerous levels of lead. Now the latest recalls include Disney Tinker Bell Wands and Pirates of the Caribbean Sleeping Bags, yellow Sure Grip Paint Brushes, basic Beat Guiro Instruments, and a variety of United Scientific Magnets.
If you have one of these products the Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends you stop using it immediately. You can find more information at loudobbs.com.
We have reported extensively on the flood of tainted toys imported from communist China. Families of children who suffered lead poisoning from those toys were on Capitol Hill this week, those families demanding that the government take action and protect this nation's children from dangerous imports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) PILGRIM (voice-over): Beth and Kevin Fischer (ph) had their 3- year-old son Ryan tested for lead after they realized Ryan owned many of the Mattel toys made in China that were recalled last year for lead content.
BETH FISCHER, SON POISONED BY LEAD IN TOYS: His blood lead level was at 27, anything above 10 is cause for concern and it has to be treated. Two weeks later it was at 21, which I thought was a good sign, but actually it was not. What it meant was more had settled in his bones and in his tissues.
PILGRIM: The Fischers (ph) are in Washington to lobby lawmakers for tougher penalties on companies that sell toxic toys. Tough new measures have passed in the House and Senate; the Senate version would make mandatory many toy safety standards that are now voluntary, but there is concern some provisions will be cut in the final version. Some lawmakers who met with families are adamant about making imported toys from China safe.
REP. JAN SCHAKOWSKY (D), ILLINOIS: We're certainly going raise the amount of funding for the Consumer Product Safety Commission. But we're also going require that the toy companies get independent testing of these toys. They're going to have to test those products regardless of where they're made before they come to the United States.
PILGRIM: Consumer watchdog groups want the bills to continue to include mandatory testing of toys, enhance power and funding for the CPSC, and high penalties up to $20 million against companies that violate standards.
JOANNE DOROSHOW, CENTER FOR JUSTICE & DEMOCRACY: It's also the responsibility of the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the U.S. government to make sure that these toys as they come in are not on the shelves if they violate these standards.
PILGRIM: The Fischers aren't taking any chances. Now they don't buy toys from China.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PILGRIM: The House and Senate bills now in conference have to be voted on by July 4 for the new standards to be in place by this coming Christmas season. Mattel, one of the country's biggest toy brands, now says they support the legislation.
Time now for some of your thoughts.
George in California wrote to us: "I'm so tired of hearing that the voters of Florida and Michigan must be punished for voting early. If someone must be punished, then go after those that changed the dates, not the individual voters."
Janet in North Carolina wrote to us: "Lou, I thank God for you and your show. I am a black woman and I am a die-hard Hillary Clinton supporter. She is some lady. She motivates me. I love her fierce tenacity to hang in there in spite of all the negative and hateful treatment she has received. Love you, Lou."
And William in New York, "I have been a Democrat since 1964, I will now register as an Independent. I am fed up with the phony BS from both parties. Keep up the good work."
We'll have more of your e-mail later in the broadcast. Please join Lou on the radio, Monday through Friday for THE LOU DOBBS SHOW, go to loudobbs.com to find your local listings for the LOU DOBBS SHOW on the radio.
And coming up, crude oil prices are soaring, gas prices hitting records day after day. So, why are we not producing more oil in this country? We'll have a special report.
Also, the political fight over the Florida primary goes to federal court. Three of the best political analysts will be here to discuss that and more.
And President Bush just can't accept the will of Congress and the people on so-called free trade. We'll have the story. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PILGRIM: President Bush today, pushed Congress hard to act on his free trade agenda. Democrats in Congress recently blocked approval of the Columbian free trade deal. But, the president seems determined to make Congress change that decision. Lisa Sylvester has our report.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LISA SYLVESTER, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Using a Caterpillar front loader and a Harley-Davidson motorcycle as visual as props, President Bush warned the nation slip into protectionism and urged the passage of the Columbia Free Trade Agreement.
GEORGE W BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Let this trade agreement get to the floors. Let the representatives of the people decide. Let there be an open and honest debate about the merits of this piece of legislation.
SYLVESTER: Democratic leaders have stopped the Columbia trade deal on Capitol Hill and have brushed aside other pending agreements with Korea and Panama. They say previous trade deals like NAFTA have cost tens of thousands of U.S. jobs and led to a ballooning of the U.S. trade deficit.
REP SANDY LEVIN (D), MICHIGAN: It's a matter of basic policy and basic principle. Our workers and businesses need two-way streets assured.
SYLVESTER: The two Democratic presidential candidates have pledged to rethink the United States' approach to trade.
BARACK OBAMA (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: It's about time we had a White House that enforced the trade agreements because we can't keep on letting our jobs going way.
HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We're going to look at trade agreements; we're going to make sure that they have strong standards that will be fulfilled.
SYLVESTER: Senator John McCain, on the other hand, has aligned with President Bush, also urging passage of the Columbia Free Trade Agreement.
JOHN MCCAIN (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The Democrats want to scrap that treaty and they've delayed it indefinitely. The message to the hemisphere is obviously, in my view, not right one.
SYLVESTER: This November, the candidates record will be up for review, as will the nation's track record on trade.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
President Bush may be throwing his clout behind the Columbia trade deal, hoping to get it tough, but it is a tough sell to Democrats who control Capitol Hill. Congressman Phil Hare from Illinois commenting on the props used including that Harley motorcycle said, "Missing from today's photo op was the biggest exporter under NAFTA-style trade agreements, good paying American jobs" -- Kitty.
PILGRIM: Thanks soy much, Lisa Sylvester.
Well, oil prices were slightly down today, closing at $132 a barrel, that's down from Thursday's high of $135 a barrel. This, of course, is pushing up gas prices and gas prices soared for the 17th straight day. The nationwide average for regular unleaded gas is now $3.87.
The skyrocketing price of oil has some domestic producers looking to increase drilling in the United States, but critic say, big oil companies are reluctant to find alternatives to foreign oil sources. Carrie Lee has our report.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CARRIE LEE, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Independent drillers like Houston Tecton Energy believe that the United States is sitting on vast troves of untapped oil and with crude prices setting new records every day, there's plenty of incentive to find it.
BILL DIRKS, TECTON ENERGY: In the Rocky Mountains of the U.S. and in the same Rocky Mountains in Canada, there are vast tracks of land that literally haven't had a well drilled on them yet.
LEE: Yet, where modern day wildcatters, like Dirks, the opportunity, critics say, the majors don't explore enough.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Companies like an Exxon-Mobil or a Chevron Texaco are more interested to spending their money on short-term things that are going to provide big shareholder value, things like buying back their stock or increasing dividend payments to their shareholders.
LEE: The industry says it wants to do more, but the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge remains out of bounds, and major offshore drilling is banned because of political and environmental concerns.
ANDY RADFORD, AMERICAN PETROLEUM INST: If we had access to these areas, you could expect an increase in the number of wells that were drilled and an increase in the resources that would become available to the market.
LEE: Domestic exploration has risen every year since 2002, but it's still far below 1980 levels when oil prices last peaked.
DIRKS: In 1981 we literally had teams of people scratching almost every square inch of surface in the onshore United States looking for opportunities to drill wildcats. We don't do that as an industry anymore.
LEE: Sixty-four percent of the oil consumed by Americans comes from foreign sources, that's up from 43 percent two decades ago. And with some predicting that crude will top $200 a barrel, supporters of increased exploration say we can't wait any longer to boost domestic supply.
SEN LISA MURDOWSKI (R), ALASKA: The American public is looking at the price that they're paying at the pump, they're looking at the impact on their pocketbooks and saying, what is congress doing to make a difference when it comes to increased domestic production?
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEE: A lot of finger pointing, but no consensus on a solution and no comprehensive leadership on energy in Washington, even though increasing domestic supply, Kitty, could help bring prices down and certainly lower our dependence on foreign oil.
PILGRIM: Thanks very much, Carrie Lee. Thanks, Carrie.
Well, changing weather conditions, tonight, are hampering efforts to fight raging wildfires in California. These fires are still burning over 3,000 acres in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Calmer winds, high humidity, lower temperatures early in the day did help the firefighters, but the winds picked up this afternoon. Fire crews are struggling to keep up. Now, as the fires rage yesterday, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a state for Santa Cruz. Almost 1,500 homes are still under evacuation orders. Firefighters estimate the blaze is about 20 percent contained.
Coming up, was it just a slip of the tongue? Senator Clinton, tonight, backtracking from a very controversial remark. And another inaccurate attack against Lou and his coverage of illegal immigration, this one from the campaign trail. We'll hear from our distinguished panel of political analysts on this issues and much more, so stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) PILGRIM: Joining me now are three of the best political analysts and CNN contributors, we have Republican strategist, Ed Rollins. And Ed served as White House political director under Ronald Reagan and he recently chaired Mike Huckabee's presidential campaign. We have Pulitzer Prize winning columnist for the "New York Daily News," Michael Goodwin, and Democratic strategist, Robert Zimmerman. And Robert is also a national Democratic committeeman and a Hillary Clinton supporter.
Let's start with the Clinton campaign. Late today, a lot of discussion over a remark that Hillary Clinton made about the Robert Kennedy assassination -- for be benefit of our viewers, let's listen to that remark, first.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: You know, my husband did not wrap up the nomination in 1992 until he won the California primary -- somewhere in the middle of June, right? We all remember Bobby Kennedy was assassinated in June in California.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PILGRIM: That was made the -- an editorial board in South Dakota. Now Senator Clinton also later apologized for these remarks. Let's listen to what she had to say, subsequently.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CLINTON: The Kennedys have been much on my mind the last days because of Senator Kennedy and I, you know, regret that if my referencing that moment of trauma for our entire nation and particularly for the Kennedy family was in any way offensive. I certainly had no intention of that, whatsoever. (END VIDEO CLIP)
PILGRIM: Now, these campaigns are all in a fish bowl, Michael, what do you think, Michael?
MICHAEL GOODWIN, NEW YORK DAILY NEWS: I thought it was a horrible thing for her to say. Whatever her intent was, clearly she's thinking about it, clearly she's calculating it, that she's staying in the race. The context was why don't you get out, basically and her answer was two part: Bill Clinton didn't win until June of '92, and anything could happen, meaning Obama could get assassinated and therefore I should stay in the race. That's unbelievable.
PILGRIM: Robert.
GOODWIN: That's exactly what she said.
ROBERT ZIMMERMAN DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: I think you're one of the finest journalists in this country and you know that, how much I admire and respect you, but I think you're so off base on this. Obviously, they're all working on 16 hours day, of campaign schedule. She obviously made a statement that was historically inaccurate, was not -- it was not a calculation, there was no intention, here to create a political calculation, she was making an historical observation.
GOODWIN: But, isn't that her explanation for staying in, though? That was...
ZIMMERMAN: Her explanation was that nominations aren't secure until June and doesn't stop us from going forward as...
GOODWIN: (INAUDIBLE) get assassinated in June.
ZIMMERMAN: No, I think you're taking it to an extreme. She...
GOODWIN: I think I'm taking it literally.
ZIMMERMAN: No. I think the point is we're living -- this is now -- in June is the 40th anniversary of the Robert Kennedy campaign. It's all on our minds and I think -- I take her at her word and I think it's really a dangerous stretch to reach...
ED ROLLINS, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: I take her at her word. I think it's going to hurt her, though. I watched my candidate, Mike Huckabee, make an inappropriate joke a week ago, it's still alive a well across the country. Everyday I see news stories about it. So, I think this is -- I don't think it was intentional, I don't think it was a premeditated thought process. Something may have been in her head and that's irrelevant, but I think it's something that basically people who are not for her are going use against her.
PILGRIM: But, I think it's undeniable that all these campaigns are absolutely under a microscope at this point and there is no such thing as a comment that is not recorded, as you saw with the Obama...
(CROSSTALK)
ROLLINS: ...casual thoughts, and I think the unfortunate part of this is, you're going to have to so script everybody, there will be no spontaneity. And when you've had a campaign go on for 16 months, and you have a campaign that obviously, they're going at it16 hour a days, multiple stops -- they're tired, they're going make mistakes. You pay for the mistakes, though.
GOODWIN: All that's true. I just think the context of the question, I think is very relevant, here: Why are you still in race? And she gives a two-part answer: My husband didn't win until June and Robert Kennedy was assassinated in June, ergo, I'm staying in the race. I mean, I think there's only one way to hear that.
ZIMMERMAN: I think it's important to remember, she's making a historical reference to what transpired in past presidential campaigns. It wasn't -- I don't think you can anyway assume there was any calculation or any contemplation of that to take place. But I think there's a much bigger issue here, Michael, about the media...
GOODWIN: I'm not suggesting she wants it to happen.
ZIMMERMAN: Or calculating that it would happen. I don't think she's...
GOODWIN: But she gave it as reasons to stay in the race.
ZIMMERMAN: She was talking about how events unfold and nominations are going -- nominations take place in June and the party can still unite. And obviously, it was a poor reference, but I think it reflected as he said, because the Kennedy family has been on her mind, has been on all our minds.
GOODWIN: I think it's vile.
ZIMMERMAN: But, I think there's a bigger issue.
GOODWIN: I think its vile for even her to think that way -- it is, I think, incredibly revealing.
ZIMMERMAN: What I'm more concerned about is the media's fixation on this obvious misstatement versus focusing on the example of John McCain soliciting Reverend Hagee's endorsement.
(CROSSTALK)
PILGRIM: Let me just get Ed Rollins to weigh in on this...
ROLLINS: You know, if she was a front-runner, if she was (INAUDIBLE) everything else going well, it probably would have no effect. But it's gong to have effect. I think your base is gong to (INAUDIBLE) the next three of four days and what -- just as Michael, who is a first-rate journalist, he's going to write something on it, there's going to be other people going to write about it and everybody's going to have to defend. You're going to spend the entire weekend in the Hamptons and people saying, why did she say that...
ZIMMERMAN: You'll spend the entire weekend in the Hamptons saying, I told you so, Robert?
GOODWIN: I'll be in New York typing.
(CROSSTALK)
ROLLINS: I think the most telling part of this -- my last line -- is, it's unfortunate the California primary isn't where it use to always be in June, because it's the perfect place to have this thing finally decided.
PILGRIM: And a bitterly fought contest and every word is absolutely weighed. Let's move on to John McCain and the weird sort of spectacle of everyone being in a closed room, absorbing as much as they can of, well what, more than 1,000 pages of medical documents and then coming out and trying to assess his health. Sanjay Gupta basically said he's basically fit and his medical experience...
ROLLINS: The idiocy this...
PILGRIM: I'm glad you said it. ROLLINS: If he's healthy, which obviously he is, why hide it? You know, basically he's just let everybody come in, have the whole nine yard. This 71-year-old man, he's very fit and that's what the report says. And so, instead of trying to make this thing all as a build up, put it on Memorial Day weekend, let everybody come in an hour or two. I mean, this is something I'd Xeroxed and sent out three months ago and I think it's just one more little mistake, but it shows the campaign...
PILGRIM: Right, it does seem to relate.
GOODWIN: But is it possible that there is something being withheld? I mean, that that's why they're doing it in this way?
ROLLINS: If there is something being withheld at this point in time, first of all you have the doctor from Johns Hopkins go up there and say, you know, I've examed him, he's a healthy -- you know, my sense is John McCain is a healthy old man and a feisty old man.
GOODWIN: But old.
ROLLINS: And, but -- and nothing can take way the 71 years, but he's got a good heart and he's got a good -- the cancer is in remission.
ZIMMERMAN: What's really remarkable about this whole story, is that they've given so much attention to it that you had to speculate about his wellness, about whether in fact he is ill or not. Obviously the reports show he's healthy, he's fit to run, he's fit to serve. It's his values that are at issue, here. And I think that's really the focus.
(LAUGHTER)
PILGRIM: We'll get to that. Let's take a break and we'll get there. And we'll have much more with our panel in just minute. First a preview of what's coming up on the ELECTION CENTER with Campbell Brown.
Campbell, what are you working on?
CAMPBELL BROWN, CNN NEWS ANCHOR: Thanks, Kitty. It's a busy day in the ELECTION CENTER with the holiday weekend coming up. Hillary Clinton, as you know, faces a last minute political firestorm. We're going to talk a lot about that, tonight.
Also, John McCain releases his medical records and his wife puts out her tax returns. We'll have details on all of that.
And a close look at Pastor John Hagee and his controversial religious views that have finally turned off John McCain. We'll see you at the top of the hour -- Kitty.
PILGRIM: Thanks very much, Campbell.
A reminder now to vote on tonight's poll. Now, do believe that all police departments should routinely check the immigration status of those under arrest. Yes or no? Cast your vote at loudobbs.com. We'll bring you the results in just a few minutes. We'll have much more with our panel coming up. Also, a little bit later in the show, "Heroes," our tribute to the men and women who served this country in uniform and tonight we meet Technical Sergeant Israel Del Toro (ph). Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PILGRIM: We're back with Ed Rollins, Michael Goodwin and Robert Zimmerman.
Gentlemen, let's talk about Senator McCain. He's starting his own vice presidential search this weekend, having a get together, inviting 12 potential running mates to meet him on the weekend. Not all of them could attend. And I guess, the former GOP candidate, Mike Huckabee, could not make it, but...
ROLLINS: Wedding anniversary, he's off with his wife.
PILGRIM: His wedding anniversary. Good excuse, I think...
ROLLINS: Thirty-four years. She shoots better than he does, so I think...
PILGRIM: I think he should just keep his priorities straight. But, what do you think? We'll start with you, Ed.
ROLLINS: You know, I think there's some very key players in the room who aren't necessarily going be the vice president. I think Lindsey Graham, some others that are close to McCain, they're going to basically watch the three governors very closely and see if there's a good chemistry, there. And somewhere along the line they may -- you know, I think the guy that has the most to gain by this is Romney. If Romney basically turns out to have a better relationship with McCain, he may go back on the list.
PILGRIM: It seems this campaign has been going forever. Is this late in the game for V.P. discussions or no?
ROLLINS: Ronald Reagan never started talking about the V.P. until we were flying to Detroit for the convention and the interesting thing is the two people he didn't want were -- he didn't want George Bush to be discussed and he didn't want Howard Baker to be discussed, one ended up being his vice president, the other being his (INAUDIBLE)...
(CROSSTALK)
So, anybody who thinks they can predict these things in advance is wrong.
PILGRIM: Michael.
GOODWIN: It does seem to me that Romney has some advantages here that the others don't. I mean, I think Romney having been through this campaign and, you know, I think he learned a lot. He made a lot of mistake, early on, but I think he learned a lot. He's got a lot of energy, he's very youthful, very enthusiastic and I think that's a good contrast with McCain. The personal chemistry is an issue, but if they can work that out, I think Romney brings some advantages.
ZIMMERMAN: The corporate CEOs played so well this year, it should be wonderful to watch that happen. But you know, the process fascinates me. You know, normally these searches are done and this vetting process from vice president is done very done quietly, subtly. He's going to have everyone over to his home for a barbeque. I think Conan O'Brien said he's going to give a rose to the last one, his selection at the barbeque, something like that of "The Bachelor" series.
PILGRIM: New realty show.
ZIMMERMAN: Exactly. So, I think the process is interesting, but I think it also reflects the complete lack of direction of the campaign. It has such a diversion collection of people.
ROLLINS: I have to just say one thing.
PILGRIM: Go ahead.
ROLLINS: How many of these has Jim Johnson picked now? I mean, he started with Mondale, as Mondale chairman and did real well there.
ZIMMERMAN: I'm very proud of Geraldine -- I'm proud he picked her.
ROLLINS: Well, it's great, but you lost 49 states and I think at the end.
ZIMMERMAN: You ran the campaign, that was the problem, we had to run against you.
ROLLINS: At the end of the day, a lot of them have had these vetting process in which they have been very public and someone's pick is not necessarily public. I think it's important to have some kind of a chemistry. You don't know what it's like when you're on the campaign trail with someone you don't what they're like when you're sitting down in a different environment...
PILGRIM: Well, in that context, what about Obama-Clinton which is under much discussion, these days -- Ed.
ROLLINS: They should go off and have a barbecue somewhere and leave Bill home and maybe Mrs. Obama home and see whether they can get along.
GOODWIN: I think bill is a big problem, both in the campaign and, should they win, in the White House, but I think, again, her remarks today, I think, takes some of the pressure off of him. His weakness is obvious. I think there's been a lot of pressure building on him to take her because she's been doing better among white voters. I think her mistake today relieves that pressure. PILGRIM: You really think it's that significant?
GOODWIN: Yeah.
ZIMMERMAN: Part of the vice presidential candidate is to amplify the message. You saw that with the Clinton and Gore, for example, where Al Gore helped amplify the message and the image. In many ways, Hillary Clinton has the national presence, where if she wanted to be considered for vice president or if Barack Obama wanted to be considered for her vice president, that would be a very powerful ticket, not just uniting the party, but carrying a national message.
PILGRIM: All right, well this will be under discussion, I'm sure, for awhile longer. Gentlemen, we'll hold it right there, thank you very much. Ed Rollins, Robert Zimmerman, Michael Goodwin. And still to come, "Heroes," stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PILGRIM: Tonight, we introduce you to Air Force Technical Sergeant Israel Del Toro. Now, Sergeant Del Toro was badly burned when he was hit by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan. Doctors told him he would never walk again, but he was determined to prove them wrong. Barbara Starr has his story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: When Air Force Technical Sergeant, Israel Del Toro left his wife and son behind in 2005 for a tour of duty in Afghanistan, his job was to call in air strikes. But that December, his humvee hit a massive IED.
TECH. SGT. ISRAEL DEL TORO, U.S. AIR FORCE: I knew I was on fire, but I didn't know much I was until I got out and I was just -- from head to toe, I was lit up like a Christmas tree.
So -- and I collapsed. And that's when I'm thinking, crap, I'm going to die; I'm not going to see my wife' I'm not going to see my son again.
STARR: Del Toro forced himself to stay conscious long enough to tell a buddy how to radio for air strikes.
DEL TORO: It was just instinct. Yes I knew I was hurt, but these guys needed help, so I had to get air to them.
STARR: It would be nearly half an hour before a Medevac helicopter could land.
DEL TORO: I was just telling the guys, hey man, I just want to sleep, just let me rest. And they knew, if you fall asleep, you're not going to wake up out there. They used my son -- they were like hey, you have to fight for your son, and they made me yell it until the helicopter finally came in.
STARR: Del Toro suffered third degree burns over 80 percent of his body. The doctors gave him a 20 percent chance to live.
DEL TORO: They told me I may not walk again.
STARR (on camera): And what did you say to that?
DEL TORO: Well, I couldn't talk so -- because I had a trach (ph) in my neck. But they read my lips -- I was like said go to hell when they told me that.
STARR (voice-over): Barbara Starr, CNN, Brooke Army Medical Center.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PILGRIM: We wish him the very best.
Please join us on Monday, Memorial Day, for a very special program to honor all the men and women serving this country in uniform. You don't want to miss it. It's at 7:00 p.m. Eastern on Monday.
We had a technical problem with our poll last night. But we do have those results for you tonight -- 72 percent of you believe the votes of Florida and Michigan Democrats should be counted.
And now we have the results of tonight's poll -- 97 percent of you believe that all police departments should routinely check the immigration status of those under arrest.
Thanks for being with us tonight. For all of us here, thanks for watching.
Good night from New York.
The "ELECTION CENTER" with Campbell Brown starts right now.
