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Clinton Campaigns in Puerto Rico; Minnesota Misery: Deadly Tornado Hits Hard; President Bush Speaks at Arlington National Cemetery
Aired May 26, 2008 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SEN. HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON (D-NY), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: That's good. That's good.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: But sometimes Jennifer (ph) don't want me to go with her.
CLINTON: Yes. Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And then I have to go on the sofa.
CLINTON: Well, that can happen.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This one. This one.
CLINTON: How old is she now?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Cuantos anos tienes?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Siete.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Seven.
CLINTON: Seven years old.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. She's very smart.
CLINTON: She seems like a very observant child.
Well, I've got this wonderful group of supporters. We're traveling all across Puerto Rico talking about all the issues that are on people's minds, like, do you get health care through your work? Do you have health insurance?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He has...
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I pay $2, $3, $4. If I go to the hospital, it's $15.
CLINTON: Right. Right.
Well, now, when you retire from working, are you going to have Medicare? Do you have health insurance then?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, I already have...
CLINTON: Medicare?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No. I have a card here.
CLINTON: OK.
CLINTON: Public health. Public health.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This one. I don't pay that much.
CLINTON: Does that continue, though, after you're 65?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, they coordinate...
CLINTON: They coordinate.
Does this cover your whole family?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No. She has hers. She has hers. She don't pay. I pay like $2, $2, $2. Hospital, $14.
CLINTON: Yes. BECK: But when you retire, will you still have that insurance?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (SPEAKING SPANISH)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She don't work.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I can't retire because I don't work.
(LAUGHTER)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm the only one that brings the money to the house.
CLINTON: Yes. Well, that's good you do.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sure.
CLINTON: That's good you do.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, I do.
CLINTON: Yes. Yes.
Well, one thing we want to do, though, is in all these programs, like Medicare and Medicaid, and the children's health insurance program, which is part of the government health program, I want to be sure that people in Puerto Rico get the same benefits, get equal treatment with the benefits that they get in the states. So...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (SPEAKING SPANISH)
(CROSSTALK)
CLINTON: It's a long time, many years.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
CLINTON: I know. Has your family been in good health? So you haven't had many expenses?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, no. My family, they're OK.
CLINTON: Well, that's good. That's a blessing.
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know, they should give kids that go to school, right, so that they have something so they can do.
CLINTON: The vocational training, the skills training.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Si.
CLINTON: I agree with that, yes. Well, you know, we've been talking a lot about how we can use energy in Puerto Rico to create thousands of new jobs. You could train people to do solar power, wind power.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The line (ph) is too much.
CLINTON: Well, that's what I hear everywhere, because you know why?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We don't have air conditioning.
CLINTON: Well, part of it is because...
VERONICA DE LA CRUZ, CNN ANCHOR: All right. We've been listening in to Senator Clinton there spending some time. This is an event that she's billing as a conversation with a Puerto Rican family, speaking with real people, talking about real issues.
She's talking about health care, disability. Really trying to figure out what's on the minds there of the voters in Puerto Rico. Fifty-five delegates at stake there. And Puerto Rico, the primary will be held on June 1st.
She's going to be campaigning throughout Puerto Rico all day long. And we're going to continue to check in with her. She's campaigning alongside her husband. Also her daughter, Chelsea.
Something else we are watching very closely, President Bush there. He is laying a wreath at Arlington National Cemetery's Tomb of the Unknowns today one last time. We watched that just moments ago.
He wants all Americans today to take a moment and to pause 3:00 Eastern. To pause and remember the nation's fallen heroes. As soon as the president begins speaking, we'll go ahead and bring that to you live.
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Let's talk now for a moment now about the middle of the country, the epicenter of heartbreak. Weekend storms spawned vicious tornadoes across several states. Here's what we know this morning.
The greatest death toll is in Iowa. At least six people are confirmed dead. Dozens more are injured.
And take a look at this, new video just in to CNN. This is that hard-hit town of Parkersburg, Iowa.
We're getting a new number, just grabbed this one off the wire just a moment ago from the state wire AP in Iowa, reporting seven people were killed and dozens more injured from that tornado that ripped through -- this is a mostly rural area in northeastern Iowa. The storm actually hit just after 5:00 p.m. yesterday, and you can see the devastation it left in its wake here.
It leveled the southern half of Parkersburg. This is a town of about 1,000 people.
The National Weather Service now confirming that in fact a tornado did touch down there in Parkersburg. A news conference about an hour or so ago, maybe two hours ago now, didn't learn much new information, but we are getting the pictures, and the pictures sort of speak for themselves. Take a look at all of the damage again in Parkersburg, Iowa, a town of about 1,000.
In Hugo, Minnesota, just outside of St. Paul, at least one person is dead. That victim, a 2-year-old child. Dozens of homes destroyed.
Let's get you to CNN's Ed Lavandera. He is there.
And Ed, if you would, give us the view the day after.
ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, we're starting to see more people show up here to this neighborhood. The city is still trying to figure out the ways of letting people in so they can assess the damage at their homes.
The good news here was that many people were away for the holiday weekend. So that's why you're seeing a lot of people coming back for the first time to see their homes. But, you know, it's been a devastating weekend of tornadoes throughout the Midwest part of the country.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LAVANDERA (voice over): Two states, two stories of destruction. In Minnesota, a 2-year-old child was killed, at least nine people injured, and dozens of homes leveled, after a tornado and severe thunderstorms pummeled Hugo and suburban Minneapolis/St. Paul. Authorities say many residents were away for the holiday weekend, but those who were there were in disbelief.
MIKE ERICSON, HUGO CITY ADMINISTRATOR: The devastation is very real. The residents are very real. Seeing the looks in their eyes, they just almost can't believe that it's happened.
LAVANDERA: It was only part of the destruction left by severe weather that rumbled through the nation's midsection this weekend. In Iowa, at least six are dead. A tornado touched down in the north- central town of Parkersburg, taking several lives there before moving on, wreaking havoc and taking more lives 10 miles away.
Also badly hit, Waterloo, Iowa, where storms with marble-sized hail devastated homes, trees and power lines. Iowa governor Chet Culver declared a disaster area in the three counties. A Memorial Day Weekend marked by tragedy that residents will only want to forget.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LAVANDERA: Tony, the tornado here in Hugo wasn't on the ground for a very long time, but it did cut a path of destruction through this neighborhood of about a half mile wide and a mile long -- Tony.
BECK: Oh boy.
All right. Ed Lavandera for us this morning.
Ed, appreciate it. Thank you.
(WEATHER REPORT)
DE LA CRUZ: Well, today is Memorial Day, the day that we remember and honor the sacrifices made by U.S. troops around the world. Take a look. Here's a look at the Vietnam Wall Memorial in Washington. This is a live picture. As you know, it's a gathering place for family and friends to remember all of those lost in war.
And then across the country today, people will get together for ceremonies and parades. President Bush, we just saw him moments ago. He's at Arlington National Cemetery right now. He just laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns, the last time he'll do this. And then in a couple of minutes he's going to be making some remarks.
Of course when that happens, we're going to carry that live -- Tony.
HARRIS: One U.S. soldier killed on this Memorial Day in Iraq. He died in a roadside bomb blast in northern Iraq. That raises the number of American troops killed in the war to 4,081.
CNN's Arwa Damon has spent time on patrol with the troops.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ARWA DAMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Staff Sergeant David Julian loved children. He used to say that's what made all the sacrifices worth it. STAFF SGT. DAVID JULIAN, U.S. ARMY: It's not all fame and glory. It's a lot of hard times over here. But without Americans willing to pay that price, who's going to? It makes it worth it to know you might provide a future for those kids.
DAMON: We met Sergeant Julian and the men of Delta Company back in September. But just two months ago, he and four fellow soldiers and their interpreter were all killed when a suicide bomber struck their patrol. Every second of every day, those who survive remember their fallen comrades.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's hard, because, you know, just the thought of the possibility of losing more guys is a possibility that happens every day that we go out. But I know it's what they would want. They wouldn't want us just sitting around mourning for them. You know, they'd want us still out doing our job.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I lost my crew. I was in a tank platoon. And a tank platoon by itself is like a family. To tell you the truth, I've got soldiers underneath me, and if I break down, then they don't know what to do. So, I mean, I've kind of got to do it for them.
Plus, you can't show emotion over here. Because if you do, you'll get ate up. You just can't let it get to you.
DAMON: Each soldier here displays that determination.
LT. GREGORY FREDLUND, U.S. ARMY: And at the end of the day, it's them taking that burden on saying, we're ready to go out. I want to protect my platoon. I want to protect my soldiers and my brothers to my left and right. And they take that burden on to go back out again.
SPEC. JORDAN TUCKER, U.S. ARMY: The bond we have together is something I've really never found anywhere else. And it's the stresses and it's the hazards that really bring us together.
DAMON: It's a bond borne out of the experiences they can only share with each other, knowing that some of their comrades will not be going home.
SPEC. THOMAS WEBER, U.S. ARMY: I'll remember them as five guys who were doing their jobs, who were doing what they raised their right hand and swore to do. And I'll think more than anything about the fact that Sergeant Sach (ph) and Sergeant Julian both had daughters born while they were here.
CAPT. WES WILHITE, U.S. ARMY: I want them to know that those five, just like everybody else that's laid down their life down here, to know that they gave up everything, they sacrificed everything for what America is about.
FREDLUND: I would love to bring all my men home. I would love that more than anything. To not do that, it's going to be very bittersweet going back.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
DAMON: You know, there won't be any special Memorial Day ceremony on this small FOB in the heart of Baghdad, not because they don't want to remember their fallen comrades. They remember them every second of every day. But quite simply because they can't afford to let their emotional guard down.
Now, I'm joined by Specialist Tom Rini.
Specialist, thank you for joining us.
Tell me how, after you guys have been through so much, do you still find the motivation to go out there every day?
SPC. TOM RINI, U.S. ARMY: Well, I just look at the guys to the left and right of me. These are my family out here. And I know that if they have to do it, I have to do it. And that just makes it that much easier for me to go out and put on the uniform. And when it's hot out, just go do it, because I know everybody else is.
DAMON: Thank you.
And just to add to that, too, what a lot of the guys will also tell you, that their main objective right now is to make sure that they all get home safely -- Tony.
HARRIS: Arwa Damon with the troops at a forward operating base in northern Iraq.
Arwa, thank you.
DE LA CRUZ: And President Bush delivering Memorial Day remarks at Arlington National Cemetery. Let's go ahead and listen in.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Members of the United States Congress, Senator Warner, and Congressman Skeleton, members of the military, our veterans, honored guests, families of the fallen, Laura and I are honored to be with you on Memorial Day. And thank you for coming.
A few moments ago I placed a wreath upon the tomb of three brave Americans who gave their lives in service to our nation. The names of these honored are known only to the creator who delivered them home from the anguish of war, but their valor is known to us all.
It's the same valor that endured the stinging cold of Valley Forge. It is the same valor that planted the proud colors of a great nation on a mountaintop on Iwo Jima. It is the same valor that charged fearlessly through the assault of enemy fire from the mountains of Afghanistan to the deserts of Iraq. It is the valor that has defined the armed forces of the United States of America throughout our history.
Today we gather to honor those who gave everything to preserve our way of life. The men and women we honor here serve for liberty. They sacrificed for liberty. And in countless acts of courage, they died for liberty.
From faraway lands they will return to cemeteries like this one where broken hearts receive their broken bodies. They found peace beneath the white headstones in the land they fought to defend.
It is a solemn reminder of the cost of freedom that the number of headstones in a place such as this grows with every new Memorial Day. In a world where freedom is constantly under attack, and in a world in where our security is challenged, the joys of liberty are often purchased by the sacrifices of those who serve a cause greater than themselves.
Today we mourn and remember all who have given their lives in the line of duty. Today we lift up our hearts, especially to those who have fallen in the past year.
We remember Army Specialist Ronald Tucker (ph) of Fountain, Colorado. As a young man, Ronnie (ph) was known for having an infectious smile and prankster sense of humor. And then he joined the United States Army, which brought out a more mature side in him. Ronnie (ph) transformed from a lighthearted teenager into a devoted soldier, and a dutiful son who called his mother every day from his post in Iraq.
In his final act of duty less than a month ago, he worked with other members of his unit to build a soccer field for Iraqi children. He drove back to his base and an enemy bomb robbed him of his life. And today our nation grieves for the loss of Ronnie Tucker (ph).
We remember two Navy SEALs, Nathan Hardy (ph) of Durham, New Hampshire, and Michael Koch (ph) of State College, Pennsylvania. Nate and Mike were partners in the field and they were close friends in the barracks. In several missions together, they had developed the unique bond of brotherhood that comes from trusting another with your life.
They even shared a battlefield tradition. They would often head into battle with American flags clutched to their chests underneath their uniform.
Nate and Mike performed this ritual for the last time on February the 4th. Both laid down their lives in Iraq after being ambushed by terrorists. These two friends spent their last few moments on earth together doing what they loved most, defending the United States of America. Today, Nathan Hardy (ph) and Mike Koch (ph) lay at rest next to each other, right here on the grounds of Arlington.
The men and women of American armed forces perform extraordinary acts of heroism every single day. Like the nation they served, they do not glory in the devastation of war. They also do not flinch from combat when liberty and justice are embattled.
Ronald Tucker (ph), Nathan Hardy (ph) and Mike Koch (ph) made clear they do not waver, even in the face of danger. And so today, here in Washington, and across our country, we pay tribute to all who have fallen. A tribute never equal to the debt they are owed. We will forever honor their memories. We will forever search for their comrades, the POWs and MIAs. And we pledge -- we offer a solemn pledge to persevere and to provide the security for our citizens, and secure the peace for which they fought.
The soil of Arlington and other sites is filled with liberty's defenders. It is nourished by their heroism. It is watered by the silent tears of the mothers and fathers and husbands and wives and sons and daughters they left behind. Today we pray for God's blessings on all who grieve and ask the almighty to strengthen and comfort them today and every day.
On this Memorial Day, I stand before you as the commander in chief and try to tell you how proud I am of the sacrifice and service of the men and women who wear our uniform. They are an awesome bunch of people, and the United States is blessed to have such citizens.
(APPLAUSE)
I am humbled by those who have made the ultimate sacrifice that allow a free civilization to endure and flourish. It only remains for us, the heirs of their legacy, to have the courage and the character to follow their lead, and to preserve America as the greatest nation on earth and the last best hope for mankind.
May God bless you, and may God bless America.
(APPLAUSE)
DE LA CRUZ: The president there speaking to those who are at Arlington National Cemetery today. He laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns for one last time. There he sits now next to Defense Secretary Robert Gates, saying today we mourn and remember all of those who have given their lives in the line of duty.
The president's urging all Americans to pause today to reflect and to pay their respects at 3:00 p.m. Eastern.
Again, a live picture there of Arlington National Cemetery and the Tomb of the Unknowns. You've been watching it right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.
We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: Holidays, prime campaign days. John McCain and Barack Obama both meeting with veterans in New Mexico this Memorial Day. Hillary Clinton remains in Puerto Rico, shoring up support ahead of Sunday's primary. Fifty-five delegates at stake there.
Obama's now closer to clinching the Democratic nomination. He picked up three more superdelegates this weekend in Hawaii. And look for another name on the November ballot. The Libertarian Party picked former Republican congressman Bob Barr to headline its ticket. DE LA CRUZ: And Republican presidential candidate John McCain spent the weekend at his Arizona ranch, entertaining possible VP candidates.
Our Mary Snow looks at that, his latest spat with Barack Obama, and the week ahead.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Senator John McCain kept mum about his meetings with three potential running mates at his home in Sedona. But people are talking about the next big visitor to the presumptive Republican nominee's home state -- President Bush.
Bush will be in town Tuesday for a fund-raiser that's being held at a private Arizona home. The McCain camp says the venue was chosen for privacy. But the "Phoenix Business Journal" reports that lackluster ticket sales forced a location change from its original spot, the Phoenix Convention Center.
Meantime, the man who is looking more and more like McCain's November opponent is keeping up the McCain/Bush comparisons, taking aim at both men for opposing the GI bill.
SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D-IL), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I revere our soldiers and want to make sure that they are being treated with honor and respect. I think the GI bill is one way for us to do that. And I hope that John McCain and George Bush decide they would do (ph) the same thing.
SNOW: McCain says he opposed the bill because it doesn't provide incentives for people to stay in the military. He also made mention of Obama's decision not to serve.
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R-AZ), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I don't know if the American people will judge Senator Obama as whether he has military experience or not, but I think they may judge him as to whether he has the experience and knowledge to make the kind of judgment necessary to care for our veterans.
SNOW: McCain supporter Senator Lindsey Graham seemed to pick up on that theme on CBS' "Face the Nation," while criticizing Obama for wanting to withdraw troops from Iraq.
SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM (R), SOUTH CAROLINA: The last time I understand he was in Iraq in 2006. I would recommend that he go back. So much has happened since 2006 on the ground.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
DE LA CRUZ: Mary Snow is following the McCain campaign in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
And Mary Snow, where is the senator expected to show up? What can we expect from him today?
SNOW: Hi there, Veronica.
Well, Senator McCain will be here at the New Mexico Veterans Memorial, observing today's holiday and also addressing veterans.
He'll bring up once again that GI bill that he opposed last week. It was the bill that Senator Obama had supported. This extends educational benefits to veterans. Senator McCain is going to make the case why he supports an alternative.
Also, he's going to be talking about his own military experience and his 22 years as a naval officer, and explain why he does not want to withdraw troops from Iraq -- Veronica.
DE LA CRUZ: A little bit more about the GI bill, and exactly why he is opposed it, Mary. Can you kind of break that down for us?
SNOW: Well, he is opposing it, saying that he is fearful that it won't offer incentives for people to stay in the military. These educational benefits would go to members of the military who had served for three years.
But Senator McCain is making the case, that would not provide incentive for them to stay in the military beyond that. And he's saying with the United States at war in two places, Iraq and Afghanistan, in a time when the military is trying to build up, it -- those incentives come too early. He instead wants to tie those benefits to the length of service for military members.
DE LA CRUZ: All right. Mary Snow there in Albuquerque, New Mexico, keeping track of all of it for us.
Mary, thank you.
And Hillary Clinton in the meantime clearing the air about her controversial reference to the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy. Just one of the stories that you can find today on the Political Ticker. You can log on to cnnpolitics.com. Don't forget, the Political Ticker, it is your source for everything political.
HARRIS: An image you won't forget. Eyewitness accounts you will need to hear. A tornado tears apart buildings as workers huddle inside.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Nathan was a true all-American boy. He was very respected, very kind-hearted. He was always full of adventure and very enthusiastic. Unfortunately November 9th, 2004, he was killed. It was very heart-breaking for us. We're going to miss him a lot.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR, NEWSROOM: Just past the half hour. Welcome back everyone to the CNN NEWSROOM on Memorial Day. I'm Tony Harris.
VERONICA DE LA CRUZ, CNN ANCHOR, NEWSROOM: Nice to see you. I'm Veronica de la Cruz.
It could be a bumpy ride financially if you fly this summer, expert advice on beating rising airline costs. That's coming up in less than three minutes right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.
HARRIS: The middle of the country, really, the epicenter of heartbreak. Weekend storms spawned vicious tornadoes across several states. Here's what we know this morning. The greatest death toll is in Iowa. At least six people are confirmed dead. The Associated Press is reporting a seventh person was killed. Dozens more are injured. We want to show you some pictures into the CNN NEWSROOM just a short time ago. This is in Parkersburgh (ph), Iowa, a town that was really, really hard hit. Again, seven people according to the Associated Press killed in Parkersburgh alone. Dozens more injured when that tornado ripped through the area.
In Minnesota, at least one person is dead, that victim, a two- year-old child. Dozens of homes are destroyed. Sunday's violent weather also stretched into Texas. At least three confirmed tornadoes touched down in the panhandle. The twisters were weak and the area sparsely populated, blessing there. There are no reports of injuries or significant damage. Dozens of tornadoes, countless tales of survival. But what you're about to see is really extraordinary., video of a tornado tearing across a farm, a pig farm. The accounts of those trapped in the fury, CNN meteorologist Rob Marciano has their story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ROB MARCIANO, CNN METEOROLOGIST (voice-over): 3:30, the storm is spotted northwest of Oklahoma City by helicopter pilot Mason Dunn, talking live with KWTV meteorologist Gary England.
MASON DUNN: It's not that strong right now. But it could be, Gary.
MARCIANO: Minutes later at 3:33, Jacqui Jeras is live on CNN as the storm forms.
JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: There it is. There you can see the touchdown.
MARCIANO: At first, there's nothing but farmland ahead. Then less than a minute after touchdown --
DUNN: Guys, there's structures there. I don't know if that's a house or whatever. There's a barn, several barns. It's going to -- looks like it's going to be right in the path here very shortly.
MARCIANO: The barns are part of a sprawling pig farm where six workers are running for cover.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We looked to our left over here and that's when we seen the tornado.
MARCIANO: Then a direct hit.
JERAS: Look at that roof come off of that building. Wow, really being thrown very far, incredible pictures. This is actually happening right now.
MARCIANO: The barns are shredded in seconds. The workers ride it out in a brick office building.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We heard glass breaking, the doors were rattling.
MARCIANO: Less than two minutes later they're in the clear, but the storm is on the move.
DUNN: It's getting huge.
MARCIANO: It would spawn at least four more tornadoes over the next hour but nothing as vicious as what destroyed the farm. Where there was little left but piles of debris, and some shocked little piggies.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
DE LA CRUZ: Airlines jacking up prices to offset the rising cost of fuel. Is it a jolt to your summer travel plans maybe? Here to talk about all of it is Rick Seaney of farecompare.com. Hey there Rick.
RICK SEANEY, FARECOMPARE.COM: Good morning.
DE LA CRUZ: Good morning to you. American Airlines, they just started charging us $15 for the first bag, $25 for the second bag. Already you get on a plane, they're charging you for food. You want to watch a movie, it's an additional fee. Is this it? Are there more of these additional fees coming down the pike?
SEANEY: You know, I'm not sure that there's another area where they can add fees. It's curbside check-in. It's when you get to the gate. It's pets. It's changed fees when you miss your flight. Everything is being increased and it's mainly due to the cost of fuel.
DE LA CRUZ: And then on top of that, Rick, the cost of these tickets shooting through the roof. I think United just increased their tickets by what, on average, $60.
SEANEY: Yeah, up to $60 round trip. It was basically based on mileage. We've had 16 air fare attempted increases this year, 23 last year, 12 of those widely successful this year and 17 widely successful. The bottom line is, the price of the air fare is going up especially for those in smaller cities. If you happen to be lucky enough to be in a city with a low-cost airline, it's not quite as high. But definitely everything's up.
DE LA CRUZ: We want to figure out how to beat these costs. A lot of us are shopping online these days when we're booking travel. So what is the secret? How do we save money?
SEANEY: The first thing to do is you have to know what a good price is. You wouldn't go out and buy a car if you didn't know what a good price was and you shouldn't go buy an airline ticket and that's what we do at farecompare.com. We show you up to four years' of history. We can actually show you what a good price is. Second is, you have to be able to buy that ticket when you see a good price. Millions of people are shopping at the same time. If you see that ticket in the morning when you're shopping at work and you go home later that night to talk to your spouse, that ticket will be gone.
DE LA CRUZ: You can't sit around. You've got to jump on it.
SEANEY: You got to jump on it right away.
DE LA CRUZ: I also hear that you have some good news for us. We're talking about all the bad news, let's go ahead and get to some good news. You have a secret on how we can fly first class. What is that?
SEANEY: If you have -- basically what the airlines offer is what's called a discounted first class fare called a Y-up. Most people don't know about these because you actually have to shop for first class to see them. A lot of times they're cheaper, than some of the last-minute high-priced tickets and sometimes they do discount well below coach prices. So if you miss your flight, if you have a special occasion, on our Web site we have a tool that will show you all the discounted first-class seats across the nation from your city. So just come to the site. You can check it out. The bottom line is, most people don't see these because they don't shop for first class. They only shop for coach.
DE LA CRUZ: I wanted to ask you, is this also going to be the summer of travel delays? It's definitely -- the price increase, the ticket increase, but will we also be stuck at the airports longer?
SEANEY: Well, last year we had almost 90 percent planes full with almost one in three flights delayed or canceled. This summer is likely to be very similar. I like to tell people, you have to be like a Boy Scout now. Be prepared for every eventuality because something will happen to you when you get to that airport at least one in three of you.
DE LA CRUZ: And I know that you blog. And you definitely have lots of tips for us. What is your tip then, if you do get stuck at airport, if your flight gets canceled?
SEANEY: When you get to the airport, if you know the flight schedules of the other airlines or if you know there's another airport, if you're in a large metro area, you have to be willing to basically study a little bit before you go. And then when you get to the counter, instead of hollering about how difficult it is, you can make suggestions to the ticket agent and say, look, get me on this other airline, I know they fly to this location. But just get out of that airport because if that airport's having issues, the best thing you can do is get out of that airport. DE LA CRUZ: But be nice.
SEANEY: But be nice, of course. Everybody that gets nice usually gets better service. If you're not nice, you get a big disincentive from everybody.
DE LA CRUZ: We'll smile. All right, Rick Seaney, farecompare.com, thanks so much.
SEANEY: Thank you for having me on.
DE LA CRUZ: Don't forget, keep watching CNN. Our money team has you covered on all issues that might be affecting your wallet. You can join us for a special report coming up called "issue #1," the economy. It happens today at noon Eastern, just moments away right here on CNN.
HARRIS: The Phoenix has landed, a perfect touchdown for NASA's latest Mars mission. A look at some of the new pictures from the red planet.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Nathan was a true all-American boy. He was very respected, very kind-hearted. He was always full of adventure and very enthusiastic. Unfortunately November 9th, 2004, he was killed. It was very heart-breaking for us. I know we're going to miss him a lot.
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HARRIS: The Phoenix has landed and look, scientists are very, very happy, sending back new pictures of Mars and making, well, the NASA scientists are downright giddy, let's just say that. CNN space correspondent Miles O'Brien has the story.
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MILES O'BRIEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Talk about a happy landing. NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander (ph) arrived live and well on the surface of the red planet, opened its solar arrays and started snapping pictures like an eager tourist. A hundred and seventy million miles away, the intrepid robot's human keepers rejoiced.
STEVE SQUYRES, MARS ROVERS SCIENTIST: This is hardware that these guys have held in their hands, that they've nurtured, that they've sweated over for years and then to see that very same hardware on the surface of another world. It's an incredible feeling.
O'BRIEN: It was an incredible descent. The $420 million Lander breezed through a searing perilous arrival at Mars. Pieces separated. The parachute unfurled. The radar started scanning the ground and a dozen rockets fired all as designed. And Phoenix slowed from 12,700 miles an hour to 0 in all of seven minutes. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Today you had a chance to watch a team in action making something that is incredibly hard to do. Look easy.
ED WEILER, NASA ASSOC ADMIN: It's like trying to hit a hole in one. You tee off in Washington and you hit the ball 10,000 miles and you score a hole in one in Sydney, Australia.
O'BRIEN: The last time NASA tried a soft landing on Mars like this it was a disaster. The sister craft of Phoenix, the Mars Polar Lander, crashed in 1999, a casualty of a cost-cutting program that NASA admits went too far. This time, the space agency spent more money and is ready to focus on the mysteries of Mars.
PETER SMITH, LEAD SCIENTIST: This is a scientist's dream right here on this landing site.
O'BRIEN: They believe the rocky tundra here is filled with ice crystals, which could hold clues about life on the planet.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: For example, if there are organic molecules, which is one of the key ingredients for life, they may be trapped in that ice.
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HARRIS: Miles O'Brien is at NASA's jet propulsion laboratory in Pasadena, California for us this morning. Miles, break this down for us, got a couple of thoughts after you do. What is it about these pictures that has the scientists -- well, the scientists are just intrigued and happy and giddy.
O'BRIEN: I think they're happy to be there. As a matter of fact, they would be intrigued by anything they see, just being there. But take a look at this image. I'll show you what they're going to be looking at specifically. You look at the long shots. It looks kind of like a gravel parking lot. But there's a lot more to it than that. Look at this image right here and you'll see there's these fractures in the surface there. And the thinking is that there's a lot of ice, sort of mixed in with the tundra here. As the ice is frozen, it has broken apart the soil. If you dug in those little trenches, you might very well get a scoop full of ice and that would be a big deal for scientists because a robot has never touched Martian ice.
And of course, what is ice? That's solid water, right? And water is something that is associated with life here on this planet. So not only is it interesting to just be near water, but what is encapsulated in that water, maybe organic materials, kind of stored in a deep freeze. It helps tell the story. Pretty soon you've got a recipe there Tony, for life. All of a sudden you're checking off all the boxes. Pretty much put it in the pot, and maybe you know the story finally about life on Mars.
HARRIS: Miles, do you have your model there? Because I'm wondering, does the Phoenix have one of those robotic arms that can maybe dig down into those trenches you described? O'BRIEN: Indeed it does. Indeed it does. It's not a rover, no wheels on this one. But if you look at those pictures, why rove? You can go off and drive to the full length of the odometer. Break it down and you would still be in the same place. As my friend Steve Squyres said yesterday, who is the man in charge of the rovers, what they need to do is moved vertically, not horizontally and that's what this is all about. This arm is about seven feet in length. After they've done a thorough scan with this camera here, stereoscopic 360 all the way around there, they can get a good 3-D map of the environment. Because after all, this arm is dumb, it doesn't know what it's digging for, you've got to tell it.
Down it will go into what amounts to, they think it's like concrete. It's got a little rasp on it. It'll drill in, get some of that ice material in. They'll scoop it up, bring it up here and see this house thing? That's a glorified easy-bake oven. They'll put it in there, cook it. And that will give them an opportunity to see how it all breaks apart and what energy levels it takes to break it apart. Put it through a math spectrometer. It's just as if you had it in a lab here on earth. It's just that human hands are 170 million miles away controlling it.
HARRIS: What a fascinating story, great that you're telling it for us, Miles. Good to see you as always, thanks.
O'BRIEN: Thank you, Tony.
DE LA CRUZ: Want to take you live right now to Los Angeles, California, the situation there, we're working reports of a multiple injury car crash. It seems as though a car has gone over a cliff, right there into an embankment. These are pictures that we were looking at earlier. Right now, rescue crews are there on the scene. We have reports from KTLA that they are working to free five people who have been injured in that wreck, again, a multiple-injury car accident. We're hearing that there are four adults trapped in that car, also one child at this point. This is happening in the Laurel Canyon area, the Hollywood hills area of Los Angeles, California. Again, we're going to keep a close eye on this and bring you any more developments. Four adults at this point, one child trapped in that car. We're going to go ahead and bring you details as we get them. Tony?
HARRIS: Getting home will cost more than getting there. Gas sets a new record while you were hopefully enjoying your holiday weekend. Issue number one in the NEWSROOM.
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HARRIS: So if you're driving this holiday weekend, that's what the frown is all about. It will cost you more to get back home. Sorry, that was a scowl, wasn't it? The price of gas hits another record high. AAA says the national average for a gallon of regular is now more than $3.93, man, up about half a cent since yesterday and more than 34 cents over the past month.
DE LA CRUZ: Well, health care is certain to be a campaign issue this fall. So where do the presidential candidates stand when it comes to mental health coverage? Our medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen, she's been looking into it for us.
ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Let's break it down and think about what do these candidates stand for. There's something called parity, which is simply put that mental health coverage should be on par with physical health coverage for insurance policies. Clinton and Obama have a similar stance. They both strongly support parity. McCain does not support parity at this time and so it's not surprising when the Senate recently considered or recently passed a bill on parity, McCain was not in support of it. The two Democrats were.
DE LA CRUZ: And Elizabeth, as you know, today is Memorial Day. We are honoring the nation's fallen, our veterans. Where do they stand when it comes to veterans and senior citizens?
COHEN: Mental health issues are crucial for veterans as they return. Often they need a lot of physical care as well as mental health care. Let's take a look at the stance for vets. Clinton's argument is that there should be more money for at-home care. This is a program where the mental health care is brought to the person's, to the vet's home. Obama wants to see more money for specialists, counselors and others who are specially trained to deal with mental health issues. McCain, he's more looking at money for VA and military hospitals. That's the way that he looks at it.
Let's also take a look at it for senior citizens. The issues are a little bit different here. Clinton and Obama are both looking again for parity for mental health coverage. McCain again a different stance. He wants to work to change Medicare policies. Specifically, he's looking how do we save money on Medicare? He says there's a lot of waste there. How do we save money? And once we save money then we can think out how do we pay for mental health coverage for seniors?
DE LA CRUZ: Elizabeth Cohen there for that. Don't forget to get your daily dose of health news, you can always log onto the web. You'll find the latest medical news, a health library, also information on diet and fitness. Log onto cnn.com/health.
HARRIS: Homes smashed, tornadoes plowing across the central U.S. More could actually strike today. Live in the severe weather center in the NEWSROOM.
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DE LA CRUZ: Senator Ted Kennedy once again seeks the comfort of the sea. The political icon is back sailing for at least the fourth time since he was diagnosed last week with a malignant brain tumor. In fact today, Kennedy is competing in an annual race off the coast of Massachusetts.
HARRIS: No.
DE LA CRUZ: Tony, yeah. On a side note, you probably remember, Tony, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, he filled in for Kennedy yesterday. He delivered the commencement address at Wesleyan University in his place.
HARRIS: The first grandchild of slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. is a healthy baby girl. The wife of Martin Luther King III gave birth Sunday here in Atlanta. The baby's name Yolanda Renee King after her dad's oldest sister who died last year.
