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American Morning
New York's Top Democrats Plan to Endorse Barack Obama Today; John McCain Challenging Barack Obama to Town Hall-Style Debates; Hillary Clinton Makes a Decision to Suspend Her Campaign
Aired June 05, 2008 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JOHN ROBERTS, CNN ANCHOR: Candy Crowley for us. Thanks.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: And in Clinton's letter this morning, she writes - quote -- "The stakes are too high for the party not to unify."
ROBERTS: Coming up at 8:25, one of Clinton's strongest supporters, James Carville, joins us live with details on her decision and where she goes from here.
PHILLIPS: Also breaking right now, New York's top Democrats plan to endorse Barack Obama today.
CNN's Suzanne Malveaux joins us with more.
What can we expect in the days ahead?
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, the headline says it all -- "Kicking and Screaming," here. I mean --
PHILLIPS: Was she really kicking and screaming, though?
MALVEAUX: I don't think that was kicking and screaming. But --
PHILLIPS: It's tough.
MALVEAUX: Well, maybe it was close. But it was very tough for her. She met with the New York delegation and she's been doing this for a long time. She's very passionate about it and her -- really her die-hard supporters are the New Yorkers, the people who really, from the very beginning -- Congressman Charlie Rangel said that he would be there for the very end. But the end had already come and gone.
And so, there was a meeting about how was the exit strategy going to be graceful. So the New York delegation is actually going to be at the capitol. They're going to endorse Obama. They're going to see the New York State folks as well on Friday, and then Saturday is when she is going to officially make the announcement.
PHILLIPS: Well, there was a lot of criticism that came forward. You know, why delay this? Why keep procrastinating here? Do you think that that damaged the situation even more -- damaged the party?
MALVEAUX: You know, it's difficult. It's really difficult to know. But there were -- some of her top supporters who was very frustrated. They were starting to feel like they were pawns in the game. There are 18 million voters. She talked about that. But then there was also, you know, this campaign -- whether or not she was going to be asked to be vice president, or what she was going to do with her voters and the support. And so there was a backlash.
I mean, there was definitely a feeling within her supporters in the campaign that it was time to give it up. But it was a matter of figuring out, giving her the time to do it gracefully.
PHILLIPS: I guess, too, this is so historic. We're talking about a female. There's probably a part of her, because we're all strong women, where you just don't want to let go because you've come so far. So there was probably a bit of a personal struggle going on there.
MALVEAUX: Absolutely. And it was so close. That was one of the other things. Just covering Clinton and watching her, for months on end, she really peaked about a month ago and she kept going and going. But she peaked too late. And I think that's what really frustrates her the most.
PHILLIPS: But she had a lot of people saying please stay in for me, for women, for our children. Suzanne Malveaux, thanks so much.
MALVEAUX: Thanks.
ROBERTS: Barack Obama kicks off his fight against John McCain in Virginia today. And he is getting help in his search for a running mate. Obama has tapped Caroline Kennedy to join his vice presidential search party. Also on that advisory team, Eric Holder. He is a Former Deputy Attorney General under Bill Clinton. And party insider Jim Johnson.
Obama has already said that Hillary Clinton would be on anyone's short list for vice president. Other names being batted around this morning -- Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius and Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano.
Mitt Romney joined us earlier on AMERICAN MORNING. The former candidate and now McCain supporter says there is no comparison between McCain and Barack Obama.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MITT ROMNEY (R), FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Well, I think Barack Obama is increasingly well-defined in the minds of the American voters. They see him as a very charming person. They also see him as somebody who's appealed very strong to the most left wing of this party. And they see him as someone who is very inexperienced, that whose judgment they question. That's why I think in the last 13 primaries with Hillary Clinton, he lost seven.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: Barack Obama is considering a challenge this morning, by the way, from the presumptive Republican nominee. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R-AZ), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: As you know, I said earlier that I sent a letter to Senator Obama, and my campaign manager is contacting his campaign manager, asking for an invitation and a request for ten debates, one a week, leading up to the Democratic convention.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: McCain wants town hall-style match ups calling for, quote, "No processed questions from reporters and no spin rooms afterwards." Obama's campaign manager says the debates are a good idea, but want some changes in the format saying that this is one of many items on the candidate's agenda in the coming days.
PHILLIPS: Now that Hillary Clinton is ready to step aside, Barack Obama and John McCain are scrambling to appeal to her most loyal fan base -- white women. Carol Costello explains how they're doing it.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: "Army Wives" is a Lifetime T.V. hit. It sort of like "Desperate Housewives" on an Army base. Millions of women watch it religiously and don't you know it, both presumptive presidential candidates gladly agree to make public service announcements at Lifetime's request. Both think it's a fab show.
MCCAIN: I know, because Cindy makes me watch with her and we're looking forward to season two.
OBAMA: But I just want to take a moment to honor the people this show is about.
COSTELLO: It's official, the fight for Hillary Clinton's loyal white women supporters has begun. Suddenly, Republican John McCain is speaking right to them, and flattering his old friend, Democrat Clinton.
MCCAIN: She has inspired generations of American women to believe that they can reach the highest office in this nation, and I respect her campaign and I respect her.
COSTELLO: Analysts say his campaign will reach out to women using issues both McCain and Clinton agree on like the Gas Tax Holiday.
MCCAIN: From Memorial Day to Labor Day of this year.
COSTELLO: And their unwillingness to meet with leaders of Iran and North Korea unconditionally. Even some ardent Clinton supporters say McCain has struck a chord with them.
ALLIDA BLACK, WOMENCOUNTPAC.COM: Many of the women have relatives that have been in the military, or have served in the National Guard, or have members of their guard's troops deployed to Iraq. And they see McCain as dealing with their service and the service of those they love with great respect.
COSTELLO: Analysts say Barack Obama may have a tougher time winning over women in the short term. Black says the sometimes nasty exchanges between the Democratic candidates are still resonating, especially this one.
SEN. HILLARY CLINTON (D-NY), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I don't think I'm that bad.
OBAMA: You're likable enough.
CLINTON: Thank you so much.
BLACK: These women aren't stupid. They know what it means.
COSTELLO: Those wounds won't be healed until Clinton endorses Obama, and analyst say that won't happen until Clinton fully wields the power of the white woman voter.
MARK PRESTON, CNN POLITICAL EDITOR: If Hillary Clinton came out Tuesday night and said I am endorsing Barack Obama, at that point she's given away any leverage she has on perhaps becoming the vice presidential nominee.
COSTELLO: Carol Costello, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: Barack Obama has one high profile woman in this corner. Oprah Winfrey said that she was doing the happy dance all day after Obama clinched the nomination. And she said she's ready to go door to door for Obama.
ROBERTS: Breaking news this morning. New reports that Iran is helping Turkey launch attacks inside Iraq. A Turkish general telling CNN Turk Television that the two countries are sharing information on Kurdish rebels in Northern Iraq. The Kurdistan Workers Party or the PKK has been fighting Turkey for self-rule for 25 years.
Also breaking this morning, four more aftershocks shake Southwest China. Its engineers hope that a dam can hold back 56 billion gallons of water. The largest one measured 5.3 and shook the ground as engineers hoped that a lake created by the original quake would soon start to drain.
200,000 people were told to leave in case the dam overflows. The official death toll from the 7.9 magnitude quake back on May the 12th is now at more than 69,000 people.
PHILLIPS: Also new this morning, Continental Airlines says it's cutting jobs and grounding planes just one day after United announced the same thing. Why travelers will be paying more to fly crowded planes. We'll tell you straight ahead. ROBERTS: James Carville is just minutes away. He backed Hillary Clinton all the way and he's going to talk about one of the toughest decisions of her political career.
Five suspected terrorist will face charges this morning at Guantanamo Bay. We'll get a live report on that.
PHILLIPS: Sex, drugs and network television. A racy new show as tongues and fingers wagging. We'll explain, coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: Breaking news for travelers. Continental Airlines announces big cuts to jobs and flight capacity. Hula-hoop guru -- Ali Velshi here with more on that.
(CROSSTALK)
PHILLIPS: Hairless profit of doom.
ALI VELSHI, CNN SENIOR BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Let's go back to hairless profit of doom.
ROBERTS: Like Dr. Evil doing the old hula-hoop.
VELSHI: I think I like that better than (INAUDIBLE) in the hula- hoop.
Continental Airlines announcing that it is cutting back on staff. 3,000 staffers are going to lose their job. 67 aircraft being pulled off. This follows an announcement by United yesterday that they're taking aircraft off. Continental is going to take its 737s out of commission by the end of next year at 737 300 versions.
The CEO and the president are going to decline the rest of their salary for the remainder of 2008. The capacity on the airline will be cut by 11 percent. Now we've seen this from American. We've seen it from United as I mentioned.
And also if you brought it out, we've seen it from General Motors and from Ford. So the idea that fuel costs are now causing permanent changes, changes to the way these businesses are going to operate as opposed to temporary changes or little incentives for a little while. This is going to be a pattern that we're going to see for awhile.
We are also doing another one of those call-in shows but we have change the name because you made fun of the last name. So today at 11:00 Eastern, we're calling it "ISSUE #1." You can call in and it's broad. It's about anything to do with the economy. Your questions or your comments about the economy. Call us at 1-877-2666-4189. If you need that number we'll put it on the Web site, the AMERICAN MORNING Web page.
ROBERTS: Do you think people will be calling in this morning asking about, you know --
(CROSSTALK)
ROBERTS: Do we have that?
VELSHI: You're not going to show this?
PHILLIPS: Oh, yes. Yes. Now, you know, Roland --
VELSHI: We all make career-ending move once in a while.
ROBERTS: There's one right there.
PHILLIPS: Roland Martin put it perfectly -- rhythm less nation.
VELSHI: Yes.
PHILLIPS: Right there, live, on CNN.
VELSHI: But you know, with all the work.
ROBERTS: You got to tighten up to move there. It's just a little too much bouncing and dipping and all that. Ali, thanks.
VELSHI: OK.
ROBERTS: Nail-biting finish to the Stanley Cup playhouse. The Pittsburgh Penguins coming mere inches from tying the game for the Stanley Cup. The Detroit Red Wings would not be denied their 11th Stanley Cup. The most ever by an American team. The Wings won the series four games to two, and become the first team with the European captain to hoist Lord Stanley's Cup. The parade is going to be tomorrow. Look at that. Very happy about it.
PHILLIPS: See, he kissed the cup.
ROBERTS: He did.
Sirens wail in Illinois as a tornado touches down. Funnel clouds in the distance, rain and wind battering the camera. We've got the dramatic video just ahead.
PHILLIPS: Coming up on AMERICAN MORNING -- Independence Day.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MCCAIN: We disagreed over the conduct of the war in Iraq, treatment of detainees, birth control, government spending, budget gimmicks, over energy policy, climate change.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: With him or without him. McCain, the maverick, or friend of Bush.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OBAMA: John McCain decided to stand with George Bush 95 percent of the time.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Joe Johns looks at the thorn in McCain's side, ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Extreme weather caught on tape. A photographer shot this tornado tearing across the countryside in Tazewell County, Illinois. No injuries were reported. It was one of several tornadoes that were spotted as severe storms raced across the Midwest. You know, we had nearly 400 reports of severe weather across the nation yesterday.
Good morning, welcome back. I'm CNN meteorologist Jacqui Jeras. It's going to be one of those days once again. We've got a moderate risk for severe weather. We could see a really significant tornado outbreak late today, continuing through the overnight tonight.
The dark red, that's the area where most concerned about -- Minneapolis, Sioux Falls, Des Moines, Omaha, Kansas City, down into Wichita is where we think we have the greatest chance for seeing these large, dangerous tornadoes that track on the ground for a long period of time. A moderate risk means that there's a great concentration of severe storms expected.
We could see more than 30 reports of one inch plus hail. We could see 6 to 19 tornadoes or a major wind damage event with winds gust well beyond 60 miles per hour.
Today that threat at this hour across Southern Wisconsin into northern parts of Illinois and into eastern parts of Iowa. We have seen quite a bit of heavy rainfall into the Milwaukee area, and the severe line moving through downtown right now. Some heavy rain and some damaging winds possible. And a tornado warning in effect at this hour in Nebraska, for Chase County and Hays County. This is going to be one busy day. We're just getting started.
Guys, back to you.
ROBERTS: All right, Jacqui. We know that you'll be keeping an eye on it. Thanks.
You're watching the "Most News in the Morning." Hillary Clinton will make it official and James Carville looks ahead for us. Details on her big decision, her upcoming speech and a look at McCain versus Obama.
PHILLIPS: John McCain challenging Barack Obama to a series of ten town hall-style debates. The calculated move to get Obama out of the comfort zone? We'll talk about it.
ROBERTS: Coming up on AMERICAN MORNING -- Beverly Hills broke.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) UNIDENTIFIED MALE ANNOUNCER: Here's Johnny!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: Why the curtain could be falling on a Hollywood star's dream home.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Foreclosures happen to everyone.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: How Ed McMahon got caught up in the mortgage meltdown, ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: And welcome back to the "Most News in the Morning." The mortgage meltdown is spreading to Beverly Hills and a Hollywood icon could lose his multimillion-dollar mansion. Brooke Anderson has the story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE ANNOUNCER: Here's Johnny!
BROOKE ANDERSON, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: His famous lead-in to Johnny Carson made Ed McMahon a household name. The fame doesn't make him immune to the mortgage problems plaguing countless Americans. The 85-year-old entertainer, who also hosted "Star Search" is fighting possible foreclosure on his posh Beverly Hills home.
ROBERT PITTS, REAL ESTATE BROKER: Let's face it. He is a normal person. Foreclosures happen to everyone. If you just get behind and you just, you know, it's a snowball effect.
ANDERSON: McMahon fell more than $643,000 behind on a $4.8 million loan from Countrywide, according to a notice of default filed in March. His publicist wouldn't talk finances but did tell CNN McMahon broke his neck in a fall a year and a half ago and hasn't worked since. That the potential loss of his house is due to, quote, "A perfect storm of bad events, bad economy, bad housing market and bad health."
McMahon has owned the property since the early '90s. Five years ago, he won a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against his home insurance company for the spread of toxic mold throughout the home. The house has been on and off the market for the past two years. The latest listing price, $6.25 million.
Beverly Hills mortgage broker Steven Kosen says McMahon can still save his home.
STEVEN KOSEN, THE MORTGAGE HOUSE INC: The bank is not going to want the foreclosure to happen. They want their money. And if they can reinstate the account and bring the mortgage current, then it will be as it was.
ANDERSON: Through his publicist, McMahon says, quote, "Many good, hard-working Americans are going through the same thing, and my heart goes out to them."
Brooke Anderson, CNN, Los Angeles.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: And we'll hear much more about this as Ed McMahon and his wife join "LARRY KING TONIGHT," 9:00 p.m. Eastern.
ROBERTS: And here's an "A.M. Extra" look at some other celebrity foreclosures. Michael Jackson's Neverland is probably the most famous. The foreclosure auction was called off last month when Jackson's loan was sold. He owes about $24 million on the property.
And former heavyweight champ, Evander Holyfield, could be knocked out of his $10 million home in Georgia. A foreclosure notice in a local newspaper said the home will be auctioned off on the first of July.
And former slugger Jose Canseco lost his home outside of Los Angeles last month. He made millions playing baseball but says he walked away from the $2.5 million home because it didn't make sense to keep making the payments.
PHILLIPS: Sex and drugs from the '70s coming to a network TV tonight, but not everybody's looking forward to the premiere of "Swing Town."
ROBERTS: You are watching the "Most News in the Morning." What will she say? Clinton supporter James Carville here with details on the big decision to bow out.
ROBERTS: Coming up on AMERICAN MORNING -- reckoning day.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Everything has been slanted in favor of prosecuting this.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: The alleged mastermind of September 11th on trial at GITMO.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The rules do not allow a full and fair hearing at this time.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: Why his lawyer say it's a sham and a waste of time, ahead on AMERICAN MORNING. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: It's coming up on 24 minutes after the hour. Our top story this morning -- Hillary Clinton making the decision to suspend her presidential campaign. She went from heavy favorite to comeback kid to the candidate who wouldn't quit in less than a year. And on Saturday, she is expected to make a concession speech.
Joining us now from Washington is CNN contributor and Clinton supporter James Carville.
James, when we had you on recently you said if Barack Obama became the nominee you'd be cutting him a check. You got the pen out?
JAMES CARVILLE, HILLARY CLINTON SUPPORTER: I do. I do have a pen out. And as I said Tuesday night to those of you who were fortunate enough to watch CNN's coverage which from looking at the ratings, a lot of you were. I said that she was going to endorse Obama, but she wasn't going to do it that night. And that she is trying to bring her supporters along and that's exactly what's going to happen. We told our viewers exactly what was going to happen Tuesday night.
ROBERTS: Yes. The McCain is trying to peel off this disgruntled Hillary Clinton voters. In some polls have shown that in a few states, there was a healthy slice of them.
What is she going to do to ensure that those voters don't defect?
CARVILLE: Well, first of all, I think the Obama campaign is -- all of the stories that they're leaking and stuff is not being helpful. She's going to need Senator Obama's help and I think that they'll be able to keep them in line. They're going to have to work very hard to do that. And that's why --
ROBERTS: Wait a minute, what stories are you saying that they're leaking?
CARVILLE: Well, I saw on the paper that Obama people will leak and that they don't want her around as vice president -- you know what I mean. And it's been a lot of -- yesterday, you were hearing a lot of people talking about how she was ungracious to a lot of Obama supporters.
I think this kind of language is not helpful at all. And I think it's very important that as soon after Saturday, Senator Clinton and Senator Obama sit down and speak about how they best can work together to get these people back in the party.
I mean, you know, losing this election has had consequences. She's going to have to pull out Saturday morning, and she's got to do it in a gracious way. But barely winning it has consequences. And I don't think dissing the supporters of the losing camp is the best way to go about this.
ROBERTS: I guess what they had trouble with, statements like Terry McAuliffe made here yesterday on AMERICAN MORNING, saying that Tuesday was Hillary Clinton's night. Wasn't Tuesday Barack Obama's night?
CARVILLE: I think it was. And I think I was very clear to say that on Tuesday night, to tell our viewers on CNN that she was not going to -- wasn't going to pull out that night, wasn't going to say anything that she has to bring her supporters along.
Senator Clinton is a very methodical person who likes to do things correctly. In the correct way that she thinks that you do things. And I would agree with her. You thank people, you call them in, you consult with them, you try to bring them along. Because when you endorsed the ticket, you want to be as sure as you are effective as possible.
It would only make sense to me that Senator Obama's camp would try to do everything they could to help her be as effective as she possibly can be getting these supporters but maybe there's a new order here.
ROBERTS: Over the course of the primary campaign, James, as things became more and more heated, and more and more competitive and confrontational, she said some things that are difficult to take back, such as "He's not ready for the presidency. He's naive and irresponsible when it comes to foreign policy." She appeared to give the Republican Party an awful lot of talking points for the November campaign. What will she do to try to fix that?
CARVILLE: Well, first of all, I think you saw yesterday when she was at AIPAC which was hardly a friendly venue for Senator Obama that she defended him vigorously. I don't know of any primary where people say things and I think what she'll say is something to the effect that she's seen Senator Obama grow on the campaign trail.
I think anybody that saw that event Tuesday night down in Kenner, Louisiana with Senator McCain is pretty good contrast if you caught between those two. And I think that she will talk about how he, his health care plan is much more in line with what the country needs and change in the Supreme Court, and there will be a whole variety of things.
This is not new, where people say things during the primary, come back, I remember President George H.W. Bush -- remember said that Ronald Reagan had good economics and gave his own ticket as the vice president. So we'll see about that. That will be a good thing.
ROBERTS: All right, we'll keep watching this. James Carville, good to see you this morning.
CARVILLE: Appreciate it, John. You bet.
ROBERTS: Thanks for coming in.
PHILLIPS: (OFF-MIKE) breaking news right now, top Democrats including Clinton's home state of New York (OFF-MIKE) to support Barack Obama (OFF-MIKE) numbers were announced their support tomorrow. Is it working now? Sorry about that. I guess my mike was off. I apologize.
John McCain challenging Barack Obama, the presumptive Republican nominee inviting his Democratic counterpart to town hall debates, one of -- actually, ten of them, a week from now, until the Democratic convention in August. Obama hasn't yet responded.
An adviser to John McCain believes that town hall style debates play to his strength as the general election campaign begins. He and Barack Obama are like two field generals plotting strategy.
Joe Johns takes a look.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ready, fire!
JOE JOHNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The art of war. For John McCain, rule one -- choose the field of battle wisely. He can be stiff, even awkward in front of a teleprompter as he was Tuesday. But in Wednesday's town hall, a more intimate setting, he's loose and relaxed. And that's the field of battle where he wants to meet Barack Obama.
MCCAIN: The essence of democracy in America in many respects is the town hall meeting.
JOHNS: Rule two -- defend your territory until you can advance. McCain has been working hard in states where he's already doing pretty well, like here in Louisiana. He's likely to camp out later this year along the Appalachian trail -- West Virginia, Kentucky, Southern Ohio. Rule three -- focus on the opposition's weak points. The McCain campaign thinks Obama's biggest vulnerabilities are his inexperience and youth.
MCCAIN: I have a few years on my opponent, so I'm surprised that a young man has bought in to so many failed ideas.
JOHNS: Failed ideas, he says, on Iraq, taxes, and trades to name a few which would add up to what McCain would argue is the wrong kind of change. And Obama, his preferred battlefield is the large meeting hall, part revival, part political rally, televised during prime time. This is where he gets his power. He'll need to defend states with upper scale, better educated voters and those with large African- American populations. Remember those big wins in South Carolina and Mississippi. With those secure, he'll be free to advance to states with lower income white voters and Hispanics. Message - focusing on the opposition's weak points. The Obama campaign sees republican President Bush as one of republican John McCain's biggest weaknesses, and that's why you hear Obama return again and again to linking McCain to the president.
SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: It's not change when John McCain decided to stand with George Bush 95 percent of the time as he did in the senate last year. JOHNS: Which brings to us the most famous rule of all - know your enemy, and with the field of fire finally clear, these two candidates will start getting to know each other very well. Joe Johns, CNN, Baton Rouge.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
JOHN ROBERTS, CNN, ANCHOR: 31 minutes after the hour. Breaking news this morning. New reports that Iran is helping Turkey launch attacks inside Iraq. A Turkish general telling CNN Turk television that the two countries are sharing information on Kurdish rebels in northern Iraq. The Kurdistan Workers' Party, the PKK has been fighting for self-rule for 25 years.
A web posting says Al Qaeda is claiming responsibility for a huge car bomb that killed at least six people in Pakistan on Monday. Police say a suicide bomber blew up his car next to the Danish embassy in Islamabad. The message said more attacks will follow if Denmark refuses to apologize for cartoons re-printed in several Danish newspapers depicting the prophet Mohammed wearing a bomb-shaped turban.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: The accused mastermind of the September 11 attacks Guantanamo Bay. Justice Correspondent Kelli Arena has the story and a warning, this piece contains some graphic images.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KELLI ARENA (voice-over): Six and a half years after the September 11th attacks, the day of reckoning, has finally dawned. Among the accused, alleged mastermind, Khalid Sheik Mohammed, Ramzee Bin Al Shibh, accused of helping with logistics, and alleged Al Qaeda moneyman Mustafa al Hawsawi, accused of spending thousands of dollars to the hijackers.
The Pentagon wants them executed but promises a fair trial, saying the rules are similar to those facing U.S. service members accused of crimes.
BRIG. GEN. THOMAS HARTMANN, COMMISSIONS LEGAL ADVISER: This is an amazingly fair process. It's unprecedented in the history of warfare the kinds of protections we are providing these cases that are very similar to what we provide to people who wear this uniform.
ARENA: But there's one big difference. If they're found not guilty, defense attorneys are pretty sure their clients will not walk free.
MAJOR JON JACKSON, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: I think that if he wins, meaning he gets a full acquittal, they stay at Guantanamo Bay.
ARENA: Major Jon Jackson represents Al Hawsawi and said the notion of his fair trial for his client is fantasy.
JACKSON: Everything has been slammed in favor of prosecuting this gentleman from admitting hearsay evidence to admitting coerced statements to not having the right to remain silent.
ARENA: Captain Prescott Prince represents Khalid Shek Mohammed.
CAPT. PRESCOTT PRINCE, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: I'm not trying to impugn anyone's integrity but the rules do not allow a full and fair hearing at this time.
ARENA: In this courtroom, the government may introduce statements the defendants made after being harshly interrogated, some say tortured. In civilian courts that kind of evidence is not allowed. The Pentagon's response? Tell it to the judge.
JACKSON: If you believe that coercion automatically means unreliable, present your argument to the judge. The court is the crucible of truth. It's an engine of justice. You get to present all the facts, all the evidence, all the law before an independent judge.
ARENA: Kelli Arena, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROBERTS: Today the Navy will again try to intercept a ballistic missile over the Pacific Ocean. Today's $40 million test is part of the navy's missile defense program. The last successful attempt was in November. Since 2002, the Navy has intercepted 12 of 14 missiles.
And astronauts are gearing up for another space walk this morning. They'll venture outside the space station to connect television cameras on the new Japanese lab module. It will also take the covers off of the lab's robotic arm. The massive laboratory was installed on Tuesday. Yesterday the crew repaired the station's troubled toilet and aren't they "relieved" about that.
Coming up, copycat McCain, some bloggers say the republican candidate is imitating his democratic rival online. Our Internet correspondent Veronica De La Cruz gives us the latest on that.
PHILLIPS: And Hollywood just getting back on its feet after the writer's strike, it could be facing another work stoppage. Stoppage. We're going to tell you about that coming up.
ROBERTS: It's all about the Space Shuttle this morning.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ROBERTS (voice-over): Coming up on AMERICAN MORNING -
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Live pictures out of Los Angeles, California, right now. Thanks to affiliate KABC, a fire burning there in downtown Los Angeles. Not quite sure of the location of where that is, what caused that fire. But we can tell you firefighters on the scene, on the roof, on the ground, trying to douse the flames right now. We'll keep you posted as we get more information. John.
ROBERTS: Coming up on 38 minutes after the hour. Political controversy this morning over the presidential Web sites of John McCain and Barack Obama. Our Veronica De La Cruz is following bloggers. Both candidates sharpening their messages online. But why some bloggers are saying one candidate could be copying the other here this morning.
VERONICA DE LA CRUZ, CNN INTERNET CORRESPONDENT: Hey, good morning to you. Yes, kind of a bit of a showdown happening on the web, the blogs pointing at some interesting changes on John McCain's Web site this morning. It seems not only has his slogan changed, John, but so has his logo. His new slogan reads "a leader we can believe in," "a leader we can believe in." If it sounds somewhat familiar, you probably know that Barack Obama always used the slogan "change you can believe in." And if you take a look at this image, you are looking at this. This is found on huffingtonpost.com. When you see that, when you put the two Web sites up next to each other. There's one on top, you see Barack is up there, McCain's new logo also looks similar to Barack Obama's as well, you see Barack right at the top there.
A blogger from Daily Coast takes a closer look at these things, "the sunrise, the white stripes, I don't know if this is purposely plagiarized but if I were the McCain campaign I'd get some good copyright lawyers, even his forward-looking stare matches that of Obama." And a couple of changes on Obama's Web site as well this morning. Instead of the usual "yes we can" you now see these words "we did it." "We did it." That's not the front of the page but on the home page it says "We did it" and that is surrounded by some fireworks. So, a couple of interesting changes on Barack Obama's Web site but really John McCain's Web site. But you know what they say imitation is what?
ROBERTS: Well, plagiarism is the most sincere form of flattery.
DE LA CRUZ: They do say that. That's right.
ROBERTS: All right. Thanks, Veronica.
Here's an "AM" extra look at the presidential candidate's latest fund-raising. At last report, Barack Obama had a big advantage with $46.5 million on hand, John McCain had just $21.8. In April, Obama pulled in $31 million, compared to $18 million from John McCain, which by the way was a record haul for him. In all, and this is a staggering figure, Barack Obama has raised $265 million to John McCain's $93 million. Kyra.
PHILLIPS: A troubling new trend, the declines seen in sexual activity among teens appears to be disappearing. We'll have the latest on those findings straight ahead.
And children and cancer, are more kids suffering in the northeast than in other parts of the country? Some of the questions in Dr. Sanjay Gupta's mailbag and the answer, coming up.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ROBERTS (voice-over): Coming up on AMERICAN MORNING, prime time drama.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why don't you take your shoes off and join the party?
ROBERTS: Sex, drugs and swinging. Is it too racy for TV?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is a network in desperation right now.
ROBERTS: Behind the scenes of "Swing Town" ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: First it was a three-month-long writer's strike. Now, Hollywood is bracing for another walkout, this time by the actors. The Screen Actors Guild could strike as early as the 30th of June. Some movie studios have already put off projects rather than have them interrupted by a walkout. And some TV shows are already shooting for next season, just in case.
PHILLIPS: Speaking of which, a controversial new show premieres tonight but some say it's a little too hot for network TV. Kareen Wynter has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KAREEN WYNTER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, "Swingtown" is one of the most anticipated shows of the summer and it hasn't even debuted yet but already there's concern about its content.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You and Tom have an open marriage?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, don't you?
WYNTER: Orgies, spouse-swapping and illegal drug use. It's not a movie or a late night cable series. "Swingtown" is a new network prime time show coming straight in your home courtesy of CBS.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why don't you take your shoes off and join the party?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, my gosh.
ALAN POUL, "SWINGTOWN" DIRECTOR: The show is provocative and we love the raised eyebrows, but the fact is for people who watch the show, they come to understand very quickly that the show is about the choices that our characters make.
WYNTER: The show's creators and executive producers say "Swingtown" was an easy sell to CBC, who put it in a later time slot but some critics aren't sold on the series. Set in the 1970s about married suburban couples engaging in drugs and extramarital sex.
You don't like it. Don't watch. This is in fact a lifestyle for some though.
TIM WINTER, PARENTS TELEVISION COUNCIL: CBS is normalizing the behavior. I think that's very unfortunate that CBS would take a show that is clearly intended more for cable television and put it on the public - on the public broadcast network. This is a network in desperation.
WYNTER: CBS issued a statement that reads in part - "the concern expressed regarding the content of "Swingtown" is from an organization that has not seen the show. We invite viewers to make their own minds."
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Your wife's going to kill me.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My wife is going to love you.
WYNTER: Viewers like this 64-year-old woman, who says she's been swinging for 37 years, who believes this type of show is long overdue.
SHELL, SWINGER FOR 37 YEARS: CBS has got a lot of guts and I am proud of them for doing it, and I hope that there are more television shows that follow in their footsteps.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WYNTER: For those who question whether this is a ratings ploy for CBS, the network says it's doing fine and is number two in viewers right behind Fox. Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right, "Swingtown" premieres tonight on CBS. We're watching.
ROBERTS: It's 45 minutes after the hour. CNN NEWSROOM. just minutes away now and Tony Harris at the CNN Center with a look at what's ahead. Good morning, Tony.
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Yes. Yes.
ROBERTS: Help me out on this one, Tony.
HARRIS: Hi, John. Hello, Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Hi, Tony.
HARRIS: Boy, yes, yes. OK. Here we go, pull it together, team. A busy Thursday morning in the NEWSROOM. Core Hillary Clinton supporters expected to begin migrating to the Obama camp today. Clinton suspending her campaign Saturday.
A tornado outbreak possible today from Oklahoma to Minnesota. Flooding also in 11 states hit by storms yesterday.
And military leaders breaking ground on a state of the art medical center that will help troops with brain injuries. Our guests will fill us in. Join us in the NEWSROOM. We get started at the top of the hour on CNN. And John on another note, pass a note to Ali Velshi, we have a special tribute planned for him and his performance with the Wii fit. That's coming up.
ROBERTS: I can hardly wait.
HARRIS: A musical tribute.
ROBERTS: I'll be watching for that one. Thanks, Tony. See you soon.
The night that he clinched the nomination, Barack Obama offered a hip alternative to the hug and kiss.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEANNE MOSS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, we've noticed how the Obamas seemed touchy-feely with one another. She touches him, He's always putting his arm around her, but the night Obama clinched the nomination, they also clinched their fists. Not just a fist bump, but let's go to the replay, a fist bump that went into a thumbs up.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: A look at the short but sweet gesture, that's coming up on AMERICAN MORNING.
PHILLIPS: And using earpieces could be one way to ease concerns about heavy cell phone use but what type is the best? Dr. Sanjay Gupta dives into the mail bag when AMERICAN MORNING returns.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Teens may be ignoring warnings about unprotected sex, according to a new government survey, new data actually shows that long-time declines in teen sex leveled off between 2001 and 2007 and condom use has also gone down. Experts say that relaxed attitudes about disease and pregnancy could be to blame.
ROBERTS: Well, it's Thursday and we're always on top of all the latest medical news here on AMERICAN MORNING. And as a result you often have questions about it.
PHILLIPS: Every Thursday, we dig into Dr. Gupta's mail bag. Sanjay joins us here this morning.
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: My favorite segment of the week. Delighted to be here. Thanks.
PHILLIPS: Should we dig right in?
GUPTA: Let's do it.
ROBERTS: He wants this better than surgery. PHILLIPS: Right. It definitely keeps him on edge. Helen in Cedar Park, Texas writes "I read that childhood cancer rates are highest in the northeast. Is that true and why would that be?"
GUPTA: An interesting point. This actually was a study that just came out this week about cancer rates. And in fact, they are higher in the northeast, as compared to other parts of the country. Take a look at the numbers there. About 179 cases out of 1 million in the northeast. The south is the lowest, 159 per million, U.S. average about 166 per million. We're talking about children and cancer. Leukemia is the most common type. A couple of caveats here though. One could say, look does that mean there's more environmental toxins in the northeast? You can't say that for sure. This could mainly be a reporting issue. Cases are more often reported in the northeast and it could also be that there are so many cancer centers in the northeast that patients come from other parts of the country to get their treatment here. So that could inflate numbers here as well.
ROBERTS: Tom from Avon, Maine wrote us today. He is a concerned father, and writing with this question. Tom asks "as a father of a newborn, I'm wondering what is the best way to prevent sudden infant death syndrome?"
GUPTA: Yes, you know, boy I tell you when I had my kids I was worried about that as well. SIDS as it is called is the sudden and unexpected death in a child under the age of one, for those of you that don't know, and it most commonly occurs between the ages of 2 and 4 months as well, if you look specifically at the age groups. There are ways that you can prevent it at least reduce the numbers. One thing is this campaign called back to sleep. Always put the baby on their back when they go to sleep. New parents always ask about that, use a firm mattress and if you're doing that make sure there's nothing that's sort of soft objects, stuffed animals, blankets are out of the crib as well and body temperature wise, make sure to keep it cool as opposed to too hot.
ROBERTS: Really, I didn't know that.
GUPTA: That seems to make a difference when you look at the overall data in terms of SIDS rates. Around 72 degrees seems to be better than keeping the room really warm.
PHILLIPS: Just imagine Sanjay as a dad, do you ever get nervous? Are you always running in there to make sure they're still breathing? If they're sleeping on their back?
GUPTA: You do. You know, you have the monitor in your room and sometimes the monitor starts to go silent. You think what's going on in there and then, you know, just getting their jammies, like you have the jammies that S tight around their wrist.
PHILLIPS: You see the doctor thinks of everything we wouldn't think of.
GUPTA: I think maybe you think of it more, a sort of hypochondriac as well.
PHILLIPS: All right. Abigail in Florida gets the final question. She asks "saw your recent report on cell phones and cancer, you mentioned on AMERICAN MORNING to use an earpiece. Do you suggest the kind that plugs to the cell phone or the bluetooth earpiece"?
GUPTA: Yes, the wired versus wireless. Let me state, because we have a lot of e-mails about and there was a few columns in the newspapers, there is no science that suggests that cell phones are dangerous. The concern here and what the show was about was the fact that cell phones give off non ionizing radiation and there are neurosurgeons who believe that over time, decades down the road, we may see an up tick in brain cancer. So one of the things they suggest is actually using a wired earpiece. This is the type that actually plugs into your phone, and you put it into your ear. It doesn't give off any non-ionizing radiation. Those bluetooth, this is something that you keep in your ears. Some people keep it in all day. It gives off a little bit, far less than cell phones. Again, no scientists say either are dangerous but the recommendations from the neurosurgeons on that panel were to use the wired earpiece instead. A little geeky but it does the trick.
ROBERTS: Geekier than the bluetooth?
GUPTA: Yes.
PHILLIPS: Yes. Especially when you wear it all day.
GUPTA: Yes. Exactly.
PHILLIPS: It's like oh, come on.
GUPTA: You do that, don't you?
PHILLIPS: Yes. No, I do not.
GUPTA: Yes, she does.
ROBERTS: Busted. Totally busted.
PHILLIPS: Not too much. All right.
ROBERTS: She so does.
PHILLIPS: If you have a question that you'd like Sanjay to answer --
GUPTA: Don't you like being in between us?
PHILLIPS: Yes, I love it. Next time I am not in between you two. Just head to cnn.com/am. You can also send in a video question, using CNN i-report.
ROBERTS: Barack Obama calling it a magical moment that he is now talking about becoming the democrat's presidential nominee. It's the affectionate bump that's got everyone talking this morning. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Michelle Obama will be a guest host on ABC's "The View." The show's executive producer said she was originally invited to be a guest but she requested to be a guest host, because Cindy McCain did it in April. Michelle Obama will appear on that show now, on June 18th.
ROBERTS: All right. Barack Obama is basing his campaign on change.
PHILLIPS: So it should be no surprise that he's offering up a little hip alternative to the traditional displays of affection. It's the "Moos news" in the morning.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MOOS (voice-over): Always noticing how the Obamas seem touchy- feely with one another. She touches him. He's always putting his arm around her, but the night Obama clinched the nomination, they also clinched their fists. Not just a fist bump, but let's go to the replay, a fist bump that went into a thumbs up.
Here's the reverse angle. And it's not the first time the candidate's been caught on camera fist bumping. Remember the infamous trip to a Pennsylvania bowling alley? Watch the senator congratulate!
SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Oh!
MOOS: An 8-year-old boy, fist bumping the wife with millions watching? That had the blogs salivating. I need a fist bump picture. Me, too! And the photos flew.
MOOS (on-camera): It's easy enough to do but what do you call it? Fist pound seems preferred by some. Once in a while you see knuckle bump, also known as daps and then there's what we've been using.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The fist bump.
MOOS: Featured in a tongue-and-cheek YouTube video called "the evolution of the fist bump."
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A lot of guys going to the bathroom, concerned whether or not they washed their hands when they came out so actually it's also a sanitary form of shaking hands.
MOOS: Hey, if it's cleaner for baseball players, why not hand- shaking politicians. Though George Bush seemed to prefer the chest bump to the fist bump at the Air Force Academy graduation the other day. The Obama's aren't the first couple to be exhibitionist about their fist bumping. Tim and Callie documented their first married fist pound on YouTube and if the romantic nature of the gesture escapes you, check out the reaction to the Obama fist bump on the Web site called "the frisky." "I never realized how romantic and respectful and mutually appreciative and loving a frat-tastic fist bump could be. Could it be the new peck-on-the-cheek?" But the McCains don't have to master fist-bumping, not if you believe this Budweiser commercial.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yo, Steve. Fist-bump is out, man.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Really, what's in?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Cool.
MOOS: Barack Obama saved the slap for the end. Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROBERTS: That was the thing that caught your eye, wasn't?
PHILLIPS: That's right. What happened to the world school which is do the bump? Right, (Pete)?
ROBERTS: I'm not quite that old school as your...
PHILLIPS: Come here, Pete, give the hula hoop, real quickly here. Here's our floor director and he's going to show us how it's done. Give us the hula hoop. Louder! That's how we roll on AMERICAN MORNING. Thanks for joining us this morning.
ROBERTS: For those of you who are puzzled about that complete non sequitur, they were doing a little Wii demonstration earlier today, about the new hula hoop game designed to keep people in shape. Pete is obviously in fantastic shape.
PHILLIPS: He's old school.
ROBERTS: That's going to do it for us. We'll back again tomorrow. CNN NEWSROOM with Tony Harris and Heidi Collins begins right now.
HARRIS: Have Pete pick up the pace. Good morning. You are in the CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Tony Harris.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Hi there, everybody. I'm Heidi Collins. See events coming into the NEWSROOM live on Thursday morning, June 5t. Here's what's on the rundown.
