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American Morning
Political Shake-Up in Pakistan; Hurricane Watches Issued for Florida; Growing Emergency in the Grand Canyon This Morning; Michael Phelps Reflecting on His History-Making Achievement in Beijing
Aired August 18, 2008 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ROB MARCIANO, CNN CO-HOST: Breaking news this morning. Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf resigned, nearly a decade after seizing power. It comes as Pakistan's ruling party was about to make its case for impeachment. The local media says Musharraf has been granted safe passage out of the nation. Musharraf has been a key ally of the U.S. in the war on terror.
And a top Russian general says his troops have began pulling out of Georgia this morning. The withdrawal is a key part of the cease- fire signed by Russia's president over the weekend. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is monitoring the troop pullout as she heads to Europe for talks with NATO.
And a growing emergency in the Grand Canyon this morning. Officials say there's a potential for more flash flooding. Yesterday, days of rain where too much of an earthen dam that burst in northern Arizona. A wall of water took out paths, foot bridges and forced more than 170 people to be evacuated by helicopter.
And Florida on alert this morning as Tropical Storm Fay steers toward the southern tip of the peninsula. Right now, the storm at last check at least was pounding the Cuban coastline with winds and high surf. It's expected to reach hurricane strength by the time it makes landfall later tonight or tomorrow across the U.S.
CNN's hurricane headquarters has it covered. Reynolds Wolf is tracking the storm at the CNN headquarters in Atlanta. And Morgan Neill is live for us in Havana, Cuba.
Let's start with Morgan. The storm just to the east of you. I suppose that's where the worst weather is.
What's the situation on the ground, Morgan?
MORGAN NEILL, CNN HAVANA BUREAU CHIEF AND CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Rob. The storm is making its way northward across the island, bringing with it some heavy rains and high winds. Now, Cuban authorities say what most worries them in this storm are the rains and the possibility of flooding. They're keeping a close eye on river levels as the storm has brought throughout its path.
Remember, it first went just across the southeastern part of Cuba. Guantanamo, then sort of made its way lengthwise along the island. And overnight last night turned up northward starting to cross. We've seen in its way -- we've seen many evacuations. We just heard that in the province of (INAUDIBLE), there were some 6,000 people evacuated, and in (INAUDIBLE) where the storm is now making its way through. Last night, we already heard of 3,000 people being evacuated.
Now, authorities have taken measures like evacuations. They repeat in their messages on the radio and television that saving human life is the most important thing. They're also looking out for economic resources, evacuating livestock and other valuable resources to higher ground, and they've been repeating on the radio some simple messages. Things like don't try and cross rivers on the path of this storm. Don't pick up any power cables that have fallen down. The kind of messages that would sound familiar to viewers in the state there.
Rob?
MARCIANO: Morgan Neill live for us in Havana, Cuba with Tropical Storm Fay pounding the central part of that coastline. Thanks, Morgan.
KIRAN CHETRY, CNN ANCHOR: And we have brand new warnings issued for Florida this morning. Reynolds Wolf is tracking the storm. 8:00 here on the East Coast. And another update on what's going on with that storm.
Hi, Reynolds.
REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Hi, there, Kiran. You know, you're absolutely right. A lot of warnings, a lot of watches in effect for parts of south Florida. And at the same time new information from National Hurricane Center. As it stands, Fay is now beginning to move its way over to the open waters of the Florida straits. The deepest convection still in the northeast quadrant.
But if you're looking for the center of the storm, you have to pull away and look at the radar. You can just see a little bit of not really a well-defined eye. But that center circulation right here moving right off the coast, near 100 miles from the Florida Keys.
What we're seeing also water temperatures right here off the Keys mainly to the mid to upper 80s in many spots. Now, very quickly, the latest update, the storm is intensifying. Winds at 60 miles an hour. Gone up five miles per hour in intensity, gusting to 65. 99 miles from Key West, Florida, moving north-northwest in 12 miles an hour.
We do still anticipate the storm to make its way to the north through the Keys around midnight tonight and then near Tampa as we get to early Wednesday with winds around 70, and then into parts of South Georgia and the Carolinas. We'll keep you updated with the very latest information and of course that will be coming up very soon. Let's send it back to you, Kiran.
CHETRY: Reynolds, thanks.
WOLF: You bet. MARCIANO: And following our other breaking news this morning, the political shake-up in Pakistan. Embattled President Pervez Musharraf resigns after weeks of pressure to step down or face impeachment.
State Department correspondent Zain Verjee joins us live on the phone with reaction from the State Department.
Zain what are the folks there telling you?
VOICE OF ZAIN VERJEE, CNN STATE DEPARTMENT CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Rob. This resignation is really not a surprise in the State Department. This is always a question of when this was going to happen, and not if it was going to happen.
The U.S. has effectively move on clearly from Pervez Musharraf and it's recognized there are other players in Pakistan on the ground and that they need to adjust their policies towards Pakistan accordingly. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has said Musharraf has been a good ally, but she was asked if the U.S. would give Musharraf asylum in the U.S. And she said that that was not on the table and that the focus of the State Department and her job right now was to support the Democratic government in Pakistan.
Rob?
MARCIANO: Zain, I don't know if you can see. But we're looking at pictures of people cheering obviously at this announcement. Got to ask you this, though, with Mr. Musharraf being a big ally to the U.S, is this going to help or hinder the hunt for Osama Bin Laden?
VERJEE: Well, the U.S. is hoping that by avoiding this impeachment battle and all of this turmoil in Pakistan, it's really going to focus things back on the war on terror. They've been really distract -- worried that this was a distraction to the number one priority in the region.
Also, not having this political mess means that the army is less likely to get involved and it can keep its eye on the border region between Pakistan and Afghanistan, and fight the Taliban and al Qaeda. But the pictures that you're seeing right now with the people cheering in Pakistan, it's really a reflection of just how unpopular Pervez Musharraf has become.
He was really deeply associated with the U.S. There's a huge amount of anti-U.S. sentiment in Pakistan. They commonly had gone down the drain. The price of food and fuel is really high. And the election back in February was really a referendum by the people of Pakistan in a total rejection of Pervez Musharraf. So you're going to see a lot of those sorts of images today of celebrating that he's finally out.
Rob?
MARCIANO: You have been listening to State Department Zain Verjee for us. Thank you, Zain. CHETRY: So, how does it feel to be on top of world? Well, the greatest Olympian of all-time talks. We go one-on-one with swimming superstar Michael Phelps.
MARCIANO: Cell block. The dogs that can sniff out cell phones, smuggled into prison.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have found them inside of boxes of food and cut out books. You're watching the "Most News in the Morning."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHETRY: Eight minutes past 8:00 here in New York. We have Gerri Willis in for Ali Velshi "Minding Your Business." And we're talking oil.
GERRI WILLIS, CNN PERSONAL FINANCE EDITOR: We are talking oil.
(CROSSTALK)
CHETRY: Off slight, right, from Friday's close?
WILLIS: Yes. I'd say that because, you know, we have this great trend going of oil prices going down, not so much now. Oil trading at $114.13 in Europe after closing lower Friday in New York at $113.77. As you can see right here. And the reason why, fears that Tropical Storm Fay could disrupt oil supplies.
Now, as you know, that storm has inundated Cuba with rain and the storm is expected to hit Florida today, strengthen to hurricane force. And already we have reports oil Dutch shell has evacuated 360 staff members from the Gulf of Mexico in the past two days. So that's the big concern.
You know, you reduced the number of people who are working there, they produce less oil. The price of oil goes up, because supplies are so tight here. I should also mention in the past two days, we've seen gas prices continue to come down. AAA reports the national average fell to 3.74. That's down a penny from the previous day. So at least some good news on the gas front. We'll have to wait and see the impact of Fay on oil prices.
MARCIANO: If I put a call on Reynolds Wolf down at weather center, and we can just knocked this down a couple of notches, is that --
WILLIS: See what you can do.
MARCIANO: Can you guarantee that the price of oil will go down?
WILLIS: I will guarantee nothing about oil prices.
(CROSSTALK) CHETRY: Well, see, gas prices, though -- I mean, that's a good sign. Only four or five states are above $4 a gallon right now. New York's officially dropped off.
MARCIANO: Really? It's a bargain.
WILLIS: Down nine percent from the high of well over 4 bucks in July. So, you got to love that.
MARCIANO: All right.
CHETRY: This is time to go back to school. Thanks, Gerri.
MARCIANO: Thanks, Gerri.
WILLIS: My pleasure.
MARCIANO: Well, Barack Obama on same-sex marriage. He doesn't support it personally but he won't sign a law making it illegal. He explains in his own words.
CHETRY: Also, Michael Phelps reflecting on his history-making achievement in Beijing. We go one-on-one with the greatest Olympian ever. You're watching the "Most News in the Morning."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MARCIANO: Welcome back to the "Most Politics in the Morning." Barack Obama campaigns in New Mexico today. Over the weekend, though, he shared the stage with John McCain at a presidential forum on faith in California. The candidates answered questions from Pastor Rick Warren.
And in an effort to help you make a more informed decision this election season, we've been playing longer versions of what the candidates are saying to voters about the issues. So, here's Barack Obama talking about same-sex marriage and abortion.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D-IL), PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: I am pro-choice. I believe in Roe versus Wade and I come to that conclusion not because I'm pro-abortion, but because, ultimately, I don't think women make these decisions casually. I think they -- they wrestle with these things in profound ways, in consultation with their pastors or their spouses, or their doctors, and their family members.
And so for me, the goal right now should be -- and this is where I think we can find common ground -- and by the way, I've now inserted this into the Democratic Party platform, is how do we reduce the number of abortions. Because the fact is that although we've had a president who's opposed to abortion over the last eight years, abortions have not gone down.
PASTOR RICK WARREN: Define marriage.
OBAMA: I believe that marriage is the union between a man and a woman. Now, for me as a Christian
(APPLAUSE)
For me -- for me as a Christian, it's also a sacred union. You know, God's in the mix. But --
(APPLAUSE)
WARREN: Would you support a constitutional amendment with that definition?
OBAMA: No, I would not.
WARREN: Why not?
OBAMA: Because -- because historically, we have not defined marriage in our constitution. It's been a matter of state law that has been our tradition. I mean, let's break it down. The reason that people think there needs to be a constitutional amendment, some people believe, is because of the concern that -- about same-sex marriage.
I'm not somebody who promotes same-sex marriage, but I do believe in civil unions. I do believe that we should not -- that for gay partners to want to visit each other in the hospital, for the state to say, you know what, that's all right, I don't think in any way it hinders my core beliefs about what marriage are.
I think my faith is strong enough and my marriage is strong enough that I can afford those civil rights to others, even if I have a different perspective or different view.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MARCIANO: And coming up at 8:40, we'll hear from John McCain about his views on same-sex marriage and abortion rights.
And a programming reminder. Live coverage of the Democratic National Convention in Denver begins one week from today right here on the "Most News in the Morning."
CHETRY: And breaking news this morning. Hurricane watches issued for Florida. A tropical storm headed straight for the coast and gaining strength. We're tracking Fay for you, when we come right back.
Also, gearing up for a search and rescue mission in the Grand Canyon. As many as two dozen people stranded after a dam gives way. We're live alongside the rescue team. You're watching the "Most News in the Morning."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHETRY: And here's a look at the latest Olympic medal count in an "AM Extra" now. The United States still leads in total medals. The U.S. now with 66, China 65, Australia in third place with 33. But China right now is dominating the race for gold. China with 37 gold medals. The United States has 19. Eight of them came from Michael Phelps. Is he the greatest Olympian ever?
The American swimming sensation won a record eight gold medals at the Beijing Games. He now has 14 overall. That's more than anyone in Olympic history.
CNN's Larry Smith spoke to Phelps about setting a new gold standard. He joins us live from Beijing this morning.
Hi, Larry.
LARRY SMITH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, how are you? Yes, good evening from Beijing. Michael Phelps, it is true, the records are incredible, what he has done in his career already. As you mentioned, the 14 gold medals. He is simply -- it's hard to describe what he has accomplished and he still has London in 2012 coming when he'll only be 27 years old.
I got a chance to speak with him one-on-one earlier this morning. He went out celebrating last night, as he should. A deserved time off. He said he's happy to be on his own clock for the moment. And I started out by asking him how the number eight now feels.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAEL PHELPS, OLYMPIC SWIMMER: I put them all on for the first time this morning, and they're pretty heavy around my neck. It was hard to sort of hold my neck up straight. But, yes, I mean, I can't say enough. It was just an unbelievable experience.
SMITH: I'm curious. Now that you've got the eight medals, which is heavier, the eight medals around your neck or the expectations that were put on you to win them?
PHELPS: I don't know. That's a hard question to answer. I've had -- by no means a perfect four years, but, you know, I was able to get everything done that I wanted to do in the last four years. You know, I was able to pretty much accomplish all of my goals. So, it's been a great four years, and I've had a lot of moments and a lot of memories here that I'll never forget.
SMITH: Do you recall the first time that you thought about the Spitz record and when that was?
PHELPS: I don't know when exactly it was, but I think, you know, when I first -- I wanted to be the first to do something. I wanted to be the first Michael Phelps, and I wanted to be somebody who changed the sport swimming and does new things for the sport. So I think, you know, that's probably the first time I thought about it. I'm not sure when that was but I just -- I wanted to do something that nobody in the sport has ever seen.
SMITH: Were you attempting to do this in Athens four years ago?
PHELPS: I tried. I came up a little short but I was still successful. SMITH: You saw your mother and sisters just a few minutes all week long. And yet, the whole world -- we all saw them race after race. What was that like finally to share those emotions with them?
PHELPS: Being able to hug my mother and hug my sisters, you know, that's what I wanted to do all week when they were on the TV. I had friends text messaging me saying, you know, your mom and sisters are getting more air time than you are.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SMITH: In case you wonder, Michael Phelps and his ego is very much in check. When I asked him where his 2004 medals were, the six golds and two bronze that he won there, he paused. He said, you know, that's a good question. I'm not quite sure. I know they're secure but I can't tell you exactly where they are because they could be in a couple of places.
So, he knows that at one point, someday he will sit down and grab those medals and look back on his incredible accomplishments. Let's go back to you.
CHETRY: How funny. He's in the envy of all position. He could lose one and he still has a ton of medals. But, wow. Good for him. Thanks, Larry.
Well, Olympic superstar Michael Phelps joined CNN.com live tomorrow. If you want to be a part of that interview, ask him some questions, go to ireport.com and submit your own video question for him. And don't miss Michael Phelps live. It's tomorrow, 8:30 Eastern, only at CNN.com/live.
MARCIANO: That's going to be cool.
All right, other breaking news. Trapped in the Grand Canyon. A dam burst sending campers and tourist are caught in rising flood waters. Dramatic rescue video and a new search is underway this morning.
Plus, breaking news. Hurricane watch now issued for Florida. Tropical Storm Fay picking up speed as it heads towards the coast. We're tracking the storm and you're watching the "Most News in the Morning."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PASTOR RICK WARREN, SADDLEBACK CHURCH: What point is a baby entitled to human rights?
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), PRESUMPTIVE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: At the moment of conception.
SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D-IL), PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: Answering that question was specificity. You know, is -- is above my pay grade.
MCCAIN: My greatest moral failing, and I have been a very imperfect person, is the failure of my first marriage. OBAMA: There were times where I've experimented with drugs, I drank, in my teenage years.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MARCIANO: Well, John McCain and Barack Obama talked about faith and moral failures in a forum this weekend. And the buzz over one potential VP candidate picked up as well.
Here to talk about that and much more, conservative radio talk show host Michael Reagan. He joins me now live from L.A. And from New York, nationally syndicated talk show host Lionel. He's the author of the book "Everyone's Crazy Except You and Me." It's a great title.
Welcome to both of you, gentleman. Let's start off, I think you probably heard what Pastor Warren asked about at what point is the baby entitled to human rights? McCain saying at the moment of conception. Obama saying that question or the answer to that question, above my pay grade. He's catching a little bit of flak for that.
So, Lionel, what's your reaction to that statement?
LIONEL, HOST, "THE LIONEL SHOW": Emesis. I was emetic. I almost gag over the weekend when I saw this (INAUDIBLE). The inquisition revisited as both of them were, you know, seeking filthy, pledging filthy to this pastor. I want to remind you of a couple of things.
First of all, article 6 section 3 of the constitution says there is no religious test. Number two, Article 11 of the Treaty of Tripoli in 1797 says that this is a secular country not base on Christianity in any way.
Number three, I found it most interesting that what John McCain said was his worst moment, his moral nadir was the end of his first marriage, and I guess the beginning of his second marriage? To no less a beer heiress. And number four, I have one thing to say to my esteemed colleague. Mr. Reagan, don't tear this wall of separation of church and state down.
MARCIANO: Mr. Reagan?
That's great just listening to Lionel. First of all, religions --
(CROSSTALK)
LIONEL: I think so, too.
MICHAEL REAGAN, CONSERVATIVE RADIO TALK SHOW HOST: I know. But, you know, religions been under attacked in this country for a long time. There's no problem with people asking questions about how you feel about abortion. It's an issue that comes up in every campaign. The fact that Barack Obama would say it's above his pay grade when you're president of the United States, there's nobody above your pay grade. He will be appointing judges who will be making that decision. I'm sure he'll be appointing judges who in fact are in pro- choice not pro-life.
I thought that John McCain equate himself very well in front of this group. He needed solidify his conservative base so that was great moment for him. I think it was a lousy moment for Barack Obama over the weekend. This church and state stuff -- you know, first of all, founding fathers didn't even put it in the constitution of the United States of America. I'm glad you were able to put it in --
(CROSSTALK)
LIONEL: Wait a minute. Thomas Jefferson and this letter to the Danbury Church.
(CROSSTALK)
REAGAN: No, no, no.
(CROSSTALK)
LIONEL: No, no, no.
REAGAN: Don't play the Thomas Jefferson card, Lionel.
(CROSSTALK)
LIONEL: No, no, no. First of all, he did this. And second of all --
(CROSSTALK)
MARCIANO: Gentleman -- Lionel, let me make this point.
LIONEL: Sure.
Aside from the church and state argument -- I mean, let's get to the grass roots of this. What are voters going to take away from this weekend and should they be basing their vote on this type of forum?
LIONEL: If you are an evangelical Republican or Democrat and if this forum meant something to you, great. I don't know what Jewish Americans are going to think or atheist Americans or God forbid Islamic Americans, but Muslims -- this was both attempts on both sides. Let's be honest. To try to kowtow to this very important contingent.
John McCain has got a lot of problems. He has flip-flopped back and forth with his --
MARCIANO: Well, aside from that, Michael, do you think this was pandering to voters?
REAGAN: Well, listen...
(CROSSTALK)
REAGAN: Elections are about pandering to voters. People are going to pander the right, pander the left, pander the center. That's what it's all about. John McCain was having problems with his conservative base. I thought this weekend he was able to acquit himself very well. If you look at the way he answered the questions, he was direct. He was matter of fact.
Barack Obama on every question, he had more ahhs and ahhs than he had questions or answers to direct questions put to him by the pastor.
LIONEL: That's what you got out of it? Michael, seriously, that's all you got out of it?
MARCIANO: Guys, we got to leave it there. I think you can both agree --
(CROSSTALK)
REAGAN: Barack Obama is trying to make many people happy. John McCain was doing the right thing.
LIONEL: Well, Mike, I don't think you saw it.
(CROSSTALK)
MARCIANO: Lionel, we all saw it. At least what we can agree on this, it was at least nice to see a different type of forum and conversation. You guys both make excellent points, Michael Reagan and Lionel, thank you for joining us this morning.
REAGAN: (INAUDIBLE).
MARCIANO: Kiran.
CHETRY: Well, breaking this morning, hurricane watches are in effect now from the Florida keys. Tropical storm Fay is pounding Cuba with punishing winds, drenching rains. The storm expected to gain strength as it moves back over open water and towards Florida.
Barracks for wounded soldiers was created in response to the shoddy conditions at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. They are now infested with mold. That's according to soldiers in Fort Sill in Oklahoma. They say their complaints fell on deaf ears for months. The office of the army base says the ventilation ducts in two barracks are now being replaced.
Nine people are dead after a suicide bombing outside of a U.S. base in Afghanistan overnight. No Americans were involved in the attack. The victims all said to be Afghan civilians. The U.S. military says the blast did not damage any of the security around the base.
And Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf resigns under pressure. The embattled president and American ally facing impeachment charges for violating the country's constitution. CNN's Barbara Starr is live at Pentagon. So, another big question today about this change in power there is how secure are the country's nuclear weapons?
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kiran, several U.S. military officials tell us this morning that the nuclear weapons are perfectly safe. They think everything is stable in that sector of Pakistan, under control of the military. That is not the major concern at this hour for the Pentagon or the Bush administration. What they are looking at, really, at this point, is stability in Pakistan. The strength of the new government and with Musharraf gone with that distraction gone, getting the Pakistani government once and for all to crack down on Al Qaeda and the militants on the border and so far that is something that has not happened. That is the real focus of the administration. Kiran.
CHETRY: All right. How far will Musharraf leading change in terms of us fighting the war on terror and Pakistan being an ally in that?
STARR: Well, you know, that again is the focus. Because Pakistan is really critical at this point. The border situation remains unchecked. U.S. officials have been saying for months now that the flow of militants across that border from Pakistan into Afghanistan, the level of Al Qaeda in Taliban training camps in the border region really remains all of that unchecked. The U.S. in the meantime is giving the Pakistani government billions of dollars in aid. Trying to help train their troops there so they are going to look for real progress from the Pakistani government. That's the focus. Kiran.
CHETRY: Barbara Starr for us in the Pentagon this morning. Thanks.
MARCIANO: More breaking news now. Tropical storm Fay hitting Cuba right now, and it could near hurricane strength as it heads towards Florida. Reynolds Wolf is on it. He's been tracking the storm. Reynolds, I've been seeing at the monitor up here and looking at that satellite picture and it kind of looks like it might have jogged a little bit to the right. Any hint from the National Hurricane Center? There maybe a change in the track of this thing?
WOLF: Not yet. No change in the track as of yet but you're absolutely right, Rob, especially the last couple of frames here on this satellite imaging, you see a big explosive convection not far from Nassau. If you happen to be in Miami, you're looking out to the southeast, looks like the world is ending. I mean, you've got lightning flashing across the sky, some heavy rainfall. Also, a burst of convection just to the east of Havana at this time.
And the latest we have of the storm from the National Hurricane Center is we do anticipate the storm is going to strengthen. Right now maximum sustained winds at 60 miles per hour. Some gusts have been approaching 65. 99 miles, the center, 99 miles from Key West this time. The storm moving northwest at 12 miles an hour. We anticipate the storm, at least, the latest we have from the National Hurricane Center, brings it past the Florida keys by 2:00 a.m. Tuesday with winds of 65 miles an hour.
Then making landfall somewhere south of Tampa with winds around 70, at 2:00 a.m. Wednesday and then moving into Georgia and then the Carolinas as we begin into Thursday, Friday and into Saturday. But a lot can happen. It would not be surprised to see some major change in the forecast by the time 11:00 rolls around. Back to you, Rob.
MARCIANO: All right. We'll look for that. Reynolds Wolf. Thanks, Reynolds.
We got some pictures I think of Miami. Reynolds said it looks like the world is coming to an end there. There certainly are some ominous clouds. WSVN, you will see these theater bands roll in with the thunder, the lightning and the gusting winds and certainly some rain from time to time today and we'll be monitoring the National Hurricane Center for the latest advisory, potentially adjusting that forecast track. Kiran.
CHETRY: All right. Rob, thanks. Well, also breaking now, rescues in the Grand Canyon. And crews expected to resume searching for as many as two dozen people after a dam burst putting hundreds in danger. Helicopters lifting more than 170 people to safety before calling off air evacuations when it got too dark. Chris Lawrence is live for us now in Peach Springs, Arizona with more. Good morning, Chris.
CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Kiran. Right now more than two dozen people are resting in the shelter behind me. Even with everything they went through to get out of the canyon, they are the lucky ones this morning, because they are here safe and sound, and nearly two dozen people are still unaccounted for.
As of right now, rescue crews have safely airlifted about 170 people out of the Grand Canyon. Now, this part of the canyon, this area which is partly bordered by Indian Nation there as well, only gets about nine inches of rain a year, but a lot of it comes all at once in August. And they've been getting rain for days. And then finally on Sunday morning, the Redland Dam burst and sent a wall of water just crashing through that part of the canyon. The current was so strong at one point it washed away five or six boats, rafts, that a group had been using for a boating trip.
So had you more than a dozen people stranded on a ledge, waiting, without supplies, until the helicopters were able to make their way down and airlift them across the Colorado River. Camper, hikers, kayakers, all caught up in this rush of water. Here what it was like for them.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, we heard, I mean, we heard people yelling. We heard a lot of screaming. I mean, we thought, man, this is going to be a bad situation with a lot of people dying.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You could hear this amazing amount of water coming at us. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There was just water everywhere. There are people in trees, on tables.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LAWRENCE: The sun is just starting to come up here, just a little bit. And if the weather holds up, the authorities hope to resume the search and rescue operation in the next hour or so. Kiran.
CHETRY: All right. Hopefully it will have a good ending. Hopefully they'll be able to make sure that they find those people if they are indeed missing in that area. Thanks a lot, Chris.
MARCIANO: Politics and faith. John McCain talks about abortion and stem cell research. Find out where the pre-presumptive republican nominee stands on both those tough topics.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MARCIANO (voice-over): Prison cells.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think we owe it to the victims to not allow inmates to continue to run their enterprises from behind our bars.
MARCIANO: How dogs are helping cut down on growing problem in prison.
You're watching the most news in the morning.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHETRY: Welcome back to the most politics in the morning. John McCain will be talking to voters in Orlando in a little less than an hour. Now, over the weekend, the presumptive republican nominee he came face to face with his democratic opponent at a church forum on faith in California. In an effort to help you make an informed decision, we're playing longer versions of what the candidates are saying to voters abut the issues. So here's John McCain sharing his views on same-sex marriage, stem cell research and abortion.
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I have a 25-year pro-life record in the Congress, the Senate and as president of the United States I will be a pro-life president, and this presidency will have pro-life policies. That's my commitment - that's my commitment to you.
REV. RICK WARREN, SADDLEBACK CHURCH: We don't have to dwell longer on that one. Define marriage.
MCCAIN: The union - a union between man and a woman, between one man and one woman. That's my definition of marriage. I am a federalist. I believe in that states should make those decisions. In my state, I hope we will make that decision. In other states they have, to recognize the unique status of marriage between a man and a woman, and that means - that doesn't mean that people can enter into legal agreements. That doesn't mean that they don't have the rights of all citizens. I'm not saying that. I am saying that we should preserve the unique status of marriage between one man and one woman, and if a federal court - if a federal court decided that my state of Arizona had to observe what the state of Massachusetts decided, then I would favor a constitutional amendment. Until then, I believe the state should make the decisions within their own states.
WARREN: OK. All right. Another issue, stem cells. Now, we've had the scientific breakthrough of creating pluripotent stem cells through adult stem cells.
MCCAIN: Yes.
WARREN: So, would you favor or oppose the federal funding of embryonic stem cell research, since we have this other breakthrough?
MCCAIN: For those of us in the pro-life community this has been a great struggle and a terrible dilemma, because we're also taught other obligations that we have as well. I've come down on the side of stem cell research, but I am wildly optimistic that skin cell research which is coming more and more into focus and practicability will make this debate an academic one.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHETRY: And, of course, CNN will have live coverage of the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis, St. Paul that begins September 1st. And all of it starts right here with the most politics in the morning.
MARCIANO: And just one week away until the Democratic National Convention. And Barack Obama closer to picking a running mate. Find out who's on the short list for VP coming up.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MARCIANO (voice-over): Cell block - the dogs that can sniff out cell phones smuggled into prison.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have found them inside of boxes of food, cut out books.
MARCIANO: You're watching the most news in the morning.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MARCIANO: In prisons across the country cell phones are becoming a hot ticket item for people behind the bars. Now officials are using specially trained canines to sniff them out. Here's CNN justice correspondent Kelli Arena.
KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, guys. Believe it or not it is a growing and very serious problem, and it's taking some ingenuity to try to solve it.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ARENA (voice-over): They say in prison you can get just about anything you want for a price. Cigarettes, drug, weapons, but the hot commodity these days -- cell phones. And these dogs are trained to sniff them out.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have found them inside of boxes of food, in cut out books, in shoes, with hollowed out soles, under mattresses, inside mattresses or pillows.
ARENA: And up to $400 a pop, cell phones are worth their weight in gold. That's a nice profit for a good smuggler. Which apparently I'm not.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm going have to have -
ARENA: I got caught, but more than 800 phones did get into Maryland's prisons last year.
MIKE STOUFFER, COMMISSIONER OF CORRECTION: These institutions are like cities, and a lot of goods and materials and people have to come in and out all the time.
ARENA: So why go to through the trouble of training dogs to find phones?
Philadelphia, January, 2008. Shaunte Wright is gunned down as she prepares to testify against a career criminal. Investigators think it was a hit ordered from prison with a cell phone.
MAJ. PETE ANDERSON, K-9 UNIT COMMANDER: I Think we owe it to the victims to not allow inmates to continue to run their enterprises from behind our bars.
ARENA: And that's where these guys come in. The program's only been in place for a couple of months, and already the dogs have found more than a dozen phones.
LT. RODNEY JORDAN, K-9 TRAINER: First I wasn't too keen on the idea. I didn't think they would be able to separate the phones versus a lot of the stuff in the institution.
ARENA: So how do the dogs tell the difference between a TV set and a cell phone on block nine?
JORDAN: Everything on earth has a scent signature.
ARENA: We'd tell you more, but why give the criminals that kind of information? We'll share this. It you're caught with a phone behind bars in Maryland you could get up to three more years in prison and a $1,000 fine. And, no. You can't have it back to call a lawyer.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ARENA: Officials from other states are now reaching out to Maryland hoping to replicate its success. Rob and Kiran, back to you. MARCIANO: Kelli Arena. Heidi Collins is here.
CHETRY: She sure is. CNN NEWSROOM is minutes away. Heidi Collins here. We flew you all the way up just for the tease.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Just for the tease! I know, I got to hurry up and get back in ten minutes.
MARCIANO: Will you stop stalking me? You know, I'm just here for the day.
COLLINS: I know, I said hey, Marciano's going to up there. I'm going to go hop on that plane.
CHETRY: That's right. OK, so you want to know what's coming up at 9:00? In about ten minutes or so. That's right, we are tracking Fay, of course, all day long in the NEWSROOM. Cars are rolling out of Florida and the keys, of course, as you can see in those pictures. Fay could be a hurricane as it heads towards the Tampa Bay area in mid-week. So still a lot of uncertainty there, of course.
Rescuers back at the Grand Canyon this morning. They are looking for anyone stranded by a dam break. Dozens of people already evacuated. We'll stay on top of that for you.
And blame the financial downturn. Getting a student loan this school year will be a whole lot trickier. Gerri Willis is going to stop by with tips on that. So NEWSROOM from New York today. Top of the hour on CNN.
CHETRY: We'll be watching. Good to see you, by the way.
COLLINS: You, too.
MARCIANO: Bye, honey.
COLLINS: Bye.
MARCIANO: We'll see you in Atlanta.
CHETRY: She'll leave tomorrow, because you're leaving, right?
COLLINS: Right. I love it. I love the cops, by the way.
MARCIANO: It's going to be a quarter pretty soon.
CHETRY: It's beautiful? Hold on. I forgot to write AMERICAN MORNING on it. We usually do.
COLLINS: Well, in Atlanta we have nice ceramic cups.
CHETRY: We're working on it.
COLLINS: They're going to kick me out of here.
CHETRY: Well, Barack Obama's on the verge of taking a running mate. We're going to find out who's on top of the short list, and how soon we'll find out who he wants to be vice president.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MARCIANO (voice-over): Kareen Wynter looks at the changing face of black face.
CHARLIE KNIPPS, "SHIRLEY Q. LIQUOR": I think when white and black people can laugh at each other it can be a healing thing.
MARCIANO: You're watching the most news in the morning.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHETRY: Welcome back to the most politics in the morning. Barack Obama on the verge of picking a running mate. The Democratic National Convention kicks off on Monday. He's expected to announce his VP pick before then. Ed Henry joins us live from Washington now. If you're taking bets, which of course we're not, Joe Biden has been getting a little bit of buzz over the weekend. The senator actually on his way to Georgia at the request of that president. What are you hearing?
ED HENRY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Kiran. He is in Georgia now. He has met with President Saakashvili and that really underlies why Joe Biden is sort of at the top of the list of the speculation list, if you will. He knows his way around the world. Not just Georgia, but also has been to Iraq many times. Afghanistan. You have breaking news this morning about the situation in Pakistan with President Musharraf stepping down. Joe Biden is a guy who has been tested on foreign affairs. He has a resume that can really check a big box for Barack Obama. With John McCain really the central thrust of his campaign right now being that Barack Obama is not ready to be president specifically on the foreign policy issue.
Of course, there are some down sides for Joe Biden as well. Clearly the fact is that he is a Washington insider with that experience. The down side is that it sort of runs counter to Barack Obama's central message which is change. And also there's a good question of Joe Biden, I remember so many allegations during his presidential campaign that he talks too much. That basically he can't shut up and he joked about it. You remember that one debate several months ago, a moderator asked him, you know, can you hold it back and not talk so much and basically be able to lead the free world? And he said, yes and stopped talking. And there was a big laughter over that, because Joe Biden is trying to learn how to sort of stay on message, Kiran.
CHETRY: That's right. It really did take some of the tension out of the room. I remember that moment well. Now, what's the delay? Because we had John Kerry back in 2004, 20 days before the convention, he announced John Edwards as his running mate. Now, we're six days and counting?
HENRY: That's right, every nominee likes to do it their own way. We finally have a deadline, which is next Wednesday night. That's why the speculation is starting to get more intense. Next Wednesday night, in Denver, is when the vice presidential nominee will speak. So obviously Barack Obama has to pick someone by then. The thinking right now from various democrats close to the Obama camp, I that there will be a nominee named by the end of this week, maybe even the middle of this week. The thinking right now, and again, just thinking, is that maybe Barack Obama would want to get the ball rolling before the convention, unveil this person and try have a little momentum on the way in. Kiran.
CHETRY: All right. Ed Henry in Washington, good to see you. Thanks.
HENRY: Good to see you.
MARCIANO: Well, black face in the movies used to be taboo. But Robert Downey Jr. does it in his new movie "Tropic Thunder" and it comes out on top at the box office. The controversial practice of a white actor in black face, why it's OK today? That's coming up. You're watching the most news in the morning.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MARCIANO: Well, "Tropic Thunder" was number one movie at the box office this weekend. But it didn't get there without some sort of controversy.
CHETRY: Yes, that's right. It was a white actor, Robert Downey Jr. in black face. It's something that's been long considered taboo. But is that changing?
CNN's Kareen Wynter takes a look.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KAREEN WYNTER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT (on-camera): Rob, Kiran, good morning. Taboo, that's been the final word on black face for decades. But it would appear pop culture has reopened the issue for debate.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What do you mean, you people?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What do you mean, you people?
WYNTER (voice-over): It was a performance that could have spelled disaster. "Tropic Thunder's" movie within a movie stars Robert Downey Jr. as a white actor playing a black man in a film.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Their word has kept us down.
CORI MURRAY, "ESSENCE MAGAZINE": There are a couple of parts on this film that where I did cringe, but what I like about it, you have a real African-American actor Brandon T. Jackson there to kind of say what, you know, what audiences are going to probably be saying back to the screen. WYNTER: According to the film studio, the NAACP gave "Thunder" the thumbs up. In fact, there have been a number of recent black- faced performances to receive essentially no backlash from the black community.
MURRAY: When Fred Armisen on "SNL" plays Barack Obama, you know, to me he looks like Barack Obama so I don't, you know think about that. Or when Tracey Ullman does, her mini characters.
WYNTER: Not everyone has been so lucky. Performance artist Charles Knipps is best known as Shirley Q. Liquor, a robust southern black woman who speaks Ebonics and has 19 children. A character based on Knipps' childhood caregiver.
CHARLES KNIPPS, "SHIRLEY Q. LIQUOR": She had 18 children. I used to be so fascinated with the way she spoke. She was from Louisiana. Oh, lordy.
MURRAY: Talking about welfare checks and 12 days of Kwanza, all of that is like, stop. No. Charles Knipps has crossed that line.
WYNTER: Packed with mostly gay racially mixed crowds, Knipps' shows sell out nationwide. He says only someone who believes in white supremacy would be offended.
KNIPPS: If you think that white people are supreme or better than black people, then it really is exclusionary, but at the same time, nobody in the audience believes I'm a black woman. Everybody's in on the joke. I think when black people and white people can laugh at each other and their foibles and the silliness that we do, all of our hidden prejudices, it can be a healing thing.
WYNTER: So if there is a new playbook on black face, the rules are open to interpretation.
WYNTER (on-camera): Knipps tells us next he's headed out on the road to Georgia, Louisiana, California and Nevada. Rob, Kiran.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MARCIANO: All right. I haven't even seen "Batman" yet. So, I guess I put it on the list.
CHETRY: I know. Exactly. Put it on list. You got to go to bed early on this shift. You can't see any movies, Rob.
MARCIANO: ...quickly. Well, thanks so much for joining us on AMERICAN MORNING. Glad you're with us today. We'll be back here tomorrow.
MARCIANO: Right now, it's time for the "CNN NEWSROOM" with Heidi Collins.
