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Texas Waits for Ike; 9/11 Remembered; Earmark Evolution: Governor Palin's Stance Has Shifted

Aired September 11, 2008 - 14:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): September 11, 2008, at the Pentagon, at Ground Zero, on a quiet field in Pennsylvania, the nation remembers and vows never to forget.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There will be no medical services. There will be no fire department. There will be no law enforcement, groceries, gasoline, drugs, electricity.

WHITFIELD: A Texas sheriff lays it on the line as Hurricane Ike surges towards the Texas Gulf Coast. Hundreds of thousands of people are being urged, warned or ordered to get out.

And long before he picked her as a running mate, John McCain took issue with Sarah Palin's appetite for earmarks. Our Randi Kaye has all the facts and figures this hour.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Hello again and welcome back to the NEWSROOM. I'm Fredricka Whitfield in for Kyra Phillips at the CNN world headquarters in Atlanta.

All right. With little time to spare, Texas shifts its preparations for Hurricane Ike into high gear. Most of the state's coastline is now under a hurricane warning, and many areas are now being evacuated. The warning covers an area from southwestern Louisiana to Corpus Christi, and right now the storm is a Category 2, with winds around 100 miles per hour, but it could get much more intense by the time it makes landfall tomorrow night or Saturday.

The coastal region from Corpus Christi to Galveston is home to about one million Texans, and many of them are too close to the coast for comfort.

Rosa Flores with the our affiliate KHOU takes a look at some of the evacuations right now under way.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ROSA FLORES, REPORTER, KHOU (voice-over): Frank Shots (ph) is calm...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're just going to cover these two windows in the back. FLORES: ... even though a major storm is coming his way.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They can't forcibly make you leave your property.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You have until 6:00 p.m.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It could be a small Category 4.

FLORES: But his town and all of Matagorda County is in disaster mode. The call for evacuation for anyone living south of Highway 35 is mandatory. And some people are already on their way out of town.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: A lot of us are kind of stressed out about it. We're trying to get everything, you know, tightened down at the house.

FLORES: Workers from the Matagorda County's nuclear plant, the South Texas Project, are also leaving town. Many of them are headed to places like Austin and San Antonio.

(on camera): Now, some people will be coming here, because power plants are required by federal law to shut down if certain hurricane conditions occur. So until Ike hits, a storm team will be here 24/7.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's one of the most safe, secure industrial facilities in the world.

FLORES (voice-over): Frank feels his house is just as secure.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: These posts are buried four and a half-foot in the ground with two foot of concrete around them. I don't think they're going anywhere.

FLORES: So he plans to wait out the storm with his animals.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, God gave horses more sense than he did most people.

FLORES: And God, he says, gave him the faith to know that Ike won't be the last storm he watches from home.

In Matagorda County, Rosa Flores, 11 News.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(WEATHER REPORT)

WHITFIELD: We'll talk about a lot of the folks who have to stay. The folks in Galveston, Texas, well, they know what a killer hurricane can do. They've been told about a storm back in 1900 that killed thousands of people. Well, authorities there and elsewhere along the Texas coast are taking no chances in warning people in this danger zone to get out now, if they can.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) JUDGE ED EMMETT, HARRIS COUNTY CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER: We could be facing a storm surge of 15 feet on Galveston Bay. That storm surge would inundate certain parts of Harris County, so it's very important that we go ahead and evacuate those parts of the county, starting with people with special needs.

For years and months, we have asked people to register by dialing 211 to get on the registry, so that if you cannot evacuate yourself, either because of medical reasons or you just don't have the ability to do it, then the proper jurisdiction will come to your home and pick you up.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If they decide to stay, there will be a period of time during this storm when they are absolutely on their own. There will be no medical services. There will be no fire department. There will be no law enforcement, groceries, gasoline, drugs, electricity.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: All right. That's pretty good incentive to move on out as Ike gets closer.

A very serious problem in some areas, indeed. Gas stations are running out of fuel. As I mentioned earlier, it is very serious, and that's kind of the reality right now.

So wherever Ike does make landfall, you'll probably feel it in your wallet, by the way. Wholesale gas prices have already spiked on the Gulf Coast as refineries shutter their operations ahead of the coming storm.

And the Oil Price Information Service reports that gas is now selling at between $4 and $5 a gallon wholesale along the coast, up from a little over $3 a gallon yesterday. Well, the area accounts for nearly a quarter of all U.S. petroleum production, by the way.

A watershed day. Where were you exactly seven years ago? And do you remember what you were thinking and doing? Somber memories of 9/11, seven years after that awful fact.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Lower Manhattan, the Pentagon, Shanksville, Pennsylvania, all of America shares the pain of 9/11. But on the anniversary, all Americans' thoughts are on those three sites, and it's there, this morning, that survivors and victims' families came together once again to grieve and comfort and reflect.

Ground Zero now, where the twin towers of the World Trade Center came down as the world watched. Well, "It's now a very large construction site, but that didn't stop the now-familiar rituals commemorating a day that began like any other and ended as none ever has." That's a quote from New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

CNN's Christine Romans is there now right now -- Christine.

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, Fredricka.

A really elegant ritual today, and there are still people gathered down there in the lowest part of what was now known as "The Pit." It's now the footprint of the World Trade Center site. People in a circle around there, still grieving quietly, talking, holding hands, and just holding on to this day.

They stopped reading the names maybe an hour and a half ago. It takes an awful long time to read 2,751 names, but they did it slowly throughout the morning, as we commemorated each of the steps of this event.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg this morning really seeking to focus on global unity. Ninety-five different countries lost citizens. And he also was really pushing on the shared sense of grief.

He read an Irish proverb that really cuts right to it, Fred. He said, "Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, but love leaves a memory no one can steal." And it's -- a lot of those folks with those memories walking down the long path to the lowest part of the World Trade Center site.

Michael Bloomberg really summed it up very simply like this...

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAYOR MICHAEL BLOOMBERG (I), NEW YORK: Today marks the seventh anniversary of the day that our world was broken.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: It was broken for so many people, but it's remarkable to listen to the poise of the children who were reading the names of their family and loved ones. I was really struck by how many of those children got up and in a clear, strong voice said the name of their father or cousin or aunt or uncle.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My dad died on 9/11, but he is not gone. Just look at each of our faces, and you will see him shine through us every day.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We love you, daddy.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: There were four moments of silence, the last one at 10:29, and that is the moment that marks the collapse of the north tower. And that was really, really an emotional moment here, because for so many people that is the moment that marks the end of the actual attacks as they see it and the beginning of the shocking grief that was to come. And it's at that moment of silence, as the bell was tolling, that the Hudson River was filling with tugboats and pleasure craft and ferries, and they were also sounding their horns.

And really, Fred, I've got to tell you, Lower Manhattan just kind of took a big collective breath as that fourth moment of silence passed -- Fred.

WHITFIELD: Wow. That is really profound. And those children really exemplifying pillars of strength in so many ways, Christine.

ROMANS: That's so true. And you know, for many of us, seven years ago, it seems like just a moment, but look at how much so many of those children have grown.

And Fredricka, one fact that I found so interesting is that 100 children were born after their father died in the World Trade Center. So there are so many of these children who never even got to know the people that we're here commemorating. And of course, it's more than just the folks who are in the World Trade Center or around it. There's Flight 11, American Airlines Flights 11, United Airlines Flight 175 -- 2,751 names here today.

WHITFIELD: Wow.

Christine Romans, thanks so much, on hallowed ground there.

And at the Pentagon, the day and memories were marked in other ways.

Our Jamie McIntyre is there and joins us now -- Jamie.

JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN SR. PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, it was both a stirring and somber ceremony here as President Bush officially dedicated this memorial at the Pentagon. The unique feature of this memorial is the 184 individual benches, each engraved with the name of someone who died either at the Pentagon or on the plane.

And probably the most emotional moment came when President Bush, flanked by his wartime defense secretaries and Joints Chiefs chairmen, stood by as the Honor Guard dramatically undraped each of the benches. The blue shrouds were removed with military precision and folded up at the hour of commemorating the time when the plane hit the building. The memorial was officially dedicated.

And of course, the memorial is all about preserving the memory, as President Bush noted.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The day will come when most Americans have no living memory of the events of September the 11th. When they visit this memorial, they will learn that the 21st century began with a great struggle between the forces of freedom and the forces of terror. They will learn that this generation of Americans met its duty. We did not tire, we did not falter, and we did not fail.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MCINTYRE: When you look at the rebuilt side of the Pentagon, it's hard to remember that just seven years ago, it was engulfed in flames and smoke as firefighters were trying to douse the blaze and rescue workers were trying to rescue people from the rubble where United Airlines Flight 77 slammed into the side of the building.

The memorial has some unique aspects that are designed to commemorate that. The benches are aligned along the plane's path, and the whole idea is to create an area of quiet contemplation for years to come -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right. Jamie McIntyre at the Pentagon.

Thank you.

Well, 9/11 certainly challenged religious tolerance in the country. Three women of different faiths trying to bridge understanding.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Earmarks, John McCain is giving the country an earful about them. He's railed against them and made them a big talking point of his campaign. But his running mate hasn't always turned a deaf ear to earmarks, especially when she called the shots in Wasilla, Alaska.

Here's CNN's Randi Kaye.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RANDI KAYE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Three little words, a clue as to where Sarah Palin once stood on earmarks, scrawled in the margin of this memo to the Wasilla City Council, back when Palin was mayor: "We did well." It was June 14, 1999, when Palin wrote, "This does not include our nearly $1 million from the feds for our airport paving project." Then added those three words: "We did well."

LARRY PERSILY, WORKED FOR PALIN: She was hungry for funding from the federal government that could help her community.

KAYE: Longtime journalist Larry Persily worked for the governor for several months but doesn't believe she has the judgment or qualifications to be vice president. As to earmarks, he says...

PERSILY: When she was mayor of Wasilla from 1996 to 2002, she was in there, looking for federal earmarks from Congress just as much as anyone.

KAYE (on camera): As Mayor Palin hired a lobbyist to help funnel federal dollars to her hometown, and not just any lobbyist but the former chief of staff for Alaska Senator Ted Stevens, who at the time was chairman of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, which doles out federal cash.

(voice-over) The lobbyist helped Palin secure $600,000 for a new bus facility, $1.75 million for dispatch center technology, $2.4 million to upgrade water and sewer facilities.

STEVE ELLIS, TAXPAYERS FOR COMMON SENSE: Wasilla did pretty well, once they got into the earmark game.

KAYE: In the last four years Palin was mayor, the city of Wasilla, with a population of just about 5,000, scored $27 million in earmarks, says the nonpartisan Taxpayers for Common Sense.

The state was doing pretty well, too. Perhaps Alaska's most egregious earmark? The Bridge to Nowhere, the target of Senator John McCain.

In 2006 Palin ran for governor, promising to support the now infamous Bridge to Nowhere, but after being elected governor, she rejected it. McCain and watchdog groups were already targeting the Bridge to Nowhere by then. Palin said the price tag had become too high and the money could be better used for other projects.

GOV. SARAH PALIN (R-AK), VICE-PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: I told the Congress thanks but no thanks on that Bridge to Nowhere.

PERSILY: She is telling only half the story as far as the earmarks.

KAYE: In fact, Palin was securing earmarks just as John McCain was fighting to slash them. Years ago, he even identified some of her projects. But that was then.

Since becoming governor, Palin has cut the earmarks the state asks for. But this year, Alaska had more earmark requests per person than any other state.

Alaska's lieutenant governor, Sean Parnell, defends Palin's record.

LT. GOV. SEAN PARNELL, ALASKA: She's a fiscal hawk. I'd say that she has worked to reduce the number of earmarks.

KAYE: Palin asked for $256 million in earmarks her first year in office; $187 million her second year. Why the apparent change of heart?

PERSILY: She turned against earmarks when she saw the nation turning against earmarks.

KAYE (on camera): Did the governor change her tone on earmarks because they became unpopular?

PARNELL: I don't think so. I think she saw them for what they were. As you're in office longer, you begin to see the cumulative effect of earmarks, from Wasilla to Pensacola to, you know, all across America, the thousands of earmarks and to see the corruption that can come from those.

KAYE (voice-over): For 2008 and 2009, her office has asked for nearly $8 million federal dollars to upgrade a remote airport after it was handed over by the Navy. The FAA says it handles only eight scheduled flights a month.

Also, $4 million to research sea crab stocks.

(on camera) Why is studying sea crab and rockfish worth more than $5 million?

PARNELL: Well, because they're found in federal waters and state waters, and they impact federal commercial fishing interests, as well as state.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: It's been seven years. But when Americans reflect on the pain and fear and the loss of 9/11, it's as if no time has passed at all. The nation is observing the seventh anniversary of the terror attacks that claimed almost 3,000 lives with ceremonies in lower Manhattan, as well as at the Pentagon, and Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

Setting politics aside, Barack Obama and John McCain plan to visit Ground Zero together next hour.

Well, a new poll shows that Americans are a lot less afraid of terrorism than we used to be. Not so long ago our deputy political director Paul Steinhauser, has new numbers on the fear, war and the coming election.

And in part, Paul, is that because it has been quiet on American soil for the past seven years?

PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Yes, exactly. I think that is definitely part of it, Fredricka.

Take a look at these brand new numbers from CNN and the Opinion Research Corporation. We pulled them out this morning. And we asked Americans, do you think it's likely that there will be a terrorist attack here in the U.S. in the next couple of weeks. Only 3 in 10 Americans right now saying, yes, it's likely. And that is the lowest number since 9/11 attacks seven years ago.

Back in 2002, that number was about 60 percent. Now you can see it's down to about 30 percent. We also asked, Fredricka, about the war in Iraq and whether you favor the war in Iraq or not. And those numbers are starting to creep up, as well. The number of Americans who think that the war in Iraq is actually doing better is starting to rise. And this is interesting, because take a look in June, 30 percent, now it's up to 37 percent.

So when you take into account both of these issues, the war in Iraq and the war on terror, these are both issues where Americans think John McCain would do better job than Barack Obama if elected president, you'd think that would maybe favorable to John McCain. But, we also asked the Americans what's the most important issue for you in your vote for president. And it continues to be the economy.

Over half of Americans say -- 56 percent Americans say economy. Iraq down to just 13 percent. This used to be the most important issue in this election. And terrorism, only 1 in 10 Americans say that terrorism is the most important issue. Iraq and terrorism, Fredricka, were the issues that dominated the elections in 2002, 2004 and 2006. But this time around, the last year now, it's basically the economy -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: And is it fair to read any further into these polls when it comes down to people feeling a little bit more secure on American soil? Is it in part because of the progress or what is taking place in Iraq, or is it because of the Bush administration? Is it fair enough to read any further into the polls, into those kind of details?

STEINHAUSER: Yes. I think one of the reasons only 3 in 10 Americans now feel that there is a likely chance of a terrorist attack is because, yes, there hasn't been one here for seven years, since the 9/11 attacks.

And the numbers on Iraq, too. Americans are now saying that the Iraq war is helping on the war on terrorism a little bit more now then they used to. But this is interesting, Fredricka, they're not giving President Bush any credit. Overall, his approval rating in our brand new poll is a 28 percent and that ties the lowest level we've seen. So, he's not getting a kick out of this, unfortunately.

WHITFIELD: Paul Steinhauser, thanks so much for the update. Appreciate it on those polls.

All right. Well, what a difference a generation can make. Libya, an old foe of the United States is now a friend, thanks in no small part to the son of its leader.

CNN's Zain Verjee reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ZAIN VERJEE, CNN STATE DEPARTMENT CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): He's the silent hand behind Libya's dramatic makeover. Seif al-Islam Gadhafi managed to pull off the unthinkable. Convince his father, leader Moammar Gadhafi, to give up his weapons of mass destruction, shed Libya's terrorist label and bring the country out of the cold.

SEIF GADHAFI, LEADER MOAMMAR GHADAFI'S SON: We were terrorists? Yes. We tried to terrorize our enemies? Yes. America is terrorizing its enemies? Yes. Now Americans are our friends.

VERJEE: At his home in capital, Tripoli, he tells me the new rules of the game. Business and not bombs.

GADHAFI: It's useful now for both sides. And it's a win-win situation.

VERJEE: Safe is the driving force behind Libya's economic boom, negotiating millions of dollars in foreign investments and bringing American oil giants back to Libya. The Western educated son is close to his father who has listened to his ideas for change, but when it comes to his pet tigers, dad's in charge. This one, Fredo, died. But, Seif has two others.

GADHAFI: My father took them to the zoo because he said that they are dangerous animals and they shouldn't be here.

VERJEE (on camera): So you have to listen to your dad like anyone else?

GADHAFI: Yes.

VERJEE (voice-over): But the leader did take Seif's advice to end the fight over the 1988 Pan Am bombing over Lockerbie, Scotland. Libya admitted guilt and paid the victims' families. Seif has accused them of being greedy and recalls that Libyans were also killed when the U.S. bombed Tripoli and Benghazi in 1986.

GADHAFI: Our blood is not cheaper than American blood. But now they're greedy.

VERJEE: Many in the Muslim country belief Seif will take the reigns from his father one day. Seif says he's just a private citizen pushing for reform.

GADHAFI: I cannot conduct myself. I cannot say in a Democracy, to society, and then I want to be the conference, and have a choice between (INAUDIBLE) regime and democracy; dictatorship and freedom.

VERJEE (on camera): Is Libya a dictatorship?

GADHAFI: I haven't said dictatorship. But, we are not really a Democracy yet.

VERJEE (voice-over): He wants a constitution, parliament and accountability. A vision at odds with his father's old Socialist revolution.

(on camera): Do you want to see the end of the revolution?

GADHAFI: The end -- yes.

VERJEE: Your dad may not like that.

GADHAFI: No. I think he'll like it.

VERJEE (voice-over): Moammar Gadhafi still calls the shots in Libya. But the son behind the scenes may be directing the next act.

Zain Verjee, CNN, Tripoli, Libya.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: All right. Well, this is the last 9/11 anniversary in which President Bush will be leading the country in the battle against terrorism. So, what lies ahead? Just what would John McCain or Barack Obama do differently to protect the country from terrorism.

CNN's Josh Levs joins me now to break down some of the homeland security plans, if you will.

JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Because you know what? Everyone has a broad sense of what each man thinks coming to the fight against terrorism. We certainly hear a lot of broad statements.

WHITFIELD: Most saying they want this country to be safe.

LEVS: Right. They want the country to be safe and they're going to do things, whatever it takes to crack down on al Qaeda. What we don't hear of are the specifics.

And so that's what we're going to take an opportunity to do today, on 9/11. I saw this interesting article today in the "Los Angeles Times," saying that actually, they're not far apart on inside terror issues. So, I called analysts myself, I'm hearing the same thing.

We're going to start with this graphic right here which shows on some major key points, they agree. On the Patriot Act, Obama voted to reauthorize it and McCain did too. On Guantanamo Bay, both say they would close it. And on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, we found that actually both supported the overhaul Obama had previously said he would not, but he did in the end.

There are some key differences, two major ones. Let's go to the next graphic here, which drills down on those that a lot of people point to. First of all, whether the Iraq was is part of the fight against terrorism. As we know, opposite points of view. Also, on the Supreme Court decision over how to handle suspects at Guantanamo Bay. And that gets at a little bit of a difference, Obama supported the decision, McCain did not. But that gets at a difference about how you handle these people once they've been captured. Then, in the end, it's more about the approach and focus that the difference is.

I'll end with this, that an analyst told me. Let's go to this next graphic here. I spoke with him this morning. He's the head of a think tank based at George Washington University -- the Homeland Security Policy Institute. He says, really it's about the tone being different. And that does matter. How do you, in the end, win over allies, and degrigate rather than empower adversaries. But he says, when you really get down to the specifics, we really hear a lot of nouns but you don't hear a lot of verbs. Basically, he says, you hear a lot of talk but when it comes down to it, you don't see a lot of tremendous differences in their plans.

So, that's something that might take shape in the coming weeks. But, for now what we are seeing, is a lot of similarity overall in what they talk about and in what they say they'll achieve. And you know, drilling down on what actually be different if either one becomes president, we have yet to see in a way.

WHITFIELD: Oh, well that's very interesting. All right. Thanks, so much Josh.

LEVS: You got it.

Well, McCain and Obama coming together in a different way. On the same stage, later on today, remembering the victims of 9/11 and the need for us to all give back, ready to serve. A live forum featuring the presidential candidates will be shown right here on CNN tonight, that's 8:00 Eastern.

Remembering 9/11. The attacks shook the nation and forced some religious prejudices right out in the open. Three different women from three very different faiths are trying to break down those barriers. We'll find out if they're at all succeeding.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: In the aftermath of 9/11, our next guests felt they were forced to confront prejudices and barriers in their own communities. The three woman, a Muslim, a Jew and a Christian, found a creative way to get people of different religions to talk with each other. So, they formed the Faith Club and they wrote a book about it.

And now, there are Faith Club chapters all across the country. Ranya Idliby, Suzanne Oliver and Priscilla Warner, join me now from New York.

Good to see you, ladies.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALES: Thank you for having us.

WHITFIELD: Well to all of you, immediately after 9/11, we saw so many different displays of hate, misunderstanding, all across the country and really worldwide. But, let's talk about what we saw and witnessed here in this country. And now, seven years later, Rayna, let me get your perspective. If you are seeing a change in the climate, as it pertains to religious tolerance.

RAYNA IDLIBY, AUTHOR "THE FAITH CLUB": So much so. We've been so blessed and honored that through the Faith Club, we've been invited to over 40 cities and so many communities have embraced us and opened our their arms and welcomed us. We find that interface initiatives on a national level have gone from something from a periphery, to center stage. And in fact, mainstream temples, and even law firms and universities are engaging in bridge building and these types of initiatives and organizations.

WHITFIELD: And Suzanne, what or who do you credit, or you know, place blame, if you will -- maybe credit to the tolerance and how its evolved and perhaps, blame, as to why it was a little difficult and prickly at the beginning. SUZANNE OLIVER, AUTHOR, "THE FAITH CLUB": You mean among the three of us?

WHITFIELD: Well, I think across the country since you have chapters now everywhere. It wasn't that easy to initialize, or to initiate?

OLIVER: No. After 9/11 though, I think there was a lot of curiosity across America about particularly what does Islam mean, what are Muslim's like, among Jews and Christians it was driven by curiosity and also driven by fear. We've met people who are afraid that Muslim's would ruin the world for their grandchildren.

And it is great when people get together on a personal level and really explain to each other their faith. They're able to overcome their fear of each other and their fear of their other religions because our perspectives are different by the stereotypes that are created by the extremists, who are the loudest voices in each of our religions.

WHITFIELD: And Priscilla, you all have really made it look easy. Because here you are, sitting together, you've written a book about it, you've come together from very different perspectives. But it really wasn't that easy at the start, was it?

PRISCILLA WARNER, AUTHOR, "THE FAITH CLUB": No it was not. Some reviewers called us more fight club, than Faith Club. And they said, it wasn't a kumbaya sort of book.

We really took off the gloves of what people said. Maybe they were white gloves. But, we took them off. And really asked each other very difficult, soul searching questions. And we really learned how to listen to each other and see what the difference was between one word and another.

It was excruciating, painful and exhilarating and magnificent all at the same time.

WHITFIELD: So, Rayna, it's one thing to have this meeting of the minds, so to speak, in kind of closed quarters, in your living rooms, whether it's your chapter or other chapters. But then, how do you get that to transfer outside at these Faith Clubs? How do you try to make this spirit contagious?

IDLIBY: I think by just sort of engaging, continuing to on a grassroots level commit to time. You know, we feel like we do our bit. When you hear a stereotype, or someone make a generalization that's coming from a fear or certain amounts of ignorance, I think it's incumbent upon us to stand up and speak our minds and to say what we know. I think that it becomes self evident when we reflect that you know, we can't just stereotype an entire people, or vilify or demonize an entire religion just based on fear and stereotypes. And I think people have come to this awareness and we have certainly, as we have traveled in this country, know that people are just generally tired and fatigued from all of the hate mongering and the vilification. WHITFIELD: Rayna Idliby, Suzanne Oliver, Priscilla Warner. Thanks so much for your time. The book is "The Faith Club." And of course, folks can reach out to you if they want to find out how to start a chapter just like you all have done. Which seems to be spreading like wildfire now across the country.

Thanks so much, ladies. Appreciate it.

WARNER: Thanks for having us.

IDLIBY: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: All right. Weather is certainly still a big story. Sweeping across Texas in particular. Other states, Florida, Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, well they too are trying to get ready because they're feeling the power of hurricane Ike already. We'll check in with Chad Myers, coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right. Along the Texas coast, better safe than sorry. Big traffic jams are the order of the day as people scramble to get away from hurricane Ike.

And for motorists, fleeing the storm, well some sage advice from reporter Robert Arnold now, with our affiliate KTRC.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ROBERT ARNOLD, KTRC REPORTER: It's one of the few gas stations we found that has actually been open. And I tell you, it's been like moths to the flame. We've seen people coming through this area all over. It's like I said, it's one of the few that we found open.

Also, one of the really rare ones that is still taking credit cards. We found one in Tivoli, the town of Tivoli. It's about 10 miles back. And it was open but would take cash only, no credit cards. So, that's very important. You got to get to the ATM before you head out because you may find a lot of stores open, but not all those stores may take credit cards. So, make sure you have plenty of cash on hand before you head out.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: All right. Let's take some pictures right now. Live pictures, Galveston, Texas. Usually a lot of folks on the beach this time of year, or usually some cars in those driveways. Well, not right now because an awful lot of folks are heeding the warnings of evacuating. You saw the pictures earlier, I-45 heading north, people making their way out. Well, now some beautiful pictures of the coast line there.

Chad Myers in the hurricane headquarters. But, no sign of people. And that's a good thing, isn't it?

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Well, sure. Because those waves are coming all the way up to the dune it looked like there, up to the houses in some spots. We also have this (INAUDIBLE) beach camera right there. And there are just some large waves. And this is the case, we're finding this all the way from Cape San Blas, all the way across Pensacola. I have an iReport on order. It's on the iReport.com, but we actually have to bring it in, filter it in here at CNN to get it on the air. And that's what I'm doing now.

The pier at Pensacola, the water is all the way to the top of the pier, probably pushing the wooden structures up there, the decking, probably pushing them up.

Now, I'm going to take you back out here to the Gulf of Mexico. All the models you see here, they're just little oil platforms. That one right there is the LLOG Exploration. This is from the Kinetic Analysis Corporation. They expect that one right there to be shut down for 22 days. Well you see the track, so these are the areas that are here, they are right through the middle -- right through the middle of -- and let's find that one right there because I think that's -- this is a big one. They produce a lot of -- there are 10,000 barrels a day we're going to lose there for 68 days they expect. That is on the current track.

Now, obviously things change depending upon whether the track goes to the east or goes the west. And then, Dave, do the map where it shows where the graph is and we will show you much natural gas we're going to lose too and how much oil we're going to lose -- here we go, for effect, it is a bright map, but you will get the idea. We are at 40 to 60 percent right there. This is how much natural gas production we're going to lose out of the Gulf of Mexico for the next few days. But then by September 20th, we're down to abut 15 percent. The green line, that is the oil line and they are expecting to lose about 32 percent of production or so, and then it drops back down. And then by -- obviously by October, we are almost back up to a full production.

The same story happens, too, if you get back out here. We can talk about this refinery, this ConocoPhillips Sweeny refinery. They're going to lose 229,000 barrels per day and then expect that to be down with this current track for four days. But they are on the easy side of the storm right there, rather than the tough side of the storm.

This is going to be a big one for a lot of people and it's already affecting Florida, Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana coasts. That is because that is where the storm is. This is the closest we are right now.

As the storm continues to move away, Florida you will calm down, but all the way through -- the Galveston area to Freeport right on back down -- possibly this thing could still go as far left as Port Aransas, and Aransas Pass, probably not too much farther to the east though than Houston. And this right through the (INAUDIBLE) right through Galveston Bay, would be a devastating blow to Houston proper as water would certainly come up into that city and we would lose a lot of things because the winds would still be at least 100 miles per hour in Houston with a direct hit -- Fred. WHITFIELD: Wow that's incredible. That really helps put it in perspective, especially when we saw those dots on the screen in the Gulf. I had no idea there were that many platforms. We knew a lot, but that is pretty incredible. And certainly we know about all those refineries too.

All right, Chad, thanks so much.

MYERS: You're welcome.

WHITFIELD: Much more straight ahead here in the NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right. So we told you about their incredible story of survival. A father and son swept out to sea off of Florida. They spent more than 15 hours treading water before they were finally rescued. So how were they able to keep their wits about them when all seemed lost?

Here now is CNN's chief medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: They were doing their favorite thing in the world, swimming together at the beach. 40-year-old Walter Marino and his son, 13-year-old Christopher. But you see Christopher drifted far, too far, miles out into the ocean, his father struggling to keep up with him, treading water in six-foot waves. Night fell, dehydration set in, and on top of all of that, Christopher has autism.

WALTER MARINO, FATHER: These kids know no danger, a lot of them anyway (ph). And he was on an adventure, he was on a swim. Then the jellyfish came out and stung. And when the jellyfish came out and stung, that's what really started to freak him out.

GUPTA: Father and son drifted apart. Walter's only goal: communicate with Christopher and keep him calm. It is fascinating to hear.

(on camera): How were you communicating with your son, Christopher?

MARINO: He watches a lot of videos and we have a repertoire of about two dozen or so phrases that we use and I say the first half of the phrase, and he completes it.

Like for example, Christopher -- Christopher, can you say to infinity -- and beyond.

And we were doing that all night long, and that is what kept my spirits up.

GUPTA: You can only imagine, father and son shouting Disney phrases back and forth in the middle of the ocean, fighting for their lives.

MARINO: We were getting pulled apart, and I was screaming, you know, "to infinity," and I didn't hear "and beyond" back from him, so I lost him. I thought I lost him at that point.

The Coast Guard rocks.

GUPTA: Finally, after an entire night at sea, the father is found. Yes, the Coast Guard.

SR. CHIEF NEWMAN CANTRELL, U.S. COAST GUARD: Well, you know, one thing that is really amazing is that for basically 15 or 16 hours now, you have had a 40-year-old man and a 13-year-old boy treading water and you know, I have to say a lot to their willingness to survive.

GUPTA: When Christopher was rescued two hours after his father, he uttered only one word, cold. But no one may ever know what exactly Christopher was thinking during all of those terrifying hours.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN, reporting.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Wow, that is an incredible story of inspiration.

I'm Fredricka Whitfield. Rick Sanchez is coming up next.