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American Morning
Oil Leak Ground Zero: BP Releases Video of Spewing Oil and Gas; Obama and Karzai Downplay Rift; BP Leak Investigation; DC's Street Car Battle; Kagan Makes Rounds on Capitol Hill; Tiger on the Mend; Sanford Visits Argentine Mistress
Aired May 13, 2010 - 06:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JOHN ROBERTS, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, and thanks so much for joining us on this Thursday, the 13th of May. It's what we like to call Friday eve around here. Thanks for joining us. I'm John Roberts.
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: Kiran Chetry is off today. I'm Christine Romans. Here are the big stories we'll be telling you about in the next 15 minutes.
Dramatic new pictures of the oil leak in the gulf. At the source, fresh crude can be seen pouring unchecked into the ocean along with natural gas. A recipe for an environmental catastrophe. And we should know soon if that top hat containment box can stop it.
ROBERTS: A show of unity at the White House. After all the name-calling and the tension, Presidents Obama and Karzai insist they are still standing by each other. So what's behind the new gentler tone and what's next for the United States and Afghanistan? We're live at the White House this morning.
ROMANS: And supreme theater. The meets and greets, the photo ops. High court nominee Elena Kagan begins the ritual of meeting with senators who will decide whether she gets this job for life? We'll take you inside the capital like no one else can this morning.
And the amFIX blog is up and running. Join the live conversation right now. Just go to CNN.com/amFIX -- John.
ROBERTS: We begin this morning with disturbing new images of an environmental disaster up close and personal. This is our first look at ground zero, the source of the oil leak now menacing the gulf coast. BP finally releasing a 30-second clip of video that puts a face on the enemy. The dark discharge you see is the crude oil. The lighter substance there, the white-looking substance, that's natural gas billowing out of that pipe.
More than 4.5 million gallons of crude have spilled so far. The president now calling on Congress for $58 million in new emergency funding to fight this looming catastrophe.
David Mattingly is live in Grand Isle, Louisiana this morning. And, David, seeing the video of the oil and the natural gas gushing out of the ocean floor is just -- I mean, really does bring a face to everything that we're seeing. What are the latest on the efforts to cap that spill?
DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, all the pieces are in place this morning, John. And the plan is to have the top hat solution in play either today or possibly tomorrow. What BP is going to do, first, they're going to try that smaller, revised dome that they're going to place over the top of that leaking pipe that we saw. If that doesn't quite work the way they want it to, then they've got a plan "b" already to go, already on site that they would insert a tube into that leaking pipe. So they've got two plans to attack it with today. They hope that one of them works this time.
ROBERTS: You know, David, yesterday, congressional hearings in the House raised questions about whether BP knew that something was about to happen before that blowout and the fiery explosion took place. They were undergoing some testing on the well itself. They didn't do anything about it, though, according to what we heard in Congress yesterday. What can you tell us about what was going on in that well at the time?
MATTINGLY: Well, what we heard in that committee hearing was that there was a pressure test, John, on that well. We learned from BP that this is standard operating procedure. They do a pressure test, a variety of pressure tests on the well before they cap it, which is what they were in the process of doing. Apparently, one of those tests failed. Now, we don't know why, but some of the reasons for that could be that there was gas leaking or that oil was leaking.
Now, the question that came from that was, well, why didn't you suspend operations at that point when you found out that this well's pressure test had failed? There was no direct answer for that, only to say that they are investigating. They hope to get to the bottom of this some day.
ROBERTS: David Mattingly for us in Grand Isle, Louisiana this morning. David, thanks so much.
And in just a few moments, Michigan Congressman Bart Stupak joins us. He's the chairman of the committee who just spent two days grilling energy executives involved with the spill. We'll get his take on what went wrong and who's to blame and what needs to happen next.
ROMANS: Afghan President Hamid Karzai is getting the royal treatment in Washington. And looking at the pictures, I guess, you never would have guessed just how tense things were a month ago between Karzai and the president.
ROBERTS: It was all smiles, handshakes. Yesterday, the two sides downplayed their differences over the nine-year long war and insisted the relationship has never been stronger.
Our Ed Henry live at the White House. And, Ed, a definite change in tone, what's behind it? ED HENRY, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, you're right, it was almost like a love fest, John. And the bottom line is this White House knows they were so heavily committed in Afghanistan. They really got little choice than to deal with the man who's running Afghanistan right now. And President Obama was trying to say that in working together, they're sort of breaking the momentum of the insurgency right now there in the war. But the president also had to admit that there are some real trouble spots, not just in Afghanistan, but across the border in Pakistan as well.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HENRY (voice-over): Just days after his aides charged the Pakistani Taliban was responsible for the Times Square attack, the president declared terrorists had become a cancer inside Pakistan's borders.
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I think what you've seen over the last several months is a growing recognition that they have a cancer in their midst. That the extremist organizations that have been allowed to congregate and use as a base the frontier areas to then go into Afghanistan, that that now threatens Pakistan's sovereignty.
HENRY: That came in response to an Afghan reporter who suggested Pakistan has not been an honest broker.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Pakistan has two faces regarding Afghanistan?
HENRY: The president was careful to balance his comments.
OBAMA: Part of what I've been encouraged by is Pakistan's willingness to start asserting more control over some of these areas, but it's not going to happen overnight.
HENRY: But the focus on Pakistan was another sign of the suddenly warm relations with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, despite the fact the U.S. recently considered pulling the plug on the state visit. Both men tried to put the best face on Karzai's recent rhetorical blast of the west, including his threat to join forces with the Taliban, unless the U.S. stopped interfering.
HAMID KARZAI, PRESIDENT OF AFGHANISTAN: The strength of this would only add to the strength of the relationship and contribute to the successes that we have.
HENRY: The U.S. has such a large commitment in Afghanistan, 87,000 troops now with 10,000 more on the way, there's little choice but to deal with Karzai.
VANDA FELBAB-BROWN, BROOKINGS INSTITUTION: However flawed and deeper flaws that the presidential election (ph) says, President Karzai has been selected as the president of Afghanistan and will remain the president for another four-and-a-half years.
HENRY: While there was talk of progress in Afghanistan, Mr. Obama noted the battle for Kandahar coming in June will be bloody.
OBAMA: There are going to be ups and downs. And one thing that I've tried to emphasize is the fact that there's going to be some hard fighting over the next several months.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HENRY: Now, the president also indicated the U.S. is still on track to begin withdrawing U.S. troops from Afghanistan in July 2011. But the president was also very quick to note that that's not going to be the end of U.S. involvement. He said there's going to be a long- term partnership. That's essentially Washington code for there will be troops there on the ground for years to come, John and Christine.
ROMANS: Ed, another topic, politicians here in New York are pretty upset. They say that the Washington is cutting terror funding for New York City, and so soon on the heels of that Times Square scare. After looking into this, you discovered that's not exactly the case?
HENRY: Yes, there's more to the details. There is going to be a big announcement today where the Obama administration will be laying out exactly what kind of grant money will be going to New York, to cities like New York for terror funding. When you look at just the basic numbers, it appears that there have been some cuts in terms of funding for port security as well as transit security.
But what the Obama administration is pointing out is they also are pouring a lot of money in from the recovery act, the stimulus plan, to deal with port security, transit security in New York and other cities. And they say if you add up all the numbers, it's actually an increase of $47 million for New York City in those special areas. Coming on the heels of that Times Square attempted attack, you can bet these numbers are going to get close, close scrutiny. But they're insisting they're actually going up, Christine.
ROMANS: Right.
ROBERTS: As always, the devil is in the details. Ed Henry for us this morning. Ed, thanks.
Also new this morning, they're calling it a miracle. An 8-year- old Dutch boy, the only survivor of yesterday's devastating plane crash in Libya. The little boy will undergo more tests today. He had surgery for multiple fractures in both legs, but doctors say he's doing well. He's talking as well. Ninety-two passengers and 11 crew members died aboard the Airbus jet. The Afriqiyah Airways flight originated in Johannesburg, South Africa. Investigators are examining the flight's data recorder to figure out what caused the crash.
ROMANS: The Pentagon says cyber threats to the U.S. are increasing but there are no easy answers when it comes to dealing with them. Policymakers are working through some likely scenarios so they come up with rules on cyber warfare. But officials say there are a lot of gray areas, including at what point is an attack -- something an attack or a threat severe enough to warrant, John, a military response?
ROBERTS: Well, you know, those home DNA tests that we told you about, but they're not going to be on the shelves at Walgreens tomorrow after all. The FDA wants the drugstore chain to wait because the Pathway Genomics kit has not been proven safe, effective or even accurate for that matter. The test claims that a mouth swab can reveal a person's risk of developing conditions like Alzheimer's or heart disease, suggesting how medications might work in your body and even giving you some indication as to what foods might be best for you to eat in the long term. But for now, not going on the shelves.
ROMANS: Gosh, a lot of people are saying, if it's available at Walgreens, would I just go get it to see if, you know, I was at risk?
ROBERTS: I think a lot of people would, yes.
ROMANS: Yes.
All right. It's nine minutes after the hour. Time for a quick check of the morning's weather headlines.
Jacqui Jeras is in the extreme weather center. Hi there, Jacqui?
JACQUI JERAS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Hey, good morning, Christine and John. It's the super soaker across the plains in the upper Midwest once again for today. The rainfall is coming down extremely heavy. And we're really concerned about some flood problems.
You can see those yellow boxes there of severe thunderstorm watches, many of which will be expiring over the next couple of hours. But we'll be watching for the threat of some hail and maybe some damaging wind.
Chicago just getting hit hard with the heavy showers and thunderstorms. And there you can see that's really the big weather system we'll be watching across parts of town. We'll talk more about these temperature changes that you're going to be seeing. We've also got a fire going on across parts of California. Your forecast is coming up in about a half an hour.
ROMANS: All right.
ROBERTS: Looking forward to that. Thanks so much. Christine and I were just talking about the DNA test and whether we'd do it.
ROMANS: I wouldn't do it.
ROBERTS: She said life is a terminal illness anyway. Just a matter of when, not if.
ROMANS: Don't tell me, I don't want to know.
ROBERTS: Yes. Exactly.
With debates still raging over Arizona's immigration law, a new bill in the state takes aim at what teachers can and cannot teach in the classroom. Find out which classes are now banned from school, just ahead.
It's 10 minutes after the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROMANS: U2 to get you started in the morning, right? It's 13 minutes after the hour. A quick check of the other stories new this morning.
We want to warn you, this next video is hard to watch. The FBI in Washington is looking into a possible hate crime after a Seattle detective is seen threatening and appearing to kick a Hispanic man mistaken for an armed robbery suspect. The incident happened last month. And the officer has now publicly apologized. He's also temporarily been placed on administrative reassignment.
ROBERTS: Arizona's new controversy, Governor Jan Brewer just approved a bill banning ethnic studies classes in public schools. Arizona school superintendent Tom Horne has been trying for years to get Tucson schools to drop a Mexican-American studies program. He says it teaches those students that they are an oppressed minority. The new law comes less than a month after the state's tough immigration law took effect.
Coming up this morning at 8:40 Eastern, we're going to talk live with Superintendent Horne, along with state lawmaker Kyrsten Sinema. She voted against the bill.
ROMANS: And just across Arizona's border, the Los Angeles City Council has voted to boycott Arizona businesses and governments. Council members say the state's immigration law, quote, "encourages racial profiling and violates the 14th Amendment" because it requires police to question anyone they think is an illegal immigrant. The legislation now goes to the city's mayor who has promised he will sign it. It could affect up to $8 million in city contracts. Several other California cities, including San Francisco and Oakland, they've already asked city departments not to sign any new contracts with Arizona companies.
ROBERTS: Well, she killed on "Saturday Night Live" and got there, thanks to Facebook. And now a new generation of Betty White fans are not stopping there. There is now a group, several of them, actually, aiming to get her to host next year's Oscars. And why not, with 88-year-old comedic timing like this?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BETTY WHITE, ACTRESS: People say, but, Betty, Facebook is a great way to connect with old friends. Well at my age, if I want to connect with old friends, I need a Ouija board.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences says it is not yet ready to let Facebook make casting decisions for Hollywood's biggest night. I -- I think she'd be great, though.
ROMANS: I think she would, too.
ROBERTS: She is just "split your sides laughing" funny.
ROMANS: Oh, very funny (ph).
ROBERTS: She really is.
ROMANS: Call it the Betty White Effect, I guess, because Facebook fans, now drunk with power, apparently, have also launched another online petition, this time to get Carol Burnett to host "Saturday Night Live". And there's also one for White's "Golden Girls" co-star Rue McClanahan.
ROBERTS: Well, I'm -- I'm voting for Carol Burnett. Of course you like that.
Coming up next on the Most News in the Morning, is BP to blame for the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico? We'll talk to Congressman Bart Stupak. He's chairman of the House committee that was holding hearings on the disaster.
Sixteen minutes now after the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: Nineteen minutes after the hour.
Leaky, loose or not working, BP executives admit the blowout preventer on the well had more than 200 system failures before that massive leak in the Gulf.
Meanwhile, the oil company released the first underwater video of the gusher that continues to release oil and natural gas into the Gulf of Mexico. The pictures highlight a wide gap in industry regulations that even BP officials have acknowledged during hearings on Capitol Hill.
Congressman Bart Stupak is the chairman of the House committee that's investigating the BP spill, and he joins us from Washington now. Congressman, as best as you've been able to ascertain, can you tell us what was the genesis of this? What caused this massive eruption of fire in the Gulf and now the leaking oil?
REP. BART STUPAK (D), MICHIGAN: Well, we know, as Chairman Waxman dwelt on it, that there's actually different pressure points in -- in the drill pipe. One was 1,400 pounds per square inch, and on the other side of the pipe it was zero, which is really an anomaly. You know something was cooking here, that there was pressure where it should not be and where there should have been pressure, that pressure should have been stabilized, 1,400 pounds on one side of the pipe and zero on the other side.
They knew something was wrong. There was a red flag there, and less than two hours later, the whole thing blew.
ROBERTS: So -- so the fact that they knew something was wrong do you -- do you believe that they should have immediately shut down that well, shut down operations?
STUPAK: Well, that's why we were trying to push them yesterday to say, OK, then what happened? We know there was a conversation, but, unfortunately, those people who had that conversation, how those decisions were made, some are no longer with us and -- and it's hard to make that determination, what happened within there.
There was a checklist that they went through. There were some communications, and then whole thing erupted.
There's no doubt there was a red flag. The argument yesterday was, well, I noticed (ph) just sort of a false reading, so -- so we had to get another reading, and we don't know what happened there, and then the whole thing erupted.
ROBERTS: The blowup preventer is supposed to be sort of a -- a fail safe device, that if they do get something like that, that they flip all the switches and it shuts everything down, even cuts through the -- the drill pipe if necessary.
But you found that there were problems with the blowup preventer. What was going on with it?
STUPAK: Well, the blowup preventer, that's -- that's almost -- it's almost comical, but, unfortunately, we have this economic and environmental disaster happening. The blowup preventer should come in and pinch off this pipe, cut it and seal the well.
And there's a couple of things. There's some dead man switch as well. We found the batteries that worked -- I mean, the blowup preventer was only down there since February. Ran three months, the batteries went dead. Therefore, when you lost all power to it, the battery should have kicked in. That didn't work.
A key valve was very loose, I mean, and then happened (ph) in the explosion. It was loose, so therefore, it's leaking fluid. You didn't have the hydraulic, the pressure on the hydraulic system to move those valves that pinch off this pipe. There's a design flaw.
This is a number of areas where this blowup protector, and the rules and regulations say when it's on the seafloor, you're supposed to check it every three days. They checked it, but they didn't run any critical tests, because if they would have, they would have realized that another part of it, another backup system that put these rams in there and cut off this pipe was wired wrong. It was wired wrong before they even put it into the sea.
And it's just like an unfortunate number of errors on this one safety device, the fail-safe system failed us.
ROBERTS: So, you know, then the question arises is whose -- whose fault is it? And -- and the other day, when Interior Secretary Salazar said that he wanted to divide up the Minerals Management service and -- and take the leasing segment away from the Safety segment, it raised a lot of questions of, you know, there's a lot of money in this industry, a huge amount of money -- a ton of money being thrown around on Capitol Hill in terms of lobbying.
Are things just too cozy between BP and the other oil companies and government?
STUPAK: Well, you saw the Mineral Management System about a year or two ago had a big scandal on -- on how there were kickbacks and other favors given to MMS, Mineral Management System, to approve these leases and did not have proper oversight. And, unfortunately, that's what it looks like here.
But, you know -- unfortunately, but we're stuck with this catastrophe. It really is, from an economic point of view and environmental point of view. The Gulf is (ph) a very sensitive area.
ROBERTS: But Congressman -- yes, on that point, is the relationship between the oil industry and government too cozy?
STUPAK: In -- yes, there's no doubt about it. I mean, as chairman, we've been look -- investigating BP for the last three years, everything from the Texas -- Texas City explosion where 15 people were killed, 170 people were injured, to a large oil spill on the North Slope, our most strategic pipeline, and then now here in the Gulf. And these constant problems here at BP, and the regulators are not regulating them.
ROBERTS: So -- so if the relationship is too cozy, then what needs to happen?
STUPAK: Well, I agree with Secretary Salazar. I think you have to break it up. I mean, you have to break it up.
If you go down and you're supposed to look at your blowup preventer every three days and you don't do it, or you don't run testing, where's the enforcement action? Why isn't someone blowing the whistle here saying, look, you're in a very deep, ultra deep well. If something goes wrong, we have major problems, and you're in 40 miles offshore from the Gulf where our seafood industry is -- is located.
Who -- who's watching here? Who's -- who's making sure things are being done properly? They say they did tests, but when you push them on the tests, they can't tell you, cannot articulate what tests were done.
I mean, any kind of test we'd looked at and you see that the thing is wired wrong. All you do is check the batteries. I mean, that's just basic things. Check the batteries, and -- and it didn't work here.
ROBERTS: Unbelievable, when you look at that -- sort of that whole trip line of errors associated with this.
Congressman Bart Stupak, good to talk to you this morning. Thanks for coming in. We really appreciate it.
STUPAK: Thanks, John.
ROBERTS: Christine.
ROMANS: Coming up next on the Most News in the Morning, John, trading in exhaust-spewing buses for clean electric street cars. It seems like a no-brainer, but, in Washington, D.C., nothing is ever easy.
We're going to tell you why some people there are saying, not so fast.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROMANS: OK, so there's gridlock on Capitol Hill, and then there's gridlock on Capitol Hill. If one doesn't drive you crazy, trying to drive in New York -- in D.C. will.
That's why city officials are -- are looking to a new version of an old fix for all that congestion. They're looking to street cars, but not everyone in Washington is on board with this retro idea.
Kate Bolduan has the "A.M. Original" for us this morning.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KATE BOLDUAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Street cars last rattled through Washington nearly 50 years ago. Now, old may be new once again, as history intentionally repeats itself. D.C. is laying the first tracks of a new street car system, eventually completing a 37-mile route.
TOMMY WELLS, WASHINGTON CITY COUNCIL: The street car today is not the street car of your great, great grandparents.
BOLDUAN: D.C. councilmember Tommy Wells is an ardent supporter of the plan. He says the street car will not only alleviate the growing congestion on public transportation in the district but also help spur economic development in some of D.C.'s struggling neighborhoods.
WELLS: Well, street cars really is the next generation of mass transit in that we have a world-class subway system, but it's really for commuters. Even our extensive bus system is to get commuters in, get commuters out. It's really kind of the vestiges of the -- the car era.
And so, street cars connects neighborhoods.
BOLDUAN: How could you argue with that, right?
Well, the $1.5 billion plan isn't winning over everyone. The system will require overhead wires to power the street cars, and in a city known for it's monuments, that's an eyesore to powerful federal preservationists potentially derailing the whole thing. MARCEL ACOSTA, NATIONAL CAPITAL PLANNING COMMISSION: So we're looking at a way to essentially get the best of both worlds. We want a sustainable, modern transportation city (ph) with the street car, but we're also looking at ways of protecting important views, places like the White House.
BOLDUAN (on camera): Why are views important?
ACOSTA: I think they're iconic. They're important to the American people.
GABE KLEIN, DIRECTOR, DISTRICT DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION: I think it says a lot about the city and how far we've come.
BOLDUAN (voice-over): Gabe Klein is the district's transportation boss, and he's pushing ahead with the plans.
KLEIN: The higher and better use for this would be a street car maintenance facility, as it's literally 50 feet from Union Station.
BOLDUAN (on camera): And that's what it'll be?
KLEIN: That's exactly what this will become.
BOLDUAN (voice-over): Klein's now floating (ph) a compromise, a hybrid street car, drawing power from wires in some spots but running on battery in others.
KLEIN: I think you got to balance the need to keep a wide, open vista with the need for transportation options and a clean environment.
BOLDUAN (voice-over): But even that may require overturning more than 100 years of law, a ban on overhead wires in historic sections here. D.C. officials say it comes down to taking what worked in the city's past to move it into the future.
Kate Bolduan, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROBERTS: Do you like the streetcar idea?
ROMANS: I do. I like the streetcar idea.
ROBERTS: I grew up in Toronto where they had streetcars. It was great. It was like a part of the character of the city, very much, you know, the same way in San Francisco.
ROMANS: There's so -- nothing like the smell of a bus at a bus stop.
ROBERTS: Yes. But, you know, problem is, though, with the wires. You've got that beautiful city, all the monuments and things and all the parks in Washington, you want wires running through the city?
ROMANS: America's energy independence might require on giving up some aesthetics.
ROBERTS: You're going to have a fight over that with the environmentalist.
ROMANS: Yes, that's true.
ROBERTS: All right. Half past the hour -- that means it's time for this morning's top stories. Disturbing new pictures of the oil leak in the Gulf up close -- B.P. releasing this video showing crude oil and natural gas bubbling from a broken well pipe. A top hat-like containment dome could be dropped over the pipe sometime tonight, all while the president is asking Congress for $58 million in emergency funds for the cleanup.
ROMANS: President Obama and Afghan leader, Hamid Karzai, downplayed reports of tensions between them during a joint news conference at the White House yesterday. The president said he's confident U.S. troops will start withdrawing from Afghanistan next summer. He also promised that the two nations will have a long-term relationship well after U.S. troops leave.
ROBERTS: And an 8-year-old Dutch boy, the only survivor of a deadly plane crash in Libya, 103 people were killed when the Airbus jet attempted to land after a nine-hour trip from Johannesburg, South Africa. The boy's doctor says he is still in the hospital for tests after having surgery.
ROMANS: It's become a modern day ritual for a Supreme Court nominee, the meeting, greeting, the smiling -- the whole package. Now, it's Elena Kagan's turn.
ROBERTS: Yes, back on Capitol Hill today for another round of courtesy calls. A tsunami of press following her like she's Tiger on the back nine, and dying for her to exercise her First Amendment rights and tell us what she's really thinking. But they're probably not going to get a whole lot.
Dana Bash takes a look at the process like you've never seen it before.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DANA BASH, CNN SENIOR CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Elena Kagan's very first meeting here in the Senate is in friendly territory, right here in the office of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. We're going to follow her.
SEN. HARRY REID (D-NV), MAJORITY LEADER: We're very grateful that you agreed to accept this assignment from the president.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. Thank you very much.
BASH: Why are they so skeptical of you?
Well, we tried to ask a question of Elena Kagan but didn't get very far. She actually didn't say anything in that meeting which is not unusual. That is very much the tradition of these meetings. The ritual is that Supreme Court nominees come, they sit, they smile with senators and don't say a whole lot.
Miss Kagan, how does it feel to be here?
We're now waiting for Elena Kagan's second meeting here in the Capitol and it's a very different audience. It's Republican Leader Mitch McConnell who just moments ago went on the Senate floor right over there and said that he's worried that President Obama nominated Kagan in order to rubber-stamp his policies on the court.
SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL (R-KY), MINORITY LEADER: I know this will be a challenging process to go through -- it always is -- for a lifetime appointment of this consequence.
BASH: Will you reassure the senator you that won't be a rubber-stamp for Obama policies?
Now, behind that door, the real meeting is taking place. What we saw was just a beginning. And she may not have answered our questions, but one-on-one with the senator, without the cameras there, it's a different story.
How are your meetings so far?
ELENA KAGAN, SUPREME COURT NOMINEE: It's been fun.
BASH: Now, she's going to meet with the man who's going to be in charge of her confirmation hearings, the Senate Judiciary chairman, Patrick Leahy.
SEN. PATRICK LEAHY (D-VT), JUDICIARY CHAIRMAN: This is like -- somebody will ask a wild question, that's what they're paid to do, but then --
KAGAN: Just ignore it?
LEAHY: Yes.
BASH: How about this question, are you dying to talk?
REPORTER: Senator Sessions, how important are these meetings today?
SEN. JEFF SESSIONS (R-AL), JUDICIARY COMMITTEE: I think they're important. I think it gives an opportunity to really see the human being behind all the press, the media, the TV hype that's out there. And I look forward to it. I think it is helpful.
BASH: And that's a key point we just heard from the top Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, Jeff Sessions, who is having his meeting with Elena Kagan right now, and that is that these courtesy calls do give senators who will decide her fate an early sense of what questions they will still have later on and, ultimately, whether they can support her.
Dana Bash, CNN, Capitol Hill.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROBERTS: Well, at least she didn't break her ankle before she went up there on Capitol Hill like Sonia Sotomayor.
ROMANS: Yes.
ROBERTS: "Mr. President, I need a freakin job. Period." That's the welcome sign that's greeting President Obama in Buffalo, New York, today -- an area in decline way before the recession hit. We're going to talk to the guy who put the sign up and ask him what the president needs to say and do to make things better.
It's 35 minutes after the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(MUSIC)
ROBERTS: Part of everyday life for millions of Americans, no job. And one man finally decided to do something about it. He created a grassroots organization to give a voice to the 15 million people in this country who are unemployed.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Together, young and old.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We can be heard.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's simple, just say it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I need a freakin job.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey, I need a freakin job.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I need a freakin job.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: There's also a billboard in display in Buffalo with the same message directed to President Obama. And that's where he'll be today, as part of his White House to Main Street tour.
Joining us from Buffalo is the creator of "I need a freakin' job," Jeff Baker.
Jeff, welcome to the program. You and millions of others, quite frankly -- what was the inspiration for spending money on a billboard? You know, I guess some people would say, if you lose $3,000 or $4,000 for a billboard, maybe 5 grand for billboard, you could have started a business.
JEFF BAKER, FOUNDER, WWW.INAFJ.ORG: Yes, I understand that. We just thought it was time with trying to refocus the national dialogue right back to the basic job creation.
ROBERTS: And we should point out, Jeff, that had you a little textile business going, you had it for 10 years, employed 25 people. What was it like when you lost that business?
BAKER: Well, it certainly ends up being catastrophic loss. And we did -- I owned a small textile business called Adirondack Blanket Works with my youngest brother, and, unfortunately, we got -- like many other businesses in the country -- we got caught in the banking collapse and we were basically forced out of business. And so, for the first time in my life, I found myself as an unemployed dad and husband and person.
So, just watching the dialogue meander through a variety of different political issues, we decided to at least make an attempt to redirect the -- you know, the attention of the government.
ROMANS: And, Jeff, you make a really good point, because it's quite clear that we have 9.9 percent unemployment in this country. When you look at the share of adult Americans who aren't working, it's even bigger than that. I mean, it's --
ROBERTS: Yes, a lot of people have gotten out of the job hunt. Right.
ROMANS: A lot of the people have gotten out of the job hunt and they just haven't been, you know, the economy hasn't been working for them. But you're right that the debate and the conversation keep changing. It's almost as if we're getting accustomed to such high unemployment. You say, don't get accustomed, we have to fix it.
BAKER: No. And Americans, to be honest with you, and many people, my friends, my family, Americans are working people. We work. During week, we work hard. We have this sense of accomplishment so that we can enjoy our adult beverage at the Sunday picnic in preparation of doing the -- in preparation of doing the exact same thing the upcoming week.
So, I feel not only has it affected people on a psychological level, but I think it's affected the entire country. And we really identify with the fact that we're this productive nation. And without it, I feel that we're in a bit of an identity crisis. So, it was our intention to really, truly try to redirect the attention back to job creation.
ROBERTS: It always feels better firing up the grill on Friday night, doesn't it, after a long week at work?
You know, on your Web site, let me -- let me read something that you've got on your Web site here, Jeff. You say, quote, "Cynical is what you become after witnessing the destruction of American exceptionalism and realizing that you are a casualty of a handful of greedy animals feeding on the soul of a great nation." That's a pretty grim outlook on the country.
BAKER: It is. That's probably one of the most bold statements on the Web site amongst a number of statements on the Web site. But it was kind of odd for me because, for instance, you know, the banking industry, they basically designed their own demise.
And being a small business person, we saw the catastrophic financial situation coming. And my brother and I literally went to our financial institution and said, listen, we can work together, and here's how we can work through this. We weren't necessarily asking for any additional money, we were looking to maybe consolidate some of our long-term debt.
And, literally, much to our -- much to our surprise, the bank literally refused to even join in an effort to try to save our company. So, that's -- no, no, no, you must misunderstand me, so in other words, we're going to go out of business if we don't work together. They looked at us being, like, well, all right, well, that's where we're going.
Then you come to find out that that very same institution that crushed you and your little brother with one hand took $9 million of TARP money with the other hand. So, if you think about that too long, it makes you quite angry. The banks literally took all the money to make themselves healthy, while they -- while they systematically -- I'm not alone in this -- but then they systematically literally just let their small business customers fend for themselves, force them into bankruptcy.
ROMANS: This anger at the banks is widespread among (INAUDIBLE). There's a new report this morning that shows that the big banks lent -- cut their small business lending by 9 percent in the recession, much more than they cut anything else. So, small businesses were really hurt.
ROBERTS: Well, Jeff, president might not see the billboard when he's there in Buffalo. But they're watching it at the White House this morning. So, they have seen it, no question about it.
BAKER: Thank you.
ROBERTS: All right.
ROMANS: Thanks, Jeff.
ROBERTS: Jeff Baker this morning -- Jeff, thanks so much. Good luck to you, by the way. We hope things work out for you.
Jacqui Jeras --
BAKER: I really appreciate it.
ROBERTS: All right. You bet.
Jacqui Jeras is going to have this morning's travel forecast right after the break.
ROMANS: And in 10 minutes -- one moves out, the other moves in. Just like that. Jeanne Moos takes a look at the quick exchange -- the quick change that went on behind one of the most famous stores in the world.
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ROBERTS: Good morning, New York. Right now, we got 46 degrees and sunny. Later on today, 63 and partly sunny. Music from Jay-Z this morning who together with Eminem on September 13th will be playing the very first concert at the New Yankee Stadium.
ROMANS: Ooh, really?
ROBERTS: Yes.
ROMANS: That's an interesting combo. That's to be cool.
All right. Welcome back. New this morning, going for more than twice its estimated value, a self-portrait of the late pop icon Andy Warhol. Get this, sells for $32 million which has had that whole segment "I need a freaking job." This sounds for $32 millions. The artwork was sold at New York auction where dealer's sales have been up in recent days.
ROBERTS: A pain in the neck could keep Tiger Woods off of the links for awhile. An MRI yesterday detected inflammation in the facet joint at Tiger's neck that's why he withdrew from last week's Players Championship that's been halfway through the final round. Doctors are prescribing neck massages and rests.
ROMANS: South Carolina governor, Mark Sanford, confirming reports he spent last weekend in Florida with his Argentine lover. Sanford admitted he was trying to rekindle the relationship that wrecked his marriage and nearly cost him his office.
ROBERTS: You were bemused by the Tiger Woods' story?
ROMANS: I'm not bemused. I'm just trying not to giggle so early morning. What, are you giggling?
ROBERTS: I'm laughing at you.
ROMANS: Massages and rests, John. Massages and rests.
ROBERTS: That's what the doc said. Let's get a check of this morning's headlines. Jacqui Jeras in the Extreme Weather Center for us. Hey, Jacqui.
ROMANS: Good morning, Jacqui. Take it away, please.
JERAS: That's not (ph) the worst prescription ever, right? A lot of people might want to, you know, hang out, have a more relaxing day because the rain that we've got out there causing a little stress for a lot of you. It's coming down really heavy and that can reduce your visibility, so the drive into work can be real rough for a whole lot of people. Look at all this rain across the upper Midwest stretching down through the plain states and you can see a couple of those yellow boxes with severe thunderstorm watches which means conditions are favorable for some severe weather to develop.
We're watching this line in the Eastern Oklahoma. There is a tornado warning on it and that's for Cherokee and Adair County off of our radar indicating some rotations, but we're mostly expecting damaging winds with some of these storms. Also, look at the heavy downpours here across the Chicago land area. We're going to likely see anywhere between 1 and 3 inches of rainfall. The ground already very saturated. So, look at this whole area under flash flood watches, and those red boxes are the warning.
If you're trying to travel, we got delays already. O'Hare, you've got a ground stop, expecting to see delays today, Detroit, St. Louis, Dallas, Denver, Cincinnati, and San Francisco. Hopefully, everybody stays under an hour. This is our big weather system that's going to be a slow-mover, eventually, makes way to the northeast just in time to bring you a little rain unfortunately for the weekend. Those temperatures staying on the cool side across the Midwest but starting to warm up a little more across the southeast. Feeling a little muggy out there today here in Atlanta, guys.
ROMANS: Thanks, Jacqui.
ROBERTS: This morning's top stories are just a few minutes away, including what did BP know before the fireball in the gulf? New accusations against the company say the oil spill disaster could have been avoided.
ROMANS: And at 15 after, one look at the wreckage and you would say it was impossible. How was an 8-year-old, how did an 8-year-old boy survive this and come out of that plane crush alive?
ROBERTS: And at 48 minutes after the hour, two constants in life, sex sells and Donald Trump will get himself in the news. The sexy Miss USA shoot that has tongs wagging and everyone talkin. Those stories and more coming your way beginning at the top of the hour.
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ROMANS: Welcome back to the Most News in the Morning. We've seen the extraordinary transfer of power in Britain's parliament.
ROBERTS: But as Jeanne Moos found out the shuffle in and out of number 10 Downing Street is even more impressive for its speed.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It was a little like a Motel 6, one guy checks out, another guy checks in an hour and a half later. But these guys are British Prime Ministers, moving into and out of 10 Downing Street. It's nothing like moving into the White House such a slow process, there's time to redecorate.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Senator Obama is measuring the drapes. GEORGE W. BUSH, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: He again measuring the drapes.
MOOS (on-camera): Did you actually measure the drapes?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, I did, on January 2nd.
MOOS (voice-over): She's the interior designer who changed the blue Bush drapes to gold Clinton drapes, but the British Prime Ministers changed so fast, aides were spotted carrying stuff out in garbage bags.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you and goodbye.
MOOS: Gordon Brown headed to Her Majesty the Queen to resign. The clock said 7:30 p.m. By 8:10 on the same clock, David Cameron was visiting the queen to take over.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Prime Minister, could you give us some way, please, sir. Thank you.
MOOS: He then left Buckingham Palace with photogs in hot pursuit on foot.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's known the most powerful British dude in the world if you don't count Madonna.
MOOS: The Browns left 10 Downing Street with their boys in tow. When the Camerons arrived, the new Prime Minister gave his pregnant wife's midriff a pat. In the U.S., we have the whole White House.
MOOS (on-camera): But in Britain, it seems like there's just one big famous door with a big 10 on it and then a body always stationed beside it, not to mention hordes of press hovering across from it.
MAX FOSTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: There's a flat of century (ph). It's not like glamorous inside, pretty small kitchen.
MOOS (voice-over): No wonder Gordon Brown's kid was practically skipping as they left for good, once again, regular citizen.
Prime Minister's Cameron formal rival, now, his coalition partner will work out of number 11 Downing Street
NICK CLEGG, BRITISH DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER: It is a corridor that links no. 10 to 11, but I have no idea where I am. It's a rapid ward (ph) in left.
MOOS: It's sounding more and more like a motel. When David Cameron moved in --
MOOS (on-camera): He probably found one of Gordon Brown's hairs in the bathtub, they moved out so quickly.
FOSTER: It really happens, Jeanne. I'm not really sure. I see most some filming (ph) stuff and that's to sort at least things out. MOOS (voice-over): And just like they say about Motel 6.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We'll leave the light on for you.
MOOS: Same goes for Motel 10 Downing Street.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We'll leave the light on for you.
MOOS: Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROBERTS: It is a rather rapid switch, isn't it?
ROMANS: I wouldn't get too comfortable going and seeing how fast the other guys just went out, you know. That's a little unnerving.
ROBERTS: We'll see how the coalition holds together. Maybe, there'll be another move coming up.
Top stories coming you way right after the break. Stay with us.
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