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American Morning
Tar Balls Washing Up in Key West, Florida; Challenges of Arizona's New Immigration Law; Several States Holding Primary Races Today; Obama to Nominate Former FBI Deputy Director to Head TSA
Aired May 18, 2010 - 07:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JIM ACOSTA, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. It is Tuesday, May 18th. I'm Jim Acosta in for John Roberts today. Good morning.
KIRAN CHETRY, CNN ANCHOR: Good to have you with us this morning.
ACOSTA: Thank you.
CHETRY: And I'm Kiran Chetry. We got a lot of big stories we'll be telling you about in the next 15 minutes.
ACOSTA: That's absolutely right. A Super Tuesday of sorts at least for political junkies and what happens at the polls in today's primary could shape the November mid-term election. We got the best political team on television in place with the races that could shake up Washington.
CHETRY: Also, army helmets worn by thousands of soldiers in Afghanistan have now been recalled. The military says that they failed ballistic tests. The company that made them now under investigation for allegedly taking production short cuts that compromise troop safety. We're going to get reaction from the Pentagon just ahead.
ACOSTA: And an AM Original, a stunning (ph) twist in a soldier story. Our military mom pulled out of basic training when dad has second thoughts at home. Wow.
CHETRY: But first, this could be the most revealing day yet in the campaign for the 2010 midterm elections.
ACOSTA: That's right. As you know, voters are mad, the incumbents are at risk. Today's primaries could turn Washington on its head.
CHETRY: The big race in Pennsylvania right now is the Democratic Senatorial primary. Five-term incumbent Arlen Specter who until last year was a Republican who had to switch so he wouldn't lose the Republican primary. Well, he's now neck in neck with challenger Joe Sestak who at one point was 20 points behind Specter.
ACOSTA: Sestak likes to remind Specter of that.
It could be a tea party takeover in Kentucky's Republican Senate primary. Political newcomer Rand Paul, son of libertarian Ron Paul, is challenging Kentucky secretary of state Trey Grayson.
CHETRY: Also in Arkansas, it's Democratic Senator Blanche Lincoln versus Lieutenant governor Bill Halter who's attacking her for not being liberal enough.
ACOSTA: And this morning we have the best political team on television on the ground in these battle ground states. Our Candy Crowley is live in Philadelphia, and Dana Bash is live in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Candy let's start with you. We'll find out today a true snapshot of just how strong the anti-incumbency fever is among Americans. Is this for real?
CANDY CROWLEY, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Generally it has been pretty good to have spent 30 years in Washington. It means you know how it works and gathered seniority and can get some things through to your state.
It has not been true so far this year. We have seen longtime Republican Robert Bennett being thrown out before the primaries get started in Utah. Will that happen to Arlen Specter here in Pennsylvania? There's a good chance, I will say that.
Right now the polls show that he is dead even with his opponent Joe Sestak. Sestak has run a brutal ad about the party switch, about Arlen Specter moving from Republican to Democrat just a year ago. It shows President Bush endorsing Specter then President Obama endorsing Specter. It has really closed the gap for Sestak as we move into the final day.
Now, obviously, Arlen Specter has heavy duty support. That may help him. The weather here is terrible. It's pretty bad across the state. And generally when the weather is bad, that brings out the passionate.
And in this case that's sort of the liberal part of the Democratic Party, the people that always go to the polls. Liberals are not all that crazy about Washington, first because it's the year of the anti-incumbent, but second because they are a little disappointed in some of the things president Obama has not done and disappointed in Congress for not just jamming things through and ignoring Republicans.
And those tend to be Sestak people. So a lot of heavy winds against Arlen Specter at this point, Jim.
ACOSTA: And Candy, that ad you mentioned has been brutal. A lot of people say this campaign may come down to that Ad.
At the same time, Arlen Specter has been endorsed by the big unions and has Governor Ed Rendell behind him and the president. We do know the president is flying over Pennsylvania to go to Ohio for a stimulus event out there.
But what does that say about what's happening in Pennsylvania, the fact that Specter has all of this establishment support yet may lose?
CROWLEY: One thing I will say that works in his favor is that union support. Unions are pretty good, although their power has diminished over the years a bit. They are pretty good at getting out the vote. So that may be helpful.
But as for the flyover by President Obama, certainly the Specter campaign wanted him to come in here. Remember we've had some gubernatorial races where the president has swept in at the last minute to save the Democratic candidate and it didn't work.
So the White House doesn't want the president looking weak at this point. They are looking at the same polls we are and they chose not to have the president come here to campaign for Specter. Whether that would have helped is still an open question, but nonetheless the White House didn't want to do that and that tells you a lot about how they're looking at this race.
ACOSTA: You can ask Martha Coakley about that.
Candy Crowley, live in Philadelphia watching this important primary day. Candy, thank you.
CHETRY: The president held a conference call with some of the leaders of African-American churches in Pennsylvania, but not choosing to actually go there and stump for Arlen Specter.
ACOSTA: He has support behind him, but the question is the degree of that support.
CHETRY: Exactly. And there's a big test of voter anger unfolding in Arkansas this morning where Democratic Senator Blanche Lincoln is trying to fend off the state's Democratic lieutenant governor Bill Halter. Our Dana Bash is live in Little Rock, Arkansas.
And it's interesting that Lincoln is fighting anti-incumbent sent being hit by the vote in terms of the health care debate, a lot of people saying she flip-flopped on the public option.
DANA BASH, CNN SENIOR CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Those are some of the issues hitting her in her immediate challenges, which is today's primary. We're at the church where she's going to come vote this morning in Little Rock.
It's very interesting to watch Blanche Lincoln, unlike Arlen Specter who has been there for 30 years in the Senate, Blanche Lincoln has been there for two terms, nearly 12 years, which doesn't seem like much if you look at Arlen Specter, but it certainly is a whole lot of time if you talk to voters in Arkansas who very much represent what we're seeing across the country, and that is that anger.
What Lincoln has been doing on the stump is trying to counter that by saying you need me in the Senate because I'm doing things for you. She's trying to break through the kind of general anger with specifics about her record, talking about the fact that she's chairwoman of the agriculture committee, only put in that position a few months ago, and she talks about the things that she's done for Arkansas's farmers and children and the things she tells voters they need her to do in the future. That's why they shouldn't vote her out.
But she also Kiran tries to make a connection to the anger, insisting that she's in Washington but she's still using her force there to fight the big institutions, namely Wall Street. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. BLANCHE LINCOLN, (D) ARKANSAS: I just tell people to look at my record. I've actually been fighting the problem, again, as a moderate Democrat and somebody coming up with pragmatic solutions.
Why else do you think the Wall Street banks are after me? It's because I'm putting good answers out there on what we do with our financial system and putting our economy back on track and making sure banks should be banks. If you're going to deal in risky business, you do it somewhere else.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BASH: Now, the challenge for Senator Lincoln if she prevails in today's primary or if she doesn't she might have a runoff in early June, and then of course a much bigger problem for her if you look at the polls come November if she wins against the Republican challenger is that voters, at least some of them we've talked to, they don't want to hear the specifics.
They say they don't really dislike Blanche Lincoln, it's just that she is a senator and that is the way, to vote against her, that they can mark off and express their anger at Washington.
CHETRY: That's interesting. She is really squeezed in the middle -- national liberals and labor coming after her as well. It's interesting one of big hits against her is she flip-flopped on the public option, but health care government passed. Wouldn't she be in a way worse situation if the Democrats were not able to bring that across the finish line?
BASH: It certainly could be that way because of the fact that, you said it, she was somebody who was very prominent in being opposed at the end of the day to a public option. That is part of what has drawn a lot of liberal groups here to Arkansas from the outside to try to defeat her.
That's one reason, and also big labor, labor in Pennsylvania helping Arlen Specter. They have come here in full force spending millions to defeat Blanche Lincoln because she has gone against them on some of their key priorities.
But in terms of her challenger, Bill Halter, a lieutenant governor here, he is not necessarily campaigning on a liberal agenda because it wouldn't necessarily work that well in a conservative state like Arkansas. He has a classic 2010 play. He is running against her as an outsider. Listen to him.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BASH: Describe the sentiment that you think it telling in your candidacy against Blanche Lincoln?
LT. GOV. BILL HALTER, (D) ARKANSAS: There's a number of things. I think you can summarize it pretty simply. People want change. They know if you send the same people back to Washington, you're guaranteed to get the same results.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BASH: By the way, Kiran, does that sound familiar? Does that sound like Barack Obama circa 2008? It's pretty remarkable that it is that kind of message that is still resonating definitely here in Arkansas and across the country, because people are still fed up with Washington. We'll see what happens in the primary for Blanche Lincoln tonight.
CHETRY: If they try to ride the anti-incumbent wave, it's worked so far in the elections since a lot of the anger out there at the crash of Wall Street. Dana Bash, thanks so much.
ACOSTA: And Kiran, this could be the biggest political story of the day. Coming out of nowhere, also this morning, Connecticut attorney general and Senate candidate Richard Blumenthal is defending himself about allegations he lied about serving in Vietnam.
Blumenthal says he made it clear he was never sent overseas. But a "New York Times" report includes this quote from a veterans' event in 2008, "We have learned something important since the days I served in Vietnam," he said, "and you exemplify it. Whatever we think about the war, whether we call it Afghanistan or Iraq, we owe our military men and women unconditional support," end quote.
CHETRY: Yes, and Blumenthal's campaign calls the "Times" story, quote, "an outrageous distortion of his record. A spokesperson says that Blumenthal voluntarily joined the Marine Corps reserves and served six months in Paris Island and six years in the reserves.
ACOSTA: The "Times" claims Blumenthal obtained at least five military deferments between 1965 and 1970, steps that enabled him to avoid going to Vietnam. It says he enlisted in the Marine reserve and landed a coveted spot in a unit in Washington.
And Blumenthal will hold a news conference today with Connecticut veterans at his side. It should be very interesting to watch.
CHETRY: Still a recall involving thousands of army helmets warn by our troops in Afghanistan and Iraq. The military says they failed a critical safety test and now there are questions about the company that made these helmets. Did they cut corners and compromise the safety of our troops?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHETRY: Welcome back to the Most News in the Morning. It's 13 minutes past the hour right now.
It's a troubling recall to tell you about involving thousands of combat helmets worn by our troops fighting overseas of. The Army is now saying they are defective and the company that made them under investigation accused of cutting corners and compromising the safety of our soldiers.
Chris Lawrence is live at the Pentagon this morning. The first order of business is, I guess, just trying to locate these helmets, right?
CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Yes, the search is on, Kiran. And we're talking 44,000 helmets. And it's not just soldiers. These were handed out to Navy and Air Force troops headed to the combat zone.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LAWRENCE: The search is on for tens of thousands of potentially defective combat helmets. But there's no clear idea which American troops are wearing them.
BRIG. GEN. PETER FULLER, U.S. ARMY: Of the 44,000, we don't know where they are. So they could be on some soldier's head in either Iraq or Afghanistan. They could also be anywhere else in the world.
LAWRENCE: The army ordered a recall of about 100,000 helmets made by Armor Source. About half were already in storage, no danger there. But the others got shipped out to troops. So the Army is ordering soldiers to check their helmets and look for the Armor Source label inside.
FULLER: Just pull back the cover of your helmet to identify where the tag is.
LAWRENCE: The army is not saying a bullet would punch through these helmets, but they might not protect troops from a worst case scenario of multiple gunshots from a specific angle.
The army issued a warning alleging Armor Source helmets were produced using unauthorized manufacturing practices, defective materials, and improper quality procedures, which could potentially reduce ballistic and fragmentation protection.
LAWRENCE DICKSON, CEO, ARMOR SOURCE: I believe that statement to be totally and wholly inaccurate.
LAWRENCE: I spoke with the Armor Source CEO and Larry Dickson was shocked by the recall.
DICKSON: We made a life's career out of making products that protect the soldiers. That's what I've done for 30 years. There's no product here that went out the door that hadn't been 100 percent tested and accepted by the government.
LAWRENCE: Even the Army admits that's true. They did test these helmets before handing them to soldiers.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And it was not evident during that time.
LAWRENCE: But then the Army learned the Justice Department was investigating Armor Source. That set off alarms. So they went back and retested those helmets and this time the Army says they did not meet the ballistic standard.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LAWRENCE: Now the Army uses several companies to make helmets and say they are pushing extras out in the field. In fact, in Afghanistan some troops have already started to turn in their helmets in exchange for one that's not on the recall list-Kiran.
CHETRY: Will any of this result in a backlog in terms of not getting equipment out that the troops need?
LAWRENCE: They say that they already stock pile extra helmets in theater and that as soon as this went out last week they started the process of trying to get more helmets over there.
CHETRY: It's the last thing that they need to be dealing with, with all of dangers out there. It's unbelievable. Chris Lawrence for us this morning, thank you.
ACOSTA: Here's a good question. Should you clear out your medicine cabinet at this point? Children's Tylenol and 40 other children's medications that may be dangerous. Now the FDA is digging deeper. Christine Romans is here with a preview.
I mean, this is just the one thing we got to get right.
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Mommys and daddy, grandmas and grandpas, all-pediatricians, teachers, school nurses all over the country are just furious about this because these products are really the gold standard for how you treat a fever, or something going wrong with your kid. It's something that people have reached to and now the FDA, as first reported by CNN Money, the FDA probing deeper. Johnson & Johnson unit that has been the recall of all of these medications, probing deeper to see do they need to be worried elsewhere? We are going to have that story for you right after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHETRY: We're fired up today because all of us have little kids, and all of us need to reach for the Tylenol, Motrin, whatever it is.
ACOSTA: Who gets a knuckle sandwich? That's what I want to say right now.
CHETRY: If your kid is sick, and now there are concerns about the quality of these products?
ROMANS: If you went to a pharmacy to try and get something for your kids.
CHETRY: They're cleared off the shelves!
ROMANS: There are empty shelves where these products-
ACOSTA: Forget about it.
ROMANS: -where these products used to be. I cleared out my own medicine cabinets yesterday and found five. I was surprised I had five. Five different products that have been recalled from Johnson & Johnson.
Now, the story first broke April 30th; 50 different liquid children's medications products pulled off the shelves. Now it's advancing here. And here's how, CNN MONEY broke this yesterday, that actually the FDA has now widened its Tylenol probe. It is zeroing in on the McNeil Unit that makes these products and looking at other factories and other products to see if they are manufacturing-
CHETRY: What's wrong with the actual products?
ROMANS: Here's what's wrong.
CHETRY: Does the child get very ill by taking it, or is it just contaminated?
ROMANS: The FDA says that they don't think that there have been big contaminations or illnesses of children. But that these products have not been manufactured properly. In some cases they have too much of active ingredient, so they are too strong. Other cases they found pieces, little flakes of metal, and cloudy product - right!
ACOSTA: Really?
ROMANS: In children's medication.
ACOSTA: Flakes of metal?
ROMANS: Little flakey things. You can go to FDA.gov and you can read all about everything you ever wanted to know about the products. You can also go to Johnson & Johnson's website to find out how to get your money back for these products, which I have done and I have not heard anything back from the company.
(CROSSTALK)
ACOSTA: What are we going to do without Children's Tylenol?
ROMANS: My producer did this two weeks ago and she hasn't heard anything back, by the way, from the company.
CHETRY: By the way, I have two quick questions, just practically speaking. One, are the over the counter -- some of the other brands, are they OK as well? The generic versions?
ROMANS: Pharmacists are pushing those. If they are on the shelves, pharmacists say they have determined those are the safe alternatives to have. So, you will find - like yesterday I was at the pharmacy and found they did have a generic version, the generic pharmacy version of these. And the pharmacist told me, that yes, they knew they were not made at the McNeil Unit.
ACOSTA: But sometimes you can't find those. Folks have been buying those up like crazy.
(CROSS TALK)
ROMANS: They've been bought out.
(CROSS TALK)
CHETRY: Because it's allergy season as well, my daughter has to take Zyrtec, or a version of that all the time. They have a tablet ones, the melting, the rapid melts, and they also have that now for kids. Are those OK?
ROMANS: These are all liquid medications that are the problems here.
CHETRY: So, tablets are OK?
ACOSTA: I've heard, yes.
ROMANS: Look, this story has been going on. People are obsessed with this story and here's why, because these are such common place medications. Also, Johnson & Johnson, Tylenol, Children's Motrin, these are brand names that people trust.
ACOSTA: Right.
ROMANS: I just wanted to point out that this has been a tough year for some brand names that are pretty big brand names.
ACOSTA: Good point.
ROMANS: I mean, the crisis PR execs must be very busy. You've got Toyota, BP, Massey Energy, Goldman Sachs, Johnson & Johnson, one hit after another for some of these big names.
ACOSTA: Ouch.
ROMANS: Uh-huh.
ACOSTA: It doesn't look good when you lay it out like that.
ROMANS: No, it doesn't.
ACOSTA: Yes, all right Christine. Thanks a lot. Appreciate it.
ROMANS: All right.
ACOSTA: Is the third time the charm after losing two nominees? President Obama looks to the FBI to find his pick for the nation's transportation security boss. We'll introduce you to the man now in line for the job. And he's got the perfect name for it by the way. It's 7:23, 23 minutes after the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ACOSTA: Welcome back. It's 7:26. Top stories a few minutes away, but first an A.M. original. Something you will only see right here on AMERICAN MORNING. From motherhood to the military. We've been following the story of Latricia Rose.
CHETRY: Yes, she's a young mom. She's from Columbus, Ohio. She decided it would be best for her family if she signed up for the Army. Headed to basic training. But she could barely lace up her boots before things took a very odd twist. Jason Carroll is here with a stunning soldier's story this morning.
We've grown very close to this family. We have watched her have to say good-bye to her two-year-old. To explain to her two-year-old why she was leaving and now yet another twist.
JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: She's a hard worker. You want to see things work out for this family. But you know, it's a rocky road for them.
Latricia Rose had a goal, join the Army, train to become a part of military police and build a future for her family. Her husband, Brandon, agreed to being a stay-at-home dad, to take care of their daughter.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Get up, privates. Get up and get your clothes on, privates. Let's go!
CARROLL (voice over): Latricia Rose is waking up to a whole new way of life.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You need to fix that mess.
CARROLL: In the hours since joining the Army, the 20-year-old left her husband and two-year-old daughter back home in Georgia.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: State your full name.
CARROLL: She was officially sworn in.
LATRICIA ROSE, NEW ARMY RECRUIT: So help me God.
CARROLL: And was given last words of advice.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Most of you guys will find it challenging but challenges are good. They show you who you are deep down inside.
CARROLL: Adjust to Army life.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Tuck your shirt in.
CARROLL: Happen overnight.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Tight, neat buns.
CARROLL: For Latricia, that means hair goes up in an Army regulation bun, no hair touching shoulders, dressing and making the bunk and filling her canteen, all in under 15 minutes.
ROSE: I was expecting the yelling and the discipline, but I was just hoping, hoping otherwise.
CARROLL: The separation from her husband Brandon and daughter Ayana (ph), now a reality.
ROSE: I thought I was going to cry but I didn't so I stay strong because I know she's taken care of. I know they are going to be fine. They are strong. He can take care of her so I don't think I have much to worry about.
CARROLL: Turns out Latricia had a lot to worry about. Just two days after this interview, she learned her husband was already folding under the pressure. Taking Ayana to Latricia's mother for help. Unable to speak to us in person, Latricia called us.
ROSE (on the phone): My husband is kind of like wanting me to come home and get it together.
CARROLL: Isn't there any way that Brandon can take care of this without you?
ROSE: Yes and no. I think he's just like-me and my mom talked about it, I think Brandon is just more overwhelmed.
YARONDA NEEL, MOTHER: Come sit up here so you can eat.
CARROLL: Latricia's mother says she's only a temporary solution and growing impatient.
(On camera): Does part of you say, darn it, Brandon, just suck it up and just do it?
NEEL: The first day I think I did, and after keeping her Ayana, and just seeing because I have my other kids, but it's been a while since I had a two-year-old. It requires a lot.
CARROLL: A big problem that isn't isolated to just at home. No permanent child care means Latricia is no longer qualified to be in the Army. Recruits who are parents must prove someone can be at home to take care of their children.
CAPT. LAURIE NIELSEN, CO. COMMANDER, U.S. ARMY: When we bring soldiers into the military, we put a lot of pressure and responsibility on their shoulders in order to know when we go forward deployed or rely on them for a job that they don't have concerns in the back of their head, keeping them from focusing on their work.
CARROLL: The Army has already begun the process of discharging Latricia, unless she finds a permanent solution soon, her dream to serve her country may just fall apart.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CARROLL: Well, this is something the Army takes very seriously. Don't want a new recruit coming, especially during a time of war, and not being able to focus on the training because of child care issues. Clearly this is a major set back for Latricia and Brandon. We'll see how they work it out.
ACOSTA: Wow.
CHETRY: I mean, can you tell us just a little bit about what he was nervous about when you were talking back and forth in the car? Just the fact that he's there with the baby?
CARROLL: Well, it's a long story. I mean, he basically at one point, Ayana (ph) got sick and he simply became overwhelmed with taking care of her when she was sick. The length of time that Latricia was going to be away, I think that reality started to set in with him and he panicked.
CHETRY: It's hard. It's hard. But we certainly will be following their story. And tomorrow we're going to find out more about from Jason about whether the trouble back home actually derails Latricia's dream of becoming a soldier. Stay tuned tomorrow, "A Soldier's Story," only on AMERICAN MORNING.
Thanks, Jason.
Meanwhile, it's half past the hour. It's time for a look at this morning's top stories.
Several states are holding critical primary races today. And the results could be a preview of what we see in November. One of the biggest contests is in Pennsylvania where polls show it's still too close to call between five-term Senator Arlen Specter and his challenger for the Democratic primary Joe Sestak.
ACOSTA: Detroit's Police Department under fire after the death of a seven-year-old girl. The family's attorney says a camera crew was filming Sunday's raid for a TV show. He says the video shows the officers did not intentionally shoot the girl during the incident but that their operation was flawed.
CHETRY: President Obama is hoping that the third time is a charm. He plans to nominate FBI deputy director John Pistole to take over the top Transportation Security Administration. The top TSA job has been opened since the president took office in January of last year. Two previous nominees had to withdraw because of potential confirmation problems. Pistole has been in the number two at the FBI since October of 2004.
ACOSTA: Speaking of the president, he has promised to resolve a historic grievance and help black farmers and get their money that they've been owed for years of government discrimination.
CHETRY: Yes. But the farmers are concerned that the White House is not pushing Congress hard enough. And they say that the reason may be race. Ed Henry is following the story and he's live at the White House this morning. Tell us a little bit about the back story of the situation with these African-American farmers.
ED HENRY, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Kiran. It's quite interesting. It's a pretty heavy charge from the representatives for the black farmers. They think the president is just not taking this issue on in a very public way. Perhaps because it's seen by some as an issue only affecting African-American farmers.
Now White House aides adamantly denied that the president still has not been able to get a Democratic Congress to pay up the money the black farmers are owed. And so this historic injustice continues.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm a fourth generation farmer. And that's what I've ever really done and my life is farm.
HENRY (voice-over): Out on the Virginia countryside John Boyd Jr. prepares to roll hay, plant soy beans and then wait for the harvest.
But for more than a decade, he's been waiting for a lot more. Justice.
JOHN BOYD, JR., PRES. NAT'L BLACK FARMERS ASSOCIATION: This is about the government not doing what they promised that they were going to do time and time again. And this time I'm out here saying I'm holding you accountable.
HENRY: The problem is 200 miles away in Washington where President Obama has promised to help black farmers who for years were denied government loans because of the color of their skin. Back in February, the Obama administration brokered a $1.25 billion settlement, giving compensation to up to about $50,000 per farmer.
But Congress missed a March 31st to fund the settlement. So now John Boyd is wearing his other hat, chief lobbyist for the National Black Farmers Association.
BOYD: It's like we want our damn money. We want our money now.
HENRY: Boyd is particularly upset the president has not pushed Congress to meet the new May 31st deadline and the lobbyist is blunt about saying the issue of race is complicating the White House response.
(on camera): Do you think the president is shying away in part because it is an issue dealing with race?
BOYD: I do think that the administration doesn't take it head on because it's solely a black issue. The black farmers don't have their money and the person they grieve to is the president, a black president that has been supportive in the past. So I'm caught in a very, very tough position which I have shared with senior level staff right over here.
HENRY (voice-over): White House officials insist race is not a factor and say they are eager to get the money.
ROBERT GIBBS, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: The President's approach to this is not based on the color of skin but because of what is right.
HENRY: But these farmers say they can't wait much longer.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
HENRY: People like John Moses Connor are literally dying off. The Virginia farmer recently passed away at the age of 86, without ever getting the money the government owed him.
BOYD: It really hurts to be here and you know, have to deliver a message that Mr. Bonner's going home services that Congress failed to act.
HENRY: As he farm with his own father, John Boyd Jr. says all of the funerals inspire him to keep up the fight.
BOYD: We didn't survive because we were bad farmers. We survived because we were good farmers. My grandfather used to say the land don't know no color. The land never mistreated anybody. He said people do.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HENRY: Now, if you take a step back from all of these, it's also a dramatic example of the tough budget choices that lawmakers on Capitol Hill are facing right now. A few years ago when the economy was humming along, if this kind of a historic settlement had come up, it would be pretty easy back then to come up with $1.25 billion. It's really a drop in the bucket. If you look at the broader federal budget. But right now, with so many things being cut, every single billion dollars is being scrutinized very closely. And for them to come up with this money, they have to come up and cut something else for a budget offset. So far they haven't been able to find anything to do that, Kiran and Jim.
ACOSTA: Wow, an important story. Thanks, Ed. Appreciate it.
HENRY: Thank you.
ACOSTA: Something else that Ed will be following down in Washington, it's primary day and an anti-incumbent wave has some Republicans and Democrats fighting for their political life. In a moment we will break down what these hard-fought races might tell us about the November midterms.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(MUSIC PLAYING)
ACOSTA: A live look at Washington this morning, which is definitely paying attention to what's happening across the country today. Welcome back to the most news in the morning.
Washington is watching as voters go to the polls today. And while the primaries are in just a handful of states, the ripple effect could be felt nationwide. Voters are mad. We know that and that could mean open season on incumbents.
I'm joined now by senior political analyst for CNN and Republican strategist Ed Rollins and with us from Washington, Democratic strategist Kiki McLean. Good morning to you, Kiki and Ed, I want to start with you first. The ad that has really just rocked this race down in Pennsylvania between Arlen Specter and Joe Sestak. Let's talk about that for a few moment. But first, let's watch this ad because people are saying, you know, this could knock Specter out of this primary.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. ARLEN SPECTER (D), PENNSYLVANIA: My change in party will enable me to be re-elected.
ANNOUNCER: For 45 years Arlen Specter has been a Republican politician.
GEORGE W. BUSH, FMR. U.S. PRESIDENT: Arlen Specter is the right man for the United States Senate. I can count on this man.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ACOSTA: Arlen Specter is 80 years old, up until he was 78 or 79 he was a Republican. Joe Sestak is making note of that throughout this campaign. And that ad is just devastating. I mean, you're a lifelong political strategist. What's your take on the ad? It's effect over this race.
ED ROLLINS, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: It's devastating. It's put the admiral back in this race. It has reminded people what an opportunist Specter has been. Specter would have not shifted if he thought he could have won a Republican primary. But he has always been an opportunist. He was our burden for many, many years and he's now the Democrat's burden and after today he may not be anybody's burden.
ACOSTA: And Kiki, down in Washington, I mean, what is your take on this to see two Democrats going at it this way? You know, this is not good news for Arlen Specter to have this ad not only playing in Pennsylvania but across the country as, you know, we have to play, obviously, it's an issue. It's a legitimate news issue. But it's not good for Arlen Specter.
KIKI MCLEAN, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: There are two things as a campaign manager that I don't want the night before a primary fight. And one is that ad and the second is 16 percent undecided going into the election day. Now look, I'm all in favor of if somebody wants to be a Democrat, I have a tent that's welcome, come on in. We want you in here.
But the fact of the matter is Arlen Specter has not had a bed of political support for him anywhere in the state. He was at risk last time he won. It took a lot of muscle to get him across the line. He had a serious primary challenge as a Republican. So it's not shock here that Admiral Sestak has done what he's done and has made the case that he's made and he's actually developed a base of political support. So -
ACOSTA: Arlen Specter likes to point out that if it weren't for Arlen Specter, you might not have had the stimulus passed and you might not have had health care reform passed. So Arlen Specter seems to be saying to democrats, "hey, you owe me one."
MCLEAN: Well, he may say you owe me one, but they say you haven't done enough yet. And the reality is I think that voters in Pennsylvania will look up and say, and if we have the admiral, chances are we'll have that kind of vote in the future. We won't know until polls close today. And so I think Ed and I will both agree that we're not going to predict what happens because voters get to say that today.
But the key element here when you look at all of these races about incumbents, and the anti-incumbent fever, what is the common thread about them? Each of them are very different cases. What is it that as an incumbent - is a member of Congress, an outsider? A member of the House ousting a Senate member. Each of these case is very different this year.
ACOSTA: And as an anti-establishment wave running through Kentucky as well, Ed. Let's talk about that race between Trey Grayson, who is the secretary of state there and the favorite of Mitch McConnell, the minority leader in the Senate, and Rand Paul, son of Congressman Ron Paul, had the backing of Sarah Palin and the tea party movement. I guess, the question is do tea party activists show up and vote? I guess we'll find out today.
ROLLINS: Sure, they do. They are everywhere, I think they are exactly what you say. They are activists. They are very committed. Getting voters out on primary day is very, very difficult. They will turn out. They have a candidate they like and admire and they're going to be out there. Mitch McConnell obviously is a man who leads our party in Washington but that doesn't translate into votes back in Kentucky.
ACOSTA: And Kiki, are you licking your chops thinking that Rand Paul is going to win this primary because some are saying he's going to be a tougher candidate in the general election?
MCLEAN: Well, I think he'll be tougher in the general election but here's what's interesting about primaries. And Ed puts his finger on it. In a primary in a non-presidential year, turnout is so hard to move. That what's almost more important in this point is the field game. These are the kinds of elections where running an operation on the ground and making sure your voters turn out can have a real impact because the numbers are so low, just the right move in the field operation could make the difference.
What does that translate to if Rand Paul is able to pull that off in the primary? What does that translate to in general? Kentucky is going to be a hard place for Democrats but there's a history there and we can fight for it.
ACOSTA: And does that mean the tea party is in charge of the Republican Party or is that reading too much into -
(CROSSTALK)
ROLLINS: That's reading too much into it. They're a factor. Obviously, it's going to take a lot of Republicans to turn out to elect a Republican in Kentucky and in Pennsylvania and elsewhere. And they will, I think they will in the fall.
ACOSTA: Quickly, in Arkansas -
MCLEAN: You have to say that the tea party movement right now is providing the intensity, if not the leadership for the Republican Party.
ROLLINS: And labor is on the Democrat's side.
ACOSTA: Speaking of labor let's talk about Arkansas because Blanche Lincoln is having fits dealing with the unions down in Arkansas. The National Unions in Washington, they would rather see Bill Halter, who is lieutenant governor there to win the primary.
ROLLINS: The amazing thing - here's a woman who is chairman of the Ag committee in a very significant agriculture state, and normally would never be in a serious challenge. She's not only in a serious challenge by the lieutenant governor. She's probably one of the most vulnerable incumbents. And so I think she is the poster child for what people don't like about Washington.
MCLEAN: Well -
ACOSTA: And very quickly - go ahead. I want to ask one other quick question, if I can sneak it in.
MCLEAN: Yes. I just want to point out that this is a great example of is Bill Halter really an outsider that unseats an incumbent or does Blanche Lincoln really have enough support in this state in the years in other positions she's taken? And I think - I think she'll probably pull that out today.
ACOSTA: And that (INAUDIBLE) Richard Blumenthal in Connecticut? Yes or no?
ROLLINS: I think he is. I think the veterans are going to be appalled. Anybody who misrepresents their record in Vietnam is - it's kind of a definite no.
ACOSTA: Ed Rollins, Kiki McLean in Washington, thanks so much for joining us. Appreciate it.
MCLEAN: Thanks.
ACOSTA: Over to you, Kiran.
CHETRY: All right. Well, it's 45 minutes past the hour. We're going to get a quick check on the morning's travel forecast. We'll check in with Jacqui Jeras after a quick break. We'll be right back.
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ACOSTA: Oh, to be in Miami right now.
CHETRY: That's right. That would be a vacation, 76 degrees. A little bit later, 87 with a chance of storms. I - I know you -
ACOSTA: I want to talk about your vacation, but I'm not going to bring it up.
CHETRY: I was not here, but I wouldn't necessarily characterize it as a vacation.
ACOSTA: You weren't singing The Go-Go's on your vacation?
CHETRY: No, I was not. I mean, we were doing, you know, family stuff, but it was fun, until - until a small flu bug got in the way.
ACOSTA: That can be a problem.
CHETRY: Yes. A big one.
ACOSTA: Yes. Well -
CHETRY: Especially traveling (INAUDIBLE) with two toddlers and a stomach bug.
ACOSTA: And speaking of the New Jersey turnpike, Jacqui Jeras has got the weather for us this morning. It doesn't look good in the northeast this morning.
JACQUI JERAS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Oh, not at all. You know, a gorgeous shot of Miami, but they will see some rain later on today. In fact, much the eastern seaboard has a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Not too strong, but we'll be focusing in on the Southern Plain States and the Western High Plains for that threat of severe weather this afternoon and evening, and we do think things will really kick up tomorrow across the Plains. A moderate risk already issued for parts of Texas Oklahoma for tomorrow afternoon, so we could be seeing quite a bit of an event there tomorrow.
In the meantime, today we are dealing with some isolated severe weather across southern parts of Texas. There's a thunderstorm watch that's issued here. You can see that real nasty squall line moving on through and some wind damage will be the primary concern. Not severe in the northeast, but a real pain in the you-know-what because you certainly need the umbrella today and it's going to be wet on - wet on the roadways, and of course that always makes traffic move a little bit slower, unfortunately.
Heaviest on the coast at this hour, where we could see, oh, maybe a good half an inch or so across - there you see New Jersey, as you mentioned, along Long Island. That's going to be spreading up into Boston as we head into the mid to late morning hours.
If you're trying to travel today, knock on wood, no airport delays just yet. But we could be reaching over an hour for New York City metros, as well as Philadelphia. Delays expected in D.C., Miami and Ft. Lauderdale due to those thunderstorms we were talking about. Dallas, we think you'll be OK with the storms, but surrounding you could make some - for some complications, and then into San Francisco, 30 to 60-minute delays can be expected there.
Temperature wise, we're still staying on the cool side, especially across the northern tier of the country. You're kind of warm and sticky across the south. But look at that, 63 today in Chicago, 75 in Boston, and D.C. only 63 degrees. So a bit on the chilly side to go along with that rain today. You're going to need (ph) a sweater this morning - Jim and Kiran.
ACOSTA: We'll take it.
CHETRY: All right, but we'll be complaining in July that it's too hot. So, for now, we'll zip it. Thanks, Jacqui.
JERAS: All right.
CHETRY: Well, he said he got a 1600 on his SATs, that he studied at MIT. All of it turned out to be a lie. The former Harvard undergrad will be arraigned this morning on charges that he conned his way into the Ivy League school.
That's right. Authorities say that 23-year-old Adam Wheeler faked his prestigious academic record.
ACOSTA: And now his picture's on CNN.
He - he was exposed after seeking Harvard's endorsement for Rhodes and Fulbright scholarships last year. He's charged with 20 criminal counts, including identity theft and larceny and for allegedly stealing $45,000 in grants and financial aid.
It sounds like Harvard is serious about this.
CHETRY: Oh, yes. There you go.
Well, this morning's top stories are just a couple of minutes away, including it is Super Tuesday of sorts.
ACOSTA: Is it?
CHETRY: 2010. It's - it's one of the Super Tuesday.
ACOSTA: We just want political news that badly.
CHETRY: Well, you know what? There were some exciting races we're following and a lot of leaders who are once enjoying comfy Senate seats doing a little bit of sweating today.
ACOSTA: Yes.
CHETRY: So we're going to go through all the key races and the places where it can be out with the old and in with the new.
ACOSTA: And we wouldn't mention any names with that there. After - at 35 after, unemployed and homeless and living off frequent flyer miles. The former CEO who survived on rewards points - yes, rewards points, will tell us how he got back on his feet.
CHETRY: And at 15 minutes after the hour, going green instead of blue. The veggie that's being called nature's Viagra?
Those stories and much more at the top of the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHETRY: Fifty-five minutes past the hour right now.
And new this morning, a - a discovery that has many people upset in Key West. Tar balls washing up on beaches in Florida's Key West, 20 of them, some of them the size of softballs.
They were found last night by the Florida Park Service. They are now being tested to confirm whether or not they came from the BP spill off the Louisiana coast.
ACOSTA: Are they watching those beaches or what?
The biggest challenge at Arizona's strict new immigration law, a coalition of civil rights groups, including the ACLU, the NAACP and the Mexican-American Legal Defense and Education Fund, all filing a lawsuit against it. They claim the law requires police to racially profile and that the state should not be dealing with a federal matter.
CHETRY: Laura Silsby is on her way home. You may remember her. She was the last of 10 American missionaries jailed for trying to take 33 children out of Haiti in the wake of the earthquake.
Silsby was released yesterday after a Haitian judge found her guilty but sentenced her to time already served, and there is a big homecoming planned in Boise, Idaho.
ACOSTA: And coming to a town near you, teenage mom Bristol Palin is hitting the lecture circuit and reportedly command as much as $30,000 for each appearance. The message to her fellow teens will include abstinence and the challenges of life as a young, single mother. CHETRY: There you go.
We're going to take a quick break. Your top stories coming your way in just a moment.
It's 57 minutes past the hour.
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