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American Morning
General Sorry over Article; Obama's Budget Chief to Step Down; Sex, Race And Religion; Flying The Friendly Sky; Time to Pay; Men With Accents Are Hot; Keep Your Heart Healthy; "Don't Change Your Plans
Aired June 22, 2010 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KIRAN CHETRY, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Kiran Chetry. Glad you're here. We have a lot to talk about this morning. So let's get right to it.
First, we are following a developing story now out of the White House and the Pentagon. The top general in Afghanistan is apologizing after slamming the administration in a "Rolling Stone" piece. The White House is now responding and someone has already lost their job over it.
We'll have that, plus Pentagon reaction in a moment.
JOHN ROBERTS, CNN ANCHOR: The president's budget point man calling it quits. CNN learning that Peter Orszag, the man who helped stir the economic stimulus bill through Congress was stepping down next month. He's the first major White House official to go. And we're live at the White House with what this means for the president's economic recovery plan.
CHETRY: And sex scandal allegations, attacks about race and religion -- the governor's race in South Carolina has gotten pretty ugly on the Republican side of the aisle. Well, today, voters will choose their candidate in a primary runoff and we'll be there live -- coming up.
ROBERTS: And, of course, the amFIX blog is up and running. Join the live conversation going on right now. Just go to CNN.com/amFIX.
CHETRY: But, first, a developing story in a major rift between the commander-in-chief and his top general in Afghanistan exposed. General Stanley McChrystal is now apologizing this morning for a profile in "Rolling Stone" magazine. In it, he talks about disappointment, distrust and frustration with the Obama administration.
ROBERTS: General McChrystal is saying the article was, quote, "a mistake reflecting poor judgment." And so his first response was to fire one of the people on his staff.
Barbara Starr joins us now live from the Pentagon. Suzanne Malveaux is live at the White House.
Barbara, let's start with you though. General McChrystal has been recalled to Washington and also taking some action among his inner circle.
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: A bit of action, John, but really, what will happen is still to come here. General McChrystal getting on a plane in Kabul, Afghanistan, in the coming hours, flying back to Washington, called to the White House for a meeting tomorrow, face-to-face with the president and key administration officials that he has criticized through this "Rolling Stone" article.
Unprecedented -- I think the Pentagon is in shock, to say the least, about what has happened here. "Rolling Stone" publishing a major profile of General McChrystal in which top aides speak about the general's views on President Obama. Let me just read you a couple of quotes from the article very quickly. The first one, quote, "The general first encountered Obama a week after he took office. McChrystal thought Obama looked, quote, 'uncomfortable and intimidated' by the room full of military brass."
The article has other quotes about the general and Obama saying, quote, "Obama clearly didn't know anything about him, McChrystal, who he was. Here's the guy who's going to run his expletive war but he didn't seem very engaged. The boss, McChrystal, was pretty disappointed."
This is the fundamental problem for General McChrystal -- through his staff, disparaging comments about the commander-in-chief. This is the red line in the United States military, this simply is not done. You do not make disrespectful or disparaging comments about the president of the United States.
So, General McChrystal issuing an apology overnight from his headquarters in Afghanistan, saying, quote, "I extend my sincerest apology for this profile. It was a mistake reflecting poor judgment and should never have happened. Throughout my career, I have lived by the principles of personal honor and professional integrity. What is reflected in this article falls far short of that standard."
The question now, of course, hangs in the air: Can General McChrystal survive this boiling scandal at the moment? You will recall he's in office because Defense Secretary Bob Gates and Admiral Mike Mullen said the previous general, Dave McKiernan, couldn't get the job done and they absolutely had to have General McChrystal in command, that he was the only one that could do it.
Now, we'll see if that lasts past tomorrow in that White House meeting -- John, Kiran.
CHETRY: And we have a copy of the article here. It's a fascinating read. But it begs the question: why would General McChrystal give the interview in the first place or series of interviews according to the author?
STARR: Yes. You know, it's just -- it is mystifying to so many military leaders. I think we all understand that "Rolling Stone" is not a typical publication that the U.S. military deals with. In fact, we are told, the aide that set up the interview, a man named Duncan Boothby, has already been fired by General McChrystal for this. The author, Michael Hastings, given inside access to General McChrystal and his senior staff as they traveled around, and a really unvarnished look at Michael Hastings went ahead and published everything he saw and heard.
Very interestingly, no one is disputing the accuracy of the article. General McChrystal has not said that any of the quotes were untrue or inaccurate. You know, so it stands as is right now -- John, Kiran.
ROBERTS: All right, Barbara.
Let's get the White House's side of this as well. Suzanne Malveaux is standing by there.
So, he has been recalled. That's the first White House action that's being made public. What are you hearing behind the scenes? Are they stunned by the revelations that came out in this article?
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, we know that they are quite angry. General McChrystal -- this is not the first time, John and Kiran, that he's gotten in the trouble with the White House, with the president. You may recall, there was a big debate that splurged forward of some leaks that came out before about the efficacy of actually troops increase, a surge, in Afghanistan. McChrystal on the side of more troops and that -- having that debate spill out in public, he had received an admonishment before.
Well, now, he's effectively going to be taken to the woodshed tomorrow when he is being called personally to meet with the commander-in-chief. I want to give you this quote from a senior administration official and it is very telling here because it says that McChrystal has been directed to attend tomorrow's monthly meeting on Afghanistan and Pakistan in person rather than appear on secured video teleconference to explain to the Pentagon and the commander-in- chief his quotes in the piece about his colleagues.
It is not a mistake -- they are emphasizing commander in chief. It is a reminder that it is the president of the United States who is General McChrystal's boss here. That this is the kind of thing that's not going to be tolerated and certainly, John and Kiran, this is a test for this president, whether or not he is going to, as Barbara said, draw that line in the sand, that red line, whether or not he is going to tolerate what they have seen now as not the first but perhaps the second of major disappointment
And, you know, the defiance, if you will, of the White House and administration's policy, moving forward and putting that kind of public debate over Afghanistan and in this kind of forum -- it is very upsetting to those who have I have spoken with at the White House.
CHETRY: All right. Also, other news out of the White House this morning -- we're shifting gears here and we're talking about one member of the cabinet looking like he's on his way out.
MALVEAUX: Peter Orszag, it's not surprising. He's the director of the Office of Management and Budget, OMB. He's been here for almost about two years or so.
And he's someone who has accomplished a great deal, but did not want to stay for the complete two years. He's run his course -- but once again, very effective in terms of the stimulus package, $860 billion, two budgets, overhaul of health care reform. All of that being put on the table.
He wants to step down, to step aside, and it comes at a very important time here. Obviously, he handled a lot of big items when it comes to the recession. But he's the guy -- this is the guy who really pushed for deficit reduction. That was his idea. You got to take a look at the deficit and deal with this ballooning deficit.
There are others inside of this White House who've been talking about cutting taxes, more stimulus. So, it will be very interesting to see, once he leaves, who's in his place and what kind of position they have on that because it has been at the core, the center, of the debate here in this building behind me.
Just having to deal with the recession -- how do you get to jumpstart the economy, get it going again, do you need to focus on the deficit, and reducing the deficit, as he did?
CHETRY: Suzanne Malveaux for us this morning at the White House -- busy day for you guys. All right. Thanks so much.
MALVEAUX: Thanks.
CHETRY: Well, it's eight minutes past the hour right now. An admission of guilt and also a warning: Faisal Shahzad pleading guilty to all 10 counts in the failed Times Square bombing. He now faces life in prison. In court yesterday, Shahzad was unapologetic, calling himself a Muslim soldier and telling the judge that he, quote, "wanted to plead guilty 100 times."
Shahzad also warned that attacks from more soldiers like him will follow unless the U.S. gets out of Iraq and Afghanistan.
ROBERTS: Investigators in Peru releasing photos of evidence in the case against Joran van der Sloot, including a bloodstained shirt, they say, that he wore when he allegedly killed business student Stephany Flores. Prosecutors also gave the judge a psychological exam that calls van der Sloot, quote, "emotionally immature," adding that he doesn't value women.
Meanwhile, van der Sloot is now reportedly re-tracking his confession. Van der Sloot told the Dutch newspaper that he only signed papers admitting he killed Flores was because he was, quote, "tricked by police."
CHETRY: Also, new development this morning from a campfire to 10,000 acres in just two days. Wildfire is threatening the city of Flagstaff, Arizona, now forcing the evacuation close to 800 homes, as well as an animal shelter and two national monuments. Forecasters are also saying that gusty winds driving the flames may not die down until tomorrow.
ROBERTS: Well, if you tuned to CNN last night, you know that Larry King assembled a staggering roster of stars, and with your help, raised more than $1 million to help people affected by the oil disaster.
(VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: Sting was one of the performers last night, while celebrities on both coasts were manning the phone lines.
CHETRY: Altogether, more than $1.8 million is now raised. If you see what we have across that now, it's not the total, because if you still want to donate, it's not too late. You can go to CNN.com/impact. And there you'll find a list of organizations that are making a difference.
ROBERTS: Well, it's time to vote again. Runoff election day in four states. Nikki Haley eyes victory in a dirty GOP primary race for South Carolina governor.
Jim Acosta is there. He's got all the scoop on what's going on in the Palmetto State.
Stay with us. It's 10-and-a-half minutes after the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(MUSIC PLAYING)
CHETRY: Welcome back to the Most News of the Morning. Thirteen minutes past the hour right now.
"America Votes" -- and the battle lines are drawn over illegal immigration far away from the border this morning. A small city in Nebraska is voting to ban illegal immigrants from working or renting property here. About 57 percent of the voters in Fremont, Nebraska, supported the ordinance. ACLU already says it will sue. Federal judges have struck down similar laws in other states.
ROBERTS: Meanwhile, voters in four other states, Utah, Mississippi, North and South Carolina, are heading back to the polls today in primary runoff elections. It is all eyes on South Carolina today with the governor's race, could change the face of the state's Republican Party.
CHETRY: With today's "America Votes" report, our Jim Acosta live in Columbia, South Carolina, where this race -- as we know, it's turned ugly and it also -- you know, the amount of time and energy spent there, and we're still talking about the primaries.
JIM ACOSTA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, John and Kiran. And there's a woman down here by the name of Nikki Haley. She's poised to break a very big glass ceiling in South Carolina. And as you know, the glass ceiling runs a little thicker in these parts. They are still flying the Rebel flag behind me in the front of the state capitol.
And politics is a contact sport in this state. Nobody knows that better than Nikki Haley. She's the Republican front runner in the race for governor down here.
I had a chance to catch up with her out on the campaign trail to talk about some of the very nasty and sensational allegations facing her -- allegations that oddly enough may have actually helped her campaign.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ACOSTA (voice-over): For Nikki Haley, the road to South Carolina's governor's mansion has felt like a highway through hell.
NIKKI HALEY (R), SOUTH CAROLINA GOV. CANDIDATE: It has been a brutal few weeks leading up to the primary. And we had a lot to go through.
ACOSTA: As in the accusations that the state lawmaker carried on two separate extramarital affairs -- allegations Haley has denied.
But in a state where political smears have eaten candidates live, something unexpected happened -- Haley crushed her competition in the Republican primary for governor, capturing 49.5 percent of the vote, nearly avoiding a runoff -- a runoff that the polls suggests she'll win.
(on camera): There is a political narrative that some of these allegation against you actually helped your campaign. What do you think of that?
HALEY: I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy. What it showed was that the people rose above it. I have an amazing husband.
ACOSTA (voice-over): At a campaign stop in Florence, joined by her husband Haley agreed to voters deserved answers to the allegations.
GOV. MARK SANFORD, (R) SOUTH CAROLINA: I hurt her. I hurt you all. I hurt my wife.
ACOSTA: Considering the sex scandal that nearly brought down the state's current governor, Mark Sanford.
HALEY: I think public officials have to answer to the voters. What is sad when public officials have to answer to negative false accusations. That's where it all just went wrong. There was no proof. There was nothing that validated it. Yet, all of a sudden it became a story.
ACOSTA: Haley, who is half Indian has also faced ethnic slurs, questions about her religion. She says she converted to Christianity after growing up in the Seek faith.
HALEY: I think everybody will look back at this election and say that is what not to do.
ACOSTA: Former state GOP chairman Katen Dawson says the attacks backfired.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Obviously it backfired and the polls, Republican voters will only tolerate so much.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Question, what are you?
ACOSTA: Still there is a whiff of the campaign's dark moments in this spot from Haley's Republican rival, Grishen Barret (ph).
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Military man who makes tough decisions. Christian family man who rules the best. Question, you make me --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I would vote for you.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I would be honored.
ACOSTA: But it is Haley who is the rising tea party powerhouse against the new health care law and in favor of offshore oil drilling and drawing big guns like Sarah Palin to her side. She, too, aggressively courts conservative women to her cause.
(on camera): It's not kid gloves down here, right, you play a little rough.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They come out slinging.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: But they don't call us Steele Magnolias for nothing.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ACOSTA: And there is one very important woman voter standing beside Nikki Haley in the campaign. Jenny Sanford, the wife of -- the former wife, we should say, former first lady, of the current governor down here, Mark Sanford. She's supporting Nikki Haley in the campaign. One she is expected to win in this runoff today. The polls open at 7:00 and they close at 7:00 later on this evening, John and Kiran.
ROBERTS: Been watching this one today with a lot of interest. Jim Acosta for us this morning. Jim thanks. Well the U.S. government hits BP with a new bill for oil cleanup costs. It's a big one, too. Christine Romans will tell exactly what the dollar figure is.
CHETRY: And dads may be feeling just as stressed as moms about work, life issues. An interesting new article sheds light on the changing face of working families, 18 minutes past the hour.
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ROBERTS: Good morning, 20 minutes after the hour.
We are back, "Minding Your Business," this morning. When it comes to flying the friendly skies, who has got the nicest cabin crews? Southwest Airlines. According to a new consumer survey by airfarewatchdog.com. The rudest, by a large margin, Delta. Followed by United Airlines. Another interesting tidbit, 68 percent say there should be a separate section of the plane for passengers traveling with kids. I'm surprised that Delta has the rudest flight attendants because, you know, anybody who has flown Delta has seen the pre-flight safety video where Delta lady wags her finger at you.
CHETRY: That's right well, she is not on every flight apparently. Christine Romans is "Minding Your Business" this morning. She joins us now. So what I was wondering, the government keeps sending BP bills right, for all the cleanup efforts. Are these itemed or do they just take their word for it and say all right --
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: That's a good question. I don't know if they are itemized or not but I know that they are very specific. This third one is $51.4 million. And this is the bill that the U.S. government handed right over to BP. And what it is for specifically to cover the costs of dozens of federal agencies who are staging along the Gulf, two dozen different agencies. Everything from the wildlife people, to first responders, to all different kinds of things they are doing down there. Scientists who are testing the water and the like. Fifty-one and a half million dollars, two bills have already been delivered to BP. And those have been paid in full.
So itemized or not, Kiran, they have been paid in full. BP did not argue with the bills, $70.89 million. The goal here, of course, the government does not want taxpayers to have to foot the bill for any of this. So the thing that our government agencies are doing right now as part of their -- as part of their mission in the Gulf will be paid for by BP according to the president and the White House. And they are writing out those bills and handing them to BP.
And that is the third -- that is the third bill there. Doesn't include lost oil company wages, doesn't include the containment or what BP is actually paying out there in the Gulf right now to try to stop that just gusher of oil. That's all being paid separately. It doesn't include the $20 billion that has been set aside for reimbursing people with their legitimate claims and the like. This is simply the cost, our government's cost is being pass directly onto BP. This is the third bill.
ROBERTS: It's kind of surprising to see because "Exxon Valdez" disaster, Exxon fought a lot of the stuff tooth and nail. And BP is just out there going -- how much do you need?
ROMANS: You know BP has a real public relations problem at the moment. And I think if BP turned around and tried to fight some of this stuff now -- I mean the reason why those agency was down in the Gulf, is there is a big -- deepwater horizon sank into the ocean. I mean you really can't argue we wouldn't be there spending taxpayer dollars if it weren't for BP. So BP doesn't have much public relations or many would say moral ground to stand on to fight some of the bills. CHETRY: Quick question. I know that the opening bell is about to ring quite soon. Do you think people will care on Wall Street about the Peter Orszag stepping down?
ROMANS: It is going to be interesting. Suzanne Malveaux said something there I found interesting as well. He has been someone who is kind of a deficit guy, you know. Keep an eye on the deficit. So you will probably see some well --
ROBERTS: Well he is keeping an eye on it? It is where it is. I would hate to see if he hasn't.
ROMANS: But he has been saying all along, he has been saying, look, you know, at some point we have to have an idea on how to pull this back -- other people talking about tax cuts and spending more stimulus.
CHETRY: Right.
ROMANS: So we will see if there is any kind of wagering on what kind of philosophy replaces him at the White House.
ROBERTS: All right, Christine Romans, "Minding Your Business" this morning, thanks. Rob Marciano bonds with the pelicans. So much so that when he goes to release them into the wild, they won't leave him. We will show you the pictures.
CHETRY: Also men with accents and the women that love them. Richard Roth takes us on a unique venture into speed dating. Twenty four minutes past the hour.
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CHETRY: Twenty seven minutes past the hour. In today's world of sound bites and 30-second YouTube clips, you got to be able to sell yourself pretty quickly. And there is no better example of that than, of course, speed dating when the first impression is pretty much all you've got.
ROBERTS: And if you have an accent, you are hot. Our quintessential stud muffin Richard Roth went to see what it is all about.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RICHARD ROTH, CNN U.N. CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Inside this New York City bar the world of dating in the year 2010. It is speed dating. Men talking to women before moving to another table to talk to more women. A concept that's been around since Adam and Eve. Now the bell rings prompting a change of partners every three minutes. The organizers also spice things up. Tonight's encounter is billed as men with accents and the women who love them.
AMBER STILLETI, CO-FOUNDER, "ONE STOP SINGLES": The women are into the audio because they love accents. I think accents take an average man to that super hot level. ROTH: One of those accents belong to Andy from Australia who says New York is the best city in the world for dating.
ANDY, SPEED DATER: A girl comes up to me and -- she -- the first thing she said was, I've always wanted to be with an Aussie. And one thing led to another. And she got her wish.
ROTH: Most women attend after frustration with the current dating season.
JESSICA, SPEED DATER: A bit of a disappointment.
ROTH (on camera): Why?
JESSICA: I meet a lot of people. I'm always open to anything new. However, I feel like dating is all about sex nowadays.
SARAH, SPEED DATER: I'm looking to find a nice guy. I mean I'm not looking for prince charming. Someone I can get along with.
APRIL, SPEED DATER: A kind, generous, fun man. That sums it up. Right? I meet a lot of people with accents. It is part of the appeal in New York.
ROTH: How successful are you with that accent of yours?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I put it on big time. It works. I play it up. Play it up.
JESSICA: I'm Jessica nice to meet you.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hi, Jessica, have you been to Harlem.
SARAH: I've never been, no, I have been to Italy.
(CROSSTALK)
ROTH: How much can really be accomplished in three minutes?
STILLETI: A lot because you know what, chemistry is instant.
ROTH: All right, pretend we were dating -- maybe we are dating. Are we dating?
JESSICA: We are dating.
ROTH: All right.
JESSICA: Where are you taking me?
ROTH: I'm taking you wherever you want to go tonight. Out of the 11, 12 men you dated for three minutes, how many would you be interested in going out with?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: One. ROTH: One man. And why is that?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They were all boring.
JESSICA: I have a sense that you are married, happily married.
ROTH: Me? That I'm happily married? I have never been married in my life.
JESSICA: All right, so when are we going out?
ROTH: What do you think of the men you met so far, excluding me?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Very hot.
ROTH: Hot? You like them.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They're hot.
ROTH: What's your sign?
JESSICA: I'm a Capricorn.
ROTH: You like to get up early in the morning? Capricorns do.
JESSICA: Yes, I do actually.
APRIL: I am OK on my own but I'd like to share my life.
ROTH: I watch a lot of television. Is that OK with you?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don't own a TV. It is OK with me. I will never judge anyone. I just personally don't own a TV.
ROTH: Our date is over.
ROTH (voice-over): Richard Roth, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROBERTS: There you go. There's room for growth.
CHETRY: There you go.
ROBERTS: He can watch a little less TV. She can begin watching.
CHETRY: It's problematic if she's on it and she doesn't own one.
ROBERTS: She won't like him for who he is on TV. She will like him for who he is as a person.
CHETRY: All she just needs to be a World Cup fan.
ROBERTS: Richard, amazing. Come after her.
CHETRY: There you go. It is 30 minutes past the hour, time for this morning's top stories.
We are following a developing one now. The top general in Afghanistan now apologizing for an interview he did with "Rolling Stone" magazine where he criticizes the Obama administration officials.
And defense officials telling CNN that Stanley McChrystal has now fired a press aide over the article, and he is coming home at the request of the White House to explain his comments in person at tomorrow's monthly meeting on Afghanistan and Pakistan.
ROBERTS: One of the most important members of the president's economic team calls it quits. Peter Orszag, the White House budget director, is going to be stepping down in July. Orszag was key in shaping the economic stimulus and health care reform bills. Orszag is the first official to leave the Obama cabinet.
CHETRY: Larry King called and you answered. Last night's two- hour star-studded telethon raising more than $1.8 million for people suffering because of the Gulf coast oil spill. Singer Lenny Kravitz was on hand. He said the disaster really hits home for him.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LENNY KRAVITZ, SINGER: It is emotionally difficult because I know so many of the people down here. I have been coming down here for 17 years. And I know these people firsthand, people that work on the shrimp boats, own boats, fish for, you know, their living.
And I sat down with people that have lost everything, you know. Their families are trying to figure out what to do and you see and feel the sadness and it is -- it is hard down here. It is really hard down here right now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHETRY: The show may be over but you can help by going to CNN.com/impact.
ROBERTS: Still much help is needed in the gulf, especially for the most helpless victims of the unprecedented disaster.
CHETRY: The pictures break your heart when you look at oil- choked birds, choking on crude, gasping for air. But there have been some hopeful and heartwarming moments in the midst of all of the despair. We tag along as our Ro Marciano gets to experience one.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DR. DAN MULCAHY, U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY: This is going to be the largest release to date of pelicans that have been taken in as a result of oil. And we are going to release up to 40.
ROB MARCIANO, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Dan Mulcahy leads a carefully selected team that gets these birds from rescue centers back into the wild. MULCAHY: It is all about the animals. That's our goal.
MARCIANO: Thee animals spent the last few weeks being nursed back to health. Now they are on a coast guard plane getting a second chance.
MULCAHY: I'm pretty excited about this flight. Here we go. Let's take the pelicans home.
MARCIANO: We climb over Louisiana wetlands en route to similar habitat in Texas far away from the spill.
MARCIANO (on camera): We just got airborne, and there is a sense of relief among the crew that everything went relatively smoothly getting birds onboard. They know there is urgency. They have to get the birds back on the ground and back in the water just as quickly as possible.
MARCIANO (voice-over): It is a pretty tight squeeze inside of the plane, but the passengers seem remarkably calm. We land in Rockport, Texas, where another team is anxiously waiting.
MULCAHY: Now the delicate expeditious process of unloading the boards. Twenty kennels need to come out and be unloaded into these vans and be transported 45 minutes away into a wildlife refuge that has a lot of other pelicans.
MARCIANO: The bird carrying caravan rolls towards the coast, the release point. The rest happens quickly. We raise the roof and release the pelicans.
MARCIANO (on camera): All right, how about that?
MULCAHY: Is that worth the trip or what?
MARCIANO (voice-over): These are wild animals and can be dangerous, so they have been reluctant to let me participate, until now.
MULCAHY: Ready?
MARCIANO (on camera): Yes.
MULCAHY: Lift up the top. Fly, pelican.
MARCIANO (voice-over): Stubborn bird, giving me the stare-down.
MARCIANO (on camera): These guys don't want to go. Come on, guys. You got it. I know you don't want to leave. But come on, guys.
Finally, these two take flight.
That was the last one. That's an incredible feeling. OK. That's awesome.
MARCIANO (voice-over): Rob Marciano, Austwell Wildlife refuge, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHETRY: They say it's a good sign many of them disappeared right into the refuge, meaning they are hopefully taking in their surroundings, and they are banded so they will be able to keep track of them and make sure they are OK.
ROBERTS: And with luck they will stay in their new home as opposed to saying this doesn't look familiar and I miss the Louisiana cooking, so I'm heading back.
CHETRY: Exactly, fingers crossed. It's great that they are trying so hard.
Meantime, dad is just as stressed as mom about work life issues. We are going to be talking to the author of new study of it coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHETRY: It's 39 minutes past the hour now.
For decades juggling work and family has seemed to be a woman's issue. But now there are several new studies showing that fathers are just as stressed as moms trying to balance work and life.
Joining me now is Tara Parker-Pope. She wrote about the topic for her well blog at "The New York Times." She's gotten a big reaction. She's also the author of the book "For Better." Thanks for joining thus morning, Tara.
What's going on here behind the increase in the work life conflict for men?
TARA PARKER-POPE, JOURNALIST, "THE NEW YORK TIMES": Men are -- have always been considered the breadwinner in families. That's been the model since the '50s. But what's change sing that women -- women are going -- have gone into the work force and earn more money. But men have more responsibility at home.
So the workplace culture is that the man is still the earner, but the reality is very different. The reality is that men are contributing a lot more at home and involved in their children's lives and their family's lives, and they want to be. But this is creating a lot of tension for them in the workplace and in the family life.
CHETRY: You cite interesting examples. One is it would be more, I guess, socially acceptable or acceptable in the workplace for a woman to say I will be a little bit late this morning because I have to take my son or daughter to a to a doctor's appointment. A man wouldn't necessarily admit that to coworkers or staffers.
POPE: Right. There was a study out of Boston College where they spoke with men who embraced fatherhood and everybody at the workplace sort of celebrated becoming a parent. It was very positive for them. But what was interesting was where women would take advantage of official flexible work policies, the men would sort of stealth use these flexibility policies. They didn't want to admit they would pick up a child from daycare and taking a child to the doctor. They didn't have that sort of official permission to care for their family.
CHETRY: The men asked about it so they do perceive a subtle bias in the workplace?
POPE: Right. They feel when they see a working mother in the office, there is the perception that she is doing it all. But the men didn't necessarily feel as supported. They are working very hard, too. They are very involved in the family life.
But there is an expectation when you become a mother your life change as great deal at work and at home, but that when you are a father, life doesn't have to change at work. For men who are parents and who are involved with the families it is very different. Your life changes once you have a child.
CHETRY: There were also very different perceptions when you asked the woman versus the man about who has the biggest share of household responsibilities. This is interesting. The child care issue, who takes the most responsibility. Men say I do or share equally, almost 50 percent of men say that. Yet only a third of women pretty much agree that their spouse does share equally.
Also, when it comes to house cleaning, who takes the most responsibility for house cleaning. Men, I do or share equally, half. Women, I do, 73 percent. Why is there that perception gap?
POPE: There is a few things going on here. Part of it is that women truly do not give their husbands credit for a lot of the work they do and the mental calculus. They don't always -- if he's playing and having fun with the kids, that's not necessarily care to them or maybe outside doing work in the yard. Their idea of help really is about the domestic chores inside the home.
Men don't always recognize some of the things their wives do. You know, they might make the lunch every day and feel like they are contributing, but they're not factoring in the fact that the wife is doing the shopping and planning and perhaps reminding him to make the lunch. So they have this psychological responsibility.
CHETRY: The mental calculus many women feel.
POPE: They say ultimately I'm still responsible for it. So that is more responsibility, I'm doing more than my fair share.
So men and women are struggling with this. On the blog, a lot of comments are from men who say that I'm just not getting credit for how hard I'm working. And women are saying I'm sick of him whining, he doesn't have half the hard job I have.
I think the good news here is that this is not just a woman's issue now. This is a family issue, a workplace issue. So we see corporate America has to respond here and offer more flexible programs for both men and women workers.
CHETRY: It's tough, though, in a recession to ask for more because, you know, many people feel blessed they have a job now.
POPE: It is true. I think especially men who feel very vulnerable right now in a recession, they are afraid to ask for flexibility or ask for time off. They are in a real dilemma. That explains the high level of stress they are feeling, that fathers are feeling in the workplace and at home.
CHETRY: And some of the mothers out there will say welcome to the club.
POPE: You know, I definitely heard that feedback. It is a bad time. Now everybody is feeling it.
CHETRY: Certainly gotten a lot of reaction on your cite. Tara Parker Hope who wrote the article and it is on the well blog at "The New York Times." Thank you for joining us. John?
ROBERTS: Earlier this morning we heard four cups of coffee or more day can actually prevent some oral and pharynx cancers. So it leads us to wonder, what are top foods to promote health, particularly heart health. Our Dr. Sanjay Gupta gives us the skinny coming right up.
And then hot and muggy and pop-up storms. Expect travel delays. What was it Robin Williams said about the weather in "Good Morning, Vietnam"? We have that for you today. It's 44 minutes after the hour.
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ROBERTS: It's a beautiful day in Miami where it's partly cloudy and 86 right now later on today, a typical summer day. Isolated thunderstorms, a high of 91, humidity of 99. You know what it is like there so take it with (INAUDIBLE).
CHETRY: That's why you've to jump in the water. Well, it's 47 minutes after the hour right now.
Reynolds Wolf keeping track of all of it for us; I guess if you want nice temperate conditions, you either have to go to what L.A. or Seattle today.
REYNOLDS WOLF, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Something like that. Seattle should be pretty nice. I would tell you that probably in terms of temperatures, places like say, Indianapolis would be ok but in terms of your sky conditions, not so much.
In fact, take a look at this. I mean, the state is basically cut in half by one line of showers and storms rolling along parts of I-70, from Terre Haute to Green Castle back in Indianapolis. Even in Greenwood this morning, heavy storms have been rolling on through. Flash flooding is certainly going to be a possibility in a few places maybe even into Muncie by later in the afternoon. And as we get to the late afternoon hours, during the hours of 3:00 p.m. and I would say early evening or at 6:00, we have a good chance of even stronger storms in parts of the Central Plains. But you're going to notice this line. This boundary is going to be draped across parts of the southern half of the Great Lakes, even into Lake Erie, perhaps even Cleveland getting in on this storm activity.
We are talking about the storms. We may have some strong thunderstorms and some large hail, damaging winds perhaps even some tornadoes. Could be this, it's like the fifth day, sixth day in a row perhaps today of tornadoes in this part of the world.
Something else we're going to be dealing as you mentioned Kiran, we're going to be dealing with some heat, 94 degrees in Atlanta, 88 degrees in New Orleans. But in New Orleans, you may have some sea breeze showers which will cool you off. In Tampa 94 is the expected high, New York with 85. As we wrap things up, Salt Lake City with 81.
And you're expected delays, here they are for you on the screen. It looks like Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Pittsburgh, anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour. Basically the same deal in Orlando due to the thunderstorms in Detroit. The thunderstorms will keep you grounded for about 15 to 30 minutes.
That's the story weather-wise. So let's send it back to you in New York.
CHETRY: All right. Reynolds, thanks.
WOLF: You bet.
ROBERTS: You are what you eat. So what you want to be is healthy. Right? We've got the top ten foods to promote heart health coming up. We're paging Dr. Gupta who joins us next.
It's 48 and a half minutes after the hour.
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CHETRY: Well, it's time for your "AM House Call", stories about your health. And this morning some advise that could save your life by preventing America's number one killer, and that's heart disease.
ROBERTS: If you are ready to start a heart healthy diet, our Dr. Sanjay Gupta has got the top ten foods for you that you should be eating. Watch closely.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Time to cut through all the clutter about what's really good for your heart. The biggest key, says registered dietitian, Paige Love, is reducing the levels of inflammatory compounds in your body.
PAIGE LOVE, REGISTERED DIETITIAN: Inflammation is the body's response when disease is cultivating and often there are foods that can actually help do the opposite of that in the body.
GUPTA: So what are these super foods?
LOVE: Eating red really helps to decrease inflammation; for example cherries, particularly tart cherries, rep grapes, tomatoes.
GUPTA: Blueberries and strawberries also top the list as do leafy greens like spinach, even oatmeal.
LOVE: There's quite a bit of evidence showing that the fiber in oatmeal helps to lower cholesterol. So it's kind of one of those key disease-fighting breakfast foods.
GUPTA: If you're looking for a good snack food, try a can of nuts.
LOVE: Nuts are a good protein source, a good healthy vegetable fat source.
GUPTA: Avocadoes are also full of healthy, unsaturated fats that can help boost good cholesterol. Oily fish, like salmon, are rich in cholesterol lowering Omega 3s which can help lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of clotting. Then, of course, is everybody's favorite, chocolate.
KATHERINE TALLMADGE, NUTRITIONIST, AMERICAN DIETETIC ASSOCIATION: The cocoa is full of compounds called flavonols (ph) and produce a lot of benefits. Relaxing blood vessels, reducing blood clotting, improving blood flow.
GUPTA: Ok. But despite the benefits of chowing down on chocolate --
TALLMADGE: Keep sweets or sort of extra foods, to about 10 percent of your calories per day.
GUPTA: So here's to your heart health.
Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN, reporting.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: Fifty-six minutes after the hour now.
The oil in the Gulf of Mexico has not reached many of Florida's famous beaches but just the threat of it is still keeping tourists away.
CHETRY: Yes. And now the state is spending a lot of money so that people don't change their plans. Tom Foreman joins us live from Panama City Beach, Florida where, of course, this time of year it would be packed. How is it going?
TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, if not packed, that's one of their selling points now. They are trying to say to many, many of their tourists, many of whom come from the southeast, from Georgia, and from Alabama, from Tennessee and Kentucky and the Carolinas. They are really trying to say to a lot of them, look, this is a great time to come down here because the crowds aren't huge.
And even though they have had some oil on this beach, there's not much of it. The fact that you didn't know it was there, you would have no real idea. And they are making this work.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FOREMAN (voice-over): This was supposed to be a record-breaking summer for Panama City Beach with a new airport expected to bring thousands of additional tourists and millions of extra dollars.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A lot of sand, people having fun, crystal clear water.
FOREMAN: Instead hotel and condo operators are sweating out every weekend, like Michelle Lacewell.
MICHELLE LACEWELL, EDGEWATER BEACH RESORT: We are way below our normal occupancy. We are significantly lower normal occupancy. Normally you see beach umbrellas up and down that beach and it's completely packed.
FOREMAN: So this town is making a dramatic push to build up its tourist trade even as the threat of oil is tearing it down. And that starts with recognizing how important vacation time and money are for most tourists.
Dan Rowe heads up the Convention and Visitors Bureau.
DAN ROWE, CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU: These are the most precious dollars that people spend on a yearly basis.
FOREMAN (on camera): And you really want your visitors to know that you respect that investment. You are going to help them protect that vacation money and everybody's in this together.
ROWE: We are all in this together. June, July and August make up half of our business for the entire year. So this is the time now that we really do need our visitors to hang in there with us.
LACEWELL: We are watching the situation very closely. We are going to protect your investment of your beach vacation.
FOREMAN (voice-over): To make that happen many hotels have sharply reduced or eliminated late cancellation fees. The town has stepped up promotion of events on attractions beyond the beach. And electronic billboards for hundreds of miles show daily, honest updates on beach conditions which most days are still excellent.
RICK DORMAN, PINK PELICAN ICE CREAM: People are just hesitant. I don't blame them. FOREMAN: The efforts are a godsend for small businesses like Rick Dorman's newly opened ice cream shop. He needs outsiders to know that oil is appearing but only in very small amounts and it is cleaned up very quickly.
DORMAN: They are thinking they are going to see an oil slick covering the beach. That's not the case. But they are not going to see that that's not the case.
FOREMAN: The result of this, sure, business is down, but --
ROWE: You're not seeing the decrease that we've heard about in other places. I mean it is not going to be a record breaker for us but it is not going to be a horrible year, at least not yet.
FOREMAN: And on the Gulf Coast these days that is saying something.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
FOREMAN: The message really is that a picture is worth a thousand words here right now. This is the picture they want you to pay attention to right now. Yes, there is oil out there. People are swimming and people are on the beach. People are in the pool. People are having the same vacation they would have had otherwise. And almost all of them will see no sign of oil while they are here at least unless something changes in a big way -- John, Kiran.
ROBERTS: All right. Getting the message out. Tom Foreman, "Building up America" this morning. Tom thanks so much.
Continue the conversation on today's stories; go to our blog at CNN.com/amfix. That will wrap it up for us today. We will see you back here again bright and early tomorrow.
CHETRY: And meantime, the news continues. "CNN NEWSROOM" with Brooke Baldwin starts right now.
