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Wolf
Are U.S. Hospitals Equipped to Handle Ebola; Catholic Church Takes Dramatic Shift on Gays; Kentucky Race is Referendum on Obama.
Aired October 13, 2014 - 13:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back to our viewers in the United States and around the world. I'm Wolf Blitzer, reporting from Washington.
Dozens of residents at a Dallas, Texas, apartment complex got this startling phone call. Listen to this.
(BEGIN AUDIO FEED)
911 OPERATOR: Please be advised that a health care worker who lives in your area has tested positive for the Ebola virus. This individual is in the hospital and is isolated. Precautions are already in place to clean all known potential areas of contact to ensure public health.
(END AUDIO FEED)
BLITZER: That was the so-called reverse-911 phone call from the Dallas police. They posted police in front of the building to keep people away from the home of the infected resident.
Questions remain on how that resident, a Dallas nurse, contracted Ebola. The head of the Centers for Disease Control says a breach in protocol led to the infection. Some health care workers are saying the nurse's case is a prime example of how ill-equipped hospitals are throughout the United States to deal with Ebola.
Let's bring in my next guest, Dr. Seema Yasmin, a staff writer for "The Dallas Morning News." She also the director of health at the University of Texas, Dallas, and a former CDC detective.
Dr. Yasmin, thanks for joining us.
Is this a breach of protocol or a case of hospitals not being well- equipped to deal with Ebola?
DR. SEEMA YASMIN, STAFF WRITER, DALLAS MORNING NEWS & DIRECTOR OF HEALTH, UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, DALLAS & FORMER CDC DETECTIVE: To answer that question, Wolf, we need upmost transparency from the hospital so we can learn from what happened here. Many health care facilities are asking that exact same question. They want to know if the protocols that they have, that they are practicing will protect them or did something else happen. We know the CDC has issued protocols to U.S. hospitals. But health care workers are human and work long hours and sometimes mistakes are made.
BLITZER: We're told the nurse was wearing the protective gear. If that's the case, how could she possibly contract Ebola?
YASMIN: Sometimes, Wolf, you think you're wearing the right equipment but you may have forgotten a vital piece of equipment. Sometimes you're in a rush to take care of a patient and other times you are wearing gloves that have torn and may not know that they tore because you're wearing more than one layer. I've investigated, in the past, infections that occurred in hospitals with health care workers. Sometimes you do so much work, to look back at what happened, and you still can't find the precise incident where the exposure occurred.
BLITZER: We're told that some procedures were done, desperate procedures near the very end on the kidney, on the lungs that those procedures in and of themselves, very complex, could have resulted in the spread of Ebola to this nurse. You've heard that theory?
YASMIN: Absolutely. And we think about those two procedures, Wolf. One of them is kidney dialysis where this machine is taking over function of the kidneys. That means it's taking in large volumes of the patient's blood and purifying them. We know that blood of an Ebola patient can be very infectious. Blood splatter can occur when you're doing dialysis. That's a high-risk exposure. The other high- risk exposure that Mr. Duncan had in this hospital was he was intubated. A tube was put down his throat and it was connected to a ventilator. When you put that tube down a patient's throat, it can make them cough. You can get aerializaton of saliva droplets and that, of course, can put health care workers at higher risk for Ebola.
BLITZER: Should they avoid those kinds of desperate procedures at the very end?
YASMIN: Well, of course, with Ebola patients, they can come into the clinic walking and talking and can quickly deteriorate. Their kidneys can stop working because of this deadly virus. As a health care worker, you want to be able to do as much as you can. It's very hard to say we're not going to do this because I don't want to put myself at risk. You'd much rather say we'll protect ourselves while delivering the patient care.
BLITZER: Should we be surprised if more cases emerge of Ebola in Dallas?
YASMIN: Health care workers put themselves at the front lines of this deadly virus every single day. If there are more cases, we'll be very disappointed and very saddened. But just because health care workers are coming into contact with bodily fluids, they, therefore, have lots of virus in their system, they are at the highest risk of becoming victims of the deadly virus they are trying to treat.
BLITZER: Dr. Yasmin, we'll check back with you tomorrow. Thank you for joining us.
Seema Yasmin joining us from Texas. Coming up, a potentially significant shift today from the Vatican on
the issue of homosexuality. We're going live to Rome and we're going to find out why just a few words from the church could have a huge impact.
Also, big names on the campaign trail. Will they really make a difference in critical midterm elections? Only about three weeks away. We'll take a closer look.
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BLITZER: The Catholic Church seems to have taken a dramatic shift on gays and lesbians. There's new word released today -- and I'm quoting -- "Homosexuals have gifts and qualities to offer the Christian community." While it may not be opening the door to the approval of gay marriage, it's a softer attitude towards gay Catholics. This came out during a summit of bishops going on right now.
Let's go to Rome. Our Vatican correspondent, Delia Gallagher, is joining us.
Delia, give a little sense of what this apparent shift mean?
DELIA GALLAGHER, CNN VATICAN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, what caught everybody's attention here is this dramatic change in language. We don't yet have a change in the teaching or in the rules of the Catholic Church, and whether that will come remains to be seen but the language and the change of tone is significant. We've gone from, to be fair, on the gay question, the Catholic Church has always spoken about non-discrimination, the need to respect and for compassion. But the language of this document goes beyond that. Part of that, you quote, that said homosexuals have gifts and quality to offer. In another part of that, they say, are we capable of welcoming these people, accepting and valuing their sexual orientation? Valuing sexual orientation is new lingo for the Vatican. It also talks about the merit of a gay marriage. Clearly, language that goes beyond what has been said previously about gay relationships. Indeed, part of the conversation was whether the previous language, for example, "intrinsically disordered," often refers in the Catholic Church as the gay sexual act. They call it "intrinsically disordered." It's that language helpful anymore? Is it useful anymore? Some say it's a change a language, it doesn't matter, it's not changing the content. However, if you change the language, it does denote something about the content. It's very important from that point of view.
BLITZER: The shift in tone, Delia, seems to have shifted noticeably. I should say, since Pope Francis came to power. Is that right?
GALLAGHER: Absolutely. I mean, this is another example of the kinder and gentler Pope Francis. Let's be clear, under John Paul II, Pope Benedict, they would have agreed with the fact that one needs to be merciful. That's one of the key themes of Pope France' pontificate. But the difference is Pope Francis leads with that. He says, this document, the doors need to be wide open for a person with all of their problems. That's something every pope before Francis would have agreed with but they wouldn't have left it with that. They wouldn't have made that priority, whereas Pope Francis makes it clear each and every time, and on this issue, on divorce and married Catholics and co-habitation, living together, et cetera, et cetera, they lead with the positive aspects of these situations which previously they called irregular.
BLITZER: And the reason that this came out today is?
GALLAGHER: Wolf, this is a working document. The summit has been going on for the past week that he is a summary of what the discussions were. They were closed-door discussions. It's a summary of what happened last week. They've got another week still to discuss. There will be another report, probably on Saturday. And then they've got a year to think about it again before another summit next October. So any definitive changes will happen at that time, October 2015.
BLITZER: So still a year away from that but a significant shift in the tone at least of the Vatican when it comes to gays and lesbians.
Delia Gallagher, our Vatican correspondent, thank you for the excellent explanation.
Up next, a key Senate race puts the president at the center of the debate but is that the key issue for voters? A closer look at the possible referendum on the Obama administration.
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BLITZER: Any politician giving a speech is normally prepared for both cheers and jeers. It was Hillary Clinton's turn on Sunday. She got heckled in San Diego but it's her response that got people talking.
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(APPLAUSE)
HILLARY CLINTON, FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE: There are some people who miss important developmental stages.
(LAUGHTER)
(APPLAUSE)
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BLITZER: That got a lot of laughs. The former secretary of state and recent grandmother was talking to a group of pediatricians. Good line from Hillary Clinton.
Expect to see a lot more from Mitt Romney, Chris Christie as we move closer and closer to the midterm elections here in the United States. We're now over three weeks away. And, with so much on the line, like control of the United States Senate, the big names could mean a big difference.
Our chief political analyst, Gloria Borger, is joining us from New York.
Let's talk about the Senate race in Kentucky. Mitch McConnell is set for his one and only debate against Alison Lundergan Grimes later tonight. Listen to this. This is McConnell talking about the debate yesterday.
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SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL, (R-KY), HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER: People of this state do not like this administration. They know I'm the principle opponent for the Obama administration in Washington and I think they want to send the president a message.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: So does this race that's a critically important race in Kentucky, Gloria, hinge on the voters' opinions there of President Obama?
GLORIA BORGER, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL ANALYST: Look, I think there's a big question in the state of Kentucky and it's playing out in a lot of Senate races, which is, as a voter -- and you hold your nose as a voter these days -- who do you think is worse? Do you think President Obama is worse or do you think Republicans in control of Congress is worse? And, of course, Mitch McConnell is the ultimate symbol of that, because if Republicans take control of Congress and the Senate and he wins, he would likely become the Senate majority leader. So the stakes are high here.
You know, Wolf, this has been a race in which he's had a steady lead. It looks as if the polls are tightening and I'll be curious to watch him in this debate tonight because he's a really practiced debater. And Alison Grimes is somebody who is relentlessly on message. She's kind of new to this national spotlight. And remember, last week, she wouldn't even answer the question about whether she had voted for Barack Obama. That's how far she's trying to distance herself from him.
BLITZER: Has she answered that question since then?
BORGER: Excuse me?
BLITZER: Has she answered that question since then? Because she's been getting a lot of grief by refusing to tell voters in Kentucky who she voted for --
(CROSSTALK)
BLITZER: -- in 2008 and 2012.
BORGER: Right. She needs to answer that question. Somebody pointed out to me after we were talking about it on your show last week, Wolf, we don't even know whether she voted. So I think at some point, if I were Mitch McConnell, I might raise that question during the debate tonight.
BLITZER: I suspect he might.
BORGER: Yeah.
BLITZER: Hillary Clinton, as we've been pointing out, she is stumping for candidates, including Grimes in Kentucky. Mitt Romney is out there, Chris Christie Jeb Bush, the former Florida governor. They are all out there. Are these appearances really helping these candidates?
BORGER: Look, it's important as you get into the homestretch. This midterm election is about getting your voters out. The problems the Democrats have right now is that their voters are not as enthusiastic. That always happens in the sixth year of a presidency. They kind of expect it. "The Wall Street Journal" just had a poll out which said that among likely voters, that's among the people most likely to go to the polls, they prefer Republicans to control the Congress by seven points. So that's very worrisome. So Republicans want to keep up the momentum. Democrats want to say to their fellow Democrats the stakes here could not be higher. So who best to make that case? Potential presidential candidates. I might add, Wolf, they also help themselves when they do it. They collect a bunch of chits. These are very visible races. It's good for everybody.
BLITZER: President Obama has come under some criticism for his handling of the Ebola scare here in the United States.
BORGER: Yeah.
BLITZER: Arizona Republicans Senator John McCain called for the appointment of a real czar, if you will, on this issue. Listen to what he said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN, (R), ARIZONA: There has to be more reassurance given to them. I would say that we don't know exactly who's in charge. There has to be some kind of czar.
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BLITZER: White House says there's no need for an Ebola czar but is this something the president needs to do to reassure the public?
BORGER: You know, I think John McCain at one point in his career said that this president appointed too many czars and now he's asking for a czar. The White House responded to that, as Jim Acosta, our White House correspondent, reports. They have Lisa Monaco in charge of that. They think that's fine. I just noted, however, that the president has a meeting on his schedule today for 3:00, Wolf.
BLITZER: Right.
BORGER: Another meeting on Ebola because what the White House doesn't want is for this to go to the question of competency. They need to show that they are in charge. People should not be afraid. And what's being played out on the campaign trail is using this Ebola issue as a question of leadership and using -- stoking the fear issue, quite frankly.
BLITZER: Gloria, thank you very, very much.
BORGER: Sure.
BLITZER: Gloria Borger in New York for us today.
For our international viewers, we'll get a quick check of the headlines. That's coming up next.
For our viewers in the United States and Canada and throughout North America, a mysterious relative leads our Anthony Bourdain on a journey he was not expecting. We have details coming up.
But first, I took a journey, as did several CNN anchors and hosts. The here's a preview of the CNN series, "Roots."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANNOUNCER (voice-over): CNN, all this week, they traveled the world to chase the story, but not just anyone's story. Their own.
UNIDENTIFIED CNN CORRESPONDENT: It will be a journey of surprises. I can't tell where the journey will end but I know where to start
(SINGING)
ANNOUNCER: The story of how they came to be.
ANTHONY BOURDAIN, CNN HOST, PARTS UNKNOWN: I had great, great, great, great grandfather come over to Paraguay around the 1950s.
My grandparents died here.
ANNOUNCER: The stories of their ancestors.
UNIDENTIFIED CNN CORRESPONDENT: This is where my great grandmother was given up for adoption.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN HOST, A.C. 360: My dad's report card back to 1944.
ANNOUNCER: Their history.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: These records go back 40 generations.
(SINGING)
UNIDENTIFIED CNN CORRESPONDENT: When we found out there was people here related to us, that's when it felt real to me.
ANNOUNCER: And now they share those stories with you.
UNIDENTIFIED CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's like going back in time.
JAKE TAPPER, CNN ANCHOR, THE LEAD: My colonial ancestors were on the wrong side.
MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN ANCHOR, @THISHOUR: It's just like coming home.
ANNOUNCER: Join the familiar faces of CNN as they trace their "Roots" all this week, starting tonight on CNN.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
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BLITZER: The disappearance of a long-lost relative leads Anthony Bourdain on a journey to discover Paraguay. He shares his story with CNN's Anderson Cooper in today's "American Journey."
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COOPER: What is Paraguay like? It's one of those places I've always wanted to go and I also get confused with Uruguay.
BOURDAIN: Paraguay we know almost nothing about it. We know it's a place the Germans hid out in after the war and they had a succession of lurid over the top insane military dictatorships. Ugly stuff.
My great, great, great grandfather disappeared into Paraguay in the mid 19th century.
(CROSSTALK)
BOURDAIN: We knew he was in Argentina and Brazil doing some kind of mysterious business. He's recorded as having died, so I went to look into this question and. while doing that, looked into Paraguay which is, at various times, seen as a sort of utopia.
COOPER: What drew him there?
BOURDAIN: The promise of wealth. Agricultural wonderland. Unlike anywhere else I'm aware of in Latin America, the primary language is not Spanish or Portuguese. Something I had no idea.
(CROSSTALK)
BOURDAIN: One of their early maximum leaders commanded all citizens to intermarry, and as best as possible, mix and/or eradicate the stain of their European heritage.
COOPER: That's interesting.
BOURDAIN: It is very interesting. It's a mixed -- very mixed culture. And a very remote one. Who goes to Paraguay? Also, a very friendly, lovely one with great food and a lot to do.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: "Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown," all new Sunday nights here on CNN 9:00 p.m. eastern.
Anderson Cooper's "Roots" package will air later tonight. You want to see that.
My "Roots" package, and I go to Poland and Buffalo, and that airs in "The Situation Room," Wednesday, 5:00 p.m. eastern, as well.
That's it for me. Thanks very much for watching. I'll be back 5:00 p.m. eastern in "The Situation Room." Dr. Anthony Fauci, the head of the National Institutes for Infectious Disease, at NIH, will be my guest, talking about the Ebola crisis affecting the world.
Thank you for watching.
"Newsroom" with Brooke Baldwin starts right now.
