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Anderson Cooper 360 Degrees
Church Sex Abuse: Draft Report; Howard Dean's Campaign Chairman Leaves Post
Aired February 16, 2004 - 19:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON COOPER, HOST (voice-over): Abuse and the Catholic Church. A shocking new draft report tells of thousands of cases.
A top aide to Howard Dean is out of the campaign. He tells us why.
A new link between antibiotics and cancer. We'll tell you who's at risk.
What's motivating the Ohio freeway gunman?
Gay and lesbian couples walking down the aisle. Tomorrow, opponents head to court.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANNOUNCER: Live from the CNN Broadcast Center in New York, this is ANDERSON COOPER 360.
COOPER: Hey, good evening. Welcome to 360.
Our top story, a CNN exclusive. A startling look at a draft report on sex abuse in the Catholic Church. A survey finds thousands of cases against priests dating back to 1950, but critics say the situation may be even worse.
CNN's Jason Carroll broke the story and has the figures and the fallout.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JASON CARROLL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The report attempts to shatter the secrecy surrounding priestly sexual abuse for the past 50 years. CNN saw a draft of the report put together by the John Jay College of Criminal Justice at the request of the U.S. Conference of Bishops.
Preliminary numbers based on Church records show 11,000 allegations of abuse nationwide between 1950 and 2002. Seventy-eight percent of victims were ages 11 to 17, 16 percent eight to 10. And slightly less than six percent were seven years old or younger.
Of the 11,000 allegations, 6,700 were substantiated by Church records; 1,000 thousand were unsubstantiated. The remaining 3,300 were not investigated because the priests who were accused were already dead by the time allegations surfaced. The president of the Bishops Conference who has not seen the drafts, says, "These reports will be a very sobering and important milestone. My heart goes out to all who have suffered."
For victims like David Cerelli, who say, as staggering as these numbers are, the real number could be even higher.
DAVID CERELLI, ALLEGED SEX ABUSE VICTIM: Victims have a hard time coming forward. We believe that there are more victim out there who haven't reported their abuse.
CARROLL: The research also found 4,450 priests were accused of sexual abuse between 1950 and 9002. That number represents about four percent of the 110,000 priests or were in active ministry.
More than half of the accused priests named in a single allegation. A little more than 25 percent had two or three. About 13 percent, four to nine; three percent had 10 or moral allegations involving minors.
That three percent accounts for 147 priests. But those priests were responsible for abusing nearly 3,000 victims. Included in that group, priests like Father Paul Shanley in Boston, accused of molesting 30 children in 1967.
REV. THOMAS REESE, "AMERICAN MAGAZINE": I think what it shows is that a few priest can be a terrible plague on children.
CARROLL: The report suggests the abuse increased in the '60s, peaked in the '70s, and fell off in the '80s and '90s. Why? Some clergy say the Church got a wake-up call in the mid 1980's, when a priestly abuse scandal erupted in Lafayette, Louisiana.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CARROLL: The report also explores why the abuse went on for so long. And it cited several reasons, including the Church's failure to grasp the gravity of the problem, the priority the Church placed on avoiding scandal, insufficient accountability in the various dioceses.
Again, this is a draft report. There could be even more changes before the final report is released to the public. And that will be on February 27.
COOPER: A draft report or no, it is simply shocking.
Jason Carroll, thanks.
We're going to have more on this coming up with Father Reuse, who you saw in Jason Carroll's report.
Moving on now to politics. It's one day until the Wisconsin primary. A major shake-up in the Dean campaign. His campaign chairman has left the job after saying he would jump ship if Dean does not win tomorrow night.
With more, we go live to O'Clare (ph), Wisconsin, and CNN's Dan Lothian -- Dan.
DAN LOTHIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Anderson, you might remember that Howard Dean himself had been going back and forth as to whether or not he would drop out of the race if he did not win here in Wisconsin. The latest saga, of course, began yesterday, when his campaign chairman, Steve Grossman, said that Dean himself was ready or prepared to drop out if he did not win here in Wisconsin.
He later told The New York Times that if that happens, that he himself would reach out to Senator John Kerry. Today, Dean confirmed that Grossman is no longer part of the campaign.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HOWARD DEAN (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I absolutely don't feel betrayed by Steve Grossman. I consider him to be a friend. I consider him to have worked very, very hard for this campaign, including at times when we were not on the map. It is easy to work for a front-runner. Steve was there before we were anybody.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LOTHIAN: With just hours to go before the primary here, the other top-tier candidates were on the campaign trail, battling for every vote.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LOTHIAN (voice-over): Campaigning by airplane, Senator John Edwards took his message of two Americas statewide, telling voters in South Milwaukee, Appleton and Wausau, Wisconsin, that he will fight to keep jobs from being exported overseas, and stepped up his stump speech, taking on his opponents by name.
SEN. JOHN EDWARDS (D-NC), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: There is a difference. There is a choice for Wisconsin voters on this issue. I mean, I'm against NAFTA, I was against NAFTA. Governor Dean and Senator Kerry were for it.
LOTHIAN: Feeling good about his debate performance and bolstered by a key endorsement from the state's largest newspaper, Edwards says a poor showing Tuesday will not end his campaign.
EDWARDS: I think I have the strongest, most powerful message in the campaign by any candidate, including George Bush. It just has to get heard.
LOTHIAN: Senator John Kerry, sounding as if he's already in the general election, focused not on his opponents but on President Bush. Kerry, who has won 15 out of 17 contests, hopes his message on the economy and national security will continue to resonate with voters.
SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We're going to have the politics of the highest common denominator, not the lowest common denominator. We're going to turn this country around and put America back to work.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LOTHIAN: Kerry still leads in the polls here, but the Edwards campaign is looking beyond Wisconsin to not only Super Tuesday, but beyond that. Aides saying that this race is far from over -- Anderson.
COOPER: All right. Dan Lothian, thanks very much.
Coming up, get Steve Grossman's side of the story on why he's no longer a part of the Dean campaign. I will interview him live coming up.
Another development lynched to John Kerry's campaign. On Friday, you may remember Senator Kerry categorically denied rumors of an affair with a young woman. Today, the young woman who was the subject of all that Internet and talk radio gossip came forward to deny it completely as well.
In a statement issued to The Associated Press, her former employer, the woman says, "I have never had a relationship with Senator Kerry, and the rumors and the press are completely false. Whoever is spreading these rumors and allegations does not know me, but should know the pain they have caused me and my family."
While the Democrats focus on Wisconsin, President Bush sharpening his campaign message today. Focus? Well, on the economy.
Dana Bash is at the White House -- Dana.
DANA BASH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Anderson, the president sharpened that message in the very important state of Florida today. It was his 19th trip there. And, as you mentioned, his discussion was on the economy today. That is the issue that his advisers say is still, they believe, going to be the make-it-or-break- it issue for him, as it has been for incumbents in recent history.
Unlike trips in the past couple of weeks to Pennsylvania and Ohio, other states where the president acknowledged that job loss is a problem, Mr. Bush made a point today of talking up the economy. He surrounded himself with small business owners who said that things really aren't that bad, that they actually have hired workers instead of fired them.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: You know, they're going to say, well, of course, they just picked the upbeat people. Well, the truth of the matter is, people are pretty upbeat all over the country. That's what I'm here to report to you.
There is an optimism in our country that is undeniable. And we've got growth. And the key question is, are we wise enough to continue the policies, but to keep the policies in place that encourage growth?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BASH: Now, the White House designed this event today to hit back at the Democrats who are slamming his policies on the campaign trail; namely, of course, his tax cuts. But also, with the president's poll numbers on stewardship of the economy failing, they're trying at the White House to set an optimistic tone that the president hopes will have a positive psychological effect on consumers. And that, of course, also means voters.
Democrats, as you can imagine, really hit back at the White House for his rosy picture of the economy. The Democratic senator from Florida saying that the president should also talk to voters who have lost their jobs, because 19,000 of them in the Tampa area alone, where the president was today, have lost their jobs since he's been in office -- Anderson.
COOPER: All right. Dana Bash at the White House.
Thanks very much, Dana.
To San Francisco now, where a rainstorm, well, that did not dampen the spirits of hundreds of gay and lesbian couples who were waiting to get marriage licenses. Miguel Marquez has been covering the modern-day California gold rush, as over 2,000 couples are now celebrating their new status.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Part festival, part political protest, part legal struggle. Couple after same-sex couple showing their state of California marriage licenses to the world as they ascended City Hall stairs.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If I can get a marriage license, I would do anything. So we stayed out all night. All these people stayed out all night, rain, wind.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Tiara.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Tiara all the way.
MARQUEZ: Last Thursday, the city of San Francisco started granting marriage licenses to gays and lesbians. Why the line, why the rush to the altar? Groups opposed to gay marriage are asking two judges to stop immediately the city from granting the licenses and void those that have already been granted.
RICK TUSCANY, JUST MARRIED: We'll fight. We'll go -- we'll fight. We'll keep it as valid as we can.
RICK CHAPIN, JUST MARRIED: And as far as I'm concerned, it's valid.
MARQUEZ: Rick Tuscany and Rich Chapin waited all night. Their 12-year-old son now shares their new name.
(on camera): And your last name is now what?
CODY TUSCANY-CHAPIN, RICK AND RICH'S SON: Cody Tuscany-Chapin. I have two.
MARQUEZ (voice-over): But as the celebration continued, the legal battle neared. Two groups say same-sex marriage is illegal because of a 2000 voter proposition which legally defined marriage as "only between a man and woman." The city of San Francisco argues the proposition is illegal under California's constitution.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're going to continue issuing marriage licenses until a court tells us to stop.
CHRIS DIETRICH, MOM'S GETTING MARRIED: It has to happen. We have to have a little bit more of a progressive attitude in this country. And I'm so glad to be living in a place where it's actually finally happening.
MARQUEZ: Chris Dietrich and his sister are witnessing the marriage of their soon to be two moms.
MICHELLE DIETRICH, MOM GETTING MARRIED: Our moms are getting married today, and our whole family is here. My mom's ex-husband, our dad.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COOPER: And Miguel Marquez joins us now.
Miguel, what happens tomorrow exactly? The groups go to court. How likely, how soon does a decision come down?
MARQUEZ: Well, it could be made tomorrow. Nobody is entirely sure what will happen. The court is actually right across the street to see if they can stop what's going on behind me.
At 11:00 a.m., one judge hears an injunction hearing that is essentially the same as another injunction that's supposed to happen at 2:00 p.m. The City Hall seems to think that the 11:00 may put it off until 2:00, which means marriage licenses will still be granted here until 2:00 tomorrow Pacific Time. They also say that that group has not asked that the marriage licenses that have been granted be voided. They say that this group has only asked that the licenses be stopped. So it may be an open question still tomorrow whether the license that have been granted will be voided -- Anderson.
COOPER: All right. Miguel Marquez, thanks very much for that.
Time now for a fast fact for you from San Francisco. City Hall officials estimate they will have issued 2,250 marriage licenses to same-sex couples by the end of the day today. Six hundred and fifty of those were issued today. That is the most marriage licenses ever issued in a single day in San Francisco. On average, the city of San Francisco processes approximately 30 marriage licenses a day. A little later on in the program tonight we're going to talk to the leader of one of the groups challenging the same-sex marriages in San Francisco. That's coming up.
We're following a number of developing stories right now "Cross Country." Let's take a look.
Plano, Texas: the former mayor gets a presidential pardon. President Bush pardoned David B. McCall Jr. for his role in a savings and bank loan case back in the '90s. McCall is battling cancer and slipped into a coma on Thursday.
Mobile, Alabama: school bus slap-down. A former school bus driver and her supervisor are about to go to trial in a civil lawsuit brought by the parents of the child you sort of see in this videotape. The girl is mentally retarded. The tape was shot in 2001 being hit by the teacher. One person has already pleaded guilty to the abuse.
Oakland, California: planting pot at City Hall. Medical marijuana activists protesting a possible limitation on the number of clinics dispensing the drug vow to plant the illegal weed in the front yard of Oakland's City Hall. The issue comes up in tomorrow's city council meeting.
New York: Alex Rodriguez is a Yankee. Baseball's American League MVP, Alex Rodriguez, heads to New York from the Texas Rangers. Rodriguez will move to third base in the Yankees line-up.
And that is a look at stories "Cross Country" tonight.
So, is Gitmo better than a Russian resort? Believe it or not, that's how one detainee is describing it. Find out why his mother actually wants him to stay there.
Also, highway serial sniper. Police ask for your help to stop a shooter before he kills again.
And antibiotics and a possible link to breast cancer? The health report you will not want to miss.
First, let's take a look "Inside the Box" at the top stories on tonight's network newscasts.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COOPER: Well, there's a new twist in the controversy surrounding the U.S. prison for suspected terrorists at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. We know little about life behind the barbed wire. What we report on often focuses on the human rights organizations condemning conditions at Gitmo, or the legal fight for detainees seeking freedom.
But as Ryan Chilcote reports tonight, there are some Russian detainees who do not want to leave.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) RYAN CHILCOTE, CNN VIDEO CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Guantanamo Bay detainee Irad Bahitiv (ph) has written more than 20 letters to his mother. He's had plenty of time and plenty to write home about.
"When they first brought him there," she says, "he said it is better than a Russian resort. The guards treat him well, there's no humiliation, everything is clean, their linens are changed, and the food is good." "It is all about what you're used to," she says.
Bahitiv (ph) was in jails in Afghanistan and in Russia before he landed in Cuba. She says he's better off where he is now. The Russian government disagrees. It says they deserve a prompt trial on their own soil. And the U.S. has agreed to return the men to Russia.
"If they bring him here, they'll convict of whatever they want to," she says. "I asked for asylum for him in any country, even in America, anywhere but here. Between the tuberculosis and the food, the conditions in Russian jails are so bad."
Ravil Mingazov was never in a Russian jail but left his family for Afghanistan because of what he calls a lack of spiritual liberty in Russia. Something he writes he found in Guantanamo Bay.
"During Ramadan, I read the Koran two and a half times. There are only Muslims here from many countries. We read our prayers together and teach our brothers the Koran and Arabic. You might say that I've enrolled in the Cuban madrasa of patience."
That patience may not help them much longer. Russia says it is time they get their day in court. Their mothers would prefer they remain in legal limbo in Cuba.
Ryan Chilcote, CNN, Tatarstan, Russia.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COOPER: Fascinating.
A news note for you now. The Pentagon says some 650 prisoners are being detained at the United States military base at Gitmo. Of those 650 detainees, eight of them are Russian. According to the United Press International, the detainees are from 38 countries. The maximum security prison, of course, at Gitmo holds suspected al Qaeda and Taliban fighters.
We are tracking a number of developing stories around the globe right now. Let's check the "UpLink" for you.
Central Baghdad, Iraq: children get caught in the violence. An accidental explosion killed two kids and injured a third at an elementary school playground. Iraqi police say a discarded grenade went off in burning trash.
Across Haiti: the violence continues. Armed rebels with the help of former soldiers are fighting police forces. It is getting worse. At least 50 people have died since the uprising exploded two weeks ago. In one town, rebels reportedly raided a police station, killing the chief, as well as his bodyguard.
Jilin, China: two fires. Take a look at these. More than 90 people are dead, 70 injured. The first blaze erupted on the second floor of a shopping mall. It took firefighters five hours to extinguish that. Then the second blaze erupted at a temple in an eastern village.
Moving on to Seoul, South Korea: a trade riot. Hundreds of farmers fought with police after parliament approved a free trade agreement with Chile. Demonstrators fear the deal is going to flood the market with cheaper farm products. At least half a dozen people were injured.
And in Sydney, Australia, a major protest and simmering tensions. Riders pelted police with firebombs -- that's that there -- and bricks as well. Cars and train stations were also torched.
Forty officers were injured. Forty officers. All sparked after a teen Aborigine fell off his bike and impaled himself on a fence. That's how it all started, they say.
The family says police were chasing the young men. Police deny it.
That's tonight's "UpLink" for you.
Thousands of minors said to have been abused by priests over decades. A startling new look at a report. What is the Church doing now to stop it? We will take a closer look.
Also tonight, they are lining up in San Francisco to tie the knot. But will their marriage licenses hold up in court? We'll talk to one man who is trying to invalidate them all.
And a little later, a rumor that threatened to ruin John Kerry's shot at the White House proves false. How some potentially devastating gossip made its way around the world.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COOPER: Now back to our top story. A CNN exclusive, the shocking draft report on sex abuse in the Catholic Church. Preliminary numbers based on Church records show 11,000 allegations of abuse nationwide dating back to 1950.
Here to talk about the draft report, which he has not seen, Father Thomas Reese, editor of "America Magazine."
Thanks for being with us, Father.
REESE: Certainly.
COOPER: The figures are just startling: 11,000 children abused by more than 4,000 priests. The number that really jumped out at me -- and we're going to put it on the screen -- 147 priests were responsible for nearly 3,000 cases of abuse. I mean, that's almost 20 per priest.
People must have known about it. Were you shocked by these numbers?
REESE: Well, I mean, we know from other examples of abusers that a few abusers commit most of the abuse, a lot of abuse. I mean, what I found fascinating in these numbers was the fact that half the priests had only one allegation against them. And, as you say, so many of the acts of abuse were done by a very, very small number of priests. It was like three percent of the abusers.
COOPER: Although there are those who would look at that same figure and say, well, if only one allegation against them, who knows how many actual cases there were. Because, I mean, if you look at pedophiles or ebophiles, they tend to act out more than just the one time.
There are a lot of victims' groups who are saying these numbers just seem low to them. There's a quote we're going to put on the screen from a victim's advocate, David Clohessy, who said, "Bishops have tried to hide this for years. The only prudent thing to do is to assume this is not the entire truth."
Do you have faith in these numbers, that these are real?
REESE: Well, I think the numbers are real in the sense that these are the numbers that the bishops know about. Now, are there more than 11,000 victims? Of course there are, because a lot of victims don't come forward.
Bishop Gregory on national television, on CNN, called on victims to come forward, to come to their bishops and tell them if they've been abused. But, you know, a lot of people don't really want to bring that up, don't want to talk about it. You know, they want to get it behind them.
So the fact that there's only 11,000, I think that the bishops are not lying. They are just saying, that's how many we know about.
COOPER: In this draft report, when you look at why this abuse ran so rampant, why it went on so long, they put up a couple reasons. We'll put them on the screen: "A failure to grasp the gravity of the situation, an overemphasis on the avoidance of scandal, the use of unqualified treatment centers, misguided willingness to forgive, insufficient accountability."
All of those basically blame the Catholic Church for this directly. What is different today? If a priest today is caught abusing somebody, what happens?
REESE: He's out. I mean, if a priest is caught abusing a child today, he is immediately out of ministry. This is what the bishops decided and what the Vatican made law on the recommendation of the U.S. bishops, that any priest who is involved in abuse cannot be in ministry. That's the law...
COOPER: You really believe the Church has changed on this subject?
REESE: Oh, I don't think there's any question about it. We've seen hundreds of priests removed from ministry in the last year or so. And these are -- many of these had been priests who had had only one allegation against them and had not had any problems for the last 10, 15, 20 years. They've been yanked from ministry.
COOPER: Well, I know the draft report comes out in a couple weeks. CNN got leaked an advanced copy.
Thomas Reese, we appreciate you joining us. And I know you'll be looking to read the report as well when you get it. Thank you.
REESE: Sure.
COOPER: Well, today's "Buzz" question is this: What do you think, has the Catholic Church done enough to top sexual abuse by priests? You can vote now, cnn.com/360. We'll have the results at the end of the program.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
COOPER (voice-over): A Dean campaign guru talks about his plans to join team Kerry.
New studies link antibiotics to cancer. Who is at risk?
And profiling a domestic terrorist: the Ohio freeway gunman.
360 continues.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COOPER: In the next half hour on 360, a shakeup in Howard Dean's run for the White House. Find out why his campaign chairman may be working for John Kerry very soon. We're going to talk to him in a moment.
Plus, tying the knot in San Francisco. Same-sex couples take their vows. We'll talk to one man who is trying to stop them.
A possible link between breast cancer and antibiotics. First, let's check our top stories in "The Reset."
Here's what's going on right now. White Rock, British Columbia. Canadian border officials found a hand grenade in the glove compartment of a car attempting to cross into Washington state. The car was being driven by a 28-year-old woman who said her husband had just returned from military duty in Iraq. Royal Canadian Mounted Police said it appears the incident was an innocent mistake.
San Francisco. Same-sex marriages all day long. Over 2,000 couples, mostly gay and lesbian, have been married in San Francisco's city hall over Valentine's day weekend. Court challenges to the legality of the newly-weds' licenses likely tomorrow. Again, we'll talk to a man involved in a moment.
Washington. More problems for Halliburton. The oil company reportedly agrees to not bill the U.S. an additional $140 million for meals served to U.S. forces in Iraq and Kuwait until discrepancies are settled with the government. The disagreements come over subcontractor services, including meal planning, food purchase, and meal preparation for the troops.
Toledo, Ohio. Construction accident. A crane collapsed, killed three workers near the Maumee River in Toledo. Five workers were injured. No word on what caused the accident. They're investigating.
Back to politics. The shakeup in Howard Dean's troubled campaign. There is Dean -- right now he's rallying the troops in Madison, Wisconsin. That's a live shot of him right now. Been a tough day for the campaign. Its chairman, Steve Grossman is out after public reports of him saying he would jump ship if Dean loses in tomorrow's primary. Joining me now from Watertown, Massachusetts to tell his side of the story, Steve Grossman. Steve, thanks very much for being with us. Were you fired by the Dean campaign?
STEVE GROSSMAN, FMR. DEAN CAMPAIGN CHAIRMAN: No. What I said yesterday and I think you alluded to it was that if Howard Dean does not win the Wisconsin primary, then I'm going to reach out to John Kerry and do everything I can to help John Kerry, including trying to build some bridges between the Kerry organization and the Dean organization. This is going to be a tough election unless we're all on the same team, unless every single person who is part of that extraordinary grassroots movement that Howard Dean built, unless every one of those people is onboard to help defeat George Bush, it will be a very tough November so...
COOPER: You said you would leave though, after Wisconsin. But you are no longer working for the Dean campaign. Wisconsin is tomorrow. What happened? Were you let go? Did you quit?
GROSSMAN: No. I think what the Dean campaign thought what I did was tantamount to a resignation. It wasn't formally a resignation. You know how politics is. I'm proud of the role I played in this campaign. I got onboard in the summer of 2002. Howard likes to say I was the first leader of the Democratic party to support him. The last 18 months have been extraordinary. Howard has defined the debate in the Democratic party. He made it acceptable to criticize the president on the war and a lot of other issues. He built this extraordinary grassroots movement that I think can revolutionize American politics and create a movement for political empowerment longer term. I think it's time if Howard Dean does not win Wisconsin and if John Kerry does, to come together, to coalesce, and look, I've known John Kerry for 34 years. Chaired his campaign in '96 against Bill Weld. So that's the role I will play if John Kerry would like me to.
COOPER: Steve, what you said to the "New York Times" Sunday. You said, quote, "if Howard Dean does not win the Wisconsin primary, I will reach out to John Kerry unless he reaches out to me first." Why would you say that to the "New York Times" two days before your candidate, the man you're still working for, was going to submit to this primary? Was it a warning sign to him? Was it a heads up to him? Was it a signal to John Kerry? What was going on?
GROSSMAN: I think it was just exactly what it was. It was a statement that if Howard won the Wisconsin primary and I hope he does, then, obviously, that campaign, our campaign has a new lease on life. But, you know, the polls are pretty tough. It is a pretty tough mountain he has to climb. Should John Kerry win this primary and show he can win primaries all over the country, my sense was it's time to play an active role in building the bridges. And so that's the role that I'll play. I don't think I have weakened Howard Dean's campaign. The campaign will continue on. It has been a tough six weeks as we all know. So you and I know exactly what this campaign season has been like. Highs and lows.
COOPER: What do you think went wrong, Steve?
GROSSMAN: In the campaign?
COOPER: Yes.
GROSSMAN: Well, I think one of the most challenging things that took place in this campaign and maybe one of the biggest problems is when Dick Gephardt and Howard Dean began to go after one another and got in this almost death struggle, it is almost an axiom in politics that if two people attack one another, another person benefits. John Kerry and John Edwards certainly did. They got the momentum and it extended right into New Hampshire and winning Iowa and New Hampshire were central to the Dean strategy. Not winning either of those primaries weakened the campaign and we lost our momentum and it's pretty tough to get it back as you know.
COOPER: Steve, are you already working for the John Kerry campaign?
GROSSMAN: No. I haven't talked to John Kerry and I don't think it's appropriate that I do. I will wait until after Wisconsin. If John Kerry would like me to play a leadership role or active role, I'm willing to do that. I have enormous respect for Howard Dean. He is one of the most courageous people I've met. When he stepped up and supported civil unions and put his office on the line in 2000 in Vermont, that was courage that I've never seen in 35 years in politics.
So I'm proud of the role I played. I'm proud of Howard Dean. He's revitalized grassroots politics and I think in many ways American politics, grassroots politics will not be the same. It certainly hasn't been the same since he came in the race. I'm proud of what he's done. So many other people are. But I think at this point, should he not win tomorrow night, it is time to coalesce and I'm willing to do that for John Kerry.
COOPER: All right, Steve Grossman. Appreciate you joining us tonight. Good to talk to you.
The shakeup in the Dean camp comes as John Kerry maintains a sizable lead in the Wisconsin polls. These figures from the American Research Group show Kerry with 53 percent, far behind, Edwards with 16 percent. 16 percent are also undecided and 11 percent back Howard Dean.
Today I spoke with CNN political analyst Carlos Watson and Jay Carney at "TIME" magazine. I started off just a few moments ago by asking Jay what he thinks Howard Dean will do if he does not win in Wisconsin.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JAY CARNEY, "TIME" MAGAZINE: Well, he'll drop out eventually. He has to. And it certainly looks, with his campaign chairman dropping out on him and most of his supporters no longer turning out for his events, that he'll have to drop out. I think what's happening here, Anderson, is he's negotiating an exit, an exit that allows him to depart with dignity and somehow maintain the status he's created for himself after his incredible campaign.
COOPER: Carlos, what does that mean in terms of timetable and how supportive will he be of Kerry, if at all?
CARLOS WATSON, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: I think you'll expect him to drop out within a week of Wisconsin. So assuming he loses Wisconsin. I think you'll hear during that week that a number of members of his staff will join the Kerry team, much like we saw some of Richard Gephardt's key people join the Kerry team very quickly. But in terms of endorsements, I think he'll wait. You recall that in 2000, John McCain waited two months before endorsing George Bush. Bill Bradley waited even longer. Four months. So I think he'll wait several months and as Jay suggested, negotiate a way to be, not just a voice but potentially even a potent fundraiser for John Kerry as he looks towards the general election.
COOPER: Jay, talking about endorsements though, the "Milwaukee Journal Sentinel" has endorsed John Edwards. How big a boost is this going to be for him? Is it equivalent to when the "Des Moines Register" endorsed him back in Iowa?
CARNEY: I don't think it's quite equivalent. The race is not nearly as fluid now as we approach the Wisconsin primary as it was in the Iowa caucuses. Nevertheless, it will help Edwards. It might boost his numbers some but I don't think you'll see this dramatic increase in support that we saw in Iowa.
COOPER: Jay, I want to talk about this story that has been swirling. It's not even a story, just rumors swirling around basically on the Internet, a few overseas newspapers about John Kerry and an intern or an alleged intern at that point. It has now been denied categorically by John Kerry, it's been denied in the statement by the young woman just today. I will put some of it on the screen. This is what she said. "For the several days I have seen Internet and tabloid rumors relating to me and Senator John Kerry. Because these stories were false, I assumed the media would ignore them." Aha. "It seems that efforts to peddle these lies continue so I feel compelled to address them. I've never had a relationship with Senator Kerry and the rumors in the press are completely false." Is this story done? Is it dead?
CARNEY: Well, it sure should be, as far as I'm concerned. We have denials from both the principals. We have no other aspect of this that makes it is an issue in a presidential campaign. No legal case like there was with the president. There's no -- John Kerry is not out there running a family values, be true to your marriage vows campaign.
COOPER: Carlos, what do you think? Is this campaign just going to get brutal and more and more nasty as time goes on?
WATSON: Very much so. Because again, we can't forget that everybody expects it to be a close election. And there's no way that people are going turn aside an opportunity to mix sex with politics.
Will it affect how the voters feel about John Kerry or the president, that's not clear.
Mixing a little sex with a little politics is not new in American politics. I'm sure we'll hear about it.
COOPER: No about to go away anytime soon. All right, Carlos Watson, thanks very much. Jay Carney, as well, thanks very much.
Every now and then we come across a story, well, just ain't right. A misdeed, a misnomer, a misunderstanding. Beginning tonight and every Monday, in fact, we going to feature one of these kind of story. Tonight a look at John Kerry and the faking of facts, that is just wrong.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: Have you seen this photo floating around the worldwide web?
John Kerry and Jane Fonda at an anti-Vietnam war rally in the 1960s. They look pretty cozy. The trouble is, it is fake. Here is the real photo. John Kerry was there, Jane Fonda wasn't. Some trickster added her in. With Photoshop and the Internet and our endless appetite for titillation, making up stuff is easier than ever. That's Kerry with Bozo the Clown, and he wasn't there either.
Then there's that other story about John Kerry that's been all over the web as well. He's denied it, and today the young woman whose name has been bandied about categorically denied it as well. No evidence was ever offered, but that didn't stop online tipsters from having a field day. Call it fact free reporting, whether it's used against Democrats or Republicans or anyone, no one should accept it. Fact free reporting, that's just wrong.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COOPER: Well, gay couples in San Francisco are saying "i do." They're lining up at the nuptials. In a moment, we'll talk with a man who is trying to stop the vows. Also tonight, a serial sniper on the loose in Ohio. Another car targeted. Hear what a criminal profiler is saying about who might be responsible.
Plus breast cancer and its possible link to antibiotics. We'll have the new research coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COOPER: Well, when newly elected San Francisco Gavin Newsom allowed same-sex comes to get marriage licenses he created a Californian gold rush of well a different sort. An estimated -- excuse me, 2,250 gay and lesbian couples have been married at city hall since last Thursday. You are looking at a live shot of city hall right now. Tomorrow several groups are planning to challenge the San Francisco mayor in court. Here with us live from Sacramento is Randy Thomasson. He's the executive director for Campaign for California Family, one of the groups challenging the mayor's actions.
Randy, thanks for being with us.
Tomorrow you go to court in an effort to stop the new licenses from being issued and also voiding the licenses that have been issued thus far on what rational, why?
RANDY THOMASSON, CAMPAIGN FOR CALIFORNIA FAMILIES: State law. State law of California says this marriage is only for a man and woman. It says that in several places. And the renegade major of San Francisco is violating the state law. He's pretending to be a dictator. He's imposing his own values upon the citizenry, and he is really out of order. Because our state attorney general Bill Lockyer is not enforcing the state law, it is up to us and other organizations that represent the 4.6 million Californians who want marriage to be protected to go to court and protect marriage and up hold the state law. Anderson, this is much about protecting the government and respect for laws as it is about protecting marriage.
COOPER: Randy, the renegade mayor as you call him, Gavin Newsom, he basicly says he is trying to stop discrimination in the state. The state clearly has a mandate saying no discrimination. He believes the policies are discriminatory. He's trying to counteract that. He was on our program last week, this is what he had to say. Let's play this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAYOR GAVIN NEWSOM (D), SAN FRANCISCO: The same people that probably will argue against blacks marrying whites in the late '40s here in California. The same people that didn't like Protestants marrying Catholics around the turn of the century.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: At the core of your opposition to these marriage license, is it simply opposition to homosexuals? THOMASSON: I have to shake my head when I hear the mayor and his spokespersons. When we look -- there is no one telling gays you can't drink at this drinking fountain or sit the the back of the bus. To have a marriage you have to have a man and woman, that could be a black man, a white women, Asian, whatever. But marriage has always is a man and woman. It is the foundation of family, it's best for the children, and it is the state law in several places. He is a renegade mayor. And that's why I believe he will be found wrong by a judge.
COOPER: So, you don't believe gays and lesbians are in anyway discriminated in the United States today, and their ability to have a marriage or civil union is discriminatory.
THOMASSON: Let me tell you what he's talking about. Equal protection under the law is in the 14th amendment, and that was written after the civil war to say that former black slaves shall be treated equally under the state like they were free born. So that we all accept, and that's what we respect. Now we look at that being exploded into being said, OK, look. Equal everything.
Hey, look, there's some things that you can't have because they're not yours. Marriage is always for a man and woman, and I'll say this,there are signs being carried that say, everybody deserves the same right to be married. Guess what, in America everyone does have the same right to be married, but you have to play by the rules. That's what equal protection under the law means. You can marry someone who is unmarried, if they want to marry you, if you are both of age, not closely related and, yes, of the opposite sex. That's the rules.
COOPER: All right, Randy, you go to court tomorrow to stop it all. We will be watching very closely. (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
THOMASSON: We are upholding the law in California, and we're doing this for the people's vote.
COOPER: All right, Randy Thomasson, thanks very much for joining us.
THOMASSON: Thank you.
COOPER: Fear on the highway. A serial sniper is believed to be responsible for 24 shootings near Columbus. Ballistic tests have also confirmed a bullet that struck an SUV yesterday is linked to all the other shootings, most of them carried out, get this, in broad daylight. All seemingly without any rush. Experts say it's clear the shooter is getting bolder.
I'm joined by one them, from Norwood, Massachusetts, criminologist Jack Levin of Northeastern University. Jack, thanks very much for being on the program.
What do you make of this person's behavior?
They say, he's not in any rush, that he's attacking in broad daylight? JACK LEVIN, NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY: I think the shooter is beginning to feel invincible. After all, he's gotten away with murder and shooting people for about eight months now. And he looks over his shoulder, there's no police officer, no FBI agent, nobody knows who he is. I think he's kind of sweetening the challenge.
COOPER: What is the challenge, though?
What is the thrill?
I mean, it's not an up close...
LEVIN: Well, he's playing a cat and mouse game. No. No. This is not sexual sadism like Ted Bundy. This is a guy who is vengeful, He wants to get sweet revenge, not against an individual but perhaps against the entire Columbus community, maybe against all humanity. But he also wants to feel powerful, in charge, in control, dominant. And so...
COOPER: Is he shooting to kill, you think?
LEVIN: Oh, no. Definitely not. He did kill someone. I think he doesn't really care one way or the other about that. What he hopes to do is to terrify the entire community. Makes him feel good about himself. Makes him feel powerful and important. That's why he sweetened this challenge and he's so bold as to kill in broad daylight. He shoots from an overpass. He's seen by eyewitnesses. I think he feels he can do anything and get away with it.
COOPER: So is this just a loser in real life who has no real control over anything and no real life and, therefore, this is the only way he can feel control?
LEVIN: Well, I don't think he can feel control in a social acceptable way. My guess is this guy has recently suffered from catastrophic loss, maybe the loss of a job, financial disaster on the stock market, maybe a nasty separation or divorce or maybe all of them and he blames humanity and decides he's going to get sweet revenge by taking it out on everybody in the community.
COOPER: It's hard to imagine. I appreciate you joining us. It's really good to talk to you.
Coming up. Antibiotics. They help cure so many illnesses but research shows they may be linked to breast cancer. We're going to have the research that you need to hear coming up.
Also tonight, Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch may be changing hands. You won't believe who is interested. Details ahead in "The Current."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COOPER: On the medical front now. There's a new study out about antibiotics and one of the leading cancers among women, breast cancer. The results are surprising. Our medical correspondent Holly Firfer reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HOLLY FIRFER, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): We've all heard about the dangers of overusing antibiotics and bacterial resistance but a new study published in the "Journal of the American Medical Association" says that taking antibiotics may increase a woman's risk for breast cancer. Researchers studied 17 years of medical information from more than 10,000 women.
DR. CHRISTINE VELICER, GROUP HEALTH COOPERATIVE: On average, women who used antibiotics for more than 500 days had a two-fold increased risk of breast cancer.
FIRFER: The more they took, the greater the risk.
DR. ROBERTA HESS, JAMA EDITORIAL AUTHOR: It is as strong as any of the risk factors we know. To put it in perspective, the risk for developing breast cancer from hormone replacement use is about a 30 percent increase, 30 percent to 40 percent increase in risk. And here we're talking about a doubling of risk for those women who are using chronic antibiotics.
FIRFER: While breast cancer risks from hormone replacement therapy has been well-documented, this is the first study connecting breast cancer with antibiotics. Researchers aren't sure why there is an increase in breast cancer risk with antibiotic use so they don't recommend changing the way you use antibiotics yet.
HESS: For now, yes, people need to recognize that both the substantial benefits as well as some potential risks of using antibiotics.
FIRFER: Here are some tips on the safest way to use antibiotics. If your doctor thinks antibiotics are the best meds, then take them. Never take them for the cold, cough, or the flu. Take the full course of treatment even after you're feeling better. Never take leftovers. It could delay treatment and allow bacteria to multiply. Medical experts are recommending that further studies to be done to confirm the findings. In the meantime, women should be sure not to overuse antibiotics. Holly Firfer, CNN, Atlanta.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COOPER: Well, time to check the pop news in tonight's "Current." Janet Jackson is making her first appearance since baring her bosom at the Super Bowl. The singer received an award by a group called Behind the Bench. It's for her humanitarian and charitable contributions and possibly for making 14-year-old boys across the country just a little bit happier.
Everyone's favorite billionaire, Donald Trump is denying accusations that he dated Victoria (ph), a "Penthouse" pet. That's not Victoria there. The Donald is quoted as saying, quote, "she's a 35-year-old penthouse pet. That's pathetic." Yes, but if she was 25, maybe. Elton John's extended gig in Las Vegas kicked off last Friday. He's filling in for Celine Dion for a bunch of shows over the next three years. I have three words for Celine Dion, inventory your wardrobe.
And Eminem may want to buy Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch. The surly Detroit rapper is considering paying $49 million for the king of pop's estate which comes with 2,000 acres, an amusement park. Unfortunately, the stable of defense lawyers costs extra.
That's a look at "The Current."
You expect cake and presents at a birthday party. But this? It is not Oprah's 50th. It is North Koreans honoring their leader's birthday party. We take the wild celebration to the Nth degree just ahead.
And tomorrow, countdown to results from the Wisconsin primary. Don't miss our live coverage of the political battle.
A quick look at today's buzz. "Has the Catholic church done enough to stop sexual abuse by priests?" Vote now. CNN.com/360. Just a few more minutes to vote. We'll have results when we come back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COOPER: Time now for the "Buzz." We asked you, "has the Catholic church done enough to stop sexual abuse by priests?" Almost 18,000 of you voted. 8 percent said yes. 92 percent said no. Not a scientific poll, but it is your buzz. We appreciate you voting.
Tonight, taking sucking up to the "Nth Degree." Today is the birthday of one of the most despised leaders of our time, Kim Jong-il. He turned 62 and his party made Oprah's 50th look, well, small. One party-going party hack called Kim the sun of the 21st century. That's sun, S-U-N. Another called him, quote, "the most prominent statesman in the present world." Present world meaning the Bizarro made up that's North Korea. The vice president of North Korea's parliament pulled no punches either. He said, quote, the great personality of Kim Jong-il as a political elder as a political elder in the present world has been exulted by his unusual leadership ability. He's definitely right about the unusual leadership part.
So what do you give a tyrant who has everything including nuclear material? Apparently, the answer is bull. A heaping helping of it. That's it for our program tonight. Thanks for watching. I'm Anderson Cooper. Coming up next, "PAULA ZAHN NOW."
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Chairman Leaves Post>
Aired February 16, 2004 - 19:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON COOPER, HOST (voice-over): Abuse and the Catholic Church. A shocking new draft report tells of thousands of cases.
A top aide to Howard Dean is out of the campaign. He tells us why.
A new link between antibiotics and cancer. We'll tell you who's at risk.
What's motivating the Ohio freeway gunman?
Gay and lesbian couples walking down the aisle. Tomorrow, opponents head to court.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANNOUNCER: Live from the CNN Broadcast Center in New York, this is ANDERSON COOPER 360.
COOPER: Hey, good evening. Welcome to 360.
Our top story, a CNN exclusive. A startling look at a draft report on sex abuse in the Catholic Church. A survey finds thousands of cases against priests dating back to 1950, but critics say the situation may be even worse.
CNN's Jason Carroll broke the story and has the figures and the fallout.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JASON CARROLL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The report attempts to shatter the secrecy surrounding priestly sexual abuse for the past 50 years. CNN saw a draft of the report put together by the John Jay College of Criminal Justice at the request of the U.S. Conference of Bishops.
Preliminary numbers based on Church records show 11,000 allegations of abuse nationwide between 1950 and 2002. Seventy-eight percent of victims were ages 11 to 17, 16 percent eight to 10. And slightly less than six percent were seven years old or younger.
Of the 11,000 allegations, 6,700 were substantiated by Church records; 1,000 thousand were unsubstantiated. The remaining 3,300 were not investigated because the priests who were accused were already dead by the time allegations surfaced. The president of the Bishops Conference who has not seen the drafts, says, "These reports will be a very sobering and important milestone. My heart goes out to all who have suffered."
For victims like David Cerelli, who say, as staggering as these numbers are, the real number could be even higher.
DAVID CERELLI, ALLEGED SEX ABUSE VICTIM: Victims have a hard time coming forward. We believe that there are more victim out there who haven't reported their abuse.
CARROLL: The research also found 4,450 priests were accused of sexual abuse between 1950 and 9002. That number represents about four percent of the 110,000 priests or were in active ministry.
More than half of the accused priests named in a single allegation. A little more than 25 percent had two or three. About 13 percent, four to nine; three percent had 10 or moral allegations involving minors.
That three percent accounts for 147 priests. But those priests were responsible for abusing nearly 3,000 victims. Included in that group, priests like Father Paul Shanley in Boston, accused of molesting 30 children in 1967.
REV. THOMAS REESE, "AMERICAN MAGAZINE": I think what it shows is that a few priest can be a terrible plague on children.
CARROLL: The report suggests the abuse increased in the '60s, peaked in the '70s, and fell off in the '80s and '90s. Why? Some clergy say the Church got a wake-up call in the mid 1980's, when a priestly abuse scandal erupted in Lafayette, Louisiana.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CARROLL: The report also explores why the abuse went on for so long. And it cited several reasons, including the Church's failure to grasp the gravity of the problem, the priority the Church placed on avoiding scandal, insufficient accountability in the various dioceses.
Again, this is a draft report. There could be even more changes before the final report is released to the public. And that will be on February 27.
COOPER: A draft report or no, it is simply shocking.
Jason Carroll, thanks.
We're going to have more on this coming up with Father Reuse, who you saw in Jason Carroll's report.
Moving on now to politics. It's one day until the Wisconsin primary. A major shake-up in the Dean campaign. His campaign chairman has left the job after saying he would jump ship if Dean does not win tomorrow night.
With more, we go live to O'Clare (ph), Wisconsin, and CNN's Dan Lothian -- Dan.
DAN LOTHIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Anderson, you might remember that Howard Dean himself had been going back and forth as to whether or not he would drop out of the race if he did not win here in Wisconsin. The latest saga, of course, began yesterday, when his campaign chairman, Steve Grossman, said that Dean himself was ready or prepared to drop out if he did not win here in Wisconsin.
He later told The New York Times that if that happens, that he himself would reach out to Senator John Kerry. Today, Dean confirmed that Grossman is no longer part of the campaign.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HOWARD DEAN (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I absolutely don't feel betrayed by Steve Grossman. I consider him to be a friend. I consider him to have worked very, very hard for this campaign, including at times when we were not on the map. It is easy to work for a front-runner. Steve was there before we were anybody.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LOTHIAN: With just hours to go before the primary here, the other top-tier candidates were on the campaign trail, battling for every vote.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LOTHIAN (voice-over): Campaigning by airplane, Senator John Edwards took his message of two Americas statewide, telling voters in South Milwaukee, Appleton and Wausau, Wisconsin, that he will fight to keep jobs from being exported overseas, and stepped up his stump speech, taking on his opponents by name.
SEN. JOHN EDWARDS (D-NC), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: There is a difference. There is a choice for Wisconsin voters on this issue. I mean, I'm against NAFTA, I was against NAFTA. Governor Dean and Senator Kerry were for it.
LOTHIAN: Feeling good about his debate performance and bolstered by a key endorsement from the state's largest newspaper, Edwards says a poor showing Tuesday will not end his campaign.
EDWARDS: I think I have the strongest, most powerful message in the campaign by any candidate, including George Bush. It just has to get heard.
LOTHIAN: Senator John Kerry, sounding as if he's already in the general election, focused not on his opponents but on President Bush. Kerry, who has won 15 out of 17 contests, hopes his message on the economy and national security will continue to resonate with voters.
SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We're going to have the politics of the highest common denominator, not the lowest common denominator. We're going to turn this country around and put America back to work.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LOTHIAN: Kerry still leads in the polls here, but the Edwards campaign is looking beyond Wisconsin to not only Super Tuesday, but beyond that. Aides saying that this race is far from over -- Anderson.
COOPER: All right. Dan Lothian, thanks very much.
Coming up, get Steve Grossman's side of the story on why he's no longer a part of the Dean campaign. I will interview him live coming up.
Another development lynched to John Kerry's campaign. On Friday, you may remember Senator Kerry categorically denied rumors of an affair with a young woman. Today, the young woman who was the subject of all that Internet and talk radio gossip came forward to deny it completely as well.
In a statement issued to The Associated Press, her former employer, the woman says, "I have never had a relationship with Senator Kerry, and the rumors and the press are completely false. Whoever is spreading these rumors and allegations does not know me, but should know the pain they have caused me and my family."
While the Democrats focus on Wisconsin, President Bush sharpening his campaign message today. Focus? Well, on the economy.
Dana Bash is at the White House -- Dana.
DANA BASH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Anderson, the president sharpened that message in the very important state of Florida today. It was his 19th trip there. And, as you mentioned, his discussion was on the economy today. That is the issue that his advisers say is still, they believe, going to be the make-it-or-break- it issue for him, as it has been for incumbents in recent history.
Unlike trips in the past couple of weeks to Pennsylvania and Ohio, other states where the president acknowledged that job loss is a problem, Mr. Bush made a point today of talking up the economy. He surrounded himself with small business owners who said that things really aren't that bad, that they actually have hired workers instead of fired them.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: You know, they're going to say, well, of course, they just picked the upbeat people. Well, the truth of the matter is, people are pretty upbeat all over the country. That's what I'm here to report to you.
There is an optimism in our country that is undeniable. And we've got growth. And the key question is, are we wise enough to continue the policies, but to keep the policies in place that encourage growth?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BASH: Now, the White House designed this event today to hit back at the Democrats who are slamming his policies on the campaign trail; namely, of course, his tax cuts. But also, with the president's poll numbers on stewardship of the economy failing, they're trying at the White House to set an optimistic tone that the president hopes will have a positive psychological effect on consumers. And that, of course, also means voters.
Democrats, as you can imagine, really hit back at the White House for his rosy picture of the economy. The Democratic senator from Florida saying that the president should also talk to voters who have lost their jobs, because 19,000 of them in the Tampa area alone, where the president was today, have lost their jobs since he's been in office -- Anderson.
COOPER: All right. Dana Bash at the White House.
Thanks very much, Dana.
To San Francisco now, where a rainstorm, well, that did not dampen the spirits of hundreds of gay and lesbian couples who were waiting to get marriage licenses. Miguel Marquez has been covering the modern-day California gold rush, as over 2,000 couples are now celebrating their new status.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Part festival, part political protest, part legal struggle. Couple after same-sex couple showing their state of California marriage licenses to the world as they ascended City Hall stairs.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If I can get a marriage license, I would do anything. So we stayed out all night. All these people stayed out all night, rain, wind.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Tiara.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Tiara all the way.
MARQUEZ: Last Thursday, the city of San Francisco started granting marriage licenses to gays and lesbians. Why the line, why the rush to the altar? Groups opposed to gay marriage are asking two judges to stop immediately the city from granting the licenses and void those that have already been granted.
RICK TUSCANY, JUST MARRIED: We'll fight. We'll go -- we'll fight. We'll keep it as valid as we can.
RICK CHAPIN, JUST MARRIED: And as far as I'm concerned, it's valid.
MARQUEZ: Rick Tuscany and Rich Chapin waited all night. Their 12-year-old son now shares their new name.
(on camera): And your last name is now what?
CODY TUSCANY-CHAPIN, RICK AND RICH'S SON: Cody Tuscany-Chapin. I have two.
MARQUEZ (voice-over): But as the celebration continued, the legal battle neared. Two groups say same-sex marriage is illegal because of a 2000 voter proposition which legally defined marriage as "only between a man and woman." The city of San Francisco argues the proposition is illegal under California's constitution.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're going to continue issuing marriage licenses until a court tells us to stop.
CHRIS DIETRICH, MOM'S GETTING MARRIED: It has to happen. We have to have a little bit more of a progressive attitude in this country. And I'm so glad to be living in a place where it's actually finally happening.
MARQUEZ: Chris Dietrich and his sister are witnessing the marriage of their soon to be two moms.
MICHELLE DIETRICH, MOM GETTING MARRIED: Our moms are getting married today, and our whole family is here. My mom's ex-husband, our dad.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COOPER: And Miguel Marquez joins us now.
Miguel, what happens tomorrow exactly? The groups go to court. How likely, how soon does a decision come down?
MARQUEZ: Well, it could be made tomorrow. Nobody is entirely sure what will happen. The court is actually right across the street to see if they can stop what's going on behind me.
At 11:00 a.m., one judge hears an injunction hearing that is essentially the same as another injunction that's supposed to happen at 2:00 p.m. The City Hall seems to think that the 11:00 may put it off until 2:00, which means marriage licenses will still be granted here until 2:00 tomorrow Pacific Time. They also say that that group has not asked that the marriage licenses that have been granted be voided. They say that this group has only asked that the licenses be stopped. So it may be an open question still tomorrow whether the license that have been granted will be voided -- Anderson.
COOPER: All right. Miguel Marquez, thanks very much for that.
Time now for a fast fact for you from San Francisco. City Hall officials estimate they will have issued 2,250 marriage licenses to same-sex couples by the end of the day today. Six hundred and fifty of those were issued today. That is the most marriage licenses ever issued in a single day in San Francisco. On average, the city of San Francisco processes approximately 30 marriage licenses a day. A little later on in the program tonight we're going to talk to the leader of one of the groups challenging the same-sex marriages in San Francisco. That's coming up.
We're following a number of developing stories right now "Cross Country." Let's take a look.
Plano, Texas: the former mayor gets a presidential pardon. President Bush pardoned David B. McCall Jr. for his role in a savings and bank loan case back in the '90s. McCall is battling cancer and slipped into a coma on Thursday.
Mobile, Alabama: school bus slap-down. A former school bus driver and her supervisor are about to go to trial in a civil lawsuit brought by the parents of the child you sort of see in this videotape. The girl is mentally retarded. The tape was shot in 2001 being hit by the teacher. One person has already pleaded guilty to the abuse.
Oakland, California: planting pot at City Hall. Medical marijuana activists protesting a possible limitation on the number of clinics dispensing the drug vow to plant the illegal weed in the front yard of Oakland's City Hall. The issue comes up in tomorrow's city council meeting.
New York: Alex Rodriguez is a Yankee. Baseball's American League MVP, Alex Rodriguez, heads to New York from the Texas Rangers. Rodriguez will move to third base in the Yankees line-up.
And that is a look at stories "Cross Country" tonight.
So, is Gitmo better than a Russian resort? Believe it or not, that's how one detainee is describing it. Find out why his mother actually wants him to stay there.
Also, highway serial sniper. Police ask for your help to stop a shooter before he kills again.
And antibiotics and a possible link to breast cancer? The health report you will not want to miss.
First, let's take a look "Inside the Box" at the top stories on tonight's network newscasts.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COOPER: Well, there's a new twist in the controversy surrounding the U.S. prison for suspected terrorists at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. We know little about life behind the barbed wire. What we report on often focuses on the human rights organizations condemning conditions at Gitmo, or the legal fight for detainees seeking freedom.
But as Ryan Chilcote reports tonight, there are some Russian detainees who do not want to leave.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) RYAN CHILCOTE, CNN VIDEO CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Guantanamo Bay detainee Irad Bahitiv (ph) has written more than 20 letters to his mother. He's had plenty of time and plenty to write home about.
"When they first brought him there," she says, "he said it is better than a Russian resort. The guards treat him well, there's no humiliation, everything is clean, their linens are changed, and the food is good." "It is all about what you're used to," she says.
Bahitiv (ph) was in jails in Afghanistan and in Russia before he landed in Cuba. She says he's better off where he is now. The Russian government disagrees. It says they deserve a prompt trial on their own soil. And the U.S. has agreed to return the men to Russia.
"If they bring him here, they'll convict of whatever they want to," she says. "I asked for asylum for him in any country, even in America, anywhere but here. Between the tuberculosis and the food, the conditions in Russian jails are so bad."
Ravil Mingazov was never in a Russian jail but left his family for Afghanistan because of what he calls a lack of spiritual liberty in Russia. Something he writes he found in Guantanamo Bay.
"During Ramadan, I read the Koran two and a half times. There are only Muslims here from many countries. We read our prayers together and teach our brothers the Koran and Arabic. You might say that I've enrolled in the Cuban madrasa of patience."
That patience may not help them much longer. Russia says it is time they get their day in court. Their mothers would prefer they remain in legal limbo in Cuba.
Ryan Chilcote, CNN, Tatarstan, Russia.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COOPER: Fascinating.
A news note for you now. The Pentagon says some 650 prisoners are being detained at the United States military base at Gitmo. Of those 650 detainees, eight of them are Russian. According to the United Press International, the detainees are from 38 countries. The maximum security prison, of course, at Gitmo holds suspected al Qaeda and Taliban fighters.
We are tracking a number of developing stories around the globe right now. Let's check the "UpLink" for you.
Central Baghdad, Iraq: children get caught in the violence. An accidental explosion killed two kids and injured a third at an elementary school playground. Iraqi police say a discarded grenade went off in burning trash.
Across Haiti: the violence continues. Armed rebels with the help of former soldiers are fighting police forces. It is getting worse. At least 50 people have died since the uprising exploded two weeks ago. In one town, rebels reportedly raided a police station, killing the chief, as well as his bodyguard.
Jilin, China: two fires. Take a look at these. More than 90 people are dead, 70 injured. The first blaze erupted on the second floor of a shopping mall. It took firefighters five hours to extinguish that. Then the second blaze erupted at a temple in an eastern village.
Moving on to Seoul, South Korea: a trade riot. Hundreds of farmers fought with police after parliament approved a free trade agreement with Chile. Demonstrators fear the deal is going to flood the market with cheaper farm products. At least half a dozen people were injured.
And in Sydney, Australia, a major protest and simmering tensions. Riders pelted police with firebombs -- that's that there -- and bricks as well. Cars and train stations were also torched.
Forty officers were injured. Forty officers. All sparked after a teen Aborigine fell off his bike and impaled himself on a fence. That's how it all started, they say.
The family says police were chasing the young men. Police deny it.
That's tonight's "UpLink" for you.
Thousands of minors said to have been abused by priests over decades. A startling new look at a report. What is the Church doing now to stop it? We will take a closer look.
Also tonight, they are lining up in San Francisco to tie the knot. But will their marriage licenses hold up in court? We'll talk to one man who is trying to invalidate them all.
And a little later, a rumor that threatened to ruin John Kerry's shot at the White House proves false. How some potentially devastating gossip made its way around the world.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COOPER: Now back to our top story. A CNN exclusive, the shocking draft report on sex abuse in the Catholic Church. Preliminary numbers based on Church records show 11,000 allegations of abuse nationwide dating back to 1950.
Here to talk about the draft report, which he has not seen, Father Thomas Reese, editor of "America Magazine."
Thanks for being with us, Father.
REESE: Certainly.
COOPER: The figures are just startling: 11,000 children abused by more than 4,000 priests. The number that really jumped out at me -- and we're going to put it on the screen -- 147 priests were responsible for nearly 3,000 cases of abuse. I mean, that's almost 20 per priest.
People must have known about it. Were you shocked by these numbers?
REESE: Well, I mean, we know from other examples of abusers that a few abusers commit most of the abuse, a lot of abuse. I mean, what I found fascinating in these numbers was the fact that half the priests had only one allegation against them. And, as you say, so many of the acts of abuse were done by a very, very small number of priests. It was like three percent of the abusers.
COOPER: Although there are those who would look at that same figure and say, well, if only one allegation against them, who knows how many actual cases there were. Because, I mean, if you look at pedophiles or ebophiles, they tend to act out more than just the one time.
There are a lot of victims' groups who are saying these numbers just seem low to them. There's a quote we're going to put on the screen from a victim's advocate, David Clohessy, who said, "Bishops have tried to hide this for years. The only prudent thing to do is to assume this is not the entire truth."
Do you have faith in these numbers, that these are real?
REESE: Well, I think the numbers are real in the sense that these are the numbers that the bishops know about. Now, are there more than 11,000 victims? Of course there are, because a lot of victims don't come forward.
Bishop Gregory on national television, on CNN, called on victims to come forward, to come to their bishops and tell them if they've been abused. But, you know, a lot of people don't really want to bring that up, don't want to talk about it. You know, they want to get it behind them.
So the fact that there's only 11,000, I think that the bishops are not lying. They are just saying, that's how many we know about.
COOPER: In this draft report, when you look at why this abuse ran so rampant, why it went on so long, they put up a couple reasons. We'll put them on the screen: "A failure to grasp the gravity of the situation, an overemphasis on the avoidance of scandal, the use of unqualified treatment centers, misguided willingness to forgive, insufficient accountability."
All of those basically blame the Catholic Church for this directly. What is different today? If a priest today is caught abusing somebody, what happens?
REESE: He's out. I mean, if a priest is caught abusing a child today, he is immediately out of ministry. This is what the bishops decided and what the Vatican made law on the recommendation of the U.S. bishops, that any priest who is involved in abuse cannot be in ministry. That's the law...
COOPER: You really believe the Church has changed on this subject?
REESE: Oh, I don't think there's any question about it. We've seen hundreds of priests removed from ministry in the last year or so. And these are -- many of these had been priests who had had only one allegation against them and had not had any problems for the last 10, 15, 20 years. They've been yanked from ministry.
COOPER: Well, I know the draft report comes out in a couple weeks. CNN got leaked an advanced copy.
Thomas Reese, we appreciate you joining us. And I know you'll be looking to read the report as well when you get it. Thank you.
REESE: Sure.
COOPER: Well, today's "Buzz" question is this: What do you think, has the Catholic Church done enough to top sexual abuse by priests? You can vote now, cnn.com/360. We'll have the results at the end of the program.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
COOPER (voice-over): A Dean campaign guru talks about his plans to join team Kerry.
New studies link antibiotics to cancer. Who is at risk?
And profiling a domestic terrorist: the Ohio freeway gunman.
360 continues.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COOPER: In the next half hour on 360, a shakeup in Howard Dean's run for the White House. Find out why his campaign chairman may be working for John Kerry very soon. We're going to talk to him in a moment.
Plus, tying the knot in San Francisco. Same-sex couples take their vows. We'll talk to one man who is trying to stop them.
A possible link between breast cancer and antibiotics. First, let's check our top stories in "The Reset."
Here's what's going on right now. White Rock, British Columbia. Canadian border officials found a hand grenade in the glove compartment of a car attempting to cross into Washington state. The car was being driven by a 28-year-old woman who said her husband had just returned from military duty in Iraq. Royal Canadian Mounted Police said it appears the incident was an innocent mistake.
San Francisco. Same-sex marriages all day long. Over 2,000 couples, mostly gay and lesbian, have been married in San Francisco's city hall over Valentine's day weekend. Court challenges to the legality of the newly-weds' licenses likely tomorrow. Again, we'll talk to a man involved in a moment.
Washington. More problems for Halliburton. The oil company reportedly agrees to not bill the U.S. an additional $140 million for meals served to U.S. forces in Iraq and Kuwait until discrepancies are settled with the government. The disagreements come over subcontractor services, including meal planning, food purchase, and meal preparation for the troops.
Toledo, Ohio. Construction accident. A crane collapsed, killed three workers near the Maumee River in Toledo. Five workers were injured. No word on what caused the accident. They're investigating.
Back to politics. The shakeup in Howard Dean's troubled campaign. There is Dean -- right now he's rallying the troops in Madison, Wisconsin. That's a live shot of him right now. Been a tough day for the campaign. Its chairman, Steve Grossman is out after public reports of him saying he would jump ship if Dean loses in tomorrow's primary. Joining me now from Watertown, Massachusetts to tell his side of the story, Steve Grossman. Steve, thanks very much for being with us. Were you fired by the Dean campaign?
STEVE GROSSMAN, FMR. DEAN CAMPAIGN CHAIRMAN: No. What I said yesterday and I think you alluded to it was that if Howard Dean does not win the Wisconsin primary, then I'm going to reach out to John Kerry and do everything I can to help John Kerry, including trying to build some bridges between the Kerry organization and the Dean organization. This is going to be a tough election unless we're all on the same team, unless every single person who is part of that extraordinary grassroots movement that Howard Dean built, unless every one of those people is onboard to help defeat George Bush, it will be a very tough November so...
COOPER: You said you would leave though, after Wisconsin. But you are no longer working for the Dean campaign. Wisconsin is tomorrow. What happened? Were you let go? Did you quit?
GROSSMAN: No. I think what the Dean campaign thought what I did was tantamount to a resignation. It wasn't formally a resignation. You know how politics is. I'm proud of the role I played in this campaign. I got onboard in the summer of 2002. Howard likes to say I was the first leader of the Democratic party to support him. The last 18 months have been extraordinary. Howard has defined the debate in the Democratic party. He made it acceptable to criticize the president on the war and a lot of other issues. He built this extraordinary grassroots movement that I think can revolutionize American politics and create a movement for political empowerment longer term. I think it's time if Howard Dean does not win Wisconsin and if John Kerry does, to come together, to coalesce, and look, I've known John Kerry for 34 years. Chaired his campaign in '96 against Bill Weld. So that's the role I will play if John Kerry would like me to.
COOPER: Steve, what you said to the "New York Times" Sunday. You said, quote, "if Howard Dean does not win the Wisconsin primary, I will reach out to John Kerry unless he reaches out to me first." Why would you say that to the "New York Times" two days before your candidate, the man you're still working for, was going to submit to this primary? Was it a warning sign to him? Was it a heads up to him? Was it a signal to John Kerry? What was going on?
GROSSMAN: I think it was just exactly what it was. It was a statement that if Howard won the Wisconsin primary and I hope he does, then, obviously, that campaign, our campaign has a new lease on life. But, you know, the polls are pretty tough. It is a pretty tough mountain he has to climb. Should John Kerry win this primary and show he can win primaries all over the country, my sense was it's time to play an active role in building the bridges. And so that's the role that I'll play. I don't think I have weakened Howard Dean's campaign. The campaign will continue on. It has been a tough six weeks as we all know. So you and I know exactly what this campaign season has been like. Highs and lows.
COOPER: What do you think went wrong, Steve?
GROSSMAN: In the campaign?
COOPER: Yes.
GROSSMAN: Well, I think one of the most challenging things that took place in this campaign and maybe one of the biggest problems is when Dick Gephardt and Howard Dean began to go after one another and got in this almost death struggle, it is almost an axiom in politics that if two people attack one another, another person benefits. John Kerry and John Edwards certainly did. They got the momentum and it extended right into New Hampshire and winning Iowa and New Hampshire were central to the Dean strategy. Not winning either of those primaries weakened the campaign and we lost our momentum and it's pretty tough to get it back as you know.
COOPER: Steve, are you already working for the John Kerry campaign?
GROSSMAN: No. I haven't talked to John Kerry and I don't think it's appropriate that I do. I will wait until after Wisconsin. If John Kerry would like me to play a leadership role or active role, I'm willing to do that. I have enormous respect for Howard Dean. He is one of the most courageous people I've met. When he stepped up and supported civil unions and put his office on the line in 2000 in Vermont, that was courage that I've never seen in 35 years in politics.
So I'm proud of the role I played. I'm proud of Howard Dean. He's revitalized grassroots politics and I think in many ways American politics, grassroots politics will not be the same. It certainly hasn't been the same since he came in the race. I'm proud of what he's done. So many other people are. But I think at this point, should he not win tomorrow night, it is time to coalesce and I'm willing to do that for John Kerry.
COOPER: All right, Steve Grossman. Appreciate you joining us tonight. Good to talk to you.
The shakeup in the Dean camp comes as John Kerry maintains a sizable lead in the Wisconsin polls. These figures from the American Research Group show Kerry with 53 percent, far behind, Edwards with 16 percent. 16 percent are also undecided and 11 percent back Howard Dean.
Today I spoke with CNN political analyst Carlos Watson and Jay Carney at "TIME" magazine. I started off just a few moments ago by asking Jay what he thinks Howard Dean will do if he does not win in Wisconsin.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JAY CARNEY, "TIME" MAGAZINE: Well, he'll drop out eventually. He has to. And it certainly looks, with his campaign chairman dropping out on him and most of his supporters no longer turning out for his events, that he'll have to drop out. I think what's happening here, Anderson, is he's negotiating an exit, an exit that allows him to depart with dignity and somehow maintain the status he's created for himself after his incredible campaign.
COOPER: Carlos, what does that mean in terms of timetable and how supportive will he be of Kerry, if at all?
CARLOS WATSON, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: I think you'll expect him to drop out within a week of Wisconsin. So assuming he loses Wisconsin. I think you'll hear during that week that a number of members of his staff will join the Kerry team, much like we saw some of Richard Gephardt's key people join the Kerry team very quickly. But in terms of endorsements, I think he'll wait. You recall that in 2000, John McCain waited two months before endorsing George Bush. Bill Bradley waited even longer. Four months. So I think he'll wait several months and as Jay suggested, negotiate a way to be, not just a voice but potentially even a potent fundraiser for John Kerry as he looks towards the general election.
COOPER: Jay, talking about endorsements though, the "Milwaukee Journal Sentinel" has endorsed John Edwards. How big a boost is this going to be for him? Is it equivalent to when the "Des Moines Register" endorsed him back in Iowa?
CARNEY: I don't think it's quite equivalent. The race is not nearly as fluid now as we approach the Wisconsin primary as it was in the Iowa caucuses. Nevertheless, it will help Edwards. It might boost his numbers some but I don't think you'll see this dramatic increase in support that we saw in Iowa.
COOPER: Jay, I want to talk about this story that has been swirling. It's not even a story, just rumors swirling around basically on the Internet, a few overseas newspapers about John Kerry and an intern or an alleged intern at that point. It has now been denied categorically by John Kerry, it's been denied in the statement by the young woman just today. I will put some of it on the screen. This is what she said. "For the several days I have seen Internet and tabloid rumors relating to me and Senator John Kerry. Because these stories were false, I assumed the media would ignore them." Aha. "It seems that efforts to peddle these lies continue so I feel compelled to address them. I've never had a relationship with Senator Kerry and the rumors in the press are completely false." Is this story done? Is it dead?
CARNEY: Well, it sure should be, as far as I'm concerned. We have denials from both the principals. We have no other aspect of this that makes it is an issue in a presidential campaign. No legal case like there was with the president. There's no -- John Kerry is not out there running a family values, be true to your marriage vows campaign.
COOPER: Carlos, what do you think? Is this campaign just going to get brutal and more and more nasty as time goes on?
WATSON: Very much so. Because again, we can't forget that everybody expects it to be a close election. And there's no way that people are going turn aside an opportunity to mix sex with politics.
Will it affect how the voters feel about John Kerry or the president, that's not clear.
Mixing a little sex with a little politics is not new in American politics. I'm sure we'll hear about it.
COOPER: No about to go away anytime soon. All right, Carlos Watson, thanks very much. Jay Carney, as well, thanks very much.
Every now and then we come across a story, well, just ain't right. A misdeed, a misnomer, a misunderstanding. Beginning tonight and every Monday, in fact, we going to feature one of these kind of story. Tonight a look at John Kerry and the faking of facts, that is just wrong.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: Have you seen this photo floating around the worldwide web?
John Kerry and Jane Fonda at an anti-Vietnam war rally in the 1960s. They look pretty cozy. The trouble is, it is fake. Here is the real photo. John Kerry was there, Jane Fonda wasn't. Some trickster added her in. With Photoshop and the Internet and our endless appetite for titillation, making up stuff is easier than ever. That's Kerry with Bozo the Clown, and he wasn't there either.
Then there's that other story about John Kerry that's been all over the web as well. He's denied it, and today the young woman whose name has been bandied about categorically denied it as well. No evidence was ever offered, but that didn't stop online tipsters from having a field day. Call it fact free reporting, whether it's used against Democrats or Republicans or anyone, no one should accept it. Fact free reporting, that's just wrong.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COOPER: Well, gay couples in San Francisco are saying "i do." They're lining up at the nuptials. In a moment, we'll talk with a man who is trying to stop the vows. Also tonight, a serial sniper on the loose in Ohio. Another car targeted. Hear what a criminal profiler is saying about who might be responsible.
Plus breast cancer and its possible link to antibiotics. We'll have the new research coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COOPER: Well, when newly elected San Francisco Gavin Newsom allowed same-sex comes to get marriage licenses he created a Californian gold rush of well a different sort. An estimated -- excuse me, 2,250 gay and lesbian couples have been married at city hall since last Thursday. You are looking at a live shot of city hall right now. Tomorrow several groups are planning to challenge the San Francisco mayor in court. Here with us live from Sacramento is Randy Thomasson. He's the executive director for Campaign for California Family, one of the groups challenging the mayor's actions.
Randy, thanks for being with us.
Tomorrow you go to court in an effort to stop the new licenses from being issued and also voiding the licenses that have been issued thus far on what rational, why?
RANDY THOMASSON, CAMPAIGN FOR CALIFORNIA FAMILIES: State law. State law of California says this marriage is only for a man and woman. It says that in several places. And the renegade major of San Francisco is violating the state law. He's pretending to be a dictator. He's imposing his own values upon the citizenry, and he is really out of order. Because our state attorney general Bill Lockyer is not enforcing the state law, it is up to us and other organizations that represent the 4.6 million Californians who want marriage to be protected to go to court and protect marriage and up hold the state law. Anderson, this is much about protecting the government and respect for laws as it is about protecting marriage.
COOPER: Randy, the renegade mayor as you call him, Gavin Newsom, he basicly says he is trying to stop discrimination in the state. The state clearly has a mandate saying no discrimination. He believes the policies are discriminatory. He's trying to counteract that. He was on our program last week, this is what he had to say. Let's play this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAYOR GAVIN NEWSOM (D), SAN FRANCISCO: The same people that probably will argue against blacks marrying whites in the late '40s here in California. The same people that didn't like Protestants marrying Catholics around the turn of the century.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: At the core of your opposition to these marriage license, is it simply opposition to homosexuals? THOMASSON: I have to shake my head when I hear the mayor and his spokespersons. When we look -- there is no one telling gays you can't drink at this drinking fountain or sit the the back of the bus. To have a marriage you have to have a man and woman, that could be a black man, a white women, Asian, whatever. But marriage has always is a man and woman. It is the foundation of family, it's best for the children, and it is the state law in several places. He is a renegade mayor. And that's why I believe he will be found wrong by a judge.
COOPER: So, you don't believe gays and lesbians are in anyway discriminated in the United States today, and their ability to have a marriage or civil union is discriminatory.
THOMASSON: Let me tell you what he's talking about. Equal protection under the law is in the 14th amendment, and that was written after the civil war to say that former black slaves shall be treated equally under the state like they were free born. So that we all accept, and that's what we respect. Now we look at that being exploded into being said, OK, look. Equal everything.
Hey, look, there's some things that you can't have because they're not yours. Marriage is always for a man and woman, and I'll say this,there are signs being carried that say, everybody deserves the same right to be married. Guess what, in America everyone does have the same right to be married, but you have to play by the rules. That's what equal protection under the law means. You can marry someone who is unmarried, if they want to marry you, if you are both of age, not closely related and, yes, of the opposite sex. That's the rules.
COOPER: All right, Randy, you go to court tomorrow to stop it all. We will be watching very closely. (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
THOMASSON: We are upholding the law in California, and we're doing this for the people's vote.
COOPER: All right, Randy Thomasson, thanks very much for joining us.
THOMASSON: Thank you.
COOPER: Fear on the highway. A serial sniper is believed to be responsible for 24 shootings near Columbus. Ballistic tests have also confirmed a bullet that struck an SUV yesterday is linked to all the other shootings, most of them carried out, get this, in broad daylight. All seemingly without any rush. Experts say it's clear the shooter is getting bolder.
I'm joined by one them, from Norwood, Massachusetts, criminologist Jack Levin of Northeastern University. Jack, thanks very much for being on the program.
What do you make of this person's behavior?
They say, he's not in any rush, that he's attacking in broad daylight? JACK LEVIN, NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY: I think the shooter is beginning to feel invincible. After all, he's gotten away with murder and shooting people for about eight months now. And he looks over his shoulder, there's no police officer, no FBI agent, nobody knows who he is. I think he's kind of sweetening the challenge.
COOPER: What is the challenge, though?
What is the thrill?
I mean, it's not an up close...
LEVIN: Well, he's playing a cat and mouse game. No. No. This is not sexual sadism like Ted Bundy. This is a guy who is vengeful, He wants to get sweet revenge, not against an individual but perhaps against the entire Columbus community, maybe against all humanity. But he also wants to feel powerful, in charge, in control, dominant. And so...
COOPER: Is he shooting to kill, you think?
LEVIN: Oh, no. Definitely not. He did kill someone. I think he doesn't really care one way or the other about that. What he hopes to do is to terrify the entire community. Makes him feel good about himself. Makes him feel powerful and important. That's why he sweetened this challenge and he's so bold as to kill in broad daylight. He shoots from an overpass. He's seen by eyewitnesses. I think he feels he can do anything and get away with it.
COOPER: So is this just a loser in real life who has no real control over anything and no real life and, therefore, this is the only way he can feel control?
LEVIN: Well, I don't think he can feel control in a social acceptable way. My guess is this guy has recently suffered from catastrophic loss, maybe the loss of a job, financial disaster on the stock market, maybe a nasty separation or divorce or maybe all of them and he blames humanity and decides he's going to get sweet revenge by taking it out on everybody in the community.
COOPER: It's hard to imagine. I appreciate you joining us. It's really good to talk to you.
Coming up. Antibiotics. They help cure so many illnesses but research shows they may be linked to breast cancer. We're going to have the research that you need to hear coming up.
Also tonight, Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch may be changing hands. You won't believe who is interested. Details ahead in "The Current."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COOPER: On the medical front now. There's a new study out about antibiotics and one of the leading cancers among women, breast cancer. The results are surprising. Our medical correspondent Holly Firfer reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HOLLY FIRFER, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): We've all heard about the dangers of overusing antibiotics and bacterial resistance but a new study published in the "Journal of the American Medical Association" says that taking antibiotics may increase a woman's risk for breast cancer. Researchers studied 17 years of medical information from more than 10,000 women.
DR. CHRISTINE VELICER, GROUP HEALTH COOPERATIVE: On average, women who used antibiotics for more than 500 days had a two-fold increased risk of breast cancer.
FIRFER: The more they took, the greater the risk.
DR. ROBERTA HESS, JAMA EDITORIAL AUTHOR: It is as strong as any of the risk factors we know. To put it in perspective, the risk for developing breast cancer from hormone replacement use is about a 30 percent increase, 30 percent to 40 percent increase in risk. And here we're talking about a doubling of risk for those women who are using chronic antibiotics.
FIRFER: While breast cancer risks from hormone replacement therapy has been well-documented, this is the first study connecting breast cancer with antibiotics. Researchers aren't sure why there is an increase in breast cancer risk with antibiotic use so they don't recommend changing the way you use antibiotics yet.
HESS: For now, yes, people need to recognize that both the substantial benefits as well as some potential risks of using antibiotics.
FIRFER: Here are some tips on the safest way to use antibiotics. If your doctor thinks antibiotics are the best meds, then take them. Never take them for the cold, cough, or the flu. Take the full course of treatment even after you're feeling better. Never take leftovers. It could delay treatment and allow bacteria to multiply. Medical experts are recommending that further studies to be done to confirm the findings. In the meantime, women should be sure not to overuse antibiotics. Holly Firfer, CNN, Atlanta.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COOPER: Well, time to check the pop news in tonight's "Current." Janet Jackson is making her first appearance since baring her bosom at the Super Bowl. The singer received an award by a group called Behind the Bench. It's for her humanitarian and charitable contributions and possibly for making 14-year-old boys across the country just a little bit happier.
Everyone's favorite billionaire, Donald Trump is denying accusations that he dated Victoria (ph), a "Penthouse" pet. That's not Victoria there. The Donald is quoted as saying, quote, "she's a 35-year-old penthouse pet. That's pathetic." Yes, but if she was 25, maybe. Elton John's extended gig in Las Vegas kicked off last Friday. He's filling in for Celine Dion for a bunch of shows over the next three years. I have three words for Celine Dion, inventory your wardrobe.
And Eminem may want to buy Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch. The surly Detroit rapper is considering paying $49 million for the king of pop's estate which comes with 2,000 acres, an amusement park. Unfortunately, the stable of defense lawyers costs extra.
That's a look at "The Current."
You expect cake and presents at a birthday party. But this? It is not Oprah's 50th. It is North Koreans honoring their leader's birthday party. We take the wild celebration to the Nth degree just ahead.
And tomorrow, countdown to results from the Wisconsin primary. Don't miss our live coverage of the political battle.
A quick look at today's buzz. "Has the Catholic church done enough to stop sexual abuse by priests?" Vote now. CNN.com/360. Just a few more minutes to vote. We'll have results when we come back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COOPER: Time now for the "Buzz." We asked you, "has the Catholic church done enough to stop sexual abuse by priests?" Almost 18,000 of you voted. 8 percent said yes. 92 percent said no. Not a scientific poll, but it is your buzz. We appreciate you voting.
Tonight, taking sucking up to the "Nth Degree." Today is the birthday of one of the most despised leaders of our time, Kim Jong-il. He turned 62 and his party made Oprah's 50th look, well, small. One party-going party hack called Kim the sun of the 21st century. That's sun, S-U-N. Another called him, quote, "the most prominent statesman in the present world." Present world meaning the Bizarro made up that's North Korea. The vice president of North Korea's parliament pulled no punches either. He said, quote, the great personality of Kim Jong-il as a political elder as a political elder in the present world has been exulted by his unusual leadership ability. He's definitely right about the unusual leadership part.
So what do you give a tyrant who has everything including nuclear material? Apparently, the answer is bull. A heaping helping of it. That's it for our program tonight. Thanks for watching. I'm Anderson Cooper. Coming up next, "PAULA ZAHN NOW."
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