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Mullah Omar's Message; Missing Person; Election Discussion
Aired October 22, 2006 - 16:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Talking timetables in Iraq but the U.S. White House still says troops won't be going anywhere anytime soon.
A Republican ad that plays on fear and the threat of terrorism here at home. Smart politics or desperate P.R.
Plus, a controversial new video game where kids beat up other kids.
Hello and welcome to the CNN newsroom, I'm Fredricka Whitfield. All that and more after this check of the headlines.
This breaking out of Iraq. Gunmen in Baquba have ambushed buses full of police recruits. Officials tell CNN at least 11 recruits were killed and at least 21 wounded. Dozens more have been kidnapped. We will have a live report in a moment.
A threat today from the fugitive Taliban leader. In a statement, Mullah Omar predicted a surge of militant attacks against NATO forces in Afghanistan.
A UN envoy expelled by Sudan, Dutch diplomat Jan Prank (ph) has been ordered out of the country. Khartoum is angry about postings on his blog reporting big Sudanese troop losses in battles with Darfur rebels.
Iran said today it won't take any sanctions imposed on the country lightly. But the spokesman didn't specify how Tehran would respond. The push to punish Iran for its nuclear program is moving forward in the UN Security Council.
And Tropical Storm Paul may become a hurricane that hits the Mexican mainland. At this hour, Paul is south of Baja, California with top sustained winds of about 50 miles per hour.
We'll start with Iraq where the violence and volatility worsens with each day. Those police recruits ambushed, killed or kidnapped. Today north of Baghdad, were all Shiites heading home to celebrate the end of Ramadan. Can the Iraqi government or the White House which continues to rule out a timeline for pulling out our troops do anything to stop this country from further unraveling?
Two reports tonight. Let's begin with Arwa Damon in Baghdad. She joins us live. Arwa? ARWA DAMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Fredricka. A very bizarre incident even, at least, by Iraqi standards that happened today. What we know and we are still trying to piece the information together. But what we do know from Iraqi emergency police and also from security officials in the province of Jalek (ph), that is north of the capital of Baghdad, is that two to three busloads carrying police recruits were traveling from the city of Baquba to Baghdad. We are told they were all Shia that were coming to the capital to celebrate Eid, that is the holy festival that marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan.
Apparently, while they were en route traveling in two to three buses, a total of about 80 recruits they were ambushed by an unknown number of gunmen. First a bomb exploded hitting one of the buses. Then gunmen opened fire on them. So far at least 13 Iraqis have been reported killed. Another 24 wounded. Dozens of them missing. Where it gets a little bizarre and perhaps, indicates the type of tactics insurgents are using here right now, when Iraqi police then responded to the attack, arrived on scene, they say that a bomb exploded next to one of the bodies. They say that in total they found 15 bombs that had to be diffused before they were able to recover their bodies.
What we are also hearing is that some of the wounded were evacuated to a hospital in the Shia area of Baghdad, Sadr City. Now the U.S. Military has a slightly or very different version of events what happened there. They also are still trying to piece the information together telling us that they recovered 11 bodies in the same area but they're not sure if they're linked to the initial incident, Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: Arwa, it seems to beep getting from the point, bad to worse, what about for the ordinary Iraqi citizen who is trying to get to work every day or school, how are they assessing the string of violence?
DAMON: Fredricka, Iraqis right now especially in Baghdad are really living in this constant state of fear and anxiety. We are in the end days of the holy month of Ramadan. This is normally a time when families would be out shopping, visiting one another, getting ready to celebrate Eid, which is basically to simplify, it's the Muslim equivalent of Christmas. And what we are seeing in the last few days, a string of attacks targeting Iraqis in shopping areas.
We had a bomb at a marketplace, a suicide bomber detonating his explosives in a marketplace at 4:30 afternoon in Baghdad killing at least six Iraqis, wounding another 20. We also had two more explosions in the capital. One again targeting marketplace. The other in front of a bakery.
Last night in Mahmoudiya, that's south of Baghdad, five motorcycles rigged with explosives again exploding in a marketplace. Again at the time that it would be at its busiest. For a lot of Iraqis right now this -- marking the end of this holy month is really not a time of celebration, it's just a time of increased anxiety. A lot of them will be spending these holidays indoors where they at least have a relative degree of safety, Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: Sadly this is the new norm. All right, Arwa Damon, thanks so much, a live report from Baghdad.
Well, now to the White House, conflicting reports today about a possible effort to light a fire under Iraq's lagging government. White House correspondent Elaine Quijano is there.
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good afternoon to you, Fredricka.
Well, the White House is pushing back hard against this "New York Times" story published today that says the United States is preparing to hand the Iraqi government a timetable to curb the ongoing violence there.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
QUIJANO (voice over): It's been part of President Bush's Iraq mantra for months.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: You can't win a war if you have an artificial timetable for withdraw.
Many advocating an artificial timetable for withdrawing our troops are sincere, but I believe they're sincerely wrong.
QUIJANO: But "The New York Times," citing senior U.S. officials, reports that the Bush administration is drafting a timetable for the Iraqi government to address sectarian divisions and take on more of the country's security responsibilities. A White House spokeswoman said, "The story is not accurate," adding that "The administration is constantly developing new tactics to achieve its goal," and that4 the administration has been "coordinating with the Iraqis for months on a series of measures they can take to assume more control of their country."
With the violence in Iraq showing no signs of letting up and Republicans in Congress nervous about their re-election prospects in just over two weeks, the debate over what to do next in Iraq has intensified. Against that backdrop, the pressure for the White House to change course has come from both Democrats and Republicans.
SEN. ARLEN SPECTER (R), PENNSYLVANIA: I don't believe that a shift intactics ought to wait until after the election. There are too many casualties there. If we have a better course we ought to adopt it sooner rather than later.
SEN. JACK REED (D), RHODE ISLAND: The strategy of the administration has failed. The strategy of clear, build and hold has not worked. It's been clear, build and wait. And while we've waited without the resources to rebuild the Iraqi economy, the insurgents have snuck back in, the sectarian militias have snuck -- snuck back in.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
QUIJANO (on camera): Now, as for that "New York Times" article, a senior Bush aide tonight calls it overwritten and sells the headline is misleading arguing that for months the United States has been working with the Iraqi government to set a series of benchmarks and milestones. The notion there is a specific plan of penalizing the Iraqi government that is signed off on corresponding with the reduction in U.S. forces in that country is just not the case. Those officials saying that has not been proffered to the Iraqi government.
Fredricka?
WHITFIELD: All right. Elaine Quijano at the White House. Thanks so much for that update.
Coming up in the next half-hour, the impact of the war in Iraq on the November elections. CNN's senior political analyst Bill Schneider joins us live with that and also examine how some candidates are playing to terror fears in their campaigning.
In other news across America now - remembering the victims of a deadly terrorist attack. A ceremony was held at Arlington National Cemetery today. It honored the 242 Americans killed in the 1983 bombing of the marine barracks in Beirut.
Ten passengers from an Ohio River cruise ship are hospitalized in Kentucky after falling ill. Twenty-four other passengers on the Mississippi Queen were treated for flu like symptoms and then released. The cause of the outbreak is being investigated.
A train carrying flammable liquid has derailed in Arkansas near some homes. It is unclear what type of liquid is involved. But police aren't taking any chances. They have ordered dozens of residents to evacuate.
In Denver, a mystery solved. A man with amnesia held a press conference Friday urging anyone who recognized him to come forward. Well now some one actually has. A woman in Washington State says the man is her fiance. Forty-six-year-old Jeffrey Ingram. Police confirm her story.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VIRGINIA QUINONES, DETECTIVE, DENVER POLICE: The plan is as soon as we can, make plan on making the attempt to get him back to his girlfriend, to maybe try to put the pieces of the puzzle together. And once he gets there I'm sure there will be follow up medical attention.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Ingram says he woke up on a Denver street September 10th with no memory or knowledge of who he was. He says the ordeal has been very frightening.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
INGRAM: I don't know how, if I remember how to drive. I don't know how to cook. I want my past. I want who I was. Or who I am. I feel totally lost. I feel totally alone. I'm very depressed and I don't fit in anywhere. I don't know who I am. I don't know what kind of a person I am. I don't know where I was or who I was. There was no drugs, no alcohol or anything found in my system. If anybody recognizes me, knows who I am, please let somebody know.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: We know now some one did. Ingram had undergone hypnosis to even try to jog his memory. But no evidence of his life in Washington had surfaced. We are still waiting for the exact medical explanation of his amnesia.
Well the winds of politics can shift ever so swiftly. Take the once strongly Republican district of former House majority leader Tom DeLay. Well some major changes. And we take you there live next.
Plus, 40 years ago today the Black Panther party was born. An interview with the co-founder Bobby Seale straight ahead in THE NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Now to politics. New York Senator Hillary Clinton's Republican challenger said Clinton would make a presidential candidate. But John Spencer says he is the one who would make a better senator for New York State. The two candidates met today in their second debate. Clinton refused to make the pledge she made six years ago she would serve a full six year term in the Senate.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. HILLARY CLINTON, (D) NY: I have made no decisions about any future plans. And if that is a concern to any voter they should factor that into their decision on November 7th. But I am proud of the record I have accumulated over the last six years. And I'm looking forward to helping to chart a new direction for New York and America.
JOHN SPENCER, (R) NEW YORK SENATORIAL CANDIDATE: I'm any the only one standing here today that wants to be a united states senator for the next six years for the people of New York. Senator Clinton, I believe, and trying to be a gentleman here, is being disingenuous with the people of New York State. I think it has been written from coast- to-coast, and committees I believe have been set up. Senator Clinton has been given the welcome mat by the people of New York six years again. And I believe she is using us as a doormat.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: A new statewide poll finds that Clinton leads Spencer, 65 percent to 30 percent.
Now to politics Texas style. Former House majority leader Tom DeLay's name is still on the ballot there although he resigned from Congress and under indictment on charges of campaign finance violations. Once one of the most powerful politicians in Washington, DeLay was brought down by an ethics scandal. DeLay represented Texas' 22nd congressional district. Used to be redder than red. But because of Delay's ethics problem a Democrat has a good shot now at winning the general election. CNN's Bob Franken is live from Houston with the details. Hi, Bob.
BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Fredricka. And not only that. But because Shelly Saculagibs (ph) who was the person chosen to replace Tom DeLay as the candidate for the next term of Congress, because her name is not on the ballot, obviously she has a rather large problem.
And the problem is for her compounded by the fact there is going to be on Election Day, November 7th, a special election to fill out the unexpired term of Tom Delay, that is to say the one that will run a couple weeks. She is on the ballot on that one.
So now, Shelly Saculagibs has to try and convince people in what is still a Republican district has to try and convince supporters, A, to vote twice, once to vote her name on the ballot for that special election, but then to write in her name in the other one. Confusing, you bet it's confusing.
And what is an even bigger factor here the Democratic candidate, Nick Lampson, who is a former congressmen. The poll shows that if in fact both names were on the ballot he would be beaten by her. So he has kept his name off the special election. He is of course on the ballot. He won his primary as Tom DeLay did. Shelly Saculagibs is going place to place, her whole emphasis is vote twice for her, just vote for her differently. If you understand that, Fredricka, you are a lot better off than a lot of the people are in this district right now?
WHITFIELD: Well, I'm just following your every word, Bob. All right. Thanks so much.
Well, coming up in about 15 minutes, CNN's senior political analyst, Bill Schneider joins us live to talk about how the fierce campaign ads are getting this midterm election season. Just over two and a half weeks away now. Bill Schneider and Bob Franken are part of the best political team on television and remember, for up to the minute coverage on midterm elections log on to cnn.com/ticker any time.
It's a case that helped change the way the FBI tracked down pedophiles.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And not knowing really hurts. You know it's -- it's been a lot of stress, a lot of strain on my family.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: We'll have the poignant family of a young boy missing for 13 years.
Also, outrage over a video game featuring attacks on bullies. So why is that a bad thing? Find out.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Well let's check out some of the most popular stories on cnn.com, including a pop star who is praising pot. On stage and while performing, he fired up a joint. George Michael reportedly told a TV interviewer that marijuana keeps him sane and happy. An anti- drug activist called his comments naive.
Yet another twist in Madonna's quest to adopt a young boy from Malawi. The one-year-old's father now says he wanted the singer to look after his son until he grows up but not to formally adopt him.
And a lucky find in Arkansas. A man visiting the Crater of Diamond State Park, actually came across quite a rock, a 5.5 carat diamond, in fact. The bright yellow stone could be worth at least $15,000. Hopefully it's finder's keepers. You can discover more about all the stories at cnn.com.
Well, many of us have never heard of Junior Burdynski. The 10 year old Maryland boy disappeared 13 years ago never to be seen again. But his case helped teach the FBI about computer savvy pedestrian files and led to the creation of a program that goes after predators online. CNN's Gary Nurenberg reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GARY NURENBERG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: George Stanley Burdynski Jr got on his Schwinn bicycle, waved to his mom and disappeared. May 24th, 1993. May 24th, 1994.
BURDYNSKI: It's been a year. A year of not knowing where your son is - this really puts a big mental strain on the family.
NURENBERG: This year, 2006. You can see it on his face.
BURDYNSKI: And the not knowing really hurts, you know it's -- it's put a lot of stress, a lot of strain on my family.
NURENBERG: After 13 years of trying.
MICHAEL MCQUILLAN, PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY POLICE (RET): We don't know the who, what, where, when, how, and why of his disappearance.
NURENBERG: But pre-Internet boom, 1993, investigators did learn something surprising.
LOUIS LUCIANO, FBI: The kids in the neighborhood were communicating with older adult males via the computer.
DORIS GARDNER, FBI: We turned up two individuals who were actually having sexual encounters with young boys. And they were running bulletin board systems.
NURENBERG: Some of Junior's friends showed up in explicit postings but the chief suspect convicted of molesting other kids denied guilt in Junior's case and no one has been charged with the 10- year-old's disappearance. Junior's case was a wake-up call for the FBI.
GARDNER: Back in '94 and '93, we didn't know how prevalent the trade of child exploitation, trade of pictures and the child exploitation was.
NURENBERG: So the FBI started Innocent Images program. Cyberstings targeting pedophiles whose meet kids online. A program the FBI dedicates to Junior.
LUCIANO: Although he -- he has not been recovered. Numerous children have been recovered. Returned home safely. Numerous cases have been closed. And, put to rest. And prosecuted. Many, many pedophiles have been put in jail.
NURENBERG: Age progression technology shows what junior would look like growing up and what he would look like now. George and Barbara Burdynski still live in the home Junior rode away from 13 years ago and say they won't move.
Tell me why?
BURDYNSKI: I think he might come home.
NURENBERG: You want to make sure he knows where to go?
And so they wait, glad Junior's case has helped other kids come home, hoping against hope, Junior will come home too. Gary Nurenberg, CNN Brentwood, Maryland.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: More than 40 years ago, this ad caused a political uproar.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LYNDON JOHNSON, FORMER PRESIDENT: These are the stakes. To make a world in which all of God's children can live. Or to go into the dark.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Now back to the future. Terror raises eyebrows in a campaign ad during this season. Senior political analyst Bill Schneider joins us live. Plus another powerful image from the '60s. Today is the 40th anniversary of the founding of the Black Panthers. We'll talk to co-founder Bobby Seale about those turbulent times.
GERRI WILLIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Americans are drowning in debt. And credit card companies are not helping the situation. A recent Government Accountability Office study found these companies do a poor job of disclosing fees to consumers.
Watch out for hidden fees when you make payments over the phone, transfer a balance, increase your credit line or get a cash advance. The fees can range $10 to more than $30. Remember, penalties for late payment are far stiffer than they were in the past. And by not requiring signatures for purchases under $25, credit card companies encourage you to use plastic for little things like coffee, or few items from the convenience store. But those charges can add up quickly. So consider using cash instead.
And pay close attention to deadlines. Late fee penalties can jack your interest rate up 30 percent or higher. These late fees have more than doubled in the last decade.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Half past the hour now. Here is what is happening in the news. Bipartisan calls from Capitol Hill for a time line for the Iraqi government to assume the reins of the securing of its country. This as the American casualty count hits 80 troops killed in Iraq during this month alone. The deadliest this year.
An ominous message allegedly sent from Taliban leader Mullah Muhammad Omar to the coalition. It warns to prepare for stepped up attacks on American and NATO troops stationed in Afghanistan. The claim comes rather as Muslims celebrate the end of the holy month of Ramadan.
If you have a 12-ounce tub of this -- Ballard's Farm egg salad trashes it or return it to the store where you got it. The company is recalling the product in 17 states, all east of the Mississippi. Tests show it may contain bacteria that could prove fatal for kids and senior citizens.
St. Louis Cardinals took game one of the World Series last night against Detroit. The final score 7-2. Home runs from Albert Pujols and Scott Rolland helped the Cards and the Tiger seven game posting the winning streak. Game two is tonight in Motown.
Well get ready with the election just about two weeks away an onslaught of campaign ads is heading your way. One Republican ad in particular is attracting a lot of attention and controversy for its focus on fear. Here is CNN senior political analyst Bill Schneider part of the best political team on television.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BILL SCHNEIDER, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST 9voice over): Republicans won the 2002/2004 elections on the terrorism issue now the Republican national committee has made an ad which will run on national cable TV including CNN Sunday and Monday. The ad has sound effects but no spoken words. And this phrase used in the final frame. These are the stakes. The same words used in one of the most famous political ads in American history.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Four, three, two, one, zero. These are the stakes. To make a world in which all of god's children can live or to go into the dark. SCHNEIDER: The 1964 ad aired only once. But it was highly controversial. So is the new Republican ad. The Democratic National Committee calls it "A shameful ad invoking the image of despicable terrorists to scare the American people." And to evoke fear and attract attention and controversy, like this ad from the 1984 Ronald Reagan campaign.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There is a bear in the woods. For some people the bear is easy to see. Others don't see it at all.
SCHNEIDER: And this one from the 2004 Bush campaign.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And weakness attracts those who are waiting to do America harm.
SCHNEIDER: We asked advertising professional does fear work? With some people it does.
ROBBIE VORHAUS, PRES. VORHAUS COMMUNICATIONS: They're trying to reach people who continue to believe that this war is about terrorism and that there are people lurking in the shadows ready to tack our lives. Then it is effective. If you are a person who believes as many do that we have got better things to do than worry about this type of fear it is going to backfire.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: Bill Schneider joining us now live from Washington. Good to see you, Bill.
SCHNEIDER: Hi Fred.
WHITFIELD: The ad evokes fear. But Republican candidates have been working hard to avoid words like "Iraq" or even "Afghanistan." When voters go to the polls are they associating terror and those wars as one in the same?
SCHNEIDER: Well the administration has been arguing for years now that the Iraq war is one front in the larger war on terror. American voters should think of them in the same way. But that may be backfiring. Because Americans are so disillusion and even angry over the news from Iraq, over the unending conflict. The mounting casualties, the fact that they don't see an end in sight and the bad news from Afghanistan that Americans are beginning to lose confidence in the administration's handling not just of Iraq but also the war on terror.
WHITFIELD: So these campaign ads are getting really fierce. We are not just talking about the national ads but now we are talking about some that are running in local districts, particularly in Tennessee. You have incumbent Harold Ford Jr. against Republican Bob Corker, and this latest round of ads that are hitting the airways are speaking not to issues but it has gotten personal. Is this what it has come to?
SCHNEIDER: It certainly does come to that in the closing weeks of the campaign you will see a lot of personal ads. This ad was run by the, is being run by the Republican National Committee, uncoordinated with the Corker campaign, the Corker campaign has asked the committee to stop running the ad the committee says it has no plans to stop it. The committee can act independently. The ad is very personal. Takes a number of swipes at the Democratic candidate Harold Ford. A lot of Republicans are hoping this campaign will be local politics, local candidates, and local issues. That's why you are seeing a lot of these campaign attack ads run by Republicans. The national environment is very unfriendly to Republicans right now they want to push the idea all politics is local.
WHITFIELD: And so to just make it clear for viewers, the video that you were seeing of Corker and Ford was not the campaign ad that has become so controversial, instead that was videotape of the two meeting face to face, confrontation if you will on Friday.
Meantime, let's talk Senator Obama with rock star status. At the same time does that make him automatically kind of poised in the best position to start thinking about the presidential race?
SCHNEIDER: Fred, they're all thinking about the presidential race. This is the most wide-open presidential campaign that is 2008 in over 50 years. Because the president is not running for re-election and the vice president is not running to succeed him. It is wide open in both parties you got politicians, Republicans and Democrats get up in the morning and they look in the mirror and they say "why not me?" I'm as good as anybody else.
Clearly Hillary Rodham Clinton the Senator from New York is likely to be re-elected next month she is way ahead in the polls. She is the frontrunner on the Democratic side. But a lot of Democrats say she has a lot of baggage. Maybe the Democrats will want some one else. They're looking, voters overall are looking for change. What more of a candidate for change than an African-American with a brand new fresh faced young American senator?
WHITFIELD: You talk about change. Recent polls are showing a majority of Americans are really disenchanted with the government. They think it is broken.
SCHNEIDER: That's the desire for change. Americans think some 70-some percent believe the government is broken but they also have confidence most of those people in the 78 percent think it can be fixed with the right person. An enduring American optimism while things are not going well. You see that. Think it can be fixed, 71 percent. It is an enduring American optimism that while things may be lousy, and the people in charge may have handled it badly. If we get the right people in there they'll know what to do. Which is why an awful lot of candidates are saying, hey, why not me?
WHITFIELD: All right. Bill Schneider part of the best political team on television right here on CNN. Thank you so much. More politics headed your way, CNN's Jack Cafferty takes on the left, the right, the center "Broken Government" an election special coming up tonight at 8:00 Eastern. As we wind down to Election Day remember you can get all the 2006 election information you need at anytime. Just click on to CNN0.com/ticker.
You might think a video game that teaches kids how to deal with a bully would be a good thing, well that depends on who you talk to. The story coming up next all about that.
Plus this --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Have to stop brutalizing our community. We going to tack up guns and we are going to drive them out.
WHITFIELD: It was 40 years ago today the Black Panther Party was founded. One of the men, who got it all started, joins us here in the newsroom.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: This weekend marks the 40th anniversary of a political group founded by two college students in the midst of the civil rights movement called the Black Panther Party. Some times controversial, the group was a catalyst for some change.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You can see
WHITFIELD: It was the turbulent 60s that spawned the Black Panther Party, called for a revolution, armed if necessary to correct what they saw as civil social and criminal injustices against black Americans. Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale started the movement in October 1966 in Oakland, California. Among their goals for black America, full employment, decent housing, an end to police brutality and freedom for all black men in prison.
A year later Newton was arrested for killing a police officer in a shoot-out. The free Huey movement would help make Eldridge Cleaver, and Bobby Seale household names while spreading their message. By 1969 the organization claimed it had gone from 500 members to 5,000 in 45 chapters from Los Angeles to Chicago to New Haven. That same year, the Panthers national free breakfast for school children program began. The group claimed to serve 10,000 children daily.
The Panthers had also become fixtures on college campuses often selling communist literature to earn money to buy weapons. They had also become targets of police and the FBI with director J Edgar Hoover calling the group the greatest threat to internal security of the country. Some conflicts with law enforcement ended in deadly gun battles. 1969 was the year the structure of the Panthers began to crumble.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The racist pigs have to stop brutalizing our community or we are going to take up guns and drive them out.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Picket lines
WHITFIELD: Eldridge Cleaver had fled the country to escape arrest while Seale and Newton dealt with their own legal problems. Newton was convicted of involuntary manslaughter for the police officer's death, a conviction eventually overturned.
Seale was indicted for conspiracy and inciting to riot at the Chicago Democratic National Convention. During his infamous Chicago trial, Seal was bound and gagged and cited for contempt after repeatedly standing up to complain about civil rights violations. Seale was convicted and sentenced to four years in prison, the conviction was later overturned.
In 1973, Seale would run for mayor of Oakland gaining 40 percent of the vote. Not enough to win. But it was a campaign that inspired others to depart from militancy. Bobby Rush was co founder of the Panthers Chicago Chapter in 1968 before jumping into politics becoming a long-time Illinois Congressman. Former Panther, Angela Davis is now a college professor.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What's going on yeah what's going on?
WHITFIELD: Earlier I talked to Black Panther co-founder Bobby Seale who says the party's legacy is complex.
BOBBY SEALE, CO-FOUNDER, BLACK PANTHERS PARTY: Some are still distorting what we were about. I mean, you know, some are still taking the old lead of the old counterintelligence programs, disinformation program about the Black Panther Party. You still have that going on. There are some books and some materials. I mean the latest book, Stephen Shames photographic books, photography of the Black Panther Party just brings alive our history what we were about as human beings, fighting for our civil rights in the 60s. It makes me feel warm to look at these pictures. You know, coffee table type work of photographs.
WHITFIELD: That is in part because Stephen, he was given access that nobody else was given. So, this book is a great combination of behind-the-scenes look and documents how many people of all races were involved in the party and were involved in what the party stood for. And believed in.
SEALE: Well, yes. You know what was happening. I met Stephen Shames, he wanted to be photographer of the party, and I had a Black Panther newspaper, a periodical coming out every week. I said you can take pictures of the party as long as you supply us with pictures for the out Black Panther Party newspaper. I said wait a minute I need you to train my Black Panther Party members photography. That was our deal. But you know Stephen his heart and mind was set in the right place in terms of human liberation struggles.
WHITFIELD: You wrote the forward in his book. And you talk about your inspirations being Dr. Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, Nelson Mandela. What was it about what they couldn't do for the civil rights or the social rights movement that you felt like the Black Panther Party could do?
SEALE: Well, it just so happens that the power structure in this country came down erroneously on the peaceful demonstrators. They began to brutalize, shoot, kill and murder peaceful demonstrators. As Huey Newton used to say along time ago. Talking first amendment of the constitution gave peaceful demonstrators the constitutional right. Why should government forces, police or racists be allowed to attack peaceful protestors? What we did is we came along. We said, we want the right to self-defense. We will exercise the right to self-defense against any racist attack.
WHITFIELD: No regrets?
SEALE: Well I am just saying that's what happened. And at that time, I mean, you might hear of police brutality today since Rodney King. But police brutality back then was 50 times worse than whatever. It was, not only in the black community, and poor, low-income community, Hispanic, other communities. Fact of the matter we had to do something. And much more profoundly and too at the same time we wanted to organize a political organization.
WHITFIELD: You and the party did that. As co-founder of the Black Panther Party, Bobby Seale. Thank you for your time. And enjoy your 40th anniversary celebrations all week.
SEALE: Thank you.
WHITFIELD: And if you are interested in any of the Black Panther reunion events you can check out the Website ITSABOUTTUMEBPP.com.
Bullying on the playground. Is this your child's idea of entertainment? Why a new video game is a hot property in more ways than one.
And they're off. If only this morning's Chicago marathon ended as smoothly as it started. A finish you don't want to miss.
BONNIE SCHNEIDER, CNN METEOROLOGIST: It is still very cold right now in Chicago. This is the wind-chill factor. Feels like it is only 32 degrees. Quite the contrast from the actual temperatures across Florida this afternoon, another hot day in the 90s and upper 80s across that state. I'll have a look at your forecast. Plus a special check of tropical storm Paul. Getting closer and closer to Mexico. All coming up next on CNN newsroom.
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WHITFIELD: Just in time for some holiday shopping a new video game. It is called "Bully." Some critics are fighting mad. CNN technology correspondent Daniel Sieberg takes a look.
DANIEL SIEBERG, CNN TECHNOLOGY CORRESPONDENT: More than a year before "Bully" hit store shelves, protestors gathered outside offices of the company behind the game.
RONALD MOTEN, PEACEAHOLICS, INC: These games are teaching our children how to be criminals. Our children are being trained to be killers, murders, rapists, and drug users, drug dealers.
SIEBERG: Lawyer Jack Thompson has not played the game "Bully" but contends it could lead to student violence.
JACK THOMPSON, ATTORNEY: This is a Columbine simulator it brings into play the bullying dynamic we have seen at Paducha, Columbine and school shootings.
SIEBERG: The game is actually devoid of any guns and players are encouraged to fight bullies and protect the weaker kids. Game creator Rock Star released this statement, "We'll never convince everyone, but we hope people will enjoy the story in "Bully" as much as they enjoy similar stories in books, plays and movies." Like Ralphie taking on the bully in the "Christmas Story," some game reviewers agree.
SCOTT STEINBERG, EMBASSY MULTIMEDIA CONSULTANTS: There's no gore, no blood. Most of it is done. It is comic mischief; it is more breakfast club than "Grand Theft Auto."
SIEBERG: The controversial "Grand Theft Auto" series is also made by Rock Star Games. In "Bully" players use their fists, a slingshot and throw firecrackers. Critics say the two games still have a lot in common.
THOMPSON: Suggest that's not a violent game is to suggest that a revolver is not dangerous because it only have six rounds in it.
SIEBERG: Thompson filed a lawsuit in Florida trying to prevent the sale of the game to minors, which is rated for players age 13 and up. The judge in the case rejected his request saying "Bully" is violent but no more so than a night of television. The decade's old fight over violence and video games won't be decided by a bully. But that doesn't mean parents should let down their guard over what their kids are doing in the schoolyard both virtual and real.
WHITFIELD: All right, Bonnie Schneider in the Weather Center. Bonnie, being a kid is way too complicated these days.
SCHNEIDER: It sure is. The problems are still somewhat the same. One of the problems a lot of the folks are facing early in the season is the flu. We are getting some reports of some outbreaks of the flu, in Texas and in Florida. Local activity already reported in Alabama. Though most of the country says no activity so far. That's good news. Hope everyone stays healthy for the season.
Let's talk about now the tropics. Take a look at our tropical system, this is tropical storm Paul. We will walk over now to the big picture. You can see this is a powerful tropical storm that is gaining strength. This storm right now has maximum winds at 50 miles an hour. You can see it pretty evident here on our screen. Very close to Mexico eventually we are expecting this storm to make landfall. Lets take a closer look at the tract right now, with the coordinates the movement is to the northwest. It has made the turn at 7 miles per hour so moving slowly with maximum winds at 50. Eventually as early as tomorrow night tropical storm Paul is likely to become a hurricane. Coming close or possibly interacting with the Cabo area. Something we'll be tracking closely as we move into the next 48 hours.
Landfall expected somewhere along the Mexican coastline as early as Wednesday. So even though it is cold outside in many locations it is certainly warm enough for tropical activity into the eastern pacific. Lets take a look at current temperatures. I was mentioning how cold it is in Chicago the actual number at 39, the wind chill factor at 32. Certainly feels colder up towards Minneapolis, 38 degrees there. Another hot one we had record high temperatures in Florida that continues for today. It is currently 90 degrees in Orlando. This front will pass through. That will make for some improvements, but some much colder air filtering in. You will be feeling it tonight. Low temperatures as far south as Oklahoma will drop down into the 20s and 30s. Fred.
WHITFIELD: Cold out. Get ready for those layers. Thank you, Bonnie.
SCHNEIDER: Sure.
WHITFIELD: Well it was a painful finish not because of the weather. For today's winner of the Chicago marathon. Robert Cheriat crossing the finish line, he did cross first. You know what slipped, hit his head. And he was certainly in pain. He did go to the hospital. They checked him out. Treated him for some bleeding. But race officials say he is not seriously injured. This painful victory remember, he did cross first. He did win. This comes after winning this year's Boston marathon where he stayed on his feet from start to finish.
We'll take a cup of religion, dash of theater and whole lot of soul, what do you get?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We groove light one, two, three! Yeah! What?
WHITFIELD: Coming up next hour a trip inside the soul factory. A new way to go to church right here in "THE NEWSROOM."
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WHITFIELD: Hello, I'm Fredricka Whitfield at the CNN Headquarters in Atlanta, you are in THE NEWSROOM.
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