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Obama's Reaction to Financial Crisis; Galveston Return; The Google Impact
Aired September 24, 2008 - 12:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: All right. There you have it. Joe Biden, really building something of a lawyer's case against John McCain, and for his man, Barack Obama, to be the next president and commander in chief of the United States.
Vice presidential candidate Joe Biden in Cincinnati, Ohio, making a speech on foreign policy. It didn't take long for the McCain campaign to respond.
Senator McCain's campaign staff responding to Biden's speech in this way: "Joe Biden, the senator-turned-salesman, has gone through so many disjointed transformations on Iraq that he no longer represents credible leadership on the issue."
A short time ago Joe Biden questioned Barack Obama's (sic) judgment and leadership on Iraq, accusing him of cutting off support that will save the lives of thousands of American troops when he voted against funding our military. "He has abandoned his criticisms of Senator Obama and his own firmly-held own held beliefs in order to reflect Barack Obama's record of trying to legislate failure in Iraq and ambition-first style leadership."
Need to remind you, probably don't, that the first debate is on Friday. It is on foreign policy.
And here's something to keep in mind. We're going to give you an opportunity to debate the debate. Just go to CNN.com. We have a forum set up for you there. It will to give you an opportunity to build a badge.
There you go. Not quite sure what the badge is. I'm going to have to go to the site myself to figure it all out.
Once again, just go to CNN.com/forum.
And hello again, everyone. I'm Tony Harris. Here are the headlines for Wednesday, September 24th.
Financial meltdown, political mine field. What the presidential candidates are saying about the economy and the money crisis.
First Lady Laura Bush on politics and Sarah Palin. What she says about Palin's foreign policy experience.
And Galveston business owners coping with double trouble. Can they survive the aftermath of Hurricane Ike and the country's financial problems?
You are in the CNN NEWSROOM.
We could hear from the president in prime time talking about the nation's financial crisis. The White House says the president is considering making a speech to the nation as early as tonight. The administration's top money men, in the meantime, on Capitol Hill, attempting to convince lawmakers to act on the $700 billion bailout.
We are watching the hearings, and we are also watching Wall Street, as you can see, and gauging how the markets are reacting, down 25 points so far on the day.
Ah, the financial crisis, a political mine field in the presidential campaigns, but whoever wins the election will bear the burden. Early this morning, John McCain talked it over with a group of business executives, including former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Most Americans feel very strongly that this isn't their fault, but it's Wall Street and Washington, and the cozy insider relationships that have caused a great part of these problems. So any package that we come up with has got to have transparency, accountability, CEO responsibility, and obviously the best interests of the people of this country who are going to pay $10,000 per household in order to take the necessary measures to restore our economy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: Democratic Senator Barack Obama is in Florida today getting ready for Friday's big debate.
For the latest on what he is saying about the financial mess, let's go Jessica Yellin in Washington.
And Jessica I have to ask you, how has the candidate handled this when so much of the real action is happening far from the campaign trail, in Washington?
JESSICA YELLIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, this is right in Barack Obama's wheelhouse. He wants to be talking about the economy, and as you say, he is in Florida today, in Dania (ph), and yesterday in Clearwater. Both just outside Tampa. And he spoke yesterday, offering extended comments on the economic situation and the bailout plans.
In essence, Tony, he says that he thinks a bailout is necessary, but it must include oversight and accountability. And he blamed lobbyists and special interests, what he called an ethic of irresponsibility in Washington for this financial crisis. Let's listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: After the economy recovers, we should institute a financial stability fee on the entire financial services industry to repay any losses to the American people and make sure we are never asked again to foot the bill for Wall Street's mistakes. We can ask taxpayers to make an investment in the stability of our economy, but we cannot ask them to hand their money over to Wall Street without some expectation of being made whole.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
YELLIN: Part of Obama's plan right there.
Now, he's also calling on the government to offer an immediate economic stimulus plan which he said would help people keep their jobs, stay in their homes, deal with rising food costs. As he says, if the government is helping Wall Street, it should help Main Street too.
Now, among the reforms he said he'd enact as president, he says he'd make government open and transparent, putting any bill that ends up on his desk online for five days before he signs it. He says he'd eliminate waste and fraud and abuse in our government by, for example, fixing the health care system and ending the war in Iraq. Not much more detail on that, but he has gone into detail in the past. He says he'd crack down on excessive spending from both parties and close loopholes for big corporations, and he says he'd pursue what he called updated common sense regulations in the financial market.
Now, Tony, John McCain has criticized Obama for not putting out a plan to address the financial situation that is more detailed, but Obama says he doesn't want to put out details right now because that would politicize Congress' work, and he doesn't want to do anything to slow down this bailout plan which he says needs immediate action.
HARRIS: More openness and transparency. If either of these candidate could deliver on that as president, wouldn't that be a welcome change?
Jessica Yellin for us in Washington.
Jessica, appreciate it. Thank you.
Are the candidates' reactions to the bailout plan making a difference in the tossup states? Find out at 4:00 p.m. Eastern in "THE SITUATION ROOM."
Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke back on Capitol Hill for a second straight day. They're urging Congress to act soon on the $700 billion bailout plan.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BEN BERNANKE, FEDERAL RESERVE CHAIRMAN: I urge the Congress to act quickly to address the grave threats to financial stability that we currently face. For its part, the Federal Open Market Committee will monitor economic and financial developments carefully and will act as needed to promote sustainable economic growth and price stability.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: We are also watching other developments in the financial crisis. Sources say the FBI is investigating Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Lehman Brothers and AIG as part of a broader look into possible mortgage fraud.
The Federal Reserve strikes a deal with central banks in four other countries to pump more money into the financial markets. The agreement should make up to $30 billion available for the Fed to loan banks in the United States.
And billionaire investor Warren Buffett is investing $5 billion in Goldman Sachs, a move that could boost confidence in U.S. financial firms.
Residents of Galveston are headed back to the island to see what's left. Will businesses there be able to survive the rebuilding?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: Finally going home. For the first time since Hurricane Ike, 11 days ago, the people of Galveston, Texas, are being allowed back in.
We've been watching this scene here on the right all morning long. The people there are going back home to see what's left their homes, of their lives. All morning long, that main freeway right there into the city has been clogged with traffic. Residents ignoring warnings from officials about what they're calling a broken city, crawling with -- listen to this -- dangerous germs, vermin and snakes.
In Galveston, a double whammy for business owners. Not only are they rebuilding from a devastating hurricane, but the United States is in the middle of a financial crisis.
Ed Lavandera has that story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GARRY DEPINGRE, GALVESTON BUSINESS OWNER: This was really a beautiful shop. I mean, it's a great little store.
ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Garry Depingre's Galveston surf shop, and so is his surfer attitude. He's not sure his business of 24 years will survive.
DEPINGRE: We're going to need some help. We have to have help, man. I mean, I can't do this on my own.
LAVANDERA: Depingre's surf shop sits in Galveston's historic tourist district know as The Strand. It took on eight feet of flood water. Tourism makes up about a third of this island's economy.
(on camera): How long do you think you can go? DEPINGRE: Without any income coming in?
LAVANDERA: Right.
DEPINGRE: I don't know. I really don't know.
LAVANDERA (voice-over): Galveston officials say they're confident the island economy will rebound even if all the promised federal money doesn't come through.
JEFF SJOSTROM, GALVESTON ECON. DEV. PARTNERS: I think we have key financial partners, investors, developers, and a willing business community that is going to come together and figure a way out of this.
LAVANDERA: But the storm also decimated key areas of Galveston's tax base. Many of the pricey beach homes on Bolivar Peninsula and the Galveston beaches may not be rebuilt.
JARUE MANSFIELD, GALVESTON BUSINESS OWNER: This carpet was green and white.
LAVANDERA: And with banks struggling to survive, Jarue Mansfield worries she may not be able to pay off her business loan why she tries to rebuild her women's shoe boutique. It all adds to the anxiety.
MANSFIELD: I'm feeling that right now. You know? Not knowing what's going to happen. If we can recoup just enough to pay back our business loan, that would be fantastic right now.
LAVANDERA (on camera): Historically, areas hard hit by hurricanes enjoy kind of an economic book. Insurance and FEMA money pour in, bringing jobs, and that brings other private investment as well. But with these hard economic times, that private investment money is in short supply, leaving Galveston on its own to figure out how to bail out of this mess.
Ed Lavandera, CNN, Galveston, Texas.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(WEATHER REPORT)
HARRIS: Still to come, does Joe Biden have his own bridge issue?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: OK. We're looking at another round of political pork this hour. Last hour, you may recall, we took you to Sarah Palin's Road to Nowhere. Now SIU's Drew Griffin looks into Senator Joe Biden's barrel.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DREW GRIFFIN, CNN INVESTIGATIVE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Last week, it became part of his stump speech. If you believe Senator McCain and Governor Palin are good for America's road to recovery, Joe Biden says you'd better check their roadmap.
BIDEN: I've got also a bridge I've got to sell you here. And guess what? It's in Alaska, and it goes to nowhere.
GRIFFIN: Perhaps Biden believes the Bridge to Nowhere is the symbolic bridge to cross into the White House.
BIDEN: John McCain's answers for the economy -- and we're in such desperate shape -- is the ultimate Bridge to Nowhere. It's nowhere, it takes you nowhere.
GRIFFIN: But hold on, Senator Biden. Keeping him honest, we decided to check on 116 reasons in Delaware that one Bridge to Nowhere in Alaska may not be such a good Democratic talking point, because 116 is this number of earmarks Senator Biden asked for this year alone. The total bill to taxpayers, more than $342 million.
He told our "AMERICAN MORNING" they're all justified.
BIDEN: Everyone has seen them. And we have no Walter -- you know, we have no Lawrence Welk museums. We have no bridges to nowhere in Delaware. It's all straight up.
GRIFFIN: Straight up? We went to Delaware to see for ourselves.
True, there is no Lawrence Welk Museum. But Biden does want a million dollars for a children's museum, another million dollars for opera house renovations. Hundreds of thousands for this tiny waterfront park.
(on camera): And believe it or not, there is also a bridge, maybe not to nowhere, but after the tourists have gone at this time of year, the Indian River Inlet Bridge can seem like a bridge between two nowheres.
CAROL EVERHART, REHOBOTH BEACH-DEWEY BEACH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: We need a new bridge. And we are so fortunate that this is finally at a place where it's going to happen.
GRIFFIN: Carol Everhart, with the local Chamber of Commerce, says the Indian River Inlet Bridge is a vital link in the tourist trade, connecting the vacations towns of Dewey Beach and Bethany Beach.
Without this bridge, she says 30,000 summer vacationers a day would have to drive an extra 35 minutes. The bridge has some erosion problems, and if it ever collapsed, it would cause economic disaster here, Everhart says.
EVERHART: The bridge, as it is, is currently safe.
GRIFFIN: So why is Senator Biden asking for $13 million for this bridge now? Well, that's what Bill Allison of the watchdog group the Sunlight Foundation wants to know.
BILL ALLISON, SUNLIGHT FOUNDATION: Essentially what Senator Biden is doing is saying that while my state's bridge gets the priority dollars, even though it's not a priority project.
GRIFFIN: Now the real twist in this story. Senator Biden must really like bridges, because not only does he want you to help pay to replace this bridge here in Delaware, despite what he's been saying on the campaign trail, he actually voted for Alaska's bridge to nowhere. Twice.
That's right. He and Senator Barack Obama were among the 93 senators who voted for the massive 2005 transportation bill funding the Alaskan bridge to nowhere, and thousands of other projects across the country. And when another senator tried to divert the bridge to nowhere money to fix a bridge to New Orleans damaged by Katrina, Senators Biden and Obama, and 80 other senators present, voted against the amendment.
ALLISON: Yes, they had a chance to vote specifically against the bridge to nowhere in Alaska, to redirect the money, and they chose not to.
GRIFFIN: John McCain, who always opposed earmarks, was not in the Senate that day and did not cast a vote. Sarah Palin wasn't even the governor yet. So why is Biden raising the bridge to nowhere on the campaign trail? Of course, we wanted to ask him directly but his campaign never got back to us.
Drew Griffin, CNN, Dewey Beach, Delaware.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: First Lady Laura Bush talks about Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin. What she says may surprise you.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: Let's get you to the New York Stock Exchange quickly now for a look at the big board. Half way through the trading day, as you can see here. The Dow down 11 points.
Let me see here. I grabbed the Nasdaq number just a moment ago. The Nasdaq was up six. The S&P down slightly. But I things are happening pretty quickly on the market, as is always the case here. We'll keep an eye on that with Susan Lisovicz right here in the NEWSROOM.
Back on Capitol Hill, pushing for action on the massive bailout bill, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson making the case before lawmakers again today. Brianna Keilar -- a lunch recess, OK. Brianna Keilar live from The Hill with the very latest.
And before that recess, Brianna, I understand the Fed chairman sounding pretty grave in his testimony.
BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. We heard from Chairman Ben Bernanke. Now it's actually a recess in a joint economic committee hearing. He was kind of basically giving a lot of justifications for why Congress should push through quickly and cleanly this $700 billion Bush administration proposal. But so far, Tony, even though he and Secretary Paulson are saying that, no one really seems to be buying here on Capitol Hill.
Treasury Secretary Paulson and Ben Bernanke, they're going to be in another hearing together, one that's actually already underway, where Treasury Secretary Paulson is. But, obviously, they're publicly doing these hearings. We're seeing them before the cameras. But also a lot of behind-the-scenes going on right now.
Paulson has been talking to Republicans and Democrats, both on the phone and also in person. He spoke this morning with Republicans. He's expected to speak this afternoon with Democrats.
And that hearing that Bernanke was at, he was telling, as I said, telling members of Congress exactly why this will matter, in layman's terms, why this bailout will matter for the average American.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BEN BERNANKE, FEDERAL RESERVE CHAIRMAN: The credit systems is like the plumbing. It permeates throughout the entire system. And our modern economy cannot grow, it cannot create jobs, it cannot provide housing without effectively working credit markets.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KEILAR: So what is the timeline for this? Well, we're hearing from Republicans and Democrats that it's still possible that there could be an agreement, there could even been legislation going to the president before the end of the week. But, again, that's not obviously a firm commitment that it's definitely going to happen.
What's interesting, though, is there seems to be more agreement between Republicans and Democrats than there appears to be between the Bush administration and anyone in Congress. For instance, the issue of limiting the pay of CEOs of these corporations that would get money from this bailout. Democrats came out very quickly after getting the Bush administration's proposal. This very clean, bear bare bones proposal.
Democrats said, we want that. We want to limit CEO pay. And the Bush administration, obviously, doesn't want it. But increasingly we're hearing that Republican do want it. Just today, the top Republican in the House saying that he is open to that -- to discussing that topic.
We also we heard from Mitch McConnell, who's the Republican leader in the Senate, Tony, and he said yesterday that he is for it. In fact, I've just learned that he is going to be coming out on to the Senate floor here shortly and saying again that he wants that -- why had wants that, obviously, ratcheting up the pressure on the Bush administration, trying to get them to capitulate on the issue.
HARRIS: Yes, absolutely. OK. Brianna Keilar following developments on Capitol Hill for us. Brianna, thank you.
President Bush possibly addressing the nation tonight. Pushing Congress to pass legislation for that $700 billion financial bailout. How does it all sit with you? Our Veronica De La Cruz has been going through your i-Reports this morning.
And, Veronica, you're getting an eye and earful, aren't you?
VERONICA DE LA CRUZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Oh, yes. And that answer is not well. It is not sitting well with our i-Reporters. Let's go ahead and start with Ace Anderson (ph), Tony, who says bailout? Why not bail me out.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ACE ANDERSON: I only need $450,000 and everything will be OK.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DE LA CRUZ: Ace is a real estate investor and says whoever is responsible for turning this housing market into an underpriced rummage sale needs to be held accountable. He says our government is blindly and grossly overspending our tax money. These bailouts are now becoming a bit discriminating, meaning why can't our tax money also bail out small businesses if the big guys can be bailed out.
And take a look, Tony, at this cartoon, drawn out of frustration by Ron Cole (ph). He says, I am livid about the bailout and am torn between letting the economy collapse and taking our bumps for a few years. My real anger comes from the impression I get that not a single high-level person that caused it will see a single second in prison. It makes me feel our entire government, Tony, has been bought.
HARRIS: Yes.
DE LA CRUZ: And then April Estra (ph). She sent us this photo of her son, Lyle (ph). This is Lyle playing in the yard of their home. Tony, they bought this home for $28,000. And she says that she would have loved to have spent more but she and her husband are financially responsible. So, Tony, she's asking the government, why push everyone else's problems on people struggling to make it? Why not just forgive everyone's debt and then let us all start new?
HARRIS: Boy.
DE LA CRUZ: So that's her question.
HARRIS: Yes.
DE LA CRUZ: And we, of course, are asking you out there, what are your thoughts on this proposed bailout? Go ahead and send them to us. All you have to do is log on to ireport.com. And, yes, Tony, the majority of people not really too happy. HARRIS: Well, you know, that's interesting. I was just thinking about that. You know, you try to be balanced in what you're getting from ireport.com, but sometimes the reaction and the response is overwhelmingly negative or positive in one direction or the other. Sounds like there are a lot of people who are sending us i-Reports who aren't just -- well, aren't happy with this idea.
DE LA CRUZ: Yes, that's right.
HARRIS: Veronica, appreciate it. Thank you.
Have you got a great idea for changing the world? Well, someone wants to make it happen.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: So while the economy is casting a dark cloud over the president race, it is not completely overshadowing the Iraq War. Just last hour, Democratic vice president candidate Joe Biden questioned John McCain's judgment to be commander in chief.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JOE BIDEN, (D) VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: And John McCain continues to insist against all the evidence and all the facts that Iraq is the central war on terrorism. Ladies and gentlemen, he doesn't understand that that central war on terrorism is the mountains between Afghanistan and Pakistan where al Qaeda resides, where bin Laden lives, where the people who actually attacked the United States of America are plotting more attacks. Ladies and gentlemen, on this, John McCain is more than wrong. He is dangerously wrong.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: You know, it seems just about everyone has an opinion about Sarah Palin, including First Lady Laura Bush. Our Zain Verjee caught up with Mrs. Bush in New York.
Great get, Zain, first of all. I can't wait to hear -- I really want to hear the back story on how this happened. But I can't wait to hear what the first lady had to say about Sarah Palin.
ZAIN VERJEE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Tony, we went to speak to her just a few hours ago really to talk about some of the issues that she's trying to promote, that she's really taken center stage on. And she did spend a few minutes weighing in and sharing her thoughts on Governor Sarah Palin. Just listen to what she had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
VERJEE: Sarah Palin has now emerged as the choice. Do you have as much confidence in her as you did then in Secretary Rice?
LAURA BUSH, FIRST LADY: I have a lot of confidence in Sarah Palin. She's got a lot of really good common sense. And I think that's very important. She also has executive experience from being the governor and the mayor. And I'm thrilled to have the chance to vote for Sarah Palin on the Republican ticket.
VERJEE: But do you think she has the kind of foreign policy experience that everyone's criticizing her about?
BUSH: Well, obviously, of course she doesn't have that. She has -- you know, that's not been her role. But I think she is a very quick study and, fortunately, John McCain does have that sort of experience.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VERJEE: Tony, she added too that she felt that there was a little bit of sexism going on when it comes to some of the criticism that's been leveled at Sarah Palin. At the end of the day, Laura Bush said that Sarah Palin is plenty tough.
Tony.
HARRIS: Well, you know, I hope I'm not being to nosy here, but I'm really curious as to how this happened. What was Laura Bush doing in New York, Zain?
VERJEE: Well, she was here essentially to promote and talk about some of the issues that's important to her. She met with some dissidents from Burma. One specific person who had been exiled from the country. That's something, Tony, that's been really close to her heart.
She said that's what's got to happen is that there's got to be a lot more international pressure on the military Junta in Burma who has this oppressive human rights record, to really kind of squeeze the regime there and wants China and India to play a critical role. She was also talking about global literacy and the importance of all of that in Burma and promoting education around the world and really pulling up those underdeveloped countries out of poverty.
Another interesting thing she added, Tony. She said that even with the economic downturn, it's still important for the United States to continue all the foreign aid to countries that need help.
Tony.
HARRIS: Just great to see the first lady on the air. We don't see her nearly enough.
Zain Verjee, great guest. Thanks, Zain.
VERJEE: Thanks, Tony.
HARRIS: On the international front, Iran's president says "the American empire is reaching the end of its road." In his address to the general assembly, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called on the next U.S. leaders to, "limit their interference to their own borders." He later sat down for an exclusive interview with our Larry King.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) LARRY KING, CNN'S "LARRY KING LIVE": Senator Obama has said, Senator McCain has not, but he is open to diplomacy. Does that encourage you?
PRES. MAHMOUD AHMADINEJAD, IRAN, (through translator): We are interested in having relations that are friendly and respectful. We prefer that and propose that. But it is for the American government to decide what choice it wants to make. And whatever choice they make, we will also -- well, take measures and organize our efforts accordingly. But we think that a relationship based on justice and respect will benefit all sides. And that's our preference.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: And tonight our Larry King will be speaking to former President Bill Clinton. Don't miss his advice for the candidates. That's at 9:00 p.m. Eastern right here on CNN.
This morning, in a CNN exclusive, Google executive joined me to announce a $10 million project to support some of the best ideas on the planet. Josh Levs joins me now to show you how you can get some of that funding for your great idea.
I can't wait. Well, that was a wonderful moment for us. It really was. $10 million. Now all we need are the ideas.
JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And their's an exclusive right here on the "Tony Harris Show" -- I mean NEWSROOM. Whoops, NEWSROOM, I should say.
HARRIS: NEWSROOM, thank you.
LEVS: OK. Tony, do you remember this? Yesterday on this board we were talking about this, the MacArthur fellows and how people out of nowhere get a cal saying, you're a genius and here's half a million dollars.
HARRIS: And the call I didn't get.
LEVS: Well, right, we didn't get that call. You, unfortunately, unless you're one of these people, didn't get that call. But now you can do this. Go to cnn.com/impactyourworld. Let's zoom in on this fast. I want to tell you a little bit about it.
Google's Project 10 to the 100. Now what they're doing is they have $10 million available they're going to support up to five projects. They can be absolutely anything.
Now, Tony, you've been busy anchoring, but I had a chance to go back and look at your interview. So I pulled out a couple sound bites here that represent what Google's looking for.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANDY BERNDT, GOOGLE CREATIVE LAB MANAGING DIRECTOR: The bigger the better. The more the merrier. We don't really have a top side to this.
HARRIS: Uh-huh.
BERNDT: That's what this is all about. We don't think by any stretch that we have the ideas, but we do think the ideas are out there.
BETHANY POOLE, GOOGLE PRODUCT MARKETING MANAGER: Some of the examples that we can give are everything from putting wi-fi devices on public buses to give broad Internet access, to moving -- helping people figure out ways to move a water source from -- water from its source to a village.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEVS: And, Tony, they have a great little video that's going along with this. Let's take a look at that. It's so much fun.
You see what he did? He just came along, and he reached inside the car, and he's no longer giving off these black clouds. Now he's giving off these white clouds. It remind me of that -- what is it, the "Charlie Brown" special on Christmas where all of the kids just go up to the Christmas tree and wave their arms and suddenly it comes out perfect.
HARRIS: Nice, nice, nice.
LEVS: Anyway, it's very inspirational. And we do -- oh, and by the way, why called it called 10 to the 100th? I think this is so cool. Let's zoom in back on the board. I want to show you this. Ten to the 100. Can you get that? It's kind of small text. But the reason is, so that's another way of saying Google, which is the one followed by 100 zeros. And they're celebrating their 10th anniversary and they kind of partnered with us to make this big announcement. And right here are the dates, because we know you what to know, what can you do? The last thing I want to show here, you get your idea in by October 20th and then the voting -- anybody can vote, Tony.
HARRIS: Right. Right.
LEVS: Anybody can vote. That will begin January 27th when they're going to begin the public voting. The public will help narrow it down. In the end, the judges are going to choose the final five.
HARRIS: I'm trying to get on that panel. It's not going well.
LEVS: Oh, you're not in the panel?
HARRIS: I'm not on that panel to dole out the $10 million. I'd love to be on that panel.
LEVS: See, I thought we both got that call.
HARRIS: Yes, we didn't get it.
LEVS: Oh, sorry about that (ph). HARRIS: But here's the thing. Did you make -- mention the fact that you can go to cnn.com/impact? Did you do that already?
LEVS: I did. But that's OK. Let's do it again. Cnn.com/impact, right here. This is where you get all your details. And while we're at it, we also have an article that really lays it out for you at cnn.com today. Got an idea to help the world, here's $10 million. And we're already theorizing about what might win, but we have no idea.
HARRIS: Ten years, they could have done anything with all that mountain of cash that they're sending on -- that they're sitting on right now and they've decided to do something to help the planet.
LEVS: Very cool. Very cool. Love it.
HARRIS: Yes, those wacky guys and gals at Google.
Thanks, Josh.
LEVS: Thanks.
HARRIS: PETA what Ben & Jerry's to change one of its key ingredient. Find out why that's getting a rather cold reception.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: I'm really going to try to get through this one. Ben & Jerry's famous, famous for its imaginative ice cream flavors. Got a strange request from animal rights activists. They suggested making ice cream with human breast milk. Human breast milk. People for the ethical treatment of animals says the new recipe would lessen the suffering of dairy cows and be a healthier ingredient. So far the idea is leaving ice cream lovers cold.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know, I'm a vegetarian and I've been a vegetarian for probably 14 years now. I have no desire to eat human breast milk in any way, shape or form.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: Well, Ben & Jerry's issued a polite response saying it applauds PETA's creative way of drawing attention, but will sick with cows milk.
She likes to ride her bike naked. There goes the neighborhood.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: OK. So this is a story we're giving you just the facts, the bare facts. Portland police got a flood of calls about a woman riding her bike, Kyra, and Royalty; Death; Britain; Princess Margaret in the nude, naked, yes.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: What wrong with that?
HARRIS: There you go. What's wrong with that? Her name is Jennifer Vause (ph).
PHILLIPS: What's wrong with that?
HARRIS: Well, I mean, there's -- all right, OK.
PHILLIPS: I want to be free!
HARRIS: Right now we have some of the calls she generated to police dispatchers.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DISPATCHER: 911. What is your emergency?
CALLER: Yes. There is a naked woman riding on a bicycle.
CALLER: People are just about crashing. It's a woman riding up Hawthorne Boulevard eastbound on a bicycle, naked.
CALLER: Beautiful. Wish I had her figure.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: You love that, don't you?
PHILLIPS: Yes. At least she looks good.
HARRIS: Yes. And she loves mother earth and she's all about peace and we love that about her.
PHILLIPS: The hippie of 2008. So why is she doing it?
HARRIS: She wants to promote peace. And I haven't made the real connection between -- there's earth, there's mother earth, and then there's world peace.
PHILLIPS: So, world peace is being naked. If we were all naked, we'd have world peace.
HARRIS: But, that's the thing. I want to slow her down and I want to have a conversation about her. No, not really. Not really.
Hi, Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Hi, Tony.
HARRIS: NEWSROOM with Kyra Phillips starts right now.
