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Senate Majority Leader Says Senate Won't Take Recess Until Stimulus Bill Is Passed; House And Senate Need To Reconcile Their Bills; General Petraeus Says Afghan Is In A 'Downward Spiral'

Aired February 09, 2009 - 14:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, everyone. I'm Kyra Phillips live at the CNN World Headquarters in Atlanta. You're live in CNN NEWSROOM.

The stimulus, the bailout, all that coming to you in just a second. Plus, you know how the Obama White House wants to be more open. We will meet the lady in charge of that effort. She will give us an inside look at how they plan to open the doors.

And D.C. might be a little dirty for her, but one porn star still wants to go as a senator. How do you think she'll stack up against the incumbent?

But first, all things serious, that wasn't technically a campaign rally you saw last hour in Elkhart, Indiana, or will see tomorrow in Ft. Myers, Florida, or Thursday in Peoria, Illinois, but they're pretty darn close. President Obama is heading back to Washington where senators are nearing a procedural vote on an $800-plus-billion economic stimulus plan. And where Brianna Keilar is watching their every move, we go to her.

Hey, Brianna.

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, Kyra.

Debate under way ahead of this key test vote coming at 5:30 p.m. Eastern Time today. This is going to tell us if that deal that was struck on Friday night bringing a few Republicans on board, with presumably enough votes to push this out of the Senate, it's going to tell us if it really did that.

The next step after that, assuming that this bill then does get out of the Senate, is for the House and the Senate to hash out their differences, because at that point, they will have passed separate bills. Now, this isn't necessarily going to be an easy process, because Democrats in the Senate had to give on some things here, as you recall, in that deal they brokered Friday night. They had to cut $100 billion in spending, including $40 billion in education spending, a big priority for Democrats. Also, allowing tax credits for homes and new cars, so there is some ground to be covered between the House and the Senate but we just heard a short time ago from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid that the Senate, at least, isn't going home until this is all over.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) SEN. HARRY REID, (D) MAJORITY LEADER: We will continue to move forward on this legislation. We're not going to leave for our Presidents Day recess until we complete this. I've said on a number of other occasions, Madam President, that if people out there are thinking we're going to take a vacation for a week when we leave Washington, that's not the case. We have things to do in our home states.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KEILAR: So the sense you're getting is that a lot of folks here on the Hill are leaving their next weekend open, Kyra, in case this goes on into the weekend. We heard before from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi that the House, as well, will not go on recess until there's a bill headed to president Obama's desk.

PHILLIPS: All right. Brianna Keilar, thanks so much.

Now, the plan now facing the Senate was born in a bipartisan breakthrough Friday night. It's $827 billion worth of federal spending and tax breaks, somewhat bigger than the plan that passed the House but almost $100 billion smaller than the package that senators were wrestling over all last week. Tax breaks make up about a third of the bottom line and last we checked, three Republican senators were expected to sign on.

Now, Elkhart is a natural choice for an economic stimulus sales pitch. That small city's jobless rate, twice the national average, mainly due to the hard times at the region's RV plant. The president promised help is on the way, but his real message was aimed at Capitol Hill. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, (D) PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Let me be clear. I'm not going to tell you that this bill is perfect. It's coming out of Washington, it's gone through Congress, you know. Look, it's not perfect. But it is the right size, it is the right scope, broadly speaking, it has the right priorities to create jobs that will jump-start our economy and transform this economy for the 21st century.

(APPLAUSE)

I can't tell you with 100 percent certainty that every single item in this plan will work exactly as we hoped, but what I can tell you is, I can say with complete confidence that endless delay or paralysis in Washington, in the face of this crisis, will only bring deepening disaster. I can tell you that doing nothing is not an option.

(APPLAUSE)

So we've had a good debate. Now it's time to act. That's why I'm calling on Congress to pass this bill immediately. Folks here in Elkhart and all across America need help right now. They can't afford to keep waiting for folks in Washington to get this done. Even with this plan, the road ahead won't be easy. This crisis has been a long time in the making. We're not going to turn it around overnight. Recovery will likely be measured in years, not weeks or months. But we also know that our economy will be stronger for generations to come if we commit ourselves to the work that needs to be done, commit ourselves today to the work that needs to be done.

And being here in Elkhart, I am more confident than ever that we will get where we need to be. Because I know people are struggling, but I also know that folks here are good workers and good neighbors who step up, who help each other out, who make sacrifices when times are tough. I know that all folks here are asking for is a chance to work hard and to have that work translate into a decent life for you and your family. So I know you're going to be doing your part. I think it's about time that government did its part, too. That's what this recovery plan's all about.

(CHEERS, APPLAUSE)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Now, the economy is expected to be a big part of President Obama's first primetime news conference. It comes your way tonight, 8 o'clock Eastern, right here on CNN.

The stimulus plan has stolen some thunder from the government's $700 billion bailout of banks. That's about to change. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner is expected to spell out his massive overhaul of the rescue plan tomorrow. He is going to explain his changes today, but put it off a day to focus on the stimulus bill. As you may recall, the Bush administration doled out the first half of the Troubled Asset Relief Fund, TARP, for short, before leaving office.

The commander in chief is putting his marching orders for troops in Iraq and Afghanistan on hold, at least for now. Barbara Starr following the developments at the Pentagon.

Barbara, what did you find out?

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, we're now seeing all kinds of delays in decisions about getting troops out of Iraq and sending more troops to Afghanistan.

Let's take Iraq first. Senior Pentagon officials now confirming to CNN they are looking at more than just the 16-month withdrawal plan that Mr. Obama campaigned on. They are also looking at proposals for a 19-month withdrawal and a 23-month withdrawal. The president wants to see the risks associated with all of these options. No indication about when he'll make a decision.

Afghanistan may be more problematic. Senior Pentagon officials also saying that the White House is making it clear that it's reluctant to commit that large number of forces that as recently as last week, it was planning to send to Afghanistan fairly quickly, reluctant until it sees more of the strategy review from the Pentagon, what can be done to make Afghanistan better. But senior Pentagon officials say the security situation there is so dire, that they really do need to get troops there.

Just this weekend General David Petraeus, the top commander for the region, said to an audience in Europe, quote, "Arresting and then reversing the downward spiral in security in Afghanistan will require not just additional military forces, but more civilian contributions."

But look at those words, Kyra. "Downward spiral in security in Afghanistan," right from General David Petraeus. It couldn't be more serious. The Pentagon is waiting to give the president its options and to see when he's ready to make a decision - Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Barbara Starr, thanks so much.

Let's go to Israel now and the Jewish nation's crucial elections. Israelis go to the polls tomorrow to elect a new government. The winner picks the prime minister. Former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and his right-wing Likud Party, hold a slim lead in the latest polls; close behind, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, and her centrist Kadima Party. The outcome will likely mean a fragile coalition and tough challenges for President Obama. The backdrop to vote is the Israeli military's recent offensive in Gaza to try and stop militant rocket fire into southern Israel.

Anguish in Australia. The Land Down Under wrestles with its worst natural disaster amid outrage that the hand of man may have played a role.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar, as you know, the former senator of Colorado, getting ready to introduce Michelle Obama. She's continuing her listening tour of federal departments and agencies. The first time in more than 12 years that a first lady has visited the Department of Interior. We took it live when she visited the Department of Education, about a week and a half ago. We'll take her comments live once the secretary here finishes up his opening remarks.

A newly built luxury hotel in China goes up in flames in just minutes. That fire engulfed the 40-story Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Beijing today. One saving grace, it wasn't open so it wasn't occupied. But hotel staffers were there. That blaze happened as the clock ticked off the final hours of the Chinese new year. Many people who witnessed the fire were actually outside to see a nearby fireworks display. The cause of the blaze not yet known.

Severe heat, drought and unchecked flames taking a toll on southeastern Australia. Take a look at these frightening images now. Wildfires charring the bush land of Victoria. At least 170 people now reported dead. Hundreds of Aussie troops are heading in to help thousands of firefighters on the front lines at this point. Investigators say some of the fires were intentionally set. Now Australia's prime minister is coming forward saying that basically amounts to mass murder.

Apparently no red-eye flights from the U.S. to Paris tonight due to high winds. Flights to and from Paris' three major airports are being canceled from now until mid-morning tomorrow. The stormy weather over northern France could create a backlog at airports worldwide. Winds expected up to 62 miles an hour.

High winds and air planes, not a good mix. Let's get straight to Meteorologist Jacqui Jeras. She's tracking all the weather conditions for us.

(WEATHER FORECAST)

PHILLIPS: High honors from a grateful New York City. US Airways Pilot Chesley Sully Sullenberger and his flight crew getting keys to the city from Mayor Michael Bloomberg this morning. The mayor called them five real American heroes for their calm, confident handling of last month's crash landing in the Hudson River. Everyone survived that Flight 1549 when it took that splash down after bird strikes disabled both of the jet's engines.

At the ceremony, Captain Sullenberger went out of his way, by the way, to emphasize this was a team effort, all the way. Similar sentiments last night in his interview with CBS' " 60 Minutes" and Katie Couric. The veteran pilot also talked about coming to grips with the so-called hero label.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CAPT. CHELSEY SULLENBERGER, U.S. AIRWAYS FLT. 1549: I don't feel comfortable embracing it but I don't want to deny it. I don't want to diminish their thankful feeling toward me by telling them that they're wrong. I'm beginning to understand why they might feel that way.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Well, if there's something you want to know from Captain Sullenberger and his crew, call him tomorrow night on CNN's "Larry King Live" at 9 o'clock Eastern Time.

She's one of the most popular people in the Obama White House. Meet Desiree Rogers, in an interview with our Lola Ogunnaike, and exclusive coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN LIVE FEED, IN PROGRESS)

KEN SALAZAR, SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR: ...prepared by Nedra Darling and it is given to Mrs. Obama with -to mark the highest respect for her as a woman of high achievement and distinction. Nedra Darling is a director of public affairs in the office of the assistant secretary.

(APPLAUSE, CHEERS)

Nedra is a member of the Prairie Band Potawatami Tribe from Kansas and doesn't Michelle Obama look beautiful with that shawl?

(APPLAUSE, CHEERS)

At this point, we will hear an honor for the first lady. And then we'll hear from the first lady.

(MEN'S CHORUS SINING INDIAN SONG)

SALAZAR: Ladies and gentlemen, Michelle Obama.

MICHELLE OBAMA, FIRST LADY OF THE UNITED STATES: Wow. Thank you. Thank you so much. Well, I have to say, I am completely humbled and moved by all of you, by the Blackbeard Tribal Group. Give them another round of applause for that inspiring performance.

(APPLAUSE)

For the beautiful shawl, thank you, Nedra. Thank you so much for the prayers. It means so much to me, it means so much to my family, and I want to thank you for that beautiful sign there in the back. It's a small sign, hard to read, but -

And I also want to acknowledge these wonderful workers, folks who have been in this department longer than I have been alive. I mean, that is amazing. And they don't look it. There's no way by looking on this stage that you can tell that people have devoted their careers, lifetimes, more than lifetimes. I know there are some people in this audience that haven't been born half the time they have been working here, and they are amazing and true representatives of what government work is all about. It's one of the reasons why I'm here, to say thank you not just to the folks on the stage, but to all of you.

I want to thank Secretary Salazar, who has been a unique and wonderful friend. He is correct, he and his wife, Hope, were two of the first people we met when Barack joined the United States Senate. And they showed us a level of kindness that we will never forget. We are proud for his contribution to this country. He brings to the department a lifetime of experience protecting our natural resources, promoting clean energy, and standing up for rural communities, and we could not be more pleased, could not be more pleased, to have him as a part of this administration. You are lucky to have him as a leader.

So this is the third agency that I've visited since we've arrived. And each of the agencies I've seen have had a different flavor. It's been such a great way for me to get to know our new community and to meet you, our new co-workers, and our new neighbors. I know that this is an important time of reform and renewal here, in this department, and as you begin the work, the hard work, of taking this department into a new era of excellence.

I wanted to come by again to simply say thank you. Thank you for your service to this nation. It's a simple message but it's one that we think is important to deliver.

The issues that you're working on, as you know, affect us all. They affect you, they affect your children, your grandchildren, your friends, your neighbors, and as public servants and stewards of some of America's greatest assets from our parks and forests to mountains and rivers, you are charged with a sacred task of ensuring that America's resources are used responsibly and protected for future generations. Some of the greatest adventures that we experience in life here in this nation, like family vacations, and camping and hiking and fishing, if you're blessed to have access to those resources, are possible because of the work that you do right here in this department.

When Barack and I, and the girls, as you may have read, just had a little retreat away. We visited Camp David for the first time and got to experience the beautiful -- the beauty of those grounds, and it was just wonderful to get a bit of a break, and to spend some quality time as a family in nature. You are also, in addition to helping make those experiences possible for our family, you are at the center of this administration's highest priorities, securing America's energy future.

Barack has talked about it time and time again, protecting our natural environment and using the natural resources again as responsibly as we can. These aren't only vital for the survival of our planet as we work to combat climate change, but also incredibly important to strengthen our economy and the well-being of our families.

At a time when so many Americans are out of work, sound energy and environmental policies are going to help create thousands of jobs through the economic recovery and reinvestment plan that Barack is out there promoting today. And for those of you focused on meeting the federal government's obligations to the Native Americans, understand that you have a wonderful partner in the White House right now.

(APPLAUSE)

Barack has pledged to honor the unique government-to-government relationship between tribes and the federal government, and he'll soon appoint a policy adviser to senior White House staff to work with tribes and across the government on these issues such as sovereignty, health care, education, all central to the well-being of Native American families and the prosperity of tribes all across this country.

So, there is a lot of work to do. A lot of work. And we have great leaders in Secretary Salazar and in President Obama. I love to say that.

(APPLAUSE)

But what's important to remember, that we will never forget, never can forget, is that great leaders are only as great as the people who hold them up.

(APPLAUSE)

So that is why I'm here. We're counting on you all.

(APPLAUSE)

We're at the beginning of what will be a lot of work, a long journey, and we're going to need one another, not just here in Washington, but we're going to need one another across this country. So before we start that hard work, Barack and I want to thank those of you who have been here long before you ever heard of Barack Obama, working tirelessly to keep this country sound.

Thank you for the work that you've done. Thank you for the work that you're going to do today and in the future. We are all neighbors in this effort, and together, we can get a lot of things done. So on behalf of my husband, my girls, thank you for the warm welcome that you've offered us to Washington, and let's get some good things done. Thank you so much.

(APPLAUSE)

PHILLIPS: Michelle Obama speaking at the Office -- or the Department of Interior, rather, which of course, is the department based on access to all our natural and cultural heritage, and honoring Indian tribes across the U.S.

Live on the other side of things, you see her husband, the president, Barack Obama, leaving Elkhart, Indiana, where he held his town hall meeting, first town hall meeting, getting ready to head back to D.C. And then he'll be having his first live news conference tonight at 8:00 p.m. Eastern. We will take that live. He'll be then heading to Ft. Myers, Florida, where he will be holding another town hall meeting, taking questions from those there.

Meanwhile, we have some new numbers for Congress and the White House to chew on now. And I don't mean payrolls or housing starts. A new CNN poll shows the nation split on economic stimulus but sold on the Obama presidency. So what head of state wouldn't love a 76 percent job approval rating? Well, translating poll numbers into votes on Capitol Hill is a pretty tricky business, as CNN'S Candy Crowley can explain.

And, you know, Candy, I probably should mention, we went straight to the live shot of the president actually heading out of Indiana, but a lot of people, I got a lot of (INAUDIBLE) in e-mails, folks wonderinng why the ceremonial, the American Indian ceremonial there at the Department of Interior. And we sort of explained that that is --

CANDY CROWLEY, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Interior.

PHILLIPS: Yes, exactly, right. And also, they had the honorary drum song, there, the Black Bear tribal group, the heartbeat of Mother Earth, I guess you could say, and also giving her the ceremonial shawl, showing her high level of distinction. So, anyway, I wanted to clear that up for folks that were wondering, OK, what was the deal when they flipped to CNN and they heard the chanting there. It was all good.

All right, let's get back to popularity, must mean something here, right? CROWLEY: Absolutely. I mean, a 76 percent approval rating, you can do a lot with that if you're president. And he does, in fact, have a 76 percent approval rating. So that is political capital, and that's a lot of political capital.

It doesn't, however, necessarily translate evenly into support for the stimulus package that, in fact, he is pushing. Just 54 percent, so that's 22 points down from his approval rating. Just 54 percent of Americans in this poll support that Senate stimulus plan. So, there is political capital, then there's Americans looking at this.

And as far as we can tell in the polls, one of the primary concerns of Americans, 55 percent of them, is that it costs too much, that $800 billion in that Senate stimulus is just too much money. So that may be why there is a reticence to support his stimulus plan in the way that they support the way he is in general conducting policy at this point.

PHILLIPS: Even though he's going to be giving this primetime news conference tonight, I mean, he's getting out there and speaking to a real audience and taking questions. Elkhart, Indiana, and now going to be heading to Ft. Myers, Florida. Why do this now? Why do it so quickly right out of the box?

CROWLEY: Well, a couple of things. I mean, presidents do like to be seen outside the Beltway, especially when they have campaigned as the president did, saying I'm going to listen to you, I'm taking your voice to Washington. So there's an overarching reason to do it.

It's also there's some muscle-flexing here. You see all these people? Seventy-six percent of the people support me. And I think right now, when you're looking at what the president's audience is, who the president's audience is, it is really less about Republicans because we now have a House bill. We almost have a Senate bill.

Republicans on the House side unanimously voted against the House bill. We're looking like three Republicans will come on board. When they go to that conference committee, it's really unlikely that the president is going to be able to pick up Republican support. This seems to me to be aimed at this point at Democrats.

This was a "hurry up" message. We need this now. We've debated. We need to have this now, because those conference committees, when they try to settle differences between the House and the Senate bills, can be very contentious. And we have already heard from the House Democrats that they think the Senate took out too much, so it could be a Democrat versus Democrat battle in there. And that's, I think, where the president is headed with these particular town hall meetings, saying hurry, hurry, these people need help, in Elkhart, Indiana, where the unemployment rate is so high, and in Ft. Myers, Florida, where the home-mortgage foreclosures are to the roof.

PHILLIPS: Candy Crowley, thanks a lot.

CROWLEY: Sure. PHILLIPS: Well, the economy is expected to be a big part of President Obama's first primetime news conference. It comes your way tonight, 8:00 Eastern right here on CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: All right, this just in to CNN. We're getting this actually through ESPN. There had been talk about Alex Rodriguez, the high-paid New York Yankees baseball player. Did he use performance- enhancing drugs or not? Back in 2003, he told the media no. That's when a number of athletes were coming forward and you could say ratting each other out. You remember Jose Canseco's book naming a lot of big-time players using performanance-enhancing drugs, in particular steroids.

Well, apparently A-Rod coming forward now and admitting that he did use performance-enhancing drugs. We're following that story. We'll bring you more.

State diners, distinguished guests, even slumber parties for the first daughters, a lot of different things fall on the desk of the White House social secretary. And just like the new first family, Desiree Rogers is adjusting to life under America's busiest roof. Here's part of our Lola Ogunnaike's exclusive interview with Rogers, America's first African-American White House social secretary.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LOLA OGUNNAIKE, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: Talk to me about your first day here.

DESIREE ROGERS, WHITE HOUSE SOCIAL SECRETARY: Well...

OGUNNAIKE: Take me back. Walk me through it.

ROGERS: I got lost a lot. I absolutely got lost a lot. And...

OGUNNAIKE: But what went through your mind? You walk into the White House and you say, "I actually work here?"

ROGERS: Well, you know, I think what went into my mind is, "OK. Let's get going." I tried to like save that so that I could just focus at the beginning. And -- but, I do have a walk. I do have a walk that I take each day between the East and West wing that I do say, "Oh, my goodness. I really am here."

OGUNNAIKE: The Reagans had a state dinner nearly every month, and the Bushes had less than ten events, State events, in eight years. Whose record are you going to try and break?

ROGERS: Our own. We're going to have our own record. We have to be respectful of the time that we're in, but at the same time, be celebratory. We did a Super Bowl party where we not only had people on both sides of the aisle, we had veterans that attended that event. We had young children, in fact.

OGUNNAIKE: So what does the Super Bowl party at the White House look like? I mean you can't have Chex mix and popcorn here, can you?

ROGERS: Why not? We had --

OGUNNAIKE: It's the White House.

ROGERS: -- but it's America. And so, we really did celebrate America. We did have popcorn. We had lots of cookies. We had chicken. We had all the regular things that you would expect that you would have at Super Bowl party.

OGUNNAIKE: Can we go back there and peek into the Super Bowl room really quickly?

ROGERS: Sure.

OGUNNAIKE: Hi. Hi, ladies.

Everyone was just yelling at the screen yelling, like, "Go, Steelers, go! Go, Steelers. Go!"

ROGERS: Yes. And we had -- like I said, we had another big television there, so we had people back and forth all in this area.

OGUNNAIKE: Like, "Did you see that tackle? Did you see that hit?"

ROGERS: Right. Very -- you know, kind of informal.

OGUNNAIKE: I know that you've spoken with past secretaries. What did they have to tell you? Letitia Baldrige, what did she have to say? Any like...

ROGERS: They told me a number of things. I think one of the most important was how important seating is, you know, and sometimes just how difficult that can be, to figure out the seating. And so, one of the things is, we have this big computer screen that helps us move people around very easily.

OGUNNAIKE: Is it like John King's magic board?

ROGERS: Kind of like -- kind of.

Well, thank you so much for being here.

OGUNNAIKE: Thank you. And I'll be looking in the mail for my invite. Ogunnaike with two "N"s, just so you know.

ROGERS: OK.

(LAUGHTER)

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Ogunnaike, common spelling. All right, I've seen Lola work the lines, work the reservations, work the guest list, work the inauguration, but this takes the cake, Lola. OGUNNAIKE: Yes. I managed to get in the White House. I can't even believe it myself. I had this tenacious producer, Daria Shelton (ph), and somehow, she made it happen. I didn't think she could pull it off, but she actually did. So now I call her Tenacious D.

PHILLIPS: There you go, Tenacious D. I love it. All right, well, what did the Obamas actually tell Rogers about making the White House more casual, you know, besides the popcorn? How's this going to be more of a house for the people?

OGUNNAIKE: They want it to be the people's house, so they want to make it open and accessible to the masses. She actually told me they are thinking of having an Internet lottery that would allow people, average Americans, to win a chance to attend some of their events. So, I thought that was really interesting.

One of the the other things she said is that she wants to make it more casual. Let's leave alone the silverware and all the stemware and the glassware. Let's keep it a little more casual. So, yes, we'll have hamburgers and hot dogs, and we'll actually eat with our hands. The White House staff is having a little bit of trouble adjusting to that. They're used to being a little stiff, but she says they'll come around slowly but surely.

PHILLIPS: You know what? I remember Eleanor Roosevelt, she used to, you know, cook hot dogs there at the White House, with purse on one hand and the hot dogs on the other. So, it's OK. They can bring it back down to earth. That makes sense.

OGUNNAIKE: They can keep it real.

PHILLIPS: There you go. All right, just remember, I'm always your first choice for a date.

OGUNNAIKE: Oh, of course. You're my plus-one always.

PHILLIPS: Thanks, Lola.

OGUNNAIKE: Thank you.

PHILLIPS: All right, well, what would you ask the president if you had the opportunity to do so? In keeping his pledge to have the most open and accessible administration in American history, Mr. Obama welcomes your comments at the White House Web site, whitehouse.gov.

But you can also e-mail us, mailtothechief@cnn.com. We decided to try and work this ourselves. Take your questions, we'll pass them on through the Web site and see if we can get some answers for you and read them to you live, right here on the air.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: President Obama believes buying a hybrid or electric vehicles for government workers will kill two birds with one stone. One, stimulate the economy, two, improve America's energy policy. But the price tag has some critics seeing red, not green. Here's CNN's Elaine Quijano.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): President Obama and some Democrats want to spend hundreds of millions in taxpayer dollars on a fleet of hybrids and electric cars like these.

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It will not only save the government significant money over time, it will not only create manufacturing jobs for folks who are making these cars, it will set a standard for private industry to match.

QUIJANO: But the top Republican in the Senate dismisses buying green cars as wasteful spending.

SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL (R), KENTUCKY: Six hundred million dollars to buy government employees cars is not exactly what the American public had in mind.

OBAMA: When you hear these attacks deriding something of such obvious importance as this, you have to ask yourself, are these folks serious? Is it any wonder that we haven't had a real energy policy in this country?

QUIJANO: Who's right? one economist thinks the provision would create jobs immediately.

PROF. PETER MORICI, UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND: Buying cars is just like bridge-building. It puts auto workers to work, provides work for engineers, especially these green vehicles. It's an ideal stimulus package.

QUIJANO: Others argue if the government borrows money to spend on fuel-efficient cars, less money is available for private business to borrow to create jobs.

J.D. FOSTER, HERITAGE FOUNDATION: So, every time you're creating jobs from the spending, you're destroying jobs from the borrowing. Net effect, no new jobs. You've just redirected the money.

QUIJANO (on camera): Right now, Congress doesn't agree on how much money should be spent on green government cars. The House bill sets aside $600 million and the Senate version, $300 million.

Elaine Quijano, CNN, the White House.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: As always, Team Sanchez back there working hard for the next hour of CNN NEWSROOM. Hey, Rick.

RICK SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: Hey, how do you like our Web cam?

PHILLIPS: That's pretty cool.

SANCHEZ: It is, huh? PHILLIPS: That's actually really good quality.

SANCHEZ: Yes. I think it's the makeup.

(LAUGHTER)

PHILLIPS: I didn't know you wore makeup.

SANCHEZ: I don't.

PHILLIPS: I thought you were just handsome without it, Rick.

SANCHEZ: Yes. And then I woke up.

Hey, listen, really interesting stories are taking place. We've also got some great guests I want to talk about here. Obviously, you know, the A-Rod story is what it is. I think people are listening to you and I right now, and they say, you guys say that a baseball player is admitting he took steroids? No!

I don't think anyone is surprised out there. But nonetheless, it was an interesting strategy that he would come out and admit to it, according to the "Sports Illustrated" and ESPN reports. So, we're going to be jumping all over that, and we're going to be booking out of it.

Also, we have been wanting to talk to somebody directly from the White House on our show to explain to our viewers, the American people, these would be, what the stimulus package really is going to do for them. Not for the Wall Street guys, not for the fat cats, but for them. Well, we got that now. We're going to have somebody joining us from the White House during our hour.

And this may be the most interesting story of all. David Vitter got caught up in this prostitution scandal, the D.C. Madam. You remember that, right, Kyra?

PHILLIPS: Yes. New Orleans lawmaker.

SANCHEZ: Well, there's a woman running against him for his seat, or considering running against him.

PHILLIPS: Are you getting the exclusive with Stormy?

SANCHEZ: You got it. We got the exclusive with Stormy Daniels. She's a porn star. Is that fair?

PHILLIPS: Matter of fact, we're going to talk about that right now, Rick.

SANCHEZ: Is she adult entertainer? How would you describe her?

PHILLIPS: (LAUGHTER) You know what, I'm going to reserve judgment on this. I just want to see how the polls are.

SANCHEZ: I'll tell you what. I'll ask her how you describe her. PHILLIPS: No! How's that? How would you describe her?

SANCHEZ: Entertainment star. Yes.

PHILLIPS: (LAUGHTER) Sorry, you know nothing about porn. All right, here we go. I'm going to get right into it. Since Rick brought it up, what the heck.

What happened if a porn star got elected to the Senate? Well, how do you think that Lindsey Graham or Barbara Boxer would deal with that? OK, Stormy the blonde bombshell would be a dark horse, but she's got some tongues wagging in Louisiana. One thing's for sure, her dirty secrets aren't very secret. Here's CNN'S Sean Callebs.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SEAN CALLEBS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: After being linked to the D.C. Madam, Louisiana Republican Senator David Vitter said his wife had forgiven him for what he called a serious sin. Up for re-election next year, the question is, have the state's voters? Enter a Web site trying to lure porn star and Baton Rouge native Stormy Daniels into the race.

STORMY DANIELS, ADULT ENTERTAINER: Originally, the focus wasn't even about making me as a candidate. I think it was about bringing attention to the Senate race in general, and then the response was overwhelmingly positive, and you know, I think everyone's just running with it.

CALLEBS: Vitter's office didn't return numerous calls by CNN. A spokesman for the state GOP said voters are concerned with real issues that affect their everyday lives and not with political or publicity stunts. Draft Stormy was started by New Orleanian Zach Hudson, who says he's a fan of Stormy's and that it's a serious effort. If it's meant to remind voters of Vitter's link to the D.C. Madam, some say it could backfire.

CLANCY DUBOS, POLITICAL EDITOR, "THE GAMBIT": You need somebody better than a porn star or a lap dancer or a sex worker to nail David Vitter on this.

CALLEBS: Clancy Dubos, the political director of the New Orleans alternative newspaper, Gambit, says Vitter is a brilliant politician with a $2 million war chest.

DUBOS: You need a serious opponent who is himself or herself not guilty of something like that to say, let's talk about family values, shall we? And let's talk about criminal behavior, because that's what this is.

CALLEBS: As for Stormy, she's not affiliated with the Democratic Party but is embracing the idea of a possible candidacy, and says she's planning a listening tour around Louisiana to talk about the economy and other issues. And when told vitter could be a tough opponent... DANIELS: Oh, I'm always up for a good fight. And I think anybody that knows me is more than aware of that. Politics can't be any dirtier a job than the one I'm already in.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Wow. I can't add anything to that. That was Sean Callebs reporting.

Here's a nice transition. We're going to talk now about Honest Abe and a bit of a rare view. We're going to tell you where the former president's belongings are going on display, and you can check out his keepsakes for free.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Well, for his first big trip outside the Beltway, the president chose Elkhart, Indiana, a city near South Bend whose jobless rate has surged to more than 15 percent. The folks there didn't need the president to tell them how bad the economy is, though, but he needed them to tell Congress. Let's go ahead and listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OBAMA: I don't want to lie to people. That's why we're having a town hall meeting. Because the situation we face could not be more serious. We have inherited an economic crisis as deep and as dire as any since the Great Depression. Economists from across the spectrum have warned that if we don't act immediately, millions of more jobs will be lost. The national unemployment rates will approach double digits not just here in Elkhart, all across the country.

More people will lose their homes and their health care, and our nation will sink into a crisis that at some point, we may be unable to reverse. So we can't afford to wait. We can't wait and see and hope for the best. We can't posture and bicker and resort to the same failed ideas that got us into this mess in the first place.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: And don't forget, the president will follow that appearance with a primetime news conference tonight, 8 p.m. Eastern. You'll see it live right here on CNN.

And if you're in D.C. any time soon, this is a must-see, and it's free. The Library of Congress rolling out Abraham Lincoln's bicentennial exhibit later this week. It's stuff you rarely get to see. The 1861 bible used to swear in not only Abraham Lincoln but President Obama. And drafts of the Emancipation Proclamation, also the Gettysburg Address and little things that were found in Lincoln's pockets the night he was shot: glasses, a handkerchief with his name on it and a wallet with a $5 Confederate note. That display runs through May. You should check it out.

CNN invites you to join us for a special day on Thursday celebrating Lincoln's 200th birthday and more. "From Lincoln to Obama," it begins at 9 a.m. Eastern right here on CNN.

That does it for us. I'll see you back here tomorrow. Rick Sanchez takes it from here.