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The Audacity of Diversity; Swine Flu Confirmed at California Marine Base

Aired April 29, 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: Let's now go to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That's here in Atlanta. We go once again to our Colleen McEdwards, she's there. Colleen, from a numbers standpoint, how different is swine flu from any other flu strain at this point?

COLLEEN MCEDWARDS, CNN CORRRESPONDENT: Well you know here's the thing, Kyra, it's actually been less severe than other flu strains at this point, not nearly as many deaths obviously and not nearly in terms of numbers. But here's the thing. This is a new strain. It's something that's not been seen before even with all the tests here at the CDC, they have not seen any of this before, so they're concerned. And they say they're acting proactively. They're acting aggressively. They don't want to be caught out here. And CDC officials were expecting a bump up in the number of cases and that is exactly what we've got.

Really the bump up we've seen from 64 confirmed cases to 91 now. From five states to 10, and as you mentioned, Kyra, the first confirmed death, this child, just under the age of 2 who came from Mexico to the United States. CNN has also been told that there were some underlying health issues with this child. This child was sick before this child got this swine flu. We don't know with what. That's not being discussed because of privacy issues. But that's a factor here as well. And it is really what the CDC had anticipated. They've been saying, you know, there are going to be more cases and there are going to be more severe cases. Here's what was said just a short time ago --

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. RICHARD BESSER, ACTING DIR., CDC: I can confirm very sad news coming out of Texas that a child has died from the h1n1 virus. As a parent and a pediatrician, my heart goes out to the family. As I've been saying for the past few days, flu is a very serious infection. And each virus is unique.

(END OF VIDEO CLIP)

MCEDWARDS: That word from the CDC earlier. And, you know, just to mention schools to pick up on that point, Kyra, 74 schools in the United States -- because of confirmed cases, another 30 schools closed as a precaution. So, again, just to echo this, parents in America need to have a plan. What are you going to do if your school is closed? And people really ought to be not sending their kids to school if they're sick and not going to work if they feel sick as well. PHILLIPS: All right, Colleen McEdwards there at the CDC. We apologize for the audio problem there, but I think we pretty much got the gist from Colleen. Colleen thanks.

Nearly 13 million doses of antivirals are being released to the states and Uncle Sam is fast tracking development of a swine flu vaccine, that's the word now from homeland security chief Janet Napolitano. She's testifying before the senate homeland security and governmental affairs committees. But what about pulling up the welcome mat and closing the U.S. borders?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JANET NAPOLITANO, HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY: And here I want to pause a moment. There's been some question raised about closing the borders. And, first, the actual statutory authority is not with respect to closing an entire border. It's with respect to closing a particular port or series of ports. But I think, as Admiral Schuchat will explain in greater detail, making such a closure right now has not been merited by the facts. Would have very, very little marginal benefit in terms of containing the actual outbreak.

(END OF VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Well, are we doing enough at our airports to protect against swine flu? I'm going to ask transportation secretary Ray Lahood.

It's been a busy 100 days. Look at all the stuff that's popped up. Swine flu, the banking and auto industries, torture memos, Somali pirates, on and on and on. Chances are, things aren't going to get any easier either. They don't call it the toughest job in the world for nothing. And tonight President Obama will go on national television. He caps his first 100 days in office with a primetime news conference but first he appeared at a town hall meeting just outside St. Louis.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OBAMA: Today marks 100 days since I took the oath of office to be your president. 100 days. Now, that's a good thing. Thank you. Thank you! Thank you. Now, back in November, some folks were surprised that we showed up in Springfield at the end of our campaign. But then again, some folks were surprised that we even started our campaign in the first place.

(END OF VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Well, we're just four hours away from the CNN "National Report Card." Tonight, 7:00 eastern, 100 days of the Obama presidency. At 8:00 President Obama's self-assessment during his live news conference. Grab your laptop go to cnn.com get ready to hand out your grade along with the best political team on television. We've already gotten some of your feedback the old school way by telephone. We're going to play your messages throughout the hour. The government's been crunching the numbers on all those bank stress tests. The results? Well, they come out next week. How will they help you really figure out if your bank or your money are safe?

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (via telephone): Hi, my name is Stacy, I'm calling from Phoenix, Arizona, and I am very thankful for President Obama. I think he is phenomenal. And thank goodness for everything that he has done and his agenda.

(END OF AUDIO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Let's talk about hitting the ground running. Kathleen Sebelius went from Governor of Kansas to secretary of health and human services to the center of the swine flu fight all in a matter of hours. The senate confirmed her 65 to 31 yesterday. She's already been to White House briefings on the outbreak and besides swine flu Sebelius also takes charge of pushing forward the president's health care agenda.

We're also seeing more and more people wearing masks at international airports across the country, but can they stop the spread of the swine flu virus? Some countries in Asia are way more high tech. As you can see right here in these pictures, they're actually using thermal imaging devices to screen passengers for swine flu. Joining us now transportation secretary Ray Lahood. Mr. Secretary, thanks for being with us?

RAY LAHOOD, TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY: Thank you.

PHILLIPS: I want to ask you right off the bat, are there any type of thermal imaging scanners at U.S. airports right now?

LAHOOD: Say that again. I'm sorry, I didn't hear you.

PHILLIPS: That's ok. Any -- in U.S. airports, are there any of these thermal imaging scanners in any of our airports here in the United States, like what we see overseas?

LAHOOD: You know what, that really is not under our jurisdiction. And rather than me say something that I'm really not well versed on, I would say at this point, I really don't know.

PHILLIPS: Ok, they're basically they're using them overseas, and it's thermal imaging that can actually detect if somebody is sick, for example, we just had a colleague that was traveling through Tibet and they have these thermometers that can check you. It's like a little laser scan to see if you're sick. So, it's interesting, high-tech technology that as you're coming in and out of these airports, they can actually see if possibly you're ill and they're able to say, look, we're not going to let you get on this airplane. Would you consider looking into something like that? It seems like it could be a new idea to you? LAHOOD: You know, look the TSA, really, that is under the auspices of homeland security, and it's really not under our jurisdiction. And we would really, you know, Secretary Napolitano would have a lot more to say about whether that kind of screening device would be made available in airports in America.

PHILLIPS: Well, let's talk about traveling through airports and on aircraft. I mean, you're the secretary of transportation. I'm curious to -- when this first came out, when all of this surfaced, and there was concern that they didn't really know how it was coming back and forth, whether it's by airplane or whether it was crossing over the border by car or on foot. Did at any time you consider halting all flights in certain areas, high-risk areas?

LAHOOD: Well, you know, we'd have to really have a decision by the CDC in order for us to work with the airlines on whether flights could come in and out of countries where they thought this disease was really coming from. And at this point, none of those alarm bells have gone off. And so we don't at this point anticipate that that would happen.

PHILLIPS: So, do you anticipate then, as this continues to develop, we're now seeing possible cases on a marine base out in Southern California, we're seeing this death in Texas. Are you considering in any way, shape or form canceling flights, closing down airports in certain high-risk areas?

LAHOOD: Well, look, I'm part of a team of people here at the White House that's being led by Mr. Brennan from the White House, and from the president's office, and I've attended meetings to discuss these matters. And the issue of canceling flights or, you know, limiting the number of flights really, it's not on our radar at the moment.

PHILLIPS: Is there anything on your radar with regard to the subway systems? When we look at the cases that have happened in New York, the investigations taking place in New York City. The issue of subways, has that come up?

LAHOOD: You know, that really was not a -- the last meeting we had was about 48 hours ago, and that issue didn't come up. We do have regular meetings, and obviously it's possible that, you know, that issue could be brought up. But it was not a part of the last meeting that we had.

PHILLIPS: So, tell me about the last meeting. What did come up? What's on the forefront of your mind? What are you doing as secretary of transportation to try and prevent this from spreading?

LAHOOD: Well, again, we're a part of a team of people, led by Mr. Brennan, who has been assigned by the president to really handle this, he chaired the meeting. There were a number of cabinet secretaries, and there were also other folks from the administration there. Everyone really just talking about the role that they can play in making sure that we're -- the government, our government, is doing everything we can to make sure people are aware of what they should do to prevent it, and what systems need to be in place to make sure that it doesn't spread.

PHILLIPS: So, let me ask you what your role is. What are you going to do? What are the ideas that you brought to the table?

LAHOOD: Well, the only role that we really have would be to monitor flights in and out of the country from areas where this disease really started. And at this point, as I said, we see no reason at this juncture to do that. And that's pretty much what we expressed at the meeting.

PHILLIPS: Secretary Ray Lahood. Appreciate your time.

LAHOOD: Thank you.

PHILLIPS: Well, next week the governments expected to reveal the results of its important bank stress test and both investors and customers will be scrutinizing these numbers to see if their bank will survive in this tough economy. So, how can you be sure that your bank and your money are safe? Here's our personal finance editor, Gerri Willis. Gerri?

GERRI WILLIS, CNN PERSONAL FINANCE EDITOR: Hi there Kyra. Well you know the Federal Reserve stress test will value bank assets, analyze their capital cushion. Investors, big customers will be scouring the reports next week looking for tell tail weaknesses. But here's the rub. For consumers the information is, well, less than useful. What you need to know is whether your bank is lending to people like you, whether fees are out of sight and if the bank's credit card department is cutting credit lines. The fed is less concerned about frankly all of these. Plus, the stress test is only being applied to about 19 of America's 8,500 banks. So your bank might not even be tested. Kyra?

PHILLIPS: All right. What are the resources out there, then, for people besides the government stress test?

WILLIS: You really want to consult sites like bankrate.com. They have ratings that rate banks rather than going by broad rules of thumb. Bankrate offers a safety and soundness rating system that can help you get a picture of your bank and how it's doing. They update these ratings quarterly, so you want to check back every three months. You can also look at HSH.com for mortgage and consumer loan info by region. Kyra?

PHILLIPS: All right, so let's say that your bank looks like it might be in trouble. What's your advice?

WILLIS: First off, don't panic. As long as your bank is a member of the FDIC, your money is protected up to certain limits. Through the end of this year individual accounts are fully protected up to $250,000 and the same goes for retirement accounts including IRAs. If you're over those limits, spread your money out over different institutions or even consider joining a credit union. Credit unions are a safe bet. Instead of the FDIC guarantee, you have the National Credit Union Association to back up your accounts. Look, one of the worst moves you can make is pulling your money out of a regulated institution and holding the cash yourself. Finally you might consider the size of the bank where you invest your money. Besides look it doesn't guarantee safety. Some large banks right now are struggling because of the collapse of the collateralized debt obligation market. While many would say the small institutions are more risky but if they have limited ability to raise capital, they still haven't gotten into the quagmire of these mortgage obligations. So, really need to do your homework, look at bankrate.com. Kyra?

PHILLIPSS: Word of the day, quagmire. Thank you Gerri Willis.

WILLIS: My pleasure.

PHILLIPS: As the government tries to gauge the health of the nation's bank, the fed is working to boost the economy. And it just wrapped up a two-day meeting on interest rates. So far the central bank has lowered its benchmark rate to near zero and has brought up treasury bonds to help the housing market. What will policymakers do this time? Susan Lisovicz at the New York Stock Exchange with the details. Susan, what's the decision and what does the fed say about the economy?

SUSAN LISOVICZ: We're just getting it now. Kyra, no surprise the Federal Reserve has held the line. Of course there's no wiggle room on what the policymakers can do. Keeping the key short-term overnight lending rate between zero and a quarter percent. Fed said in its accompanying statement, no change is expected anytime soon. That it expects the economy to continue to remain weak for some time. But the outlook, Kyra, has improved modestly. And that is something that we've seen in a very short amount of time. The last time the fed gave its decision, Kyra, was in the middle of March, and if you think about what's happened since then, the Dow, the NASDAQ, and the S&P 500 each up at least 8.5 percent.

Just yesterday we saw this huge jump in consumer confidence. We saw it yesterday as well. Housing prices, while they were down in the double digits, the pace of the decline is slowing. And that is something clearly that policymakers are talking to. Even today, Kyra, with GDP, which was so lousy, the broadest measure of economic growth, showing the biggest economy in the world shrank by more than 6 percent, there were glimmers of hope in there and that consumer spending jumped by more than 2 percent. And I think that's what the fed is saying. Fed saying that it's going to hold the line for the considerable future.

But as one economist told me, that the fed is really threading the needle here right now, because there's been so much stimulus put in the system, trillions of dollars between T.A.R.P., what the treasury's doing, what congress is doing, and that the danger the fed is -- that there's going to be this pressure for the fed to stop this fight against economic weakness because, you know, there's economic shocks could still occur. I mean, just look at what's happening with swine flu. So, that's the word. Fed is holding the line. Kyra?

PHILLIPS: That's the word. We hope those stocks keep rallying today. Susan, thanks.

LISOVICZ: That too.

PHILLIPS: Gitmo prisoners, 240 of them, where do you put them when Gitmo closes next year? Believe it offer not, a small Montana town would love to take them in.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(WEATHER REPORT)

PHILLIPS: The first 100 days of the Obama era so far it's full of firsts and the change hasn't been limited to politics.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Well, pushing forward on the growing threat of the pandemic. The World Health Organization is due to hold an emergency meeting tomorrow where it may increase the pandemic threat level from four to five. That would indicate widespread human-to-human transmission. So far the h1n1 virus, better known as swine flu, has sickened more than 150 people around the world, from Mexico to Germany to Israel to New Zealand. Those are confirmed cases, probably a pretty small fraction of the actual number. 94 cases are now confirmed in the U.S. alone, from Maine to California. The first known swine flu death outside Mexico occurred in Texas. A Mexican toddler who was stricken while visiting relatives.

CNN's chief medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta is answering your questions about the swine flu. Just click on to cnn.com/health to read about the swine flu symptoms and learn about how the recession could impact the outbreak.

Well, as we observe, grade and analyze the president's first 100 days, we want to take a look at all the firsts that have been part of them. From the obvious, the first African-American president to the mundane, he's the first president to own a blackberry. To the unique, he's also the first president to invite gay families and their children to the White House Easter egg roll.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

Congratulations, Mr. President.

PHILLIPS (voice-over): Barack Obama, America's first African- American president. A new image of America to the world and he's chosen a diverse group of Americans to lead his administration. Wasting no time with his ideology and his domestic agenda, the Lilly Ledbetter fair pay restoration act was the first bill he signed into law, giving women more time to legally challenge unequal pay. But President Obama isn't just backing equal rights for women. He's made them a significant part of his own cabinet as well. Melody Barnes, the first black woman to run the domestic policy council. Secretary of labor, Hilda Solis, the first Hispanic to serve as secretary.

Lisa Jackson, the first African-American to run the Environmental Protection Agency.

And Susan Wright, the first African-American to be America's ambassador to the United Nations.

And then there's the Obama couple. On their first trip overseas, it was a new image of America to the world. Mrs. Obama, inspiring a hug from the queen and Mr. Obama, charming the international press.

OBAMA: If it's just Roosevelt and Churchill sitting in a room with a brandy, yes, that's an easier negotiation.

UNIDENTIFIED CORRESPONDENT: Then came foreign policy. How would this new, diverse administration deal with terror suspects? President Obama signs an executive order to close the Guantanamo Bay facility where enemy combatants have been held since 2001.

And the man to decide which prisoners will be freed or put on trial? Eric Holder, the first African-American U.S. attorney general.

OBAMA: The United States is not and will never be at war with Islam.

UNIDENTIFIED CORRESPONDENT: Addressing the Turkish parliament, President Obama keeps his pledge to visit a Muslim country in his first 100 days in office.

Then came the Summit of Americas. A handshake with populist Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. It shocked U.S. critics.

But others say Mr. Obama's frank discussions on race actually quelled tensions between the U.S. and Latin American leaders, creating a domino effect, easing tensions with communist Cuba as well. After 50 years of isolationist policies, plans for informal meetings between the State Department and Cuba are now being made.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Well, let's talk more about the audacity of diversity and how all these firsts are maybe changing us and the world around us.

CNN political analyst Roland Martin and republican strategist Leslie Sanchez here to talk with me about a number of things.

Hi, guys.

LESLIE SANCHEZ, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: Hey, how are you?

ROLAND MARTIN, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Hi.

PHILLIPS: Notice I didn't talk about the swagger in the piece. We left that to T.J. Holmes today.

(LAUGHTER)

All right, let's go ahead and as we saw the piece and we saw all these firsts for Obama with regard to diversity, you know, let me ask you, Roland, within the black community, is there any severe criticism about him that's out there right now?

MARTIN: Well, first of all, not really, because what you have is you have people who are still basking sort of in this afterglow of his election. But you certainly have folks who are raising some questions in terms of what is actually going to change.

But see, you have to be extremely careful, because - as to how you actually criticize the president, because African-Americans have such an affinity for Obama.

And so it's interesting when you offer any kind of critique it's like, you know, why are you criticizing the president? That's what everybody else does.

And I'm like, wait a minute, he's the president of the United States. And as an African-American, if there are issues that I care about, that I have the absolute right to question exactly in terms of what the administration is doing.

And that is, African-Americans should be holding President Barack Obama to the same standard as President Bush and Clinton and the others when it comes to the issues we care about, the same as anybody else.

PHILLIPS: All right, let me ask you, though, Eric Holder definitely caught some flak for his comments back during Black History Month.

MARTIN: Right.

PHILLIPS: Let's take a listen to that one more time.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ERIC HOLDER, U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL: Though this nations had proudly thought of itself as a ethnic melting pot, in things racial, we have always been and we, I believe, continue to be, in too many ways, essentially, a nation of cowards.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Now, he caught a lot of hell for that, no doubt. And so, my question is, you know, now that we have a black president, I mean, that's the face of America. So when you hear something like this, does this diminish maybe that call for racial injustice, the fact that we do have a black president, the face of America now? And should the Al Sharptons and the Jesse Jacksons retire from their fight?

MARTIN: No. No. Hell - first of all, let me put it this way. Hell no!

PHILLIPS: I heard that, hell no. I heard that.

(LAUGHTER)

SANCHEZ: We heard that, Roland.

MARTIN: Good. Because I never heard anybody say that if Joseph Lieberman became the vice president when he was running with Al Gore that we should get rid of the ADL.

I never heard anybody say when Hillary Clinton was running that somehow if she wins, we should get rid of the National Organization of Women, any kind of feminist organizations.

And so I always think it's ridiculous of folks to say, oh, well, there's an African-American first, oh, there's no need. The reality is civil rights is still an issue.

The census count report just yesterday showing that the earning power of African-Americans and Hispanics is still lower than whites. There's still an income gap. For African-American, 78 cents on the dollar; for Hispanics, 75 cents on the dollar. And so my deal is when you want to have equality, let's have equality...

(CROSSTALK)

PHILLIPS: Let Leslie have a comment.

(CROSSTALK)

SANCHEZ: I'm glad - well, I'm glad you brought up the Census. I mean that's a hot-button issue right now. And the fact that the president moved to politicize the census -- excuse me, from the Commerce Department into the White House was something that struck a nerve with a lot in the Latino community, minority communities in general. That's a process people don't want to see politicized.

I agree with Roland in the sense that there are advocacy groups that are very much needed on the issues of education, health care, equality. Sure.

And we can debate the issues and the policies that best serve underserved communities. The question is, what kind of rating is this president going to be receiving from all ethnic groups collectively?

I think he's done an amazing job in setting the standard for minority communities. But I think with respect to Hispanic, there's a really an incomplete report card there. A lot of mixed messages. And fundamentally, that's what I'm hearing from a lot of constituents.

PHILLIPS: OK, you know what...

MARTIN: First of all...

PHILLIPS: Wait a minute. Roland, hold on a second, because this leads me perfectly in this sound bite with this young man in Mexico. Ted Rowlands is working on a piece with swine flu. Let's roll this bite, and then this works perfectly - perfectly off what Leslie said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When anything bad happens, the U.S. always blames it on Mexico. So, you know, all the drug problems, Mexico's fault. Everything's always - there's one jalapeno which gets some old lady sick in Indiana, it's definitely Mexicans. So, I mean, Mexico is the thing the U.S. kicks around.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: I love that, one jalapeno.

But there's a seriously, there's a serious point there, Leslie.

SANCHEZ: Absolutely.

My dog's name is Jalapena. I just want to make...

(LAUGHTER)

The reality is the big issue that fundamentally has to be addressed by this president is immigration. There are mixed messages on that.

In Spanish language, when he's on the radio, he's saying, yes, I want to move this forward this year. Meet with immigration leaders and get this done. You're seeing Rahm Emmanuel indicate pretty much the same thing.

But then fundamentally, you're hearing what probably was the truth by Joe Biden when he was in Costa Rica, saying that this is a very difficult thing to get done in an economic downturn with high unemployment.

Which is it? Is it something that's going to be used as a political football to drive wedge issues among Latinos? Is it going to be dropped where it's not even considered until it's election time? Or, is he going to use the political capital?

Until you address the immigration reform problem, you're not address the banking problems...

MARTIN: The president...

SANCHEZ: ... the housing problems, the economic problems of this country.

MARTIN: Leslie, Leslie, the president has already laid out in terms of the whole issue of immigration. You had a president...

SANCHEZ: Ha!

MARTIN: No, no, no, no, follow me here.

SANCHEZ: Please.

MARTIN: You had a president, George W. Bush, who was a stark advocate on the issue and he got his head handed to him.

The reality is this is a very delicate issue.

SANCHEZ: OK.

MARTIN: And the other thing that is here and what his whole hundred days thing to me is sometimes just actually nuts. It's 100 days. You're elected for four years.

The whole point for the president has to be in terms of what are individual's priorities. He's made it clear. Health care, top of the agenda. Energy, at the top of the agenda. I do not expect the immigration issue to be dealt with in 2009.

SANCHEZ: See that's - that...

(CROSSTALK)

MARTIN: It's more than likely - it is more than likely a 2010 issue.

SANCHEZ: I'm glad you said that. That fundamentally bolsters my point.

What I'm saying is this is an issue you're not going to see come up till 2010. Politically, they will tell you that, because they want to use it as a political issue rather than using it as an issue that's tied to the economy. You cannot have 20 million individuals in this country who are using health care services, who are undocumented, who we don't know what their intention is, if they're paying taxes, and fundamentally expect to contribute to our economy and fix our economic problems until we solve the crisis of immigration.

MARTIN: And I'll say this here, that's not the only issue that Hispanics care about either.

PHILLIPS: We're coming back for more.

SANCHEZ: Not at all, but it's tied to the economy.

PHILLIPS: We're coming back for more. Leslie, Roland, don't move, we're just getting started.

Here's something else that we want to ask our experts. The President Obama/President Kennedy comparison, when it comes to approval ratings, the two men aren't even close.

But first as we go to break, what some of our viewers are actually saying about the president on this 100th day of his administration. It's not all complimentary, as the polls reflect.

We're bringing Leslie and Roland back too.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

CALLER: My name is Pauline (ph) and I'm in Austin, Texas. And my comments are that the president has turned the United States into a socialist country. Has plans for taking over the whole government. And he's not helping the individual, the American people, at all.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: All right. We're just learning that story that we had actually at the top of our newscast -- newscast, rather, talking about a Marine that possibly had swine flu. We were told that he was being tested for it and that his roommate was being quarantined alongside with him.

We're now getting word that that Marine has tested positive for swine flu out in Twentynine Palms, that's in Southern California.

Barbara Starr joining us now live from the Pentagon with more.

Barbara, are you just getting word that he tested positive?

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, we are hearing this now through our CNN bureau in Los Angeles, that in California, the San Bernardino Health Department as well as the California Health Department have now confirmed that this Marine at Twentynine Palms Base in Southern California has tested positive for swine flu, the H1N1 virus.

This information that there was a suspected case first revealed here at the Pentagon earlier this morning. The commandant of the Marine Corps saying at that time they had a suspected case. Now confirmed by California State health officials, one Marine with swine flu.

His roommate, both of them now in isolation. No human contact till they get this all sorted out.

We are told, actually, that the Marine who tested positive is feeling much better. That he reached the so-called apex of his illness and that he's doing very well.

But they are both in isolation. No human contact, we are told. Food, any medicine, anything that's being brought to them in their room at the barracks.

But 35 other Marines at Twentynine Palms, in the same barracks facility, in a restricted status, if you will.

Pardon me.

Not going to the mess hall. Not going to formation. They are just staying put until they also pass the incubation period.

And, of course, what you can understand, Kyra, is the military gets very concerned when illness starts sweeping through a barracks facility. These guys live in very close quarters. And even on the best of days, things like a cold or the basic flu can spread through these barracks very quickly.

So obviously, they are concerned. They feel they have the situation in hand. This Marine was not even hospitalized they tell us.

PHILLIPS: Do we know if he was traveling? Barbara, have you learned - was he on vacation? Did he come back to the base? Do we have any idea if it's something that's circulating on the base, did he bring it in to the base after...

STARR: Yes, you know, this is - this is the mystery that I think everyone is struggling with as all of these cases come to light.

General Conway said this morning, when he spoke to reporters, to the best of the Marine Corps' knowledge, this young Marine - who is a young enlisted Marine, I should add - had not recently travelled to Mexico. What we don't know is if he came in contact with any people who had been in Mexico.

And I should add, nearby in San Diego, there are three military dependents - we don't know if they're children or spouses - three military dependents in San Diego also with confirmed cases.

So the military, you know, is just like the rest of America, really trying to get a handle on this. And I can tell you also that at the U.S. Northern Command in Colorado, they're looking real close at this and planning what next steps they might have to take, if any, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Yes. We'll definitely stay on top of the story. That's pretty frightening if our U.S. military, indeed, gets infected as well.

All right, Barbara Starr from the Pentagon, appreciate it.

All right, Roland Martin and Leslie Sanchez, we are not done with you two yet. Let's talk more about the president's first 100 days. We had to step away there for a minute.

I want to ask you guys about this Supreme Court hearing that's taking place right now. The argument around this Texas case that could actually overturn part of the Voting Right Act.

You know, critics are pointing to, once again - Roland, we talked a little bit about this. About the fact that we have a black president, that's the face of America. And critics are saying now, it's OK. Part of this Voters' Rights Act can be overturned, because the fact that we have a black president is evidence that the law is obsolete.

What do you think about that?

MARTIN: I think they need to get a grip and still look at the reality of America.

Look, you still had efforts in terms of how you disenfranchise people. You still have people who are sitting here illegally removing folks from the rolls.

The reality is, until we stop the kind of voter suppression that we have seen, then I can then say, yes, we don't need it. But you have to have the protections in place.

I do not necessarily trust these same locales when it comes to voter suppression. It's about protecting folks' right to vote.

So just because Obama's elected, does not somehow mean that everything is now wonderful, it's all great, it's all over, we're all equal. That is a fallacy. That is not reality.

PHILLIPS: Leslie, your take on the Voting Rights Act.

SANCHEZ: You know, we have to remember why these laws were established. I think a very strong and compelling case can be made that we live in a different time politically, culturally, demographically. And that this is a very serious consideration. I think for many reasons it's right for the Supreme Court to take it up.

You know, a lot of times - look at what this basically, section five, I believe, resulted in - a lot of majority/minority districts. And I think many people are arguing that now, especially, is a time when individuals, minority individuals, should be able to run on the merits of their positioning and their argument rather than their race.

And so, I think it's a very important case. I'm not - I'm just saying there's a very strong case to be made. We're in a different time.

MARTIN: And you know what, Kyra? Kyra, being from Texas, I can tell you this right now, you have a number of Hispanics and Latinos who are using the same Voters' Right Act to file various lawsuits because they even recognize how their votes are being suppressed.

It is not just about the candidates. It's about people actually voting. It goes beyond the candidates. It's all about how districts are set up, how they're portioned. It goes beyond just that, a group of candidates and their views.

SANCHEZ: Roland -- I can agree with that, but just being from Texas, having seen those lawsuits for the last 15, 20 years, a lot of them are by fringe groups who are trying to make a case on something that I wouldn't say...

MARTIN: Got you.

SANCHEZ: ... it's a general consensus. It's not.

MARTIN: OK.

SANCHEZ: Most people feel that America's integrated now and there's a lot more opportunity for these candidates, all minority candidates.

MARTIN: Sure. Sure. But given to voter suppression, then I'll agree with you.

PHILLIPS: Put two Texans together and look what happens -- holy moley!

All right, I got to ask you guys this before we go. The CNN Poll of Polls, how President Obama is handling his job as president, 63 percent approve.

OK, that's pretty good, folks say. But when you look at JFK in '61, at this point in time, he had an 83 percent approval. Eisenhower, back in '53, 72 percent approval.

So let me just throw it out there, why isn't, you know, looking at the way things are going and how everybody has been talking about the Obama administration and transparency and it's brad new and it's made all these breakthroughs, why isn't up there in the 70s or the 80s?

MARTIN: Well, first of all, I think trying to comparing him to Kennedy and Eisenhower are, frankly, irrelevant. I think if you compare him to George W. Bush, George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, Jimmy Carter, you now have a whole different view. It's also question - look at Eisenhower. The guy was a four-star general coming out of World War II.

(CROSSTALK)

SANCHEZ: Roland, Roland, pick and choose. Compare him to the giants. I mean, if you're going to have a competition, compare him to the high numbers.

I will say this about President Obama...

MARTIN: This is not a competition.

SANCHEZ: Now why do you have the first hundred days? Why are we doing all this - all this commentary?

PHILLIPS: Leslie, what's your point?

SANCHEZ: The bottom line is, the president has incredible approval ratings. The sentiment of America is behind him. I think he's shown himself to be somebody who's very aggressive at moving an agenda. Those are all incredibly good positives for this president that's starting out.

We don't agree on the policies, but fundamentally, on him having America's support, he has that in very strong numbers.

MARTIN: Just like anything else, not how you start, it's how you finish. You can win the first quarter of a basketball game, but get your butt kicked in the second and third quarter. And in the fourth, you lose the game.

So frankly, I wouldn't care about the first 100 days, I will care about the last 100 days because that determines whether you get reelected.

SANCHEZ: Roland, let's look at the bottom line. This is his high watermark. Let's just leave it there.

MARTIN: Well, I wouldn't say that. Because - I wouldn't say that, because Bill Clinton had a horrible 100 days, but he ended up better than he even started. So I wouldn't necessarily say that, Leslie.

SANCHEZ: Oh, I'll say it.

(CROSSTALK)

MARTIN: OK, the proof is in the ratings, because George W. Bush had high numbers but he ended low.

PHILLIPS: Roland - Roland Martin - whoo! - he had too much coffee today.

OK, Roland, Leslie...

MARTIN: Oh, I never drink coffee. This is natural, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: ... love you, guys. Talk to you later.

SANCHEZ: Bye.

PHILLIPS: We're going to take a quick break. We will have more from the CNN NEWSROOM straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: We're just over four hours away from the "CNN NATIONAL REPORT CARD." That's tonight 7:00 Eastern. "100 DAYS OF THE OBAMA PRESIDENCY." Then at 8:00, President Obama's self-assessment during his live news conference. The best political team on television will be handing out grades for the president during our special report.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: As always, "Team Sanchez" back there working hard on the next hour of NEWSROOM.

What you got going, Rick?

RICK SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: You know, as an old south Florida guy -- emphasis on "old" - I'm sitting here thinking about this situation with swine flu. And knowing all the stories I've covered in the past with cruise ships, I'm just wondering if that's an area of concentration that we may want to watch. I mean, more often than not, you know when there's any kind of outbreak it's accentuated when people are in confined quarters and especially if they're on a ship. So, we might be paying a little bit of attention to that.

But look, the big story, it's going to be happening at 3:00, guess who's going to be on the Senate floor, perhaps casting his very first vote as a democrat? Arlen Specter.

And you know, this is interesting. I got Kay Bailey Hutchison on, and, you know, she's going to be kind enough to take us through this. It's got to be very difficult right now for the Grand Ole Party, given the fact that the numbers don't look good. Twenty-one percent of Americans - only 21 percent of Americans, say they now identify themselves as republicans. They're getting killed with Hispanics and with African-Americans. It's very much a regionalized party, and they need to come up with a way of perhaps turning that around. Kay Bailey Hutchison's going to take us through what the plan is. And she's going to join me live, here - Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Thank you, Rick.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Cheers on Capitol Hill paying tribute to Sojourner Truth. First lady Michelle Obama, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and others unveiling a bust of the abolitionist in Emancipation Hall. Sojourner Truth became the first African-American woman honored with a statue at the Capitol.

The first lady sounding a personal note in her speech.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICHELLE OBAMA, FIRST LADY OF THE UNITED STATES: I am proud to be here. I am proud to be able to stand here on this day, for this dedication. And just as many young boys and girls have walked through this Capitol, I see them now. And they see the busts of suffragists and hear the stories of the struggles of women, what they had to endure to gain the right to vote. Now, many young boys and girls like my own daughters will come to Emancipation Hall and see the face of a woman who looks like them.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Speaker Pelosi said that Sojourner Truth won't be the only black woman honored for long. A statue of civil rights icon Rosa Parks will soon be placed in the Capitol.

Well, like Sojourner Truth, Michelle Obama is a force to be reckoned with. Mrs. Obama's also the latest woman featured in the "Female Force" comic book series. Her bio hits stores today. The first issues came out and sold out last month. One featured Secretary Clinton, the other Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. Coming in June, "Female Force" Caroline Kennedy.

That does it for us. Hope you had a great day. We will see you back here tomorrow. Rick Sanchez takes it from here.