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RNC Gathering to Discuss Anti-Democrat Resolution; California Facing Budget Crisis; Could Dealership Closings Affect Hybrid Maintenance?; Single Service Members Look for Love Online; Inventor Perfects Android; Fleet Week Begins in New York
Aired May 20, 2009 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
RANDI KAYE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): At just 13 years old, he's on the run. Running from court-ordered treatment for his cancer. If the law doesn't find him soon, he could die. Diagnosed in January with Hodgkin's lymphoma, doctors say he likely won't survive without chemotherapy and radiation.
But that treatment is why he and his mom were a no-show at a welfare hearing. Daniel and his family were supposed to bring the results of his latest chest x-ray to court. But only the boy's father showed up. He told the judge he last saw his wife Monday evening. He said she left her cell phone behind and he doesn't know where they are. A family friend who came to support them was shocked.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is probably a case of stress upon the family. They're not accustomed to this type of thing, and the courtroom is pretty intimidating to them. They're a close family, that sticks pretty much to themselves.
KAYE: Still, the judge ordered that Daniel be apprehended and issue an arrest warrant for his mom. This all stems from the family's beliefs. They are Roman Catholic, but follow the beliefs of some Native Americans who only approve of natural healing.
COLLEEN HAUSER, MOTHER: It is our religious freedom and our right to do this.
KAYE: So instead of chemotherapy, Daniel has been treated with herbal supplements, vitamins, and ionized water. This was Daniel on the family farm not long before he disappeared.
DANIEL HAUSER: I feel really great lately.
KAYE: But Daniel's doctor said that his cancer has spread significantly. Last week, Daniel's mom testified she didn't believe her son was in any medical danger, but the judge ruled Daniel had been medically neglected, and against his parents' wishes, ordered Daniel to undergo chemotherapy.
COLLEEN HAUSER: We're a simple, honest family. We're not out to harm anybody. We never - this is just our way of life. And why people want to infringe on it, I don't know.
KAYE: Daniel tried chemotherapy once, but later told the judge he believed it would kill him and that if anyone tried to force it on him he'd punch and kick them. The judge ruled Daniel did not understand the treatment's benefits. In part because his reading and writing skills are extremely limited.
KAYE (on camera): If and when Daniel is found, the judge ordered he be placed in protective custody so he can get proper medical treatment. Doctors have said Daniel had a 90 percent chance of survival with that treatment. Without it, they say, there's just a five percent chance he'll survive. Randi Kaye, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Such a tough story.
Now to Albuquerque, New Mexico. Take a good look at this artist's rendition for just a minute. Police there say it's the little boy found buried in the public playground. They don't know who he is, how he died, or why he was left there. People in that neighborhood are calling him a couple of different names. One is baby four by four because of the truck on his shirt. Police estimate the boy was three or four years old and either Hispanic or Native American.
Happening right now, closing arguments begin this hour in the sentencing phase of a former convicted soldier. He's convicted of murder. Steven Green was actually found guilty earlier this month of raping and killing an Iraqi girl and then killing three other members of her family. Now, a former comrade of Steven Green's is talking exclusively to CNN in his defense.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NOAH GALLOWAY, GREEN'S FORMER COMRADE: Truth be told, we're trained killers. We're not the boys you take home to mamma. We're the men that set out to destroy everything in our path. And it takes that to win a war. You put that out there and then you take away a person's leadership and they have no desire to even live anymore, bad things happen. And this is an example of what happens when the leadership's gone and you're not taken cared of. When you're hopeless and you're left alone.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: After closing arguments, jurors will decide whether Green should be sentenced to death or imprisoned for life.
We are also following your money this hour. On Capitol Hill, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, you see him there, discussing the bank bailout and the $700 billion of taxpayer cash. Lawmakers want to know if you're getting your money's worth.
We are also keeping a close eye on Wall Street. The early numbers as you see there are up, almost triple digits, in fact. Will we see the rebound from yesterday's mixed finish?
And at the White House, President Obama holds his first public meeting with his special group of economic advisers. It's your money they're talking about. Let's begin this hour at the White House with CNN's Suzanne Malveaux. Hi there, Suzanne.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Heidi. Well just in moments we're expected to hear from the president. He's going to be making opening remarks before starting this meeting. And then if you want to actually see it, you can get a live video stream of the White House's website to get a real sense of what's happening behind the scenes. But obviously it's an important meeting because he's trying to convey to the American people that he is listening to outside voices beyond what he calls the echo chamber here in Washington.
The will be 16 other members who are part of this advisory board. They served two years and essentially they represent anything from GE, Caterpillar, Harvard, AFLCIO. These are the folks that will be in the room with them. And they're going to give him a sense of whether or not they think the White House economic plan is working, the economic stimulus package, all of these things that have been in play over the last 100 days or so.
And the president is also going to be making his own case, Heidi, why he believes that some of the things that he has done without necessarily their consent, you know, it's just an outside advisory board. What he has done, he believes, is really going to turn things around. And one of the people who is the head of this group obviously a real power house in and of itself, that's Paul Volcker, the former chair of the Federal Reserve. He is somebody who is very close to the president, going back to the campaign days, Heidi.
This is something that the president he would reach out to him from time to time as a candidate. And then before he even became president, decided he was going to have this advisory board chaired by Volcker to give him some outside advice about what his thinking is and what needs to happen next, Heidi.
COLLINS: All right. We'll be watching for all of that, definitely. Suzanne Malveaux, thanks so much, outside the White House this morning.
Meanwhile, a big no vote in California. Voters there defeated five of six budget propositions in a special election. The only one that passed was the one saying lawmakers can't get raises while the state has a deficit. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger says big cuts will be needed now. And that could include cutting tens of thousands of education jobs. We'll have much more on what's next for California, coming up at the bottom of the hour.
I want to head on over to Rob Marciano now and whoever else is blocking his shot. Is that your producer? Oh, hi.
ROB MARCIANO, CNN, METEOROLOGIST: That's Taylor Ward.
COLLINS: Hey, listen. We have a lot of to talk about. Florida, very, very rainy, yes? MARCIANO: Yes. look at the satellite picture and Taylor who actually - his specialty in school was hurricanes. You look at this and this time of year you think, oh goodness, what's going on in Florida. Well, it's not necessarily tropical thing so that's why the National Hurricane Center isn't too concern about it but there's an area of low pressure right about there and you see everything kind of swirling around.
So regardless of this being tropical, non-tropical, sub tropical, having a name, it doesn't matter. The folks who live in Daytona, through Jacksonville, saying this feels a lot like tropical storm Fay last year, which has pounded them with heavy rain and wind and waves. That is what we're seeing down across parts of Florida today.
Here's your heavy rain again going in the Jacksonville area, and through Gainesville, St. Augustine, that area. Everyone that needs the rain now south of Tampa isn't really getting it. So that's the bad news with this particular system. But we will see the rain and the wind and the waves that continue to increase over the next day or two, really. Three to six inches of additional rainfall on top of about a foot of rain they've already seen, coastal flooding, beach erosion, and high risk of rip currents. Folks are already beginning to vacation down there.
Let's take a look at some video. Do we have that? No. All right, just pull it up full if you could. There's some of the rainfall coming down. WJXT, that's our affiliate out of Jacksonville, St. Johns County near Jacksonville, St. Augustine area. Boy, it's windy, we've had reports of the pier in Jacksonville getting some damage from all that, you know, you look at that video and say, hey --
COLLINS: That's yesterday, right?
MARCIANO: That feels a lot like hurricane, doesn't? My goodness. All right. We're getting towards hurricane season, we're certainly getting towards summer, and the folks in the midwest are saying it feels like it already. So brief cool down the last few days, and now we're rebounding quite nicely. Check out come of these numbers 85 degrees expected in Chicago, 92 degrees expected in Minneapolis. It'll be up to 80 after only being a high of about 62 days ago in parts of New York.
Here's some of the high temperatures yesterday. Valentine, Nebraska, 99 degrees, Minneapolis, got the 97, mention that as a record -
COLLINS: Yes.
MARCIANO: Rapid City, 93, and Gillette, Wyoming, 92 degrees.
COLLINS: Yes.
MARCIANO: Certainly -
COLLINS: It does get warm in Minnesota, you know.
MARCIANO: There's the Magnificent Mile in Chicago - COLLINS: Beautiful.
MARCIANO: From our own camera, actually, from the bureau.
COLLINS: Yes.
MARCIANO: Looking good there, get out and enjoy, temperatures in the mid-80s. Not too much humidity, but it'll get toastier obviously as the weeks roll to summer.
COLLINS: Perfect for shopping on the Miracle Mile.
MARCIANO: Yes.
COLLINS: All right. Rob, thank you. Will check back with you later.
Meanwhile, Michael Vick is out of prison. His publicist says Vick left the federal penitentiary in Leavenworth, Kansas before dawn and is on his way home now to Hampton, Virginia. He'll be confined there for two months. The former NFL star was convicted of financing a dog fighting ring. His attorney says Vick now wants to work with the Humane Society to help end the blood sport.
Lots of people talking about this story. We want to know what you think. As we said, he is out of prison. Should he be reinstated into the NFL? Go ahead and head to our blog, you can do that and share your thoughts on the Michael Vick story. Just go to cnn.com/newsroom and then sign my name and just click on it, like that.
We'll be checking out those blogs in just a little while. Meanwhile, if you have a credit card, you have a stake in today's action on Capitol Hill. New changes could put some money back in your pocket but they may cost you too.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: Congress may be putting some money back in your pocket as early as today. The House could pass new limits on what credit card companies charge in fees and interest rates. The Senate passed its own version overwhelmingly by a vote of 90 to 5. The measure could become law by this weekend.
Here's a look at what some consumer advocates say is a bill of rights for credit card holders. The crackdown would require 45 days notice on raising rates. There could be no rate increase unless you are 60 days late or more on your payment. The measure would prohibit some fees from being charged and there would be a minimum age requirement for card holders. That's in response to the credit card companies targeting college students who run up huge bills before they even graduate.
But the crackdown on credit cards could also carry some hidden costs. Here to explain some of those, Joan Goldwater. She covers credit and banking and money management for Kiplinger's personal finance and she joins us now from Washington. Thanks so much for being here, Joan. There's a lot to talk about with this whole idea. It looks like to me that the biggest losers in all of this are the credit card companies and then the people who pay their bills either on time or in full every month. Is that accurate?
JOAN GOLDWATER, KIPLINGER'S PERSONAL FINANCE: Well, the credit card companies may well lose some money. They make about $15 billion in late fees. That amount may diminish. Now I'm not sure that people who pay their bills in full and on time are actually going to be losers. The credit card companies still want your business. They don't want you to stop using your card.
COLLINS: Right.
GOLDWATER: So they're not going to make it less attractive for you.
COLLINS: Well, but what about, you know, the potential for higher interest rates? The potential that all those perks like airline miles, and also this potential of annual rates being reinstated. What about all of that?
GOLDWATER: It's possible. I mean, the banks are certainly saying that this may happen. However, most people have a credit card, and it's very hard and very expensive for a bank to get you to take its credit card when the solicitation comes in your mail. So they want you to keep the credit card you already have and they have to make it relatively attractive for you to keep using it. Because there are lots and lots of credit cards for you to choose from.
COLLINS: Sorry, what are the biggest changes here then that you see?
GOLDWATER: Well, one of the biggest is the elimination of this universal default where the bank can say economic conditions have changed, the business climate has changed. Therefore, we're raising your rates, and that will be gone.
COLLINS: Yes, they have to explain better why the rates are changing, right?
GOLDWATER: Not only do they have to explain better, but it has to be because you have done something wrong in terms of paying that bill late. You can't be late on your mortgage and get your credit card rate raised anymore. That is out too.
COLLINS: Yes, definitely. What does all of this do to lines of credit? I mean, does this make the credit card companies even tighter with their money by way of lending?
GOLDWATER: That may happen. People are considered riskier right now because the banks themselves obviously are losing a lot of money. Defaults are going up, and so they are going to be more careful and that may mean that some people's lines of credit will be cut.
COLLINS: And then, the end of all this, what's the recourse for the consumer? I mean, is there any more? Can you just say, you know what, I don't like the way you're doing it, I'm going to get a different credit card?
GOLDWATER: Sure. I mean, as you know, you know, your mailbox may not be quite as full as it was a year ago of solicitations, but they are still going to come. And you can always go online. There are a number of websites out there that will tell you about all of the various cards that are available, whether it's a rebate card, a low- interest card. You know, every type of card that you could possibly imagine. You can apply online, or by toll free number. It's very easy to get a credit card still.
COLLINS: OK. What about the people who say, you know, really, the only people who are being protected here are the ones who aren't following the rules, who aren't paying on time, who are late every month.
GOLDWATER: Well, and that's not completely true. I mean sometimes something happens. People used to get a card considered late because it didn't arrive by 10:00 in the morning. Or it arrived on Sunday and it wasn't processed until Monday and that was considered late.
COLLINS: Right.
GOLDWATER: Those kinds of things seemed totally unfair.
COLLINS: But is there any way to know what the percentage of those late people are due to reasons like that?
GOLDWATER: No, I'm not really sure what that exact percentage is. But everybody needs to know what the terms are on their cards -
COLLINS: Sure.
GOLDWATER: And whether or not, you know, the rate is going to be raised and how it's going to be raised. And that's part of what this bill does. It also means that your statements will be a lot easier to understand. They'll be a lot clearer. If you're somebody who pays only the minimum monthly payment, you must know how long it's going to take you to pay off that balance and what the actual amount of interest is that you are going to pay. So you'll be a lot more informed. And you'll be able to decide, you know, where you want to put your money.
COLLINS: All right. Joan Goldwater, we certainly appreciate your time. We'll be watching for that vote today.
GOLDWATER: Thank you.
COLLINS: Buried inside the credit card bill is a measure that would allow people to carry loaded guns in national parks and wildlife refuges. More from congressional correspondent Brianna Keilar.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): What do guns, credit cards, and national parks have in common? Congress has made a connection. With some legislative maneuvering, it stands poised to allow concealed loaded guns into national parks. In an amendment attached to the credit card holder's bill of rights. Republican Senator Tom Coeburn is pushing the provision.
SEN. TOM COBURN (R), OKLAHOMA: We are going to allow the states to rights to determine under their gun laws who can have a gun and where. As long as it passes the muster of the U.S. constitution.
KEILAR: If a person holds a state permit to carry a concealed weapon, that permit would apply in parks located in that state. In the Senate, 27 democrats, including leader Harry Reid signed on to the change. But democrats for gun control like New York Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy whose husband was shot and killed by a man on a commuter train are incensed.
REP. CAROLYN MCCARTHY (D), NEW YORK: The NRA is basically taking over the House and the Senate. And if the NRA wins on each and every bill, the American people are the ones who are going to suffer the most.
KEILAR (on camera): Democrats like McCarthy have found themselves in the minority when it comes to guns. That's because of the 2008 election brought an influx of democrats into Congress. By and large they are conservative democrats, and that means republicans have found some support across the aisle on this issue. Brianna Keilar, CNN, Capitol Hill.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: A life-saving operation. A gutsy doctor does brain surgery using a tool you probably have in your tool box.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: The H1N1 swine flu virus is still spreading. Here's what we know right now. The World Health Organization says there are more than 10,000 swine flu cases worldwide. Almost 5,500 of those cases are right here in the United States. The CDC has linked six deaths to the outbreaks, at least 80 worldwide.
And New York City health officials say tests indicate a 16-month-old boy who died after suffering respiratory problems was not infected with H1N1.
A doctor in Australia getting a lot of praise and attention today for saving a boy's life during very risky brain surgery. He didn't have the high-tech equipment needed. So, instead, he operated using a handyman's power drill. Mia Greeves of Australia's Seven News has the story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MIA GREEVES, REPORTER, AUSTRALIA'S SEVEN NEWS (voice-over): If it wasn't for the quick-thinking of his mother, the local GP and the hospital maintenance man, Nicholas Rossi wouldn't be alive and celebrating his 13th birthday.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The doctor said that it was imminent death. GREEVES: Not wearing a helmet. Nicholas fell off his bike last Friday night. The impact knocking him out momentarily.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I touched the side of his head, he had a (inaudible) that he couldn't bear any pressure.
GREEVES: On (inaudible) Hospital was GP Rob Carson who soon realized Nicholas has acute pressure on the brain.
ROB CARSON, DOCTOR: The skull needed to be open and a large drill piece is the answer.
GREEVES: His team contacted leading Melbourne neurosurgeon David Wallace for advice.
DAVID WALLACE, NEUROSURGEON: He realized it was him or no one to do it and there was no equipment apart from the drill.
reporter: The only drill available was one in the hospital's maintenance room, a Dewalt(ph) nine mil piece. Described as one of the gutsiest operations imaginable, Dr. Carson drilled one centimeter into his skull before inserting a tube to drain the clot. Doctors say he'll make a full recovery.
Mia Greeves, Seven News.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: A Kentucky man who lost his hands can pick up his daughters again thanks to bionic attachments. A downed power line cost Jason Koger both of his hands last year. Now he's fitted with prosthetics called touch bionic limbs, but he doesn't quite have the hang of them just yet.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JASON KOGER, AMPUTEE: The other day I tried to drink a Coke with it. And I was holding a Coke and went to take it up to my mouth and put it in rotate position and spilled Coke all over me. Stuff like that's going to happen.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: Jason is one of three people in the world to have two of these robotic hands. They cost $100,000, but insurance is covering some of the costs.
Well, the gloves are off. The head of the republican party taking on the president, we'll hear from him coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANNOUNCER: Live in the CNN NEWSROOM, Heidi Collins.
COLLINS: Well, it's half past the hour now. We are checking these stories on our radar. An arrest warrant goes out now for the mother of a boy with cancer. The family, as you know, had refused chemotherapy treatment for him. And now the boy and his mother are on the run. We've got to follow up on that.
Also, President Obama meeting with these people. This is his outside the beltway, if you will, economic advisory team. Energy and jobs are on the agenda there today.
And also, the House could vote on credit card reform today. The bill would mean clearer statements, but could also lead to higher fees.
He may not be name-calling democrats like some republican activists, but GOP chairman Michael Steele is calling out the president. CNN's Candy Crowley with the story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CANDY CROWLEY, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): As good as the first 120 days were for democrats, they were that bad for republicans. They have struggled with existential questions like, who are we? What do we stand for? And political questions like, how do we go up against a president this popular?
MICHAEL STEELE, RNC CHAIRMAN: We're going to take the president head on. The honeymoon is over. The two-party system is making a comeback and that comeback begins today.
CROWLEY: At a meeting of republican state leaders, party chairman Michael Steele sent out a rallying cry, trying to jar the grand old party out of its big old funk.
STEELE: The time for trying to fix or focus on the past has ended. The era of Republican naval gazing, done.
CROWLEY: Invoking the name and the imagery of Ronald Reagan, he said it was time to saddle up and stop tiptoeing around President Obama. And he didn't.
STEELE: You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift. You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong. You cannot help the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer. You cannot further the brotherhood of man by encouraging class hatred. You cannot establish security by borrowing money. You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich.
CROWLEY: Democrats noted Steele's speech offered a lot in the way of criticism and nothing in the way of new policy or ideas, though that is not usually the role of a party chairman. Steele did urge Republicans to criticize with class and focus on issues, advice which many in the GOP think runs counter to a resolution party activists will vote on today.
It urges Democrats to rename themselves the Democrat Socialist Party. Steele says that's not an appropriate way to express views. Others just call it stupid.
JIM GREER, CHAIRMAN, FLORIDA REPUBLICAN PARTY: Resolutions that talk about encouraging the Democrats to call themselves some other name or talking about things that have no substance to them in the American voter's mind is ridiculous.
STEELE: Thank you.
CROWLEY: Hoping to avoid confrontation, the Resolutions Committee is watering down the wording. If there's one thing Republicans don't need right now, it's something else to argue about.
Candy Crowley, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: California lawmakers threw a Hail Mary pass yesterday. The state held a special vote in a bid to pull it out of financial crisis. But voters rejected five of six ballot proposals. So, what's next for the Golden State? Susan Lisovicz at the New York Stock Exchange now with details on that, and also a check of the markets, which I'm liking right now.
SUSAN LISOVICZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, the markets -- well, let's focus on the markets because the markets are rallying.
COLLINS: Let's do that.
LISOVICZ: A different story for California. I think the Legislature was expecting a low turnout. They did not get that. There was a big turnout and five of the six ballot proposals were rejected, meaning that the budget deficit in California could hit $21 billion. That is a crisis that is going to have a major impact.
And basically, everyone who lives there, Heidi, it may -- California may, as a result of this vote, this special vote, may shorten the school year by one and a half weeks. The teachers group says that states may cut 25,000 K through 12 teachers and increase the class size from 35 to 50.
OK, think about that.
COLLINS: Yes.
LISOVICZ: Other cuts may be that 35,000 inmates may be freed, they may sell the famous San Quentin prison. The inmates, by the way, who would be released, by the way, Heidi, would be nonviolent, non-sex offenders, mostly illegal immigrants. And it's just a very disturbing situation that frankly is happening on a much bigger scale on California. But states all around the country are feeling this as a result of the financial crisis, the recession in general.
COLLINS: Yes, and the temptation to try to borrow the money that it needs, the State of California, is probably high. But I don't know how reasonable that is.
LISOVICZ: Well, the last time I checked, borrowing $21 billion even in good times would be a major challenge. And that's the problem for California. In fact, not only it's difficult to get a loan, but California has a really crummy debt rating.
COLLINS: Yes.
LISOVICZ: So, there you go, California. And that's why Governor Schwarzenegger is trying to meet with members of both parties today. In the meantime, yes, let's go back to that Big Board. We have a nice rally.
We have a focus on Washington anyway today, where we're hearing from Tim Geithner, who is speaking right now, House Oversight, or a Senate Oversight Committee. We have the blue-ribbon Obama administration economic team meeting, first public meeting, first of, like, what's going to be regular quarterly updates, and then we hear from the Federal Reserve later today on last policy decision on interest rates.
So, we have a lot of focus on...
COLLINS: Yes.
LISOVICZ: ... Washington, as well. But in the meantime, we've got green arrows on Wall Street.
COLLINS: All right. We'll take those green arrows, absolutely. Susan Lisovicz, thank you.
LISOVICZ: You're welcome.
COLLINS: President Obama's push for cleaner, more fuel-efficient cars means it will be seeing a lot more hybrids and electric cars in the next few years. But at the same time, GM and Chrysler are closing hundreds of dealerships. So, what happens when your next generation vehicle needs a tune-up? Where do you go?
CNNmoney.com's Poppy Harlow has our "Energy Fix" now from New York. Good morning, Poppy. Yes, where do you go?
POPPY HARLOW, CNNMONEY.COM: It's a great question, Heidi. This is actually a question that came up from one of our colleagues here at CNN. So, we decided to do a little digging because combined, General Motors and Chrysler are closing about 1,900 dealerships.
Right now, OK, Chrysler doesn't have any hybrids on the market, but GM has a huge lineup of hybrids. There's two hybrid Saturns, the Chevy Malibu, the GMC Yukon, the Cadillac Escalade. And when you need to service these cars if you bought one or thinking about it, where do you do that, now that a lot of dealerships are closing?
We decided to ask an auto-repair trade group. They said, listen, if it's basic maintenance, brake pads or an oil change , you can take it anywhere. But if it's anything that's hybrid-specific, especially dealing with the battery, you're really much better off taking it to a dealership that is certified.
But with a lot of them closing, what you should do is if one is closing near you and you have a hybrid, you're going to want to look up an independent repair shop that specializes in hybrids. They are out there across this country. You're going to want to look that up, Heidi, and take it there just to be safe.
COLLINS: Yes, I was going to say, how many of those are there? I guess they're around, as you say.
HARLOW: Yes, but not as many as people would probably like.
COLLINS: Yes, probably. What about reliability, though? How reliable are these hybrids compared to regular gas models? Especially because people are really going to be thinking about now when parts break down.
HARLOW: It's a great question. They're still pretty new, but what we hear from the expert is really they seem like a pretty safe bet. We spoke to IntelliChoice. They said, believe it or not, Heidi, that these hybrids are even more reliable than traditional gas-powered cars because the gas engine is not running all the time, there's less wear and tear there on the car. Hybrid batteries have proven really they can last.
JD Power and Associates said the Prius is this year's most reliable compact car overall, even compared to other gas compact cars. The Prius, obviously, we know has topped "Consumer Reports" for the past five years in a row, Heidi. So, maybe even more reliable.
COLLINS: Yes, and when you say five years, a lot of people probably surprised that it's even been out there for five years.
HARLOW: Exactly.
COLLINS: What about the electric cars, though? How about their reliability?
HARLOW: Yes. Well, in theory, these cars, these electric cars, should need less maintenance than a gas car or a hybrid because there's no engine to worry about and all of the plumbing that goes around the engine. You're just talking about the battery.
But you could strain the battery by using it over and over. Also, in cold climates -- I know we've talked about this -- the battery gets about 20 percent less life. So, there's a lot of testing going on right now. We're going to see GM's Chevy Volt hit the market next year. Detroit Electric is coming out with an electric car. Nissan is.
But I have to tell you, Heidi, when I tested an electric car a few months ago...
COLLINS: Yes.
HARLOW: ... it took us three tries to get it started.
COLLINS: I remember.
HARLOW: We had to move to the other car, Heidi. And if you're trying to get to work and can't get it started, it's a big problem.
COLLINS: Yes, so, I'm sticking with the Rollerblades. I just -- I don't care.
HARLOW: Yes.
COLLINS: All right. Maybe I can make those electric. Yes. It would be a lot less work.
HARLOW: It would.
COLLINS: Poppy Harlow, thank you.
HARLOW: Sure.
COLLINS: I want to get you an update now on a developing story. Senate Democrats lay out a condition for funding the shutdown of the Guantanamo Bay detention center in Cuba. Lawmakers say they will not approve the administration's request for $80 million to close Gitmo until the president submits a plan for the 240 terror suspects detained there.
The Associated Press reports a top Pentagon official says members of Congress must rethink their opposition to accepting the detainees here in this country, saying the U.S. cannot ask allies to take detainees while refusing to take on the same burden. We'll be hearing a lot more about that story, I'm sure.
Well, there aren't exactly a lot of single bars in war zones. So, where do you look for that special someone if you are in the military? Some people turning to the Internet. Captain Eric Berard will tell us all about it. He'll join us live from Germany. That's his wife over there, too. Talk to them in just a minute.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: Bars, coffee shops, the grocery store, the usual places singles tend to meet. Well, they aren't much of an option when you are serving overseas. So, more men and women in the military are turning to Internet dating. That, in fact, is how Captain Eric Berard met his wife, Deborah DeFilippo-Berard. I hope I'm saying that correctly.
He is in Germany, and she is in San Antonio. But we are bringing them together this morning because we want to hear their story. Hi, guys. Thanks for being with us.
DEBORAH DEFILIPPO-BERARD, MET HUSBAND AT ONLINE DATING SITE: Good morning, Heidi.
COLLINS: I want to know first, and Eric, maybe I'll start with you. How did you meet online? How did all this come about?
CAPTAIN ERIC BERARD, MET WIFE AT ONLINE DATING SITE: Basically, just joined Match.com, and after a couple of months the site actually matched us up as a couple. And we started e-mailing back and forth to each other.
COLLINS: Really? All right, Debra, what did you think of this whole thing? Is this something that you had used before? Or was this your first go at it?
DEFILIPPO-BERARD: It was my first go at it. I had not used it before. And they had matched me with a couple of people, but Eric was the one that caught my eye, and we just progressed from there.
COLLINS: Yes, I guess so. Because now, fast forward just a bit, you guys are married. Tell me how you got to that point.
DEFILIPPO-BERARD: We are. We will be married three years this coming November. And we had corresponded as pen pals for approximately eight and -- about eight and a half months before he gave me the news that he was coming home in September. And we had met shortly after that, and we actually have never been apart since then until now, where he's in Germany, and I'm here.
COLLINS: Yes, yes. Obviously still serving. So, Deborah, listen, just between us, what'd you think when you first saw him?
DEFILIPPO-BERARD: Very handsome.
COLLINS: All right, good. So, tell me more about online dating in the military, would you, Eric? Because I just wonder if a lot of your friends use it. We're looking at some great pictures. I think that was your wedding day, obviously.
DEFILIPPO-BERARD: It was.
COLLINS: If a lot of men and women are actually going this route to find a companion?
BERARD: I wouldn't say a lot, but I know it happens. I still think a lot of the guys, especially the younger guys here in Europe, tend to do the same thing that they do back in the states, hitting up the local bars. But that really never has been the scene for me. I've never really liked the smoky rooms and the people getting drunk where they can't walk straight.
So, this is a way to meet people, just like any other way, like some type of method where you're not drunk when you meet the person, and you actually see more about them, know their character, correspond at length and not just, hey, I'm Eric, let's go do something together.
COLLINS: Yes, yes. And Deborah's smiling, so I think she really appreciates that, actually. Eric, I also want to know what it's like being in the field and thinking about, you know, this new relationship that is pending. Is it a way to help maybe motivate you? A bright spot with everything that you're doing in serving our country?
BERARD: Well, I know every day I would look forward to checking e- mails and, you know, we'd get on instant messenger and talk all night long. So, it's something to look for towards the end of the day when I knew I'd be able to check my mail. And when a day would happen where Deborah wasn't able to get to a computer or something, I would definitely be disappointed.
COLLINS: Yes, understood. We're having a little bit of trouble with your transmission. So, I'm going to talk to Deborah for just a minute here.
So, did you ever think that you would do this kind of thing, you'd follow this all the way through to be married, and then to be married to a man in uniform?
DEFILIPPO-BERARD: A man in uniform -- my father was in the military. My graandfather also served in the Army. So, I grew up around men in uniform, and doesn't surprise me I would end up with somebody in the Army. My grandfather would be proud right now.
COLLINS: Yes.
DEFILIPPO-BERARD: And dating, online dating was not something I originally had planned on doing. And once I got involved with it, it gave me the opportunity, since we couldn't meet face to face for eight months, to ask numerous questions about one another. Everything from what's your favorite color to what's your best investment advice. So we really got to know one another very well before we met face to face, probably better than any other person I had met.
COLLINS: How much time have you guys spent apart? I'm not quite sure what tour this is for Eric. But obviously in the military, you spend a lot of time apart. I just -- I wonder what you do without a computer.
DEFILIPPO-BERARD: I don't know where I would be without my computer. We talk daily. Every morning he wakes me up, and every night I wake him up, actually. When I go to bed, he's getting up. It's a seven- hour time difference for us.
COLLINS: All right, well, very good. We certainly wish you guys the best of luck. Online dating in the military, very interesting. Thanks so very much to Captain Eric Berard and of course, his wife of almost three years now, Deborah DeFilippo-Berard. Thanks again, guys.
DEFILIPPO-BERARD: Thank you, Heidi.
BERARD: Thank you, Heidi.
COLLINS: So, did you watch "American Idol" last night? it was the final showdown between Adam and Kris. Who do you think will win? we have been debating it very loudly all morning long right here in the NEWSROOM.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KYUNG LAH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): You are not seeing double. Well, sort of. This is a geminoid, an android version of its inventor, Hiroshi Ishiguro, a professor of robotics at Osaka University.
(on camera): Blinks like you.
HIROSHI ISHIGURO, PROFESSOR OF ROBOTICS, OSAKA UNIVERSITY: And the hair is also mine. This is (INAUDIBLE) twins. LAH (voice-over): But not quite. An operator using multiple cameras an infrared detectors for lip movement runs the geminoid from another room. Dr. Ishiguro steps behind the curtain, and we continue our talk from here.
ISHIGURO: I can have another personality or another presence. I can control this robot from anywhere.
LAH: The ability to be in two places at once, say, roboting into the office while you work from home. After a few minutes, I even forget that the geminoid is separate from Dr. Ishiguro.
(on camera): Did that feel like I was touching you?
ISHIGURO: You know, I can feel something.
LAH: Professor, are you studying humans or androids?
ISHIGURO: Both. By developing androids, I'm studying a human.
LAH (voice-over): Dr. Ishiguro has been developing robots like this for years. But they didn't look human. He believes this machine looks so much like a man, it can be used to study human behavior.
ISHIGURO: If we replace the -- all human functions with the technology, then we can understand what is a human.
LAH: Trying to understand the human soul by building from the outside in.
Kyung Lah, CNN, Kyoto, Japan.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: It's the big night, the showdown, what's being called the guy next door versus the guyliner. Of course, we're talking about "American Idol." Josh Levs is here now. He thinks he knows everything about this, and he has a favorite, and I have a favorite, so bring it on.
JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We've been battling this out in the NEWSROOM today, right?
COLLINS: And you're lame.
(LAUGHTER)
LEVS: I'm telling you, my guy is the "Idol." Your guy has some talent, but my guy's the "Idol."
COLLINS: My guy plays the piano. My guy plays the guitar.
LEVS: My guy commands the stage.
COLLINS: My guy will sell more records than your guy. LEVS: Well, he might. But my guy commands the stage without hiding behind an instrument. Take a look at the tape. Take a look. Here's my boy.
(VIDEO CLIP -- ADAM LAMBERT, "AMERICAN IDOL" FINALIST, SINGING)
COLLINS: Wait for it. Here comes the scream. Wait for it. And the curling tongue. Hang on.
LEVS: No, there's some singing along the way. Go on, guys, keep it up for a second. Here he goes.
COLLINS: OK.
LEVS: This is the part -- your favorite part.
COLLINS: Ugh!
LEVS: This is the part that Heidi's over -- she's just over (INAUDIBLE).
COLLINS: Turn down the IFB (ph).
LEVS: But he can look at the audience and own the stage. And he's unique. I've never seen anyone like him before. He's a little funky and weird, but he's just interesting.
COLLINS: Yes.
LEVS: Kris has got the -- I'll give you this, though. Last night, your boy, Kris, gave the best performance of the night.
COLLINS: Yes, we've been seeing it all morning long.
LEVS: He did. Let's take a look.
COLLINS: Let's listen to the real (INAUDIBLE).
(VIDEO CLIP -- KRIS ALLEN, "AMERICAN IDOL" FINALIST, SINGING)
LEVS: Heidi, I just have to give it to you. This was incredible.
COLLINS: Yes, very, very good.
LEVS: But I've never been amazed by him before. And the rest of the night was still Adam's night.
COLLINS: That's because you're not watching as much as I am.
LEVS: Well, OK, you are watching a little bit better than I am.
COLLINS: Yes, thank you!
LEVS: You are watching a little bit more carefully. But something we both agree on...
COLLINS: Consider your source (ph).
LEVS: There's one thing we both agree on.
COLLINS: Yes.
LEVS: Allison (ph), right?
COLLINS: Yes.
LEVS: (INAUDIBLE) can we go to the third video. And we'll (INAUDIBLE). But we love her. Take a look.
(VIDEO CLIP -- ALLISON IRAHETA, "AMERICAN IDOL" FINALIST, SINGING)
COLLINS: Yes, but you know, we have to move on.
LEVS: Sixteen years old.
COLLINS: Because she is going...
LEVS: Sixteen years old, people.
COLLINS: Yes. She is going to be just...
LEVS: How do you do that? You can't learn that.
COLLINS: ... fine.
LEVS: Yes.
COLLINS: Yes.
LEVS: I'm going to buy that album.
COLLINS: All of them are. You are?
LEVS: I would buy her album. Would you?
COLLINS: All right. Very, very good. In fact, I want to let everybody know that we are going to have the winner of "American Idol" on "LARRY KING LIVE," and that will be Friday night. So, make sure you tune into see Kris Allen.
LEVS: Yes. Unfortunately, I think she's right. But at least Adam will still be there.
COLLINS: All right, very good. Thanks for playing, Josh.
LEVS: Still my boy.
COLLINS: Appreciate it.
LEVS: All right.
COLLINS: Celebrating the Navy. It is Fleet Week in New York City. About 100,000 people expected to take advantage of the chance to see military ships up close and appreciate those who are serving. We're going to do it, too, just a moment away.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: Well, it is Fleet Week in New York City. And right now, a flotilla of military vessels is parading down the Hudson River in order to celebrate. Those are the fireboats right there. We've been watching several different ships come in for this celebration. Joining us now live from New York City, Bill White, president of the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum and the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund.
So, Bill, what's the deal? This is the 22nd annual Fleet Week, right?
BILL WHITE, PRESIDENT, INTREPID SEA, AIR & SPACE MUSEUM: That's right. It's going to be the biggest, best Fleet Week we've ever had here in New York City. It's a beautiful day on this gorgeous new pier after our $100 million renovation.
And I've got to tell you, Heidi, I'm sending regards from Andre Agassi. The great tennis star is here to see some of the great things happening at the Intrepid. And I just left the meeting to come down and talk to you. So, I just want to tell you that this is going to be fantastic, 5,000 troops, nine U.S. and foreign Navy ships, a chance for us to say thank you to the brave men and women who serve to defend our freedom each and every day.
And of course, on Memorial Day, we're going to have 3,000 veterans on our flight deck to pay tribute to those that have given the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country. And we also want to tell everybody out there, this is going to be the greatest Fleet Week we've ever had. You've got to come down, see these beautiful ships that are behind me and to my left and right. I'd love you to come up...
COLLINS: Gorgeous.
WHITE: ... and see them yourselves. It's just going to be amazing.
COLLINS: Yes, and we're watching some of the video from a little bit earlier this morning of some of the ships coming in. Hey, real quickly, Bill, we are running out of time, but I want to make sure that we remind everybody. Obviously, this is a time and a chance to remember our troops who have given their lives and, of course, those who are still serving.
So, we want to make sure that obviously people know that's what we're doing on Memorial Day. And I think we're going to see a whole lot more of the activities of Fleet Week when that comes around on Monday.
Yes, these pictures we're looking at, just gorgeous right now. Very quickly, the Army also has a ship coming in this time around. Not a lot of people know the Army even has one.
WHITE: Isn't that the greatest thing ever? The Army's got ships. And we've got them here coming to the Intrepid. So, you go to our Web site, intrepidmuseum.org, you can find out everything that's going on. You can also go on there...
COLLINS: All right.
WHITE: ... and find out how you can help our troops as they serve every day for our freedoms.
COLLINS: Very important. So, make sure, everybody, you check that out.
Bill White, the president of the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum on the 22nd annual Fleet Week. Thanks so much, Bill.
WHITE: Thank you so much. God bless.
COLLINS: I'm Heidi Collins. Taking aim at the credit card industry. The changes you could soon see and how they might affect your bottom line. CNN NEWSROOM continues right now with Tony Harris.
