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Anger on the Streets of Tehran as President Ahmadinejad of Iran is Re-Elected

Aired June 13, 2009 - 14:00   ET

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

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: As we continue to monitor the comments that are coming from Tehran there. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the president re-elected. He declares himself a -- president for a second term. And that was reiterated by the Ayatollah, as well. But, now the opposition has sent a letter to the grand Ayatollah hoping that there may be some way in which to re-evaluate the outcome of this election. We'll be keeping a close watch of that.

Meantime, we are delving into this. We are going to talk about the ripple effects this is now sending, not just from within Iran but from the White House to the U.S. State Department, all closely watching what is taking place in Iran.

People take to the streets in Tehran. And outside of Tehran, chanting "Down with dictatorships." An election outcome is certainly in dispute now.

Most of those taking their frustrations and anger to the streets of Tehran are young supporters of Mir Hossein Mousavi, the man many people thought just might just win the election.

Our Christiane Amanpour is in Tehran, she has been watching the elections all day, and really, for a matter of a few days it has been a very contentious day of a lot of protests and sentiments being expressed throughout the streets.

What is the latest, Christiane?

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT, CNN: The latest is that President Ahmadinejad, who has just been officially announced as the newly reelected president, is speaking to the nation.

And he is thanking everybody for their vote, and he is saying that Iran had two choices. One was to move backwards to the ways of the past. The other was to move forward. And he declared that people, by choosing him, chose to move forward.

He said that people were looking for progress, people were looking for their economy, and their problems to be solved, for unemployment to be solved, that Iran was a great nation. And he went on in that vein, basically portraying himself as the champion of the people and the engine of progress and development in Iran.

Now, at the same time, right now, in squares around the city, there are protestors out, several hundred in some places, and other similar numbers in others. At one place not too far from here it is getting violent. It is getting into a riot. That is where people are facing off against each other. There are young people in plain clothes who have got sticks and bottles and metal rods and are beating some people up.

I can hear down in the square below me there is a huge amount of people out there as well. And all day we were outside as we saw running battles between protestors and riot police, including we saw, a large peaceful marches heading downtown -- Fredericka?

WHITFIELD: And so, Christiane, what more can you tell us about the opposition feeling like it is -- trying to exhaust all measures to see if whether the votes can be reevaluated, or to see if there is any wiggle room whatsoever for the opposition leader?

AMANPOUR: Well, the opposition leader, Mir Hossein Mousavi, who here people thought would win in a landslide, has already written an open letter to the people of Iran in which he called the result "shocking," and he said that it was "manipulated by the system," and that they had been "cheated out of their vote."

He has apparently now written another letter to a series of grand ayatollahs and senior clerics in the holy city of Rohm, thereby implicitly going over the head of Ayatollah Khatenei, Iran's supreme leader.

People who I have spoken to do not think at this point there is any way to revise this particular outcome.

I think what is very interesting and what we reported on Wednesday was that a leader from the revolutionary guards had posted on the Web site accusations that Mir Hossein Mousavi and reformers were trying to quote "launch a velvet revolution," referring to the color revolutions in eastern Europe.

And they're particularly sensitive. They think the U.S. and other democracy movements are trying to do that here. And he vowed to crush it.

And there are those who believe this has played a great deal in the minds of officials as these election results have come in.

WHITFIELD: Christiane Amanpour, thanks so much in Tehran.

And we heard in that message from Ahmadinejad, that he was offering some reference to that there were outside forces that were trying to influence the outcome of this election.

So let's check in with some more Washington reaction to the protests taking place in Iran, reaction to the outcome of this election -- Elaine Quijano joining us from the White House.

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fredericka, just a short time ago we got reaction from the White House. Noticeably, no mention of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad by name. What it does say is that the U.S. is certainly keeping a very close eye on the situation. Here is the statement from White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, quote, "Like the rest of the world, we were impressed by the vigorous debate and enthusiasm that the selection generated, particularly among young Iranians. We continue to monitor the entire situation closely, including reports of irregularities."

Now, shortly before the White House issued that written statement, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also talked about the election as well.

Her comments echoed what we saw in the statement from Robert Gibbs. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HILLARY CLINTON, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: Well, we watched closely the enthusiasm and the very vigorous debate and dialogue that occurred in the lead-up to the Iranian elections. We are monitoring the situation as it unfolds in Iran.

But we, like the rest of the world, are waiting and watching to see what the Iranian people decide. The United States has refrained from commenting on the election in Iran. We obviously hope that the outcome reflects the genuine will and desire of the Iranian people.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

QUIJANO: Now just yesterday, President Obama was asked about the Iranian election. And he said, the fact that, regardless of outcome, he said the fact that there was a robust debate he hopes means that it will be a little bit easier for the United States to engage Iran in new ways -- Fredericka?

WHITFIELD: Even with Ahmadinejad still as president?

QUIJANO: Well that is the question. And that's what analysts say is not going to be the case with Ahmadinejad continuing to be in power. They say it is going to make it a lot more difficult for the Obama administration to do what it wants to do, to have these direct engagements, direct talks with Iran.

They say it would have been a lot easier had it not been Ahmadinejad.

So, we'll wait to see. The president, though, saying yesterday, look, no matter who wins, we're hopeful that at least the fact that there has been this discussion and debate maybe, just maybe will make it a little bit easier to try to advance any kind of engaging in discussions with Iranians in new ways.

We will wait to see, thought. Analysts are kind of skeptical at this point, Fredericka.

WHITFIELD: All right, Elaine Quijano in the White House. Thanks so much.

As we mentioned, there have been protests not just throughout the streets of Iran, but elsewhere.

In London, for example, there are many people taking to the streets, raising their voices and their concerns about the outcome of the election. Looking at some of the images right now.

Atika Shubert is there. She joins now on the phone. So what kind of representation are we seeing on the streets in London?

ATIKA SHUBERT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: These are mostly young students, a lot of them in their 20s. And they're here spontaneously. When they started to hear election results, they started to email on Facebook, and they said we have got to come out and protest.

Quite a few of them we spoke to said they were just shocked by the election results. They just feel that it has been somehow skewed, and they want to make their voices heard.

So they have come out here today. There were about 200 earlier. And they were waving Iranian flags. They have got signs that say "Where is my vote?"

And they are standing in front of the Iranian embassy. And they say they will be here until this is resolved.

But they are very concerned that their friends and family back home may be, becoming involved in protests that look to be turning violent -- Fredericka?

WHITFIELD: All right. Atika Shubert, thanks so much. Appreciate it, from London there.

All right, just moments ago, here on CNN, Iran's president said the election puts the country on a new path. But to where? For that and a better perspective on what this vote means, let's talk more with Trita Parsi.

Besides president of the Iranian-American council, he is also author of the book "Treacherous Alliance, secret dealings of Iran, Israel, and the United States."

Thanks so much for being back with us here.

TRITA PARSI, PRESIDENT, NATIONAL IRANIAN-AMERICAN COUNCIL: Thank you for having me.

WHITFIELD: Let's talk about -- the White House is refraining from revealing too much about what it thinks about the outcome of this election, and hoping that there stale may be some opportunity in the near future, perhaps, in a long shot to have some sort of dialogue with Iran.

How might the outcome of this election, given it might be the status quo, create that path?

PARSI: Well, let me first say, I think the White House is doing the right thing. They know if they were to comment too heavily on this, it could actually backfire, and they could get results they did not intend to do. So they are moving forward cautiously in that, and I think it is the right approach.

And in fact what the president has done so far has been very, very well planned and implemented. He has more or less unilaterally been able to change the atmospherics between the two countries, which is a necessity in order to be able to have successful negotiations.

At this stage, though, however, it is creating significant obstacles, in my view, because there will be an Ahmadinejad that will have very little legitimacy internationally, mindful of how this is being played out.

Or if it is not Ahmadinejad, it will probably be a very prolonged internal battle in Iran, in which there will be no clarity at all of who actually will hold office of the presidency.

And that's very negative for the president for a reason, that the president already has somewhat limited time to be able to pursue diplomacy. He cannot really afford to have more of the time being lost because of political paralysis inside of Iran.

WHITFIELD: But you know you mention credibility issues. But there was already some expressed skepticism of the credibility of President Ahmadinejad.

And so even despite what has taken place, given the fact that there are protests, people who are challenging whether this is indeed a fair election, this White House already knew, right, what it was dealing with just as the previous administration, who it was dealing with?

And that President Obama as a candidate said he was not against the idea of having some sort of dialogue. It wouldn't seem as though this would change that view.

PARSI: I don't know if it really changes. At the end of the day, I don't think anyone in the White House had any expect takes that whoever would win these elections, that it would have any significant changes on the red lines and substance of the Iranian positions, particularly on issues such as the nuclear issue.

What it does, however, is that it changes the comfort level of Washington to be able to pursue this diplomacy. And that unfortunately can be a decisive factor, mindful of the fact that this is already a very fragile process. It does not need more bumps like this.

WHITFIELD: So you can even see that this administration might say, you know what, we are no longer interested in extending olive branch as it pertains to diplomacy as a result of this. They would just wipe that off the table completely. That wouldn't be out of the realm of possibilities?

PARSI: At the end of the day, that White House made a decision to pursue diplomacy with Iran not because of who would or would not be elected but because it lies in the national interest of the United States to have better communication and relationship with the government of Iran because of the role and influence Iran has in the region, in Afghanistan, in Iraq, and elsewhere.

So this is not because of a particular like or dislike of any personality.

WHITFIELD: Trita Parsi, thanks so much, the National Iranian- American Council, appreciate it.

PARSI: Thank you for having me.

WHITFIELD: Also an author.

All right, we're taking a harder look at the Iranian election, what the results mean for the rest of the world. A live interview with a Middle East expert, Bo Wasburgis, also coming up next hour.

Meantime, other things on tap on the international stage as well as domestic. On the international stage, North Korea vows to step up its nuclear program. Immediate reaction from the White House.

Plus, on this front, severe storms packing wind and rain, causing some major damage in the southeast part of this country. Our meteorologist Jaqui Jeras has a look at what we might expect today.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: North Korea is vowing to ramp up its nuclear program. Pyongyang says it's enriching uranium and will weaponize all its plutonium.

The warning comes one day after the United Nations approved new sanctions against the communist country. North Korea said that it would react strongly if punished for recent nuclear missile tests.

Remember, North Korea has no proven effective way to deliver nuclear weapons right now even if it does develop them.

North Korea said Saturday that it will strengthen its nuclear capabilities, a defiant protest against a recent U.N. Security Council move to tighten sanctions against it.

The country state news agency reported that, and North Korea officials again say that they will go forward with enriching their nuclear weapons program.

All right, a little more than an hour ago, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton addressed the escalating rhetoric coming out of North Korea. Here's what she had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HILLARY CLINTON, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: That we intend to do all we can to prevent continued proliferation by the North Koreans. I will add however that the North Koreans continuing provocative actions are, are deeply regrettable. They have now been denounced by everyone. They have become further isolated. And it is not in the interests of the people of North Korea for that kind of isolation to continue.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Secretary Clinton went on to commend the new U.N. sanctions on North Korea as tools to "take appropriate action."

Here in the U.S., President Obama has put out some pretty bold ideas to reform health care. This weekend he is announcing ideas on how to pay for all of it in his weekly address.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, (D) PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: I have made a firm commitment that health care reform will not add to the federal deficit over the next decade.

To keep that commitment, my administration has already identified how to pay for the historic $635 billion down payment on reform detailed in our budget. This includes over $300 billion that we will save through changes like reducing Medicare overpayments to private insurers and rooting out waste in Medicare and Medicaid.

However, any honest accounting must prepare for the fact that health care reform will require additional costs in the short term in order to reduce spending in the long term.

So today, I am announcing an additional $313 billion in savings that will reign in unnecessary spending and increase efficiency and the quality of care, savings that will ensure that we have nearly $950 billion set aside to offset the costs of health care reform over the next ten years.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: The president wants a new government sponsored health plan, but opponents worry that could limit choices and hurt private insurers.

President Obama says he wants all Americans to have health insurance, and he wants the government to offer a plan, especially for those who don't have coverage right now through their employer.

So what do you think about the idea? "Prescriptions, Health Care Reform," is a special hour of the CNN newsroom today at 4:00 eastern. We want to hear from you. Send us your comments, your questions to our blog. You can also send it to Facebook as well as email us at weekends@CNN.com.

It's costing you more to fill up at the pump these days. Find out why you are paying more.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: It will be another four days at least before the shuttle "Endeavour" gets into space. NASA scrubbed this morning's launch because of a hydrogen gas like. It's the same problem that delayed a shuttle launch back in March.

NASA will meet tomorrow to decide what to do next. It has seven astronauts waiting to go to the international space station.

A lot of homes are kicking on the air conditioning this weekend. And Republicans say you are paying too much and that there needs to be some reforms in energy. In the weekly Republican address, Indiana Congressman Mike Pence says his party has a solution.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. MIKE PENCE, (R) INDIANA: This past week, House Republicans introduced the American Energy Act. It's an all of the above energy plan that offers energy independence, more jobs, and a cleaner environment without imposing a national energy tax.

The Republican energy plan calls for more domestic exploration or oil and natural gas, a renewed commitment to clean, emissions free nuclear energy, investments in renewable and alternative energy technologies, and incentives to spur greater conservation among individuals and businesses.

During these difficult times, the American people don't want a national energy tax out of Washington, D.C. We want a 21st century answer to our nation's energy needs.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Democrats are pushing their own energy plan. Among other things it calls for capping green house gasses. But Republicans are slamming the plan, saying it amounts to a national energy tax.

As Congress wrestles with competing energy plans, Americans are digging deeper into their wallets again to pay for gas. Some worry that could put the brakes on the economic recovery.

So why are fuel prices spiking? Our Christine Romans puts it all together.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN HOST: When you fill up the gas tank, you buy more than just gasoline. You're buying expectations about the economy and anxiety over all the bailouts.

KEVIN KERR, COMMODITY ANALYST: It's absolutely vital to understand that this weak dollar that we've been seeing, not only from the fear of future inflation, but, of course, all the money that the Fed has been printing, that ahs weakened the dollar further.

And as the dollar continues to drop, you'll see all commodities, especially energy and metals climb.

ROMANS: That's right. You can blame at least partly government bailouts.

Here's why -- investors are nervous about all the money the U.S. is borrowing to pay for the auto bailouts, bank rescues, stimulus efforts, and tax cuts. All of those debts can hurt the value of the dollar and spark inflation or higher prices down the road.

That makes oil and commodity more expensive even though demand for gas is down. Yet gas prices are rising anyway. Barely a month ago, the government said $2.30 would be the peak for the summer. Wrong. Gas prices raced through there with barely a look back.

At $60 a barrel, few worried about oil prices hurting those delicate green shoots of economic growth. Now crude oil prices have topped $71 a barrel, the highest in eight months.

Goldman Sachs raised its target to $85 by the end of the year. And there are real fears about what higher energy prices will do to battered consumers.

PETER BEUTEL, CAMERON HANOVER: As prices rise they do take money out of consumers' pockets. They raise the specter of inflation, which makes interest rates higher, and that hurts the economy.

ROMANS: He says every ten cents in gas price increases is $40 million a day out of consumers' wallets.

Christine Romans, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: President Obama also pitches his health care plan and lay ways to pay for it by cutting spending. Political battles are shaping up.

The world watches, also, the election results out of Iran. The government announces a winner, but some people cry foul and then take to the streets.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Clashes with riot police and charges of blatant violations, it's part of the passionate response to the election in Iran.

Just hours ago many of these protestors were convinced that their candidate, Mir Hossein Mousavi, had a good chance of being elected president, or at least forcing a run-off.

Instead, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had been officially declared the winner of another term, his margin of victory, said to be nearly two to one. The United States is among countries closely monitoring events in Iran and the reports of election irregularities. The Obama administration has shipped out 10 detainees from the center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The goal is to empty the place by early next year.

Three detainees were sent home to Saudi Arabia. They'll go into a so-called terrorist rehab center. The U.S. wants the Saudis to take at least 100 more detainees.

Bermuda also took some. They took four. Our Don Lemon talked with two of them. And these men are Chinese Muslims who Beijing claims are terrorists.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DON LEMON, CNN HOST: When people say that you're a terrorist, how do you respond to that?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I am no terrorist. I have not been a terrorist. I will never be a terrorist. I am a peaceful person.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: The Chinese government wants those men in their custody.

And officials in the United Kingdom are upset as well. They claim that Washington never told them the detainees were coming to their territory of Bermuda.

So you can catch more of Don Lemon's exclusive interview with the former Gitmo detainees on the CNN Newsroom. That's at 5:00 eastern tonight.

Lawmakers debating the future of your health care say that you should have the same options that they do. So what makes their benefits so wonderful? Congressional Correspondent Brianna Keilar talks to one member of congress.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRIANNA KEILAR, CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT, CNN: Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, a mother of three, spent last year battling breast cancer.

REP. DEBBIE WASSERMAN SCHULTZ, (D) FLORIDA: The first major surgery was my double mastectomy. The submitted charges just for my double mastectomy were $15,000.

KEILAR: But she only paid a few hundred dollars for that surgery, her first of seven. She estimates the total cost of her care is close to $100,000.

SCHULTZ: We are a middle-class family. And there is no possible, that would have been the beginning of a mountain of debt. I mean, I could easily see just from having gone through my own health experience in the last year, how very quickly a family could be bankrupt.

KEILAR: Wasserman Schultz's Blue Cross Blue Shield basic plan is one of ten nationwide plans and hundreds of smaller regional plans members of Congress and other federal employees can choose from.

The government pays two-thirds the cost of premiums, and federal employees pick up the rest, from about $1,300 a year up to $2,400 a year, depending on the plan. Sounds great, but could this kind of care be extended to the nation's 47 million uninsured?

BETH MCGLYN, RAND CORPORATION: It does let people pick coverage is what they think they need and what they're willing to pay for that, that coverage.

KEILAR: Beth McGlyn, a top researcher for the nonpartisan Rand Corporation, says another advantage is the program is already up and running nationwide.

But there is a rub -- the cost to taxpayers. McGlyn says perhaps the only way to pay for the change or any reform is to tax benefits employees now receive through their employer.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: That was Brianna Keilar reporting.

President Obama Heartland Health Care Tour hits Illinois Monday. The audience, this time, however, doctors. They will be speaking at the American Medical Association's meeting in Chicago.

And he won't be preaching to the choir. The AMA is not completely onboard with the president's proposal of a government sponsored insurance plan. The group represents about a quarter million doctors. Its support is considered critical for any plan to cover uninsured Americans.

President Obama wants all Americans to have health insurance. And he wants the government to offer a plan for those who don't have coverage through their employer.

So, what do you think? "Prescription Health Care Reform," it's a special hour the CNN Newsroom today at 4:00 eastern. And we are already receiving a lot of your questions and your comments on our blog as well as on Facebook and at weekendCNN.com. So we appreciate that.

We will be posing a lot of questions and comments to our experts who will be on hand. We'll have a congressman representing both the Republican and the Democratic points of view, as well as the White House budget director.

So, it is possibly one of the most addictive games ever made. We are talking about Tetris, which just turned 25. So what is it that makes you just want to keep on playing?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) WHITFIELD: OK, news to me, one of the most addictive video games of all time is turning 25. Our Josh Levs has been delving into the world of Tetris.

And either I have been living under a rock, or something is really wrong with me. I don't know what Tetris is.

JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Really? It's on the screen behind you.

WHITFIELD: And now it may be an Olympic something? What?

LEVS: The owners are trying to get it into the Olympics.

The idea behind Tetris is you get these funky shapes, and you have to make them fall so that there is a complete line without no holes.

WHITFIELD: Where have I been?

LEVS: You were actually studying in college.

WHITFIELD: How did I miss that?

(LAUGHTER)

My parents are happy you said that. Now they know the money went to a good cause, right.

LEVS: Role models now have someone -- if you have a Tetris addiction, just call Fred. No way to get around it.

I get to talk, 25 years, not bad. To this day, one of the most popular video games that there is.

I talked to the creator, and I asked him when he knew he was on to something big.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALEXEY PAJITNOV, TETRIS CREATOR: Very first time when my program small game start working. I couldn't stop playing it myself. And I understand that -- it is a really good game. But I can't imagine it will be that big.

SLEZ (on camera): So you got addicted the first time you started playing?

PAJITNOV: Yes, very much.

HENK ROGERS, BLUE PLANET SOFTWARE: When I first found it at the consumer electronics show in 1988, I kept on coming back and playing more. And that was a for sure sign that this was going to be a good game.

LEVS: There are stories of people going into work on the weekends just to sit at their computer and play a video game for hours. They even dream the Tetris shapes if they play too long.

How did this happen? Could one of you explain why it is so addictive and what goes on when you play it?

PAJITNOV: First of all, it is a very simple game. And it has a really strong creative spirit in it. So instead of just throwing something, you kind of build up the profile out of those small pieces and enjoy doing it. And that's probably the very important addictive factor.

LEVS: I think I hear what you are saying. It's the simplicity and also the immediate satisfaction, right? But then you have to build again. So you get the satisfaction, and then immediately it is time to work on the next one.

We have some video that we are going to be showing of takeoffs of Tetris, the things people have done, turning buildings into Tetris games or human Tetris.

You all had put something into your news release. "We have a vision of the future people all over the world can meet and become friends without speaking the same language." You go on to say "Because they will be connected through the university language of Tetris."

Are you guys being sarcastic about that, or is that an actual hope?

ROGERS: No, I think that is a real dream for us. You know, games are the universal language, and Tetris breaks all culture, language, age, and gender barriers.

LEVS: Have you all had any complaints from people out there who are trying to say that Tetris is a drug, that it is more addictive, that there should be a warning with it?

PAJITNOV: Well, it happens so me all the time. People approach to me and say, you know, I spent so much of my, my college time on Tetris. I almost blow my exams or so, and so and so.

I usually ask, but was it good hours which you spent on Tetris. And everybody say, yes. It was really good hours.

So I say, I am not waste it. I gift it to you.

ROGERS: I think that Tetris is the first virtual sport. And we will, yes, we will see a Tetris Cup in the future, and international competition. Hopefully we will be part of the Olympics some day.

LEVS: The actual Olympics, like the Olympics, Olympics?

ROGERS: Why limit the Olympics to physical sports? Why not mental sports?

LEVS: Wow. That would open up a whole new realm. Let's talk about the future. I know you have a lot of plans for building this. What will we be seeing when you envision the future of Tetris. Will I have a 3-d Tetris right in front of me like a "Star Trek" kind of thing where I could just put my fingers in the air? Are you going to put on goggles? What is ahead in the future? Give us a sense.

ROGERS: Tetris is the ultimate casual game. So we need to keep it simple.

So if going 3-d means you are taking it out of the realm of simple to understand games, then it probably won't go there. We make sure that Tetris is playable by as many people as possible, always.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEVS: Which is why so many people did play it in college no matter when they are in college, or continue to play it today. Let me show you on the graphic quickly. Weigh in, share your stories with us. We have the blogs, CNN.com/newsroom. There you go.

Fred, lots of people sharing their stories --

WHITFIELD: Oh, my gosh.

I am so embarrassed. I can't believe I didn't know about Tetris. People around here are like where did you grow up? It is more than just being under a rock.

(LAUGHTER)

Oh, well. Sorry about that. Now I am educated. I appreciate it.

LEVS: You were educated, and lots of our viewers are going to write you everything there is to know about Tetris.

WHITFIELD: All right, very good. I really like the goggles on you too. That was quite classy.

LEVS: That was impressive. Thanks animators.

WHITFIELD: Thanks, Josh. Appreciate it.

LEVS: You got it.

WHITFIELD: Straight ahead, we are obviously talking more about the top story, Iran's presidential elections sparking outrage and street protests, screams of "fraud," as the world watches. The very latest coming up in the newsroom.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Imagine a health care system in such shambles that patients have to camp out overnight to see a doctor. And it is not happening overseas, but right here in the U.S. Earlier today I spoke with Dr. Ross Isaacs. He is one of the volunteers providing medical care for a relief program called RAM, or remote area medical.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD, (on camera): Dr. Isaacs, you are a volunteer with this group to bring medical care to people particularly in remote areas here in the U.S.

A lot of folks would think this is a parallel we see overseas somewhere. How is it that it could be it is happening in the U.S., and how great a need are you filling?

DR. ROSS ISAACS, VOLUNTEER, REMOTE AREA MEDICAL: Well, first of all, this is a major issue in terms of physicians, nurses, volunteers, this is really what we do. So the concept of people in need, whether they're in Appalachia or whether it was after Katrina, or no matter where it is, this is really what we are about and what we should be doing.

We realized that there was a lot of people that were not getting the care that they needed. So we decided to bring it to them.

It's really Stan Brock that started this organization. And I have been lucky enough to be part of this for several years to, to help contribute to this.

WHITFIELD: And there are a couple of things at play here while we still try to work out the audio for Stan --- a couple things at play here.

You go to an area, and there are a host of people who need some medical assistance. And in many cases, there is already a problem. But you discover that these are preventive problems. So their medical needs are exacerbated because they have no access to any kind of preventative health care?

ISAACS: Correct. Most of these people, first of all, most if not all of them work or have worked. They're on hard times. They either can't afford the health insurance.

I'll give you an example. We see people that are diabetics that go months without insulin. To lack something look insulin in the most powerful country on earth in the 21st century is, is abominable.

And what we do is try to hook them up in the systems to get, for example, diabetics are people with hypertension on their meds. Without them, they will be developing strokes, heart attacks at epidemic rates.

So we fill a very important need. And I agree this need needs to be filled constantly and rapidly.

WHITFIELD: And while you were talking, we were looking at video provided by RAM, Remote Area Medical, about how you are able to get to people, whether it be by vehicle, or whether it is by boat, or maybe even by aircraft.

So, these are places that are very difficult to get to. And some of the images look like some of it may be overseas as well. Some interspersed with areas here in the U.S.

When you hear about an effort by this administration to promote health care reform, and you hear that 47 million people are uninsured, you have seen it firsthand. How grave is the condition for America to have so many people who were in great need for access to health care for just very minor things?

ISAACS: Well, first of all, when you throw numbers out, it is sometimes hard to understand what that is -- 47 million or roughly 50 million people without access to health care. That roughly equals the population of Canada and Australia combined.

Can you imagine both of those countries, that population, with no health care?

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WHITFIELD: Well, this week the American Medical Association announced its opposition to a public health insurance plan. Earlier I talked with White House Budget Director Peter Orczag about the AMA's concerns.

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WHITFIELD: The document sent through the AMA that they feel like they can't afford this kind of public health care plan, and already it is difficult to meet the needs of some 65 percent to maybe even 70 percent of their patients who are on Medicare, and to look at more patients who may be extended the same reduced cost that Medicare might extend, they said we would go out of business.

What is the president going to be able to reassure to the AMA on Monday in Chicago?

PETER ORSZAG, WHITE HOUSE BUDGET DIRECTOR: Well, the AMA has been a very constructive part of the reform effort. They were part of the group that came in and met with the president and agreed that we can improve the efficiency of our system, higher quality, lower cost.

There are many things in a reform effort that are beneficial for doctors. And doctors will be at the heart of a, key, aptly central to moving towards best practices, higher quality health care system.

For most of us, the health care that we get is what our doctor recommends. And that's exactly what -- how it should be.

WHITFIELD: That the AMA was part of the group to help come up with a plan or some sort of a draft proposal, then is there great disappointment from the administration that the AMA would be so outspoken to say they don't like what they're hearing so far?

ORSZAG: I don't think that's quite what they were saying. There was one newspaper story suggesting, you know, very strong opposition. The AMA then clarified their actually view was much more nuanced to various types of public plan options.

The president will be out there Monday and will have, I'm sure, a healthy dialogue with the AMA.

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WHITFIELD: We'll be hearing more from Orszag a bit later.

And talking about this latest push for health care legislation during our special hour of coverage, 4:00 eastern time, "Prescription health care reform."

We want to take your e-mail questions and comments and make it part of the conversation.

We are also going to take you to a place where people with Tourette's syndrome can feel comfortable. It's your chance to learn about this disorder and a very special summer camp.

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WHITFIELD: Being different can be difficult. People with Tourette's syndrome understand this better than most. That's why Camp Twitch and Shout is a place to fit in this summer.

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WHITFIELD: Tinsley Birchfield favorite part about summer camp is being able to cut loose.

TINSLEY BIRCHFIELD, CAMPER: Nice to be able to let it all out, and just not have to worry and not have people stare at you and think that you are weird, and that you have some, like, what's wrong with that person?

WHITFIELD: Tinsley is one of 50 campers attending Camp Twitch and Shout, the first summer camp in Georgia for kids with Tourette's syndrome.

BRAD COHEN, DIRECTOR, CAMP TWITCH AND SHOUT: Tourette's syndrome is a neurological disorder which causes people to make noises and ticks that they can't control.

WHITFIELD: Director Brad Cohen has been trying to get Camp Twitch and Shout off the ground for nearly ten years. Starting in the 1970s, special needs camps have recently boomed, expanding to include rarer disorders like Tourette's syndrome.

There are only four other camps in the U.S. for the condition which affects 150,000 children in the country.

COHEN: How many of you twitch?

CROWD: Whoa! COHEN: How many of you shout?

CROWD: Yes!

WHITFIELD: Each on a rainy day, the campers have plenty to do, from swimming, to fishing, to music, and arts and crafts. There is even a dance.

CHRIS WALL, CAMPER: I can't wait until the dance. I already asked the girl out. And since everybody has Tourette's, there is no reason why you should be made fun of for asking a girl out.

WHITFIELD: Cohen says that having fun is the best treatment for his campers.

COHEN: While we are here at Camp Twitch and Shout, we don't talk about Tourette's in a formal situation. This isn't a therapy session. This isn't school.

By coming out here in a camping environment where they are around other people that are very similar to them, all of a sudden any problem, any challenge that they had in life, it disappears. And they have the opportunity to be like any other child.

WHITFIELD: Cohen understands those challenges. Growing up with Tourette's syndrome, he is now an award winning elementary school teacher.

In 2005 he wrote a book about his life with the disorder called "Front of the Class," which last year was turned into a Hallmark Hall of Fame film with the same title.

COHEN: Any more questions about Tourette's?

WHITFIELD: The film has made Cohen a spokesman for Tourette's syndrome and hero to his campers and beyond.

With the help of 35 other counselors, most of whom have Tourette's syndrome themselves, Cohen's goal is to show campers like Tinsley Birchfield that it's OK to march to the beat of a different drum.

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WHITFIELD: And we'll keep the discussion of Iran's disputed election going. The story is not over. The protest stretching into the night.

Next hour, a Middle East expert talks about what is going on now and what might happen next.

Plus, it might be, might not, rather, be the headline grabbing virus it once was. But that hasn't stopped H1N1 from reaching the next level.

Plus, we talk with an expert about how to survive the death of analog television, a death that has some Americans staring at snow on their screens.

And a Republican activist apologizes after insulting the first lady. All this straight ahead in the NEWSROOM.