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Congress Drags Feet on Health-Care Reform; More Allied Forces Killed in Afghanistan; Eight Year Old Girl Brutally Raped by Gang of Boys

Aired July 23, 2009 - 13:00   ET

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

TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: It is go time. The next hour of CNN NEWSROOM starts right now with Kyra Phillips!

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: We're going, all right. Thanks, Tony.

Pushing forward this hour on politics, religion and alleged corruption. Talk about your unusual suspects: New Jersey mayors, rabbis, a state assemblyman rounded up in a federal probe of bribery and money laundering. We're on the case.

The Cambridge cop who arrested a famous academic says President Obama is way off base by weighing in. If you thought this case was closed, think again.

And what police say happened to a young girl in this Phoenix shed is atrocious. Her parents' reported reaction? Judge for yourself. I'll talk live with Phoenix police.

Hello, everyone. I'm Kyra Phillips, live at the CNN world headquarters in Atlanta. You're live in the CNN NEWSROOM.

Well, it's a story that we have been following for you all week. And it's getting new legs. President Obama criticizing the actions of the Cambridge, Massachusetts, police in a case that's raised issues of race and bias. And here's what he had to say last night about the arrest of his friend, Henry Louis Gates Jr.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I don't know, not having been there and not seeing all the facts, what role race played in that, but I think it's fair to say, No. 1, any of us would be pretty angry. No. 2, that the Cambridge police acted stupidly in arresting somebody when there was already proof that they were in their own home.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: And in case you've somehow missed the whole story, Gates, a Harvard professor and one of the country's top African- American scholars, was arrested last week by a policeman who'd rushed to his House. The officer is white.

All of this started with a 911 call about a possible break-in, and it ended with a disorderly conduct charge. That charge dropped on Tuesday, by the way. Professor Gates gave his side of the story last night in a CNN exclusive. But we hadn't heard from the arresting officer until now.

Here's Sergeant James Crowley talking to Boston radio station WEEI.

All right, we apologize for that. We're still getting it together. We will get that to you momentarily.

But as you can imagine, there's been a lot of reaction on law enforcement message boards to all of this. We put together a couple of them.

Britcop says, "What a disgrace. Obama admits he didn't have the whole story and openly admits he's biased toward his longtime friend, Skip Gates. He then infers the arrest was made for burglary, not the true charge of disorderly conduct."

Vegasmetro thinks the president just "blanked off every cop in America who deals with some idiot yelling instead of listening to police. I'd bet his public relations people are spinning an apology that will be forthcoming."

And this from Canine1king: "Crap, the whole thing sucks. Obama should have never thrown out the whole racism comment. It just stirs the pot and gives ammo to everyone else to yell racism about the police."

And Leo1982 says, "Somewhat surprising political move on President Obama's part, considering how cautiously he waded through the whole Iran situation. Sounds like the situation got blown out of proportion, although it appears the officers were in the right. My hope is that this situation ends quickly, but knowing police, media, it's highly unlikely."

So many people arrested, it took a bus to hold them. You're seeing the result of a major federal probe centered in northern New Jersey now. The target? Mayors, state lawmakers, even rabbis. The allegations? Public corruption and international money laundering.

Mayors, state lawmakers, rabbis, all in custody, the targets of a two-pronged, decade-long federal probe. Now more than 40 people have been arrested on allegations of public corruption and money laundering. They're appearing in court in Newark next hour, and it took a bus to haul them there.

Among those in custody, Hoboken mayor Peter Cammarano, accused of taking $35,000 in bribes in an apparent sting operation. Also arrested -- arrested, rather, the mayors of Secaucus and Ridgefield, deputy mayor of Jersey City, and two state lawmakers.

A source tells CNN that the money-laundering part of the probe involved a group of rabbis who allegedly laundered tens of millions of dollars through their religious organizations for a fee. And the source says that both probes are linked by common players. We heard from the feds just minutes ago.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WEYSUN DUNN, FBI: They are unprecedented because of the combination of the number and prominence of the individuals involved, the disbursal of the alleged criminal activity throughout the state and the broad variety of crimes which have been charged.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Well, authorities say the investigation has been going on for ten years, and it isn't over yet. As part of today's actions, about 300 FBI agents fanned out, executing search and arrest warrants at more than 50 spots.

Now, a day after President Obama tried to sell the nation on his health-care prescription, he's on a sales trip to Cleveland. We're going to hear him live in a town-hall appearance next hour.

While back in D.C., disgruntled lawmakers in both parties rushed between news conferences and closed closed-door negotiations. CNN congressional correspondent Dana Bash has some new developments for us. She joins us on the phone.

Dana, what do you have?

DANA BASH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, Kyra. I just came from a press conference with the Senate majority leader, the Democratic leader in the Senate, who made very clear, abundantly clear, in fact said point-blank for the first time that the Senate, the full Senate will not vote on the president's top priority, health-care reform, until it comes back from the August recess.

He said that he believes it's better to have a product and one that is based on quality and thoughtfulness rather than trying to, quote, jam something through.

So, you know, we have been reporting all day, and frankly for the past couple of days, that this is where it was heading. That the Senate would probably leave and come back and have a full vote then. But this is the first definitive word from the guy in charge in the Senate, the Senate majority leader, Harry Reid.

Now, what he did say is that he hopes that, in the key committee, the Senate Finance Committee, that we've been standing outside of their offices for days, he hopes that the they can come up with a deal and, in fact, they can pass something in that committee before the Senate leaves for August recess.

But it's really unclear if that's going to happen, Kyra. We just came from what we are told was a pretty contentious meeting, and this was just Democrats. Just Democrats were having it out, having a very lively discussion on the best way to -- to approach this whole idea of health-care reform.

Everybody wants it. But, still, even within the president's own party, there are very different ideas on how to go about this. And at the end of the day, that is what's holding it up in the Senate, as it is with the House.

PHILLIPS: All right, Dana Bash, appreciate you calling in.

And as we mentioned just before we went to Dana, the president's touring the Cleveland Clinic. It's a place that he considers a model of an efficient and effective place for care. Next hour he's going to speak and take questions at a nearby high school. We'll get to that in just a second.

CNN's senior White House correspondent, Ed Henry, is there. And before we talk about what the president has to say, do you want to go ahead and respond to what Dana Bash just reported, the new developments there?

ED HENRY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Kyra. Some important information that Senate leaders suggesting they will not actually be voting on this in August, despite the president's deadline.

Just got some quick reaction from a senior administration official. They are saying that the White House still wants to plow ahead in August anyway.

PHILLIPS: OK.

HENRY: Saying that this does not change the president's timetable, that they still want to have House and Senate votes in August. So, that obviously suggests there could be a collision course here at some point between the president and his own Democratic leadership on Capitol Hill, because this White House is not giving in on that.

They, as you heard the president last night say, he believes that a deadline is the only thing that can push back on what he calls inertia on Capitol Hill and in Washington in general, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: OK. And now back to where you are, and we will be taking the president live in just about an hour. The purpose for the placement of his -- his talk this afternoon, Ed?

HENRY: He's going to be here at Shaker Heights High School in the Cleveland area. The point is last night he obviously spoke to the Washington -- the White House press corps and was trying to reach beyond us and get to the American people. Here he can more directly do that in the heartland. He hasn't had a town-hall meeting in a few weeks now.

He wants to do two basic things. He wants to talk, again, about the cost of inaction. The president saying that something like 14,000 -- 14,000 people a day will continue to lose their health insurance if there is inaction.

But, secondly, he also wants to start talking about what you heard last night, a little change in language, insurance reform, not just health reform. Because this White House has been getting a lot of flak from people who currently have health insurance saying, "Look, how -- how is this going to work? Are you just going to help people, the 46, 47 million people who do not have insurance? What about the millions who do have insurance? Does it just mean we're going to have our taxes go up to pay for the others? Are we going to not have -- be able to have and keep our own doctor?"

So, the president is going to talk again today, as he talked last night. He kept saying it, insurance reform. And make the case that he believes that whatever we wind up with in the end, that it will actually help people who currently have insurance and stabilize their own health-care situation. Again, that's a tough sell right now, because of that issue and also the cost issue. President, again, trying to make the case out on the road here, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right, Ed Henry, appreciate it. Once again, we'll take the president live 2:05 eastern time right where our Ed Henry is.

A dark shed the scene of an unspeakable crime. A little girl allegedly gang raped. And her alleged attackers? Other children. If you think the crime is shocking, you won't believe the reaction from the family.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: She's one of the biggest stars in Hollywood, one of the biggest stars in the world. But today Angelina Jolie is in Baghdad, highlighting the plight of the Iraqi people. We'll hear from her in an exclusive interview.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Back to that story now that we brought you at the top of the newscast, a story we've been following for you all week. President Obama criticizing the actions of the Cambridge, Massachusetts, police in a case that's raised issues of race and bias.

Here's what he had to say last night about the arrest of his friend, Henry Louis Gates Jr.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OBAMA: I don't know, not having been there and not seeing all the facts, what role race played in that, but I think it's fair to say, No. 1, any of us would be pretty angry. No. 2, that the Cambridge police acted stupidly in arresting somebody when there was already proof that they were in their own home.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Gates, a Harvard professor and one of the country's top African-American scholars, was arrested last week by a policeman who had rushed to his house. The officer is white, and all this started with a 911 call about a possible break-in, and it ended with a disorderly conduct charge. That charge dropped on Tuesday.

Professor Gates gave his side of the story last night in the CNN exclusive, but we hadn't heard from the arresting officer, until now. Here's Sergeant James Crowley talking to Boston radio station WEEI.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What was your reaction when you heard the leader of the free world last night at the end of his press conference say the Cambridge Police Department acted stupidly in Gates' arrest in his home is a reminder that racism still haunts us? What did you think about that, Jim?

SGT. JAMES CROWLEY, CAMBRIDGE POLICE: Well, of course, he's the president of the United States, and I support the president, to a point, I guess. I think it's disappointing that he waded into what should be a local issue and something that is, really, that plays out here. As he, himself, said at the beginning of that press conference, he didn't know all the facts. He certainly doesn't, based on those comments. I just think it's very disappointing.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'd like to confirm what Professor Gates described as the beginning of the two of you coming together on the porch of his home in Cambridge. He said he turned around to see an officer coming onto the porch. He said, "May I help you officer?" And then you said, "Would you please (AUDIO GAP) step outside?" He refused. He said you asked him a second question, which he refused to answer.

Is that accurate? And can you give us some details about the tone and tenor of the details of this conversation? Did you rush up onto the porch and confront him? What was the tone and tenor of your first couple of sentences with Professor Gates?

CROWLEY: Well, you know, I want to be careful not to be too specific and also not to cause any more problems for the city of Cambridge or the Cambridge Police Department.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I understand.

CROWLEY: However, I will say that, you know, when I first encountered the professor, I really wasn't sure exactly what I was dealing with, if you look at the crime stats for that particular neighborhood or any given neighborhood in the city of Cambridge. They have experienced house breaks at that time of day, and the caller's or the witness's statement to me was plausible.

The reason I asked the professor to come outside was not, as some would suggest, because I knew I couldn't arrest him in his house. I didn't know who he was. I was by myself. I was the only police officer standing there. And I got a report that there were people breaking into a house. This gentleman could either have been one of the people that were breaking in, or he could have been the homeowner who was unaware that there were people in his house unauthorized. I just didn't know.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sergeant Crowley, when you said please step outside and he refused, he by his own account said you asked a second question, which he refused to answer. Are you at liberty to tell us what that second question was that he said "I'm not answering?" CROWLEY: Well, I suppose I am, because it is in the police report that was released. The second question is, "Is there anybody in the home with you?" And, again, my reasoning is not to get into his personal business, but he may not know that there are people that broke into his house. I wanted to know is there anybody else here. Are you here by yourself?

And, again, outward appearances when I first laid eyes on the professor, to me, in my mind, I'm thinking, "He doesn't look like somebody that would break into a house. I wasn't certain." But his responses to my routine inquiries about would you step outside and talk to me, for my safety, and my inquiry about is there anybody else in the residence, the way -- not just what he said to me, but the tone in which he said it, just seemed very peculiar. Even more so now that I know how educated he is.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: At what point chronologically did he say, "I'm the homeowner. I'm Harvard Professor Gates"?

CROWLEY: Well, I believe it was at some point before he picked up a cordless phone in the house and he was dialing a number. I don't know who he was speaking to on the other end, asking who the chief was, that you know, he could have been calling the Cambridge police, the Harvard police. I'm not really sure who he was speaking to.

He said, "I live here." And when I asked for I.D. to verify that -- because I'd be irresponsible if I didn't.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sure.

CROWLEY: I can't take somebody's word for that. He asked for my I.D., which I was reaching for. I always keep it in my right-hand pocket. And I thought, well, that's not an ordinary request, since I'm standing in full uniform standing in front of him, but if that's all the guy needs to comply with my reasonable request, I'll show it to him.

But he walked into his kitchen and did supply me with a Harvard University I.D., not a driver's license that had his stated address. That would have been helpful.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: And once again, that was Cambridge Police Sergeant James Crowley responding to when he arrested Skip Gates for disorderly conduct. It's the first time that we have heard from the officer. His side of the story there about what happened during that arrest. We'll stay on top of this story and continue to bring you all the developments.

Meanwhile, saying good-bye to a TV news legend. Family, friends, and former colleagues gathering this hour for Walter Cronkite's funeral. We'll tell you who's there and who's going to speak.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) PHILLIPS: Walter Cronkite set the standard for everybody in the business. His friends, family, gathering at New York's St. Bartholomew's Church this hour to remember the legendary news anchor. Live pictures now from the church. He died last Friday, you may remember, at the age of 92.

We're told that Cronkite's son Chip and his longtime CBS colleague, Andy Rooney, are among the scheduled speakers today. Walter Cronkite anchored "The CBS Evening News" from 1962 to 1981.

You see Bob Schieffer right there, co-worker from CBS News.

And as you know, he became the most trusted name in America. That's how everyone referred to him. We're going to, throughout the hour, next hour and a half, check in on the funeral services for Walter Cronkite and listen to who is speaking there and bring that to you live.

Well, there's new fighting in southern Afghanistan today where U.S. Marines are facing off with Taliban fighters. CNN's Ivan Watson is embedded with the Marines in the battle-scarred Helmand province. Ivan joins me live now with an update -- Ivan.

IVAN WATSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Kyra.

Yes, we're in a town called Khan Neshen. It's the southern-most point that the U.S. Marines have advanced to since they launched an offensive into this province that had been largely Taliban-controlled up until about three or four weeks ago. Helmand province, considered by some the opium-producing capital of the world. And they pushed toward the Pakistani border. It's just about 70 miles away.

We're actually staying within the grounds of at least 100-year- old Afghan castle with mud-brick walls. It feels like you're going back in time here, and certainly, when it comes to the amenities, you're going back in time. There's no electricity, no running water. It's very, very primitive. And the temperatures here are just brutal: 130 degrees Fahrenheit during the day. And the Marines are operating in armor and with equipment and weapons in this weather.

Also dangerous. Deadly artillery duels going on today, between insurgents and the Marines, with the Marines. We heard them about midday firing out artillery in response to a series of mortar launches that landed just around this very -- this very compound that I'm in right now.

And a few hours ago, the Marines here, they fired off mortars in the direction of a suspected insurgent, killing one man, they say, is a suspected insurgent.

We're hearing from the NATO command in Kabul that one serviceman has been killed. The identity of -- the nationality not identified yet, but in southern Afghanistan.

And I do have to say, Kyra, this has been the bloodiest month yet in this eight-year war for the foreign troops in Afghanistan. A record number of deaths for U.S. forces in Afghanistan this month and for the NATO forces, as well.

Two American troops killed in the south yesterday by a deadly roadside bomb, the biggest threat to these forces in the country right now. And one British soldier killed here in Helmand province yesterday, as well, by another one of those roadside bombs while he was on foot patrol.

And on the road that we took in, it's just a dirt road. There are no paved roads in this province, really. Some of the Marines from this very unit were killed last week, two Marines, who were traveling in their armored vehicle by one of these deadly roadside bombs, just bringing home some of the realities that these servicemen and women are living through -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Our Ivan Watson, keeping us in touch with the ongoing war there in Afghanistan. Embedded with the Marines in the Helmand province. Great work, Ivan. Appreciate it.

Meanwhile, Hollywood megastar, Angelina Jolie, is in Iraq, part of her ongoing role as a goodwill ambassador the United Nations. Today she visited a refugee camp to draw attention to Iraqis still displaced by the religious violence that decimated so many neighborhoods around that country.

In an exclusive interview with CNN, Jolie says now is not the time for the outside world to turn its back on the people of Iraq.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANGELINA JOLIE, U.N. GOODWILL AMBASSADOR: This region of the world, the stability of this region, is important to all of us. There are still 3 million people displaced, innocent families. We have still many young men and women from our country who are fighting every day. There are many men and women from all countries who have lost their lives, and this is a time to try to make some positive change.

And so we have to -- this is -- this is -- in working in Cambodia and other areas of the world that I've worked in, that so often you find that these countries, years on have all these little problems because it was this moment that wasn't given enough attention. It was this moment that we didn't have enough support, that they didn't have the right education. And so this is the moment.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Jolie says it's critical that the Iraqi government succeed and stand on its own. She says the government's success is crucial to security in both the U.S. and the Middle East.

All right, let's head over to Chad Myers in the weather center. He has an update on our forecast and a pretty interesting story about the water supply right here in Atlanta.

Chad, we've had a lot of issues with the water: lack of, water prices, water bills. You name it. CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Now, there's a water war, between Georgia, where it rains and goes into Lake Lanier, Alabama that wants that water for a nuclear power plant, and Florida that wants that water so that they can get oysters out of Apalachicola.

So, yes, a federal judge has now dealt a big blow to Georgia, saying, "You must let that water out. And, Atlanta, you cannot draw the water out of Lake Lanier, because back in 1957 when you built Lake Lanier, you didn't ask permission. Even though only 900,000 people lived in Atlanta then, and 5.5 million people live there now, you can't take water out of this lake. You have to go somewhere -- place else. You have to drill wells. You have to do something else."

Regional commissioners out of Atlanta saying, "OK, let us not take water out. You better call in FEMA, because we're going to need disaster aid."

But here it is. The water has to go down to the Farley nuclear power plant in Atlanta, and it must get all the way down here to the fishermen and the oystermen down here in Apalachicola.

Big story. All this water rains in some spots. It must come down into the lake. It must also come down into some of these other reservoirs, because everybody eventually needs some drinking water, all the way from Georgia, all the way down even into Florida. And obviously the oysters need it, as well.

Cold front all the way down. We'll see some rainfall on that basin but not very much. We'll also see, as we move ahead, we'll also see some airport delays across parts of the northeast: Boston, New York, La Guardia and JFK.

I don't believe this water story is over. And, in fact, the judge said, "You must stop taking water out of Lake Lanier, but I'm going to give you three years to figure it out. So you don't have to stop taking it out just yet." So, all the commissioners, all the congressman will have to figure this out and ask permission to take water out of the lake. We'll see.

PHILLIPS: All right. No kidding. We'll follow it. Thanks, Chad.

A little girl allegedly gang-raped by other children. The crime is shocking enough. But her family's reported reaction might be even more disturbing.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's probably one of the worst crimes that we've come across in many, many years in the City of Phoenix.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: One of the worst crimes he's seen, and it allegedly happened right here in this small, dark shed. You're about to see why a Phoenix police Sergeant said what he said.

A child allegedly gang raped by other children. The allegations are shocking enough. The reported reaction from the community and the victim's family, even more so.

It's a story about a brutal collision between crime and culture, as told to us by Marissa Wingate of Phoenix TV station KTVK.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARISSA WINGATE, KTVK REPORTER (voice-over): This is the shed where police say the rape happened. The apartment connected to it is abandoned, but others nearby heard noises.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We heard a lot of kids, like, screaming.

WINGATE: Investigators tell us the kids took turns as they raped the eight year-old.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They restrained her. And she was brutally sexually assaulted for a period of about 10 to 15 minutes.

WINGATE: Officers say they lured her inside with gum, and then other kids watched until a woman passing by broke it up.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: When we started hearing some screaming from a lady.

WINGATE: Neighbors say the suspects scattered.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm from Liberia.

WINGATE (on camera): You're from Liberia?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

WINGATE (voice-over): They are all part from a Liberian community, so we had this man show us where the victim lived.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She always bring trouble. She always bring trouble.

WINGATE: We found her 23-year-old sister, who was babysitting when it happened. She's blaming her younger siblings.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I came to her and said, it's not good for you to be following guys because you are still little.

WINGATE: The guys are 9, 10, 13, and 14. And one of them, the victim's own cousin.

(on camera): Do you want them out of jail?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.

WINGATE: Why? You want them out of jail? UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Because we are the same people.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Nothing has happened to my daughter. And nobody not touched my daughter.

WINGATE (voice-touch): The child's mother was denying anything even happened and is angry CPS has her child.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: When your child do something, you need to talk to your child. You need to talk to your child so your child will listen to you.

WINGATE: And while her father tells us --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I want her back.

WINGATE: Police say he then told police them, he didn't.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The parents felt that they had been shamed or embarrassed by their child.

WINGATE (on camera): What do you want to say to your little sister?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: When she comes, I'm going to tell her don't ever do that again. Because all of us we are the same family, we're from the same place. Now she's just bringing confusions among us. Now, the other people, they don't want to see her.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WINGATE: Right now, the child is with CPS and the family tells us she will remain there for three months and then they will reassess the situation. As for the suspects, they have all been arrested. The 14- year-old, the oldest of the suspects, will be tried as an adult.

Kyra, back to you.

PHILLIPS: Marissa, while I have you, you know, what is so hard, and we mentioned this as we introduced your piece. That there's a tremendous clash here between crime and culture.

You have a horrible crime that was allegedly committed here. And then you have a culture, a Liberian culture where it's shameful to deal with rape, to talk about rape, to have somebody in the family that is raped. You even had the sister there, she said in her piece, you know, I would tell her not to do it again. And that's hard for us to understand. Because in the U.S., obviously, we have very strong views about rape.

So, how do you sort of put together the feelings of this family? Do you think they really don't want her back? Are they struggling with the culture here? What was your sense? Because you spent a lot more time with them than what we saw in the piece.

WINGATE: Right. Well, it's definitely a very different culture. In fact, we learned that rape wasn't even outlawed in Liberia until 2006.

Now, they tell us they do want her back, but they are definitely very ashamed of this. And they're blaming her for going out with those boys and allowing this to happen. And they are defending those suspects. They know the suspects. They're part of a close-knit family, as we mentioned one of them even a family member, a cousin.

So right now they're blaming the victim. And police say that is often the case. Oftentimes the case, they often do blame the victim. But still, the family says they do want her back, but they're angry.

PHILLIPS: It's so hard how you can blame an eight year-old girl for rape.

Marissa, we appreciate your reporting. Thank you.

You know, there are so many disturbing questions here and obviously a lot of thorny issues. So how will police tackle them? Let's find out.

We talked to Police Sergeant Andy Hill, he joins us live from Phoenix. You saw him in the police. Also to help us explain the Liberian culture, we have Tony Weedor, with Denver Seminary. He actually grew up in Liberia, and immigrated to the United States in 1993.

Andy, I'll get to you in just a second. But while we have Tony on the phone and as we hear Marissa and we listen to this piece, Tony, it's so hard for us here in the United States to try and understand this thinking that an eight year-old little girl should be blamed for a brutal rape.

TONY WEEDOR, LIBERIAN NATIVE (via telephone): You're right. I want to read to you the proverbs that we use in Liberia came to mind, which actually said that we are, therefore I am. So in that the family have been ashamed by her, not a crime, but the name of the family have been degraded. And the news will get back to Liberia, and they're more concerned about that than the crime.

And the way you look at rape here, some Liberians would not see rape in our light. I think you said, until 2006, when the president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf became president, she outlawed rape. But during the whole war, 14, 15 years ago, rape was used as a means of weapon and as used as a means of obedience.

PHILLIPS: And so how do you -- when you come -- they no longer live in Liberia. I mean, they've been brought to the United States through the refugee program. It's U.S. taxpayers now that are supporting this family. They need to become accustomed to the laws of the U.S. and understand the thinking here in the U.S. with regard to rape.

Because a family here, the automatic reaction would be, you bring that little girl home. You love her. You take care of her. You tell her it's going to be OK. And you add comfort to what she has dealt with. Not shame and turning her away. So, Tony, how do you approach a family like this and deal with a family like this? What should happen now within this family dynamics since they're living in the U.S.? And this little girl has to move forward living here?

WEEDOR: I totally agree with you in terms of loving her, caring for her and just letting her know that she's loved by not just the family, but people around her.

The thing is, is the world view change. Many, many of us come here, we come with a sort of world view that is quite different from that of the United States in terms of your legal system. I mean, Liberia was practically founded by Americans, but it doesn't mean that we see the law the same way Americans sees it. So, it means more world-view teaching than just laying our rules and regulations. Here they are followed. Not all Liberians truly understand American context, American culture, to explain to them the American legal system do actually works. You're not going to bribe them in order to get away with it.

And my concern is with the mother and the 23 years old sister. Maybe the way they were treated in Liberia, whether they understand their own value at all as a woman, that they were not respected when they were growing up, maybe the same thing happened to them, and it just fill them up. And I'm not saying that this is unique to all Liberians, but these are the kind of things that are still happening today in Liberia. Girls are still being raped as young as four years old in Liberia. Yes.

PHILLIPS: And you're right. Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is trying very hard to address the issue of helping rape victims in Liberia. And, Tony, you really put into perspective for us the culture, the Liberian culture and how it does view rape, that it's shame for women and acceptance for men, which is so hard to understand for us here.

Which, Sergeant Hill, brings me to you. It's a delicate dance. You have an eight year-old girl that you say was brutally raped. You actually say it's the worst crime against a child you've ever seen as a police officer, is that true?

SGT. ANDY HILL, PHOENIX POLICE: Oh, absolutely. Because it happened on several levels. It happened with a young victim and it happened with young children suspects and then you have that compounded by the family issues and the cultural issues.

So, absolutely, there are so many things for us to deal with, which is why we have a child crime in Phoenix, we immediately bring in Child Protective Services. We work with Child Help, that great national organization, prosecutors, and everybody else that needs to be together immediately to provide that child -- especially the victim -- an environment to help them break that cycle of violence that they're now facing for the rest of their life.

PHILLIPS: All right, so, first about the little girl. How is she doing? And I think a lot of people are really concerned that whether this family loves her or not, they don't want to see her go back into a situation where she's seen as the person who caused this.

HILL: Well, absolutely.

She's in the care of the Arizona Child Protective Services Agency, that always deals with these children. She's protected. She is not going to be exposed to anybody at this point. They will determine what's going to happen in the days ahead. They'll look at the past history with that family, if there is one. They'll look at what they need to do in the days ahead. And if we need to speak to her again, then we'll do that through child protective services.

Fortunately for us, the way we handle these investigations, we're able within about five days to get the pieces of the puzzle together and also to provide the initial care and treatment that this child will need for the rest of her life probably.

PHILLIPS: No doubt. She's going to be scarred for the rest of her life. And I think how she's treated from this point forward will definitely determine what happens within her future.

Meanwhile, you're charging the 14-year-old boy as an adult. Tell me why you're doing that, and then please tell me what's going to happen to the other boys involved in this alleged gang rape.

HILL: Well, right from the beginning, again, whether we do interviews or whatever we do in a case, we bring the Maricopa County attorney, the prosecution arm of our system, in with us.

And it was their decision, based upon the information presented, to go ahead and remand the 14-year-old as an adult. They will make all the decisions in terms of the prosecution as our investigators continue to work with them.

PHILLIPS: And just while I have you both still, Tony and Sergeant Hill, real quickly, we just received a statement from the Deputy Ambassador of Liberia to the U.S., Edwin Sele (ph).

He says, having heard the story myself, I'm outraged. In Liberia, the family and law enforcement officers would be embracing the victim. To hear that the family is not doing that should be an isolated case.

Which brings me back to you, Sergeant Hill.

Are you going to bring in any representatives from the refugee resettlement program or from a Liberia-type organization to try and work with this family, if, indeed, this child goes back to this home? Which, as you pointed out, Protective Services will make that decision.

HILL: It's a great question. We have a community response unit in the Phoenix Police Department. They have been with us since the beginning. They made some initial contacts with the refugee community. They acted as a liaison and were present when the Child Protective Services Agency took the victim, our eight year-old girl, into custody. So, we are already doing that. We will continue to be part of the process. It's one of the components of our organization to make sure we interact with all members of the community because we have a lot of work to do as far as the cultural differences go and we'll be there to do the best we can.

PHILLIPS: And I know you of all people will make sure the little girl is OK, in addition to all the other little girls in that apartment complex.

Sergeant Andy Hill, Phoenix Police Department, sure appreciate your time.

Also, Tony Weedor for calling in and giving us the cultural perspective behind the story.

We definitely will follow-up and keep you informed to what happens on this case.

More from the CNN NEWSROOM straight ahead. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Well, more than 30 percent of Americans are obese according to recent estimates. And the number of people who are overweight, of course, is even higher. Could your weight influence your quality of health care? A new study says, it just might.

CNN medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen is here with all the details.

So, what did the study find?

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, what the study looked at is they asked doctors about their sort of feelings and reactions to obese patients. And as Kyra just said, there are lots of obese people out there in this country. So it's an important question.

So what they found is that 45 percent of the doctors surveyed said, "I have negative reactions towards the appearance of obese patients."

So, they just came out and said that themselves. 66 percent of the doctors surveyed said, "Treating obese patients is very frustrating."

Again, so that is out of the mouths of the doctors.

PHILLIPS: All right, so why would doctors even feel that way?

COHEN: Well, part of it may be just sort of an implicit bias that they have that they might not even know. I mean, some people just aren't so crazy about overweight people. People have those biases.

Now, the frustration part is interesting. People that are obese have incidents of higher rates of all sorts of diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure. And doctors have voiced frustration. You know, I keep telling this person to lose weight so that their blood pressure will go down and they just won't do it. And it's been years. It's frustrating for a doctor. Doctors want their patients to get better. And so when the patients don't make changes to get better, doctors feel frustrated, even though some people just can't lose weight. I mean, they try and they feel like they can't.

PHILLIPS: And we've done lots of stories on it. And sometimes it's something as easy as getting your thyroid checked.

COHEN: Right. It can be all sorts of reasons. Sure.

PHILLIPS: Did the study show any other types of biases that doctors have?

COHEN: This study didn't, but other studies in the past have looked at whether doctors have any biases to minorities. And these studies have found -- many, many different studies over the years that indeed, when a black person and a white person walk into a hospital with the same medical problem and the same insurance that the doctors -- sometimes the doctors are more aggressive at treating the white person to take care of their problems.

Now, you can read about all about these issues on my Empowered Patient column. It's up right now -- CNNHealt.com -- Is Your Doctor Biased?

PHILLIPS: All right. Thanks, Elizabeth.

COHEN: Thanks.

PHILLIPS: President Obama's plan for health care reform may be a tough pill to swallow. Are Americans getting sick of the president's pitch?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: The president is on the road, on the airways and online trying to sell us on his health care overhaul. But, is there such a things as an Obama overdose?

Carol Costello reports on the possible backlash from the White House's health care blitz.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CAROL COSTELLO (on camera): Kyra, TV networks were slow to say yes to another prime time news conference. And that is your hint. The president's popularity is not a given along with polls that show the same thing. Still, the president is using his still strong popularity to talk to you as often possible. Well, critics say that's the long thing to do.

(voice-over): Can you say ubiquitous.

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Good evening --

COSTELLO: The pressers, the exclusives, the burgers, the dog, the kids, the date nights and the mom genes. Even some of the president's supporters say, enough podest (ph) TV.

BILL MAHER, COMEDIAN: You don't have to be on television every day of every year. You're the president, not a rerun of "Law and Order."

OBAMA: On health insurance reform --

COSTELLO: If you Wednesday's appearance, President Obama has made remarks on health care nearly every day since June 13th. Yet, the latest CNN Poll of Polls shows only 47 percent approve of the way Mr. Obama is handling health care. Some say that number is relatively low because the president is talking so much, he's diluting the message. Others say that number shows the Obama-thon is working, considering what the president's selling.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think he's keeping people calm and he's reassuring people that he's in control.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's ridiculous to talk about being overexposed. He's underexposed and no matter how much he tries, he'll still be underexposed.

COSTELLO: Still, there are recent signs TV viewers are losing interest. The president's first prime time appearance drew 49.5 million. His second, 52.4 million. His third attracted 40.4 million viewers. His fourth, 28.8.

MAHER: What he needs in his personality is a little George Bush.

COSTELLO: As in way less TV. President Bush did far fewer primetime speeches. Maher says President Obama ought to stop talking and work on coming up with a way to pay for health care reform.

MAHER: He needs to stop worrying about being loved and bring out that smug insufferable swagger that says, suck on it America.

COSTELLO: And while this president is not exactly doing that, officials say Mr. Obama will be taking a more "hands on" approach with members of Congress in the days and weeks to come regarding the health care debate.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: And the president does plan work sessions with Congress to push health care reform and today he hit the road to rally public support for health care. With him, ABC's Terry Moran. He'll tape a "A Day in the Life of the President" for "Nightline" -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Carol Costello, thanks so much.

The president's town hall on health care is set to get underway in just few minutes in Shaker Heights, Ohio. We're going to bring that to you live so stay with us. We're just getting started here in the NEWSROOM.

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