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LaGuardia Evacuated, Man Detained; Obama Urges Lawmakers to Forge Ahead; Grading First Six Months of Obama White House; House Approves More Cash for Clunkers; Three Americans Held in Iran
Aired August 01, 2009 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: Well, hello there, everybody. From the CNN Center in Atlanta, Georgia, you are in THE CNN NEWSROOM for this Saturday, August 1st. I'm T.J. Holmes.
BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. I'm Brooke Baldwin, sitting in for Betty. It is 11:00 a.m. on the east coast, 8:00 a.m. on the west coast.
And this morning, a big news out of New York. Let's get going here. Getting back to normal at New York's busy LaGuardia International Airport, a much different scene a couple of hours ago -- and suddenly, everyone at the central terminal was ordered outside.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOSE OJEDA, IREPORTER (via telephone): I was actually on the plane when the evacuation happened. Yes, we're all ready to go.
HOLMES: What word did you get? What announcement did they make to you on that plane?
OJEDA: They didn't make any announcement than you need to evacuate. You know, I thought it was a standard procedure. But then, once we got out of the plane, they kept pushing us back and back, you know, out of the terminal, out of the actual airport, past the actual parking garages, and there's a whole mass of people here, restless.
HOLMES: Well, I have to ask you this question, just out of curiosity here. How close were you to actually taking off? Were the doors of the plane closed?
OJEDA: I was. We were minutes away.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: Let's get right to CNN's Susan Candiotti live for us outside of LaGuardia.
And, Susan, question number one -- what, or perhaps, who sparked all of this?
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, we have some brand new information that we can confirm for you. According to a law enforcement source who is close to this investigation, the name of the suspect in this case is a 32-year-old man. His name is Scott McGann, and he lives in Manhattan, in New York City. That is the new information.
Exactly what he will be charged with is unclear at this time, but, Brooke and T.J., here's how it all started. It was very, very early Saturday morning, about 5:20 in the morning when, according to the TSA, the Transportation Security Administration, a manager tells us that a man approached one of the security check areas and according to New York City police assistant commissioner, Paul Brown, that man appeared intoxicated. He was carrying a duffel bag with wires sticking out. Immediately the TSA notified the port authority, who came out to investigate.
This man, as we said, appeared drunk. He had a suspicious looking article. They took it aside, inside the double bag were batteries according to Mr. Brown.
And the bomb squad arrived on the scene at about 5:45 in the morning, just before 6:00. They looked at the device. They disabled it, and determined that it was fake. It was a hoax. (AUDIO BREAK) this cause add huge disruption at the airport. The main terminal, the central terminal, Concourse C specifically, and all the terminals of the airport, were evacuated, until they could figure out exactly what was going on.
It is only now when the central terminal has now or scheduled to be reopened. But you can imagine the lines of people as things slowly get back on track, who are trying to make their way to their flights -- many, as you can imagine, have been canceled, some by several hours. Not only outgoing but naturally incoming flights had to be diverted. So, it's going to take some time and perhaps all day, according to one official, to get things back in order -- Brooke and T.J.?
BALDWIN: Susan, so let me get this straight. This 32-year- old, this Scott McGann, according to port authority, he appeared intoxicated carrying this bag with wires sticking out. CNN's also confirmed there were batteries in that bag and that is what really sparked this whole thing.
I'm sure you've been talking to people coming and going there hoping to get on some of those flights. What are they telling you? They must be so frustrated?
CANDIOTTI: Well, our producer, Ross Levitt, was on the scene, literally not very long after this all started. He spoke to a number of passengers who said they were very upset about what had happened. They naturally were trying to find out exactly what was going on. But when these types of things occur, officials themselves oftentimes on ground don't know.
So, that caused a lot of frustration, and also, uncertainty about what would happen with their flights. So, consequently, everyone had to wait outside and until they got the "all clear" sign to start going into the terminals that were not affected by this. And eventually now, they are getting back on track.
I'm not sure, Brooke, whether we might have some other interviews lined up for you. But when we do, we'll be able to play those back to for you. Needless to say, passengers here are concerned about making their flights, getting to where they have to go on time, but knowing they're going to have to go through the motions to get everything back on track before things can get back to normal.
The other question here, of course, is exactly what this person will be charged with. It is likely -- according to police officials -- at the very least, he would be charged with causing fear in a public place. But it is not uncommon -- as we know -- in situations like this, for not only the Queens state attorney to look at it, as well as federal authorities, to determine what possible federal charges this man may face.
BALDWIN: Awful situation for likely, it looks like hundreds of passengers, but airport authority police certainly exercising caution as well.
Susan Candiotti and Ross Levitt, your producer, we thank you both.
HOLMES: Well, we'll turn to health care now and the president's push for health care reform got a bit of a boost yesterday -- late yesterday. A key House committee passed a bill that includes major concessions for conservative Democrats. It will be combined with two other versions to produce a final House bill.
We won't see a vote, though, until at least September. Members of the House are off until after Labor Day. Senators are in session for another week but won't vote on health care reform until after their August break as well.
And you can bet lawmakers will be getting an earful on health care reform from voters when they get home. You could be sure the president will keep campaigning for it as well.
Our Elaine Quijano at the White House.
Elaine, it's interesting here. It's like you got about a month-long mini-campaign that's going to have -- we're going to see for health care reform.
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right. We should tell you that the president off the bat this morning actually expressed obviously that he's pleased by what happened with the House Energy and Commerce Committee last night. He issued a written statement saying so and he also said that this bill passed would strengthen consumer protections and choice while lowering costs and improving care.
That said, as you mentioned, this is going to be an opportunity for the president to once again try to make his case on health care reform. The president in his weekly radio and Internet address actually previewed an upcoming trip that he'll be taking to Elkhart, Indiana. This is a community that was really hit hard by the recession.
Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, WHITE HOUSE VIDEO)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: For communities, like Elkhart, to strive, we need to recapture the spirit of innovation that has always moved America forward. That means once again having the best educated, highest skilled workforce in the world. That means a health care system that makes it possible for entrepreneurs to innovate and businesses to compete without being saddled with skyrocketing insurance costs.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
QUIJANO: So, there you have it. Essentially, what we are likely going to be hearing from President Obama in the days and weeks to come, once again, T.J., trying to make his case and make his argument that health care reform is an issue that cannot wait, that lawmakers have to tackle it sooner rather than later -- T.J.?
HOLMES: But -- yes, Elaine. We know the president is making his case, but it seems like the other side of the debate, you could almost argue are other Democrats in a lot of ways.
QUIJANO: Right.
HOLMES: So, where do the Republicans fit in and what do they have to say? It just seems like so much of this debate is going back and forth between Democrats and other Democrats.
QUIJANO: Yes, you know, you're absolutely right, T.J. A lot of this, actually, has been the deep divisions within the Democratic Party over this -- these conservative blue dogs that we heard about before, as well as progressive.
For the Republicans, they continue to say what they've been saying all along, and that is, "Look, let us not rush this. Look, let's do something, but let's make sure that we get it done right." And, in fact, the Republican address today by Republican Senator John Thune also brought us to the point of cost. How much is this going to cost.
Let's take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, RNC VIDEO)
SEN. JOHN THUNE (R), SOUTH DAKOTA: In this difficult recession, Americans and our government are already overextended. The Democrats who control Congress have been spending money and racking up debt at an unprecedented pace. And they're plan for government-run health care would only make things worse. Once implemented, the Democrat plan would spend more than $2 trillion and further increase our exploding deficit. Their plan would pile up higher costs, create new Washington bureaucracies, and burden every state through new requirements on Medicaid.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
QUIJANO: So, there you have it. The Republican argument against what the Democrats have been working. But, again, T.J., the real battle lines here are being drawn, or have been drawn, on the Democratic side, as conservative Democrats really are trying to hash things out here with the progressive.
So, that really is where attention will be focused -- and as you noted off the top -- August will be an interesting month. It will be a chance for them to go back to their home districts, these lawmakers, and really hear from constituents themselves what they want to see done.
And we'll have to wait and find out exactly how all of those views are going to play into the actual debate itself, and possibly affect the time frame -- T.J.?
HOLMES: Yes. Television ads that will look like an election is coming up.
QUIJANO: Right.
HOLMES: Elaine Quijano for us from the White House -- thank you so much this morning.
QUIJANO: Sure.
HOLMES: At 4:00 Eastern today, "Covering America: What's In It For You?" Well, our Fredricka Whitfield will be asking that question for an hour today. Her guests include a House Democrat and a House Republican. And she'll ask two women who are worried about health coverage how to fix things and how some of these proposed fixes with help or hurt them.
BALDWIN: The cabinet secretaries and other top officials are meeting today to grade the Obama administration on what it's achieved thus far.
Here is CNN's Dan Lothian on the administration's hits and their misses during their first six months in office.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAN LOTHIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): With the economy on life support when Mr. Obama came into office six months ago, the administration is taking credit for bringing it back from the brink of disaster.
OBAMA: We were in a position where we could have gone into a Great Depression. I think those fears have abated.
LOTHIAN: One reason, they say, a $787 billion stimulus plan.
OBAMA: This and other difficult but important steps that we've taken over the last six months have helped us put the brakes on the recession.
LOTHIAN: But that stimulus plan which Republicans thought was wasting taxpayer dollars is perhaps the biggest example of what hasn't happened so far: wide-scale bipartisanship. Mr. Obama vowed to change the way Washington works.
OBAMA: Surely, there's got to be some capacity for us to work together.
LOTHIAN: But has had to fall back on his own party to get things done.
ROBERT GIBBS, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: He was not under the illusion that change was going to come to this town easily.
LOTHIAN: The president has pulled back in Iraq, fulfilling a campaign promise. The troops are now fighting extremists in Afghanistan. He's announced the closing of the Guantanamo Bay detention facility, but making that happen has been sticky; as is Mr. Obama's push for health care reform, some say, if he fails, could undermine his presidency.
"Politico's" Mike Allen says that's way overstated.
MIKE ALLEN, POLITICO.COM: The chance some health care bill is going to define his presidency is zero. But, at the moment, he's way out on that limb and he needs a win.
LOTHIAN: If the White House is keeping track of wins and losses, some say image would be in the W column.
ALLEN: He's made Americans feel better about themselves and he delivered on his campaign promise of giving America a different face overseas.
LOTHIAN (on camera): And to that point, the White House believes that the president's speech in Cairo had a major impact in the Muslim world. But they admit, there's still a lot of work to be done.
Dan Lothian, CNN, the White House.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BALDWIN: So, here's the question we're posing to you. Have the president's second 100 days been days of change or perhaps more like days of frustration, or both? It is your chance to weigh in. Starting tomorrow, you can vote at CNN.com. Be sure to tune in, Thursday night, 8:00 Eastern Time to see the president's final grades. And this is all part of our "CNN National Report Card: The Second 100 Days."
HOLMES: You know, the "cash for clunkers" program you're hearing so much about? Well, it turns out it's working. We're going to tell you about that in just a second.
But I got a backlash on Capitol Hill, got some banks to tell you about here first. Received bailout money, they paid bonuses of $1 million or more to thousands of their employees. And now, the House of Representatives has voted to restrict how Wall Street executive get paid. The bill prohibits pay and bonus packages that encourage bankers and traders to take risks so big that they could bring down the entire economy.
And, again, I was getting ahead of myself for the "cash for clunkers" program. Yes, it's working really well. "Too well," some would say that it's running out of money, but it may be getting another infusion of cash. The House approved another $2 billion for the program, but before the rebate plan hits the cash, the Senate will need to step up as well.
Our Kate Bolduan, at a car dealership in Gaithersburg, Maryland, where people are taking advantage.
Good morning to you again, Kate.
KATE BOLDUAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, T.J.
Yes, people are taking advantage. We've talked with some customers, a couple trying to trade in their car. I actually talked to a father who's looking for a good deal for his daughter who's in college. Many people are trying to come out and taking advantage with some concerns -- people are a little hesitant because of the uncertainty of yesterday. But the administration has assured that deals that go through through this weekend will be honored.
And to talk a little more about that, I have here with me, Scott Addison. He's the general manager of Fitzgerald Auto Mall. They have eight locations throughout Pennsylvania, Maryland and Florida. Correct, Scott?
SCOTT ADDISON, GENERAL MANAGER, FITZGERALD AUTO MALL: Correct.
BOLDUAN: So, tell me about what kind of business are you guys attributing to the "cash for clunkers" program? How many deals have you done?
ADDISON: We've done just over 300 deals and we attributed a lot of it to "cash for clunkers."
BOLDUAN: And what does that kind of number, about 300 deals -- what does that kind of number mean to you guys, especially in today's economy?
ADDISON: Well, we don't know how many of those customers would have come anyway. I will tell you this, you know, last year was a good year, the first half of the year, you know, bad news on the economy, we've already surpassed last year's number.
BOLDUAN: So, regardless, welcome business, huh?
ADDISON: It's very welcome business.
BOLDUAN: One thing that we did talk about is -- one thing we did talk about as well is, while people are coming in and you have some assurance that at least the program will continue through this weekend, that you have -- also have some of your managers almost looking around the clock to try to push this paperwork through, even to just try to get approval.
Talk to me about that. It seems a bit frustrating trying to work with the system.
ADDISON: Yes. You know, we found that selling the cars is an easy part and the customers are qualifying, and they got all their documents, they got their title and proof of insurance, proof of trade-in or registration. But then it comes the hard part, it's putting this stuff in the system for NHTSA and, you know, it's overwhelming for them. They got a very good system, but everybody is trying to get, you know, 200,000 deals in at one time.
BOLDUAN: So, people -- you said people are leaving at midnight and coming in at 5:00 a.m. I mean, looking ahead, what after -- what happens after this weekend? Are you guys kind of just trying to get the deals done that can you and then you're waiting for more guidance?
ADDISON: Yes. We're going to -- you know, everybody's promised we're going to be secure through the weekend. And I think come Monday, we're going to let the government vote. You know, do what they've got to do and refresh this fund so we can move forward and take care of the line of people that still want to come in and take advantage.
BOLDUAN: Absolutely. Well, thank you. Thank you so much.
He's got a lot of -- he's got some people coming in today. And regardless, Scott and I were talking, he says the business is welcome. They're working, of course, pushing these through this weekend, T.J.
HOLMES: Well, it's -- the program's working, working too well right now. But good to see business picking back up -- nobody would argue with business coming back to a lot of dealerships across this country.
Kate, thank you so much this morning.
BALDWIN: Well, here's something else that might not be working: air bags. Defective air bags, the reason behind a massive recall of Hondas.
Listen up here. Some 440,000 vehicles have been added to the now expanding list, and among the models -- we're listing them out here: 2001-2002 Accords, 2001 Civics, 2002-2003 Acura TL's. Honda, by the way, began to trying to repair the potential air bag defects back in November and all -- all of the affective cars will need to have their steering wheel mounted, air bag inflator replaced.
HOLMES: Well, held in Iran. American tourist is traveling off the beaten path, their trip to the northern Iraqi mountains ends in arrest.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: All right. Reynolds -- you know, we're looking out for some severe storms possible today?
REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes, I know. I know.
I'll be talking about the severe storms and the heat. But let's get to the storms first, that's the most pressing issue. Right now, you can see that we got some really strong storms -- not severe yet but they may be severe as we get to the afternoon hours. Right along parts of I-30, separating Memphis back over to Dallas. Dallas, you got any flights in, maybe their DFW might some have delays to deal with. So, just keep that in mind.
And there's a reason why we're seeing these strong storms develop. And that is because we got plenty of moisture that's been feeding in from the Gulf of Mexico. That, combined with daytime heating in these frontal boundaries, it's going to give you a chance of severe storms. And it's not only going to be the severe storms and the possibility of hail and damping winds, but maybe even some flash flooding along parts of the I-20 corridor, especially east of Dallas. Keep that in mind for the day.
Meanwhile, as we make our way back out to the west, we're going to be dealing with a warm-up once again, Pacific Northwest under the gun in term of those temperatures going up to 90 degrees in Seattle; back over to Salt Lake City, 95; 107 in Vegas; and 111 in Phoenix. That's what you'd expect in this part of the world, in the four corners.
Back out to Kansas City, 79 degrees; 89 in Atlanta. And we have a live image for you out of Atlanta right now, a little bit of a haze in the sky. But overall, should be a fairly nice day with those temperatures getting up right near the low 90s in some spots, upper 80s in the other.
And what you might anticipate into the afternoon, possibly a rumble of thunder, maybe severe some storms here at home as well. And we're going to take a look what you can expect at your home weather- wise. We're going to have another shot at weather coming up fairly soon. Make sure you sit tight.
But for now, let's go back to the anchors. There you go, guys.
(CROSSTALK)
HOLMES: All right.
WOLF: You anchor the show. I'm the weather guy.
(LAUGHTER)
HOLMES: The meteorologist Reynolds Wolf.
BALDWIN: Reynolds Wolf, thank you.
HOLMES: We appreciate you, buddy.
WOLF: You bet, guys.
HOLMES: We'll turn to Iran now, where the trials of some 100 Iranian protesters are reportedly taking place today in Tehran. These are the men and women arrested in the streets following the disputed reelection of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Among charges, rioting and conspiring against the ruling system. Some key members of the government complain today's hearings began without their knowledge. Iranian officials say nearly half of the detainees arrested during the June street protest were already freed this week.
BALDWIN: Three American tourists are being held in Iran this morning. Iranian state TV says they were arrested after crossing the border from northern Iraq.
CNN's Arwa Damon joins us now live from Baghdad.
Arwa, I know these three Americans, they're on this mountain hike. There are reports that they simply strayed across the border. Do we have any idea, where exactly are they now?
ARWA DAMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, what we are hearing from Kurdish officials that have been following this very closely -- because the area where this happened is in Iraq's Kurdish north -- they are saying that they believe that these three are still being held at that border post where they are said to have been detained by the Iranian military. This is what we know about their movements prior to the reports -- the initial reports that they went missing.
Four Americans actually started out their journey in Syria, two of them are students there. They traveled to Turkey, and then, from Turkey on to northern Iraq. They eventually ended up in the city of Sulaimaniyah, where one of them fell ill and the other three very early Friday morning headed out to this area of Ahmed Awa, that's right up against the Iranian border, and very much a tourist destination because of the natural rugged beauty that exists there.
They were in regular contact with their friend who stayed behind but then they made a disturbing phone call at 1:30 p.m. local time on Friday. They called their friend and said, "We are surrounded by the Iranian military."
Now, Kurdish officials have been trying their best to track down their whereabouts. They were even in touch with the Iranian consulate in Sulaimaniyah, but they didn't give them any sort of response whatsoever. But as you just mentioned there, we are hearing Iranian press TV reporting that three Americans were detained because they failed to heed warnings from Iranian border guards -- Brooke?
BALDWIN: Arwa, I think you already answered my next question. But just talking about Ahmed Awa, this town, you said it's a fairly popular tourist destination. So, it would kind of make sense that Americans would be in that region for that purpose.
DAMON: Yes. It would very much so, especially since these four appear as the four originally that started out on this journey, appeared to have been backpackers. They were staying at a fairly cheap hotel in Sulaimaniyah and apparently we're just going out to try to check out the sight.
When they were in touch with their friend, they were talking about how beautiful the natural surroundings there were and we also have to remember that this area of Iraq, the north, is very, very different than the rest of the country. It is considered to be fairly safe. It hasn't been plagued by the levels of violence or sectarian violence that we saw throughout the rest of Iraq.
The issue with the specific area though is that the border between Iraq and Iran is not defined. There's no fence that separates the two countries. It's very much a natural border. So, very easy that people could accidentally end up on the wrong side.
BALDWIN: That's interesting. No border markings. So, it's interesting that they were able to sort of enter into Iran and now are captured, arrested.
Arwa, I know you'll stay on top of it and continue to follow it for us. Arwa Damon live in Baghdad -- thank you.
HOLMES: An exhibit that has Muhammad Ali's robe, and Rosa Parks arrest garb -- all in the same exhibit. We'll take you there -- next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Nearly 500 years of African-American history all under one roof. It is the "America I AM" exhibit. It is an experience that moves a lot of people to tears.
PBS Journalist Tavis Smiley came up with this idea and I sat down with him recently and asked about the exhibit. The conversation now as CNN continues our special look at "Black in America."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TAVIS SMILEY, "AMERICA I AM" EXHIBIT CENTER: This is a part of American history. If there's anything that we struggled with in my generation and certainly folks older than me, have been complaining for years that we don't teach. We don't see black history as a part of American history.
It's a powerful story about how America has become the great nation that she is courtesy of the contributions of black people. So, I would hope, having said, that all races, colors, creeds, ethnicities would appreciate an exhibit likes this. When you understand, appreciate and embrace your history, you can use it to inspire you.
HOLMES: There is some black history taught in schools. Nothing like what you see here. Is this what we need more so as a part of our educational system -- something a little more interactive? Something more enlightening for young African-American students -- and this is very much an educational tool. Does something like this need to be taken into schools and maybe more part of the curriculum?
SMILEY: I think it's a great question because it is true -- and I'm an example -- that not all kids learn the same way. I can't imagine that you and I have the same capacity or the same process for how we go through the information that we gather just to be talk show hosts, to be anchors. So that my approach is one way; your approach is another way.
And learning is the same way. I don't believe one size fits all. Any educator worth his or her weight in gold understands that there are myriad of ways that young people learn. And I think that one of the best ways, and I think any educator would tell you, one of the best ways for young students, for kids to learn, is visually. It's important for them to see the history. It comes to life -- 15,000 square feet, 12 galleries, four theaters, over 300 items.
But I got these young kids started and we're going to move back in time. We're going to go through this hallway, back in time, and we're going to start in Africa -- where it all began.
And I look in their eyes, T.J., and I can see the "ooh," the "ah," the excitement. I'm getting asked questions by hundreds of kids that are screaming and yelling at me wanting to know this and wanting to know that, because seeing it is bringing it to life for them.
So, I think that the visual display of an exhibit like this is a way to teach kids in ways that they can't learn just by studying history books.
NYLA BUSH, 12 YEARS OLD: If you look at, around at the museum, you would see that it really, it really is a lot of things that the slaves did to help us and everybody else they did to help us to right now.
They were treated really brutal.
It was like, the way they were treated really didn't make sense, because color, black and white, they aren't colors. So, they shouldn't never been separated because they are people, no matter what color they are. What their skin tone is, they are people. They should be treated the same way. We're all brothers and sisters in God's hands.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Well, tonight at 8:00, Soledad O'Brien and Roland Martin lead a panel of some of the most influential African-American voices to examine unique and innovative solutions to critical issues facing African-Americans. CNN and "Essence" magazine presenting "Black in America: Reclaiming the Dream." That's tonight at 8:00, right here on CNN.
BALDWIN: House lawmakers -- they are on their August break. Why plans to reform health care means it will be a working holiday for a lot of them.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Well, 11:33 here on the East Coast this morning and passengers are back inside LaGuardia Airport's central terminal. That terminal was evacuated this morning after a man walked in with a bag full of wires and a battery. He's been arrested but it was determined that he was not carrying an explosive device.
Also, just before members of Congress return home to face the public, a key House committee has passed a health care reform bill. All republicans on the panel voted no. The bill will have to be merged with versions and two other House committees and prospects in the full House and in the Senate still a bit uncertain.
BALDWIN: All right. Check your calendars. It is the 1st of August. It may not mean a whole lot to you. But in Washington, it means a lot to health lawmakers because they're on a month-long recess. But for many democrats, it will not be a vacation. Many of them will be spending the time back home trying to sell the president's health care reform plan, and they are getting a little bit of help. Our own Dana Bash explains.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DANA BASH, CNN SENIOR CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): After the last vote, the exodus, House members rushing home for the entire month of August. And if you're a vulnerable democrats, prepare for the political tsunami on health care.
REP. TOM PERRIELLO (D), VIRGINIA: They're going to get the first shot in. The 30-second attack. The more people know the more they like what we're doing and that's going to be good for us over the long term.
BASH: Tom Perriello is a freshman democrat who only won his conservative Virginia district by 0.2 of one percentage point. He's undecided about his party's health care plan and will use August with his constituents to decide.
PERRIELLO: 18 counties, 18 town and meetings with elected officials and doctors and others. Road testing this. I haven't committed on the bill.
BASH: Democratic leaders are hoping to defend democrats like Perriello from withering republican attacks by arming them with a media strategy. From PowerPoint to simple message ideas. Hold insurance companies accountable. Remove them from between you and your doctor, to get their message out democratic leaders suggest using town halls, twitter, Facebook. Pennsylvania democrats Jason Altmire rolls his eyes at those instructions.
REP. JASON ALTMIRE (D), PENNSYLVANIA: The House bill is in my opinion flawed.
BASH: He's a vulnerable democrat who voted against his party's health care plan in committee and says democratic leaders have put democrats like him from conservative districts in a tough spot by including controversial proposals in their health care plan, like a tax increase.
ALTMIRE: So go back to the district and explain to constituents why they made a politically unpopular vote. It was just tone deaf to me.
BASH: He insists, he's not worried about the onslaught of ads, calls and protests that await him at home.
ALTMIRE: At least it's an encouraging debate. We didn't ram this through. We took the August recess to allow the country's voice to be heard.
BASH (on camera): Talk to just about any democratic lawmaker and they'll tell you they were elected on a promise to reform the health care system and they believe at the end of the day it will happen, but the key is to regain the message back from republicans. In the words of one lawmaker, explain what they're doing for you, not to you, and they're very much treating this like a political campaign. In fact, one democratic leader said that they're determined not to get swift voted during recess. Dana Bash, CNN, Capitol Hill.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Well, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, you know it as FDIC, has closed five more banks. That makes 69 bank failures this year compared with 25 last year, and just three in 2007. The latest banks to fail, Integrity Bank of Juniper, Florida, First Bank Americano in Elizabeth, New Jersey, People's Community Bank in West Chester, Ohio, First State Bank in Altus, Oklahoma, and Mutual Bank of Harvey, Illinois.
BALDWIN: Mean streaks. I sit down with a gang member to figure out what's behind a long-running bloodshed on the streets of Chicago.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: Violence in Chicago, according to police homicide this year, are down, but shootings are up, which begs the question, why? I tried to get inside this issue of violence. I spoke with a gang member this past week when I was assigned to Chicago who joined a gang at the age of 13. We could only call him Bob, and Bob recently nearly died after a recent attack, and after he recovered he promised his doctor to educate kids about the dangers of gang banging.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BALDWIN (on camera): We're in the patrol car headed from downtown Chicago to the city southwest side. It's an area with known pockets of basically gang activity, and we're going to this interview. We're talking to a current gang member. He's willing to share his story about the violence in Chicago, but he's only willing to do it as long as we keep him in the car. We don't show his face, and we don't drive into any other neighborhoods, any other gang turf, just to keep him and our crew safe.
Do you have any idea how many people you've shot in your lifetime?
BOB, GANG MEMBER: Nope.
BALDWIN: Did you ever feel remorse for anything?
BOB: No. I'm not going to say I have.
BALDWIN: Born and raised on Chicago streets, this man insist we call him Bob, says he joined a gang when he was just 13.
BOB: To be fun, to be honest. At least I thought at that point. The rush you get from what you were doing. It's like a drug. You can't get enough of it.
BALDWIN (voice-over): Shootings in Chicago have set grim records this summer. According to police, even though homicides are down, shootings are up. More than six percent. This week, 15 people were shot in a single night.
(on camera): Mid-day. Mid-day, broad daylight. What are they doing?
BOB: Taking money, dirty money.
BALDWIN (voice-over): Heroin, the drug of choice on these streets according to Bob. A corner dealer can bring in up to several thousand dollars on a good day, but if someone doesn't pay up, Bob says that's when the shooting starts.
BOB: If you hear about a gang or money. It's either about a gang or money. It's never going to stop. I don't care who you lock up. Or anything. It's never going to stop.
BALDWIN: Bob says he's been locked up three times. Most recently serving six years for attempted murder.
(on camera): One of the reasons we can't show you his face is because he has some very specific markings of a gang member tattoos, facial tattoos, all up and down his arms and marks of his recent, horrific beating. He's been shot, stabbed and this month bludgeoned with baseball bats and left on the streets to die.
DR. MICHELLE GITTLER, SINAI HOSPITAL: It was more of an issue of brain damage.
BALDWIN: Dr. Michelle Gittler is part of the medical team at Chicago's Mount Sinai Hospital that helped save Bob's life, while doctors have to alert about shooting victims. According the American College of Emergency Physicians, there is now no federal law requiring doctors to track the number of gunshot wounds. Dr. Gittler says it's an epidemic that goes under reported.
GITTLER: To put it in perspective for the H1N1, or swine flu, alerts go out through all the hospitals and how to recognize it, how to treat it, how to report it, right. So that's 20. And this is 2000. I'm a little bit confused about why this isn't as emergent as a public health issue.
BALDWIN (voice-over): Dr. Gittler is the only reason Bob agreed to do this interview, he made her a promise to teach kids that they have a choice.
BOB: They don't have to turn to gangs if they don't want to. They're just -- how I lead my life, (inaudible) don't want them to make the same mistakes I did.
BALDWIN: By that tough talk, Bob says his love for the gang remains. He is not getting out. Still, he's survived the streets to see his 31st birthday.
BOB: Definitely, we're not meant to be here forever, regardless. I mean, it's bound to end. Be nice to him. The right way.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BALDWIN: He recently got out of the hospital after being treated. He's still going back for rehab but he really did keep his words with the doctor and agreed to talk to us. We almost lost him a couple times. He was half way out, just about, out of a car, after a cameraman kind of jiggled the camera around and we needed to stay with the four fingers not to identify him. He was almost gone. But I appreciate him sticking around and telling his story. Just a different perspective that we don't often get to hear.
HOLMES: A heck of a story. It was something that simple, just a jiggle of the camera makes him that nervous. Fascinating to hear. All right. Brooke, we appreciate you bringing that to us this weekend. We're going to turn to more pleasant things, I guess, here. We're going to take a vacation. Have you been on one for a while?
BALDWIN: I'll take another one.
HOLMES: Actually, you had to cancel vacation to come back and be with us this weekend. Didn't you?
BALDWIN: Did I? I've been all around the place.
HOLMES: And we do appreciate that. We got info on a weekend getaway coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Well, hello there, Fredricka Whitfield.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Well, hello.
HOLMES: Good morning to you.
WHITFIELD: Welcome, T.J. I know you hate when I mentioned the ladies first. You're the regular here.
HOLMES: No. Usually you just go into start talking about dresses or - a nice necklace. WHITFIELD: Betty and I go off on a tangent. We can do that, too.
HOLMES: No, I can't.
WHITFIELD: OK. We'll stay focused right now.
BALDWIN: What's going on.
WHITFIELD: Talk about what's taking place in the noon Eastern hour. Of course, health care. Everyone's talking about it all week, but we're going to try to narrow things down for you, particularly if you have the so-called Cadillac plan. That means you kind of have the high-end insurance premium. Should you be taxed more, or perhaps your insurance company taxed more to help cover the rest of America? We're going to delve into that.
Also, let's talk about a legal case that's gotten a lot of people's attention. I know, T.J., you twitter.
HOLMES: I do twitter. Twittering this month.
BALDWIN: I feel bad. People keep adding me and I twitted like 10 times. I'm sorry.
WHITFIELD: Really?
BALDWIN: I need to get better.
WHITFIELD: OK. At least you're doing it. I'm not on-board yet.
BALDWIN: You're not on board?
WHITFIELD: Not on board yet but you know, something to consider here. You've got to be careful what you say on twitter. It could cost you.
HOLMES: Really?
WHITFIELD: Yes. There's a lawsuit that involves $50,000. Yes. So might this person who tweeted, maybe said a little too much, allegedly, might now be a legal case. Our legal guys are going to delve into that. So you got to watch what you say.
BALDWIN: Watch what you tweet.
WHITFIELD: I just noticed a tweet from you the other day. It was like - you are arriving at the airport. I guess Atlanta Airport. You talk about hoping that everything goes according to schedule.
HOLMES: I didn't say anything out of line.
WHITFIELD: It's not going to get you in trouble. That's safe talk. Safe chat.
HOLMES: OK. You have something at the 4:00 hour, too? A big -- WHITFIELD: Thank you for reminding me. Yes. We're going to delve into health care in a very big way. Help people get a better understanding of exactly what is at stake. What might you be able to count on particularly when Congress comes back from its August recess. So we want to hear from you, e-mail. Don't tweet. Because I'm sorry, I'm not on board yet. But you can join me on Facebook, and you can also tap into my blog. There you go.
BALDWIN: Be part of the conversation at 4:00 Eastern hour.
WHITFIELD: Thank you, T.J..
HOLMES: No problem. Just trying to help. 4:00 hour. But she'll be here in ten minutes to get this thing started.
WHITFIELD: Exactly.
HOLMES: Thank you and we'll -
WHITFIELD: I'll have no more tea. I'm a little - I'm ready to go.
BALDWIN: 10 more minutes.
WHITFIELD: (inaudible)
HOLMES: 10 more minutes. We'll see you.
You'll get all this. OK. All right. We'll see you in a second.
BALDWIN: Thank you, Fred. All right.
HOLMES: Reynolds, match that energy, Reynolds.
REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: There is no way. That's an impossibility. Hey, you want to see some rough energy. Let's show you the rough spots that's been happening in parts of the central and southern plains. We're going to take you to the radar right to parts of the Red River Valley, and into the Arc latex. It's a higher elevation you have in parts of Arkansas, Texas, back into Oklahoma even Louisiana. That's where you're having some of the heaviest storms right along parts of I-30. Now I-20 is going to be up next.
If you're tuning in from Tyler, you happen to look up to the north, you see dark skies. It's going to be this big area of heavy rainfall that's going to be pushing through. We're looking at a chance of having some damaging winds, and small hail, and possibly some flash flooding right through this region. And the reason why we're seeing this pretty simple, again, a couple of boundaries that we're going through that area. Plenty of moisture that's coming in from the Gulf of Mexico. It's that combined with your daytime heating that will give you a chance of storms.
Farther on to the west, though, it isn't the rain, it's the temperatures that is really going roasting in parts of the Pacific northwest. Looks like Seattle once again, today back into the 90s. Back a little bit farther to the south along parts of highway 1 into San Francisco, 59 degrees. Pier 39, it's going to be nice today. Denver, 80 degrees the expected high. Chicago with 78 degrees. Atlanta with 89. But the high humidity. And then back into Florida, for Tampa and Miami, high temperatures mainly in the 90s, with humidity. They'll be very high, maybe a stray shower or thunderstorm.
Now, keep in mind, you happen to be in Miami, you go south on the highway - back along 101, it's going to take you - you're going to go right into the Florida keys. And right in the middle of the Florida keys you're going to come to Islamorada. That is this weekend's getaway.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WOLF (voice-over): A unique destination in Florida's upper keys is Islamorada. The waters around Islamorada are home to some of the world's most coveted sports fish.
RICHARD STANCZYK, BUD N' MARY'S MANNA: It's unusual because of our location. Every fish that actually swims in this hemisphere can be caught from these shores.
WOLF: Guided boat tours at the Indian Key state historic site are a chance to catch a glimpse of the past.
CAPTAIN CHRIS: This is the last known resting place of the founder of Indian key.
SARAH KANTROWITZ, TRAVEL + LEISURE: Indian key is a very interesting place to visit. What's interesting about is there are these old European ruins.
WOLF: Or rent a kayak or canoe, and explore on your own. Islamorada is a combination that range from old Florida style with budget-friendly prices.
JIM BERNARDIN: (inaudible) is one of the destination resorts here in the Florida keys.
WOLF: To secluded lunchery.
HUBERT BAUDOIN, THE MOORINGS VILLAGE: So I wanted to re-create what the keys is. It's a great place.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BALDWIN: Iraqi teens come to America to help break down barriers. We will take you inside a very unique camp in Vermont.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): As America begins to wind down its commitment in Iraq, some young Americans and Iraqis are learning a little bit more about each other from the war.
HOLMES: Yes. CNN's Mary Snow reports right now on how bridges are being built between cultures.
SNOW: 5,000 miles from Baghdad in Vermont's green mountains, Iraqi teenagers get their first days of the United States. The goal is to break down barriers with their British and American counterparts.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Now, let's practice -
SNOW: Behind the camaraderie, 17-year-old Cortez Alexander of Chicago says he first had to confront his stereotypes of Iraqis.
CORTEZ ALEXANDER, CAMPER: I thought that they there were like - they would be like really mean, or say like racist stuff on me. It's like we're all humans. And we're working towards the same common goal.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They had this awful idea about Islam is all about killing people.
SNOW: These two Iraqi teenagers who can't be identified for security reasons say dispelling stereotypes is nothing new for them. They are eager to set the record straight, not only about Islam, but about Iraq, where they say life is slowly returning to normal. And even though it's not ideal, they say a key lesson is learning to adapt.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The war definitely changed us. We're not the same persons. I guess.
SNOW (on camera): How are you different?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm different. I'm more patient. I'm more optimistic.
SNOW (voice-over): As Iraqi teens share their experiences on grounds that were once used to train peace corps volunteers, Americans like Ariel Goodman of Vermont see a far lasting impact.
ARIEL GOODMAN, CAMPER: This is like what ends wars. This is like the future coming together, the future of two countries of war coming together and healing the wounds of the past by talking, and having relationships.
SNOW: And it's citizen diplomacy, says one of the camp's leaders that the program targets --
JOHN UNGERLEIER, SIT GRADUATE INSTITUTE: I think that the young people can take a sense of shared leadership. They learn how to communicate. They learn how to problem solve together, learn how to make decisions.
SNOW: And as these two boys prepare to enter college, they know they face an uncertain future, but hope to bring home leadership qualities.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In Iraq, like being angry, being always crying, being always like, it's not an option for us. No.
SNOW: Mary Snow, CNN, Battleborough, Vermont.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BALDWIN: Nice piece.
HOLMES: We want to thank you, again, for coming in. And saving the day. We didn't know who we were going to have today.
BALDWIN: Eeny, meeney, miney moe, Brooke.
HOLMES: That's a scheduling thing but we told you and you are right, we do appreciate you coming in.
BALDWIN: Sure. Thanks for having me.
HOLMES: As always, you'll be back with us tomorrow.
BALDWIN: Yes, I will. Thanks for reminding me. Yes. (inaudible) though.
WHITFIELD: You were the anchor du jour.
BALDWIN: Yes. The anchor du jour.
WHITFIELD: And now times two.
HOLMES: Yes.
WHITFIELD: We'll see you again tomorrow. Thanks, Brooke. T.J., thanks so much.
HOLMES: We'll see you. Thank you.
BALDWIN: Thank you.
WHITFIELD: All right.
President Obama is calling it a historic step. But he knows it's just one step in his push for health care reform. Late yesterday a key House committee passed a reform bill that includes major concessions for conservative democrats. It will be combined with two other versions to produce a final house bill. We won't see a vote, though, until at least September. Members of the house are off until Labor Day. Senators are in session for yet another week, but won't vote on health care reform until after the break. So you can be sure lawmakers will get an earful from voters on this issue. At least over the next month. The president is also keeping up the pressure.
CNN's Elaine Quijano is at the White House. So Elaine, the president staying on message today, and likely at least for another 30 days?
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Yes, that's right. We should tell you that President Obama, as you might guess, certainly expressing his pleasure at the fact that the House energy and Commerce committee actually did go ahead and pass his version of this health care legislation. He said as much in a written statement which went on to say that this bill will strengthen consumer protections and choice while lowering costs and improving care.
Now, in his weekly radio and Internet address, the president also previewed a trip that he'll be taking coming up here next week to Elkhart, Indiana. That's a community that's been hit especially hard by the recession. Take a listen.
