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Navy Pilot's Remains Found in Iraq 18 Years After Death; Three American Hikers Detained in Iraq; Cash for Clunkers; /Gunman Kills Two at Tel Aviv Gay Teen Center; Health Care Reform on Hold for August Recess; July Breaks Weather Records

Aired August 02, 2009 - 14:00   ET

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

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, I'm Fredricka Whitfield and you're in the CNN NEWSROOM.

18 years after he was reported missing, the body of Navy Pilot Michael Speicher is found in Iraq. Closure for his family and the U.S. Military.

Plus, President Obama's fight for health care reform. House members go home without a bill, the Senate now in the spotlight.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

And did you hear that? Newly discovered music written by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

We start with navy pilot Michael Scott Speicher. The Pentagon confirms that his remains have finally been found in Iraq 18 years after he went missing. The mystery of what happened to Speicher began in 1991 shortly after his plane was shot down over Iraq on the first night of "Operation Desert Storm," listen to this 1991 CNN report.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The Pentagon has identified a United States navy pilot as apparently the first U.S. service man missing in action in the Persian Gulf War. He is Lieutenant Commander Michael Speicher. His f-18 attack jet went down during the raid on Iraq before dawn yesterday. The 33-year-old pilot is married, has two young children. He's assigned to the "USS Saratoga" which is based in Mayport, Florida.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

The remains of Speicher have been located in Iraq. Let's get straight to our Pentagon correspondent Chris Lawrence who is joining us on the phone from Los Angeles. So, Chris, give us some details about how this discovery was made.

CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (via telephone): Well, Fredricka, after nearly 20 years of just waiting and wondering his wife, his kids, fellow officers, finally have some answers. It has been an incredibly painful time for them. Just not knowing what was happening with him. Having so many different stories over the years. Just to put this in some perspective, to go back that far, you're talking about a time when Cheney was the defense secretary. When Iraq actually had aircraft that could shoot down a U.S. jet.

You know, you're talking January 1991. It was the first night of the war. He was piloting a fa-18 when an Iraqi aircraft filed a missile that took him. His plane went down in the west-central part of Iraq. I've been to that area, it is very remote. It's desert-like. Nothing at all like Fallujah and Baghdad that we see so much in the news. Over the years, his status has been just changing constantly. Defense Secretary Dick Cheney declared him the very first casualty of war on that night. He was declared killed in action but body not recovered.

Later he was changed back to missing in action. Then changed again, missing but captured. Finally, earlier this year, he was changed back to missing in action. That gives you some perspective about what his family has been through.

Just recently, a new informant told the military that there was a possible location of Speicher's grave. A site very near where his airplane was found back in 1993. So the marines acted on that, they went to the location in the desert where they thought the crash site was. The informant told them that he knew of some other Iraqis who remembered that American jet crashing back in the desert. And that the pilot had been buried there.

One of those Iraqis claimed that he was present when some of the Bedouin, the people who live out there found Speicher dead and buried his body there. When you think back to the stories that have come out over the years that later prove not to be true about his initials being carved on a prison in Baghdad, now we're hearing final word that indeed, his plane did go down and that Bedouins found him, buried him, and the U.S. military was able to take his remains back to Dover Air Force Base.

WHITFIELD: It is Chris, quite a remarkable portion of this story and this discovery that these Iraqis paid such respect to the body of Speicher. That he was buried at that location. But the mystery here is, why no one said anything at the time and why 18 years later now an Iraqi would make this known to the marines who continue to search there.

LAWRENCE: Well, perhaps in Bedouin culture, you're not talking about urban, you know people in Baghdad or a major metropolitan area, you're talking about a very remote Bedouin culture, almost like shepherds. The actual people who witnessed this may have taken some time, it may have been just blind luck that you stumble across them and they may have not had the communication available to even think, let's call the U.S. military and tell them what we've done. They may have seen the pilot down and decided to give him a proper burial.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD (voice over): Chris Lawrence, thanks so much for that update, appreciate that. I want to give you a better understanding now, kind of the time line of what has taken place over the 18 years since. His fa-18 Hornet was shot down on the first night of the Gulf War. DICK CHENEY, DEFENSE SECRETARY: As of 0900 this morning Washington time, there's been a single American aircraft lost.

TERRY CHANDLER, USS SARATOGA CREWMATE: As clearly today as if it would have just left-hand side, I remember on the recovery, Commander Anderson getting down from his jet and telling me that he thought we'd lost Speicher.

WHITFIELD: For more than 18 years, the fate of U.S. navy Captain Michael Scott Speicher was unknown. There were many false leads. In 1993, the wreckage of Speicher's plane was found but no body. After the U.S. invaded Iraq in 2003, Speicher's initials "mss" was found carved into the wall of an Iraqi prison, leading to speculation Speicher might have survived the crash. Nothing panned out. But family members and friends worked to keep the investigation alive.

MIRIAM NOVELLY, SPEICHER FRIEND: We are here in Washington, D.C. trying not to let hill be forgotten. Trying to make sure that the search never stops until he's found. I think we owe him that and much more.

WHITFIELD: Finally last month, marines spoke to an Iraqi in Anbar Province who said he saw Speicher buried. Based on that account, Speicher's remains were recovered from the Iraqi desert and flown to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware for positive identification. Captain Speicher is survived by two children, toddlers when he disappeared, but now in college.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: In Jacksonville, Florida, one of Speicher's former classmates actually reacts to the news that the remains of Speicher have been identified.

MIRIAM NOVELLY, SPEICHER'S FRIEND: It's a bittersweet ending. I mean, it's great that we have finally accomplished an ending. But it is bittersweet. You know, you always hope that he's going to be found alive. Yet, on that end, if he was found alive, look what he's missed. His children are, you know, in college now. And, you know, what kind of life would he have led, being a prisoner of war, and of course there was always speculation that, you know, he was, you know, tortured and beaten. You know. So it's -- like I said, it's bittersweet.

WHITFIELD: Some people never gave up demanding a search for Speicher. U.S. Senator Bill Nelson is among those who kept pushing for the investigation to continue. The Florida Democrat is joining us now from Jacksonville.

All right, Senator. Thanks so much for being with us.

You pushed hard for this investigation to keep going. And now upon this discovery being made, when you first learned that remains were located and that they had been positively identified, give me an idea of your reaction. SEN. BILL NELSON, (D) FLORIDA: Relief. And certainly for the family too, that the children don't have to keep wondering if their father is alive. There are a lot of people to thank on this. And the military kept at it. The navy kept at it. They had slacked off in the 1990s. But once they got focused, there are a lot of dedicated people like an army reserve major that was the head of the Speicher search team after we went into Iraq. And he even extended his duty another six months, thinking that he could find Scott.

WHITFIELD: This has become very personal for so many people. Not just clearly his loved ones but people who really got to know him on so many different levels and even for you, who got to know Captain Speicher.

NELSON: That's right, Fredricka. And it's a sad day. But there's a sense of relief. And after all of the false leads and the ones who were making up stories and giving the family hope that he was alive, even those initials "mss" that I went to that prison cell and traced that with a pencil and paper --

WHITFIELD: What was your gut feeling about that at the time?

NELSON: Well, I mean, it was incredible. It looked actually like some of his writing. But the fact is that when it never turned up any evidence, we always figured it would be the Bedouin that had participated in the burial, they just need to find that --

WHITFIELD: You really did feel that? This is an unusual I guess revelation, that they had located the body and actually gave it a respectful burial. Somewhere deep down inside, you felt that might have been the conclusion?

NELSON: Well, at one point, they actually found a body and had a graveside service that they thought that would be him. But the DNA did not match. But that was years and years ago. We knew that you had to find the Bedouin tribe that had actually buried him. And since those Bedouins roam throughout the desert, finally it took this long to find them and we've got a positive I.D.

WHITFIELD: For the family members, two children, once toddlers at the time of his crash, now in college. Any idea what the family is feeling? Have you had a chance to speak with anyone?

NELSON: I spoke to Buddy Harris at length this morning. And he is -- the whole family is just so grateful that the navy stayed on this. Admirable Roughhead, the CNO, personally called the family last night. The navy has been very responsible in this. Because after all, a mistake was made. We walked away from a downed pilot. It was done by mistakenly declaring him dead, and then they didn't go and search for him. And that was a mistake. And that is very important, that we never repeat that mistake again. WHITFIELD: You also see this as a lesson for the U.S. military and how it responded and carried out this investigation.

NELSON: That's right, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Senator Bill Nelson, thanks so much for your time, joining us from Jacksonville today, appreciate it.

NELSON: Thanks.

WHITFIELD: Of course, we want to hear your thoughts as well on this story, this discovery. Post your comments on our blog at CNN.com/fredricka, or on Facebook at Fredrickawhitfieldcnn.

We'll air some of these comments during our 4:00 Eastern hour. Over the past 18 years, so many people have different sorts of memories about what transpired here, and now a conclusion as we understand it from this discovery made. Quite remarkable.

A potentially explosive situation now in Iran. Three American hikers are under arrest, reportedly, after crossing the border illegally from Iraq. You'll hear what the mother of one of the hikers is saying.

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Kate Bolduan at the White House. The Obama administration, some of his top economic advisers say that we are no longer --the economy is no longer on the brink of collapse but we're not out of the woods yet. I'll have more on that after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Welcome back. Live pictures right now, President Obama returning from a weekend at Camp David, now just stepping off Marine One and there on the White House lawn.

We're going to be joining Kate Bolduan in a moment there at the White House to give us an idea of exactly what is on tap for the president this week.

We know he'll be heading off to Indiana to continue to push health care reform, but what else?

Meantime, the mother of one of three American hikers arrested and detained in Iran is worried about his safety. Joshua Fattal from Elkins Park, Pennsylvania, and two other unnamed Americans reportedly strayed into Iranian territory while hiking along the Iran/Iraq border. Fatale's mother spoke with CNN radio.

LAURA FATTAL, MOTHER OF DETAINED AMERICAN: My husband and I are eager for the best welfare and conditions for our son Josh and for the other two companions he's with. And that is our only concern. His welfare and the best conditions for him.

WHITFIELD: A fourth American hiker Sean McFesso (ph) is at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad. He didn't go hiking with the others because he felt ill.

Meantime, President Obama is scheduled back at the White House which you just saw those live pictures, he actually is back at the White House now, after a weekend at Camp David. Just as his key financial team is touting some positive news about the economy, he's got plans as well. For the week, our Kate Bolduan is at the White House. Kate, some are saying the end of the recession is near. Even the president has been celebrating some nice signs of a nearing of an end.

BOLDUAN: Hi there, Fredricka. The president's top economic advisers, they say the economy is at least no longer on the brink of collapse and they are pointing to some encouraging signs of recovery. His top economic advisers really hit the Sunday talk shows this morning, touting this week's positive economic news as evidence that their recovery efforts, the Obama administration's recovery efforts, are really taking hold and turning around the economy.

The GDP for one in the second quarter falling more slowly than anticipated. But the administration at the very same time is also being very careful, trying to manage expectations here on saying that the country is not out of the woods yet. Secretary of -- Treasury secretary Timothy Geithner says that Americans have some tough choices ahead in trying to reduce the exploding federal deficit that we face, and he says he is not ruling out raising taxes in the future. Listen here, he spoke on ABC's "This Week."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TIMOTHY GEITHNER, TREASURY SECRETARY: We have to do what's necessary. Remember, the critical thing is people understand that when we have recovery established, led by the private sector, then we have to bring these deficits down very dramatically. We have to bring them down to a level where the amount we're borrowing from the world is stable at a reasonable level. That's going to require some very hard chooses. And we're going to have to try to do that in a way that does not add unfairly to the burdens that the average American already faces.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: Now, Secretary Geithner also said that he expects the pace of job loss to slow and turn around to job creation, possibly next year. But Republicans Fredricka, who are also on the talk shows, and they've also said this in the past, they say these signs are also -- the signs in the economy are also encouraging but they say this is no thanks to the Obama administration, pointing to the stimulus package, they say job losses actually increased since the stimulus package has taken effect.

WHITFIELD: All right, meantime, Kate, this week the president back on the road. We know last week he was spending quite a bit of time with town hall meetings, pushing health care reform. This time Elkhart, Indiana. Why Elkhart?

BOLDUAN: Elkhart, Indiana, he stopped there earlier this year, has been hard hit by the economy. Very high unemployment rate in Elkhart, Indiana. We know the president will be out there this week, heading out there on Wednesday. We'll be talking the economy and you can be sure as we have heard during this -- moving into the August recess for Congress, they'll also be pushing health care reform, getting that message out on the road, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right. Kate Bolduan, thanks so much, appreciate that.

In 20 minutes we're going to talk some more about health care reform. We're going to be joined by a high-profile doctor, one of the head of the National Institutes of Health, about the president's health care reform plan. Is it doable? We're also answering your questions about the kind of coverage that you want to see.

Cash for Clunkers. Dealers seem pretty happy. People are buying the vehicles. So what's not to like? We talk to an auto analyst who says the program is not for everyone.

And you thought you had heard it all, right? We hear a performance of some newly discovered pieces by Mozart.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right. It's a whole new week. Here are a couple of things to look out for. A hearing is scheduled in Los Angeles tomorrow to give some finality to the custody of Michael Jackson's three children. The judge is expected to grant full custody to Jackson's 79-year-old mother, Katherine, following an out of court agreement with Debbie Rowe, the mother of two of the children.

Also on Monday, a Nevada court will hear O.J. Simpson's request to be released from prison while he appeals last year's armed robbery conviction. Simpson will not attend. He is serving the sentence of nine to 33 years.

All right, Cash for Clunkers. It's a stimulus program that's worked far better than expected. So many have signed up for the $1 billion budget -- rather the $1 billion budget is running dry because so many people have signed up. The House has voted to pump another $2 billion into the program. But the Senate has yet to go along with the measure. The White House says all weekend, sales will be honored.

Meantime, auto expert Lauren Fix has problems with this program. We talked with her yesterday, and she is not a fan.

OK, so you're going to rain on the parade here because we're hearing from all sorts of folks across the country, from buyers, car buyers, to even the dealers, who say we love this. It means that people are getting new cars, people are spending money, and they're getting a break by doing so. What's not to like about this?

LAUREN FIX, AUTOMOTIVE ANALYST: Well, I think a lot of people were discriminated against. If you've always leased a car, you're not eligible. If you've always been wise about saying, I'm going to buy a great fuel efficient car, maybe a hybrid, you're not eligible. If you don't have the credit rating the last thing you want to be doing is purchasing a new car with higher insurance payments. Isn't that how we got here to begin with?

WHITFIELD: Oh my gosh. Debbie Downer here. Wait a minute. You lease a car, that's your choice. Now for a lot of people who have an old car, they haven't been able to afford a larger down payment on getting a new car. The incentive is, you turn in your old car and you get, what, $4,000 or something to that effect. Right as credit?

FIX: Like $4,290 that is a tax incentive. You think it's a great incentive but you look at, why do we have this? The goal was to get 2008 and 2009 cars off the road. It's almost another type of auto motive bailout but from the consumer side. You're thinking, we created all this demand. You didn't create demand. You had people waiting. If you look at the sales for April, May, and June, they were dismal. The reason, they were either people were leasing, people that weren't eligible, or people that said; I don't want to be a part of this program.

What's happening is you're going to watch July and August sales be fantastic and the government's going to take credit for it. The truth is consumers sat on their hands and they waited. They said, if I can make $4,500, I will.

WHITFIELD: Isn't this good news for the so many car dealers who are squeezing every penny and every dime to try and stay open? We know so many car dealers in huge numbers had to close down earlier this year. Now you've got a few car dealers who are saying, we are so glad that people are finally making their way in. What's the matter with that?

FIX: That's the best part is dealers in those towns, people who have so much invested in their communities and cars and in the industry, and their businesses, that is the best part of the whole thing. They're getting rid of those 2008s, those 2009 models, they have 2010s coming in in just a few weeks. They want to get those cars off the lot. However, we're never going to sell in the next year 16 million cars again. We'll be lucky if we make 10 million cars. Because they overproduce, this is the back side. I actually advocated that --

WHITFIELD: Is there a plan that would be advantageous for everybody?

FIX: We should be $1,000 toward every new driver. I'm looking to buy a car for my son. If I get $1,000 I might look at a Kia or Toyota Yaris or a Ford Focus for him. That might be an option. If I don't have anything coming my way and I have nothing to trade in, a lot of people are ineligible. Like to see $1,000 toward car maintenance. The goal is to make the cars more environmentally friendly.

WHITFIELD: All right. Lauren Fix driving a hard bargain there.

All right. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said today the Obama administration will have to suspend the program, unless the Senate votes to provide the additional funds that the house has already voted on.

An 18-year-old mystery now solved. After years of speculation we now know what happened to the first American killed at the beginning of the Gulf War.

And Israel is shocked by a deadly attack at a gay teen nightclub. Was it a hate crime?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: A body recently recovered in the Iraqi desert has been identified as Navy Captain Michael Scott Speicher. Speicher's plane was shot down on the first night of the 1991 Gulf war, making him the first American to die in the conflict. For 18 years, friends and family members weren't sure whether he was dead or alive.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. BILL NELSON (D), FLORIDA: It's a sad day, but there's a sense of relief, and after all of the false leads and the ones who were making up stories and giving the family hope that he was alive, even those initials "MSS" that I went to that prison cell and traced that with a pencil and paper.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: So we want to hear your thoughts on this story. Post your comments on our blog at CNN.com/fredricka, or on Facebook at /fredrickawhitfieldCNN. We want to hear from you about this search for 18 years, and now a discovery being made and confirmation of the remains of that Navy captain.

All right, we'll also have an interview with a woman whose brother's remains have never been found in Vietnam. She now works to make sure that the search for missing troops never stops.

A manhunt is under way in Israel after a masked gunman opened fire at a center for gay teenagers in Tel Aviv. A counselor and a 17- year-old girl were killed. CNN's international correspondent, Paula Hancocks, is joining us by phone. And this is indeed being investigated as a hate crime?

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (via telephone): Well, Fredricka, yes. There's hundreds of (INAUDIBLE) involved in this manhunt in the center of Tel Aviv. This happened Saturday night just before 11:00 PM local time in a gay youth center in the center of town. A masked gunman walked in, dressed all in black, we understand, pulled out his gun and started shooting in all directions. This is according to eyewitnesses and the police themselves. (INAUDIBLE) two people have been killed, a dozen more have been injured. And a small number of those are actually in critical condition.

As to what we're understanding from Israeli media at the moment is that there's almost a door-to-door search is going on trying to find this man. Obviously, the police believe he is still dangerous, as he carried out this attack and has managed, after he carried out the attack, to just slip out of the door and walk into the very busy Tel Aviv streets. And that's where he was lost -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: How unusual is this investigation, Paula? This seems like this may have been a targeted event?

HANCOCKS: Well, as soon as it happened, we know from the police that it was a criminal attack, i.e., there was no terrorism involved in it. Then we heard that they believed it was a hate crime against the gay community, which is very unusual here. Certainly, Tel Aviv is a very liberal city. It's where many gay and lesbians go. They feel free there. There's a gay pride parade there. It's very accepting of the gay community. And so certainly, much of the gay community is shocked by this.

But since then, we understand that police have slapped a gag order on this case, so they're not giving us exact details on what they believe this crime was or who they believe is behind it because this man is still at large and they're worried that any publication of details could jeopardize this investigation. So at the moment, all the police will say is that they are working incredibly hard to try and bring him to justice -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right, Paula Hancocks, thanks so much, joining there from us Jerusalem.

Two American filmmakers were critically injured when the small plane that they were in crashed in Kenya. The pilot was killed when the plane plunged into a building in Nairobi. The flight engineer was also critically injured. No one on the ground, miraculously, was hurt. You're looking at images that were sent our way via cell phone.

Iran's reformist former president is blasting the trials of Iranians arrested during election demonstrations back in June. Mohammed (ph) Khatami calls the proceedings "show trials." He says they damage the country's legal system and are an insult to Islam. Defendants are accused of various crimes, including attacking military facilities, using firearms and bombs and assaulting security forces. Khatami says the real crimes were committed by authorities.

Health care reform in this country is a loaded and confusing topic for so many people, so we're answering your questions with a doctor and an expert on public health care.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: The House has adjourned for August break without taking any final action on health care reform. That means no vote until September for them. But the lawmakers do have some homework from the president. He's urging them to keep up the momentum, encouraged by a last-minute thumbs-up from a key committee. A statement from the president saying, "This historic step by the House Energy and Commerce Committee moves us closer to health insurance reform than we have ever been before. The bill that they have passed will strengthen consumer protections and choice while lowering costs and improving care" -- that from the president.

Meanwhile, today, Republican senator John McCain says the biggest obstacle to fixing health care remains the cost.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), ARIZONA: Not acting before the August recess, it gives us all more time to have debate and discussion across the country. I think that it's important that we all recognize we want to fix health care, that it needs to be repaired. The question is, is how?

And the fundamental contradiction we have between the two parties is that we believe the quality of health care is the best in the world and must be preserved. It's the cost that's the problem. The Democrats believe that you've got to change the entire health care system in America, including the so-called "government option," which we believe would be -- lead to a government takeover of the health care system in America. That's why we've had so much trouble reconciling differences, even though we share a common goal of fixing health care in America.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: That's John McCain this morning. Let's bring in Dr. Bernadine Healy. She's a cardiologist and a health editor with "U.S. News & World Report." You also remember she was the head of the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Healy, good to see you.

DER. BERNADINE HEALY, HEALTH EDITOR, "U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT": Nice to see you, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: OK, well, before I get kind of a take from you, from a number of people who have voiced their concerns and frustrations to us in so many different ways, I'm wondering, do you think there is an urgent need right now for the government to step in and offer some sort of health care plan for the 46 to 47 million people uninsured?

HEALY: I think there is an urgent need to address that aching problem that we've had for many years, and I think there is an urgent need to address cost. But there isn't an urgent need to jump in and vote for a bill that is very expansive, very expensive and has so many questions that are left unanswered. What we can't do is say, if we delay the implementation of the bill, that that means we are automatically going to delay an urgent attention to those two issues of the uninsured and of the cost.

WHITFIELD: OK, well, let me let you listen to a young lady by the name of Laura Walker. She joined us in the NEWSROOM yesterday as we focused an entire hour on health care reform and what it means to you. And she is currently unemployed. She's uninsured. And this is what she said after getting a chance to talk to at least two lawmakers during our hour about what this health care plan should or would look like.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LAURA WALKER, CURRENTLY UNINSURED: No, I didn't. All I heard was a whole lot of sugarcoating and dancing around the questions that we had asked. You know, they still don't get the point. I'm unemployed. I don't have an income other than unemployment. So I don't know how they expect me to pay for any of this insurance that's going to be affordable for me. I haven't figured that part out.

And I don't -- you know, I'm realistic to the fact that with limited income, you get limited benefits. So I don't expect to have MRIs every time I twist an ankle, you know, if I can't afford to pay for it. I don't know who they expect to pay for this.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: OK, so I had asked her after talking to the lawmakers if she felt like they had heard her, was she satisfied with some of their responses about what this, you know, package should look like. And she said no, she's still frustrated. So do you kind of revise your, you know, response about urgent care? Do you think that the government is trying to respond too quickly, or are they not doing it fast enough for somebody like her?

HEALY: I think this is the kind of issue that does need to be addressed urgently. And I think everyone has seen, at a time when we're losing jobs, that people who have been paying insurance for their entire working careers suddenly don't have insurance, and that's just not fair. We have to solve that urgently.

And you know, there are -- and it's not being addressed, by the way, Fredricka. There are ways that it can be. For example, we should permanently have an insurance that is continued, along with COBRA. The government gives you your insurance, you can keep your insurance after you're unemployed, but you can't afford to pay for it. So we have to have...

WHITFIELD: Right, and especially if you're on unemployment, you know, you're limited with the funds or maybe you have a little bit of money stashed away. Now you're going to put all of it into COBRA because we're talking about $500, $600, maybe even higher than that per month just to extend some sort of health care coverage.

HEALY: It's almost a cruel joke that that hasn't been addressed. And you know, maybe as a doc, I would suggest if we would take control of those crazy malpractice premiums and funnel some of that insurance into some sort of an insurance fund that would cover the COBRA payments.

WHITFIELD: All right, here's some of the other things that we've heard from people via e-mail. "As a senior citizen" -- this is on my blog -- "I'm concerned about the level of care I'll be receiving under `Obamacare.' Will it be the same as I have known under Medicare, or will tests and procedures be limited to me, according to my age?" What do you suppose might happen or should happen?

HEALY: Well, there's no doubt there are examples where people are getting more tests, they're getting more treatments than is good for them or than they need. So we do have to pay attention to that. What is not clear at all, though, is that if the government sitting in Washington comes up with benefits and comes up with things that 300 million Americans can or cannot have, that you're not going to have people who will actually be denied things that they need and with the goal of trying to have others who are getting too much be put into a normal status.

So I think that so many of these decisions, Fredricka, have to be made at the bedside. They have to be made in the doctor's office. And I think the preemption that Washington will set your benefits, tell you what you can and can't have, is a concern.

WHITFIELD: When you talk about some people who may have too much, that's a perfect segue to this other comment and question coming from J. Merrick, who wrote on my blog saying, you know, "If the government is planning to tax the Cadillac health plans, the more premium types of coverage, then they had better include the congressional health care plans. We all know that they have the blue plate special of health care."

We're talking about members on Capitol Hill who have a pretty great health care plan, and it really is the envy of almost everybody, whether it's those who are private citizens or those who are in public service.

HEALY: Well, you know, there are two uncomfortable things that came up last week, and that was a clear statement that the members of Congress, the president, the vice president, were not willing to go into the public option plan. I think that -- I think that's a must, myself, because I think that if this is going to be good for all Americans, it should be good for them.

I think the second issue is, on all of these things we're talking about here, Fredricka, that are contained in, you know, a thousand pages of legislation that are out there but very hard to read, most of the legislators have not read that material, and they are often passed -- or might be asked to pass things they don't know much about.

WHITFIELD: So then perhaps you like the idea of at least this August break, that maybe they need to do some reading of this thousand-page document?

HEALY: Actually, I like -- I like the idea of this August break being used for legislators to read that bill, but also for you and I and most Americans who want to, to do it. You know, you can go to a government Web site, Thomas.loc.gov (ph), and download the bill and you have a chance to look at it. A lot of it is legal speak and you won't like it, but there's a lot of interesting stuff there, and maybe have a little book club where you can discuss it. And then be a very informed...

WHITFIELD: Kind of dissect it, and then, of course, get back to your lawmakers and say, This is what I like, this is what I don't like...

HEALY: Yes. You'll find...

WHITFIELD: ... as part of the process.

HEALY: ... some great things -- you'll find some good things, but you'll also find some worrisome things.

WHITFIELD: All right, Dr. Bernadine Healy, thanks so much your time. Appreciate it. And thanks for answering all the questions coming in so many different forms from people who just want to know, How am I going to be covered? All right, well, do you know your classical music? Well, think you've heard it all from Mozart? Have you heard that? Some Mozart you've never heard before, probably.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right, two newly discovered compositions by Mozart are getting a public hearing. All right, these pieces were found in the Mozart Library in Salzburg, Austria. They're part of a well-known manuscript of Mozart's earliest work. They were considered anonymous creations before scholars took a closer look -- or should I say listen. Here's a portion of the second.

So in addition to this, just a reminder, Mozart began playing the piano when he was just 3 and he actually began composing at the tender age of 5. Scholars believe Mozart wrote these pieces when he was just 7 or 8 years old. And by the time Mozart died, he had written more than 600 pieces, an incredible prodigy.

All right, stormy weather now in the East is causing some pretty nasty travel delays. And if you thought the weather was pretty out of whack, as you heard Jacqui saying, at least last month, then you're actually right. Right?

JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes. You know, there are a lot of temperature extremes, certainly, Fredricka. In fact, why don't we just go ahead and start there, shall we? Let me tell you, a lot of people complained, it's been so hot for so many days, or it's been so cold for so many days. Well, yes, you are right. This has really been an unusual summer in terms of temperatures.

And here's a couple of records to prove it. The hottest July average temperature ever, not only that, but also the hottest month ever recorded in Phoenix, Arizona, where your average temperature was 98.3, 89.5 for Austin, Texas, San Antonio 88.7 and Portland, Oregon, at 73.6. It was the average coldest month on record for you in July for Madison, Wisconsin, 65.7.

WHITFIELD: Oh!

JERAS: I know! That sounds so cold...

WHITFIELD: Yes, they can have that.

JERAS: ... doesn't it? And 68.3 in South Bend, Jackson, Kentucky just over 70.5, and the same story for you in Huntington, West Virginia. Hopefully, we'll balance things out a little bit here, now that we're in the month of August. But look at all this heat across the South, extensive heat warnings into the Phoenix area.

Let's talk a little bit about the stormy weather. First I want to show you a little video out of Alberta, Canada -- this is in the Camroads (ph) area -- for yesterday, a very serious story here. Severe storms ripped through the area. Straight-line winds caused the main stage here at a festival to collapse. Two people now are confirmed dead and many others have been injured. And I'm just going to get on my soapbox for one second here and just -- you know, we all go to concerts outdoors in the summer, Fredricka. We go to baseball games, football games and whatever. You have to be responsible as a person and know what your surroundings are and whether or not you have a severe weather threat in your area that day. And make a plan. You know, we've all got a plan for our house, but you're not always at your house.

WHITFIELD: That's the last thing that people think of when you're going to have a good time.

JERAS: Yes. And it happens all the time.

WHITFIELD: And they figure -- yes, and they figure if the event is still on, then maybe the weather is going to cooperate.

JERAS: That's not always the case.

WHITFIELD: You say don't feel so sure. All right. Have a plan.

JERAS: Absolutely.

WHITFIELD: Thanks so much, Jacqui, for that reminder, appreciate it.

All right, listen up. These girls are putting the amp in summer camp. All right, we're going to visit a camp where young girls are discovering their inner rock star, along with a whole lot more.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right, it used to be if you were a girl and developed an interest in rock music, you weren't always encouraged. Well, no more. Girls are rocking out this summer. And along with chords and riffs, they're learning some important life lessons.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Summertime is rife with musical festivals across the United States. But this isn't a typical gathering of musical acts flaunting their musical chops on stage. It's the culmination of a six-day summer camp called Girls Rock Camp, where girls ages 10 to 16 participate in learning musical instruments and honing their vocal talents.

This year, 34 girls from diverse economic and social backgrounds came together at Girls Rock Camp Atlanta, most having never played an instrument. Along with music instruction for beginners, the camp teaches self-defense, media literacy, and lifelong lessons that the girls can apply to everyday situations.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Don't be shy. You have to start yelling (INAUDIBLE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK! UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Stacey Singer is a co-founder of Girls Rock Camp Atlanta. She says the camp's mission is more than just teaching musical skills.

STACEY SINGER, GIRLS ROCK CAMP, ATLANTA: Ours is to create a safer space where girls can learn how to express themselves productively and learn how to be self-actualized.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Girls Rock Camp began in 2001 in Portland, Oregon. The non-profit initiative now boasts more than 10 Girls Rock Camps in the United States and in three other countries. Trained counselors instruct the campers in every aspect of composing original music. Bands are formed, instruments selected, and songs are written.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My band was supposed to be a metal band, but we ended up coming up with a ballad because we had problems on the first day, and then we finally got it right.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The eager campers' hard work brings them to the camper showcase. On this night at Atlanta's Variety Playhouse, nine bands performed for families, friends and camp supporters. The showcase also serves as a fund-raiser for future camp sessions.

SINGER: Once they take the stage and they finish their song and they take that big sigh of relief that everything's done and they feel like they've done a very good job (INAUDIBLE) all comes together for them.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Very fun. Rock-and-roll camps for kids, and girls in particular, are becoming a worldwide phenomenon. Camps have opened up in England and Sweden, and a new book is out, as well. There's even a documentary called "Girls Rock: The Movie."

All right, coming up next, rocking out with your money -- the future of gas prices. Are speculators responsible for last summer's dramatic jump in gas prices? Ali Velshi, Christine Romans break it down for you.

I'm Fredricka Whitfield. I'll be back with another edition of the NEWSROOM in about 60 minutes from now.

"YOUR MONEY" starts right now.