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Judge Sonia Sotomayor to be Sworn in as Supreme Court Justice; Town Hall Meeting Disrupted by Angry Crowds; Controversy Arises Over Former President Clinton's Visit to North Korea

Aired August 08, 2009 - 10:00   ET

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

BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: In just one hour, the nation will have a new Supreme Court Justice and you are looking at a live shot of the Supreme Court building and we are pushing forward to the swearing in ceremony of Sonia Sotomayor.

ROB MARCIANO, CNN ANCHOR: And Eunice Kennedy Shriver is in the hospital and family members are gathering. The sister of John F. Kennedy is the founder of the Special Olympics.

Also ...

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(SHOUTING)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: Disrupting town hall meetings on health care reform -- is it organized disruption or the voice of the masses?

From the CNN Center, this is the CNN NEWSROOM. It is Saturday, August 8th. Good morning, everybody. I'm Betty Nguyen.

MARCIANO: And I'm Rob Marciano in for T.J. Holmes. It's 10:00 a.m. eastern time here in Atlanta. Welcome.

NGUYEN: Glad to have you here, Rob.

Today, let's get to this, a landmark moment for the Supreme Court is just 60 minutes away, and that is when Judge Sonia Sotomayor will be sworn in as the 111th justice and the first Hispanic-American to take a seat on the high court. President Obama's first choice easily sailing through the Senate vote this week.

And CNN's Elaine Quijano joins us now live from the White House. Elaine, what are people expecting to see during this swearing-in ceremony, because, in fact, this is the first time we'll be able to have media cameras in the room as it happen?

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, and it's going to be fastening to watch, although it's going to be quick. We're expecting, Betty, a very brief ceremony, first of all, when this takes place in about an hour or so, as you mentioned.

First up, though, about 45 minutes or so, there's going to be a private swearing-in ceremony. This is going to be the swearing-in ceremony that uses the constitutional oath. This is something required under the U.S. constitution.

Then the judge will take a second oath at about 11:00 a.m. This is the one that is required under federal law. It's just a few lines long, and during that the judge will pledge to administer justice impartially.

Looking on will be Judge Sonia Sotomayor's mother, Selena, as well as her brother Juan. And we're told that they will actually holding the Sotomayor family bible during that public swearing-in ceremony.

But Betty, I can tell you, we are expecting it will go by very fast, not more than perhaps just a few minutes long as most -- Betty?

NGUYEN: So the president won't be there this morning for this?

QUIJANO: That's exactly right. President Obama is not expected to attend, at least that's the very latest word we have this morning, Betty.

We're told that the president himself wanted the ceremony to take place not here at White House as has been done in the past, but rather to take place at the Supreme Court as, quote, "a symbol of the court's independence" according to court and legal sources.

Instead what will happen, the ceremony, these two, both the public and private swearing-ins will take place at the Supreme Court today. And then on Wednesday there will be a reception for then Justice Sotomayor here at the White House. We're expecting, Betty, that both President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden will be on hand for that -- Betty?

NGUYEN: All right, taking place live right here, the swearing-in ceremony at the top of the hour 11:00 eastern. We'll bring it to you live.

In the meantime, Elaine, we'll be checking in with you very shortly. Thanks so much.

QUIJANO: Sure.

NGUYEN: So be sure to stay with us for the next hour, as I mentioned, for live coverage of that public swearing-in ceremony from the nation's capitol, 11:00 a.m. It is a part of history, you don't want to miss.

MARCIANO: And this may be a make or break month for health care reform, and President Obama knows it. In his weekly address he goes after those he believes are spreading lies about his plan.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: In recent days and weeks, some have been using misleading information to defeat what they know is the best chance of reform we have ever had.

And that's why it's important, especially now, as senators and representatives head home and meet with constituents, for you, the American people, to have all the facts.

What we need and what we will have when we pass health insurance reform are consumer protections to make sure that those who have insurance are treated fairly and that insurance companies are held accountable.

We'll require insurance companies to cover routine checkups of preventive care, like mammograms and colonoscopies, or eye and foot exams for diabetics, so we can avoid chronic illness that cost too many lives and too much money.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MARCIANO: The president will keep pushing his health care plan reform next week. It's the focus of his town hall meeting in New Hampshire on Tuesday.

NGUYEN: Well, speaking of town hall meetings, some are just getting downright ugly for Democrats talking with their constituents about health care. Take a listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(SHOUTING)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: Some voters back home are angry over the health care reform plan, and skipping town halls altogether could still draw a heated response. The Associated Press says one Democrat has received death threats for not scheduling one.

CNN's Gary Tuchman looks at what is driving all of this anger.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GARY TUCHMAN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Is it democracy? Demagoguery? Or both?

Congressional town hall meetings during August recess used to be sleepy affairs. Not anymore.

There are images of President Obama with a mustache like Hitler's or looking like the Joker, and also elected representatives hung in effigy.

Democratic senators like Pennsylvania's Arlen Specter ...

SEN. ARLEN SPECTER, (D) PENNSYLVANIA: Medicare and Social Security ...

TUCHMAN: And Missouri's Claire McCaskill are hearing from extremely unhappy Americans who don't like health care reform.

SEN. CLAIRE MCCASKILL, (D) MISSOURI: Same plan they're asking ...

TUCHMAN: People have been arrested. Others have suffered minor injuries with the pushing and shoving. Democrats like Florida's Kathy Caster have barely been able to get in a word edgewise.

At her meeting, reform opponents were seething because hundreds of them were stuck outside the town hall because they couldn't fit in the room. Protesters held signs on the other side of the window. The congresswoman had to be hustled out.

In Texas, Congressman Lloyd Doggett tried to talk.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You voted against it. That's not right.

TUCHMAN: He, too, was drowned out. One protester used his artisanry to depict the congressman in a rather unsavory way.

REP. LLOYD DOGGETT, (D) TEXAS: The crowd certainly was angry. I suppose some might have had a negative reaction to the poster that said "Lloyd Doggett, traitor to Texas, devil to all people."

TUCHMAN: So how did it come to this? It depends who you ask.

The Democratic National Committee says these confrontations are orchestrated by the Republican party, and the Democrats have released this web video.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They've lost the confidence of the American people. Now desperate Republicans and their well-funded allies are organizing angry mobs, just like they during the election.

TUCHMAN: The word "mob" is greatly insulting to the folks on the other side of the argument. Many of the participants in these demonstrations say they are simply exercising their rights.

Anna Puig is a Pennsylvanian who attended a town hall hosted by Arlen Specter and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.

ANA PUIG, THOMAS JEFFERSON CLUB: I feel like my constitutional rights are being taken away from me right before my eyes. I don't like the direction that we're going. They're taking away our freedom of speech, and the silent majority is finally fed up with it.

TUCHMAN: But now liberal advocacy groups Moveon.org has sent out an e-mail to supporter, saying they have a plan "to fight back against radical right wingers." The group is raising hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations.

It's not only the weather that's hot in August. Now the political temperature is boiling, too.

Gary Tuchman, CNN, New York. (END VIDEOTAPE)

MARCIANO: Eunice Kennedy Shriver's family remains by her side at Massachusetts hospital this hour. The 88-yearold sister of former President John F. Kennedy is listed in stable but critical condition.

Mrs. Shriver has struggled in recent years with a series of strokes. Her work to establish the Special Olympics was largely inspired by the struggles of her mentally disabled sister Rosemary.

NGUYEN: A major blow against terrorism in Asia this morning to tell you about. Police in Indonesia say they have killed a top terrorist suspect.

It happened during an 18-hour firefight. His name, Noordin Top, and he's accused of killing hundreds in bombings in western targets in Bale and Jakarta. Police say his group was planning an assassination attempt on Indonesia's president.

MARCIANO: All right, all eyes on hurricane Felicia. Reynolds Wolf here to inspire us with knowledge. Still downgraded or still weakening?

(WEATHER REPORT)

NGUYEN: Americans in harm's way. It's not every day a former president can come to the rescue. So just how far should diplomacy go to free trapped tourists?

MARCIANO: Plus, the death of a quick-talking pitchman, Billy Mays. You remember him. Well, we'll tell you what the coroner found out about his death.

NGUYEN: And California's budget crisis means cutbacks at one of the worst possible places, prisons.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Going one-on-one with Hillary Clinton. The secretary of state is on a seven nation, 11 day trip to Africa. But she took time to chat with "GPS's" Fareed Zakaria about her husband's mission in North Korea and some of the global dangers threatening the country.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FAREED ZAKARIA, CNN ANCHOR: The Bill Clinton mission was unorthodox. Here you have a former president going on what appeared to be a state visit from the way in which he was greeted, being received by North Korea's top nuclear negotiator.

HILLARY CLINTON, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: This, as you know, came from the families. I mean, this was a message that Laura and Euna were given by the North Koreans, which they passed on to their families and former Vice President Gore ...

ZAKARIA: Naming him specifically. CLINTON: Naming him specifically. And then they passed it on, obviously, as they should, to the rest of us.

And, you know, it was not anything, you know, Bill was interested in seeking or even contemplating. But of course, when Vice President Gore called and when our administration evaluated it and began to brief him, you know, he said, look, if you think it's the right thing to do, and if you think I should do it, of course I will do it.

But it is a private humanitarian mission. It was not in any way an official government mission.

ZAKARIA: John Bolton, the former U.N. ambassador said ...

(LAUGHTER)

ZAKARIA: Should I even go on?

CLINTON: I'm sorry. No, you shouldn't. You really shouldn't.

ZAKARIA: But he says this is rewarding hostage-taking. Why is he wrong, because they effectively took hostages?

CLINTON: We've done this so many times. We've had former presidents do it. We've had sitting members of Congress do it.

It is something that -- you know, it is absolutely not rewarding them. It is not in any way responding to specific demands. It is a recognition that certain countries, that, I think, are kind of beyond the pale of the rule of law, hold people and subject them to long prison terms that are absolutely unfair and unwarranted.

And maybe it's, you know, the fact I have a daughter, but I believe that if we could bring these young women home, we should bring them home.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: Bringing those two journalists home was, of course, the priority, but so is America's overall diplomatic strategy. Should any American traveler in harm's way expect similar treatment? And does this attention help or hurt efforts to ease tensions with countries like North Korea or Iran?

For more on this, we are joined by William Cohen, chairman of the Cohen Group and former Defense Secretary under President Clinton. Thanks so much Secretary Cohen for joining us today.

WILLIAM COHEN, FORMER U.S. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: Great to be with you, Betty.

NGUYEN: Let me ask about this. We've heard from Hillary Clinton as to why President Clinton was picked for that and what he did. But my question to you, and I think a lot of people are wondering, granted the prisoners were released, but what does North Korea want in return? COHEN: Well, obviously, North Korea wanted the prestige of associated with having Bill Clinton, former President Bill Clinton, travel to that country and to secure they're release.

It's also quite clear that the release was prepared in advance, and he was not going there to negotiate.

So they wanted a high-level person from the United States. It was not going to be from the government, as Secretary Clinton made clear. President Obama could not be in a position of yielding to this kind of a tactic on the part of the North Koreans.

So the North Koreans had an objective, but I think the Obama administration also had an objective. I don't think any American citizen traveling abroad should expect they're going to have President Clinton come to their rescue. This is ...

NGUYEN: Let me ask you this, Secretary Cohen, was it a disproportionate response. We're talking about, granted, two journalists who were in prison for, according to North Korea, stepping into their territory. But you just said, when it comes to travelers they should expect it. But in this specific case, was it a disproportionate response?

COHEN: I think the Obama administration had another agenda in mind as well. Securing the release of these two journalists was certainly of great concern to them, but not at the expense of compromising their foreign policy objectives.

I would assume, and, again, an assumption on my part, that the administration was looking into insight into Kim Jong-il's state of well-being, whether or not there was a sign of flexibility that he would be willing to come back to the table without insisting the United States make any sort of concession.

So I think there were other motivations behind this particular bringing home of the journalists. And I think that President Clinton made an assessment of Kim Jong-il, brought that back to the administration. I think that will be helpful in deciding how to proceed.

I think the administration now has to indicate that they are going to proceed with a very strong effort to intensify the sanctions against North Korea and not let this appear to be any kind of weakening of resolve. That would be a mistake if they were to do that.

NGUYEN: So do you think because he went to the table, face-to- face with Kim Jong-il, that in some way that this would be able to ease some of the tension and maybe get us back to the table to talk about denuclearization?

COHEN: I think there were probably a number of conversations that took place, perhaps some by President Bill Clinton, but also John Podesta, his former chief of staff, was also there with him. I assume there were a number of conversations that took place. I also at least can speculate that perhaps China was also interested in having this take place, and I don't know whether they a role in this, but they have been pressured to get the North Koreans back to the bargaining table, and this may have been something that they were pushing from behind-the-scenes. I don't think we know.

But obviously, the Obama administration was not going to send Bill Clinton to retrieve these two young journalists unless they had multiple motives in mind and objectives, and I think we'll have to wait and see whether that will bear out.

NGUYEN: Absolutely. And let me shift over to Iran and those two American hikers who have been detained there. What responsibility -- and it seems pretty clear, though, that American tourist should have when traveling into these hot zones, because, like we talked earlier, you said they shouldn't expect we're going to send officials over there to save them from the grips of jail?

COHEN: I think any traveler abroad should always take care wherever they go to abide by the laws of the country in which they're in. And they differ and, there can be substantial penalties involved if you violate that.

When you're traveling to a dangerous area, such as on the border between Iran and Afghanistan and the entire region, then I think the travelers have to beware that if they cross over that line, they're taking their own live into -- putting them as risk, and it may be difficult for the United States to do anything diplomatically to retrieve them, that no U.S. president is, again, going to make the kind of compromises that the Iranians, in this, case might be demanding. So I think they have to beware.

Secondly, point out with respect to Iran -- Iran may be looking for some goodwill out of all this because they are cracking down unmercifully on the people who are protesting against the election results. So they may be eager to find some way to show that they are not going to hold these three individuals hostage.

But we'll have to wait and see, but I don't think any travelers should expect that the United States' government now is going to be in a position to come in and to retrieve them at a moment's notice, and with some delays, should probably be expected.

NGUYEN: All right, Secretary Cohen, former defense secretary under President Clinton, thanks so much for your time today. We do appreciate it.

COHEN: Sure.

MARCIANO: A reminder, we're counting down to the historic swearing-in ceremony of Sonia Sotomayor. We have new video from the Supreme Court's east conference room where Sotomayor will take the oath of office in less than an hour. She's going to be a new Supreme Court justice.

NGUYEN: But up next, it is one of the best things about New Orleans and one of the best ways to steer that city's children from a life of violence. You will want to watch the CNN "Heroes" heartwarming success story.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MARCIANO: They like to say "let the good times roll" in New Orleans. It's best known for Mardi Gras and Cajun food. But did you know that it also has the highest murder rate in the nation and one of the highest crime rates in general? Two murders this year involved kids who were just 14.

CNN's hero of week fighting to keep kids off the streets and out of trouble using the power of the music.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DERRICK TABB: Music has just always been with me. I love to play it. I keep drum sticks in my hand.

The musical legacy in New Orleans was really dying fast. Life after Katrina was really hard for a kid. You have violence, the drug life. I'm just tired of it.

My aim is to get kids off the streets. My name is Derek Tabb, and I started a free music education program for the kids of New Orleans.

Let's go. Arms up.

We do more than just teach music. We offer transportation, we offer instrument, we offer tutoring. We call it the "No Excuse" policy. You don't have no excuse why you're not here.

You don't have to have any experience. We meet five days week year-round. You constantly learn something new. And that's what keeps the kids coming back every day.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I was getting in trouble. Now, when I'm here, I practice. When I'm at home I practice. He just changed my life.

TABB: I love seeing kids out there just having fun.

Teaching these kids is culture. I don't see it as saving lives. I say I'm giving life, a whole different life of music.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MARCIANO: Great job. You got to love the "No Excuse" policy.

Find out more about Derek or any heroes on our Web site, CNN.com/heroes. And in just a few weeks we'll be announcing the top ten CNN heroes of the year.

NGUYEN: Can't wait for that. Thank you, Rob. Children half a world away are surviving on just pennies a day not knowing when or if they'll get their next meal. I'll show you my trip to Vietnam to help the hungry.

Also, what killed Billy Mays? Well, the coroner reveals a contributing factor that may surprise you.

You've heard of home alone, but this is just ridiculous. Meet the only family living from a high-rise condo, the only one. Despite the view and the glitz, well, they are actually desperate to leave.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Good morning and welcome back to the CNN NEWSROOM on this August 8th. I'm Betty Nguyen.

MARCIANO: And I'm Rob Marciano in today for T.J. Holmes.

Well, Judge Sonia Sotomayor about a half an hour from being sworn in as the country's first Latina Supreme Court justice. She'll be sworn in by Chief Justice Roberts at 11:00 a.m. Eastern.

I think we have some pictures of where that's going to happen, East Conference room at the Supreme Court building. The ceremony will take place actually in just a few minutes. Stay right there.

NGUYEN: And we're also following this story. Eunice Kennedy Shriver remains in critical condition inside a Massachusetts hospital. Shriver is the 88 year old sister of former President John F. Kennedy. Her daughter, Maria Shriver, son-in-law California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, as well as other family members are reportedly with her.

MARCIANO: News today that TV pitchman Billy Mays used cocaine just days before he died of a heart attack, and that may have contributed to his death. That's according to a Florida medical examiner.

Mays was found dead in his Tampa condo on June 28. Officials say heart disease was the primary cause, but cocaine use may have contributed to the heart disease itself. Mays' family has questioned the record and is said to be considering an independent evaluation.

NGUYEN: Well, as we focus on the ailing economy here in the U.S., half a world away millions live on less than a dollar a day, and health care options, well, they are often non-existent.

I'm talking about Vietnam, where I was born. I just returned from a humanitarian aid trip along the Mekong Delta that really illustrates the importance of international aid organizations even during a recession. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: Our journey begins at the crack of dawn as relief supplies are loaded onto a bus. We're headed away from the hustle and bustle of Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon to poor villages in southern Vietnam. It's a long and bumpy ride.

And once we arrive, the heavy lifting begins. All of this aid was donated through the nonprofit my family founded called "Help the Hungry."

(on camera): Now that this boat has been loaded with supplies, we're headed to remote villages along the Mekong Delta.

To give an indication how poverty-stricken this area is, the Global Red Cross says families here live on less than a dollar a day.

NGUYEN (voice-over): It's important that we distribute this humanitarian aid before the potentially deadly monsoons flood the region.

But you don't have to look far to find those already in need. Hundreds gather at the shoreline. They'll take the food, clothing and hygienic supplies back to their huts. In fact, some are so small, even a child can't stand up inside it. What's even harder to believe, a family of five lives here.

She says they've lived here for about three years. In a corner is their makeshift kitchen. They scratch out a living fishing from the same murky canals where he bathe and get their drinking water.

They can't even afford to keep their children in school. Her 12- year-old daughter only made it to the second grade. Yet when I asked what she wants to be when she grows up, her face lights up as she says she wants to be a teacher.

It's a heartbreaking battle between hope and poverty that continues to play out as we go from village to village all the way to the Vietnam-Cambodia border.

NGUYEN (on camera): But this is life for the people who live here. And it's a difficult life. And no matter how much we bring and how many times we come, you never leave feeling like you've done enough. There's so many people in need here.

(voice-over): Which is why we continue to come back year after year, proving the poor are not alone in their struggle.

And maybe in some way it will instill the kind of hope and determination need to rise above seemingly impossible odds.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: That is always a difficult and a very personal journey for me, because I was born in Vietnam and, you know, who knows? Had I not gotten that ticket to America, that might very well be me. So that why it's been important to me personally.

But we've been doing it the past nine years with "Help the Hungry." And it's so rewarding to be able to go into the villages where, essentially, they are not getting any help from anyone, and provide them with the food, the clothing, the hygienic supplies needed to get through the monsoon season.

And that's why we go particularly around this time of year, because once the monsoons come, it just inundates the area, and it floods it to the extent that many times children are swept away. And as you can see, they lift in grass huts the typically have dirt floors, so they're at risk.

And this year we were able to help so many people. We went even along to the Vietnam-Cambodia border, helped a couple thousand with the aid that we brought.

But there's always more. There are millions of people that live in this kind of poverty. And not only do we bring food aid, but we also bring clothing and shoes to help children like that that you see right there.

And that's really essential, too, because this is a shot of us handing out some shoes. Many of these children are walking around barefoot. A lot of them can't even go to school.

And you were asking just a minute ago about them and being able to survive like that. I guess you build up an immunity to it once you're drinking from the canals where' you're bathing, you're using restroom, you're fishing from.

MARCIANO: What did you take away from this, nine years now, as opposed to other years?

NGUYEN: I take away from it that there is hope, that despite all of it -- I mean you saw the little girl who only has a second grade education, but you ask what do you want to be when you grow up? She says "I want to be a teacher."

So despite what they don't have, they do have an abundance of hope. And sometimes that will take you over what's needed to get to where you want to be.

MARCIANO: And I'm sure it's going to take you back there a tenth year?

NGUYEN: Absolutely, dedicated to it.

MARCIANO: Great work.

NGUYEN: And for more information on "Help the Hungry," please go to the Web site, help-the-hungry.org. And you can also go to CNN.com/impact to find out how you can impact your world.

MARCIANO: Betty spreading the love. Thanks for sharing your experience, great stuff. NGUYEN: Thanks.

MARCIANO: All right, in the next 30 minutes there will be a new Supreme Court Justice. Sonia Sotomayor will be sworn in in Washington, but people across the country are tuning in. Our Susan Candiotti joins us live from east Harlem where we're having, what, a watching party, I guess, Susan?

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: That's right. And, Of course, there's a special connection here because as many people, if not every American knows by now, Judge Sotomayor was born in the Bronx, her parents moved here from Puerto Rico, and you have a lot of Puerto Ricans based here.

Also, as you know, she also worked as a prosecutor here, went on to work in the appeals court. So a lot of New York connections.

Here we've got two young women, let's say, who got specially made t-shirts for this occasion. This Gloria Kenurez (ph)and Laura Benitez. Gloria, why is it such a special day for you?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, my gosh. Why is it such a special day for us? Because for so many years Latina women are projected in on eway, and that's usually as sexual or emotional beings, women who have no mind.

And that's what Sonia Sotomayor does not represent. It's another aspect of ourselves. We are sensual, beautiful women, but we are also brilliant and sharp and able to achieve the highest places.

CANDIOTTI: Thank you very much.

What kind of a role model do you think Judge Sotomayor will be for you and for other women, possibly?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think she'll be a great role model, because it inspires me. If she can achieve a goal like that, then I can achieve my goals as well. I want to be a biologist, so I know if she can totally get all the way up there, I can totally reach my goal.

So I think she'll be a great role model.

CANDIOTTI: Thank you very much.

I'm going to swing over in this direction here to talk to Myra Falone (ph).

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm sorry.

CANDIOTTI: Tell me why else you admire her.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I admire a woman who follows her dream. But first and foremost, I admire the woman who (INAUDIBLE) her mother. This is a single Puerto Rican parent who raised two wonderful children. One is a doctor, and look where the other one is headed to -- the Supreme Court. So I admire that so very much, and I am attuned to what is happening with wise Latina women. Yes, she is a wise Latina and look where she's at.

CANDIOTTI: Thank you very much.

There's one more lady over here who has something to say. Her name is Agnes Rivera. Agnes, swing around this way for me here.

You're getting reaction from the crowd. Agnes, we're talking with you. It's your turn. We love it.

Agnes, you feel strongly about Judge Sotomayor. You've heard people say that perhaps she won't be able to be objective because of past comments she made about perhaps seeing things better than others can because she a Latina.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Sometimes you have to respect the values of people who have had those differences in their lives, because coming from a poor neighborhood, you can tell the differences and you can feel the differences.

But I know, and I know in my heart, that she's going to do the right thing regardless, regardless, if she's the Latina woman or not. And whatever cases come from front of her, they're going to be very successful with her. She's going to be an asset for them, an asset.

CANDIOTTI: Thank you very much.

OK. You're getting automatic reaction to those comments because obviously they're watching themselves on television right now. It will be an exciting time for the people for the people who are here this day and an especially proud moment for New Yorkers.

Back to you Betty and Rob.

MARCIANO: All right, Susan Candiotti live for us, getting a little flavor of the moment. We'll be checking back with you. Thanks, Susan.

NGUYEN: You can feel the excitement in that room, and it's all for what is about to happen in just a matter of about 20 minutes. We are going to see the swearing in of Sonia Sotomayor to the U.S. Supreme Court. You don't want to miss it. It is history taking place today. And you'll be watching it right here on CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: All right, I want you to imagine this, 32 stories of luxury.

ROBERTS: OK, sounds good.

NGUYEN: All to yourself. It seems like a dream. Maybe too good to be true? Well, for one family, that dream is turning into a nightmare. MARCIANO: Yes, it makes you think of about maybe an old "Twilight "Zone" episode or something, the ghost tower, perhaps.

But as CNN's John Zarrella reports, it's all a by-product of the shaky economy. Take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN MIAMI CORRESPONDENT: Yes, resort living. At the pool there's always a chair.

(on camera): Your own private gym with state of the art equipment, and you can work out all by yourself. There's nobody here to bother you.

Look at this parking garage. You never have to hunt for a space.

And when you get on the elevator, you never have to worry about anybody getting off first.

(voice-over): Sounds great, right? Well, maybe you should talk to Victor Vangelakos.

VICTOR VANGELAKOS, CONDO OWNER: This is our condo and this is the seventh floor.

ZARRELLA: This was going to be Victor and his family's vacation and retirement home in the Oasis, a 32-story condominium building in Fort Myers, Florida. The New Jersey fireman closed in November, paid $420,000.

VANGELAKOS: I tell people at home and they say it's your own building. It sounds great, but it can be eerie at night. It's almost like a horror movie.

ZARRELLA: Why? Because the rest of the building is empty. This is a ghost tower.

When the housing market collapsed, Ft. Myers got hit hard. Most of the units never sold. Those that did, the owners were able to move to the sister tower next door where there are people.

But Victor's lender won't agree to let him swap his unit here for one there.

VANGELAKOS: I've called them up a couple of times, I got their law department, which told me don't leave your unit. They recommended that's abandonment. So I have to stay here.

ZARRELLA: Vangelakos attorney and the developer are trying to negotiate a solution. Nothing yet.

Victor's biggest concern -- safety. Someone got into the building a month ago. Now every night Vangelakos checks the building blocks.

VANGELAKOS: Well, I have to make sure, yes, because if I don't, what happens is they can get into this pool area through the parking garage.

ZARRELLA (on camera): The Vangelakos family has no idea how this will ultimately work out, but what's really starting to bother them is the eerie silence, when the only other voice they hear is --

John Zarrella, CNN, Ft. Myers, Florida.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: And how many times have we complained we can't get an elevator in any building because it's on another floor?

RENDELL: One extreme to the other.

NGUYEN: Yes.

Well, we are counting down to the top of the hour because people across the nation, they are gathering to watch the first Hispanic woman take the oath of Supreme Court justice.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MARCIANO: Melissa Long has some important tips to help you put the miles to good use in this week's "On the Go."

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MELISSA LONG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Maximize your frequent flier miles by playing it smart.

SARAH KANTROWITZ, TRAVEL + LEISURE: If you're considering buying a ticket with miles, do your math. If you find a particularly great fare, it might make sense to pay in cash and to save your miles for when prices go up.

LONG: Some airline like Delta and United offer programs that allow to combine miles and cash for a flight. But be sure to read the fine print before redeeming miles.

KANTROWITZ: There are plenty of great deals with using frequent flier miles, but be aware that there are often restrictions.

LONG: Check in with your airline for the guidelines on upgrading seats and sharing miles, and arm yourself with information.

KANTROWITZ: Points.com is a great resource for learning about earning, buying, and selling miles. And if you're miles are about to expire, be aware that they can be sued you for hotel stays, home improvements purchases, and more.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MARCIANO: All right, yes.

NGUYEN: Got to take a trip.

MARCIANO: Let's do it.

Up next, the big thing happening this morning. Sonia Sotomayor minutes away from becoming a Supreme Court justice. And you can watch it right here live, a preview of the historic day, coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN ROBERTS, CHIEF JUSTICE, SUPREME COURT: I, Barack Hussein Obama do solemnly swear...

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I, Barack Hussein Obama do solemnly swear...

ROBERTS: ... that I will execute the office of president to the United States faithfully.

OBAMA: That I will execute...

ROBERTS: Faithfully the office of the President of the United States.

OBAMA: The office of the president of the United States faithfully.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MARCIANO: Remember that one? Yes, Chief Justice John Roberts having a little trouble with the oath during President Obama's inauguration.

Well, he's getting another chance on the national stage with today's swearing in of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court. You can see it live right here on CNN, actually in just about ten minutes.

This is the first time in the court's history that the television cameras have been aloud at the Washington ceremony. But then again, this is day of firsts for sure as Sonia Sotomayor takes the official oath of office. She becomes the nation's first Hispanic Supreme Court justice.

Former Supreme Court legal correspondent Manny Medrano joins us live from L.A. Manny, certainly a historic day. You are Latino. You have some special perspective for sure. How is this going to all immediately impact the Latino community?

MANNY MEDRANO, FORMER SUPREME COURT CORRESPONDENT: Well, I think it has a significant impact on so many levels. First of all, the first word that comes to mind is just "pride," to have a woman of this caliber, of this intellectual prowess to be elevated to the highest court in the land. It makes every Latino and Latina in the United States just very proud of what's going on.

But I think also she will bring such an important perspective to the high court, because this is woman whose academic credentials are beyond reproach. They are sterling, and unlike many of the justices sitting currently, she's been a trial lawyer and both a federal judge as well.

So I think her unique perspective when all is said and done will make the high court even stronger and more diverse than it is now.

MARCIANO: Don't you think that's going to be the biggest immediate impact there, being a trial lawyer -- being a latina?

MEDRANO: Well, absolutely. But you have to bear this in mind, because I covered the Supreme Court for many years out of Washington, D.C. A new justice' trial record is not established in the first year. It takes multiple years to see sort of what the judicial philosophy of what a justice is.

But that doesn't mean they won't be thrown into the fray immediately. Once she learns the ropes as the junior justice on the high court, she'll be resolving some very important cases and the impact will be significant and pretty quick, I think.

MARCIANO: I assume there's no fraternal hazing going on, but she has challenges ahead of her. What do you think the biggest ones are, not just for the first year, but the years going forward?

MARCIANO: I think the biggest challenge for Sonia Sotomayor is just getting adjusted to being a member of the high court.

Samuel Alito, after he was elevated indicated at first I couldn't figure out how to get in and out of the building. There's new rules. So a junior justice, when you have the private conferences, you're the one whose opens the door if someone knocks on it. As the junior justice, you're taking notes to report to the clerk to what transpired in these private meetings.

But I think that first year will just be a period of adjustment. But after that, she will hit her stride. I think she will have a significant impact on so many important areas ever law that impact Americans, whether it's criminal law or environmental, employment, et cetera. The list goes on and on.

But you have to keep your eye on the ball on the particular issue. It is the first Hispanic. It's long overdue. Many Latinos feel that way.

And what's best is this. This is a woman who hands down, unequivocally deserves to be on the high court. She won the top academic prize at Princeton. She headed up the law review at Yale Law School. S just a marvelous selection.

And again, just to come full circle to what I said earlier, there is just such immense pride amongst the Latino community this morning. MARCIANO: Interesting points there. I guess we shouldn't make a big deal if she gets up to open the door. It's not a sexist thing and it's not a racial thing for sure.

All right, Manny Medrano, thanks for the insight, and we look forward to the ceremony just minutes away. I know you'll be watching.

Up next, the nation's first Hispanic Supreme Court justice will take the oath of office.

NGUYEN: And for the first time in the court's history, cameras actually allowed into this Washington ceremony. CNN will bring you another historic moment as we are watching and standing by.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MARCIANO: From the CNN center in Atlanta, you're in the "CNN Newsroom." It's Saturday, August 8th. Good morning. I'm Rob Marciano in today for T.J. Holmes.

NGUYEN: Good to have you here today, Rob, do appreciate that.

MARCIANO: Thanks.

NGUYEN: And I'm Betty Nguyen. It's 11:00 a.m. in the east, 8:00 a.m. out on the west coast.

And a history-making moment at the United States Supreme Court today. This hour, Judge Sonia Sotomayor recites two oaths, becoming the 111th justice. She is the first Hispanic on the court, and only the third female.

CNN's Elaine Quijano is at the White House, and senior legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin joins us by phone. And we're watching right now some live pictures. We're seeing family members, Sotomayor's family members entering the room for this public swearing in.

Let me get back to you, Elaine. We'll see one of these swearing- in ceremonies. And that, too, in itself, the fact we are watching it and watching it live, is history.

QUIJANO: That's right, Betty.

I have to confess to you, my monitor just went out, so I can't tell. Did Justice Kennedy already walk through the doors? Because if so, we were told that is essentially the signal that the ceremony, the public swearing in here of Judge Sonia Sotomayor is set to take place any minute now. That is the cue that things are going to happen very quickly.

The ceremony itself not expected to take more than just a few minutes. We're going to see this all unfold in that room that you're looking at on the right-hand part of your screen. Not the courtroom, where the justices here arguments, but rather a conference room inside the Supreme Court building. What's going to happen is the Chief Justice, John Roberts, will walk in. Judge Sonia Sotomayor will walk in. And at the front of that room should be the judge's family members, her mother, Selena. her brother, Juan.

After Chief Justice Roberts makes some remarks, very brief remarks, we are told, the swearing-in will actually take place. And we're told holding the bible will be Sonia Sotomayor's mother Selena and her brother Juan. They will be there.