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From Ship to Shore to Survivors; Tax Break for Helping Haiti; Saving Lives in Haiti

Aired January 22, 2010 - 12:00   ET

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

TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: And time now for your top-of-the-hour reset.

I'm Tony Harris here in the CNN NEWSROOM.

It is noon in Haiti, where U.S. military engineers begin repairs on the quake-damaged port. The shift from rescue to recovery begins.

It is 10:30 in the evening in New Delhi, where India deploys air marshals and ramps up security ahead of a possible terror strike.

Plus this...

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We do not tolerate evil.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: Nigerians in American talk back in the CNN NEWSROOM, outraged over additional airport security checks.

Let's get started.

Box by box, crate by crate, Haiti's earthquake victims are getting more supplies so desperately needed right now. Here's the latest.

More aftershocks rocking the country, the latest this morning. Those who study such things say aftershocks will continue for months, if not years.

A part of the port in Port-au-Prince has reopened. Officials had hoped to move 150 containers through the port yesterday and increase that to 250 today.

And three charities working in Haiti are calling for an immediate end to adoptions. They are concerned that displaced children found alone still have families that authorities have not yet found.

Let's get more on the importance of the partial reopening of the port, a key entry point for supplies.

CNN's Chris Lawrence has that.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Like thousands of others over the past week, the children at Heart for Haiti charity had little food, and its medical staff, no supplies.

DR. SABINE CELIE, HEART FOR HAITI VOLUNTEER: Oh, there was almost nothing here. We had to treat people with what we have.

LAWRENCE: But now, U.S. military dive teams have reopened part of Haiti's main port. Ships held back at sea for a week are now docking. And more importantly, unloading life saving food, water and medical supplies.

LT. CMDR. MARK GIBBS, U.S. COAST GUARD: The very first vessel we had in here was the "Crimson Glory," completely loaded, 124 containers.

LAWRENCE: Lieutenant Commander Mark Gibbs says it took all day to unload a ship they normally finished in six hours. That's because only the left side of the pier is strong enough to support weight.

GIBBS: I'm incredibly sensitive to it because if we lose this pier, that's it. We can't bring anything else in here.

LAWRENCE: We saw the port 40 hours after the earthquake when it was completely shut down.

(on camera): The earthquake has buckled the road almost as tall as I am. There's no way you're going to get a truck through there. That was then, this is now. It's not pretty, but the concrete pile's been knocked down and enough gravel put in. They get trucks rolling through here again.

(voice-over): But we wanted to make sure supplies aren't just sitting here, like they did at the airport.

ROBERT DEBRIS, HEART FOR HAITI CHARITY: This is all milk and water.

LAWRENCE: We watched Robert Debris load up with food and medical supplies raked from the Dutch ship and we followed him back to his Heart for Haiti charity.

This mother says her child is running a high fever. That man has an infected head wound, untreatable without the medicine Debris and his team just picked up at the pier.

DR. SABINE CELIE, HEART FOR HAITI VOLUNTEER: Especially antibiotics. Everything to keep cleaning wounds, gauzes and things like that.

LAWRENCE: It's a pattern that needs to be repeated, from ship to shore to survivors.

(on camera): Now the military is expecting the arrival of their underwater construction teams. Their job is going to be to actually try to fix the pier so you can put more than one truck and more than one ship on there at any given time and really push that aid out a lot faster.

Chris Lawrence, CNN, Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: Hey, we have special coverage planned for tonight. Anderson Cooper is reporting from Haiti as Wyclef Jean joins George Clooney in hosting "Hope for Haiti." The global telethon to air commercial free at 8:00 p.m. Eastern, right here on CNN.

Another big story we're keeping close watch on this hour, no letup in California's miserable weather. A state of emergency is in place in five counties pounded by days of heavy rain and high wind. Several deaths statewide are blamed on the extreme weather, and hundreds of homes threatened by mudslides are still under evacuation orders.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN BROWN, EVACUEE: We built a sandbag wall about the side of the wall of China, but you never know what's going to happen.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: The storms have also battered parts of California with tornadoes and heavy snow.

President Obama is in Ohio right now to talk about jobs and the economy. He tours a wind turbine plant and holds a town hall meeting. The town hall in Elyria, Ohio, is set to get under way in about two hours. The president is expected to focus on clean energy technologies and tax breaks to encourage hiring.

Next Wednesday, tune in to CNN for live coverage of President Obama's delivery of the State of the Union Address. Our primetime coverage begins for you at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

You have been generous in your donations to help the people of Haiti. Now the government is helping on your taxes. A bill passed by Congress will allow you to write off your contribution sooner rather than later.

Congressional Correspondent Brianna Keilar joining us live from Capitol Hill.

Brianna, good to see you.

What is this bill all about, and what are the guidelines for making sure that you can get this tax break?

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Tony, if you donated to Haiti or you're going to, then you donated, obviously, in the 2010 tax year. So, under current law, you would go ahead and write off those charitable donations when you file your taxes next year.

Well, what this bill does is it allows you to actually write it off with your 2009 taxes. We're going into tax season now, so it would allow you to see that benefit, really ASAP, instead of waiting a whole year.

And here's what you have to do under this law.

You have to donate before March 1st. So, you have to do it sometime between now and through the end of February. If you've already donated, this would also apply to you.

And then, as you know, Tony, a lot of people are texting their donations. You would have to text that donation just by the end of February. And also, any phone bill that you have, which says that, you know, your donation is on there, that would serve as a receipt for your taxes -- Tony.

HARRIS: All right. And Brianna, how soon might President Obama actually sign this into law?

KEILAR: We're hearing from Hill sources it could be as soon as today. I checked with the White House. They said it's going to be soon.

Not definite that it's going to be today, but bottom line, Tony, this passed both the House and the Senate unanimously, with Republican and Democratic support. President Obama is expected to sign it.

HARRIS: Our congressional correspondent, Brianna Keilar, for us.

Brianna, appreciate it. Thank you.

American search and rescue teams have played a vital role saving lives in Haiti. A pair of rescue workers from Los Angeles will join me to talk about their experiences.

First, though, our "Random Moment" in 90 seconds.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: So, our "Random Moment of the Day" is a Friday moment of Zen. Have a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, hey, karaoke.

(SINGING)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: OK. Here's what we have here. A Japanese monk drops the Buddhist chant and cranks up the hip-hop.

Mr. Happiness says the usual approach to a very old religion gets a younger crowd to temple. The Buddhist monk dropping it like it's ho, your "Random Moment of the Day."

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Wow. Got to tell you, we have seen some amazing rescues from the rubble of the Haiti earthquake. You may remember this dramatic scene. We showed you earlier this week a woman pulled from a collapsed bank building as her husband stood vigil.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. She's there! She's alive!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: Wow. That was the Los Angeles County Search and Rescue team.

And joining us from Port-au-Prince is Captain Derrick Chapman with the task force also, and two of the L.A. County Fire Department. He was part of the bank rescue. Along with him is Captain Bryan Wells, also with the task force.

Captain Chapman, your team obviously involved in that amazing rescue, this woman buried under this bank building. Was this woman -- I'm wondering how you detected her. Was she in one of what I am told is the high probability of survivability areas that your team focuses on when you arrive to the scene of a collapsed building?

CAPT. DERRICK CHAPMAN, TASK FORCE TWO, LOS ANGELES COUNTY FIRE DEPT.: You know, the probability still does exist to this day. The way it kind of unfolded was that a young boy was climbing the rubble pile, had heard some muffled sounds. There happened to be some heavy equipment in the area. The husband of the woman that we had pulled had sequestered the heavy equipment, and they had started to move some of the debris until they unearthed the void space.

At this time, we just happened to be driving the area. We were flagged down. And as we approached, we confirmed the void space. We were able to get our technical search equipment in there and positively identify the woman, and at that time the rescue effort was under way.

HARRIS: Yes.

Well, Captain, let me stay with you for one more question here.

In the ebb and flow of that particular rescue, were there moments when you thought maybe we won't be able to get her out? Or were you always confident?

CHAPMAN: There is never a time when we identify a victim. We will stay with that victim, and there was 100 percent confidence with the entire team that we would get her.

HARRIS: Wow. Wow. CHAPMAN: And during the effort, we had brought the husband and the wife -- or, I'm sorry, the husband and the son in several times to make positive communication, to keep emotions somewhat low. Even though the probability of pulling her out was great, we wanted to keep everyone levelheaded. But we were 100 percent confident that we would successfully effect that rescue.

HARRIS: And Captain Wells, you're a part of this terrific team. So, what's the feeling when you save someone?

You can speak more generally to this, if you want. What does it feel like? In this case, we heard that there was chanting going on, "USA! USA!"

What does that moment feel like for you?

CAPT. BRYAN WELLS, TASK FORCE TWO, LOS ANGELES COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT: Well, being here on behalf of USAID in support of the Haitian government is great. And when we pull people off a rubble pile, and spontaneously people start chanting "USA! USA!" it gives you a great sense of pride. And the guys really feel it.

They feel proud to represent the American people here in Haiti, and they're all working hard to get as many people out as possible. So we've had great success with our rescues and it's been really -- a real deep sense of pride that the guys are experiencing.

HARRIS: And I want to talk, for just a moment -- and Captain Wells, I'll stay with you on this one. The job comes with great risks. And I'm just sort of curious why you do it, because you've made a decision -- each of you -- to get the necessary FEMA training to do this kind of work.

Why do you do it?

WELLS: Absolutely. We do it -- it's a sense of just desire to help other people.

We do it back at home, with the fire department. And then when we get this opportunity to come to this type of disaster, or other disasters like the hurricanes in Texas and Louisiana, it's just a sense of pride and the ability to help other people.

And that's the majority of the reason why the guys do it. And when they're able to pull someone out and see the smile on their face, or the tear coming out of their eyes, that they're excited to be out of that hole they were in for four days, it makes us all feel -- it makes all feel great.

CHAPMAN: And there is really no other feeling in the world.

HARRIS: Captain Chapman, I'm going to stay with you on this one. Is the window closed, in your view, on finding people alive in collapsed buildings? Would you be surprised to see new rescues?

CHAPMAN: Are you talking about right now? HARRIS: Yes. I mean, do you believe -- is the window still open? Do you expect that we will see more rescues, 10 days in now?

CHAPMAN: Without a doubt. With the conditions that we're finding, the circumstances we're finding these victims, and the conditions and the spirits of the people that we are pulling out, I am completely confident that we will be finding more victims.

They are out there. There are void spaces that do exist.

We've got recon crews that are out there 24 hours a day, scouring neighborhoods, scouring buildings, and trying to locate that potential for us. But with the conditions that exist right now, and, like I had said, the conditions of the victims that we're pulling out, I have -- without a doubt, feel that we will still be able to make more positive, live rescues.

HARRIS: Captain Chapman, Captain Wells, boy, that is so encouraging. Can't thank you enough for the work you're doing for the people of Haiti, and you absolutely are making this country very proud.

Thank you, both. Appreciate it. Thanks for your time.

CHAPMAN: Thank you.

WELLS: Thank you.

HARRIS: No, our pleasure.

Just one Port-au-Prince radio station has been on the air nonstop since the earthquake.

CNN's Ivan Watson looks at what has turned into a vital lifeline for Haiti's homeless and hurt.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

IVAN WATSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): People fleeing and a government building collapsing on the day the earthquake struck Port-au-Prince. Terrifying moments captured by a photographer working for a small Haitian radio station Signal FM.

The only local radio station to continue broadcasting in the first chaotic hours and days after the quake, filling the information vacuum left by tremors that took out the power grid, shut down the cell phone network and paralyzed the government.

(on camera): The building itself, you didn't have any damage at all.

MARIO VIAU, OWNER, SIGNAL FM: I guess we are blessed because we didn't have no damage here.

WATSON: Just after the earthquake, owner Mario Viau (ph) he arrived at the station to find his staff too terrified to go inside. VIAU: I saw the building standing. The music was playing. And I told the operator, "Give me the microphone, you can turn it on and go back out if you're afraid. I'm going to start talking to the people to let them know exactly what is going on."

WATSON: And what did you say?

VIAU: I just say we have been hit by an earthquake and start talking to the people and saying that the radio station is there, we're going to talk to you.

WATSON (voice-over): And they have been talking around the clock ever since, fielding calls from Haitians in the U.S., who listen over the Internet.

We are helping reunite scattered families and spreading news about victims trapped in rubble.

VIAU: Somebody would call and say if you're alive, come in front of Signal FM I'll be waiting for you at this time.

WATSON: People continue to gather at the entrance with messages to send to the outside world. Mario Viau says Haitians need information now more than ever.

VIAU: To tell them exactly this is going on that way and that's where you can find water and that's where you can find food. If you go in line there, you will find this. This is the hospitals that are open.

WATSON: The U.S. military recognizes radio is the best way to reach the people in this quake-stricken city.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Wind it. It's also got solar power. You can either wind it and then you put it on any station we put out.

WATSON: Soldiers have begun distributing tens of thousands of hand radios to homeless Haitians. A vital source of information that also provides a welcome musical escape from the misery that surrounds these people.

Ivan Watson, CNN, Port-au-Prince.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: All right. And this just in to CNN.

Severe weather in the western part of the country has emergency crews scrambling.

On the line with us right now is Dwight D'Evelyn from the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office in Arizona.

And boy, first of all, Dwight, thanks for being with us.

We understand that your sheriff deputies are involved in a search now for a 6-year-old boy. What can you tell us about the search and the circumstances?

DWIGHT D'EVELYN, YAVAPAI COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE: Yes. Last night, about -- just before 9:00 p.m., we were called to an area off the Interstate 17, near Highway 69, sort of in the northern part of Arizona. And we received information reporting a swift-water rescue.

What we learned when we got on scene is that a father, his wife and two kids, an 8-year-old daughter, 6-year-old son, had attempted to leave their home to take their son to the hospital. And they live in a remote out there that had seen some flooding.

As they were trying to cross a roadway, their vehicle became disabled and was swept off the roadway. We're not sure how, but the mother was able to get out of the vehicle and go to ground, and the father took his two kids and put them in the bed of the truck.

And just as our fire departments were arriving, the floodwaters rose and swept the father and his two children into the water. He had been thrown a rope earlier. He was able to get to land with his daughter, but found that his son, tragically, was missing, and has not been seen since.

HARRIS: Oh, boy. And I guess that really does explain it and the situation now.

What kind of access do you have to the road and to the area?

D'EVELYN: Well, access -- yes, access has been limited. We had crews on scene all night searching the banks of the river. And right now we've pulled the crews, due to safety concerns, and we're expecting, hopefully, to do a fly-over with a helicopter, rescue crew on board, to see if we can locate the boy. Our rescue personnel have classified this currently as a recovery, because our -- unfortunately, our presumption is the young child could not survive in these conditions.

HARRIS: All right.

We've been speaking with Dwight D'Evelyn with the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office in Arizona.

That is some sad news.

Thank you for your time, sir. Appreciate it.

And checking our other top stories this hour.

A prosecutor in Arkansas said no deal. The man accused of killing a soldier outside a military recruiting center last summer says he wants to plead guilty, but first the state would have to agree not to seek the death penalty. His trial is set for June.

In Wichita, Kansas, opening statements are under way in the murder trial of Scott Roeder. He is accused of killing a doctor in church eight months ago. Dr. George Tiller operated a clinic where late-term abortions were performed. Defense attorneys have said Roeder believed he had to kill the doctor in order to save unborn children.

Air America is pulling the plug. The liberal talk radio network is stopping live broadcasts today. It launched in 2004. Network executives blame the economy and say they will file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

More top stories for you in 20 minutes.

Many in California are still dealing with miserable conditions caused by the weather. Karen Maginnis is going to tell us how long their misery is likely to last.

We're back in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(WEATHER REPORT)

HARRIS: And this just in to CNN. Vice President Joe Biden is in Iraq. He will be taking part in a series of high-level meetings with Iraqi leaders and U.S. officials ahead of the March 7th general elections. We are also told the vice president will meet with U.S. troops.

Nigerian-Americans are upset over a new list that puts them through heavier screening at the airport.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There's never been any history whereby Nigeria has been described to be a breeding ground for terrorists or any incident of terrorist acts against the United States.

HARRIS: But you will acknowledge...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, sir.

HARRIS: ... that in the north of the country, there is a growing issue with radicalization. Will you acknowledge it?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: The fallout from the Christmas Day bombing attempt. My conversation with Nigerians who say the classification is unfair.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Intelligence officials say terror groups might be planning an attack on a flight from south Asia. India has stepped up its security measures.

International Security Correspondent Paula Newton joining us live from London with details.

And Paula, what are you learning? PAULA NEWTON, CNN INTERNATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Well, Tony, this is an interesting terror alert in the sense that the risk of a hijacking was singled out.

Now, authorities from the Civil Aviation Authority in India, saying they are stepping up on those anti-hijacking measures, also more pat-downs. And specifically, the threat is for domestic flights, as well as you said flights from south Asia -- Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka.

Tony, we're going to start to see more and more of this around the world when certain pieces of chatter, certain pieces of intelligence are picked up. Authorities immediately -- immediately, no matter what the cost to the traveling public or in terms of inconvenience -- they will step up those security measures. Allegedly, this intelligence coming from Islamic militant groups possibly linked to al Qaeda and Lashkar-e-Taiba, which was responsible for that terrible attack on Mumbai at the end of 2008.

HARRIS: And Paula, obviously, the chatter considered credible enough to take these steps, correct?

NEWTON: Well, this is an interesting point. I know that -- you know, we had a security alert come out of Canada a couple of weeks ago. We had stepped-up security measures here in Britain earlier in the week, which they insist did not come from specific intelligence. But, Tony, we've gone through the story of what happened during the attempted bombing in December.

HARRIS: Yes.

NEWTON: You are going to see more people connect dots, perhaps very cautiously...

HARRIS: Right.

NEWTON: ... and just expect it month after month, week after week.

HARRIS: All right.

Paula Newton for us in London.

Paula, appreciate it. Thank you.

After the Christmas Day bombing attempt by a Nigerian suspect, the U.S. put Nigeria on a countries of interest list. It requires extra stringent airport screening for any Nigerian passengers heading to the United States. Also on the list, Islamic fundamentalist hotbeds like Libya, Somalia and Pakistan.

I spoke with a group of Nigerians living here in Atlanta who say it is unfair.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

EBODAGHE: If not for this dumb act by this one little kid, we would not be discussing this here today.

MACHAM: This young man was not what influenced by some of those conflicts in Nigeria. He was influenced by conflicts in London and...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yemen.

MACHAM: ... Yemen.

GEORGE: This could happen in any part of the world. It does not have to be in Nigerian. Even within the United States you have parents that raise their children very well and they end up being a menace to society.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It does not reflect our community values. And this kid, from what we've learned so far, never really grew up in Nigeria. So some of these values, from what we understand, were picked up while he was going to school in Britain.

HARRIS: Well, here we go, as a result of what has happened here, Nigeria finds itself on this list.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Very unfair.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So, now equate Nigeria with countries like Libya or Pakistan and Cuba I think is very unfair because Nigeria has a good relationship with the United States. Long-standing relationships. And there's never been any history, whereby Nigeria has been described to be a ground -- a breeding ground for terrorists or any incident of terrorist act against the United States.

HARRIS: But you will acknowledge . . .

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

HARRIS: That in the north of the country, there is a growing issue with radicalization? Will you acknowledge it?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Correct. I would say those are internal problems and those are evolving issues within the comfort (ph) . . .

HARRIS: You can make a case that those internal problems . . .

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We can make a case for that. However, not on the international level to go bomb the plane and to kill people out of the ordinary -- out of the ordinary just for terrorist reason.

HARRIS: You would not deny the United States its right to do whatever it felt was in its interests to protect the country.

CHRIS OKAFOR, NIGERIAN IMMIGRANT, ENGINEER: His father, Mr. Alhaji Umaru Mutallab, did what in typical Nigeria would do. We did not tolerate evil. So this man went out and told the authorities. It looks like my son is behaving abnormally. Do something. And he was ignored.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The dad actually should be commended because that is what a Muslim will do. The Koran says, you will stay by the truth, even if the consequences will be against you.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We believe that security for one is security for all. So if there is going to be any kind of treatment, I want to make sure that everybody goes through the same process. Because it makes me feel better.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: Twenty-three-year-old Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab has pleaded not guilty to attempting to bomb the flight to Detroit. In the meantime, Congress has invited his father, a prominent banker, to Washington to discuss his son's alleged path to terrorism.

Big banks, big regulations and a big reaction on Wall Street. What's going on here? Susan Lisovicz is going to join me, from Wall Street, to sort it all out.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: OK. As always at this time, we'd like to direct your attention to cnnmoney.com if you want the latest financial news and analysis. The Money team doing a terrific job. We're going to talk to a member of that Money team in just a moment. Cnnmoney.com.

New York Stock Exchange right now, just past three hours into the trading day. Where are we? We're still in negative territory. How about yesterday? A 200-point sell-off yesterday. What was that all about? The Nasdaq down 11, 12, Joe, 13 points? Twelve points.

Let's get to Susan Lisovicz. You know, banking stocks are taking a bit of a hit again today, although the losses aren't as bad as yesterday's sell-off. Investors are concerned about big changes that could be headed to Wall Street. Susan Lisovicz on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange.

All right, Susan, let's work through this. The president is taking a tougher approach to financial regulation and limits on the size of the big banks, limiting their ability to take part in some risky bets. Am I really to believe that the reaction to just the idea of these proposed changes led to the sell-off yesterday and the selling we see again today?

SUSAN LISOVICZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Oh, I think there's no question that the sell-off yesterday was, in large part, due to the president's reforms. It took people by surprise. And there is the sense here that the president, a couple days after the upset victory in Massachusetts, for a Republican senator -- or senator-elect, I should say -- who is opposed to health care reform as it stand stands, the president is looking for other -- other -- other reforms. And certainly one of the most popular with the people, with main street, is banking reform. And so to come and -- and to deliver some harsh words . . .

HARRIS: Yes.

LISOVICZ: Was something that surprised some people here. Because we know that financial regulation is -- is coming. That's no surprise. But some of the specifics of it, and the fact that the president said, you know, bring it on, you know, there's going to be a fight.

HARRIS: Right. Yes, so what am I -- what are we to think of the situation here? The president essentially saying, if I've got this correct here, look, you're either a bank or you're a hedge fund. You're either a bank or you're this private equity thing here. But you can't be both. Because -- well, because you were both in the past, you engaged in some risky behaviors that nearly took us to a depression. And that has to end.

LISOVICZ: Well, you know, interestingly enough, you know, this financial crisis was -- you know, as huge as it was, has many, many guilty parties.

HARRIS: Yes.

LISOVICZ: And among them is Washington, because, you know, the separation of commercial banks and investment firms was something that was in place a decade ago. And, in fact, it was created in the aftermath of the crash of 1929. Would it, in and of itself, have stopped this recession that we're all suffering through? No, it would not have. There were so many things that contributed to it. Deterioration in lending standards. People spending beyond their means. The growth of these financial weapons of mass destruction, as Warren Buffett calls them. But, clearly, the fact that there was so much risk-taking in these financial supermarkets, like Citigroup, contributed . . .

HARRIS: Yes.

LISOVICZ: To the "too big to fail" scenario. So the president is talking about separating them. But, you know, we don't know how it's going to end up. And sometimes, Tony Harris . .

HARRIS: Yes.

LISOVICZ: There is a fine line between trying to curb excessive risk and choking off economic growth.

HARRIS: I understand that you can go too far, but I'm also curious as to your thoughts on this. Has the industry perhaps miscalculated the anger over the bailouts, the profits, the bonuses? If you've got Jamie Dimon, who's the head of one of those big banks there, and he's a star there on the street, essentially telling Congress that, you know, we're -- we like what we're doing. You know, we're taking too much criticism over the way we operate. That speaks to some as being a bit tone deaf.

LISOVICZ: Yes, really, in denial or . . .

HARRIS: Yes!

LISOVICZ: Or just really, you know, separated from reality. I mean, especially when it comes to bonuses. There's no question about that. You know, we've seen the backlash against Goldman Sachs, which, in fact, reduced it. Still put out $16 billion to its folks in bonuses last year. Morgan Stanley also has bonuses.

No, I think there's a sense that -- that there is -- there is a lot -- there is a lot of outrage and -- but I can tell you this, there is a huge and ferocious lobby effort in Washington to have a big say in how financial regulation works out. Ultimately works out.

HARRIS: Yes, all right. Good conversation. I love it. All right, Susan, appreciate it. Thank you.

LISOVICZ: You're welcome.

HARRIS: Charitable donations to Haiti now top $355 million. How are charities handling this influx of funds and making sure it gets to people in need. CNNMoney.com's Poppy Harlow visited the international rescue community to find out.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

POPPY HARLOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, last year, more than $280 million went out from the IRC, or International Rescue Committee, to aid people in need around the world. But now, in the wake of the Haiti crisis, more and more people, obviously, are sending in donations. So we're at the headquarters of the IRC here in New York City and I'm literally standing here with the folks that do all of this.

So let's start here with David.

I mean, this is a pile of really personal checks, right?

DAVID SCHEMITSCH, INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE: Yes.

HARLOW: Can you talk to us about sort of how much people are donating and how quickly once it gets to you then it goes into being utilized?

SCHEMITSCH: Well, we were seeing on average about $150 for a small donations, but we have received up to $250,000.

HARLOW: It's been more than a week now since the earthquake in Haiti. Have the donations kept flowing at a steady pace? Were there more at the onset? Are you getting more now?

LAURA FORTUNA, INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE: It's definitely slowed down a little bit in the past couple of days.

HARLOW: OK.

FORTUNA: Definitely not as high a volume as the first couple of days.

HARLOW: And what are the numbers like?

FORTUNA: It's been around $300,000 a day. HARLOW: Wow.

FORTUNA: But it definitely has slowed down. It's about $100,000 now.

HARLOW: What do you do here at the IRC to insure that the least is spent on administrative costs?

NICHOLAS THOMAS, INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE: We don't spend much on our development and our sort of the relations that I think a lot of other organizations do, so we're able to keep our overhead quite low so that 90 cents of every dollar is actually going to our program in the field.

HARLOW: And where in the field specifically is the money going now? Do you know that at this point? Is it going to medical aid, food, shelter, water?

THOMAS: Well, at this point I don't think we've heard from our people in the field in Haiti right now.

HARLOW: Sure.

THOMAS: What our programming is going to be, I think they're still taking stock of the situation.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: For more on what's happening behind the scenes at the IRC, check out cnnmoney.com. And, remember, when decided where to donate, watch out for charities that spend too much on administrative costs, like advertising or fund raising. Some watchdogs say be wary if it goes above 15 percent.

Let's get you caught up now with our top stories.

President Obama takes his "White House to Main Street" tour to Ohio. He's talking jobs and the economy this afternoon in Lorain County. The setting, a town hall at a community college.

No break for California. Another round of stormy weather is pounding the state with flooding, rain and high winds. An emergency is in place in five counties, including Los Angeles. Hundreds of people are still out of their homes because of a mud slide threat.

On the terror front, government officials say a task force is recommending about three dozen detainees at Guantanamo be brought to the United States to face trials or military commissions. They say 47 others would be held indefinitely at the U.S. Naval base in Cuba.

We're back in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: OK. We have special coverage on Haiti planned for tonight. Anderson Cooper is reporting from Haiti as Wyclef Jean joins George Clooney in hosting "Hope for Haiti." The global telethon to air commercial free at 8:00 p.m. Eastern on CNN.

Looking for ways to make your money grow? We are getting some answers from our financial help desk.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Investing in the future, paying off the past. Our personal financial editor, Gerri Willis, gathers "The Help Desk" team on some tips on managing your money.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GERRI WILLIS, CNN PERSONAL FINANCIAL EDITOR: Time now for "The Help Desk," where we get you answers to your financial questions. Joining me now, Lynnette Khalfani-Cox is a personal finance author, and Gary Schatsky is a financial planner and president of objectiveadvice.com.

All right, guys, let's get down to work.

Stan from Indiana asks, "I have some extra money sitting around. What would you recommend at this time? Stocks, money markets?"

What would you invest in, Lynnette?

LYNNETTE KHALFANI-COX, PERSONAL FINANCE AUTHOR: Great options right now. You know, coming out of 2009, we had a great year for the stock market, frankly. So many people, you know, threw in the towel unfortunately a little prematurely. A lot of -- this is a really tough question to answer not knowing frankly anything about this person's situation. I don't know whether or not you have the cash cushion, so the money market might make sense if you haven't had anything there. If you are investing for the long term for your retirement, you could be invested in growth funds, might be worth a good bet. If you need dividend income, maybe utility stocks are worth a look. That kind of thing. Tough question to answer without knowing a lot more specifics, though.

GARY SCHATSKY, PRESIDENT, OBJECTIVEADVICE.COM: I've got a great idea. How about pay down debt?

KHALFANI-COX: That too, yes.

SCHATSKY: If you have debt, this is probably the guaranteed investment that will pay better than just about anything else.

WILLIS: If you've got a 15 percent interest rate on your credit card, that's your return.

KHALFANI-COX: There you go.

WILLIS: Let's go to Steve. His e-mail is, "I received $5,000 in 2009 and will be getting $7,000 in 2010 from my mother's estate. What is taxable and at what rate?

Gary, this is a toughy. It's a tax question. SCHATSKY: Well, it's good news. Unless it's an IRA, it's tax free. Money that you inherit, it's normally taxed at the estate level, meaning before it comes to you. So when you receive it, it will be tax free.

WILLIS: Well, that is good news.

KHALFANI-COX: And if it was an insurance inheritance, that, again, tax free.

SCHATSKY: Absolutely.

WILLIS: Excellent news. OK, thanks, guys.

"The Help Desk" is all about getting you answers. Send me an e- mail to gerri@cnn.com or log on to cnn.com/helpdesk to see more of our financial solutions.

You can also pick up the latest issue of "Money" magazine on newsstands now.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: So yesterday I kind of launched into a little thing on independents and we asked the question on our blog, politically, are you an independent and, if so, why? You guys lit me up with your responses. Wow.

Emily writes, "we are not a secret coalition. We simply do not subscribe to a singular political party, but rather pride ourselves on assessing the situations and mandates of the time rather than voting on party lines." Ouch!

Zachary writes, "I vote on social issues with the Democrats and on economic issues with the Republicans. I believe in marriage equality and fiscal responsibility. So it is beyond my power to consistently vote with either party." OK.

And this from Claire, "we are tired of Washington spending our money on stupid projects just to buy votes. We think that less government is better and that the private sector does a fine job of employing the masses." Ouch!

And this from Chad, "independents think things out. We change when change needs to be made. We are adaptable and change course. It's called intelligence. We are not trained dogs following a master."

As always, we want to hear from you. Join the conversation at cnn.com/tony, or you can send us an I-Report. Ouch.

We're back in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Haitian immigration, always a touchy issue for the United States. The Caribbean country's historic problems have led to wave after wave of Haitians trying to reach the United States. Now, after the big earthquake, a new push to make it easier for Haitians to gain legal status here in the United States.

Here's CNN's Ed Lavandera.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This is the frenzy inside a catholic church in the heart of Miami's Little Haiti neighborhood. Thousands of Haitian immigrants, many in the United States illegally, are applying for what's called temporary protective status, or TPS. It allows Haitian nationals to live in the U.S. legally for the next 18 months.

For years, Haitian-Americans lobbied for TPS, but many advocates now see an opportunity to make bigger changes, to ease years of immigration restrictions toward Haitians coming to the United States.

IRVIN DAPHNIS, HAITIAN LAWYERS ASSOCIATION: This now is an opportunity for Haiti to change. This is the time right now, and many feel this is the last time. A lot of people feel like this is our time.

LAVANDERA: Horrifying images like these have been common in the ocean waters between the United States and Haiti. It's a dangerous and deadly journey for many who try to make it to American shores. Every year, U.S. Coast Guard officials say about 1,600 Haitians are stopped on the high seas and sent back home. Irvin Daphnis, with the Haitian Lawyers Association in Miami, says if more Haitians could work legally in the U.S., it would help their country recover from decades of poverty and corruption back home.

DAPHNIS: So that's how it helps. Haitians are going to be able to be in a position financially to help Haiti themselves.

LAVANDERA (on camera): When the Obama administration approved temporary protective status for Haitian immigrants already in the U.S. before the earthquake, it was expected that some 30,000 people would apply. But immigration officials now say that number could top 200,000.

(voice-over): U.S. officials have been quick to temper any hopes of vast changes in immigration laws toward Haitians, who may now try to come to the United States.

HILLARY CLINTON, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: We are not going to be accepting into the United States Haitians who are attempting to make it to our shores. They will be interdicted. They will be repatriated.

LAVANDERA: U.S. officials say emergency plans are in place to handle a mass exodus of Haitian fleeing the earthquake-ravaged nation, but so far there have been no signs of Haitians jumping on boats.

LT. CHRIS O'NEILL, U.S. COAST GUARD: It's very, very dangerous. It's very dynamic. And I can't stress enough how important it is for people in Haiti to stay home, stay safe, help rebuild your country, and we'll help you rebuild it.

LAVANDERA: But many Haitian-Americans say help rebuilding should include opening more doors to their beleaguered countrymen.

Ed Lavandera, CNN, Miami.

(END VIDEOTAPE)