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Health Reform Drama; Golden Opportunity or Rip Off?; Health Care Reform Through the Eyes of College Students; Job Seekers Make 30- Second Pitch; Wisconsin Priest Abused Hundreds of Deaf Boys Over 20- Year Period
Aired March 25, 2010 - 09:58 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: A new terror threat and supposedly Osama bin Laden is behind it. An audiotape suggests that the U.S. executes Khalid Sheikh Muhammad there will be hell to pay. Muhammad is the self-described mastermind of the 9/11 attacks. He faces a criminal trial in the U.S.
Here's a quote from that audiotape. "To the American people: Peace be upon those who follow the right path. My message towards you is in regards to our prisoners that you have in your custody. Your president is still following the course of his predecessor." We'll bring you more on this story later.
Live pictures straight from the hearing right now: a new policy at the Pentagon, changing the rules of "don't ask, don't tell". Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced that change last hour. You are seeing Joint Chiefs Chair Admiral Mullen.
This is going to deal with the criteria for starting an internal investigation of an allegedly gay soldier. Anonymous third party outings will no longer be enough.
Smoking pot, legal? It could happen in California if a ballot initiative passes this fall. People could have up to an ounce of it and we're not talking for medical purposes. Now the pot could be taxed and it couldn't be smoked in public, by the way.
Democrats have a new reason to dread. They'll have to debate the House measure all over again. Yes, we did say again. That drama simmering on Capitol Hill while anger is boiling over back home in congressional districts. All this comes as the president hits the road to sell the reforms again.
And if you weren't up until midnight last night, here's what you missed. Senate Republicans made good on their threat, poking and jabbing Democrats, forcing them to vote yet again on part of the health care bill. Yes, we thought it was over, too. But not so fast, says Lisa Desjardins, CNN Radio Capitol Hill correspondent.
And I keep asking the question, Lisa, I guess you make it sound a little less mad, but a lot of people are wondering when will the madness end.
LISA DESJARDINS, CNN RADIO CAPITOL HILL CORRESPONDENT: Right. What's going on? Fast? Congress? What?
Let's go through some real quick points that I think can break this down very simply for people. Basically, what's happened here, Kyra, is republicans have managed to force two technical changes to the student loan portion of this bill.
Remember that got attached to all this health care business. They're very technical and just by forcing these two changes it means that essentially this process goes one more step. So what will happen today? We'll see those two changes be made. The Senate will vote on this reconciliation, health care part two bill around 2:00 and then after that kick it over to the House. The House is not going to waste any time. They want to be done with this.
They're hoping to vote on the whole thing tonight with those two little technical changes in it. So what that means, Kyra, is it feels like this final part, this smaller reconciliation health care student loan bill will probably make it to the president in the next day. And then we can get a little more sleep up here on Capitol Hill.
PHILLIPS: Yes, right. You never get sleep.
All right. Any I guess, realistic chance that Republicans stall this bill for a prolonged period of time?
DESJARDINS: There is a chance in the House that we could have what's called a Republicans - I'm sorry, majority leader John Boehner tries to hold the floor for a long time. They could try some delaying tactics over there in the House but you know, we don't know if that's going to happen. It seems like right now, the cards are on the table, Kyra.
We know what this bill is going to look like when it leaves the Senate. We know it will have these two huge tiny changes, you know, technical changes to it. Republicans can say they were successful in putting down some speed bumps with these changes, but Democrats can say they got through basically the package that they wanted overall and as a sign for how long this has been taken this week, Kyra, I just talked to my friend who is a Capitol Hill police officer, get this.
He told me that he already this week has 40 hours of overtime between the House and the Senate. That's how many hours everyone is putting being here.
PHILLIPS: Sounds like the life of every journalist. Lisa, thanks. Plus some!
Well, our crews are also in Iowa City where President Obama will deliver remarks on health care reform. That's scheduled for 2:00 Eastern, 1:00 Central. We will have live coverage.
And talk about angry. It's been a real hate parade for Michigan Congressman Bart Stupak. As you know, the congressman called the baby killer, remember that? He's actually the target or he's in the target sights of a lot of angry people right now. Our Carol Costello has that. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO (voice-over): Some conservatives have made Michigan Congressman Bart Stupak a verb, Stupaked, definition -- betrayed. And for some that sense of betrayal from a man who is pro-life is vitriol. These kinds of calls have been coming into Stupak's D.C. office since this weekend.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (via telephone): You're a cowardly punk, Stupak. That's what you are, you and your family, scum.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (via telephone): Go to hell, you piece of (EXPLETIVE DELETED)
COSTELLO: Stupak has also received thousands of letters and faxes, some threatening his family. This one shows a noose with the words "all baby killers come to unseemly ends either by the hand of man or the hand of God."
The calls and letters kept coming as Stupak and 12 other pro-life Democratic lawmakers to witness the president sign an order he says confirms the ban on federal funding for abortions in the new health care law.
REP. MARCY KAPTUR (D), OHIO: It was very joyous. After the president finished signing it, we all clapped.
COSTELLO: Ohio Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur has also experienced some pushback for her support but nothing like Stupak. She finds it disturbing and says it has little to do with the abortion issue.
KAPTUR: There were a lot of individuals who really didn't want this bill at all, and I think that's where some of this vitriol is still coming from.
COSTELLO: Stupak is getting hammered on other fronts too.
REP. RANDY NEUGEBAUER (R), TEXAS: You know what I'm never going to quit speaking on behalf of the unborn.
COSTELLO: The Texas Republican congressman who interrupted Stupak's speech on the House floor with shouts of "baby killer" is now using the incident in a campaign ad. Back in Michigan, the little- known Republican running against Stupak suddenly has thousands of friends on his Facebook page. Dr. Ben Banaszak (ph) is richer, too. In the past two days, he says he received $60,000 in donations.
ADVERTISEMENT NARRATOR: Join the Tea Party Express showdown and searchlight rally March 27th.
COSTELLO: The Tea Party Express tour with Sarah Palin on board will now include Stupak's district, not because of the abortion issue but because his vote on health care will burden the American people with even more debt and even more government control.
SISTER SIMONE CAMPBELL, PROGRESSIVE CATHOLIC: What a great day for health care reform.
COSTELLO: Sister Simone Campbell, a progressive Catholic, feels for Stupak. She and other Catholic nuns came out in favor of health care reform. She's getting hammered, too, even though she's against abortion.
CAMPBELL: One person called me a baby killer.
COSTELLO: Sister Simone is saddened by the vitriol. She actually met with Congressman Stupak to offer comfort.
(on camera): Sister Simone met with Congressman Stupak yesterday to tell him he followed his conscience and faith and that she's grateful because she knows it's a big, big price to pay.
Carol Costello, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: Well, in the NEWSROOM and the 11:00 and noon Eastern hours is focusing on those threats. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and minority leader John Boehner expected to make comments.
Plus, our Tony Harris is going to direct a panel on civility.
Right now though, let's stop talking about them and focus on you. We got an expert here to answer your questions about health care reform. You've been sending them us to by the boatload. Plus listen to a raw deal that one guy got when he tried to turn his gold into cash.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: About a week and a half, I think, after I sent the package off to them with the gold in it I received a check.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: How much more? How much was the check for?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I was astounded. It was for 15 cents.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Fifteen cents, that wouldn't even pay for a pair of those latex gloves. You might want to hold on to your gold until you hear out what Poppy Harlow has to say.
Plus, the Vatican says it didn't know about the serious and multiple sex allegations against an American priest. We'll tell you about it.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(WEATHER UPDATE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) PHILLIPS: So why did we established this health care desk because we've been getting buried by your questions about health care reform. Some of them are provocative and some are heart wrenching and all of them deserve answers and that's why we're turning to our guest today, Ken Thorpe. He is from Emory University, he is joining us today live from Los Angeles.
Good to see you, Ken.
KENNETH THORPE, EMORY UNIVERSITY, ROLLINS SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH: Well, good morning.
PHILLIPS: Well, let's get right to it, shall we?
THORPE: OK.
PHILLIPS: This e-mail's coming from Dean. "Can we expect our insurance premiums to increase while we wait for the bill to take effect? In other words, are the insurance companies going to try and make up for the fact that they won't be able to levy large increases in premiums in the future?"
THORPE: Well, good question. I think there's two things to keep in mind here. One is that we're going to continue to rely on the states to monitor health insurance premiums. So most states still have to approve those premiums to make sure they're reasonable, but what's really important is that within the next three months, each state is going to put into place a high-risk pool.
So individuals who are expensive and have pre-existing conditions will be able to get health insurance guaranteed through a separate pool and what that could do is pull out the expense of people from the current individual and small group market and maybe take some of the pressure off of those premiums.
PHILLIPS: Well, we all love to get the pressure taken off. That's for sure, Ken. All right.
This one's coming from Wanda. "My husband is self-employed. I could not afford to put him on my insurance at work. When and where will he have access to affordable health insurance and who do we call?"
THORPE: Well, I think two answers there. One is that if her husband does have a pre-existing condition, within the next three months each state will put into place a high-risk pool that provides guaranteed access to health insurance. So many states, my home state of Georgia, that's a big deal because a lot of people can't get health insurance if they have a pre-existing condition at any price.
PHILLIPS: All right.
THORPE: Within four years, and I would love to see it happen earlier, there's going to be again, the health insurance exchanges and insurance available to all Americans at a very subsidized price. So near-term relief, but certainly within the next four years the opportunity to buy coverage through the insurance exchanges.
PHILLIPS: Got it. RJG says "My wife and I own a small business. We employ about 12 part-time employees. Will we need to offer our employees health care or be fined?"
THORPE: No. If you're a business of 50 or fewer workers you don't have to offer health insurance under this legislation. The good news is that immediately, though, this year if you're a small firm providing coverage, you'll be eligible for up to a 25 percent tax credit in this case towards your contribution for health insurance coverage.
So there's a lot of immediate relief for small businesses in this bill. So if you're a firm of ten or fewer you can get up to a 35 percent tax credit. If you're a company of 10 to 25, you can get up to a 25 percent tax credit. So I think that's good news to make health insurance more affordable for companies currently offering it.
PHILLIPS: Here's a question that a number of people wrote in about. Heath says "How does this health care plan affect dental and vision coverage?"
THORPE: Well, through the insurance exchanges, if you're an individual small business, dental and vision will be included as part of the core essential benefits. The only thing that will differ in these exchanges is how much you pay out of pocket for your health care coverage. So you can pick a cheaper plan, in terms of the premiums, you'll pay more cost sharing. You can pick a more expensive plan with less cost sharing. So you're going to have a lot of choice in terms of the type of benefit that you get, but vision and dental will be covered through these exchanges.
PHILLIPS: All right. And real quickly, if you don't mind, before you go, you mentioned insurance exchanges, a lot of folks are confused by exactly what that means.
THORPE: It's basically just - it's something that the states will put together that's a big supermarket that allows you to pick health plans. So my employer at Emory provides me every year a listing of health benefits that are available to me. So individual, small businesses now will have available through the internet information on different health care choices that they may pick from in terms of the benefits and cost sharing and so on. So it's a way of just organizing competition in the marketplace to make it easier for individuals, self-employed and small businesses to get health insurance coverage.
PHILLIPS: Ken Thorpe from Emory University, appreciate it so much. Thanks for weighing in with us today. We're going to bring you back because we still have thousands and thousands of e-mail questions.
Thanks, Ken.
THORPE: Well, thanks for having me on.
PHILLIPS: My pleasure.
More from the CNN NEWSROOM straight ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: An execution on hold in Texas. The Supreme Court stepped in at the last minute to temporarily stop the lethal injection. Henry Skinner was convicted in the murders of his live-in girlfriend and her two sons. A friend of the dead woman had this to say on CNN's "Larry King Live" last night.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LARRY KING, CNN HOST: Are you convinced he did it, Tara?
TARA BRADLEY, TWILA BUSBY'S FRIEND: Yes, I am. I was really like to speak for Twila because Twila was seeking help to get away from this man.
REV. ROBERT MAGGARD, SKINNER'S FRIEND: He was so drunk and drugged and bombed out of his gourd that he doesn't know what happened. It's like if we were having a surgical operation and we were out of it. But the evidence, the scientific evidence is so convincing and so compelling that he could not have done it, and there's also evidence that another person did.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Skinner's attorneys are asking for DNA testing in the case. He got a stay of execution while he was eating his last meal.
It was a tragedy caught on camera, but don't expect to see it any time soon. A judge in Orlando, Florida, is actually preventing the news media from showing video or photos of the death of SeaWorld trainer Dawn Brancheau. The family doesn't want any photos or videos of that incident released. Brancheau died last month when a killer whale dragged her under water.
And look what's happening during spring break at Cornell University. Fences are going up on the bridges there. Suicide barriers, that's because at least six student suicides have happened this year. Right now, Cornell has guards on the bridges, also from 8:00 at night to 8:00 in the morning to try and deter would-be jumpers. And the students get back from break, guards could spend even more time on that watch.
The value of your memories. When you're done with them, how much will they fetch? You may be surprised.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FRANK POINDEXTER, CASH4GOLD CUSTOMER: When they slap you in the face with an absurd amount as 15 cents, then it becomes a matter of dignity.
(END VIDEO CLIP) PHILLIPS: Low balled through the mail. So how much are your once prized possessions worth? Be careful who you ask.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(MUSIC PLAYING)
PHILLIPS: With gold prices near historic highs a lot of us are sorting through jewelry boxes and under couch cushions looking for those forgotten pieces of the precious metal, but if you're thinking about mailing your gold in for cash, you may be disappointed or downright infuriated.
CNNMoney.com's Poppy Harlow shows us why.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I can get cash for this gold medallion.
POPPY HARLOW, CNNMONEY.COM (voice-over): Their ads are pervasive, but some cash for gold customers say they're getting a raw deal.
FRANK POINDEXTER, CASH4GOLD CUSTOMER: When they slap you in the face with an absurd amount.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A golden opportunity to be fleeced.
HARLOW (on camera): There are just a lot of people that are selling their gold right now and there are some people that say they're getting ripped off. There's actually a class action lawsuit against "Cash for Gold" right now and they invited us down to their headquarters here in Florida. So we came and we can't show you the outside of the building for security reasons, but we really wanted to come in and see exactly what was going on.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'll make sure that everything here is what I received.
HARLOW: The gold is tested.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We just simply scratch lightly.
HARLOW: Appraised.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We add it up.
HARLOW: And an offer is made and customers have 12 days to decide whether or not to accept it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And we'll get about 1800 degrees.
HARLOW: If they do, their gold is melted down.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We melt constantly. HARLOW: "Consumer Reports" finds mail-in companies including Cash for Gold sometimes pay out as little as 11 percent of the gold's value.
(on camera): I think some concerns are whether they're valid or not that maybe more gold is getting processed here that someone sent in than they're getting paid for.
JEFF ARONSON, CEO, CASH4GOLD: I know exactly what comes in is weighed up, is a value is assigned to it right from the computer. My people don't make more money off of it.
HARLOW (voice-over): Cash4Gold says it pays 20 percent to 80 percent of the gold's value, but that's not what Frank Poindexter claims he got.
POINDEXTER: About a week and a half, I think, I sent the package off to them with the gold in it I received a check.
HARLOW (on camera): How much for? How much was the check for?
POINDEXTER: I was astounded. It was for 15 cents.
HARLOW: 15 cents.
POINDEXTER: 15 cents.
HARLOW (voice-over): 15 cents for what he says was more than a dozen pieces of gold appraised at roughly $200 bucks. But Cash4Gold's internal documentation says just this single gold earring was in Frank's packet.
(on camera): Are you saying he lied to you?
HARLOW: I'm just telling you the facts.
(voice-over): In the end Cash4Gold settled with Frank for $150.
(on camera): And you know, Frank Poindexter is not alone. He's joining that lawsuit against Cash4Gold, which alleges among other things that the company sometimes melts down the gold before the 12- day return period has ended and sometimes blames the post office for losing items in the mail.
ARONSON: The class action is merit less. There are three named complainants on the class action suit. Three.
HARLOW: After numerous complaints about several companies New York Democrat Anthony Weiner introduced the Gold Act, pushing for more stringent regulation of the industry on a national scale.
REP. ANTHONY WEINER (D), NEW YORK: Basically when you put that gold in that envelope you're sending it off to the wild west.
(END VIDEOTAPE) HARLOW: And Kyra, if the Gold Act becomes law, consumers would have to accept the offer for their gold before it is melted down. Companies that don't comply, they would pay a fine. Also it would make companies insure any jewelry they send back to consumers are the same value that consumers inserted out when they mailed it in. Now, in Florida where we went here, there are stricter regulations and Cash4Gold says they worked with Florida to make these stronger laws. This would make those and others on a national scale, Kyra. But it's really a case of buyer beware and seller beware, rather not buyer.
PHILLIPS: There you go. But in our meeting we were thinking OK, who would trust a company - who would want to send in gold or pieces of jewelry that could get stolen and they could say they never got it and they could disappear? I mean, what's the reason for doing this? Just because it's easier to do that way? I mean, there's gold shops all over the place, you can take your stuff in and sell it.
HARLOW: Yes, there are but Cash4Gold has a million customers, Kyra. So people are doing this. And the issue here is they have advertised that they offer more. You skip the middle man and mail it right in. They say they offer more. That's what some people say they get more. Other people say they don't. I think the bottom line here is you got to follow these things. You have to shop around like we did.
We hit the streets of New York and we tried to sell the same gold necklace and we got a huge range of offers. You have to know what your gold is worth. 14 karat gold and 24 karat gold, they are very, very different and they're worth a lot different in value than each other and you have to do your research on these companies. You got to go to the Better Business Bureau or your attorney general's office or you will really, really could get ripped off.
So we're going to keep an eye on this class action law suit. Cash4Gold again says they did not do anything wrong. We'll keep you posted on what happens.
PHILLIPS: Got it. Thanks so much, Poppy.
Scam or not, these ads are tempting. We want you to know, what would it take for you to trade in your gold for cash? Go to my blog, CNN.com/Kyra. Post your comments. I'll read some of them later this hour.
Health care reform. The going gets tough and the president gets going. We're going to tell you where he's traveling and why.
Plus two students who have something to say about health care live from the CNN NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Well, this morning there's a new snag in the health care reform. Just hours ago Senate Republicans made good on their threat. They've sent the health reform measure back to the House for another vote. Yes, you heard it right. Another vote. The move is mostly procedural and no one expects to change the reforms, but is it a pain in the you know what for House Democrats? Oh, yes and already facing a public backlash as well. And some of that anger has turned violent.
Nearly a dozen congressional democrats say they've been the targets of threats or vandalism. Windows have been smashed at Democratic offices in at least three states and meanwhile, President Obama is hitting the road to sell reforms to a skeptical public. This hour he's actually heading to Iowa City. We're going to go to Iowa right now and see what folks there are saying and maybe see what kind of reception the president can expect at the university.
Say hi to Matt Sexton, he's a student at the University of Iowa and yes, we'll tell you about the bracket busters. Matt also a leader in the Iowa College Republicans and then there's Dane Hudson. He's a student at the University of Iowa and co-president of the campus Democrats. Guys, good to see you. Let's go ahead, Dane and start with you. You know, how much are students on campus talking about the health care bill? Do they really care about it?
DANE HUDSON, STUDENT, UNIVERSITY OF IOWA: Yes. For a while, we've been hearing a lot of student comes to our group and talk about health care reform and asking for ways in which that they can help the university Democrats or other Democratic organizations call their members of Congress and get the word out that the youth actually wanted this bill to pass.
PHILLIPS: Matt, how about you?
MATT SEXTON, STUDENT, UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN IOWA: Yes. I think health care is something that affects all of us, and I feel like the debate on campus hasn't been so much about, you know, health care or not health care, but how health care should be fixed. I think we can all agree that there are problems and now that a fix has come into law, I think that debate and conversation is only intensifying.
PHILLIPS: Matt, republican groups from area schools actually held a protest rally last night, right? What were they protesting, specifically?
SEXTON: Specifically, I believe they were utilizing their First Amendment rights to protest the grab of power that Barack Obama just showed. He strong armed members of the Democratic Caucus to vote against their constituency for a counter-majoritarian (ph) piece of legislation that ultimately consumes one-sixth of the United States economy and gives it to the government.
Like I said, we can all agree that health care is broken but there are many different facets of the health care reform that was passed to protest because it doesn't really address what the American people need.
PHILLIPS: And, Dane, you're saying sort of just the opposite. That you guys and other students, part of your group were pretty excited about this bill. Why? What is it about it specifically that you guys as college students see as encouraging? HUDSON: Well, I think as college students the most exciting prospect is the fact that students under the age of 26 are going to be able to stay on their parents' health insurance plan. All over campus, you know, I was talking to friends about health care and that was something that they were worried about because they were planning on graduating and going out into the workforce. And if they can't get a job, it's notoriously difficult to get an insurance policy in the non-group market.
So they were happy for that additional security, and as well we were also really excited to hear about some of the long provisions that were going through in the bill as well.
PHILLIPS: You bring up a good point, Dane.
Matt, let me get you to weigh in on this. I mean, you know, you guys are getting ready to graduate and go off into the real world and obviously health care is extremely important. I know when we're young we think we're invincible and nothing is going to go wrong, but as you're getting ready to go into the workforce are you thinking what kind of health care coverage is this possible employer going have when you're looking for a job?
(CROSSTALK)
PHILLIPS: Yes. Go ahead, Matt, and then, Dane, I'll get you to weigh in.
SEXTON: Yes. I think health care is a huge determinant when choosing a job. I know, at one point in high school both my parents were laid off. They were both without a job, and so it wasn't so much about the pay, but they were actually looking for a job with benefits. And I think that was one of the travesties of our old health care system how they tied it to employment. You don't tie auto insurance or life insurance or home insurance to employment, so it always perplexed me why employment was tied to health insurance.
Now there are rational, logical, common sense ways that that could be combated, but instead, Barack Obama, again, delegated the entire structure to the government with the end goal of a public option. And we will see this turn into any other entitlement program that we've seen, whether it's Social Security or Medicare or Medicaid, it goes on and on and on and on, this will be something that we will be talking about for years and years and years, and it does not directly confront the problems with the health care system.
PHILLIPS: Got it.
Guys, thanks so much. Matt Sexton, Dane Hudson. The president will be there at one of the universities but in your state, and I know you both will be following it. Thanks so much, guys.
Our crews are also there in Iowa City where President Obama will deliver remarks on health care reform. That's scheduled for 2:00 Eastern, 1:00 Central and we'll have live coverage. It's the sex abuse scandal that won't go away. The pope is now under fire for how he handled a priest who accused of abusing dozens of deaf children.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Well, this is a real shocker. The sex abuse scandal storm hitting the Catholic Church swirls into the Vatican itself straight to the man wearing St. Peter's ring. CNN's Diana Magnay is in Rome.
So, Diana, at "The New York Times" alleges the pope failed to actually take action against this priest who admitted molesting deaf children.
DIANA MAGNAY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely, Kyra. And this is a particularly unpleasant case that "The New York Times" is reporting about. This priest, Father Lawrence Murphy who is in the Diocese of Wisconsin apparently abused as many as 200 deaf boys between the years of 1950 and 1974. And then, to make matters worse, not just one, but three archbishops failed to report this abuse, which they apparently knew about, either to civil authorities or in fact, to the Vatican. The Vatican were only told about it in 1996, so 20 years after this abuse actually took place -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: So could the pope in any way, shape or form, if the allegations are proved true be held accountable in any way?
MAGNAY: The Vatican issued a strongly-worded statement today saying that when they were informed of the abuse it was too late for them to act in any kind of trial fashion. It was 20 years after the abuse had taken place and the man himself was in very ill health.
So what they did do was simply make recommendations to his archbishop in the Diocese of Milwaukee to make sure that he accepted, took responsibility for what he'd done and was cleared of some of his duties. But he wasn't defrocked and that's what many people surrounding this case would have expected and would have wanted.
So the pope is saying, the Vatican is saying we did act though many people will say not hard enough -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Final question, Diana, as you've worked the story and talked to so many people, what is your sense? I mean, could all of this, because it's been case after case after case finally lead to any type of dramatic changes within the Catholic Church?
MAGNAY: Well, this is the thing, these cases date back so many years. This one we're talking about now was between 1950 and 1974. What the Vatican says is that we have now strict policies in place to make sure that this kind of abuse is immediately reported.
What's interesting in this case is there was no compulsion for bishops to report under Canon Law to the Vatican. It was only if a child was abused during confession, giving confession, which happened in this instance, that the bishop had to report it to the authorities. Now things are very different. If you are a bishop and you know of abuse, you have to take it straight to the Vatican, and you also have to report it to civil authorities if the law of the land requires it.
So the Vatican, with these laws, says they're making a difference that this kind of thing can't happen again. Well, let's hope so, Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Diana Magnay, thanks so much.
The world's most wanted man wants the U.S. to know this -- execute his ally and be ready for retaliation.
Back in 60 seconds.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: A new terror threat and supposedly Osama bin Laden is behind it. An audiotape suggests that if the U.S. executes Khalid Shaikh Muhammad there will be hell to pay. Muhammad is the self- described mastermind of the 9/11 attacks. He faces a criminal trial in the U.S.
Here's a quote straight from that audio-taped message, "To the American people, peace be upon those who follow the right path, my message towards you is in regards to our prisoners that you have in your custody. Your president is still following the course of his predecessor."
The latest search for Natalee Holloway's remains has been called off. Divers spent looking off Aruba after a vacationing couple took a picture while snorkeling of an apparent skeleton. The police dive team says that the couple probably just saw a coral formation. Holloway has been missing since 2005.
Actor Robert Culp has died. Culp's publicist says that he passed away yesterday after falling and hitting his head in a Los Angeles park. You may remember Culp from "I Spy" with Bill Cosby. Culp appeared in dozens of TV shows over the past 50 years. He was a director and screenwriter as well as an actor. Robert Culp was 79.
Ready, set, go! Stampede? Well, almost. About a dozen horses here got out of their pens and just went wild running through the streets and apparently the parking lots in Chula Vista, California. That's just outside San Diego. Now, check out this guy trying to round them up with a piece of fence. What's that about? The impromptu round-up took about two hours, by the way.
Well, here's a first -- one of our 30-second pitchers used to be a pitcher. We're hoping he hits it out of the park right here. That's Stewart. No wild pitches, OK? We've also got Julie, she's a single mom who has had a pretty rough time. Hopefully we can help her out, too.
We'll be back in two minute, you guys. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: All right, it's Thursday. Anyone out there need a job? We're trying to get you hooked up. Time for your "30-Second Pitch." Let's go ahead and start with Julie Hearn. This single mom has not had it easy. As a matter of fact, she and her daughter, August, were homeless for awhile, staying with friends and sending out thousands of resumes. She is more than ready for her 30-second pitch.
Then we've got Spitball Stewart Vidanage. He's winding up for his 30-second pitch. Seriously, this guy is a former baseball player for the New Zealand Kiwis, and he was tossed from his IT job even after racking up awards for top sales guy. What's up with that? They both join us from California.
Julie, let's start go ahead with you. You know, you were working as a project management assistant for a solar company. I mean, we've got a president who is all about going green and solar jobs are a big part of his agenda. What happened?
JULIE HEARN, HARWORKANDINSPIRATION@YAHOO.COM: Actually, there are so many budget cuts that happen within companies right now and it's been happening for about, I want to say, eight years. If you go into a position, it may not last long. There could be just budget cuts. And so, that's been predominantly what's been happening with a lot of companies that I've worked for.
PHILLIPS: Wow. And Stewart, you were top sales guy, what the heck happened?
STEWART VIDANAGE, STUARTCONSULTSIT@GMAIL.COM: Well, it's a difficult market, and sometimes in an economy when there's a field- base sales force that maybe they're the first people to go and my company retrenched some of the field-based sales force back in-house. Unfortunately, I was part of the people that were retrenched.
PHILLIPS: Well, let's try to do something good here.
Julie, why don't we go ahead and start with you. Are you ready for your 30-second pitch?
HEARN: I sure am.
PHILLIPS: All right, let's fire up the clock. Julie Hearn, take it away.
HEARN: Hi, I have had many years of experience in executive assistance and senior administration for biotech directors as well as project management for multimillion-dollar construction projects. I'm open to title and location and I'm currently looking in Sonoma, San Francisco and Oregon. And I would like to thank CNN for this opportunity, and I pride myself on integrity and hard work.
PHILLIPS: I tell you what, I love that e-mail -- hardworkandinspiration@yahoo.com. Very creative. All right, Julie, great job. Stewart, are you ready to wind up and go?
VIDANAGE: I think so.
PHILLIPS: All right, let's start the clock. Stewart, go ahead.
VIDANAGE: All right. Well, good morning, America, and good morning, CNN audience. My name is Stewart Vidanage. I've been consulting in IT and in sales marketing positions for about the last ten years, working for some industry heavyweights such as Cisco Systems, Vodafone, PLC and Ingram Micro. My most recent position was as the territory account manager for Ingram Micro in the San Francisco and Silicon Valley.
Basically, what I can do for your company is bring you someone who is aggressive, whose gregarious and who is out there looking to make the sale. I like to work with people and like to work across different units and organizations and I'm someone that basically will travel the world for you to do the sales position that you need. I do consulting work as well. I've set up an e-mail address that can get you to me.
PHILLIPS: Your time is up Stewart.
VIDANAGE: And my time is up.
PHILLIPS: Maybe we should make that ding a little louder, but we wanted to kind of have a soft approach to the wrap-up. But hey, you got the point across.
Both of you did a fantastic job. Stewart Vidanage and Julie Hearn, guys, thanks so much for writing in. Really appreciate it and keep us updated on what response you get.
VIDANAGE: Thank you, Kyra.
PHILLIPS: You bet.
HEARN: Thanks. Sure will.
PHILLIPS: Thanks, Julie.
VIDANAGE: Will do.
PHILLIPS: All right, thanks, guys.
And if you're out of work ask you want to sell yourself to prospective employers, let us know. Send us your resume and a letter to 30secondpitch@CNN.com. Also , if you want to hire our 30-second pitchers right there who you just met, just go to our blog CNN.com/Kyra, their pitches and e-mails will be there.
And if she'd only taken a detour. A mom makes a decision that ends up putting her three kids in danger. We'll tell you what happened.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Might have dumped him years ago, but the stuff lingers on taking up valuable drawer space. Would you sell or have sold your old gold for quick cash? Well, we're prospecting for your comments at CNN.com/Kyra.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: An Arkansas mother of three young boys learned a very important lesson the hard way -- don't drive in high water. The family's car got stuck, firefighters had to come to the rescue. But the oldest boy? Well, he just took it all in stride.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: We got stuck in the lake and we couldn't get out. And so the firemen got us in the ladder and then they brought us over to the other side of the bridge.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Tough guy. One fireman said the danger could have been avoided if the mom had just taken a two and a half mile detour.
(WEATHER REPORT)
PHILLIPS: Well, there's gold in them there dresser drawers and a lot of it, and you could get big bucks for it. Could, being the operative word here. We told you about troubles that some people are having, so would you follow suit, getting rid of your gold for the promise of getting rich quick?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Well, CNN has taken an in-depth look at threats to lawmakers over the contentious health care bill. In the next hour and at noon Eastern we'll have more on this. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Minority Leader John Boehner are expected to make some comments.
Plus, our man, Tony Harris will direct a panel on civility.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Desperate times and desperate steps to get some cash. On the blog this morning, we're talking about all of those cash for gold ads out there. We asked about your experiences trading cash for gold and here's what some of you had to say.
John said, "My brother and I actually sent some of my our grandmother's old jewelry to Cash4Gold. We got a check quickly and were happy to get cash for old pieces that were just sitting around. Satisfied customers for sure."
Rick said, "I used Cash4Gold for a necklace I had for years just sitting in my drawer. When they sent it in they sent me a check for $18.58. I immediately called them and told them to not do anything with it because I wanted it returned. I took it to my local jewelry store and I received $135 for the same necklace."
And Johnny said, "I wish my fiance would send in the jewelry that she has lying around from her first husband. In fact, maybe should I just do it myself."
Sell it, get some cash.
Remember, we want to hear from you. Just logon to CNN.com/Kyra to share your comments.
So, Tony, if all your exes gave jewelry back to you you'd be a rich man.
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: I knew you were going there!
PHILLIPS: Rich man!
HARRIS: I really would! I really would!
So, Kyra, I'm leading a panel on civility.
PHILLIPS: I know. I had to do a double take at that one.
HARRIS: Can you believe that? Whose idea was that?
PHILLIPS: Yes. Where'd that come from?
HARRIS: I'm the most ill tempered one in the room when that happens.
Have a great day, lady.
PHILLIPS: You're the most diplomatic. We love you. Take it away.
HARRIS: We'll see. All right, have a great day, Kyra.
