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Polish President Killed in Plane Crash; Missing Miners Found Dead; GOP Resurgence?; Massey CEO Says Mine was Safe

Aired April 10, 2010 - 11:00   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: From the CNN Center, welcome to the CNN NEWSROOM for this Saturday April 10th. I'm T.J. Holmes.

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN ANCHOR: And it is 11:00 a.m. in the East, 8:00 a.m. on the West Coast, I'm Brianna Keilar. Thanks so much for being with us.

Well, the people of Poland are in shock this morning, their president and first lady killed in a plane crash just hours ago. This happened in western Russia. Investigators say the plane was trying to land in heavy fog there.

President-elect Kaczynski was leading a delegation for the 70th Anniversary of the massacre of Polish prisoners of war. Top Polish military officials and also the head of the National Bank were onboard this plane. Russia's Emergency Minister says 97 people in all have been confirmed dead.

Poland's Parliament Speaker now acting president has declared a time for national mourning. Two minutes of silence will be held mid- day tomorrow and there's another planned in Russia.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DMITRY MEDVEDEV, PRESIDENT OF RUSSIA (through translator): On behalf of the Russian people, I extend the deepest and sincerest of condolences to the people of Poland and to the loved ones and relatives of those deceased. On Monday, April 12th, Russia will have a national mourning day.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KEILAR: Barack Obama among the many world leaders offering condolences. He called the deaths devastating to Poland, to the United States and to the world. And he said, "President Kaczynski was a distinguished statesman who played a key role in the Solidarity Movement, and he was widely admired in the United States as a leader dedicated to advancing freedom and human dignity."

HOLMES: Well, at this time, Russian investigators think the plane crash was attributed to heavy fog and possibly the plane clipped a couple of trees while attempting to land. Of course, still the investigation needs to continue, and it'll probably take some time before we know for sure.

But CNN's Richard Quest, at least for now, has been looking into the safety of this particular plane. Richard hello again to you. And again, we think this might have been caused by fog, but tell us about this plane, it's a safety record. And also we've been talking earlier this is the equivalent of Air Force One.

RICHARD QUEST, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It is the equivalent -- it's the Polish equivalent of Air Force One. This is the plane that we're talking about, the Tupolev 154, three engines at the back, very similar both in look and in age to the Boeing 727.

And just like the 727 isn't seen much within the United States these days, it's old, it's noisy, it's not fuel-efficient, so the Tupolev 154 across the -- the former Soviet Union isn't seen much, even though a thousand of these were originally made only about 205 are still flying. It was -- the Polish Presidential Party had continually looked at replacing the 154 with either an Airbus 320 or 737, but money was always the issue.

T.J., since you and I last spoke, we have now heard from Russian officials. So this is new information for you, that apparently air traffic controllers did advise the pilots of this plane that their vertical rate of descent was too fast and that they were now flying below the glide path.

Now, despite being warned about this, they also then, air traffic controllers, instructed the pilots to abort the landing and head to a backup airport, possibly or probably because of fog.

Well, the only thing we know now is those instructions were neither -- was either not received or certainly were not followed. The plane continued that rapid rate of descent below the glide path, and to use the phrase the rest, as they say, is history.

We now know what happened, the plane was coming in too fast, too steep, it clipped the trees and 97 people are dead. We don't know why they didn't respond to those calls.

HOLMES: Why they didn't respond and I think we had gotten words as well Richard, that in fact they had been making attempts to land, had been circling for a bit, trying to find an opening, if you will. But we talked about and Richard -- they say these are some tricky conditions there in Russia trying to land sometimes in this weather.

And it's important for us to tell our viewers as well, no indications that this was is anything other than an accident, no -- no terrorism or anything like that suspected or certainly talked about at this point, but again Richard, right now is -- where you described, as we pieced this together, it sounds like -- you might come out to us later that in fact that was the case and they clipped some trees.

QUEST: Yes, I mean. They were obviously quite close to the runway, but you have to be -- to -- to clip trees you've got to be very close because of the various safety guidance put before the end -- the beginning and ends of runways. Smolensk Airport, by the way is a typical airport sort of Russian western province airport, fairly basic, concrete runway of about 1,600 meters long.

But bear in mind, T.J., this aircraft was built for those sorts of conditions, it had greater landing gear, bigger wheels, the whole thing has been designed for those more primitive aviation industry and environments in certain parts of the world. We don't know why or what took place that actually led to them being so low at that point.

HOLMES: All right, Richard Quest, we appreciate you being on this for us. I appreciate the information and the updates, thanks so much.

KEILAR: Sad but not totally unexpected news out of West Virginia this morning. The bodies of four missing miners were found overnight, making Monday's explosion at the Upper Big Branch Coal Mine the deadliest mining accident in the U.S. in almost 40 years.

CNN's Ines Ferre has the grim details from Raleigh County, West Virginia.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

INES FERRE, CNN EN ESPANOL CORRESPONDENT: This West Virginia community was hoping for a miracle. But the sliver of hope held for the last five days is gone.

JOE MANCHIN, GOVERNOR, WEST VIRGINIA: None of the chambers had been deployed and none of our miners suffered. So -- this journey -- this journey has ended. And now the healing will start.

FERRE: The governor says that the families are pulling on all their strength. It's been an excruciating five days for the families. Rescue workers had gone into the mine numerous times this week, only to be pulled back because of the conditions of the mine, but when all was said and done, the four missing miners were found dead.

KEVIN STRICKLIN, U.S. MINE SAFETY & HEALTH ADMINISTRATION: You know, when they reported to the command center, it was very professional, with respect and that's on the outside. I'm sure on the inside it was hurting them more than anybody could imagine.

FERRE: Officials say a full investigation will be done now on the worst mining tragedy in the last 40 years.

Ines Ferre, CNN, Naoma, West Virginia.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: Hello, the headliner yesterday in New Orleans was none other than Sarah Palin. So what can they do for an encore now? We're heading to a major Republican gathering in New Orleans to see what they're up to.

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) KEILAR: Oh we continue to follow the story out of Russia, where a plane crash this morning killed not only the President of Poland, but also the First Lady, and potentially dozens of top Polish officials.

HOLMES: And the CNN's Phil Black monitoring this all from London and he's been on the story for us all morning long. Phil, hello again to you.

PHIL BLACK, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hello, T.J. Yes, what we know about this crash so far is it was on approach -- final approach to a landing strip, a military one at Smolensk in western Russia. The conditions we are told were terrible, very thick fog, something is going wrong, it struck trees on that final approach, it didn't make it to the -- to the runway and the plane has been destroyed as a result.

The pictures show that the aftermath of what must have been a terrific fire as once that plane struck the ground and that's what we know. Now, there are unconfirmed reports on the Polish and Russian media that says that that aircraft may have in fact attempted to land as many as four times before that final unsuccessful attempt.

And in fact, there was another report that the aircraft and the pilot defied Russian air traffic controllers who had in fact ordered it to another airport. As I say, unconfirmed, those -- that is what is being reported on Russian and Polish media, but the investigation is now under way. And a key part of that is tracking down that aircraft's black box flight recorder -- T.J.

HOLMES: All right, Phil Black, we appreciate you keeping an eye on it for us this morning. We'll talk to you again soon.

KEILAR: Rising from the ashes of the 2008 Republican losses, the Grand Old Party may be witnessing a resurgence, at least that's what party faithful are saying at this year's Southern Republican Leadership Conference.

And that's where we find CNN's Deputy Political Director, Paul Steinhauser there in New Orleans. A lot to cover here Paul, but first, let's start with the impending exit of Justice John Paul Stevens from the Supreme Court and what it means for Republicans.

PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Well, the sense I'm getting here from conservative activists and I'm speaking to at the conference, they're actually kind of -- energized by this, they'll obviously oppose whoever the nominee is by the White House. And that may help them build energy and grow the movement as they move more towards the midterm elections.

One thing Brianna, we're not hearing here and I'm -- we haven't really heard from Republicans on Capitol Hill and on the Senate either is any talk of a filibuster. I know that's the beat you cover.

It's going to be an interesting summer, regardless of who the president nominates. Be it the liberal or somebody who are little more moderate. But either way right now no talk of a filibuster here I guess or in Washington.

KEILAR: Now and certainly as we know the opposition party can often fundraise when there is a nominee for the Supreme Court. This is an issue that they can sort of make money off of; key for Republicans as they're moving here this month ahead of the midterm election.

Well, Paul, let's talk about where you are right now. This conference, it wraps up today, we're paying a lot of attention to it. Why is it such a big deal?

STEINHAUSER: It is a big deal, even though right now there's nothing going on. As you said I cleared the room but it will get pretty busy here in about two hours. You're going to have a bunch of speakers.

Why is this conference so important? The southern Republican Leadership Conference is touted as the largest gathering of Republican activists, party members, organizers prior to the presidential convention they'll have in two years.

The other big thing about this place is, it is basically the first cattle call for possible presidential hopefuls in 2012. We saw a bunch of them speak, including Sarah Palin yesterday. Sarah Palin electrified the crowd here. You're going to have a bunch more speaking here today, and of course there will be a presidential straw poll tonight. We'll keep a close eye on the results of that one -- Brianna.

KEILAR: And -- talk about that straw poll, I mean, how much does that really tell us about which way Republicans might be leaning?

STEINHAUSER: It may not tell us a heck of a lot. Sometimes they get it right, sometimes they get it wrong. Back in the late '90s, George W. Bush won the straw poll in Southern Republican. Of course, he went on to win the nomination and the presidency.

Four years ago the last time they had this conference, Bill Frist, the Senate Majority Leader of the time, he won the straw poll. He never even got to the starting gate when it came to the race for the White House.

So sometimes they're right, sometimes they're not -- Brianna.

KEILAR: All right, CNN deputy political director Paul Steinhauser, thank you.

HOLMES: And again, to our viewers, we are keeping our eye on the breaking news that the Polish president, along with the first lady and many other top dignitaries from that country, had been killed in a plane crash in the western part of Russia this morning, trying to land. Initials reports are that fog may have played a role, and the weather played a role in this crash.

And looking at the video from the crash site, it looks to be in a wooded area, but the plane appears to be broken apart quite a bit. We want to John Goglia who is on the phone with us now. He's a former NTSB member. Sir, we appreciate you hopping on the phone with this.

From what you have been able to gather, I know the investigation will go on for quite some time. But just what have been your initial observations from what you had been able to hear and see about this accident so far?

JOHN GOGLIA, FORMER NTSB MEMBER (via telephone): Well, based on the weather conditions that would be high on anybody's list, to see what the conditions were? Was he trying to get into that airport when maybe he shouldn't have? Russian airplanes aren't noted for having the latest navigation devices on board, so that would be another issue. What did they have available to them? And was it working?

HOLMES: Even a -- and again, this is an older plane as we were talking to our Richard Quest about -- an older plane. Even so, even with the latest technology on whatever plane might be flying, if you are in -- and what we heard a report earlier, close to zero visibility, still the latest technology can prevent something like this happening, or at least give the pilot a warning that he shouldn't be trying to land?

GOGLIA: The latest computer navigation systems can land in zero- zero weather. So it's -- I mean it's pretty routine in the west to have the latest navigation equipment on our airplanes.

HOLMES: So that part of the story, at least because it certainly sounds to a novice like some of us, who certainly don't study and don't know it as well as some aviation experts, we hear zero visibility. That sounds like a no-no, but zero visibility and not having the proper technology to land a plane, doing that just depending on your own human senses, how difficult a job is that?

GOGLIA: It's near impossible. And you know, my initial reaction to what I read was that he had some weather, but he may have been seeing spots on the ground as he was looking out and he was trying to duck under because the early reports said he hit trees down at the airport.

So years ago that was a common technique for pilots to try to duck under the clouds, because oftentimes clouds don't stick to the ground. They're usually up 300, 400, 500 feet and you duck underneath, and if you can see the ground and the runway, then you can land.

HOLMES: And certainly we want to be clear to our viewers here, initial reports that fog may have played a role, and possibly the plane clipped some trees before going down, but certainly the investigation's going to go on for quite some time. So we don't know anything for sure just yet.

John, before I let you go, before I let you go here, what was your reaction to hearing the reports that are out that possibly the pilot was ignoring what he was being told by the Russian air traffic control? No reports that possibly any of the audio equipment was out, the radio equipment, so they should have been in communication, but ignored requests to land at a different airport. What was your reaction to hearing that?

GOGLIA: That will be particularly disturbing when the pilot decides to take it upon himself to do something that people on the ground that controls traffic are telling him not to. That is a concern, and I'm sure that the -- if it's a real investigation that's undertaken over there -- that that will come out.

HOLMES: And I heard you -- before I let you go, I heard that part, I want to pick up on that point before I do let you go. A real investigation -- what kind of track record do they have in Russia in particular of investigating plane crashes? Thorough?

GOGLIA: They can be very capable in what they do. In fact we worked with them a little bit on some crashes. They can be very capable.

However, I saw that they put the former premier of Russia, Mr. Putin in charge of it. And with the political leaders on board the airplane, that would call into question what kind of investigation is going to be conducted.

HOLMES: Well, John Goglia, we appreciate you hopping on the phone and lending us your expertise this morning. Again John Goglia, former NTSB member. Sir, thank you so much for your time.

GOGLIA: OK.

KEILAR: A coal mine operator's safety record is under scrutiny. The top executive at Massey Energy defends his company's practices to CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KEILAR: Top stories this hour, a fiery plane crash early this morning in western Russia claims the lives of Poland's president, first lady and a high-ranking delegation of top politicians. Russia's Emergency Minister says 97 people on board died in the failed landing attempt. And there was heavy fog at the time.

We'll have much more on this developing story in ten minutes.

HOLMES: Adoptions of Russian kids by American families now on hold after a seven-year-old Russian orphan turned up unannounced back in Moscow. The Tennessee woman who adopted the child says she returned him due to his, quote, "violent and psychotic behavior". The child reportedly accuses the adoptive mother of physical abuse.

KEILAR: Stark reality hits home in the hills of southern West Virginia. The near week-long search for four missing miners, now over with their bodies found over night. Officials say the men never reached a refuge chamber as they had hoped after the Upper Big Branch Mine explosion earlier this week. The discovery makes Monday's accident the deadliest mine disaster in the United States since 1972. Another check of our top stories in 20 minutes.

HOLMES: Well, that disaster is putting an intense and unwanted spotlight on the mine owner, Massey Energy and the company's checkered safety record. The Upper Big Ranch Mine was cited 458 times for safety violations last year. There have been more than 100 safety violations in the 2010.

Federal mine regulators cited Massey many times for inadequate vent late edition and coal dust accumulation. Massey has racked up $1 million in federal fines in 2009 and so far in 2010.

President Obama has ordered an investigation, Congress plans hearings. Massey says it does not condone safety violations and its citation rate is about the national average.

CNN's John Roberts spoke with the Massey CEO, Don Blankenship.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHN ROBERTS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): To hear the CEO of Massey Energy tell it, the hundreds of violations filed against the Upper Big Branch Mine were neither excessive in number nor particularly significant.

(on camera): People may be wondering why this mine was even operating?

DON BLANKENSHIP, CEO, MASSEY ENERGY: Well, I think the reason it was operating is that all the people who are knowledgeable of manning it, whether they be with the federal government or state government or Massey, had concluded that the mine was safety to operate. These violations and the efforts on the ventilation are efforts to improve it.

ROBERTS (voice-over): But the man in charge of keeping America's coal mines and coal miners safe, Kevin Stricklin, doesn't see much room for argument.

(on camera): Is it your sense Kevin that this is a mine that really needed to clean up its act?

KEVIN STRICKLYN, MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION: Well, we think all mines need to clean up their acts, but the number of violations that were issued here and some of the significance of them, it gave the indication that the mine operator would have been better suited to just comply with the regulations rather than us fining them.

ROBERTS (voice-over): It's an emotional issue in this one- industry. Safety is a huge concern, but Massey Mines provide thousands of jobs and pour money into the local community.

Ron Wooten is the West Virginia State Mining director.

(on camera): Are they a good operator or a bad operator in your estimation? RON WOOTEN, DIRECTOR, WEST VIRGINIA STATE MINING: I don't have an opinion. I've seen them do good things, some things not so good.

ROBERTS: But one person that told me -- a source who chose to remain anonymous told that you were one of the worst operators in terms of the number of violations and the severity of those violations.

BLANKENSHIP: We would disagree in terms of the condition of our mines. The number of violations can depend on what area you're operating in, what district of MSHA, who the inspectors are and a whole host of issues.

ROBERTS (voice-over): mine safety sources say they grow frustrated with the deep pockets industry and big-money lawyers who challenge violations.

(on camera): Isn't it true that they can take you to court and they can spend a lot of money and they can drag this out and they can get the violation reduced and they can keep operating tying you up in knots?

WOOTEN: They may be able to do that, but the real cost is when you shut them down. When you shut that mining machine down and they can't run coal. That's the real cost.

ROBERTS (voice-over): But shutting down a mine isn't easy. The feds find it hard to touch even repeat offenders if they correct the violation. It's like an endless series of strikes with few ever called "out".

STRICKLIN: The law gives them the opportunity to correct their violations and go back to work. There's nothing in the law that tells me that I can keep them from mining.

ROBERTS: Until there is a big accident, and then everyone pays.

WOOTEN: I get concerned and upset any time we have a violation. When something like this happens, this devastates our state.

ROBERTS (on camera): A sense of certain frustration?

WOOTEN: Perhaps.

I'm frustrates anytime these kinds of things happen. And I'm frustrated when I know that we're trying and it still happens. That's annoying -- most annoying. It just really tears at you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KEILAR: As the Tea Party Express rolls through Michigan, a Tennessee Congressman draws fire for comparing the movement to the Ku Klux Klan. We're going to find out what he means by that.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KEILAR: You know, in much of the country, it is just a beautiful weekend to be outside.

HOLMES: Yes. Reynolds, it's usually all the severe weather. It's ok every once in a while not to have it so -- it's ok.

REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes. It's true, and it is a very pleasant day for many places like, say, Augusta, Georgia for the Masters. They have the prairie dog cook-off, chili cook-off is going to be Dallas, Texas today -- great conditions there too.

Let's just show you what's happening. Here's a great shot that we have for you in the southeast. Take a look at this high pressure giving you plenty of sunshine and more proof of that is the shot that we have just outside in Centennial Park where the sun is coming out. People are out and about enjoying the beautiful spring weather. And you're going to see more of that as we make or way farther back to the west.

In fact Texas looks pretty good. Same deal for much of the Four Corners, but when you get in the northern half up in the Colorado and into parts of Utah, you might see a touch of light snowfall in the highest elevations.

For the West Coast very sunny for you in central and southern California, but we're going to see some breezy conditions, possibly some out in San Francisco, too, where we have a live image for you compliments of CNN affiliate, KGO.

It looks pretty good there for the time being. Expect the wind to pick up to about 30 or 40-mile-per-hour gusts possible later in the day. If you're farther north, say in Crescent City or Half Moon Bay, you can definitely get some stronger waves there -- and winds and waves -- so if you're heading out to maybe do some surf north of the Bay Area, San Francisco, yes, should be nice for you. Short boarders, not the long boarder.

Meanwhile in parts of the Great Lakes, this area of low pressure is going to march on through bringing you with it a chance of scattered showers. But the temperatures should be fairly comfortable in places like Chicago, 72 degrees the expected high, 68 in our nation's capital, 73 in Atlanta, 81 for Tampa, 71 -- or rather 77 in Miami, up by Alligator Alley. And as we wrap things up, Vegas with 79 degrees, 64 in Los Angeles.

That is a quick snapshot of what's happening weather-wise across the nation. We have a lot more coming up straight ahead right here on CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: Devastating loss for Poland and the world, reaction from President Obama to the deadly plane crash killed Poland's president, his wife, and 95 people all together. This happened in western Russia. They were traveling on Poland's equivalent of Air Force One.

Investigators say the plane was trying to land in heavy fog. Air traffic controllers reportedly warned the pilot about coming in too low and advised him to abort the landing and head for another airport. President Lech Kaczynski was leading a delegation to Russia for the 70th anniversary of the massacre of the Polish war prisoners. Poland's parliament speaker is now the acting president.

Josh Levs here to tell us more about the role of the president there in Poland. Not exactly the same as people might think of it here in the United States.

JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's not, but he did wield power, and this does change the government inside Poland. And it also has some effects on the United States that we can talk to you about. Obviously, the human toll in general from what we're seeing today is what so many people inside Poland and around the world are processing. And there's dozens of people, scores of people who have lost their lives here. And many people mourning all over the world.

But Lech Kaczynski, as the president, keep in mind, he did have some real power. In fact it was early on after he was elected that he appointed his own brother to serve as prime minister for a little while. And the way it works inside Poland is that the president does that appointment, and then the lower House of Parliament has to agree to it.

It's also the case that the prime minister has more power, so the government continues basic functions continue, but the president, his head of state there, and he led an interesting role especially with his relationship with the United States. One thing we saw was that when he came to power, he was saying that he was going to take actions against what his party believed were these vestiges of communist authority that remained inside Poland.

The party promised to take steps again that. He and his brother promised to take steps against that. They said they would reject some of the old communist authority. One thing he did in 2008, he came to an agreement with the United States under President Bush at the time to set up interceptor missiles, a U.S. missile defense shield that the Bush administration wanted inside Poland.

Not only did he agree to it, but what he said at the time was after seeing steps that Russia had taken in Georgia, he felt more confident that he just wanted to go ahead and make that deal with the United States and agreed to a U.S. missile shield in Poland, which Russia did not love.

Now ultimately the Obama administration came up with a different missile shield plan for the U.S. in Europe that does not involve having 10 interceptor missiles inside Poland, but President Obama has in fact had a meeting with him a year ago, basically a year ago right now said that the relationship between the United States and Poland is, I'm quoting here, "one of the most important in the world."

So it has been an important relationship all along, and this does have a real effect on politics inside Poland. However, because the prime minister is still in place, Donald Tusk, who we have been seeing, the basic functions of the government do continue while guys, the next steps happen inside. HOLMES: And Josh, we've been sharing the condolences from world leaders, President Obama, the president of Russia as well this morning, but also just everyday folks are reaching out as well online.

LEVS: Yes, I'll do this really quickly. We have so many coming in, Facebook, Twitter, all over the place. Let me just show you a couple examples right here. The tweets have been going all day long. In fact, it's been the top topic on Twitter. I just pulled up one of them here. "The whole world is praying with us." That is one coming in.

You're just seeing so many examples throughout the day. There's a whole Facebook page right here saying "rest in peace Lech Kaczynski." So many people thinking about him and about all the lives that were lost, and all those who are mourning today.

HOLMES: All right, Josh Levs, we appreciate you, thanks so much.

KEILAR: Just into CNN, in Thailand's capital, violent street battles between Thai troops and antigovernment protesters. Nearly 200 people have been injured. We've just gotten word from a cameraman from Reuters News Service or we have gotten word that a cameraman for Reuters News Service has been killed.

A Thai army spokesman says the troops have now pulled back. He is asking protesters to do the same. The unrest has been going on for weeks. The so-called protesters are calling on the prime minister to dissolve parliament and call new elections.

Here in the U.S., Congressman Bart Stupak says he's tired and he's accomplished his main goal, which is health care reform. So he's calling it quits. The Michigan Democrat won't seek reelection in November.

Stupak actually caught a lot of flack from the right for striking a deal to support President Obama's health care reform bill.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. BART STUPAK (D), MICHIGAN: Last month, we finally accomplished what I set out to do 18 years ago. We passed comprehensive national health care reform. Throughout the past year, I worked alongside my colleagues to achieve health care reform and I'm proud to have brought it across the finish line.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KEILAR: Because of his support for the health care reform bill, Stupak became a top target of Tea Party activists. But he is insisting they are not running him out of Congress.

And the Tea Party Express National Tour, it is rolling through Stupak's home state this weekend. Among today's stops in Michigan, Traverse City, Big Rapids, you've got Grand Rapids as well as Lansing. Tomorrow it is on to Detroit. The grass-roots movement says the federal government has failed Americans with bailouts, deficit spending, government-run health care and higher taxes, among many other things.

HOLMES: Tea Party activists lashing out at Congressman Steve Cohen for comparing the movement to the Ku Klux Klan. A couple of nights ago, on a radio talk show, the Tennessee Democrat said the Tea Party, quote, "without hoods or robes," end quote, has shown an angry, hard-core side of American that's against diversity. We spoke with him last hour and asked him to clear up his comments.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. STEVE COHEN (D), TENNESSEE: Certainly they're not all racist, but there is an undercurrent when you're against health care and you're against government programs that have a de facto effect upon minorities more than they do others. And Dr. Martin Luther King said one of the greatest inhumanities of our society was the unequal health care and was for national health care. He was assassinated in my city. We remembered that event last weekend.

To think that 42 years later, we finally get health care after 42 years and people are against it and that's what makes them rally against their government and act out, it to me, it's inhumane. And no, they're not all racist, no question, but the fact is they're against government spending, they're against programs, and there are certain similarities in their tactics to the people who have historically been against civil rights and against progress.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: The founder of the Memphis Tea Party calls Congressman Cohen's remarks "hate speech."

KEILAR: Two retired firefighters still saving lives with innovative ideas, ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: Well, the stories making headlines this hour, President Obama calls the death of Poland's president devastating. Lech Kaczynski and a delegation of top Polish VIPS died when their plane crashed in heavy fog in far western Russia. Poland's prime minister says the loss is the most devastating event in Poland's post-war history.

KEILAR: Rescuers discovered the bodies of four missing miners in a West Virginia coal mine today. Crews now realize they walked past the bodies on their first search, but didn't see them due to the coal dust and debris. Twenty-nine miners died in Monday's suspected methane gas explosion.

HOLMES: Well Obama officials say about 10 people are under consideration for the Supreme Court seat held currently by Justice John Paul Stevens. He won't keep holding it much longer, announced he is going to retire by the summer. There's intense speculation on three of the possible replacements, solicitor general Elena Kagan, federal appeals court judge Merrick Garland and Diane Wood, who is the appellate -- on the appellate bench in Chicago. KEILAR: In this economy, fewer fire departments have the money for cutting-edge equipment. Two brothers, both retired firefighters, saw that need and found a way to rush in to help. Their work is building up America and saving lives.

CNN's David Mattingly has their story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It came from out of nowhere. One second, Francisco Tuttle was feeling fine.

FRANCISCO TUTTLE, HEART ATTACK VICTIM: It was a typical day, a typical morning; had a busy schedule that day. And ...

MATTINGLY (on camera): This is where it happened?

TUTTLE: Right here, exactly.

MATTINGLY (voice-over): But in an instant, he was on the floor, unconscious, not breathing, no pulse, the victim of a sudden heart attack.

(voice-over): Francisco Tuttle had no way of knowing at that time that his life was about to depend on an unusual act of philanthropy, the donation of a special piece of equipment that came about in a very unusual set of events.

(on camera): Francisco Tuttle was saved by a pickle bucket?

CHRIS SORENSEN, FOUNDER, FIREHOUSE SUBS: In one way or another.

ROBIN SORENSEN, FOUNDER, FIREHOUSE SUBS: Yes.

MATTINGLY: Brothers Chris and Robin Sorensen are former firefighters who founded a national chain of sandwich shops called Firehouse Subs. Their connection to Francisco Tuttle and that pickle bucket we were talking about has its roots dating back 5 years to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

R. SORENSEN: We're giving these people who have lost everything a hot plate of food and half of them were breaking down crying.

MATTINGLY (voice-over): That happened in Pearlington, Mississippi, virtually wiped out by the storm. The Sorensen brothers drove in food and supplies. Not feeling like that was enough, they decided to give the town a used fire truck they found on eBay.

(on camera): And you just couldn't stop after that?

R. SORENSEN: No, that was just the beginning.

C. SORENSEN: You start to see the big picture and believe me, everybody needs something. There's no department that doesn't need some kind of a gear. MATTINGLY: Since 2005, the Sorensen Brothers Foundation has donated more than $2 million worth of equipment in 13 states. A lot of that money comes from selling pickle buckets emptied by their shops.

R. SORENSEN: We sell 5,000 to 10,000 pickle buckets a month. At $2 a-piece, that all goes in the foundation and it keeps them out of landfills too.

C. SORENSEN: Yes, it's great.

MATTINGLY: That money helped pay for this device called the AutoPulse (ph), donated to the Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina Fire Department which brings us back to Francisco Tuttle.

TUTTLE: I was dead.

MATTINGLY: The precision nonstop compressions of the donated AutoPulse brought Tuttle back from the brink. And today I'm bringing him to meet the guys who made it possible.

(on camera): Got somebody I would like you to meet. This is Francisco Tuttle.

C. SORENSEN: Francisco.

TUTTLE: What's up, brother.

MATTINGLY (voice-over): This is the first time the Sorensens had ever met someone saved by their acts of charity.

TUTTLE: If it wasn't for your contributions and your donations, I wouldn't be here.

MATTINGLY: Two ex-firemen finding new ways to come to the rescue.

David Mattingly, CNN, Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: And a reminder to you of the breaking news that we've been keeping a close eye on all morning, the death of the Polish president in a plane crash that went down in western Russia today. This is how the people of Poland are reacting. We've been keeping an eye on these pictures all morning long as this memorial has been growing and growing and growing over the past several hours.

The Polish president, the first lady, and many other top-ranking officials in the government killed after their plane went down in heavy fog in western Russia. That is how the people in Poland are reacting. We'll let you know how the people, other people around the world, including world leaders, are reacting, but again this is now the live picture.

We showed you that tape and you can see now just how much it has grown, and it just continues, really, an amazing site, but an outpouring there for the beloved president of Poland. The people there just in shock at what has happened.

A quick break and we're right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KEILAR: World leaders, including President Obama, are reacting to the plane crush in Russia that killed the president of Poland and a number of other officials. Here are some of the thoughts that he passed along to the people of Poland in a statement released this morning.

This is President Obama. He said, "President Kaczynski was a distinguished statesman who played a key role in the solidarity movement, and he was widely admired in the United States as a leader dedicated to advancing freedom and human dignity. Today there are heavy hearts across America. The United States cherishes its deep and abiding bond with the people of Poland."

And Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin as well as British Prime Minister Gordon Brown also offered their condolences.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VLADIMIR PUTIN, RUSSIAN PRIME MINISTER (through translator): This is, indeed, a horrible tragedy. I've spoken to the prime minister, extending my condolences. We just talked about it. Nothing of the sort has ever happened in history. The Polish prime minister has expressed a desire to visit the crash site. I'll go there as well to meet him. We will inspect the crash site together.

GORDON BROWN, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: I think the whole world will be saddened and in sorrow as a result of this tragic death in the plane crash of President Kaczynski and his wife Maria and the party that were with them. I think we know the difficulties that Poland has gone through, the sacrifices that he himself made as part of the solidarity movement.

And we know the contributions he made to the independence and the freedom of Poland. And I think at a time like this, we also remember a family in mourning, large numbers of people who have died, and a whole country that will be shocked and saddened by what has happened. I've met President Kaczynski on a few occasions, I talked with him recently, and I think every ruler of the world will be sending their sympathies to the people of Poland.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: We, of course, have been covering this developing story overnight and into the morning, but the coverage continues. Richard Lui in for Fredricka Whitfield. Hello to you, and I know the coverage is going to continue at the top of the hour.

RICHARD LUI, CNN ANCHOR: Absolutely, pushing that story forward there, T.J., Brianna, as we look for what is the answer to the question, how did this happen? What was the cause behind the Tupolev 154 going down? We have a live report. We're going to dig in to some of the details behind what might have been behind what you see there on the screen there in the end.

Also for you, we'll be looking at Justice Stevens. With him retiring, what are some of the issues the new justice will have to decide on and help decide upon? And what does street cred have to do with the next nominee? We will answer that question in our legal brief, and it's always an entertaining discussion with those guys.

KEILAR: Street cred, I like it.

LUI: Are you going to stick around?

KEILAR: Yeah.

HOLMES: The questionnaire they had to fill out, street cred.

LUI: It may not be part of the questionnaire, but we're going to ask these guys.

HOLMES: All right Richard, good to see you. Well, global media and the Masters, the coverage almost scandalous.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KEILAR: The third round of play at the Augusta National at the Masters. Tiger Woods, he's still on the hunt for his fifth green jacket.

HOLMES: He is really in the hunt. He's also being hunted by the international media. The intense interest in the salacious scandal that engulfed Woods reaches beyond the U.S. borders.

CNN's Samantha Hayes is in Augusta.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SAMANTHA HAYES, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Ninety- six golfers from all over the world are all competing for a single green jacket, and they all have a story to tell. But most of the headlines this week, even outside the U.S., have focused on one man whose sex scandal attracted the attention of those who don't know a bumper from a birdie.

According to Scottish reporter Ken Lawrence ...

KEN LAWRENCE, SCOTTISH REPORTER: People who hate golf, ladies who wouldn't be seen dead in golf shoes, whatever, kids, everyone is going to be waiting to see what happens to Tiger Woods.

HAYES: Even in countries with their own star players, like Australia, Woods' return to professional golf is the dominant story.

ANDREW BOTH, AUSTRALIAN ASSOCIATED PRESS: The story has played very, very big in Australia. Tiger Woods is a household name of Tiger Woods in Australia, whereas millions of Australians would never have heard of say Alex Rodriguez, for example. HAYES: After intense coverage of his many affairs, Tiger Woods' family is well-known now too, especially his Swedish-born wife, Elin Nordegren, who has not appeared at the masters. Journalist Thomas Tynander says many Swedes don't approve of Woods' decision to return now.

THOMAS TYNANDER, SWEDISH JOURNALIST: A lot of people think it's too soon. He shouldn't play golf this year, he should be taking care of his family.

HAYES: Woods won't like hear anything that strong from patrons in the tightly-controlled Masters tournament, but Lawrence predicts that will change.

LAWRENCE: When Tiger Woods goes out of this environment and plays somewhere else, you're going to get a different reaction from the public. This is not Joe public.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: That's true. They run a pretty tight ship at Augusta National. Those folks, if you lose your tickets, they kick you out of there, you lose them for life. So they're different press, very controlled. We'll see when he goes to an open tournament. It's a very different crowd. A good place to come back, a lot of people would say.

KEILAR: And you know, because you were just there.

HOLMES: I was there on Thursday. I had to behave.

KEILAR: I know that's hard for you, T.J.

HOLMES: It is difficult. Our Richard Lui, he's going to be behaving certainly. He's in the CNN NEWSROOM filling in for Fredricka today. Certainly continue our coverage of what has just been really a shock all around the world and certainly for the people of Poland today.