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University of VA Student Killed; Foiled Times Square Bombing; Evangelicals vs. Obama; Fishermen File Suit; Nursing Home Abuse

Aired May 06, 2010 - 10:00   ET

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

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Cocaine parties and free hotel rooms. Is that a good reason for concerns over oil industry oversight? Yes. So who's supposed to be keeping an eye on them anyway? A small agency you've probably never even heard of until now. CNN's Ed Lavandera has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's hard to imagine how things could be worse for the Minerals Management Service or MMS. Its 1,700 employees are supposed to regulate the oil industry, but a growing chorus of critics say the agency is nothing short of a disaster.

REP. DARRELL ISSA (R), CALIFORNIA: It's very clear that you have a dysfunctional agency. You can't trust MMS. They've shown that they're too cozy with industry.

LAVANDERA: Too cozy, indeed.

Two years ago an internal government investigation discovered ethical failures by more than a dozen MMS employees. Some were even having sex and using marijuana and cocaine with oil company employees.

ISSA: It was very clear. They thought that partying, drinking, accepting expensive tickets in a hotel room, somehow made it easier for them to understand the business of how much oil and how much natural gas was being taken out.

LAVANDERA (on camera): CNN has reviewed hundreds of pages of documents and government reports dating back almost 10 years, documents that paint MMS as an agency that in the words of its critics, rubber-stamps the oil industry's actions and is unable to enforce safety regulations.

(voice-over): For example, in 2000, MMS issued a safety alert callings for off-shore drillers in the U.S. to have an additional backup system called an acoustic switch that could prevent blowouts like the one now in the gulf. They went so far as to call it an "essential component." Just three years later after complaints from the oil industry, MMS determined it wasn't so essential after all, saying it would be too costly and ineffective, never mind the fact that BP is required to use it on rigs in two other countries.

STUART SMITH, ENVIRONMENTAL ATTORNEY: Let's load up. LAVANDERA: Stuart Smith is an environmental attorney who has won dozens of case against the oil industry and is representing fishermen put out of work because of the deep water horizon disaster. We flew over the spill site with him.

SMITH: That's the slick. And it's all over here. It looks like a river, but it's not.

LAVANDERA: In the years before this disaster, MMS and BP down played the possibility of a major oil spill. In an initial exploration plan BP called the spill, "unlikely." So when BP sought permission to drill the deep water horizon site, MMS agreed and went along with it and gave the company a "categorical exclusion from a more strenuous environmental impact study." Environmentalists say such exemptions for oil companies are common.

SMITH: Once you dig into it, they are treated with kid gloves in every respect. They're the least regulated industry from an environmental point of view in the country.

LAVANDERA (on camera): Obviously, they'll argue just the opposite.

SMITH: Well, they can't.

LAVANDERA (voice-over): We wanted to ask BP about its relationship with MMS and the oversight of the company's wells. In a statement BP said simply, "speculation over the causes or implications of the deepwater tragedy would be premature," adding that the drilling rig was owned by another company. We also wanted to know what exactly MMS would say, but after three days of repeated requests for interviews with officials at the Minerals Management Service, they refused to talk to us.

Ed Lavandera, CNN, New Orleans.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: We're learning more about the University of Virginia lacrosse player accused of killing his ex-girlfriend. 22-yaer-old George Huguely is in jail now accused of breaking down the door of the member of the women's lacrosse team and beating her to death. The two had been in a relationship and had recently broken up. Yardley Love's funeral is Saturday in Baltimore. It turns out Huguely had a run-in with the law before.

Katie Beck from CNN's Richmond affiliate WTVR talked to a police officer who tasered him two years ago.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KATIE BECK, WTVR REPORTER (voice-over): Details of the death of Yardley Love continues to unfold and details of her accused killer are coming to light as well. A 2008 conviction shows George Huguely had shown violent tendencies before.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I was shocked to say the least, when I found out he was involved in this incident.

BECK: The incident reported by police Officer Moss in Lexington, Virginia, said she was responding to another call in the fraternity house area of Washington and Lee University. She said she spotted Huguely intoxicated and stumbling into oncoming traffic.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He became more aggressive and more physical toward me and started calling me several other terms that I'm not going to state now.

BECK: That's when Huguely began yelling obscenities and making threats to the officer, even stating he would kill her, and then the report says he forcibly resisted arrest.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I went ahead and reverted to my taser.

BECK: Moss (ph) said the taser was the only way to restrain Huguely and he remained combative even after being placed in a police car. Now, a year and a half later, the body of Yardley Love, bloodied and bruised is discovered. Huguely tells police that he had an altercation with her, shook her and her head repeatedly hit a wall.

Moss might have seen a similar anger before.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Surprised that he was involved in another type of incident involving physical violence? No. An incident to this extent? Yes.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: That was Katie Beck reporting from WTVR. UVA's president says the school didn't know about Huguely's arrest in Lexington two years ago and this exposes an information gap between the law and the university. Also, police records in Florida show Huguely was busted for alcohol possession in 2007 when he was under age.

Now the attempted car bombing on Times Square. We're getting a better idea of just how serious the accused bomber really was. A law enforcement source tells CNN that Faisal Shahzad has described a practice run for the attack just the day before the failed attempt. The source says that Shahzad staked out potential locations to leave the car bomb. He then parked a second vehicle that he would use as his getaway car.

Then the next night, Saturday, he allegedly parked the car bomb. As he was walking away he realized a colossal mistake, he had forgotten the keys to his getaway car in the parked car bomb. He had to catch a metro train back to his home in Connecticut.

So does the suspect Faisal Shahzad have any ties to international terrorism? There's disturbing new evidence and even deeper questions now surfacing in Pakistan. CNN's Reza Sayah has the story now from Islamabad.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) REZA SAYAH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Does Faisal Shahzad and the attempted bombing at Times Square in New York have any links to the Pakistani Taliban? A spokesman for the Pakistani Taliban says no. In a phone call to CNN, Azam Tariq flatly denied any connection with Shahzad.

"The action of Faisal Shahzad was very good. We appreciate Faisal Shahzad, but he has no link with Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan. He might have received training from other militant groups but not the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan. There are other groups that can provide that type of training, too."

But a Pakistani intelligence source tells CNN that during Shahzad's visit to Pakistan last year he did meet with the Pakistani Taliban. According to Pakistan's Dawn News, this was Shahzad arriving in Karachi, Pakistan's biggest city in July 2009.

The intelligence source says on July 7th, Shahzad left Karachi for the northwestern city of Peshawar with Mohammad Rehan, who was detained no Tuesday. Rehan is suspected of links to (inaudible) Mohammad, a militant group with the primary goal of fighting Indian forces in the disputed territory of Kashmir.

A source says Rehan and Shahzad later went to Pakistan's Waziristan region close to the Afghan border where a variety of militant groups are active. That's where Shahzad met one or more senior leaders of the Pakistan Taliban. Intelligence sources tell CNN Rehan was detained along with Shahzad's father-in-law and a friend.

The conflicting accounts about Shahzad's alleged links to the Taliban deepen the mystery about what he did in Pakistan during his last visit. In his hometown in northwestern Pakistan friends remain shocked at what he's accused of.

FAIZ MOHAMMAD, NEIGHBOR (through translator): We cannot believe that this is the same Faisal known to us. This is ridiculous that Faisal did this kind of act. They had no such kind of background. Most of their family members served in the government.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Reza Sayah joins me now from Islamabad. Reza, is there any links between this attempted bombing and the Pakistani Taliban and why would the group's spokesperson deny it?

SAYAH: Kyra, it's impossible to say if there are links why they would deny it, but in speaking to analysts they're offering a couple of possibilities. One possibility is the Pakistani Taliban doesn't want to associate itself with a failed bombing attempt. After all, it's not good for the reputation of a group that wants to be known as capable of hitting U.S. targets.

Another possibility is different groups and factions within the Taliban don't know what the other groups are doing. Remember, the Pakistani Taliban is scattered throughout the tribal region. Thanks to these U.S. drone strikes and the Pakistani military offensives. So it could be a case where the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing within the Pakistani Taliban, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: We'll follow it here in the United States and of course, with you overseas. Reza, thanks.

Swept away by rising floodwaters in a matter of minutes. Two family members gone. A mother shares her grief.

REYNOLDS WOLF, AMS METEOROLOGIST: And better weather today for parts of Tennessee and also into the Gulf Coast, but a chance for rough weather in the central plains and Midwest. We'll bring you the latest, coming up in just a few moments.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Homes under water, cherished belongings gone and stunned residents begin cleaning up in the flooded south. Here's the latest right now. Flash flooding and storms have killed at least 29 people in Tennessee, Mississippi and Kentucky. Some people lost everything they had, and the estimated damage could top $1 billion in Nashville alone.

The real cost of the flooding is the human toll. In just a matter of seconds one Tennessee woman lost her husband, her daughter and her home. On Sunday morning the creek near the Qualls family home began to rise, overflowing its banks. In just minutes it went from leg level to chest-deep waters. Bob Quall knew it was bad. He moved quickly to get his son to higher ground and he tried to rescue his 15- year-old daughter who was hugging a tree just to avoid the water. Listen to what his wife had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SHERRY QUALLS, HUSBAND AND DAUGHTER SWEPT AWAY: From his neck up, staring at me, he didn't say nothing, he's just staring at me and she was screaming for her daddy to help her and the - by the time the rescue squad got here I didn't see him no more. I didn't see him float away. He was a hero. He sacrificed himself for his kids. That's what I think.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Well Qualls' wife is calling her husband a hero. Tell you what, you hear stuff like that and you get - you get speechless, Reynolds -

WOLF: Absolutely.

PHILLIPS: What do you say?

WOLF: It's mind boggling.

PHILLIPS: You've got no control. Absolutely no control.

WOLF: And how quickly it happened, too. I mean, to see that kind - truly is a historic flood for parts of Tennessee. Thankfully better weather for them today as the river continues to drop and rain chance looked minimal for at least the next couple of days, going right back up as we get into Monday but certainly not of the same magnitude of what we've been dealing with. Meanwhile, let's switch gears, the Gulf of Mexico, of course, we got the oil spill which, again, about the size all said and done about the state of Delaware.

I mean, it's just a mass, to say the very least. We've had traces along parts of Chandeleur Islands, about 20 miles east of the coast of Louisiana and some of it right in the delta. We do have better weather there today and what we're talking about in terms of the better weather, waves of any one to two feet and a very light breeze.

Let's go over to the magic wall and as we do go to the magic wall we're going to give you reasons why we are going to have better conditions there. As I expand the map a little bit, put it into motion. You got an area of high pressure over the state of Florida. They have an area of low pressure that's forming right over parts of central plains. These are going to work together to give us a very light breeze coming, from the south, and the north and wind waves in the water, anywhere from say one to two feet.

So very tranquil conditions on the water. So certainly good news for today. Now, what we're going to be seeing in the rest of the nation could be not only some extreme heat in parts of -say Texas but then making its way into the central plains. We could have some at the same time, some of that moist air making its way there and that interacting with the frontal boundary could give us some strong storms.

In fact, we have a chance of some strong storms across parts of Kansas City, if you're taking a drive around parts of I-70, back across the central plains by late afternoon. We're talking between 2:00, 3:00, 4:00, 5:00 and could have some thunderstorms developing and possibly some damaging winds and large hail and maybe even some isolated tornadoes, but then when you get back in parts of the central Rockies, we're going to be dealing with something altogether different.

We're talking about a chance of snowfall in some locations back in the Rockies could be dealing with not inches, but possibly up to a foot of snowfall for the central Rockies, making the drive on parts of 90, you'll go from light rainfall and then when drive up into the higher elevations, you're going to be running smack-dab into parts of that snowfall.

Now, we're going to finish up where we started again. Back at Nashville, we were talking about nice weather for today. Sunny skies, breezy on Friday, and maybe a stray shower but then into Saturday and Sunday, a mix of sunshine and clouds and by Monday, a change of those thunderstorms.

Kyra, that is the full story on your forecast coast to coast. Let's send it back to you at the desk.

PHILLIPS: All right. Reynolds, thanks.

WOLF: You bet.

PHILLIPS: So you think a headache's coming on and you reach for one of those over-the-counter painkillers, doctors say it could be actually the worst thing you could do. We'll explain.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Well, right now a bomb squad is at a major U.S. airport. We're following this breaking news story at the SeaTac Airport in Washington state. Bomb experts right now, checking a suspicious bag that was found in a luggage handling room. There are unconfirmed reports, rather, that the bag was smoking. Hundreds of people have now been evacuated. Several flights have been delayed and we're going to keep a close eye on this story and bring you any developments as soon as we have them.

Checking top stories. Dress rehearsal for a terror attack. We now know that Faisal Shahzad made a practice run before allegedly trying to blow up a car bomb in Times Square. A law enforcement sources telling CNN about the suspect's questioning.

A container vessel could arrive this morning at the site of the underwater oil gusher in the gulf. BP trying to lower the container into the broken pipe. The good news, the spilling could be stopped by Monday. Bad news? The process would probably have a number of challenges.

One school's done it in Texas, and it worked. So should more schools bring the paddle to stop teacher abuse?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Well, you know the saying, spare the rod, spoil the child. In Dallas there's a push to return the rod, well, the paddle anyway. Five years ago the Dallas independent school district banned paddling but now one tutor started a movement to bring back what's called licks. He said just the threat of physical punishment keeps kids in line and teachers agree. They need more to control students. Just ask the teacher who just now recovered from the torn cartilage in her knee courtesy of a second grader's shoe.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KIMBERLY LINDSEY, DALLAS SCHOOLTEACHER: We have students that don't take the teachers seriously. They're sent on referrals to the office and sent back and it's like a joke to them.

GILBERT LEAL, CREATOR, BRINGBACKLICKS.COM: The psychology of it, the threat of licks, I think that's what's so effective.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: The Dallas morning news reports suspensions in Dallas schools have surged since the district ended paddling. That brings us to today's blog question. We asked you whether you think corporal punishment should make a comeback.

Here's what some of you said - Ann writes "absolutely. The threat of it has kept me in line for 12 years." This comes from Ron. "Yes, yes, yes. As a teacher of 35 years I have seen the inmates take over the asylum. After the corporal punishment ban was put in place. "

This comes from anonymous. "Every kid needs a good smack, but I would hope a teacher could think up some punishment that teaches a lesson, other than me mad, me hit." Spanking children is what John says is tantamount to smacking adults who get out of line.

Surely by now, 2010, we can find better ways to address bad behavior than violence. Remember, we want to always hear from you. Just log on to CNN.com/Kyra and share your comments with us.

If you take over-the-counter pain medication, you're going to want to hear more about this. Frequent use of those drugs can actually cause a headache. Doctors call it a rebound headache. A low-grade headache that you might get three times a week usually in the front of your head or by your neck.

It comes when you don't follow the directions on the label and take more medications than recommended, I can ask for it in the morning for that hangover, maybe a sinus medication and lunch and something to help you sleep at night. Well, when the medication wears off, you undergo a withdrawal pain and then you reach for a pill and the cycle starts all over again.

Are aluminum bats too powerful to play with? The answer is so important that California may temporarily ban them from high school games. Safety of aluminum bats came into question after a 16-year-old pitcher suffer a major brain injury from a line drive hit off an aluminum bat. Now a committee of California lawmakers has passed a measure proposing a moratorium on none-wooden bats for the next two years. People against the ban say even bats are no safer.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JARED HUGGMAN, CALIFORNIA ASSEMBLYMAN: The hyper performance of high-tech metal baseball bats has gone too far. It's increasing the risk of serious injury and, yes, death for young people.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: The ban measure has one more step to go, the California Senate floor. If it passes it then goes to the governor.

Do you ever feel like you're not making the best use of your time until you waste 30 years in prison? This guy doesn't want to hear it.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They had the wrong person, you know, and it took them a while to straighten it out, but all I care about right now is that they did straighten it out. Now I can go on with my life. I'm still trying to, you know, gather it all in, actually, you know? I don't know what's going on.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: It's amazing what a little DNA can do.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Squeezing Arizona in the wallet, that's what a growing number of people are hoping to do as they begin boycotts over the state's new immigration law. Just last hour, La Raza, the nation's largest Hispanic civil rights organization announced an economic boycott of the state.

And last night civil rights leader to the Reverend Al Sharpton led demonstrators through the streets of Phoenix to protest the new law. Also, Alpha Pi Alpha, nation's oldest African-American fraternity has announced it is moving its planned summer convention from Phoenix to Las Vegas.

And President Obama is using Arizona's controversial new law to renew his call for immigration reform this year. He spoke yesterday as the White House marked Cinco de Mayo.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We can't start singling out people because of who they look like or how they talk or how they dress. We can't turn law-abiding American citizens and law- abiding immigrants into subjects of suspicion and abuse. We can't divide the American people that way. That's not the answer. That's not who we are as the United States of America and that's why I've instructed my administration to closely monitor the new law in Arizona to examine the civil rights and other implications that it may have. That's why we have to close the door on this kind of misconceived action by meeting our obligations here in Washington.

So I want to say it again, just in case anybody's confused, the way to fix our broken immigration system is through common sense, comprehensive immigration reform.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Well, the president's urging bipartisan support for what he called right there, you heard it, comprehensive immigration reform.

Jay Leno has found a little humor in the situation and has been poking fun at Arizona's new immigration law. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) JAY LENO, HOST: Tonight, to protest Arizona's new immigration law, the Phoenix Suns are all wearing jerseys that read "Los Suns." Well, talk about making a point. So the Phoenix Suns are wearing jerseys written in Spanish, made in China, modeled after their best player, Canadian Steve Nash. There you go. Yes. And that is America! That is America!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Well, in case you're wondering, the Los Suns honored Latinos with a 110-102 victory over the San Antonio Spurs.

And out of work designer gets 30 seconds to change her luck. Stick around. It's time for "30-second pitch."

Oh, the humanity, flashback to May 6, 1937. Hindenburg exploding in a fireball over Lakehurst, New Jersey. 36 people died, amazingly 61 survived the wild ride. And a grand opening for the Eiffel Tower. In 1889 the Paris Exposition opened showcasing its centerpiece. The tower was only supposed to stand for 20 years, but it was just too popular to take apart.

In 1915, the Sultan of Swat had his first smash. That's when pitcher Babe Ruth clubbed his first home run ironically with the New York Yankees. He only hit four that year, by the way, but ended his career as a champ with 714.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Checking top stories now.

We are learning now about terror suspect Faisal Shahzad. Sources tell CNN he made a dry run for his bomb attack just the day before and he left the keys to the getaway car inside the car bomb.

Life is slowly trickling back to normal in Nashville and its suburbs today. Bus service supposed to start, teachers expected back at school, but large parts of the city still remains under water. Nashville's mayor says that the damage will probably top $1 billion.

Put a cap on it. That dome to prevent oil from gushing into the Gulf of Mexico is just about on site. Getting it into place to do that is going to be tough and it's going to take a lot of time. BP says the containment dome will have to be carefully lowered 5,000 feet to the Gulf floor.

Now today in our "30-Second Pitch," a woman who's come back to her roots. Switzerland was a lifestyle come true for Robin Reed- Desjardins, an entrepreneurial designer whose creative gifts helped her see the world as she developed art work for publications, press kits and logos. But the brutal economy has hit this artist hard and now she has to come home to Ohio and it's not easy. As a single, unemployed parent she had to sell her home to pay for her two daughters' education and she's applied to more than 500 jobs over the past three years; so far, no luck.

Hopefully, we can change that today. She joins us now from Columbus, Ohio.

Good morning, Robin.

ROBIN REED-DESJARDINS, JOB SEEKER, ROBINREED.D4D@GMAIL.COM: Good morning, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Well, you've applied for over 500 jobs, as I mentioned. You've got this global experience. How is it even possible that no one's giving you a bite?

REED-DESJARDINS: Well, I think it has to do with the fact that I've been in various locations around the country. I think a lot of job opportunities are through the web. At this point, you don't have a chance to really get out there and meet people. And it's been tough. We are in a rural location, not near the major cities. I've been looking all around the country, but it's just -- it's been a challenging time given the economy and so on.

PHILLIPS: I tell you what, let's get your e-mail up on the screen, let's go ahead and start the clock and are you ready for your 30-second pitch?

REED-DESJARDINS: I am. Thank you so much.

PHILLIPS: All right, take it away, Robin.

REED-DESJARDINS: OK.

My name is Robin Desjardins, I'm an entrepreneurial designer with experience in the commercial sector and not-for-profit organizations, specifically in visual communication, brand identity, multi-language publishing and photography in the U.S., Europe and developing countries. The world's most influential leaders, conservation planners, curators and archaeologists have been my clients. Multi- cultural project and production management skills are my key areas of expertise, but my true passion lies in mentoring others in design. I'm educated at Rochester Institute in Technology and in Europe and I'm bilingual, French, English.

PHILLIPS: Oh, we can't cut that off. Wait a minute, bilingual, French and English.

REED-DESJARDINS: Diligent!

(LAUGHTER)

REED-DESJARDINS: Keep going. Diligent, hardworking and just ready to learn your business.

PHILLIPS: Yes, you are and I know you're willing to move anywhere, too, right, Robin?

REED-DESJARDINS: I am. I am, absolutely. We are heading actually, we will be moving from the Columbus area shortly to Wilmington, Delaware. So I'm hoping to find something possibly between D.C. and Philadelphia, even up to New York, Boston area. But my family's roots are from New England, so I hope to head back there.

PHILLIPS: Great. Robin, thanks so much. Keep us posted, OK?

REED-DESJARDINS: Well -- OK. Thank you, Kyra. Thank you, Kyra, and appreciate your help. Bye-bye now.

PHILLIPS: We are glad you came and did it.

All right, if you're out of work and you want to sell yourself to prospective employers, just let us know. Just like Robin did, you can send your resume and your letter to 30secondpitch@CNN.com. Also, if you want to hire our 30-second pitchers, go to our blog -- CNN.com/Kyra -- the information will be there, also the emails and we'll do our best to help you out.

Was help really just a hair away? Barbershops and salons sending their clippings to the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. We're going to tell you why.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

Billy Graham, America's preacher and a presidential favorite, they wanted his prayers, his advice and always wanted that photo-op. Graham found out years ago, though, just how tricky the intersection of religion and politics can be. As a matter of fact, he got in a lot of trouble for this picture. Even his wife gave him flack for it. Their daughter has never forgotten the story.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RUTH GRAHAM, BILLY GRAHAM'S DAUGHTER: Mr. Johnson was asking him for advice, some sort of political advice. And my mother kicked him under the table and my daddy being my father said, why did you kick me under the table. And Mr. Johnson looked at daddy and said, Billy, she's right. You stick to preaching and I'll stick to politicking.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Well, their son, Franklin, apparently isn't heeding his late mother's advice. Of course, Franklin has always been sort of the rebel in the leather jacket on the bike. If you've read his book, you've seen the picture and he's not steering away from that intersection for sure.

David Brody, the White House correspondent for the Christian Broadcasting Network and a CNN contributor, he actually talked to Franklin Graham about this new crusade to vote President Obama out in 2012.

So I don't know, usually the Graham family has sort of stayed on this path of not getting too involved in politics and it looks like Franklin is kind of going that rebellious route, David?

DAVID BRODY, CHRISTIAN BROADCAST NETWORK: Well, I think you can say that, Kyra. You know, there's a rebellious streak to him to a degree. But hey, you know, look, he has at some point here decided -- and paraphrasing here, these aren't his words -- but, you know, enough is enough. The political correctness has run amok here a little bit and he believes, as it relates to the National Day of Prayer, that how does someone like himself not -- is not able to say a prayer or preach inside the Pentagon and his invitation is rescinded, there was that big controversy.

So, you know, he's pretty frustrated and he has called out some folks who wanted the president to step in. The president did not and so he's -- he's venting a little bit here.

PHILLIPS: Well, is he venting and is he giving a clear message here? Is Reverend Franklin Graham saying to evangelicals, I need you to get out and vote and I need you to vote President Obama out of office.

BRODY: Well, it's interesting, I did talk to him about that. And I actually didn't even ask that question in terms of the voting question, per se, but he offered that, Kyra, which was very interesting. And basically, I think we have some of that sound coming up, but I mean, in essence, what he said was, Christians, it's time to get out and vote.

I mean, you're not really hearing -- I mean, you didn't hear Billy Graham talk about the political climate at all, but you're hearing Franklin Graham say that and he believes that the time is now.

PHILLIPS: And he's got strong feelings about Islam and President Obama's feelings about that. Let's take a listen to part of your interview.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BRODY: You wanted the president, you asked, I believe, the president to maybe look into the matter and --

REV. FRANKLIN GRAHAM: Yes.

BRODY: If he doesn't do anything about it I believe the "USA Today" interview said this would be a slap to all Christians. Just clarify that.

GRAHAM: I think it is a putdown because there seems to be that Islam gets a pass. That a couple of Muslims can complain about a Christian event at the Pentagon when there has been Christian events for years at the Pentagon. My father has preached there, I have preached there, many others preached there, but yet a few Muslims can complain. They can have Ramadan, they have their prayer services there, I don't complain, I'm happy for them to do that. But for them to complain because -- because I don't believe the way they believe and I don't worship the same god they worship. I worship a different god than what they worship.

But we love them and I care for them and I want Muslims everywhere to know exactly what I know, that Jesus Christ died for their sins the same as he died for mine. And if they're willing to confess and repent of their sins and receive Christ by faith in their hearts and their lives, they can have the assurance of salvation, forgiveness of sin and they can have that assurance that I have. And I want them to know that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: So, David, what's your takeaway here?

BRODY: Well, there are a couple of things.

I mean, I think, first of all, Franklin Graham is very much focused on the gospel. I mean, that's his message, it's always been his message and he's been pretty consistent with that.

Part of the interview that you did not hear and later on, he talks about -- I asked him, I said what about the criticism among conservative evangelicals that this administration is soft on Islam. It's out there within the conservative evangelical community. He actually said that Islam is getting a free pass from this administration, he did actually say that.

And then he went on to say that millions of evangelical voters who voted for Barack Obama in 2008, he did not think that they would be at the table in 2012. Pretty explosive comments by Franklin Graham.

Now, in defense of the White House here, I mean, the president has done a few things here that have endeared himself to a degree with evangelicals. I mean, the Afghanistan troop buildup was a big deal because remember, evangelicals are very concerned about the war on terror and so that was important.

And the president has done things like, for example, on the March of Life. You know, that big January event on the March of Life, he doesn't rescind the Mexico city policy until the day after so it wasn't an in-your-face move. So there have been a few things. The White House has invited conservative evangelical leaders to talk about health care and abortion.

So there have been steps by the White House, but clearly, Franklin Graham believes that it's time for Christians to get out and vote and make their voices heard.

PHILLIPS: Well sounds like we didn't pick the right part of the interview. We missed the explosive comments that you just mentioned and I apologize for that, David. We'll get it right next time.

Great job with the interview and we'll be talking more, I'm sure.

BRODY: Thanks, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Well, is it hair-brained idea or possibly an answer right off the top of your head? We couldn't help the pun, sorry. In hair salons across the country, the clippings are being collected for that massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Organizers say the hair is a perfect absorbent and it will actually be used to make special mats to protect the shoreline.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SAMANTHA ROGERS, STYLIST: This is a way that you can just come in for your normal trim and you're doing something good.

THERESA WELLS, CUSTOMER: I think it's pretty neat, I mean, that people are taking an active interest in it and not just being passive and saying there's things we can do and we're going to do them.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: One website that's helping to organize the effort says that an Alabama hairstylist actually came up with the idea while watching CNN's coverage of the Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989. He saw how much oil was collected in an otter's fur and began tested the absorbency of human hair.

Dropping the dome to cap the leak, that's the plan today. BP says that the massive containment dome is there floating in the water 5,000 feet above the oil leak. It may still take days to completely get it in place, though.

And while it's out there working on the leak, there are thousands of people basically patrolling the coast for oil. That includes fishermen who are getting schooled, learning how to clean up oil, but they're afraid there's more to it. We get that story from Melissa Faith Payne of affiliate WJTV in Biloxi, Mississippi.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOE ALLEN, WORKS OFFSHORE: They want you to just sit through a four-hour course of things that that already have when we could be out there doing whatever needs to be done.

MELISSA FAITH PAYNE, WJTV REPORTER (voice-over): About 300 fishermen and boat owners listened to a plea from BP officials.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: BP is here to ask you for help.

FAITH PAYNE: Help cleaning up the Gulf should the oil or oil sheen make its way into Mississippi waters. BP officials tell us, they're committed to hiring local workers; local workers say, they're not buying it.

ALLEN: It sounds to me like they're making sure everybody signs the paper where they can't get in a class action lawsuit.

FAITH PAYNE (on camera): Did they ask you guys to do that?

ALLEN: Not yet.

FAITH PAYNE (voice-over): Down the street, wholesalers are starting to fill the pinch in their pockets.

SEAN DESPORTE, SEAFOOD WHOLESALER: : Right now it's $5.99. Last week it was $4.99. You know, a few months ago when shrimp's in season I'll sell them for $4.50. These right here that are $8.99, I'll selling them for $6.99.

FAITH PAYNE: Shawn Desporte supplies seafood to not only coastal residents, but also to local casinos and restaurants. He says fear is growing.

DESPORTE: You know, everybody started buying all of the shrimp because they were scared if this hit there would be no shrimp left. So everybody added 50 cents to a dollar a pound, so it's causing us to go up on our prices.

FAITH PAYNE: And though he is still selling, that may not be the case in a few more weeks.

DESPORTE: The everyday person now, they're buying more shrimp to put in the freezer, crab meat, fish and everything just in case if this doesn't get stopped.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: All right. So we're going to talk more about the oil clean up mess and the fishermen that are afraid that they'll have to sign away their rights to sue. We've heard about it before, actually. It's already led to one lawsuit against BP. Coming up after the break, we will talk to Jim Garner. He's an attorney representing members of the United Commercial Fishermen's Association.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Let's get back to that oil clean up class. Fishermen have already been asked to sign documents that would actually sign away their rights to sue. We've heard that before and it's already led to one lawsuit against BP.

On the phone from New Orleans, Jim Garner, he's an attorney representing members of the United Commercial Fishermen's Association.

And, Jim, right before the break, we played yet another story where shrimpers, fishermen are being asked to sign these documents. You filed a lawsuit just on Sunday that was supposed to help protect these fishermen. Is it happening in other parts of the state?

JIM GARNER, ATTORNEY FOR UNITED COMMERCIAL FISHERMAN'S ASSOCIATION (via telephone): If it's happening, it's very disheartening because based on our conversations with BP's counsel it wouldn't be happening.

Now, the good news is our judgment applies to any contract which BP asks any fishermen to sign in any state. So the consent judgment which Judge Kurt Englehardt (ph) would protect these fishermen. However, I would be very weary of signing something without consulting a lawyer or reading it very carefully.

PHILLIPS: Basically, the lawsuit that you filed to protect these fishermen there in New Orleans was a deal that BP shouldn't even be approaching shrimpers like we were talking about in the piece before there in Mississippi, asking them to sign documents not to sue.

GARNER: Correct. If the documents contain what we'll call the problematic paragraph, they should not be doing that. And as we've heard from several BP, both executives on your show and others, they've disclaimed knowledge of it. So it's very disheartening to hear -- what? -- four days after the lawsuit and two days after the judgment was entered that's still happening.

PHILLIPS: All right, final question. Your message then to those fishermen out there, the shrimpers out there who are being approached by BP and being told, hey, can we use your boats, we'll pay you money, but sign these documents. What's your advice to those workers to do? I mean, they're being offered pay when they can lose their livelihood.

GARNER: Exactly. Understanding probably both emotional side to make sure the shore is protected and the financial side, you know, they need to make money, get with a lawyer quickly, call somebody, read the document. Remember, if you sign a document, the presumption in the law is you have read it and understand it, albeit these could be considered adhesionary contracts.

PHILLIPS: We'll continue to stay on the story. We've got to protect those that are struggling right now.

Jim Garner from New Orleans. Thanks, Jim.

GARNER: Any time, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: BP says that those original offers were a mistake.

And let's take a moment to remember one fact, too, that's sort of been lost in all of this talk about the oil leak. Eleven people lost their lives in that explosion aboard the Deep Water Horizon rig. A memorial fund has now been set up from their families by the company that ran the rig, Transocean. Here's the address, it's -- Account 89350, c/o Southern Federal Credit Union 4 Green Way Plaza PO Box 2765 Houston, Texas, 77252. You can also call, the number is 713-232-7774.

Well, if you have aging parents, if you're concerned about caring for your grandparents, you're going to want to hear this next story, it's outrageous and it's just plain wrong. As you may know, it's an agonizing decision to entrust a nursing home to provide the care and comfort that we can't. Maybe that's why this next story is so gut- wrenching. It's about a nursing home accused of filth. Its workers accused of bilking patients and maybe even starving them.

Here's Dan Matthews us of CNN affiliate KWTV in Oklahoma City.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KAY EMERY, MOTHER IN NURSING HOME: They are virtually starving those people to death.

DAN MATTHEWS, KWTV REPORTER (voice-over): Kay Emery's (ph) 92- year-old mother has been a resident of Mustang Manor since August. First, Emery noticed bruises on her mother's face, then a drop in weight.

EMERY: My mother has lost so much weight and she's a small person. She's maybe probably not quite five foot tall now. And she has lost so much weight that her bones are protruding.

MATTHEWS: In the last two years, the Health Department has found enough problems at Mustang Manor to impose fines of over $35,000. More fines are coming because since February, inspections have found 27 deficiencies in nutrition and sanitation.

Meanwhile, Mustang police have investigated reports of crime at the center including embezzlement.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We received a call that a resident had -- actually had written checks to an employee of the business to have them cashed and have the money returned to her and that she had not received those funds.

MATTHEWS: The Health Department says some of the problems have been cleaned up, but others remain.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Most people complain, but don't do anything about it and so we are doing -- we are trying to do something about it.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Mustang police told KWTV that no criminal charges have been filed, but two employees suspected in the embezzlement investigation were fired, as they should be. The station quotes that those nursing homeowners are saying that the problems are being exaggerated, but she's working to get them fixed.

Coming up in the next hour of CNN NEWSROOM, Nashville trying to sop up Mother Nature's mess. IN just a few minutes, the latest from Tennessee Emergency Management on how it's going.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Free at last. A man who spent nearly 30 years paying a debt to society that he didn't even owe. DNA testing finally catching up and proving that Raymond Towler did not rape an 11-year- old girl, something he's known all this time.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RAYMOND TOWLER, RELEASED FROM JAIL: This DNA science, it's been here for awhile. I mean, it wasn't here in '81 when I was first incarcerated, but maybe through some research you can find out. I'm pretty sure it was there in maybe '87, '86, you know where there could have been a system put together where, OK, we have the evidence, let's look at it.

That's something that I'm totally cleared of, that's a blessing. And so, I just have to do the things that I've always, even since I was a kid I've always wanted to be a music and an artist, that's what comes natural to me.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: The judge actually fought off tears as she left the bench and shook his hand. She also told him, you can sue. So how much is 30 years of your life worth? Towler's 52 year old now, he says he's just going to take some deep breaths and enjoy his life.