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Getting Food to Children in Need in Haiti; Emotions Flare Over Mosque; Pennsylvania Steel Plant Blast
Aired July 14, 2010 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, everyone. Live from Studio 7 and CNN world headquarters, the big stories for Wednesday, July 14th.
Passions flare over a proposed mosque in the shadow of New York's Ground Zero. Opponents say the project is an affront to 9/11 victims. Muslims say the opposition is grounded in fear and racism.
Haiti, after the earthquake. Food sits -- this is an outrage. Food sits in warehouses while orphans go hungry.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: It's completely filled with food. This is all they have left.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta cuts through the red tape in 20 minutes.
Registered sex offenders flying to countries known for their sex trade. Should these jet-setting felons lose their passports? A CNN Special Investigations Unit report is straight ahead.
Good morning, everyone. I'm Tony Harris.
Those stories and your comments right here, right now in the CNN NEWSROOM.
An orphanage full of hungry children. Nearby, a warehouse full of food. In between, red tape hampering aid distribution in Haiti six months after the catastrophic earthquake.
Our chief medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, cuts through some of that red tape to get food to children in need.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GUPTA (voice-over): It is so striking in orphanages, smiles amid squalor, 350,000 orphans in Haiti, best guess, and many, like this little guy, don't even have a name.
(on camera): Don't know how old he is. He's an orphan in this orphanage, among lots of other children, 40 to 50 at any given time. That's who many kids they're taking care of.
And let me show you something else as well. Take a look at this particular building. You just look at the floor over here. That's where they sleep. There are no bedrooms. Find a place and sleep for the night.
(voice-over): This is the kitchen for all those children. This pot of beans is their food for the entire day, simply not enough.
(on camera): And you take a look. They have to, obviously, have food. And they have to store it in some way. This is the storeroom. It used to be completely filled with food. This is all they have left.
(voice-over): I decided to call a contact of mine.
(on camera): Eric, it's Sanjay.
ERIC KLEIN, CAN-DO.ORG: Hey, Sanjay, how are you?
GUPTA: I'm doing phone. I'm actually on speakerphone with you, and our film crew is filming. We have just come outside this orphanage. And it's one of these crazy situations that you and I have been talking about. They have about 50 kids here, literally, from a couple months old to 18, and they have three stacks of tomato soup, a handful of beans, and a little bit of rice.
That's all they have really to feed these children, you know, for the foreseeable future. And I just thought I would give you a call and see if you might be able to help out.
KLEIN: Wow. Yes, absolutely. Let me make a couple calls. (INAUDIBLE) Yes, let me make a couple calls right now. And I will get back to you in maybe about 20 minutes.
Hey, we're outside of the gate with the truck.
GUPTA (voice-over): We got the call. Eric, with CAN-DO.org, found a warehouse full of supplies willing to stock the truck.
According to the Global Disaster Immediate Response Team, right now, there are at least 50 warehouses, football field in size, full of supplies just sitting there, some dating back to January, never distributed since the earthquake.
And this is going to make you mad.
(on camera): Take a look at this. They have got 50 starving kids in an orphanage. We drove three miles down the street.
KLEIN: Now, this stuff came in from Asia.
Is there a date on that?
GUPTA: May 27. It's been sitting here a couple of months. At the orphanage, they have literally had half a bucket of beans, half a bucket of beans, and that was going to feed 50 kids for an entire day. All of this is beans over here.
And you're not paid to do this, and your -- your guys are not paid to do this.
KLEIN: We're not paid. We don't even get paid for our organization. Our organization is (INAUDIBLE)
GUPTA: So, I mean, people are donating lots of supplies and then lots of money to buy those supplies. But in order to actually get it distributed, it's counting on the goodwill of people like you to do it.
KLEIN: Right. Absolutely, absolutely, which I like -- going back to, like I said, showing results is the key thing. I mean, that's what's missing. That's the element that is missing in disasters.
GUPTA (voice-over): Driving back, I couldn't help but think of so much food, and yet hundreds of thousands of Haitian children are malnourished.
(on camera): Going to have some happy kids.
KLEIN: Hey, hey, how are you?
GUPTA: So, that was not that far away at all.
KLEIN: No, not at all.
GUPTA: Which is still mind-boggling how close this stuff is.
KLEIN: Yes. It was.
GUPTA: We can hear the kids literally -- there's just joyous laughter inside there. I think they know what's coming.
KLEIN: They know what's coming. Yes, they do.
GUPTA (voice-over): It is true that other organizations like World Vision, Save the children, UNICEF, had been helping for orphanages here in Haiti long before the earthquake. But I can tell you, there are hospitals, camps, and orphanages that fall through the cracks sometimes. At least on this day, one of those cracks gets to be filled in.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: And Sanjay is on the phone with us from Port-au-Prince.
And Sanjay, you mentioned in your piece it will make you angry. Your piece has made me angry.
I have got to rein it in just a bit here, because when I get angry, there are viewers who get upset with me. So let me try to work through this as peacefully as I can.
What is standing between the supplies in as many as 50 warehouses already cleared by Customs? What is standing in the way of those supplies getting to the people, the children who need them?
GUPTA: Well, you know, as you might imagine, Tony, I've thought about this a lot over the past couple of days since we started shooting that. And there's a few things that really came to my mind.
One is that a lot of times, these supplies arrive in country with no specific distribution plan. It's this idea that, get it there as quickly as possible. That's the mandate. Get it there, get it into the country of Haiti, get it into the city of Port-au-Prince, we'll deal with it from there. So without a clear-cut distribution plan, this is one of the consequences.
Also, Tony, you might take for granted that there is just good communication between those who have supplies and those who have needs. Pick up the phone, call them, you can come get the supplies over there. It just doesn't work that easily here.
First of all, sometimes very hard to communicate. People just don't have the means by which to do it. The roads, as you've seen, Tony, the images, still filled with a lot of rubble. So, simply getting around can sometimes poses challenges, especially for big trucks. And the NGOs among themselves don't even communicate.
And finally, you know, it's a little bit, Tony, what I think you're alluding to -- this idea of what's the definition of success? Now, people will say, well, we donated a bunch of supplies. They're in Haiti. But as you know, and you saw there, unless it gets into the hands of people who need it and actually could use it, it's not successful. It doesn't make a darned bit of difference.
HARRIS: Wow. Look, Sanjay, my mind works pretty simply here. I've been asked by these NGOs in the immediate aftermath of the earthquake to send donations, to send food, also to send cash. If I have responded, and now these supplies are in country, is it unreasonable for me to expect that the NGO that has asked me to send donations now be responsible for getting the food, the money, the assistance, to the people?
You asked me for it. I followed through. I need you to follow through and distribute the goods.
GUPTA: It's an excellent point, Tony. And I think the best way that I can answer that is to say that sometimes it works, and sometimes the whole plan, from nuts to bolts, from Tony Harris' dollar, or whatever amount of money you've donated, to some needy person's stomach, or in the medicine, or whatever, it works, the whole process. And sometimes it doesn't.
So it's not consistent. It is not 100 percent reliable. And I think donors should always demand account a bit of accountability here, saying that not only am I giving with the hopes that the supplies get to a certain place, I'm giving with the hopes that this is going to help real people, not simply sit in warehousing.
Some of it expiring, Tony, going bad. You know, spoiled food, ineffective medication. So, yes, I think the accountability has to be higher at all levels.
HARRIS: I am so outraged by this.
Sanjay, appreciate it. And see you soon. When you get back here, let's talk about this more.
GUPTA: We'll keep chatting, Tony. Thanks.
HARRIS: Our chief medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta.
We're getting breaking news, word of an explosion at a steel plant in Clairton, Pennsylvania. CNN has confirmed at least 14 people injured at this point. No word on cause. More information straight to you as soon as we get it.
Other big stories we're following for you on this Wednesday.
(NEWSBREAK)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: Boy, raw emotions and angry words over a proposal to build a mosque and community center near the site of Ground Zero in the 9/11 terror attacks. Both sides vented their feelings, and it was hot last night at a three-hour commission hearing in New York.
CNN's Deborah Feyerick joins me now with the latest.
And it's worth repeating, it was pretty hot last night. A lot of emotion surrounding this debate, Deb.
DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A lot of emotions. And, Tony, I can tell you, I was down at Ground Zero yesterday. Only now, nine years after the attacks, do you really get a sense that progress is being made.
There's still a long way to go. It's because every decision is debated, negotiated, in some cases litigated. It is no wonder that putting a mosque just two blocks from Ground Zero, in the same spot landing gear from one of the 9/11 planes wound up is sparking so much passion.
This was a three-hour meeting yesterday afternoon. It was packed. It was supposed to be civil, but it turned into a shouting match at times, those against the mosque, calling it a monument to terrorism, a plant on the part of the radical Islamists. Those in favor saying, well, that's just fear, it's Islamophobia and it's preventing the peaceful message of the religion from taking root.
Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There is plenty of space to build a beautiful mosque to honor God. Anywhere else, anywhere else, and I do not think that a building that was standing there should be taken down when enough already went down.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My parents, my family died that day. So how dare you tell me that this is not my country, that I have no concern over this, because they died that day. All right?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FEYERICK: And a number of the people there in favor of the mosque say you have to remember that many people from many countries and many religions died, and that it is appropriate.
There is speculation as to the motives of the imam behind the mosque, Feisal Abdul Rauf. He has the Cordoba Initiative, which is named for a time when all the major religions peacefully coexisted in the Spanish city of Cordoba.
Well, the Republican candidate running for governor is calling for an investigation into the funding, where the money is coming from for the $100 million project. Imam Feisal was out of the country, but his spokeswoman says that the center and the mosque are designed to counter extremism by giving moderate Muslims a voice -- Tony.
HARRIS: Let's drill down just a bit here, Deb. Who owns the property?
FEYERICK: The property is owned by a businessman by the name of Sharif El-Gamal. He is a Muslim-American. He bought the property as an investment, both financially, but, also, he's investing in the message of Islam.
A number of people that I've spoken to say they feel they're being painted with a very broad brush. That, in fact, when you talk about terrorism and we see images of people who are praying, that, in fact, that's misleading, that their Islam is a peaceful Islam.
So, the question is, how do you combat extremism? Well, they're saying you do it by getting the mainstream, the moderate voices, out there. You do it by teaching other people that, in fact, the message of the extremists is not the message of their religion as they worship.
HARRIS: Yes.
There is a landmark decision on the building coming soon. Maybe you can explain that to all of us.
FEYERICK: Yes. And this is really what's so interesting.
It all depends on whether, in fact, the Landmark Preservation Commission decides that this building that's been there for about 150 years is, in fact, a landmark. They can put this whole debate to rest. They can say it's a landmark, you can't tear it down. However, if they say the building is just not that interesting, no reason to keep it standing, well, then it goes and the issue of the mosque continues. That's the space that it will be built on.
HARRIS: If everything works out the way the owner of the building hopes it will, when will the mosque actually be built?
FEYERICK: You know, that is such a broad question. Down in that area, nothing gets built quickly.
As I said, I was down there yesterday. Nine years later, they're just getting the memorial up. It's a beautiful memorial. It's supposed to be ready by the anniversary this year.
Some of the buildings have started, just started. The transportation system just started. Again, everything is negotiated. So not clear just how much time that would take.
HARRIS: It sounds like years. The answer seems to suggest years.
All right, Deb. Good to see you.
Deborah Feyerick in New York for us.
We want to know what you think on this, obviously. Where do you stand on the mosque and community center? Do you believe it should be built near Ground Zero?
If you would, join the conversation at CNN/Tony. Leave us your comments, and we will share some of those comments over the next two hours right here.
The Toyota investigation takes an unexpected turn. Early findings from government investigators leak. So far nothing to suggest faulty electronics caused sudden acceleration.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: Late details now on the Gulf oil disaster, day 86.
BP is doing more technical analysis before testing the new cap on the gushing oil well. If the cap can hold up under the well's pressure, BP says it may be able to capture all of the crude spewing from the busted wellhead.
(NEWSBREAK)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: OK. Want to show you the latest video we have. You can see the emergency personnel on the scene here.
This is Clairton, Pennsylvania, and this is the site of a steel plant explosion. CNN has confirmed at least -- let meet get a little closer to the monitor here so I can see this activity.
We have 14 people injured so far. No word on the cause of the explosion. We are trying to gather more information on this, but we wanted to show you the latest pictures of all of the activity, an aerial view here.
And thanks to our affiliate. This is WPXI.
We will keep an eye on this and we will bring you the latest as soon as we get it, right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.
(WEATHER REPORT) .
HARRIS: Still to come in the NEWSROOM, boy, this is a pretty sad story for me. There is a lot more for sale at Baltimore's historic Lexington Market, a lot more than fresh produce. A sad story, close to the newly refurbished Hippodrome Theater, really close to that thriving inner harbor area.
There is a thriving business, it seems, at Lexington Market in the sale of illegal prescription drugs. Details in a CNN investigation.
We're back in a moment. You're in the CNN NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: An historic Baltimore landmark is now home to a thriving prescription drug trade. Baltimore, like other American cities, faces a growing problem from the illegal sale of powerful prescription drugs. CNN's Amber Lyon investigates the problem and the city's efforts to fight it.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
AMBER LYON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We're here in the center of downtown Baltimore, because we got a tip that there's a huge problem with the street trade of illegal prescription drugs.
(MUSIC)
LYON: We're pulling up on it right now. This is where we're headed this morning. It's the Lexington Market. It's a historic landmark here in Baltimore, but, unfortunately, lately, it's just become overrun with prescription drug abusers, dealers.
Up and down these streets, everyone is trafficking pills. We found OxyContin, Xanax.
(voice-over): All over America, in places where the drug trade flourishes, prescription drugs have replaced or supplemented better- known street drugs, like meth, crack, heroin.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration is having a difficult time getting a grasp on the pill trade. So, they start from the bottom, busting individuals, hoping that will lead them to correct doctors and pharmacies.
AVA COOPER-DAVIS, DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION: We are going to try to pull them out of the market, hopefully, and get them to do the buy outside.
LYON (on camera): OK. So, where are we going to ride? Kind of in the back?
COOPER-DAVIS: The issue is, in the mind of many, prescription drugs is not as bad and it's not as dangerous. And, in reality, it really is.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Lexington Market.
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are going to be parking right -- right around there.
LYON: OK.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You can see the agents up there on the corner with their jackets on. They're taking them down if you guys want to hop out here.
LYON: You guys just busted how many people?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think it was two.
LYON: Two people?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
LYON: And what were they selling you?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is suboxone, which is...
LYON (voice-over): Suboxone is an opiate blocker used to treat heroin addiction. It's also hard to abuse. So, anyone buying it and selling it isn't trying to get high. They're just trying to fight the pain of withdrawal. But even out here, pills like suboxone have become a valuable commodity, like an ATM in a bottle.
COOPER-DAVIS: Even though this prescription and these type of pills is meant for someone who has a problem, yet, again, they are going out on the street and they're selling it for -- making $100, $200 more than what the actual cost of that prescription was to get it filled. The bottom line to move in prescription drugs is profit. It's about making money.
LYON (on camera): We're hear at DEA headquarters, and we're headed to talk with a guy who was just busted in Lexington Market.
Let's see if he will talk with us.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: As long as I'm not identified. LYON: You're not identified. We won't give your name. And we're not showing your face. So, you agree to talk with us? We're with CNN.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
LYON: Why are people selling their prescription medications in Lexington Market?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The reason people sell their prescriptions down there is because a lot of them don't have no jobs. A lot of them don't know where they going to get their next meal from.
Let's say your son come up to you this morning and say, I need $25, $30. You ain't got that $25 or $30. You have got them pills on you. You know you can get that $25. Would you go sell them for -- to get your son that $25, so he can be in that play or something?
LYON (voice-over): Baltimore already has a huge heroin and crack problem. They have been struggling with those drugs for decades. So, the last thing this city needs is a new enemy, like the prescription drugs being peddled in Lexington Market.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: Got to clean that up. It's my hometown. Got to clean that up.
What can say on television these days? What's not allowed? There is news on that front. And Josh has it for us. Josh?
JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Tony. A court has struck down the FCC indecency rule. So, what does this mean for what could be on the air waves? I'm going to have that plus key clips from stars that led to this decision.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: You can't say that on television! Or maybe you can. A court has struck down government rules restricting the words allowed on television.
Josh is following this for us. And Josh, let's see here. Why don't we have Josh say all of the words --
(LAUGHTER)
HARRIS: -- we couldn't say on television during the ruling that we can now say on television? How about that for a free speech CNN experiment?
LEVS: This would be a great last day for me at CNN. Been great working with you. Thanks, everybody.
Not so much. But here's something we do have. We actually have key clips that led to this court case, but we are bleeping out the offending words. The essential issue when words are uttered on live TV, like Bono at the 2003 Golden Globe awards.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BONO, MUSICIAN, U2: That's really, really (EXPLETIVE DELETED) brilliant.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEVS: That word made air at the time.
HARRIS: Yes, that's not right.
LEVS: And at the Billboard Music Awards that year, Nicole Richie said this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NICOLE RITCHIE, REALITY TV STAR: Have you tried to get (EXPLETIVE DELETED) out of a Prada purse? It's not so (EXPLETIVE DELETED) simple.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEVS: And what happened was these became the center - these are called fleeting expletives, and traditionally the government did not go after networks for these live situations. But President Bush took a tougher stance on these fleeting expletives.
What happened was Congress passed and then he signed a bill multiplying the maximum fine by ten up to $325,000. Many (INAUDIBLE) court battle that followed. Fox TV, NBC Universal, some other broadcasters sued the FCC after being fined, and a federal appeals court pointed out that the FCC was okay with swear words in this, in "Saving Private Ryan" when it was playing on network TV, and those same words were included in that broadcast multiple time.
So what happened was this case worked its way through the system, and last year the Supreme Court sent the case back to the lower courts to determine if it's constitutional. That's the ruling we have now. This is what we've got, Tony. This three-judge panel from the Second Circuit Court of Appeals says the rule "violates the First Amendment because it is unconstitutionally vague, creating a chilling effect that goes far beyond the fleeting expletives at issue here."
But they also say, "We do not suggest that the FCC could not create a constitutional policy." I'm also going to tell you, we have a response from FCC chairman-commissioner, rather -- Michael Copps, who said he was shocked by such an anti-family position. He said the courts in his view spent no time focusing on the, in his words, "chilling effect today's decision will have on the ability of American parents to safeguard the interests of their children." So, Tony, that's his response.
HARRIS: Wow. OK, the court talked about chilling speech. Did it give some examples, Josh?
LEVS: It did give some examples. In fact, this is interesting. The court said several CBS affiliates didn't air a 9/11 documentary because it contains audio of firefighters swearing. It also said Phoenix TV station dropped live coverage of a memorial service for Pat Tillman because of words his family was using.
And keep in mind, all this involves network TV. Because that involves public airwaves, Tony, not cable TV.
HARRIS: You remember the Janet Jackson wardrobe malfunction? Has that been brought up and is it a part of this debate?
LEVS: It is. In fact, the court decision specifically talks about it. It says the FCC's increased enforcement about all of this, and Congress' decision to increase the fines were in large part caused by this, that broadcast, the 2004 Super Bowl during which, as the court writes right here, Justin Timberlake exposed Janet Jackson's breast for a fraction of a second during the halftime show.
So, Tony, it was after that that you had the government take off with these new restrictions or bigger fines, and that led ultimately to the decision.
HARRIS: Gotcha. OK, Josh, appreciate it. Thank you, sir.
On day 86 of the oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, BP is reviewing its testing procedures on the new containment cap for the blown out well. The testing is delayed while that review is underway.
Other top stories we're following for you: Hong Kong lawmakers are debating the Chinese's city's first ever minimum wage. Supporters say it would benefit hundreds of thousands of low-skilled workers. Trade groups are pushing for a minimum wage of $4 an hour. Employers want $3 hour.
Bristol Palin and Levi Johnston -- have you heard this? -- tell "US" magazine they are now engaged. The couple has an 18-month-old son. They reconciled three months ago during custody talks. So far, no word from Sarah Palin.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: So, today marks a truly historic milestone for Jane Goodall. She celebrates 50 years of research. Goodall is the British primetologist who is considered the world's foremost expert on chimpanzees. Here's CNN's Jim Clancy.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JANE GOODALL, PRIMETOLOGIST : Well, the research began with one young girl and a notebook and a pencil out there in the rain and in the sun every day. And gradually learning more and more about the complex structure of these beings, learning them as personalities, learning about their behavior that's so like ours. JIM CLANCY, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): On July 14th, 1960, Jane Goodall first set foot on the shores of Lake Tanganika in what is now Tanzania's Gombay National Park.
Fifty years later, Dr. Jane Goodall is a world renowned primetologist.
GOODALL: It's totally changed. The research methods have completely changed. Although a lot of field staff still go out and write their notes. And when I'm there, I do, too.
CLANCY: Her pioneering research produced a wealth of scientific knowledge, including the major discovery that chimpanzee can make and use tools much like humans do.
In 1977, she founded the Jane Goodall Institute that launched community development projects in Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda and other African countries. That is when she started shifting her focus from research to conservation.
Her vision expanded from the jungle into a global mission of empowerment for children and young adults. In 1991, her institute began a roots and shoots program, encouraging young people to work in their community to protect animal welfare and the environment and to deal with social issues ranging from disease to world peace.
GOODALL: It's spread like wildlife across China. Right across mainland China we have four offices, and there are about 700 active groups of all ages, especially in the universities. And now they're linked up with Roots and Shoots groups in universities in other countries.
CLANCY: Today, Roots and Shoots has nearly 150,000 members in more than 120 countries.
GOODALL: We're using every single possible way that we can to link up these young people around the world so they can share ideas.
Absolutely, Internet, tweeting, Facebook. I'm doing some Skype myself now to reach out to more places than I possibly could by actually traveling physically there. And it saves the CO2 emissions as well.
CLANCY: Today, Jane Goodall travels an average of 300 days a year, speaking about threats, facing endangered species and other environmental crises as well as her own reasons for hope.
GOODALL: I think actually my mission in life is to give people hope. Because if we lose hope, then it's the end. So, I just hope that people understand for every single one of us, our life is making a difference.
Reporter: Jim Clancy, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: CNN, of course, is your source for financial news. Come on over here! Let's get you to CNNmoney.com. The lead story here, Illinois. Our very own Greece. Look at this headline here. After chopping $1.4 billion from its budget, Illinois turns to borrowing, right? The state plans to use debt to fund pension obligations. Has it really come to this?
All right. We are about 90 minutes into the trading day. Let's take a look at the Big Board. We are in positive territory, up 32 points, last check.
Let's get a fresh check here. The NASDAQ is up 17 points.
The White House is gearing up for another series of events that touts the success of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. A new report says the stimulus package is meeting its goal so far. Alison Kostik is on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange.
And so, Alison, new numbers, and some comment from the vice president on this.
ALISON KOSTIC, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Exactly. The report is out, and the White House says it has created or saved 3 million jobs because of this stimulus package that was passed last year. The $787 billion stimulus package. The White House says that it's on track to hit the goal of 3.5 million jobs by the end of the year.
Now, Christina Romer, who's the chair of the Council of Economic Advisors unveiled this report alongside Vice President Joe Biden. Here's what Biden had to say earlier this hour.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOE BIDEN, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Hey, we would be barely growing at all were it not to have passed in the first place and been implemented. We have created or retained, as Christy said, roughly -- we can argue about whether it is 2.6 or 3.5, but everyone now -- everyone now acknowledges we'd be somewhere between 2.5 million and 3.6 million fewer jobs available today, fewer people working today were it not for the Recovery Act.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KOSTIK: Now, critics of the stimulus and of how the administration has handled the stimulus money say that the administration has in fact not met its goals, especially with the unemployment rate. That we're still in the very high range of 9.5 percent. Wspecially since last year when the bill was passed, the administration said the stimulus would keep the unemployment rate around 7 percent.
But once again, Tony, we're at 9.5 percent, and the administration is projecting 9.8 percent by the end of this year. Tony.
HARRIS: Alison, we need private sector jobs. Private sector jobs. Anything in the report on how we can get that going?
KOSTIK: Well, exactly. And Romer is going to be testifying on Capitol Hill later today to talk about $100 billion from the stimulus money that's partnered with another $300 billion from the private sector to try to spur that job creation in the private sector.
And the administration is also planning a series of events to highlight the stimulus' effect on the private sector. In Michigan tomorrow, there is going to be a groundbreaking for a plant that will make batteries for electric cars. And I'll tell you what, Tony, Michigan really needs some good news in the jobs department because the Michigan unemployment rate there is at 13.7 percent. That's the second-worst in the nation.
HARRIS: We really need those batteries, those electric cars, batteries, we need that to work. That could be a real breakthrough and game-changer for us.
Alison, good to see you. See you next hour. Thank you!
KOSTIK: You got it.
HARRIS: To build or not to build a mosque near ground zero. That's the question New Yorkers are asking. Emotions pretty raw on both sides of this, as you can imagine.
Next hour, we will air some of your thoughts from my blog, CNN.com/tony.
And some sex offenders in the United States are traveling overseas to places where sex tourism is rampant. We will bring you this CNN special investigation in the noon Eastern hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: Six months after Haiti's earthquake, orphaned children adjust to a new life with adoptive parents in the United States. The emotional scars now surfacing. CNN's Gary Tuchman reports.
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GARY TUCHMAN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Jenna is two years old. She lived in a Haitian orphanage until days after the earthquake, when she was flown to the United States to begin life with her new mom.
ELIZABETH DOWLING, ADOPTED HAITIAN CHILD: She's amazing. And she makes people fall in love with her wherever she goes.
TUCHMAN: But Elizabeth has noticed the toddler is now getting increasingly upset at times.
DOWLING: She's starting to hit a lot and get angry a lot at little things. But what we have heard from some of the other families is that a lot of the kids, six months later, are starting to act out and kind of in their own way say: I've got to tell you this terrible thing that happened to me while I was in Haiti.
TUCHMAN: When the quake struck, part of Jenna's orphanage collapsed, the rest of it left unstable. So, Jenna and the other kids had to live and sleep outside.
(on camera): It's impossible to generally characterize how the trauma of the earthquake will affect children as they grow up. Experts say, however, that acting out is not the least bit unusual. Nevertheless, for parents like Elizabeth, this is a very trying time.
DOWLING: I have a Ph.D. in child development, and I'm not prepared. And I -- I'm -- you know, I'm proud to say I'm not prepared to help her. I love her, and we're going to be great. But, you know, you -- it's like I said, it -- it's unchartered territory.
TUCHMAN: Elizabeth had actually met Jenna a year-and-a-half before the quake. She fell in love with her, and began the adoption process.
But, when the quake hit and communications ceased, she feared the worst. So, she was stunned and elated when she was watching CNN and saw this story we were doing on a damaged orphanage.
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TUCHMAN: There are fears the rest of this orphanage could collapse because of the frequent aftershocks we're having. So, the decision has been made to leave these children outside 24 hours a day.
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TUCHMAN: Sitting on my lap, by total coincidence, little Jenna. Elizabeth now knew her daughter was ok.
Many adoptions started getting expedited, and Jenna was flown on a military jet to the U.S., where new mother and daughter were reunited.
(on camera): Look at the little smile there.
DOWLING: Yes.
(voice-over): Jenna's first few weeks were spent getting used to her new home in Denver.
DOWLING: This is her crib and she takes everything out and throws it on the ground.
TUCHMAN: Now, a half year later, she's on vacation in Maryland visiting her grandparents. She's starting to talk, English and Creole. And she's usually a happy exuberant child.
DOWLING: She really is a diva. I mean, she's --
TUCHMAN (on camera): You mean that very affectionately. DOWLING: Like she'll walk out of restaurants and be like, "Bye, guys."
TUCHMAN (voice-over): But her episodes of anger have proven frightening to Elizabeth.
DOWLING: She pinches and she bites. She hits a lot. And she'll, you know, sit me down and say, "No mommy," kind of put me in time out of some sort. And just take control.
TUCHMAN (on camera): Giving you the time out?
DOWLING: She wants to take -- she needs control back. That's what she's trying to do.
TUCHMAN (voice-over): Though Jenna has been through much, Elizabeth hopes she will soon outgrow her anger. But no matter what happens, she wants her 2-year-old to know she will always be there for her.
DOWLING: She has made my life so much richer, but also just -- like I said when I met you right after the earthquake, you know, it's like she's always been here. She's special.
TUCHMAN: Gary Tuchman, CNN, Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
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