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Rep. Weiner Fights for His Job; Romney Tops GOP Field; Senate Probe Warns of Afghan Future; Syria Grows More Volatile; VA Rape Cases Mishandled; CNN Listening Tour: Central Florida; From Secret Service to Candidate; Weiner Bares Soul, Chest

Aired June 08, 2011 - 09:00   ET

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

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, it's 9:00 a.m. on the East Coast, 6:00 a.m. out west. I'm Kyra Phillips.

And this morning, we're keeping tabs on a western wild fire the size of New York City and threatening to get bigger. More than 5,000 people in Arizona and New Mexico forced to leave their homes just to get out of its path.

And a dangerously hot day shaping up for much of the east. It's going to feel like 100 plus in some places. This pre-summer heat wave is baking in area from Texas to New England.

And the fallout from the Congressman Weiner's scandal. This just in to CNN, former Democratic national chair, Tim Kaine, now calling for his resignation. We'll have more on that in just a minute.

But first, we begin this hour with the war in Afghanistan and the future of U.S. troops there. Just a short time ago, Congress released a two-year investigation into the longest war in the nation's history and its findings unfortunately are not good.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: By us killing Osama bin Laden, getting al Qaeda back on its heels, stabilizing much of the country in Afghanistan so the Taliban can't take it over. It's now time for us to recognize that we've accomplished a big chunk of our mission and that it's time for the Afghans to take more responsibilities.

(END OF VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: And this is no surprise. A majority of Americans are actually fed up with the human and financial cost of the war. According to a CNN Opinion Research poll from last month, 52 percent opposed the war, 42 percent of Americans want to remain there.

Also today, President Obama is going to hold a video conference with his Afghan counterpart, Hamid Karzai. And it comes amid increasingly strained relations between the two countries.

We're going to talk with our Nick Paton Walsh who's in Kabul, Afghanistan to talk more about what this means. Also next hour, we're going to talk to someone who had a key role in monitoring the war. Retired Marine Corps General Jim Jones served as President Obama's national security adviser. He's going to join me live 10:25 Eastern Time.

And disgraced congressman, Anthony Weiner, is fighting for his job and for the most part, he's fighting alone. Republicans say that the sexting scandal could cost him his job. Even leaders of his own party are backing away from him.

The "New York Times" reports that the New York Democrat spent much of the past 24 hours apologizing over and over to congressional colleagues. And the newspaper quotes fellow New York Democrat Eddie Velazquez, how can you explain that somebody can be so smart but so stupid?

Kate Bolduan is on the Hill.

Kate, on top of that, too, some Democrats are even trying to get rid of campaign contributions that they got from Weiner.

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey there, Kyra. That's right. You can call it a sign of the sign of the widening political fallout from this scandal surrounding Congressman Anthony Weiner.

At least two Democrats who are up for reelection, who are in competitive reelection battles in two districts. They have already come out to say that they are unloading cash and actually giving to local charities cash that was donated to their reelection campaigns from Congressman Weiner.

The first person to announce was Ohio Democrat Betty Sutton. And she announces she was donating the $1,000 that Weiner -- that Weiner had donated to her reelection campaign to two local charities, a local veterans group as well as a local homeless shelter.

And then there is Minnesota Democrat, Tim Walz. He's also unloading the cash donated to him, that's $3,000 from Anthony Weiner that was donated to him. And he's donating it to a local veterans group as well.

What's additionally interesting about this, not just that so shortly after this scandal has broken, that these Democrats are kind of unloading this cash that you need all the cash you can when you're running in a competitive reelection campaign.

What's interesting about this is these move -- these moves came just hours after the National Republican Congressional Committee, the committee that's dedicated to getting Republicans elected to Congress -- they came out with a press release that they said they released in many districts pressuring these two Democrats as well as a dozen more --

PHILLIPS: Gotcha.

BOLDUAN: Wondering if they are going to give up or return their campaign cash that was given to them by Weiner.

And the spokesman for the NRCC released a statement saying in part, Kyra, that, "Members now face a choice between returning the scandal- tainted donations they've received from Congressman Weiner or silently condoning their colleague's rude and bizarre behavior that could lead to a potential ethics violation."

You can see Republicans politically are jumping on this as maybe a bonus for them. But it is also possibly a signal, Kyra, that while Weiner faces a potential ethics investigation, that his political troubles may be a bigger problem -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: It's not looking good. Kate, thanks so much.

And also, just minutes ago, we learned that another member of Anthony Weiner's own party has turned against him. We just told you about former Democratic National chairman Tim Kaine now saying that Weiner should resign.

In his words, quote, "Lying is unforgivable." Kaine is now a Democratic candidate for the Senate in his home state of Virginia.

Also new this morning, Mitt Romney topping a GOP presidential poll for the second straight time.

Our deputy political editor -- director, rather, Paul Steinhauser, here with all those results.

Hey, Paul.

PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: You can call me whatever you want, Kyra. But it is great to see you back.

PHILLIPS: Thank you.

STEINHAUSER: I was changing diapers this morning and was definitely thinking about you.

(LAUGHTER)

PHILLIPS: And yes, and you sent me a note, but I've got twice the fun. You only have to worry about one right now.

(LAUGHTER)

STEINHAUSER: I got it easy. I got it easy.

PHILLIPS: Exactly.

STEINHAUSER: Now let's talk about Mitt Romney. Yes, two days in a row, two polls, with Mitt Romney on the top. Take a look at this. This one is from Quinnipiac University. You can see Romney right there at 25 percent, well ahead of Sarah Palin. This is of Republicans and independents who are leaning Republican.

Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul down in single digits. And everybody else in the lower single digits.

An ABC/"Washington Post" polling yesterday had similar results in this hypothetical head-to-heads against President Barack Obama. In general election match-ups, Romney does better than any other Republican.

And talking about Gingrich, he's in New Hampshire today. He may be asked some questions about, hey, Newt, where you been? The last time he was on the campaign trail was back on May 27th from South Carolina.

There have been reports that he and his wife Callista were on a cruise overseas. So I think you're going to hear reporters today asking Newt where he's been. His campaign has not commented on that one -- Kyra -- and Carol.

You see I'm used to Carol. You've been gone too long.

PHILLIPS: That's OK. You can call -- you can call me whatever you want.

STEINHAUSER: I'm still --

(CROSSTALK)

(LAUGHTER)

PHILLIPS: I got your name wrong. You got mine wrong. All right. Now we're back on track.

All right. There's also been some trash talk coming from the Bachmann camp to Palin. Let's talk about that. A little catfight going on here.

STEINHAUSER: Yes. Somebody you talk to a lot and others on CNN talk to a lot, and that's Ed Rollins. We just reported the other day, he confirmed to us, that you know what? If Bachmann does decide to run for president, we expect she will, he's going to kind of steer her campaign.

This is what he said about Sarah Palin on a radio show. He said Sarah has not been serious over the last couple of years. She's got the vice presidential thing handed to her. She didn't go to work in the sense of trying to gain more substance. She gave up her governorship.

Wow. That's some smack talk from Ed Rollins, a GOP strategist. Well known here to our viewers. And of course he was the guy that steered Ronald Reagan's reelection in '84. Stay tuned on that one -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: We will. Paul, thanks so much. We'll talk again.

We'll have another political update in just about an hour. And a reminder for all the political news you can go of course to our Web site, 24/7, CNNPolitics.com.

OK, we told you that this morning President Obama is going to be holding this video conference with his Afghan counterpart, Hamid Karzai. And as you know it comes amid increasingly strained relations between the two countries.

We're going to get in touch now with our Nick Paton Walsh. He is in Kabul, Afghanistan.

And Nick, you've been there on and off for the last four years. So what do you think will happen if the U.S. speeds up its -- troop withdrawal? Because the congressional reports that we're seeing here and sources within the military saying it could be -- mean big trouble for Afghanistan if indeed troops leave and the money goes.

NICK PATON WALSH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, I think we're seeing in some areas of the country perhaps the beginning of the impact along the eastern border with Pakistan. ISAF has pulled out of some of the less populated areas.

And there are reports contested by NATO that suggest that the Taliban actually has found new safe havens there. Almost running down small fightings there. But separately, I think the most important thing is the message. Effectively, you're saying to Afghans, you have to choose a side in this that NATO are not going to be here an awful lot longer.

And that leaves people with a choice. Do you back the guys who are saying they're leaving or debating how quickly they could put out, or do you go with the guys who were here yesterday, are here right now and will be here tomorrow?

That's the Taliban. Frankly, leaving a much more difficult job for the already weak Afghan government when NATO finally pulls out in 2014 -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right. Nick, we'll be talking a lot about that this morning.

Also, we are keeping a close eye on Syria and the growing volatility in the Arab nation. In fact refugees are trying to cross into neighboring Turkey right now because they fear violence in their town will actually lead to a slaughter by government troops. In most accounts, the situation is growing more ominous.

Monita Rajpal in our London bureau tracking what is being said about this this morning.

MONITA RAJPAL, ANCHOR, CNN INTERNATIONAL: Hey there, Kyra. And just adding on -- Kyra, adding on to that, the UK and France are now calling on the U.N. Security Council to vote for a resolution condemning Syria's -- violent crackdowns on its people.

The French foreign minister Alain Juppe going as far as saying it is inconceivable that the U.N. would do nothing.

As to what the newspapers around the world are saying, today's "Zaman", which a Turkish newspaper, has the headlines, "Syria at the core of the great struggle." It goes on to say, "It's known that the developments in Syria will determine Iraq's fate along with the future of many other Middle Eastern countries. What is unknown is the direction of these developments."

There's also an opinion piece in the "Wall Street Journal," Europe edition. It's entitled, "The Syrian Diversion." It says, "The pity is that the Obama administration continues to subscribe to the illusion that U.S. engagement can persuade Mr. Assad to become a democratic reformer. Far from providing stability in the Middle East. Syria is a U.S. enemy and a found of disorder."

Just a couple of ideas -- couple of samples of what newspapers around the world are saying on Syria -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Monita, thanks so much.

And we've told you for more than a year about big problems at the Department of Veteran Affairs. Well, now we're learning about nearly 300 more problems. Veterans sexually assaulted at the VA.

And a letter written by Adolf Hitler made public. Walt until you hear what it says. That story next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: All right. We've told you for more than a year about big problems in the Department of Veterans Affairs. And this morning we sadly report how the department has failed the men and women it's supposed to serve once again.

We're talking about Congress' new government report about sexual assaults within the VA system. Two hundred and 84 reported from January, 2007 to July, 2010. Many not reported to the VA leaders also who needed to know and could have done something about it.

The cases include rape, inappropriate touching and forceful medical exams. VA patients and employees were among the victims as well as the attackers. Both men and women were attacked and this is the same VA that put so many veterans at risk over the last couple of years because of dirty instruments.

Let's get straight to our Barbara Starr to talk more about this from the Pentagon.

So how do these cases go unreported or underreported, Barbara?

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, Kyra, now according to this congressional watchdog report, one of the biggest problems that has resulted in all of this is lack of guidance, lack of a system at the Department of Veterans Affairs to track all of these cases when they come up.

What the report says, it starts with the very -- at the very beginning with what is the definition of sexual assault. That there's not a clear understanding of that at the VA. Unclear expectations on which incident requires reporting. A system again to track these incidents over time.

And what the report says is that this all leaves to the conclusion that the V.A., quote, "cannot identify and make changes to serious problems that jeopardize the safety of veterans in their medical facilities."

The report found even that the V.A. simply has not taken the proper precautions to prevent these cases of sexual assault -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: That's pretty unbelievable to hear this.

Now, Barbara, of course, the V.A. will respond or has it responded?

STARR: Yes.

PHILLIPS: Have you been able to talk with your sources there?

STARR: Well, indeed. Two things to point out. Later today, in fact, the Congressional Veterans Affairs Committee on the House side is going to have a hearing on all of this. So, expect to see more about what has transpired and what needs to be done.

The V.A. has issued a statement through its press spokesman's office, saying, quote, "Patient and employee safety and security are paramount to the V.A. We take all allegations seriously and investigate them thoroughly."

But according to this report, perhaps not everything was investigated as thoroughly as it should be been, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: We will stay on the story. Barbara, thanks so much.

STARR: Sure.

PHILLIPS: Checking on the stories cross-country.

In Arizona, strong winds fan fears that the second largest wildfire in state history will likely spread. The National Weather Service has issued a red flag alert for much of the state today in neighboring New Mexico.

And in Woonsocket in Rhode Island, firefighters are still on the scene of a massive eight-alarm at the old Alice Mills plant. That huge blaze ignited before 8:00 last night. Nearby residents evacuated and hundreds of people lost power.

And in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, the Navy ship that buried Osama bin Laden at sea made its first stop on U.S. soil yesterday. The crew of the USS Carl Vinson will spend the next few days on Oahu before returning to its own home port of San Diego.

And in New York, Simon Wiesenthal Center unveiled what's being billed as Adolf Hitler's first-known, written stance of his intolerance of Jew. The hand-signed letter from 1919 goes on display next month in Los Angeles.

Joran Van Der Sloot is due back in court next hour in Peru. He's the man suspected in the disappearance of Alabama teenager Natalee Holloway. But this time, he faces murder charges in connection with the death of a 21-year-old student.

CNN's Patricia Janiot joins us live from now from Lima, Peru.

And, Patricia, what's expected to happen in today's hearing?

PATRICIA JANIOT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, Joran Van Der Sloot will appear later in court today, along with the father of the woman he's charged with murdering, Stephany Flores. The hearing will take place in the Castro Castro jail where he has been detained since July last year.

Joran Van Der Sloot is accused with murdering a 21-year-old Stephany Flores in a hotel room here in Lima. Today's hearing is part of a process before a trial date is set.

And the purpose of this hearing is to identify Stephany Flores' alleged personal belongings that Joran Van Der Sloot had with him when he was arrested in Chile in June last year. It is part of the process and we'll be there in front of the jail later this afternoon to bring you the update -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right. And we'll follow those developments with you. Patricia Janiot, thank you so much -- live from Lima, Peru.

And a new Dutch law could change a lot of people's travel plans. Amsterdam's famous coffee shop and their marijuana is about to be off limits for foreigners. That story is straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: On the menu at the White House state dinner, a heaping helping of friendship. That was the theme last night as the president and the first lady honored German chancellor, Angela Merkel.

Before his toast, Mr. Obama presented Merkel with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He said it was for what she achieved when she gained her freedom after the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Then they got down to some dinner table diplomacy. The White House chefs served up two salads, two veggies, three on trays and, of course, German apple strudel.

Well, a Dutch government's new drug policy has Amsterdam officials smoking mad and tourists are pretty bummed. Starting later this year, foreigners will be banned from those famous Dutch coffee shop where marijuana is on the menu.

Monita Rajpal has more now from London.

So, Monita, why is the Dutch government doing this?

MONITA RAJPAL, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Believe it or not, Kiran, they've been saying that these, I guess -- the cannabis that's readily available in many of these coffee shops in and around the Netherlands, are posing a bit of a nuisance and drug tourism, they're calling it. They also say that these coffee shops have gone into large points of sale for cannabis. And they're saying it's really hard for them to control and to manage. Not only that, there's a big concern of cross- border drug trafficking in and out of the Netherlands.

So, they are saying this is what is necessary for them to do to curb any sort of sale of cannabis or pot to those that are not Dutch national. So, if you are member of the European Union, if you're not a Dutch native, you can't buy pot -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right. So, how are they going to keep the foreigners out and how are they going to monitor the customers, Monita?

RAJPAL: Yes, this is interesting. What they are going to do with the coffee shops, the (INAUDIBLE) to these coffee shops, they are going to be given these and they're going to calling it the "weed pass." So, basically, this weed pass will be given to these coffee shops which will then be turned into private members clubs so Dutch nationals can then apply to be members of these private clubs and they will then have to show identification saying, yes, they are indeed Dutch nationals and then they will be allowed into it.

So, they are not going to be coffee shops as we know it, walking in and looking at a menu for any sort of marijuana flavor that they want. They are going to have to be members of these private members clubs -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: OK. We'll will see how this all pans out. Monita, thanks.

Well, you need customer service help? Good luck. Companies send you to an automated service or they steer you to their Web site instead. So, what's your top customer service complaint? We're going to go to the New York Stocks Exchange for details.

And what's your favorite Bible verse? How about "Spare the rod, spoil the child"? It's classic.

But hold on a second. That is actually isn't in the Bible. And it's just one of many expressions that sounds biblical, but it isn't. We got a whole list of them coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Top stories as we almost hit the half hour.

President Obama holds a video conference with Afghan President Hamid Karzai. White House aides say that the president has not decided on the size of the U.S. troop drawdown that begins next month.

The recovery operation from the Air France jet crash into the Atlantic Ocean has ended. Seventy-four bodies will never be found from that 2009 crash.

Facebook will start scanning and ID-ing all pictures unloaded to the site. Those changes can take place in a few weeks. But users can opt out.

Well, the U.N. Security Council has been under fire for not dealing with the crisis in Syria. And today, that changes. The council will take up the bloody crackdown on anti-government protesters today. France and Britain are pushing the U.N. to take action against Syria. The U.N. says that more than 1,000 people have now been killed in less than three months.

Meanwhile, there are fears that Syrian security forces are preparing for an all-out assault in a small city near the Turkish border. The government claims that arm gangs killed 80 soldiers there over the weekend. Syrian president, Bashir al-Assad, vows retaliation.

Meantime, most of the town's residents are scared to death. They left hoping to take refuge in Turkey. One hundred of them are allowed to cross into the Turkish territory this morning. The rest, we're being told, are still stranded.

CNN's Ivan Watson joins us along the Syria/Turkey border.

So, Ivan, how many people have actually gathered along the border at trying to enter Turkey?

IVAN WATSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right. We've seen pockets of several hundred of them in different places along this very long frontier. It's just out behind me here, less than a mile away.

And there are -- we have been talking to an awful lot of very frightened Syrians on the other side of that border. They have all fled a town called Jisr al-Shughour where there has been some very bloody fighting taking place. The Syrian military government is claiming that more than 100 of its soldiers were killed there by what it calls armed groups.

The people we have been talking to say that snipers were opening fire on anti-government demonstrators at funerals. And that has forced tens of thousands of people to flee that town.

And they have -- many of them have come what you can describe safe havens, makeshift safe havens along the frontier. Some of them coming across the border as refugees and coming to be treated with bullet and shrapnel wounds at Turkish hospitals. Others are just hanging out waiting to see what the Syrian government's next move will be -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Now, when we talk about these Syrian troops that were killed, there's conflicting reports, Ivan, on what exactly happened.

WATSON: Well, what we've been hearing from some of the locals is that they were attending a funeral of a demonstrator who they say had been tortured to death when Syrian security forces starting opening fire on the protestors and that triggered a lot of anger.

Then they say that some of the security forces themselves starting fighting amongst themselves. Some of the soldiers defected didn't want to open fire on civilians. And we're hearing that some of the several hundred Syrians that have gathered just on the other side of this border in the shade of some trees, that they are, in fact, included among them, Syrian soldiers that have defected and taken of their uniforms. Of course, the Syrian government, they just call these people terrorists, armed groups and have nothing but insults to say for the demonstrators who have called for the downfall of the regime of President Bashar al Assad.

PHILLIPS: Ivan Watson, thank you.

Well, we hear it all the time. Customer service just isn't what it used to be. Customers get put on hold or they don't even get any help at all. But what's the number one complaint about customer service?

Alison Kosik at the New York stock exchange with td details of a new survey.

All right. So what is it, Alison?

ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: All right, Kyra. The number one gripe, we can't get a human being on the phone. Other complaints, too many phone steps you have to go through. You know, you have to keep on pressing 1, or 2, or 3, or 4 to navigate through a phone tree that seems to just go on forever. Also, people complained that they're on hold too long and actually when they get through, guess what? The solution isn't very helpful.

Consumer Reports came out with a survey and said that, believe it or not, technology is what's really driving a wedge between companies and their customers. But, you know what? It's not just about technology. I'll tell you what -- 64 percent literally walked out of a store because of bad service.

You know what? It happened to me this week. Not going to name the store, but I'll tell you, I couldn't find a salesperson at all. So, you know what, I walked out. I put the clothes down, I said, forget it. And, you know what? Walking out is big, because it's lost revenue that day and maybe forever.

All right. Talking about losing, stocks losing some ground today, extending a five-day losing streak at least now at the open. Analysts say Fed chief Ben Bernanke spoke yesterday. Didn't say anything to dissuade fears about the slowing economy.

Right now, actually, stocks are flat. We've got the Dow now a little bit into positive territory.

Kyra, back to you.

PHILLIPS: All right. When you do those phone calls, you just keep saying, representative, representative, representative and eventually, you do get one.

KOSIK: I know but then do they really help, you know?

PHILLIPS: You got to put the pressure on them.

Thanks, Alison. Coming up, we're going to test your bible knowledge. A lot of expressions just sound like they came out of the bible but there is nothing biblical about them.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: All right. So let's talk about what your favorite bible verse is, OK? How about this? "God helps those who help themselves."

Do you like that one? Well, that's great but there's just one problem. It is not in the bible.

How about, "God works in mysterious ways."

Let's see, what book, what chapter and verse is that in? Well, you're going to be looking forever because it's not in the bible either.

"Cleanliness is next to Godliness."

Nope, sorry, that's not in there either.

John Flake is a long-time religion writer. His article on CNN.com calls that expression that sound biblical but they're not.

John, welcome.

JOHN BLAKE, WRITER, CNN BELIEF BLOG: Thank you.

PHILLIPS: All right. Now here's one that stood out to me. Let me go ahead and get out my notes here.

Somebody actually thought, "This dog won't hunt," was a bible verse? I mean, that sounds like something out of "Dukes of Hazard."

BLAKE: Right. And this person was a student in a college religion class. So you would think they would know better. But that's how pervasive biblical literacy is. I think the bible is kind of like the constitution. We quote it, we revere it but a lot of people don't read it.

PHILLIPS: And also, too, you sort of add your little touches here and there. You kind of decide, this might sound a little better this way and the next thing you know, it's become a verse to people.

BLAKE: Right, right. People kind of embellish things. Like, if I told you a story right now and I went downstairs, five minutes later, the story has changed. And so people like to embellish, and a little poetic touches and that changes the scripture in the stories.

PHILLIPS: It's like the game of telephone. Remember, you'd whisper something and by the time it got around the room it was totally different from what you whispered?

BLAKE: Right. Right, right.

PHILLIPS: I'm going a long way back. You may not remember that game, John.

BLAKE: I do.

PHILLIPS: OK. Let's take a look at some other examples, shall we? OK, how about -- well, actually, let me ask you this first. How did these expressions actually become biblical to people? Is it just because they heard them from somebody and then kind of took it as the truth or how did it -- what'd you find?

BLAKE: Well, that's one way. Just various ways. Often, one way is that people would tell bible stories through pictures. So, for example, if you take the Garden of Eden, there is no Satan in the Garden of Eden if you read the book of Genesis. There's a serpent but he's never identified as Satan.

But, if you're an artist and you want to draw a picture, it's so much better if you draw the Satan as a devilish tempter. So that's one way these stories became biblical, even though they're not really biblical.

PHILLIPS: I got it. And then it sticks in your mind because you've seen that one image.

BLAKE: Right.

PHILLIPS: OK. Now, we've heard political figures, our parents, even our coaches say what we think are verses from the bible to inspire us, to get us motivated.

BLAKE: Right.

PHILLIPS: And you found one actually from Coach Ditka.

Let's take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MIKE DITKA, FORMER NFL COACH: Scripture tells you that all things shall pass, this too shall pass.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: I am so disappointed because that's not in the bible.

BLAKE: No --

PHILLIPS: I thought it was.

BLAKE: There was a religion professor who lived in Chicago at the time who saw that live press conference and he said, wait a minute, that's not in the bible. And he kind of figured out where Ditka got that.

I mean, on one level, it's kind of funny. We can talk about this and say these things aren't really in the bible. But at another level, it can become dangerous. PHILLIPS: How can it become dangerous?

BLAKE: Well, people can impose their own values on the bible. Like, for example, the phantom biblical scripture, "God helps those who help themselves." That's not in the bible but a lot of people think it is. And we say, well that's a good scripture because it celebrates self- reliance and individual liberty.

PHILLIPS: But that's not what the bible is about.

BLAKE: Well, the bible's about helping the poor, the outcasts. The ultimate virtue is not what you do for yourself, but for your neighbor who needs you.

PHILLIPS: Boy, you and I could talk about this -- I feel like I just went to church, John. Thank you so much.

BLAKE: Thank you.

PHILLIPS: And if you want to learn how to quote the bible correctly, then you've got to look at John's article. It's actually not in the bible but it should be, because he totally nails it. It's a big hit on CNN.com. So check it out, our belief blog, CNN.com/belief.

All right. This week CNN is on a listening tour talking to people about the issues that, well, they say will sway their vote. So when we come back, we're going to actually head to Florida where the downed economy has voters feeling pretty low right now.

And 85 years of rooting for the New York Giants finally pays off big for a 91-year-old man. We're going to tell you just how next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Well all week CNN is going in depth with a listening tour, finding out what issues will motivate it voters in next year's presidential election.

David Mattingly is in sunny, central Florida for us.

So David, what kind of stuff are you hearing out there?

DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well Kyra, what we've got here in Florida is a lot of economic gloom. It's all about the economy when people start talking about issues. And everyone I talk to, almost every single person says that they believe that Washington is not feeling their pain.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MATTINGLY (voice-over): People from four different walks of life, all feeling the pain of a down economy. In Kissimmee, the mortgage crisis Areliz Martinez-Rodriguez hit her.

ARELIZ MARTINEZ-RODRIGUEZ, KISSIMMEE HOMEOWNER: I purchased the house for $255,000. And right now, the house is worth $85,000. MATTINGLY: The biggest investment of her life, withering away in a market chilled by one of the nation's highest rates of foreclosure.

MARTINEZ-RODRIGUEZ: I'm stressed out because I need a house for my kids and for me, and I'm trying to work with the bank and the bank doesn't want to work with me.

MATTINGLY: Strawberry farmer Carl Grooms in Plant City knows what that feels like.

CARL GROOMS, FANCY FARMS: I'm like most folks. I feel it in the pocketbook.

MATTINGLY: Rising costs of everything from labor to fuel has him thinking there's a disconnect in D.C.

GROOMS: I don't think they got a clue. They've never walked in the shoe of the common person. They've never been down here at the level. They never had to wonder what they're going to eat tomorrow, or where they're going to live, or how they're going to get their fuel tank filled up.

MATTINGLY: Donna Thomas of The Villages worries about that all the time.

DONNA THOMAS, RETIREE: We basically had to give up our regular insurance and go to an HMO and we've had to cut back on everything.

MATTINGLY: When her real estate company of 40 years went under during the mortgage crisis, she lost everything she was saving for retirement.

Harold Williams (ph) can't think that far ahead.

HAROLD WILLIAMS, UNEMPLOYED: You don't want your family to be without. They look upon you to be the strong leader. I don't want to let them down.

MATTINGLY: In two months this former Orlando math teacher has had just two interviews. Williams says the job market will affect his next vote for president.

WILLIAMS: I don't want him to have sympathy for me, but empathy.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MATTINGLY: And it's going to take a lot of empathy here in Florida, Kyra, because at 10.8 percent, the unemployment rate here is exceeding the national average by more than just a full point.

PHILLIPS: Wow. David Mattingly, thanks so much. Continuing our Listening Tour for us here at CNN.

We're checking stories cross country; in Orlando, Florida prosecutors in the Casey Anthony trial introduced more forensic evidence. Anthony is accused of murdering her 2-year-old daughter Caylee. Yesterday, jurors heard how a dog trained to detect remains reacted as it sniffed the defendant's vehicle shortly after Caylee was declared missing.

Near Ft. Meyers, Florida, drivers got an earful at the Bayshore road, I-75 interchange yesterday actually, a large boom truck flipped. And it took hours to get it right side up. Luckily nobody was hurt.

And in New Jersey, New York Giants head football coach, Tom Coughlin meets and greets the team's ultimate fan. You're ready for this? A 91-year-old man actually won the contest. He and the other winners will have their photos on individual game tickets for the upcoming football season.

Well, a U.S. soccer team opens Gold Cup play with a win over Canada; the goals coming up in sports, eight minutes away.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Well, get this. He has gone from Secret Service agent to a political candidate. CNN's Brian Todd introduces us to this man who's throwing his hat into the ring in Maryland.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It wasn't long ago that Daniel Bongino would have taken a bullet for President Obama literally. Now --

(on camera): Are you disappointed in him?

DANIEL BONGINO, FORMER SECRET SERVICE AGENT: I want to say personally, that I have enormous respect for him. He treated me with dignity and respect and he is a wonderful man. His family was great to me. But I just disagree with the ideology. That -- it's a simple ideological play, that's it. The country is going on the wrong path.

TODD: Bongino says it repeatedly. This isn't personal. As part of the Secret Service's presidential protective detail until 2010, Bongino, literally shadowed President Obama for nearly two years and President Bush before that. He's got nothing but compliments for both men personally.

But there's a political fire in Daniel Bongino and he's quit a rising career as an agent to make a run for the U.S. Senate in Maryland. The odds don't favor him. Bongino's a Republican in a state that hasn't had a GOP senator since 1987. If he wins the nomination, he'll challenge Democrat Ben Cardin who's been in Congress for a quarter century.

When we question whether he has enough experience, Bongino talks health care and economic recovery in Tea Party terms which he says he agrees with.

(on camera): People might be wondering what are you going to be able to do coming from the Secret Service -- policy-wise, that will make you legitimate?

BONGINO: I've done an enormous amount of research on macroeconomic. We got to get the government out of the way. They're in the way, they are standing in front of the American entrepreneur. We've done this before. We know how to get out of this.

TODD (voice-over): Aside from saying they don't agree with Bongino's politics, Cardin's office wouldn't comment on his candidacy.

(on camera): Then there's the matter of the Secret Service, which is known for being fiercely non-political. Contacted by CNN, the agency wouldn't comment on Bongino's candidacy. and the former Secret Service officer told us as long as Bongino doesn't reveal any privileged information that he overheard while he was on the detail, there shouldn't be any issue.

(voice-over): As we walk just a few feet from the White House, I pressed Bongino on the toll he's seen politics take on families as an insider.

(on camera): Why drag your family through there?

BONGINO: It was a tough decision, you know, a really tough decision. My wife and I thought about this for a very long time. I never thought about jumping into politics, but I'd always followed the issues. And when I left the job, we said, we're going to take a week and we're going to calmly think about this and she was willing to get in with me. She really was. We had that Rocky/Adrian moment, Rocky 2 when Adrian wakes up in the coma and does in the wind.

TODD (voice-over): Bongino says he and his wife have no illusions about how hard it is to be in politics. He says he's had to travel to 27 countries as a Secret Service agent, that it's been rough on his family, but they've stuck it out.

Brian Todd, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Lots of stories making news later today. Murder suspect, Joran Van Der Sloot is set to appear in a Peruvian courtroom at the top of the hour.

And closing arguments expected today in the corruption trial of former Illinois Governor, Rod Blagojevich. It's set to resume 10:30 Eastern.

And at 3:00 Eastern at the White House, President Obama hosts the college football champs of Auburn University.

Well, we're following a lot of developments in the next hour of the CNN NEWSROOM. Let's go ahead and start with Congressional correspondent, Kate Bolduan -- Kate.

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hey there Kyra, growing calls for the resignation of Congressman Anthony Weiner. Add to that list, a big name Democrat. We'll have more at the top of the hour.

NICK PATON WALSH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I'm Nick Paton Walsh in Kabul, and in the next hour we'll be reporting on the big decision ahead of President Obama and that's how many troops withdraw from Afghanistan and how fast.

PHILLIPS: All right. thanks, guys.

And also, next hour, the war in Afghanistan. We're going to talk with General Jim Jones, a former national security adviser about the situation right now, and once American troops pull out.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Well, the Dallas Mavericks' seven-footer Dirk Nowitzki has been dominant during the NBA playoffs, but he was tested last night not just by the Miami Heat, but the 102 degree fever.

Nowitzki did not have his best game, but he scored to put Dallas up by three points with less than 15 seconds to go. Miami would have had one last shot at the game, but at the buzzer, it couldn't convert. Dallas wins to even the NBA finals at two game. It's the Mavs' sixth comeback win during the fourth quarter during this playoff season.

The U.S. hosting Canada in soccer at the opener of the Gold Cup, the tournaments that pits teams from North and Central America and the Caribbean. Landon Donovan passes it, Jose Altador who takes the shot and scores in the 15th minute. Altador playing in his first Gold Cup has an assist on a goal by Clint Dempsey 62 minutes into the game. The U.S. goes on to beat the Canadians 2-0.

And our catch of the day from the ballpark by a Phillies fans. Watch it as she reaches over the railing off the upper deck, grabs the ball in her glove. Atta girl. The souvenir probably made up for her team losing, unfortunately to the Dodgers.

All right.

As if that first photo of Anthony Weiner wasn't enough, you can barely turn around without seeing the Congressman's bare chest. But as CNN's Jeanne Moos reports, it's just the latest body shot that the body politique has had to endure.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fully clothed we know Anthony Weiner as a nerdy, lanky congressman. But when his shirt dropped, so did jaws.

STEPHEN COLBERT, COMEDY CENTRAL: The guy's my age and he's totally cut.

JON STEWART, TALK SHOW HOST: He's ripped.

CRAIG FERGUSON, TALK SHOW HOST: With his chiseled torso, do you see that? Look at that. He's in shape.

COLBERT: It would be hard not to tweet a photo like that. That's why I have made the moral choice to let myself go. MOOS: Even headless, folks were able to identify him --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The Weinergate man.

MOOS: But these days there are so many half-naked congressmen, you would be forgiven for getting them mixed up. From the Illinois representative with the six-pack abs on the cover of "Men's Health" to the Craigslist congressman who resigned after putting this picture online, to the Massachusetts senator who posed for Cosmo in his youth. And let's not forget Russia's Vladimir Putin, an aging Rambo who seems like he's always stripping.

But the naked truth can be disconcerting.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This one here was weird. (INAUDIBLE) are separated so much.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Why would you think that would be attractive with all these boobs hanging here and all that?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm saying he's got a little bit of boobage.

KELLY RIPA, HOST, "REGIS AND KELLY": When I first saw this photo, I was like, is that me?

STEWART: That is some cleavage. That is -- can we zoom in on that, by any chance? Is there any way to --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Please, I'm in the canyon. Help.

MOOS: It used to be we would only see naked congressmen in movies.

TOM HANKS, ACTOR: I'm a congressman.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Are you kidding?

HANKS: No, no, I'm absolutely serious. I'm Charlie Wilson. I represent the Texas 2nd congressional --

MOOS: Now they're staring up at us from newspapers on our laps or our laptops. Forget the politician's war chest. It's his chest hair being analyzed.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's a shaved chest, which tells me that psychologically he was putting some real effort into trying to make this thing as sexual as possibility.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is he also like waxing himself all over? It seems oddly hairless.

MOOS: For some female anchors, Weiner's naked torso was too much for the naked eye.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think we all understand, you know -- I don't think we need to see that --

ELISABETH HASSELBECK, ABC HOST: I do also think that there's a --

BARBARA WALTERS, ABC HOST: Take that off, please.

MOOS: Congressman Weiner got his guilt off his chest, leaving us with his chest and his drawers.

Jeanne Moos, CNN -- would you want this chest?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If he could get a little tanner, maybe.

MOOS: New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)