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Flies Focus Of Casey Anthony Trial; Giffords Happy To Be Home; Missing Woman's Body Found; Army Suicide Report; Security Concerns In DC Area; Sizing Up A Scandal; Golf Summit; Gap in Cancer Deaths Widens; Angelina Jolie Visits Syrian Refugees
Aired June 17, 2011 - 13:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
RANDI KAYE, CNN ANCHOR: Flies and the strong repulsive order inside Casey Anthony's car trunk are key clues. Prosecutors in the Casey Anthony trial say it's proof the decomposing body of Casey's two-year-old daughter, Caylee, was inside the trunk. But Anthony's defense lawyers are trying to squash that theory with their own bug expert. The bazaar details and explosive theories all have us on edge. There was no wonder the Casey Anthony murder trial is becoming somewhat of an obsession.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KAYE (voice-over): You see that guy there in the head lock? That was the scene this morning outside the courthouse in Orlando. The case has mature grown-ups fighting, clawing their way in line for a seat inside that courtroom. Can you imagine?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAYE: So, let's get straight to Orlando right now. Steve Helling, who's been covering the Casey Anthony trial from the very beginning for "People" magazine is there. He's been in the courtroom, he joins me now on the telephone. Steve, I want the viewers to listen to what the defense's bug expert said first.
STEVE HELLING, "PEOPLE" MAGAZINE: Sure.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I said there's nothing that I can see that would indicate to me a decomposing body had been in this vehicle.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAYE: All right. So, that is the exact opposite of what the prosecution's expert had said. I noticed there were a lot of sidebars, a lot of pauses in the case today with the judge and the jurors were asked to leave even at one point. So, how credible, Steve, is that finding so far in terms of what this expert is saying?
HELLING: Well, I don't know about the credibility of this one to be honest, because we are talking about Dr. Huntington, who was on the stand today, is actually was a student of Dr. Haskell who was the state witness. So, we're really seeing a student who is contradicting his teacher, at this point. The other thing about it is that it took so long to get to that point where he said there may not have been decomposition in that car. By that point, it seemed like some of the jurors had sort of checked out, mentally, before they got to that point.
KAYE: So, they did spend quite a bit of time, as you said, I mean, are the jurors -- do they seem bored or are they paying attention? I mean, this is pretty critical stuff as the defense tries to make their case?
HELLING: Well, some of them are paying very close attention. There are many who lean forward, they take notes, that type of thing. But there are a few, especially the ones that I've noticed that might not have the education of the others that really seem to be checked out. Jury number six always is fighting sleep, and today was no different, I saw his head bob a couple times. So, if this was supposed to be some grand gesture that there was no decomposition in that trunk, it may have been lost on a few of them.
KAYE: Yesterday, we knew the experts said that they hadn't found any blood or DNA in the car or on Casey Anthony's clothes or on the duct tape found on Caylee's remains. Today is the bug expert, does it seem like it could be enough to throw a wrench in the prosecution's theory? I mean, did they -- were they successful at raising doubt, do you think, with those jurors who weren't sleeping and were paying attention?
HELLING: Probably, yes. I mean, there is a chance that they are hitting on the doubt thing. The only difference and the only problem is that they had started their case by giving this very grand theory about what happened, and they're -- you know, although normally the defense does not have to prove anything, since they made such explosive claims at the beginning of this case, they are going to have to explain some of that, and they're going to have to prove some of that. So, raising doubt may actually not be enough because of that opening statement that they made.
KAYE: Yes. Well, we will see how it all plays out. "People" magazine, Steve Helling. Steve, thank you as always.
And for continuing live coverage of the Casey Anthony trial, head over to our sister network, HLN.
Congresswoman Gabriel Giffords is happy to be out of the hospital and spending time at her Texas home. That is the latest word from her husband, astronaut Mark Kelly. You will recall that Giffords was shot in the head in January. She was released from a Houston hospital on Wednesday. And her husband spoke out today about his wife for the first time since then, and its today's "Sound Effect."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARK KELLY, ASTRONAUT: She wanted to leave, but she was a little bit - you know, a little bit apprehensive, a little bit of a sad day, but she was happy to get here. You know, we had a very busy lifestyle, different places, so, you know, in any given year, she was here very rarely, but it's very familiar to her, so that's nice. She's really looking forward to getting back to Tucson.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAYE: Giffords and her husband are staying at their Houston suburban home, which is near the Johnson Space Center. Jared Lee Loughner is charged in the mass shooting which injured Giffords and killed six people. A federal judge has ruled that he is incompetent to stand trial at this point, his next court date is set for September.
In Indiana, the body of a missing Michigan woman has been found in a swamp. Police say the body of Dawn Fital was stuffed inside a suitcase, she had been missing since Monday. And extradition hearing is set today for her boyfriend, Greg Nowak. He was arrested Tuesday in Indiana and charged with murder. Police believe he killed Fital in Michigan, drove across state lines, and dumped her body in the swamp.
The U.S. Army is reporting that May was the worst month in a year for suicides and potential suicides. The Pentagon says there were 21 potential suicides among active duty soldiers last month, one has been confirmed, the others are still being investigated. The numbers for May were the highest for one month since June 2010. An Army spokesman says the service isn't sure why suicide cases seem to be rising at the same time as the Pentagon is trying to solve the problem.
Rush hour traffic was made even worse today around the Pentagon due to a security incident. An abandoned red Nissan found near the Pentagon was searched but no explosives or other suspicious materials were found. A man, officials say, who was acting suspiciously, was also detained. His backpack contained what the FBI says were bags of non-explosive unknown material. According to one official, the man is of Ethiopian background. The FBI also searched a house connected to the investigation in Alexandria. Officials determined there was no immediate concern after that search.
The United Nations human rights council today passed a resolution supporting equal rights for all regardless of sexual orientation. The state department calls the move a, quote, "historic step." Introduced by South Africa, the resolutions is U.N.'s first ever measure on the human rights of lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgender. The vote was 23 in favor, 19 opposed, and three abstentions.
The resolutions also will commission the first U.N. report on the challenges that lesbians, gays, bi-sexuals, and trans-genders face around the world.
Actor Tracy Morgan is making another effort to apologize for his anti-gay rant during a recent comedy show. You'll recall the incident occurred during a June 3rd performance. It surfaced last week when someone in the audience posted his remarks on a Facebook blog. Today, Morgan is meeting with gay teens from a homeless shelter in New York, we'll speak to some of those kids in our next hour.
He is a Congressman no more, but Anthony Weiner's future, well it is far from over. Coming up, where he might be headed next, and what happens now to that now empty seat. Stay with us. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAYE: So, here we are just about 20 days later, 20 days of intense denials, false allegations, angry exchanges, and seemingly nonstop media coverage. Twenty days later and the national sideshow known as Weinergate is over. That's because Anthony Weiner's time as a Congressman is now over. He finally succumbed to sexting scandal he carelessly created three weeks ago by resigning yesterday.
The side show may be over but the story doesn't end. There's already buzz on what Weiner might do next. Lobbyist, TV punned (ph), maybe even back to Congress. But back to the media for just a moment, why was it such a circus? Joining me speak about this, Howard Curse, the Washington bureau chief for the "Daily Beast" and "Newsweek" and host of CNN's reliable sources.
Hi, Howard.
HOWARD KURTZ, CNN'S RELIABLE SOURCES (via Skype): Hi, Randi.
KAYE: I want to start with the new pew (ph) research center, "Washington Post" poll, take a look here with me. A majority of Americans, 57 percent in fact, think that the number of scandals coming to light has more to do with the increased scrutiny of politicians, not because they have lower moral standards than ordinary Americans. So Howard, I want to get your thoughts on this. I mean, is this about intense scrutiny, is that what is to blame here, do you think, or is it about the media?
KURTZ: To a large extent, those people are right, because it's the media that now bring us everything we didn't necessarily want to know about these peoples' private lives. I mean, Jack Kennedy had a lot of mistresses, Dwight Eisenhower had a lot -- had a mistress. We didn't know that at the time, the culture was not to report it. Now, you can go online and send a shirtless photo of yourself without somebody finding out about it.
KAYE: Yes. How would you grade the media, I'm curious, in our coverage of the scandal? And I mean, our, as the whole group of us.
KURTZ: OK. Look, I think that it was a perfectly legitimate story because of the way that Anthony Weiner went on all those television interviews and lied, he made his own credibility the issue. Of course, it's an interesting story and obviously it's a salacious one, but covers just got out of control. For 20 days, this (inaudible) the most important story in America, particularly if you watch cable television. Not the fact that we are in three wars, not the fact that we have a debt crisis. And there -- I think, there was just -- you know, it was a story that was fascinating on a number of levels, and I would be the first to admit that, but at the same time, I just think the media has an addiction to sex and sleaze and the sort of strange online sexting world, almost drove out lots of other important news.
KAYE: Well, I'm certainly hoping that this is the last conversation you and I do have, at least for the immediate future, about Anthony Weiner, but I'm not done here yet. I want to talk about the future, his future. I mean, where do you think he is likely to land next? I mean, possibly on TV or even back to Congress. I mean, he still has plenty of money to run as a candidate.
KURTZ: He certainly -- at the news conference before he got drowned out by that heckler apparently from the Howard Stern show, sounded like a guy who was trying to preserve his political liability for the future (inaudible.) He certainly could run for something again. I would imagine he would end up more in the field of punetry (ph). I mean, Elliott Spitzer is a classic example of somebody who resigned in disgrace, also in the state of New York, ended up with a primetime television show on CNN. I don't think we -- you know, he needs to step out of the spotlight now. We've all heard and seen -- particularly seen a little bit too much of Anthony Weiner lately, but I do believe he can come back once a decent amount of time passed.
KAYE: And as far as you know, what happens to his now empty seat?
KURTZ: Well, the question is whether that seat in Brooklyn and Queens is going to continue to exist. New York state is losing two commercial seats to redistricting, and I think that seat, where my mother lives by the way, and she was prepared to vote for Anthony Weiner again, even though she was disgusted by bad behavior, she said he's been a good Congressman. I think that seat may seize to exist as a separate Congressional district. If not, Governor Andrew Cuomo has to decide whether to call a costly special election in order to fill it.
KAYE: Have heard about Larry Flint offering a job offering him a job to come work at "Hustler?"
KURTZ: I have heard that, I'm going to go out on a limb here, Randi, and say that the odds of Anthony Weiner accepting that job are probably pretty slim. I think his first job is to try to repair his marriage with his whom has totally stayed out of the spotlight. I'm sure you've noticed she did not appear at the news conference yesterday and hasn't uttered a word, not even a one-sentence statement in public.
And, look, he -- Weiner's not a rich guy. He needs to find a way to make a living. But I don't think having Larry Flint as his employer necessarily is at the top of that list.
KAYE: Yes, I would have to agree with you there. I think, supposedly, he's offering him a raise and all that, but I don't see that happening either.
All right, thank you so much. Howard Kurtz, appreciate it. Have a great weekend.
So what will it take to get the economy to fully recover? More stimulus, tax cuts maybe? Christine Romans tackles the issue ahead in "Your Money."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) KAYE: Welcome back.
In today's "Your Money," the struggling economy is front and center. What do we need to get it back on track? Stimulus? Taxes? Or maybe a little bit of both. Here's a preview from this weekend's "Your Money."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN HOST, "YOUR MONEY": America overspends. Quite simply, we have a debt that stands at more than $14 trillion and counting. But will we spend more in the near term to avoid slipping back into a recession or worse? Ken, do we need more stimulus in one form or another, either the fed or Congress, to boost a slowing recovery? Politics aside, should we be spending more money right now?
ROGER ROGOFF, FORMER CHIEF ECONOMIST, IMF: I don't think we should have another big stimulus. We need to pull out of this one slowly. I don't think it's the problem. This is not a typical post World War II recession. This is a post financial crisis recession. There's too much debt out there. And if we're going to spend money, we should address that.
On the other hand, the Fed ought to do what it can. Unfortunately, the rollout for QE2, it's big buying bonds program, wasn't very successful. The foreigners hated us. A lot of Americans hated the Fed. They didn't sell it well. But we need to get inflation up. That's really important as part of this recovery.
ROMANS: All right --
ROLAND MARTIN, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: And, Christine, I've got to say, let me go personal, Christine. Seven years ago I filed for personal bankruptcy because I had almost $100,000 in health care cost as a result -- and having no health insurance. And so when I did that, guess what I had to do? I had to change the way I lived. I had to change my spending habits.
When we talk about the personal debt of consumers but also of government, it requires a change in habit. The problem that we have with the stimulus programs, the first one with President Barack Obama, one-third of that stimulus package was tax cuts to appease Republicans. Folks still weren't happy.
So at some point you cannot keep spending your way out of a mess. You have to suck it up and realize, it might take me four or five years to change my lifestyle, pair my habits down, to get out of my mess. But spending our way out of it is not going to be the answer.
ROMANS: Well, the --
MARTIN: Accept the pain.
ROMANS: The question is accepting the pain and how much pain and how do you do it? And that's where politics get involved because depending on what party you're in, you think that you're getting -- you're living within your means in different ways. Let me ask you this, Will. By a two-thirds to one-third margin, Americans say government is doing too much that should be left to business. Well, should we forget the stimulus talk and let Washington get out of the way and just trust the private sector to start hiring?
WILL CAIN, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: That's certainly a good principle to start with. I do think that Ken's right, we're in a very unique situation. It can, in my opinion, extend beyond recession and resembles things like 1930 more. So, yes, let's enable the private sector in whatever way we can. But in order to address our federal government deficit, we could do things like reform entitlements, Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security. At the same time we're doing some short-term measures like infrastructure and education, as I said earlier. I think that's a way -- a responsible way you could address both of our problems at the same time.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAYE: And for all the latest financial news, be sure to join Christine Romans for "YOUR BOTTOM LINE" Saturday morning, 9:30 Eastern. And she's also sitting in for Ali Velshi on "Your Money" this weekend, Saturday at 1:00 p.m. Eastern and Sunday at 3:00.
And here's a look at some of the top stories this hour.
Roads around the Pentagon were closed this morning as police investigated a car left abandoned in the bushes. While the vehicle was at first deemed suspicious, no explosives or any other harmful devices were found in that red Nissan. Police also detained a man acting suspiciously at nearby Arlington National Cemetery. They say the investigation is ongoing.
The defense team for Casey Anthony has taken direct aim at a number of the prosecution's claims in her capital murder trial. This morning, a bug expert testified on behalf of the defense claiming the type of insects found in Casey's trunk do not prove there was a body inside for any amount of time.
In Saudi Arabia, women were encouraged to defy the status quo and get behind the wheel and drive today. While there are no laws that specifically prohibit female driver, religious edicts are often interpreted as banning women from driving. The campaign being pushed on social media called Women To Drive is demanding the right for women to drive freely and safely in the country.
Well, it isn't the U.S. Open, but it could be a pretty important round of golf. Tomorrow, President Obama and House Speaker John Boehner will tee off together. Ed Henry joins us with the back story on this one and what they hope to accomplish. Talk to you in just a minute, Ed.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAYE: It is U.S. Open weekend. But another big golf event plays out Saturday when President Obama and House Speaker John Boehner put aside their differences to play 18 holes together. The president had better bring his a-game for sure, because "Golf Digest" ranks Boehner as the tenth best golfer among Washington politicians, that is, with a 7.9 handicap. Meanwhile, another member of the foursome, Vice President Joe Biden, ranks as the sixth best golfer in D.C. with a 6.3 handicap. President Obama, well, he's unranked with a handicap around 17.
Senior White House correspondent Ed Henry joins us now from the White House.
Boy, Ed, what does the president hope to get from this golf match, other than maybe some extra strokes?
ED HENRY, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Yes, well, you know, I cannot make too much fun of the president because I play golf but I'm not on the top 50 list there for DC players. My handicap is usually my swing, I like to say, because it's not that good.
The president, I can't pile on, but he's not the greatest of golfers, but he's been playing a lot lately and getting better according to people who have played with him. And I think what he wants to get out of it, frankly, is a little bit of give and take with John Boehner. I mean there was a time in Washington where you had these big players, like then-President Reagan and then speaker Tip O'Neill. These guys would have a drink in the White House behind me after fighting all day about Social Security or Medicare or, you know, taxes or whatever. Nowadays these presidents, these speaksers of the House, they don't spend a lot of time together and the parties are greatly divided. We all know that. And so I think it's a chance to try to get together.
We just heard from Jay Carney a few moments ago, they are now going to make pictures available. They're going to have a little poll spray (ph), let our cameras in to get a little bit of exchange for at least a couple of minutes. But it's still top secret where they're actually going to play. I know for sure it's not going to be Congressional Country Club, because you mentioned there in Bethesda, Maryland, nearby, because they have U.S. Open playing there this weekend. So they're not going to be able to crash that.
Jay Carney also saying they're still debating whether or not to release these two leader's scores. And so I said to Jay, well, if the president wins you'll release it, if he loses you won't release it? And Jay looked at me and said, yes, exactly.
KAYE: Oh, I think it might just leak out even if they don't release it, as does everything in Washington.
HENRY: Yes, exactly.
KAYE: But I want to ask you, what about Libya. I mean we had the war -- the war power's deadline. A big controversy between the president and John Boehner. This Sunday is the deadline. I mean if they're playing golf Saturday, Libya has to come up, right?
HENRY: Absolutely. There's no doubt about it. I mean we don't know, obviously, how much depth they'll get into something like that. But I think this Libya issue, which has divided them, would likely come up, as would the debt talks that are going on right now between Vice President Biden and congressional leaders.
And it's interesting, I asked Jay Carney about the image of all of this and I said, look, the president plays a lot of golf, John Boehner plays a lot of golf, leaders of both parties, so it's not just a Democratic or a Republican issue. But the fact is, it's seen as a rich man's sport and there are a lot of people out of work. Is the president concerned about that image, about palling around on the golf course? And his answers was, he didn't really get into the unemployed. He kind of ducked that part but said, look, he thinks a lot of Americans play golf and that they would understand that the president wants to reach out to the Republican leader here and try to work through some of these big issues, like Libya, like the debt talks, et cetera. We'll see whether or not there's some major breakthrough on the golf course. I sort of tend to doubt that there will be some major compromise, but maybe this will become known as the golf summit and they'll come out arm in arm with all kinds of deals. I guess hope springs eternal.
KAYE: You never know. But, you know, as I've been watching this and talking with you, Ed, there's this truck, this construction that keeps going on, this truck that keeps going behind you.
HENRY: Yes.
KAYE: I'm curious, is the president building a putting green or something there? What's all the construction about?
HENRY: Yes. You know, he already has a putting green in the back on the south side.
KAYE: Oh, how nice.
HENRY: So I doubt he's going to do that on this side. Now they say that they're going through all the telecommunications and updating all the wires underneath, but they've been doing so much digging and it's so loud, there's a lot of conspiracy theorists who think there's some sort of tunnel or something nefarious going on. Who knows. I'm not going to add to those rumors. But I also see Bo the dog out there a lot doing his business on the lawn. So, I don't know, maybe there's some big dog run or something being built. Who knows.
KAYE: Ah, OK. Hey, listen, Ed, on Tuesday, I've been meaning to rib you about this a little bit, because President Obama, we know, made this rare presidential visit to Puerto Rico. You covered him there.
HENRY: Yes.
KAYE: You covered the trip. And your attention to detail apparently really impressed "Daily Show" host Jon Stewart. You're not going to get away without listening to this one.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) HENRY: I mean Florida would probably be the biggest prize that the president has his eyes on. Of course, always a battleground, 847,000 Puerto Ricans. You look at states like New Jersey, Pennsylvania, another key battleground, 366,000 Puerto Ricans.
JON STEWART, HOST, COMEDY CENTRAL'S "THE DAILY SHOW": Anybody else weirded out about just how Rain Man-specific Ed Henry knows about how many Puerto Ricans in America knowledge is?
Then the president landed at Dulles Airport, employer of 78 Puerto Ricans. Headed back to the White House, passing 3,700 Puerto Ricans in his 22-minute drive.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAYE: Well, Ed, I'm going to let you defend yourself on that one. Are you Rain Man?
(LAUGHTER)
HENRY: No. I mean, you know, my dad lets me drive every Sunday. What was that line Rain Man used? I've been trying to come up with a Rain Man line to pretend that -- No, I am not Rain Man. Jon Stewart's picking on me.
But I don't know all of those numbers offhand. I was reading a graphic, you know, to go through where all the Puerto Rican voters are in the U.S. I am not counting how many Puerto Ricans there are around the country, I don't have details like that. But it's always fun to be poked a little bit by Jon Stewart. It's all in good fun.
KAYE: And I have my producer, Christine, in my ear saying, definitely not, definitely not, definitely not Rain Man.
HENRY: Definitely not, Rain Man. That would be a good line, actually, to fill in there.
KAYE: All right, Ed, always a pleasure. Have a great weekend.
HENRY: Thanks, have a great weekend. Good talking to you.
KAYE: Thank you.
Well, can what you wear on an airplane land you in jail? One University of New Mexico football player found that out the hard way, his story next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAYE: It's half past the hour. Here's a look at some of the news you may have missed.
A big traffic jam around the Pentagon this morning as police closed the roads to investigate a car left abandoned in the bushes. While the car was at first deemed at first suspicious, no explosives or any other harmful devices were found in that red Nissan. Police also detained a man who was acting suspiciously at nearby Arlington Cemetery. No charges have been filed, but they do say the investigation is ongoing.
Casey Anthony's defense team opened the second day of its case by calling an insect expert to the stand. These are live pictures from Orlando inside the trial right now. Dr. Tim Huntington, a forensic entomology consultant, is countering the testimony of the state's bug expert. The prosecution's witness testified that flies found in the trunk of Casey Anthony's car were consistent with a body having being stored for days. Huntington suggested that insect evidence in this case is not indicative of human decomposition. Anthony is accused of killing her 2-year-old daughter, Caylee.
A University of New Mexico football player was forced off a U.S. Airways flight and then arrested -- get this -- for refusing to pull up his saggy pants. Police say after the flight crew's unsuccessful attempts to get Deshon Marman to pull up his pants to cover his underwear, the captain asked him to leave the plane. Eventually, Marman walked off the plane where a struggle with police officers followed. He was arrested for trespassing and battery on a police officer.
Ex-Congressman Anthony Weiner has a job offer from "Hustler" magazine founder Larry Flynt. The offer came within hours after Weiner's resignation yesterday over a sexting scandal. Here is the offer, take a look: a 20 percent raise above his current salary in the House of Representatives, medical benefits matching those he received while in office, and get this, Flynt is also offering to pay Weiner's moving expenses. What a deal. Flynt made the job offer in a letter, by the way, published in "The Huffington Post."
The Federal Aviation Administration has proposed a nearly $600,000 civil penalty against United Airlines for violating drug testing policies. The FAA alleges that United failed to perform mandatory drug testing before transferring 13 people to safety sensitive positions. United Airlines has 30 days to respond to the FAA.
Coming up next, cancer death rates are down across the country, but not everybody is in the clear. We'll tell you who and why that's the case coming up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAYE: There's good and bad news out on the cancer front today. The good news, cancer death rates over all are falling across the country. But here's the bad, Americans who are less educated are far more likely to die from cancer.
Take a look at this with me. The American Cancer Society reports that Americans with the least education are more than two and a half times as likely to die from cancer as those with the most education. The study also finds that more than one-third of premature cancer deaths could have been avoided if everyone had a college degree.
Joining me now to discuss the study, the chief medical officer for the Cancer Medical Society, Dr. Otis Brawley.
Thanks so much for coming in and talking about this.
I'm curious, why do you think we're seeing this discrepancy in education levels?
DR. OTIS BRAWLEY, AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY: Well, socioeconomics actually ends up being an indicators for poverty, causing more smoking, more obesity, people are less likely to exercise. A lot of things that we know that prevent cancer are more common in people who are wealthy or people who are middle class. People who are poor have worth health habits, and then, of course, access to care.
KAYE: That is a big one.
I want to show you some other numbers. I know your study also finds that even though they have slowed cancer death rates, they are higher for African-Americans than whites despite the education level. So look at this here, 33 percent higher in African-American men, 16 percent higher in African-American woman.
Again, why are we seeing numbers like this?
BRAWLEY: Yes, the drivers among African-Americans are actually the same drivers among people who are poor; more likely to have obesity, more likely not exercise, healthful habits and then access to care, including preventive services being lacking.
KAYE: I also want to talk with you about the deadliest cancers.
BRAWLEY: Yes.
KAYE: Lung cancer certainly is the number one killer for men and women. Breast cancer, if you take a look at our list here, breast cancer number two for women; prostate number two for men. And colon cancer is number three for both.
But let's get back to the number one killer, as we just said, lung cancer. I mean, your report says that those with an high school education or less died at a rate four to five times higher than those with at least a four-year degree.
BRAWLEY: That's right.
KAYE: Those numbers are alarming.
BRAWLEY: Yes, and that is almost totally related to smoking. You know, smoking kills one-half of all people who smoke, and much of it is by cardiac disease or by cancer. This is -- lung cancer is the most preventable cancer. Eighty percent of people who develop lung cancer develop it because of smoking.
KAYE: And you look at this discrepancy, I mean, does it come to risky behavior? I mean, those who are less educated just aren't educated about taking better care of themselves, they may drink, they may smoke? BRAWLEY: I think that's part of it. Sometimes when you get into inner cities, people just don't have much hope and don't really care about health as much as people who are in more of a middle class environment.
We need to start focusing on poverty. Indeed, we talked about cell phones and other things causing cancer. Poverty is a much greater killer than any of these other things we have talked about recently.
KAYE: Did anything in the study surprise you? Any of the findings?
BRAWLEY: I have been close to the data for about 20 years, so it just confirms many of my suspicions. So I can't tell you I was really shocked.
I do hope people actually start focusing on the fact that we need to try to figure out how we can get adequate health care, including preventative services to people who are not getting them and people who, quite honestly, deserve to get adequate care.
KAYE: Yes, it's so important so we can turn some of these numbers around. I agree.
Thank you so much for coming in and talking about it.
BRAWLEY: My pleasure.
KAYE: Very important issue.
Well, she is a megastar who also happens to be a goodwill ambassador for the U.N. The latest on Angelina Jolie's visit with Syrians who have fled the military crackdown right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAYE: In Syria, a massive anti-government protest across the country today. At least five people were killed in the northern part of the country. A military crackdown continues and with it scores of Syrians fleeing their homes and crossing the border into Turkey. U.N. Goodwill Ambassador, the actress, Angelina Jolie is in Turkey visiting refugees there, and CNN's Arwa Damon is a the border and joins us now.
Arwa, what is the latest that you can tell us on Jolie's visit?
ARWA DAMON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, she wrapped up her visit. It lasted around two and a half hours, and she was at the refugee camp behind me that, in fact, used to be a tobacco factory and there are thousands of refugees now crammed inside there, living on tents that have been set up on two levels inside the various buildings and the warehouses.
This is quite a unique opportunity that Angelina Jolie had given the fact that the media has effectively been barred by Turkish authorities from entering, as have other organizations like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. So she was able to get a firsthand glance at how the refugees are coping with life outside their country, also presumably hearing their stories.
Remember, the majority of the refugees that have crossed from Syria into Turkey are from the northwestern part of the country where there has been a fairly intense military crackdown that is still under way.
Now prior to her arrival, there was a small demonstration inside where people were holding p signs thanking Turkey, greeting Angelina, but also imploring the United Nations to take action. One man was carrying a sign saying the Syrian military is killing its own people, please make it stop.
And a group of children managed to crawl underneath a tarp and were up against the fence, they were chanting anti-Bashar al-Assad slogans, but they were also holding up a sign saying please stop killing children.
We have to now wait and see what sort of a statement Angelina Jolie is going to be making, Randi.
KAYE: And Arwa, what is the general situation. I know that you had a chance to visit with some of the refugees as well. Are things going to get better for them? What is the outlook?
DAMON: Well, Randi, when the refugees do arrive in Turkey, they are (AUDIO GAP) inside these camps, which effectively they were provided with food, water, medical care and shelter, but it is also they corralling them from the outside world. They're not able to freely move in and out. And again, we don't have access to them, official access to them inside these camps.
We were able to get into a small refugee camp that is in fact inside Syria. There are hundreds of people who are clustered there. Some of them choosing to stay there because they were separated from loved ones. Some of them hoping against hope that they will be able to return back home, but they all really tell harrowing stories of how the Syrian military forced them out of their homes. They truly, genuinely feared a massacre at the hands of the Syrian security forces if they did in fact capture them.
Some of them coming from the northwestern part of the country; others from even farther away. We met a young woman who was pregnant. And she was just so terrified that even though she was about to cross into relative safety, her hands were shaking the entire time she was talking to us. Her voice trembling. She said she witnessed from her house demonstrations taking place, hearing security forces firing. She said she had to crawl on her stomach for safety, and that at one point, she actually saw a lawyer who she knew gunned down. We hear these stories, Randi, time and time again from the refugees.
KAYE: That is awfully disturbing. Just quickly, Arwa, any indication of the Syrian army movements in that area? DAMON: What we have been hearing from one of the activist who is based along the Syrian-Turkish border, they could hear overnight from that small camp in Syria I was just talking about the sounds of gun fire. And they believe because they have these spotters in the hills that are watching the movement of the Syrian military, that the Syrian military is in fact only a few miles away from Turkish border, pressing ever closer. So, you can only imagine the tremors of fear that type of information is sending, especially amongst the refugee population that is still inside Syria waiting to cross into Turkey.
KAYE: Arwa Damon there in Turkey for us. Arwa, thank you, as always.
Time right now, 47 minutes past the hour. Checking our top stories.
The prime minister of Greece reshuffles his cabinet amid widespread unrest triggered by the government's attempt to push through austerity measures demanded by the European Union. Thousands of protestors have taken to the streets to vent anger over the measures, aimed at reducing the country's huge budget deficit. Greece's budget woes have already affected financial markets around the world.
In Libya, NATO carried out more strikes on government and military targets in the capital of Tripoli today. No immediate word on causalities. Elsewhere in the country, the BBC reports that at least ten people were killed when government forces shelled targets near the rebel-held town of Misrata.
In China, torrential rain and flooding have killed at least 25 people in the southern part of the country. The flooding has forced the evacuation of more than 670,000 people living along the Yangtzee River. The government estimates losses of nearly $2 billion.
Flying without the help of fossil fuel. So, what happens, you might ask, when the sun goes down? That's ahead in "The Big I," next.
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KAYE: And it's time now for a CNN Political Update. CNN deputy political director Paul Steinhauser and CNN political reporter Peter Hamby join me from New Orleans, which is where the Southern Republican Leadership Conference is taking place.
Paul, bring us up to date. What's going on there?
PAUL STEINHASUER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: This is an important gathering. You've got more than 2,000 Republican activists, supporters, really hardcore people who support the party. A lot of Tea Party people as well. From 38 states. It's mostly the South, but from 38 states. And you've got a bunch of these Republican presidential candidates and some who maybe are going to run here speaking to the crowd.
Today, I guess it the spotlight is going to be on Michele Bachmann, Randi. Listen, we saw her at the debate Monday night and she got pretty positive reviews. I think it's pretty fair to say. By the way, later after her speech, she'll be speaking to Wolf Blitzer. She's speaking later today, so a lot of people will be keeping a big eye on her to see how she performs in front of this crowd.
Also today, Ron Paul, Congressman from Texas, will be speaking, as will Rick Santorum, the former senator from Pennsylvania. And Herman Cain, the former CEO of Godfather's Pizza. So, I guess you could say a bevy, a cornucopia of Republican White House presidential candidates, Randi.
KAYE: Oh, yes. Very interesting stuff, it sounds like.
Peter, I know you just spoke with someone who's actually decided now against running for the White House. Who might that be?
PETER HAMBY, CNN POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: That's right. Mississippi governor Haley Barbour spoke here. Then he talked to us in the hallway out here for about 15 minutes, clearly relishing the spotlight even though he didn't decide to run for president.
But we asked him about the state of the Republican field and some questions about the strength of the field. Haley Barbour kind of pushed this message that at the end of the day, no matter who Republicans nominate, we need to get behind them because they will be better than President Obama. That was his message.
And also interesting, he said he expects the field to get even bigger. We're in June, but he's saying that Rick Perry could still jump in the race. Obviously, Jon Huntsman is expected to join the race next week, even Sarah Palin later this year. So, that's kind of a seat change from a few months ago when the GOP establishment thought the field was pretty much set. And now Haley Barbour, who is, you know, a respected voice in the party, is saying that the field, you know, could grow still, Randi.
KAYE: Hmm, that is interesting.
Paul, Texas governor Rick Perry is not running for president, at least not yet, we should say. Perry's going to be in New Orleans. What kind of spotlight do you think he can expect there?
STEINHAUSER: Yes, peter, I think both of us will be paying a lot of attention to Perry tomorrow. He's going to be, by far, the biggest speaker. I remember last year, we were both here last year and Perry wowed the audience. So, I think a lot of people are going to be keeping an eye on him.
But you know, Randi and Peter, this is interesting. As you know, how he's not on the straw poll ballot here. They're having a straw poll ballot, but I would assume people can write in for that one, if they want, for Rick Perry?
HAMBY: We'll see, and this is a place he could do well. Rick Perry kind of has kind of crossover appeal to sort of activists but also establishment types. Again, he's a Southern governor, we're in the South, so he could do well if people do write his name in. Randi? KAYE: All right. Peter and Paul, always a pleasure. Thank you guys.
And as we told you earlier this hour, actor Tracy Morgan is making another effort to apologize for his anti-gay rant during a recent comedy show. Just moments ago, Morgan met with gay teens at a homeless shelter in New York. These are some photos from that meeting that we have just gotten into CNN. We'll speak to some of those that he met in just a few moments, so stay tuned for that.
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KAYE: In today's "Big I," we take a look at a company attempting to fly a completely solar-powered plane around the globe. The Solar Impulse Project aims to have the plane take off and fly autonomously without the need for fuel.
While there have been successful flights, there is still quite a ways to go to make the round-the-world trip successful. Let's bring in Solar Impulse Founder and CEO Andre Borschberg. He's joining us today.
Andre, I know you're on the phone with us, but tell us a little bit about how this idea came together.
ANDRE BORSCHBERG, FOUNDER AND CEO, SOLAR IMPULSE AND PILOT (on the phone): Yes, hi. My partner, (INAUDIBLE) took (ph) the first flight around the world in a hot air balloon in 1999. And he used about four tons of propane with only 40 rounds left in the bottle. And at the time, he thought would it be possible to do the same, to fly around the world, but this time with no fuel, no dependence on fossil energy? And that's basically how the idea was born.
KAYE: So, how does this plane stay powered, exactly? We said it's a solar trip, but how does it work?
BORSCHBERG: We have solar cells integrated on the airplane. It's an airplane which collects the energy from the sun directly, uses all-electric motors, store some of the energy into batteries in the (INAUDIBLE) and can fly day and night.
There has been many solar-powered airplanes in the past and also in the United States, but they flew during the day only. And to fly around the world, what we need is an airplane to be able to fly day and night. And that's what we did last year for the first time, flying 26 hours in Switzerland to flying through the day, recharging the batteries and being able to fly through the following entire night.
KAYE: So, what happens if you get a few cloudy days in a row. Are you stuck?
BORSCHBERG: You may, but you have to plan your trip in such a way that every morning you are in a sunny place as you don't have any restriction on energy you have on board. You can go back, you can wait until you get to the right place at the right time. So, the planning, of course, is very important. That's why we're training. That's the reason also we go step by step. Of course, that's the limit of the technology today, but you know, if we can fly today without any fuel day and night, we can certainly reduce our fuel consumption on the airplane once we're in the future. And that's our objective.
KAYE: All right. Andre Borschberg from Switzerland with a solar-powered flight planned for around the world. Thank you, Andre.
