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Fire within Miles of Nuclear Lab; President Obama Faces Reporters; Palin Movie Premiere; Greece Braces for Trouble from Protesters; Iran Tests Nuke-Capable Missiles; "Go the F to Sleep"; Casey Anthony's Dad on the Stand

Aired June 29, 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: Good morning, you guys.

It's 9:00 a.m. on the East Coast and 6:00 a.m. out the West. Thanks so much joining us.

In the capital of Afghanistan, terrorist commandos launched a daring attack on a Western-style hotel. All eight of the attackers are dead along with civilians and two police officers.

In Greece, protests turned violent for the second straight day and things could get even worse. Lawmakers voting on painful new government cutbacks and citizens are outraged.

At any time, the judge in the Casey Anthony murder trial will hand down a key ruling. He'll decide if her former fiance can testify in front of the jury.

We begin in Los Alamos, New Mexico, where firefighters are racing to contain an out of control wildfire threatening the nation's premier nuclear weapons lab. More than 60,000 acres have burned. The flames already brushing up against the south border of the lab's 40-square- mile facility and it's raising concerns about the safety of nuclear materials right there on that site.

CNN's Reynolds Wolf is in Los Alamos.

So, Reynolds, what's the biggest worry right now?

REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: The biggest worry, believe it or not, is -- for the people that live here the biggest worry understandably is that they're going to be able to come home and come back to their homes in about a week or so.

At the facility one of the concerns they have, obviously, as you mentioned, that low-grade plutonium that is still enclosed in those big canisters. One of the good reasons why they do have confidence that they're going to be able to stave off those flames is simply the location of those barrels.

Those barrels -- John, I'm going to back up a little bit -- are actually on something very similar to a giant parking lot, on a lot of concrete, far away from any foliage. So the idea that fire could actually get right to them is a very, very low probability, they tell us.

They also mentioned that a lot of the foliage is far away. So the idea that the fire could get right up to it, also very, very low.

And then on top of that, as a safeguard, standing by, they've got fire, liquid fire retardant, they could spray on the barrels if need be.

But the biggest concerns that the firefighters have, Kyra, very simple. The topography, the foliage that you have out there, and then the long-term forecast. When I talk about the topography I'm talking about the landscape. Unlike fires that you'll have in Texas or, say, in Oklahoma where things are relatively flat, when you get to a place like Los Alamos, this community is actually built on three high mesas.

Between the mesas, you've got canyons. And inside these canyons you've got all kinds of foliage. A lot of pine, a lot of conifer trees, a lot of grasses. And with bad earth if they -- when I say bad, dry weather, dry breezy weather, that is the other concern.

If the fires continue to get pushed into some of these canyons there's plenty of fuel out there. And of course, as heat continuous to rise causing those flames to go up the sides of the canyons, it will hit the top of the mesas. Some of the buildings you see here in the background. So many concerns, and with that, no surprise.

Let's send it back to you, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right, Reynolds, we'll keep checking in.

Meanwhile, we're also talking about the threat in Nebraska. Floodwaters surrounding nuke stations there. But we're told it's nothing like the Fukushima plant catastrophe in Japan.

Fort Calhoun is surrounded by as much as two feet of water right now but federal regulators say it's safe and they don't expect any disruptions. That plant has been shut down since April for refueling and then the other plant, the Cooper Nuclear Station, sits on higher ground.

Now coming up in about 10 minutes, a triple whammy. Three nuclear plants threatened by floods or fire. We are going to actually talk about the potential dangers with a nuclear expert.

And later this morning, President Obama opens the floor to reporter questions. It's his first solo news conference since March and he faces a laundry list of thorny issues. The debate over the national debt, the drawdown in Afghanistan, and the mission in Libya just to name a few.

CNN's Jill Dougherty is at the White House and we will talk about what exactly -- or are we going?

OK. Jill, stay with me. We're going to head toward -- to Orlando, Florida, the mother of Casey Anthony taking the stand. Let's just listen for a moment. CHIEF JUDGE BELVIN PERRY, CIRCUIT JUDGE, ORANGE COUNTY: Sustained.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did you ever have to deal with an issue --

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Your honor, objection. May I approach?

PERRY: You may approach.

PHILLIPS: All right. It looks like we've gone into a sidebar. So as I mentioned, Casey Anthony's mother taking the stand apparently addressing issues of sexual abuse. While they take a break there for a moment to discuss questions among attorneys, we will take you back once they start talking.

So let's go ahead and get back, shall well, to the White House? And Jill Dougherty.

Jill, sorry about that. Yes, you know how things roll in this business. But let's go ahead and talk about President Obama's news conference that is coming up today. We always pay close attention to things like this because it's a chance for reporters to throw out any and every question on the number of issues facing the president right now, as campaign season gearing up big time.

JILL DOUGHERTY, CNN FOREIGN AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: Yes, right, Kyra.

Well, let me just tick through a few things. You know you'd have to say that debt reduction is at the top of the list for natural questions that the president would get today because after all he is now leading the discussions and negotiations. And overriding all of this is what can he do differently, how can he break the logjam?

In fact, this afternoon we've got some key Democrats from the Senate who are going to be over here talking with the president. And then you also have Tim Geithner, the Treasury secretary, over here this afternoon. So that's top.

Also jobs. No question, the president has been out across the country -- North Carolina, Iowa, Pittsburgh -- talking about this. And then as you mentioned before, international issues. I mean, just last night, that attack in Kabul on the Intercontinental Hotel, does that undercut his pace for drawing down troops from Afghanistan? Then debate over Libya, the war powers act. There's a lot that can come up at this.

PHILLIPS: OK. Jill Dougherty, appreciate it. We're going to, of course, bring you this -- president's statement and the Q&A with reporters live. That's coming up 11:30 Eastern Time. CNN once again will carry that live.

All right. Sarah Palin was the star attraction at the premiere of "The Undefeated." The movie actually focuses on her time as Alaska governor.

And our Joe Johns joining us now from Pella, Iowa, where the movie was shown last night. And, Joe, you actually sat through it. Was it everything that you expected it would be?

JOE JOHNS, CNN SENIOR CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, I didn't really have the expectations, Kyra, but I tell you what, this was one of the situations where you got a summer soap opera going, it continues. It was about two hours long, this movie.

I saw most of it but I came out in the middle to go on TV. But there were people who watched the whole thing inside who told me they felt it was just going to build to a crescendo and at the end Sarah Palin was going to get up and make some big announcement about her presidential intentions.

Of course, that did not happen so it was just a bit anticlimactic. Especially given the fact that Bristol Palin had already said on TV that she thought her mother was actually going to say something or actually knew at least what -- that Sarah Palin had made some decision, but hadn't announced it yet.

So we asked Sarah Palin about that and she gave us a coy, but not quite clear answer. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SARAH PALIN, FORMER ALASKA GOVERNOR: Bristol is a smart and independent and strong young woman. Listen to her. You know what I told Bristol when I heard that? I said, Bristol, what we say on the fishing boat stays on the fishing boat. You don't need to be announcing anything.

(END OF VIDEO CLIP)

JOHNS: The fishing boat. And I'd like to be on the fishing boat to try to get some idea about what Sarah Palin is going to do about Iowa. What's all of the news in this? Well, certainly, there was the premiere of the movie about what you would expect.

On the other side of that, there is this buzz going around Iowa, the question is whether Sarah Palin is sort of making the alliances in Iowa that she needs to launch a run, if she decides to do that. It's clear that there were a bunch of movers and shakers inside the room watching the movie but that's about as far as we can go -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right. Joe Johns from Iowa, thanks so much.

Now let's take you overseas to Greece. Riot police afraid that they're sitting on a powder keg right now. It's the second day of nationwide protests and there's fears that tensions could explode at any time.

Lawmakers, as you know, are voting on a desperate five-year package of tax hikes and spending cuts, trying to save that country from bankruptcy.

Richard Quest is on the streets there in Athens. Richard, set the scene for us at this hour.

RICHARD QUEST, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR/CORRESPONDENT: Yes. First of all, obviously, I'm wearing these goggles just to explain because of the enormous amount of teargas that is swirling around the square. Although I probably can -- I think I might just be able to -- it's a bit eased off for a second.

Just let me tell you in the last few minutes, the government of George Papandreou has the majority it needs for the austerity measures. The vote is 155 in favor out of a 300 parliament.

Now we will analyze who voted which way backwards and forwards, but we do know now that the law has been passed and now the implementation laws have to be also passed.

What happened in the square -- perhaps what happened in the square and we don't -- they haven't necessarily been told that yet or they haven't realized what's happened. Certainly, there's been no significant reaction to the news that the law has been passed.

PHILLIPS: So, Richard, you're actually getting word right now that it has passed so, obviously, this is fluid. We're just getting word in. And as we monitor live pictures of the protesters, you know, it does look like things are calm right now. But basically, what you're saying is once word gets to the protesters, things could get pretty ugly, right?

QUEST: Well, I'm just looking at the screen. Just confirming. It's 155 votes in favor of the new law, yes. Comes up -- is confirming it is 155 votes in favor.

Now what has happened here in the last, I would say, 10 minutes, is everything has become more muted. There was an enormous amount of noise. There was a lot of fuss. There was a lot of stun grenades, a lot of tear gas.

Since the vote result, I would say everything has dropped down by about three notches. Whether that's because they're digesting it, a bit shocked by it, they are working out what happens next, I can't tell you. But it does seem as if things are just a little bit calmer after the vote.

Of course, we've got many hours before darkness which will indeed show us the final -- the final tally, if you like. And don't forget one other very important point. They passed the plan. Now they have to pass the various laws that will implement that plan and that happens tomorrow.

PHILLIPS: All right. Got it. OK. We'll continue to follow it. Live pictures there out of Greece.

Our Richard Quest, appreciate it. Thanks so much.

And now we got a breaking story out of Iran to tell you about where the military is conducting war games drills and as part of that they've actually fired off some nuclear capable missiles.

Zain Verjee is watching this for us out of London right now.

Zain, what can you tell us?

ZAIN VERJEE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Kyra.

Well, the British Foreign Secretary William Hague has come out and said this. That Iran is carrying out covert tests of missiles capable of delivering a nuclear payload. He also says that Iran wants to enrich uranium to levels, he said, that are far greater than is needed for peaceful nuclear energy.

Iran has always said we just wanted to do this to generate electricity but the United States and European countries don't believe them.

Listen to what the foreign secretary had to say just moments ago.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WILLIAM HAGUE, BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY: These are enrichment levels far greater than is needed for peaceful nuclear energy. We will maintain and continue to increase pressure on Iran, to negotiate an agreement on their nuclear program.

(END OF VIDEO CLIP)

VERJEE: Iran, Kyra, has successfully tested, according to Iranians news agencies, 14 missiles in military drills. As you said this is the second day of war games that is dubbed the Great Prophet 6. They also talked about these underground launch sites that have been established.

And what that basically means is that they can fire off missiles as ordered by commanders a lot faster. There are western observers, too, that say Iran has missile capabilities that can hit targets of up to 800 miles. So we're talking about pretty much all of the Middle East as well as parts of southern Europe -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right. We'll keep watching it. Zain, appreciate it.

And flames moving dangerously close to a U.S. nuclear power plant that houses thousands of barrels of nuclear waste. Should we be worried? We're going to talk to an expert coming up.

Also ahead, Casey Anthony's mom Cindy back on the stand. We'll have the latest from the courtroom straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Casey Anthony's mother, Cindy Anthony, once again taking the stand. We're going to listen in to the murder trial now live out of Orlando, Florida.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Mrs. Anthony, good morning.

CINDY ANTHONY, CASEY ANTHONY'S MOTHER: Good morning.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You recall when you related what the media was suggesting to your daughter, that her response to that was, surprise, surprise?

ANTHONY: Her -- that was regarding not her father blowing up at the media.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: But the suggestion by the media that the pool had some involvement in Caylee's death, correct?

ANTHONY: Correct.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The blowing up aspect of this exchange --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Objection to that last question, Judge?

JUDGE: Basis of objection?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Calls for speculation. How does she know what the reason why my client made that statement?

JUDGE: Response from the state?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She was the individual who directed the comment at the defendant and, in context, the defendant responded. So, the witness was explaining that the response was as a result of her comment about the pool, rather than the comment about blowing up at the media.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Your honor, my response to that would be that they are talking about the media. Surprise, surprise, means the media is at it again. Not necessarily that it was her thought on the process.

JUDGE: Objection overruled.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: All right. When you came into the Orange County jail that day, you were upset as well, because what the media was doing outside was suggesting to you that Caylee was deceased. Correct?

ANTHONY: Yes. The media was screaming at us, and throwing out accusations, like, "What do you feel -- how do you feel about your granddaughter drowning in your swimming pool?" That was very upsetting.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Because at that time, you believe that she was missing and alive somewhere else, correct?

Thank you. That's all I have.

JUDGE: Redirect.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No further questions, your honor.

JUDGE: Ma'am, you may stand up. ANTHONY: Thank you, sir.

PHILLIPS: We're going to take a quake break. You're watching live pictures of the Casey Anthony murder trial out of the Orlando, Florida. We will continue to follow this as the testimony continues.

More news after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Oh, it's unprecedented. Three nuclear facilities in two states threatened by fire and water -- a massive wind-driven wildfire just miles from the Los Alamos lab in New Mexico, and floodwaters creeping up on two nuclear stations in Nebraska.

Now, my next guest actually describes it as Fukushima in slow motion.

But, first, CNN meteorologist Rob Marciano is giving us a lay of the land and kind of giving us the visual of where these are and how close everything is.

ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: And, luckily, we are looking at super slow motion at this point.

PHILLIPS: Good, good.

MARCIANO: Here we go. Omaha, Nebraska, we've got two nuclear power stations -- one to the south, one to the north.

The one to the north is the one we're most concerned about. That's been pretty much idle in the past several months. That was by design before even the flooding started. And now since the flood has come, they decided to keep it idle.

But, nonetheless, they are trying to protect it. They've done it with some aqua dams, aqua berms to do that. They had one of those failed. That's when all the scare started to come to play here.

But as of now, we are OK, but the problem is, you know, we've got -- water is not going away any time soon. We're pretty cresting right now, OK? You see, the forecast keeps it pretty much flat line at least the next week and maybe more.

So, it's not going down, but not necessarily going up any more. But just the pressure alone is going to cause this battle to be ongoing and any more failures in any of these protective measures then we have the scare coming back.

All right. Let's talk about what is going on as far as the fires are concerned. Extreme and critical fire danger out the west and we've got smoke that's a problem across parts of New Mexico.

Here is what's going on at Los Alamos National Laboratory. The fire itself is to the south and west, about 60,000 acres have burned.

Let's kind of describe what happens at the lab itself. We've got several -- you know, it's huge, like 40,000 -- or 40 square miles here. This is a dump right here. This is -- and these are hazardous dumps, OK?

This one is underground. So, technically, they are not too concerned about this. But these out here are not necessarily aren't underground. They are the most -- they are the furthest away.

But if the fire creeps up on the lab and gets to those sites -- that is the way I understand it, Kyra, those are the problem areas. And so, so they are trying to keep the fire away from the dump sites that are on the eastern edge of the lab. The fire right now is on the southwestern edge of the lab.

PHILLIPS: Got you. Rob, appreciate it.

MARCIANO: You bet.

PHILLIPS: All right. Well, the Los Alamos facility is the birth place of the atomic bomb. And, right now, it contains thousands of barrels of nuclear waste.

Let's get straight to our expert about the potential threat that this wildfire could pose.

Joining me now, Michio Kaku, a physicist and an expert on the threat of toxic chemicals.

And, Michio, let's go ahead and start with this fire in New Mexico and tell me if I'm correct here. I know that no longer does the Los Alamos lab actually store hydrogen bombs, but there is, I'm seeing, up to 30,000 drums of nuclear waste containing plutonium there.

So, how disastrous could this be if, indeed, it gets into the air?

MICHIO KAKU, PROFESSOR, PHYSICIST, CUYU: Well, this is unprecedented, a triple whammy -- three of our nuclear sites being threatened by natural disasters.

Right now, the forest fire is right at the doorstep of Los Alamos. What could happen in the next two days could determine the entire future of the crown jewel of America' nuclear weapons program. Three miles separates the fire from 20,000 to 30,000 55-gallon canisters containing plutonium contaminated wastes.

If the fire actually reaches the site, temperatures will rise because these sites are above ground. The cans could pop up, and liquids and solids could then be lofted into the air containing plutonium dioxide dust -- one of the most toxic chemicals known to science.

PHILLIPS: So, let me ask you -- if I were to breathe in that dust, how much would it take to put me at risk for, say, lung cancer?

KAKU: A microgram that you can't even see.

PHILLIPS: Wow. KAKU: A million of a gram launched in your lungs could cause lung cancer. It's one of the most carcinogenic chemicals we've ever seen in natures. It is a by-product of the nuclear weapons program.

And realize that at Los Alamos, we have also secured sites that are safe, but up to six tons -- six tons -- of metallic plutonium used in the weapons program stored at Los Alamos.

PHILLIPS: OK. Now, the fire chief -- the Los Alamos fire chief spoke on our earlier program, just a little bit ago, and he was asked about the threat. Let's take a listen to what he said. I want to get your reaction.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHIEF DOUG TUCKER, LOS ALAMOS FIRE DEPARTMENT: Those are drums that can take some heat. They just have some waste in them. It's not high level rad waste.

And we believe that we can protect those, we can foam 'em. If, in fact, they do catch fire, they have vents in them. They'll vent and with a HEPA filter and they'd be no release of any toxic materials.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: OK. That's a pretty strong statement. There will be no release of any toxic materials.

Do you agree with that?

KAKU: No. In 2009, the Department of Energy issued a rather scathing criticism of fire control measures, saying that the fire department could be overwhelmed because of the sophisticated nature of equipment there, because the workers are not being trained.

And this is a government report criticizing the emergency preparedness of our crews to be able to handle an emergency just like this.

PHILLIPS: Michio, before I let you go -- floodwaters in Nebraska. Ft. Calhoun does have a dam set up around it. Cooper, it is a little bit on higher land there than Ft. Calhoun.

How much of a -- how much are you concerned about these two stations?

KAKU: Well, it is like Fukushima in slow motion. The tipping point of Fukushima was reached within minutes of the opening earthquake and tsunami. However, here, the magic number is 1,014 feet above sea level. Right now, floodwaters are 1,007 feet above sea level.

If they continue to rise -- which does not seem likely -- but if they continue to rise seven more feet, at that point all hell breaks loose because that's the tipping point -- 1,014 feet above sea level. Let's hope we never come close to that.

PHILLIPS: Amen. Michio Kaku, always great to get your insight. Thanks so much, Professor. Now, in Florida, Casey Anthony's dad back on the witness stand. We are live out of Orlando right after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Casey Anthony's father, George, taking the stand in her murder trial. Let's listen in from Orlando.

(JOINED IN PROGRESS)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: During that six-month time period, were you in another wooded area, sir?

JOSE BAEZ, CASEY ANTHONY'S ATTORNEY: Objection to the vagueness of the question of the wooded area.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: October of 2008, were you in a not that wooded area but a separate wooded area in Orlando?

BAEZ: Objection. Some wooded areas may be relevant, some may not. Without specifying what area, the question is vague.

JUDGE: Overruled.

GEORGE ANTHONY, CASEY ANTHONY'S FATHER: Sometime in October, we were finding another location for our command center, the Kid Finders Network, our tents, things like that. Yes, I was down at the corner of Hoffner and Lee Vista in an area I had called about through the county commissioner's office to see if that was vacant and if we could utilize that for our nonprofit's Kid Finders Tent, sir. That is the reason why I was there.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You were going to put up a Kid Finders tent in the woods?

ANTHONY: Adjacent to a street, sir. Probably about 10 to 15 feet off the roadway because there was a lot of activity, a lot of people going by to draw attention to not only my granddaughter being missing but other missing children. That's what that was about.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Now, the statement that you made to -- actually, let me take back. On July 15, 2008, you actually -- the first night that law enforcement came to your home, you actually pulled Detective Melchich aside and you told him that the car smelled.

ANTHONY: Not on the 15th of July, no.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The 16th of July?

ANTHONY: Sometime in the early morning hours when he first had arrived, absolutely, sir, I did.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Okay. And you did that privately?

ANTHONY: I can't remember if it was privately or if there were other officers there. We had numerous people at our home in the morning that I talked to him about the car, about an Amber Alert, about so many things that night to try to find my granddaughter, absolutely.

I was hysterical. I was upset. I wanted answers. I demanded those answers to come to try to find my granddaughter, and I would still do that today.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The night the police were called, you were hysterical and upset?

ANTHONY: Yes, sir, I most certainly was.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Okay. Now, the -- after Yuri (ph) Melchich got back with Casey, you also pulled him aside again, did you not?

ANTHONY: No, sir, I did not pull him aside.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did you go to his car before he left and told him that something had happened to Caylee and that Casey was lying?

ANTHONY: Specifics on what him and I discussed, if I'm not mistaken, at the end of my driveway, probably about 6:30, 7:30 in the morning that we had been up all night. I know that I did talk to him and asked what was going on, what was progressing, what information he did have. I did all of those things, sir, as a concerned father and grandfather because I wanted some answers. And I demanded answers from him.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And you told him something had happened to Caylee and Casey was lying.

ANTHONY: Sir, definitely something happened to Caylee. She's no longer with us. And Casey was the last one that I saw with Caylee. One and one adds up to two, sir, in my mind. And no matter how you're trying to spin it, I'm upset because my granddaughter was missing. I don't know where she's at.

I was told that someone had taken my granddaughter, forcibly removed her from my daughter, or my daughter dropped her off at some house. I'm trying to put all of the stories and information together, sir.

Was I running on pure emotion and drive and demanding answers? That is my right as a father and a grandfather and as everyone spin it. Was I upset and falling apart at the moment? Absolutely. My family was being torn apart. And for you to say I'm doing something wrong --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Objection to the witness

ANTHONY: -- sir, you're wrong.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: commenting on counsel's question.

JUDGE: Just listen. Next question, Mr. Baez.

BAEZ: Yes, sir. Now, on July 24th, you went in and made the statement to law enforcement that you had smelled that car and you smelled human decomposition?

ANTHONY: Yes, sir.

BAEZ: And you were sure of it?

ANTHONY: I'm 100 percent positive.

BAEZ: Okay. And do you recall also telling them that Casey lives on the edge?

ANTHONY: I possibly did. I don't remember the exact context. If I did, yes, my daughter has a tendency to live on the edge.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Taking the statement out of context and not presenting the witness time, place, and person and a chance to look at the statement.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The witness has answered. I think he recalls --

JUDGE: Did you have a full opportunity to answer the question as presented to you, sir?

ANTHONY: I feel comfortable what I said, sir.

JUDGE: Pardon?

ANTHONY: I feel comfortable what I said.

JUDGE: Okay, thank you.

BAEZ: And you recall telling law enforcement on July 24th, 2008, that Casey takes these lies as far as she can take them?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Objection. Time, place, persons present and the portion of the statement.

JUDGE: Sustained. Rephrase the question.

BAEZ: Do you recall telling law enforcement on July 24th, 2008, meaning Yuri Melich (ph), John Allen and Detective Shelley Meade that your daughter takes things as far as she can take them?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I have page and line.

BAEZ: Page 29, lines 9 through 11.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: May I approach counsel and take a look at the context?

JUDGE: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Excuse me.

Objection, your honor. I ask counsel to read the question and answer in full under the rule of completeness.

BAEZ: I'm asking if he recalls making that statement, judge. Not impeaching him. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Your honor, the rule of completeness I believe, I don't want to speak the objection, but the rule of completeness does require --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'll permit you to do it on cross-examination.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Your honor, if I may reproach (ph) (INAUDIBLE) the rule indicates it has to be done (INAUDIBLE).

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. Baez, are you reading the whole question since I don't have the statement?

BAEZ: Yes, sir. I'll read the whole question.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't have the statement.

BAEZ: When asked, do you think the reason your daughter doesn't want to tell us how far -- what happened, is for fear that her mom -- what her mom might do, might say, I told you so, or something like that? Do you think that it would be so disappointing to mom and -- and that is why she's -- she's -- she's, taking this to the bitter end?

And your answer was, now my -- my daughter lives on the edge. You know, from all of the lies -- the lie -- the lies, all of the contradictions and like my daughter takes things as far as she can take them.

G. ANTHONY: If it's written down there, I said that. Sure.

BAEZ: And, in fact, during that whole interview, you kept talking about nothing but negative things about your daughter, weren't you?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Objection. The document speaks for itself. If counsel wants to put in for the jury to consider the entire statement.

BAEZ: I'm asking --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: For their own evaluation.

BAEZ: I'm --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Positive or negative. That is the appropriate way to do it.

BAEZ: I'm asking him if he recalls.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Overruled.

BAEZ: Do you recall saying nothing but negative things about your daughter?

G. ANTHONY: Apparently, I did, sir. I was cooperating with the law enforcement any way I could to get some answers about my granddaughter.

BAEZ: And the very next day you went and visited your daughter in jail?

G. ANTHONY: That's possible. I'm not sure of all the exact dates. I know we didn't go very -- as much as we wanted to.

BAEZ: And you've seen the videos of you seeing your daughter in jail, right?

G. ANTHONY: Yes, sir.

BAEZ: You didn't say any of these negative things to her while you were visiting her, did you?

G. ANTHONY: No, because I was trying to keep my daughter upbeat. I was trying to find out anything I could about where Caylee possibly could be. I was doing everything I could, sir, to keep her as happy and as comfortable as possible. I didn't want my daughter in there, but she is in jail.

BAEZ: The day before you're throwing her under the bus with law enforcement and the next day when you talked to her, you're being very nice, right?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Objection. Move to strike counsel's statement of his opinion.

BAEZ: I'll rephrase.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sustained.

BAEZ: As you've testified on the 24th, you're saying negative things about your daughter. And when you are on the video talking to her, you're saying nice things.

G. ANTHONY: Again, sir, I was cooperating with law enforcement on one day, giving them information to help assist finding my granddaughter wherever she was at. The next day going in and seeing my daughter, yes, I was trying to keep her upbeat because I don't want to see my daughter in jail but, unfortunately, she is in jail.

And that's what you try to do. You try to talk to your loved ones, to your daughter, whoever is might be in there to keep them upbeat so they're not in an emotional wreck when they're in a facility where they have no human contact with anyone.

BAEZ: You were under cover at sorts?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Objection. Move to strike.

G. ANTHONY: No, sir. I wasn't under cover.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Overruled.

BAEZ: You can answer, sir.

G. ANTHONY: I was not undercover, sir. I was a father out of concern for his daughter and also for my granddaughter. BAEZ: And you're aware that your daughter wanted to be bonded out, weren't you not?

G. ANTHONY: Yes, sir my daughter wanted to be out and try to help find her daughter, yes.

BAEZ: And the reason she couldn't get bonded out is because you would not -- you would not want to put up the house as collateral?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Objection. Relevance.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sustained.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Move to strike.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Motion to strike granted.

BAEZ: Now, on October 14th, 2008, you went and testified against your daughter, did you not, before the grand jury?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Objection.

BAEZ: I'm not asking him any statements he made, just --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Your Honor, the fact that the witness is subpoenaed and compelled to appear --

PHILLIPS: George Anthony, father of Casey Anthony, testifying in his daughter's murder trial. We're going to take a quick break. More from the Orlando court room, right after this.

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PHILLIPS: All right. We are following live pictures out of an Orlando courtroom. As you know, Casey Anthony's murder trial still taking place. Her father on the stand right now. They are inside bar. We'll continue to monitor this and bring you that testimony live as it continues.

OK. It's been an internet sensation and a top-selling book and I probably bet that you've never read a bedtime story quite like this one.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SAMUEL L. JACKSON, ACTOR: The cats nestle close to their kittens. The lambs have laid down with the sheep. You're cozy and warm in your bed, my dear. Please go the (EXPLETIVE DELETED) to sleep!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: You probably recognize the voice. It's Samuel L. Jackson and he's reading the children's book parody, "Go the F to Sleep," and its author says it's for every parent who's dealt with the frustration of a kid who just won't go to bed. But CNN.com opinion contributor Karen Spears Zacharias doesn't find it so funny. So you get the point that it's solely for parents, right? It's not a book that you read to your kids and every parent can relate to their kid not going to sleep, Karen. So why do you take issue with it?

KAREN SPEARS ZACHARIAS, AUTHOR, "WILL JESUS BUY ME A DOUBLE-WIDE?": Well, I'd like to say first of all, I never called for censorship of the book. What I call in to question is the crassness associated with the language of the book. I'm a word person. I make my living with words, as does the author of this book.

Now, I have raised four kids and I had four kids under the age of five at one time. I had twins just like you. So I understand frustration, but I'll admit that I don't understand the level of frustration that would propel a parent, any parent to think in that terminology toward children. I just don't.

PHILLIPS: All right. So going big picture then and recognizing this is a book for adults to laugh about, because they deal with it on a regular basis.

What does swearing mean to you as a parent and how do you think it impacts our kids when we do swear around them, no matter what their age, and whether we realize there is really an impact or not?

ZACHARIAS: Well, I think that there's a coarseness in our society today that has reached a level of just unprecedented coarseness. If you just look at the response, the overall response that has come in to CNN to my commentary, I mean, I've been told I'm not a good lay in bed. I've been told that I had to do what the book says to myself. I've been told I got something on my butt and this is the level of civil discourse just simply because I dissent and say, "Listen, for far too many children out there, this is the kind of language they hear on a daily basis."

PHILLIPS: And you go on and --

ZACHARIAS: And it's --

PHILLIPS: Sorry. Go ahead.

ZACHARIAS: Well, I mean, I think it's sad. You know, I think that this has struck a nerve with parents. And I'll confess that I don't understand that level of frustration toward a child.

For me, bedtime was always a great time. I enjoyed putting my kids to bed. The big problem for me was morning. Getting them up, getting them ready for school, getting off to work, getting all of that seemed much more of a stress to me as the mother of four kids than putting kids to bed.

PHILLIPS: And you put out --

(CROSSTALK)

ZACHARIAS: But my concern -- larger concern --

PHILLIPS: Well, you point out the irony, too, that while parents are taking time to read this, that there is a lot of neglected kids out there that would just pray for someone to read them a book and help them get to sleep.

Karen, we're having a little trouble with your Skype connection there. I apologize. But I will plug your op-ed piece.

You can read Karen's entire piece on "Go the F to Sleep, not Funny" at CNN.com/opinion. And if you'd like, you can of course join the conversation and leave a comment for her.

All right. In Florida, we have been telling you about Casey Anthony's dad back on the witness stand. We're going to listen in once again right after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Live pictures from Orlando, Florida as Casey Anthony's father, George, on the stand right now. Sunny Hostin following this as well.

So can you bring us up-to-date on -- he has testified a number of times in this trial, Sunny. What's the significance of today and the questioning today?

SUNNY HOSTIN, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Well, it is like "Groundhog Day" all over again, Kyra. Because I think this has been at least his sixth time on the witness stand, if I'm not mistaken. Today, he's being questioned really about the inner workings of his relationship with Casey Anthony.

Apparently, sometime in July of 2008, he went to law enforcement and said that he felt that Casey was lying. He talked to them about his law enforcement background and about the fact that he knew what the smell of decompositional odor was. Human decompositional odor and how he had smelled that in the car, how he knew about it in the woods.

And then, the very next day apparently went to the jail and was very friendly with Casey Anthony, very loving with Casey Anthony. So they are trying to show sort of the two faces of George Anthony.

But let me say this, I think George Anthony is doing quite well on the witness stand in explaining why he said what he said to police and explaining why he was trying to be upbeat with his daughter in prison.

And so I'm not sure that the defense is making much head way in its examination of George Anthony. But -- but certainly the jury is very riveted, Kyra. Apparently some of them are taking notes. They are watching the exchange between the defense attorney, Jose Baez and George Anthony.

PHILLIPS: Ok, we're still watching it right along with you. Sunny Hostin, thanks so much. It is almost -- it's about eight minutes before the hour. We'll take you back live to Orlando and we've also got other news for you right after the break. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Casey Anthony's trial resumes in Orlando, Florida. We are listening to Casey Anthony's father, George Anthony on the stand.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Next question.

JOSE BAEZ, DEFENSE ATTORNEY FOR CASEY ANTHONY: Now, sir, in January, late January of 2009, you attempted to commit suicide, did you sir?

GEORGE ANTHONY, CASEY ANTHONY'S FATHER: Yes, sir, I did.

BAEZ: And you even left a suicide note?

ANTHONY: Yes, sir. I did.

BAEZ: And you expressed some guilt?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Objection. The best evidence of the document is the document.

JUDGE BELVIN PERRY, PRESIDING OVER CASEY ANTHONY TRIAL: Sustained.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I have the original marked.

BAEZ: You expressed some guilt, did you not, sir?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Objection. The document speaks for itself. The best evidence of the contents is the document itself. I have no objection to the admission into evidence.

BAEZ: I'll withdraw the question.

PERRY: Sustained.

BAEZ: Were you hospitalized shortly after?

ANTHONY: Yes.

BAEZ: And within a week, were you now -- were you then again making further media appearances?

ANTHONY: I don't remember what I did shortly thereafter being released from the hospital. Possibly I did. I'm not really sure.

BAEZ: And these media appearances that you were making, you were making them to advocate the innocence of your daughter.

ANTHONY: Possibly, without knowing exactly what was asked of me and how I answered that, I can't go back and say exactly what I said on that particular date and time, sir. I can't.

BAEZ: Do you recall being on "48 Hours?"

ANTHONY: Yes, sir.

PHILLIPS: Well, it's almost the top of the hour. And we're following the Casey Anthony murder trial out of Orlando, Florida. Right now on the stand is her father, George.

A quick break, we'll be right back.

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