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A Day of Remembrance; The Tea Party Debate; Marking the 9/11 Anniversary Around the World; GOP Candidate Seek Tea Party Movement's Support; Remembering Japan's Earthquake

Aired September 11, 2011 - 17:00   ET

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

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Americans mark a somber anniversary. Ceremonies are taking place across the country on this 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. The worst terror strikes ever on U.S. soil.

In New York, events were centered at the new 9/11 Memorial at Ground Zero.

During the ceremony, the names of nearly 2,800 people who died in the World Trade Center attacks were read and moments of silence were held at the exact times the Towers were hit and then again when they fell. Family members gathered at the Memorial Stone Walls to touch the names of their loved ones. And President Barack Obama and former President George W. Bush helped lead the commemoration there.

In Arlington, Virginia, U.S. troops placed wreaths at the Memorial for 9/11 victims at the Pentagon. The 184 people killed when the hijacked American Airlines jetliner struck the building are all in that memorial.

The Military Choir sang "Amazing Grace" as part of the events at the Pentagon. Vice President Joe Biden helped lead the ceremonies there earlier today.

And In Shanksville, Pennsylvania, a Memorial Service for the victims who died when United Airlines Flight 93 plunged to the ground there. They're believed to have prevented the hijackers from flying the plane into the U.S. Capitol in Washington. President Obama laid a wreath at the ceremony to honor the 40 victims on that flight. One of the highlights at the ceremony in Shanksville, a children's choir singing "America the Beautiful."

And we have reporters covering all angles of this day of remembrance. Poppy Harlow in New York; David Mattingly in Shanksville, Pennsylvania; and Jessica Yellin at the White House.

So we begin with Poppy Harlow joining us live from the top of Two World Financial Center in New York. Poppy?

POPPY HARLOW, CNNMONEY.COM: Fredricka, it's just been an amazing day here from when all this began at 8:00 this morning.

I want to share with you some sound that I think really paints the picture for people of what today was like. Of course, more than 2,600 American lives lost right here behind me 10 years ago today.

There was a mix of sadness, a mix of hope. It was cathartic for some of the family members here today. Thousands of them down here at what was Ground Zero and what is really now come to life with the Memorial here behind me and the buildings being built.

But first, I want you to take a listen to a young man named Peter Negron. He lost his father when he was just a little boy. He spoke at the ceremony here in 2003 on the anniversary. And then he spoke again today about what it would have been like to have his father with him.

Apparently we don't have that sound for you. But I'll tell you what it was like, because it really brought me to tears. He said, "I would have wanted my father here to take me through my high school years, to teach me how to talk with a girl, to be there for 100 more moments that I would have liked to have."

Also what really stood out to me, Fredricka, was Vice President Joe Biden speaking in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. He told the story of a widow, a wife that talked about the loss of her husband. Take a listen to what the Vice President had to say earlier today.

Apparently we don't have that - that sound from Vice President Biden. Take a listen to Peter Negron, the young man that I just told you about remembering his father.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PETER NEGRON, HONORING HIS FATHER, PETE NEGRON: I wish my dad had been there to teach me how to drive, ask a girl out on a date, and see me graduate from high school. And a hundred other things I can't even begin to name.

He worked in an Environmental Department and cared about the earth and our future. I know he wanted to make a difference.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARLOW: Firefighter singing -

And Fredricka, that was just one of the thousands of stories that we've heard down here today with the families. And I want to let you know that after the ceremony which was hours long, all of the names were read off, the family members were all let in for the first time here behind me to the World Trade Center Memorial. It's two beautiful picturesque pools all around it, the names of all the victims on 9/11 are written, etched in. And the family members for the first time got to go in and see their loved one's name written down there, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Popty Harlow, thank you so much.

We're going to move south now from Ground Zero to Pennsylvania. A very somber scene there as well. Shanksville, that's where United Flight 93 crashed in a remote field killing 40 passengers and crew members. That ceremony was also held there this morning at a memorial built at the crash site.

And CNN's David Mattingly is there and joining us live now. David, we know the President and First Lady got a firsthand look at those pillars with the 40 names etched in that marble. What else has happened there today?

DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fredricka, this is such a different site compared to New York and Washington, D.C. It's very pastoral here, very peaceful. The design of this memorial is intended for people to come here and reflect on the sacrifice of the men and women onboard Flight 93.

And today, the feelings that were expressed were very personal. These very personal senses of loss because of people who no longer have fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers. And what they were talking about today resonated with so many people that you don't have to be related to someone onboard that plane to be feeling that loss.

We heard some very emotional words today from former Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge, who surprised everyone by getting very emotional at the microphone while delivering some very powerful words. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TOM RIDGE, FORMER HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY: Ten years ago today, many of us stood upon a nearby field. We were angry. And we were heartbroken.

And as the days and weeks and months unfolded, your story to us became known. And we wondered, would we, could we, had we been in your place, shown the same resolve? The same selflessness? The same astonishing valor?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MATTINGLY: Had we been in your place, what would I have done? And that's the question that so many individuals have asked themselves as they board airplanes over the last decade, Fredricka. You may have. I know I have as I've gotten on airplanes. I immediately began talking to people right after all this happened on 9/11. I talked to people just as they began flying again.

They weren't thinking about the World Trade Center. But because they were getting on an airplane, they were relating to the people here and the sacrifice they made to make sure that plane did not reach its target.

WHITFIELD: All right. David Mattingly, thank you so much from Shanksville.

So when the President left Shanksville, he also made his way to the Pentagon where he also laid a wreath.

CNN's Jessica Yellin joining us now live from the White House. So, Jessica, the President covered all bases. He was at Ground Zero. He made his way to Shanksville. And then returning to Washington by going to the Pentagon.

JESSICA YELLIN, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Fredricka.

Yes. If there was an emotional impact on the President today, you saw it in images rather than hearing it in words. The president has said very little today, in fact.

He started at Ground Zero where he was with former President Bush and former First Lady Laura Bush. It was the first time the two men have been together since relief efforts for Haiti.

The President got a look there at the Ground Zero Memorial, and we're told by a press spokesperson that he was impressed with what he saw. We're told he felt that it meets the moment. He was touched by the serenity of the moment, the serenity of the setting and the families. There, the President read part of Psalm 42 which we're told he chose because it speaks to persevering through difficult challenges and emerging stronger.

Here's just a portion of the psalm he read.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: God is our refuge and strength; a very present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear. Even though the earth be removed, though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea. Though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling, there's a river whose stream shall make glad the city of God. The holy place of the tabernacle of the most high.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

YELLIN: Fredricka, from there he went on to Shanksville to visit the impact site of Flight 93. And as you mentioned in the introduction to this hour, he walked through New Memorial and laid a wreath. A very solemn moment.

But there was also a change in energy there. He spent a great deal of time shaking hands with the crowd who had gathered and that crowd was a little different in nature from the crowd at Ground Zero. Families there were chanting USA, shouting the president's name to some extent. And he did spend a long time shaking hands there.

And then his next stop at the Pentagon, also just a few hours ago, he laid a wreath spending time speaking to families there.

He is back here at the White House now for a brief stop. But his day, which began before dusk is not over. He has still another event to go before the day is done, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right. Jessica Yellin at the White House, thanks so much.

People all around the world remembered 9/11 in different ways. I'll show you how some of them marked the anniversary. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right. We're gearing up for the first ever CNN Tea Party Debate. You'll see it here tomorrow night with CNN's Wolf Blitzer moderating.

"The Best Political Team on Television" is in Tampa getting ready for this debate Monday night. CNN's Don Lemon, Paul Steinhauser and Shannon Travis all joining us live right now. Good to see all of you in your beautiful baby blue. Did you plan that?

DON LEMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Look at this, Fred. Can you believe it?

WHITFIELD: That's pretty good. That adds to the picturesque background.

You all got the memo.

LEMON: It's just really hot out here.

WHITFIELD: Yes. OK. Well, you know, we'll excuse you for losing the jackets. And, you know, go ahead and loosen up the tie, Don. I know you want to.

All right. So let's talk about what we are likely to see. Don, I know you have taken your newscast on the road this weekend. We saw you last night. You'll be there again tonight. Why did you decide that this was one of those interesting pivotal or potentially pivotal debates in which to do so?

LEMON: Yes. Well, besides the boss saying get on the road and get your butt down there. But seriously, as you said, it is. It's pivotal and it's history.

Quite frankly, this is history. There's never been a Republican Tea Party Debate. And we wanted to sort of, you know, get the viewer ready for it tomorrow night. And all the players, all of the people are here, are starting to come in. There are journalists from all over the country who are coming in.

The head of the Tea Party Express is here. I got a chance to talk with her a little bit earlier. And the candidates are starting to come in. So they start to come in the night before they start to rehearse.

And so we wanted to get here early, get a lay of the land, talk to the people who are members of the Tampa Tea Party and talk to the electorate here in Florida. So that's why we're here tonight, and we're going to have some good stuff.

WHITFIELD: All right. Paul, you know, these candidates, they are trying to satisfy both Republicans and Tea Party loyalists, because it is not one, you know, mono list here. So the pressure is on, isn't it, for these candidates to really distinguish themselves and really try to appeal to both? Because it is not one and, you know, of the same, Republicans and Tea Party loyalists, right?

PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL EDITOR: Well, yes and no. What is interesting is the Republican Party is really, Fred, to a degree moved to the right. A lot more conservative now than it was in the last presidential campaign when John McCain was the nominee for the party.

And look at our most recent CNN/ORC Polls and you'll see that about half of those people who say they're registered Republicans say they're active supporters or backers of the Tea Party Movement. So, yes, the movement has kind of in a way moved the party to the right. So it's not that divergent anymore.

LEMON: Hey, Paul. Can I say this, Fred?

WHITFIELD: Yes.

LEMON: The Tea Party Express Bus just arrived.

STEINHAUSER: Wow.

WHITFIELD: I see. Perfect timing, hey?

LEMON: Yes. Pretty cool, pretty cool. Sorry about that.

STEINHAUSER: No, that's beautiful. That's beautiful.

WHITFIELD: The Tea Party has - the Tea Party has certainly gotten the attention of the candidates, of the American electorate and of Washington as well.

So, Shannon, you know, the Tea Party in and of itself is just not one movement. There are several Tea Party groups. There are several Tea Party movements. So how are these candidates going to either, you know, appeal to one if not all of them, or how is anyone going to know that there are distinguishing factors to these groups?

SHANNON TRAVIS, CNN POLITICAL PRODUCER: And that's an excellent question, one that not a lot of people realize.

The Tea Party for as long as I've been covering them, they've wrapped themselves around a common set of ideals, Fred. But even within the movement, there are basically cracks in the wall, if you will, different factions. Sometimes they're actually warring.

Paul and I have been covering this movement for a while. There was one major Tea Party group that didn't want any increase in the debt ceiling. There was another one that was saying, yes, you can increase it but not unless there's significant spending cuts.

So there are different factions in the Tea Party Movement. In terms of mollifying all of them, the candidates certainly will. But will they be able to, is the question. They will definitely come out and espouse their principles about reduced spending and Obamacare, decrying Obamacare. But, again, will they be able to please all of them, they'll certainly try to. LEMON: "Mollifying." That's a high SAT word right there.

TRAVIS: It was on the list.

WHITFIELD: All right. Well, you know what, I've been - I've been tweeting to people, asking people to send me their tweets about what they really want to hear and witness at the debate Monday night.

And Art Vandalay says quite simply jobs, jobs, jobs, and, oh, yes, jobs. And Bernard Simmons says any form of togetherness. So this is kind of a free for all to any of you gentlemen. You know, for whom is this a make or break, whether it be about jobs or whether it be about showing some sense of unity?

STEINHAUSER: Well, listen. We know that a lot of people are saying it's a two-person race right now, Mitt Romney who was the former frontrunner - who was the frontrunner, the former Massachusetts governor and Rick Perry, the Texas governor, who jumped in right about a month ago. He's now the frontrunner in the pool.

A lot of people are saying it's a two person race. That may be. That may not be. But for the other six candidates on the stage there is a lot at stake. Because for some of them their fundraising could depend on a strong break out performance.

LEMON: But you never know. Yes. As you said, you never know. There's always a moment. You know, there's always room for a moment. And some candidates have moments.

And you've been, you know, doing this, at least the political part of it longer than I have. But I've been sitting at home watching debates and watching campaigns. And they have counted people out. And then all of a sudden there's a moment. There's a catch phrase. There's something that they do that really strikes a chord with the viewer or in the voter, the American people. Then all of a sudden that candidate rises up again, yes.

STEINHAUSER: Or it could go the other ways.

Whoa, look at our last debate in New Hampshire when Tim Pawlenty had a great chance to go after Mitt Romney on health care. He didn't do it. And that may have been one of the factors that knocked him out of the race.

LEMON: And this is - and this unchartered territory, Fred. So you can't say, you know, a traditional Republican presidential race or a typical Democratic presidential race. This is the Tea Party has really had an influence and a different influence. So you don't - you don't know and this is a first.

So they're going to have to appeal, as you have been saying, as Shannon has been saying and Paul's been saying, they're going to have to appeal not only to the broader electorate, the broader voter, but they're going to have to appeal to Tea Party voters as well, and that's a delicate dance. TRAVIS: And just to follow up on that, this is actually going to be a huge test for the Tea Party Movement. This isn't - this is not going to be a traditional election. They want to basically take a nuclear button and blow up the regular way of politicking, going to the early states and winning, you know, endorsements from old line Republicans.

They basically want grassroots conservatives to decide who the candidate is going to be. So this is going to be a real test. how much impact the Tea Party Movement has on a general electorate, not just on a conservative primary.

LEMON: Yes.

STEINHAUSER: And, Fred, they're going to have a big impact on this debate, because this is how it's going to work. Wolf Blitzer, of course, the anchor of "THE SITUATION," he'll be the moderator at the debate. He will be asking questions. But so will audience members here in Florida and also at three locations across the country.

LEMON: There you go.

WHITFIELD: Wow. And all of you mentioned that, you know, the word "tradition" -

LEMON: He said it all.

WHITFIELD: That's right. Tradition, what's that anymore? Just throw that word out of the lexicon, because there's nothing that's traditional about any of this anymore. We're going to see that unfold Monday.

Don, Paul, Shannon, good to see all of you all in that very picturesque setting.

LEMON: We're going to start a boy band and check this out.

WHITFIELD: I think you can do that. It looks like you already have.

All right. Gentlemen, thanks so much for your chorus, then, how about that?

All right. Joining us live in about 20 minutes from now, the Chairwoman of the Tea Party Express Amy Cramer. She'll be weighing in on the presidential candidates and tell us how much influence she thinks the Tea Party, indeed, holds inside the GOP.

And be sure to tune in tomorrow night as CNN, the Tea Party Express and other Tea Party groups co-host the Republican Candidates' Debate. It's in Tampa, Florida, the site of the 2012 GOP National Convention. The debate, Monday night, 8:00 Eastern. Don't miss it.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: People all around the world marked the anniversary of 9/11 here on American soil in very different ways. Our Josh Levs has been tracking all of that. So it's not just something that has touched Americans -

JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Right.

WHITFIELD: -- but people all over.

LEVS: You have ceremonies going on all over the world today. And in some cases it's Americans taking part. And in other cases, it's just people all over the world who felt really touched by what happened and wanted to weigh in.

I wanted to start off with this. In Sydney, Australia, a group of firefighters climbed 80 flights of stairs to the top of the city's tallest building to hold a ceremony. Take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Just felt this is a way we could just say thank you to them for giving their time.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So many of them didn't go home that day.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEVS (voice-over): Keep watching this. The firefighters held a moment of silence in Sydney Tower for the firefighters who died on 9/11.

And you're going to see here a young firefighter's heartache. That was a story. There you go, from our affiliate 9 News. And so many people feel exactly what he's feeling.

Let's jump over to Paris now. I want you to see this. This is when an organization today unveiled replicas of the Twin Towers about 80 feet tall. A crowd turned out in the wind and pouring rain to be there for that, to remember 9/11 today. It is beautiful.

Meanwhile, over in Spain, really interesting ceremony out of Madrid today. They planted 10 trees marking 10 years since the anniversary. And the father of the one Spaniard who was killed in the attacks helped to lead that ceremony today.

Really striking ceremony out of London. This was outside the U.S. Embassy at a memorial there. People who lost loved ones recited their names and then - look at these pictures. They laid these long stem white roses and some of them have these photos, black and white photos of the loved ones who had died in the 9/11 attacks.

WHITFIELD: Oh, my God.

LEVS: A lot of dignitaries spoke there. Prince Charles was among them.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HRH. PRINCE CHARLES, PRINCE OF WALES: Although that dreadful act of violence was meant to divide us, it has actually drawn us together. One person to another, one community to another.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEVS: And also the Pope spoke today. Pope Benedict XVI gave some comments. And here's what he said. He said, "I invite the leaders of nations and men of goodwill to reject violence always as a solution to problems." He said, "to resist the temptation to hate and to work within society based on the principles of solidarity, justice and peace."

So, Fred, that's just a sampling. But dozens of countries today had ceremonies all over the world. Lots of people really wanted to turn out, wanted to be a part of this day, wanted to reflect as well as remember.

WHITFIELD: And people have been weighing in via social media as well.

LEVS: Yes. This is actually really fascinating. It's part of the 9/11 story for the world. Very interesting. And we can show everyone my page, because people are weighing in today. I've been hearing from people all over the world. There I am. Facebook and Twitter, JoshLevsCNN. The blog is CNN.com/JOSH.

People are weighing in from all over the world saying they want to feel part of this community today. Some are ex-pats in different countries wanting to talk to other Americans, and they're reaching out online and having these conversations.

And in some cases, I've been hearing all day from people in dozens of other countries saying that they really feel a lot. Even some that have never been to the United States and they feel a great deal today. And they want the world to know that and they're using these new tools to get that out there (ph).

WHITFIELD: Yes. I've heard from a lot of people on Twitter, too, who've talked about the poignant moments of the day. Those moments that really hang with them for a long time that kind of punctuate what happened. Especially hearing from the children today talking about missing their parents, their loved ones.

LEVS: They're sharing. It's moments like that. They talk about what they're feeling, what's most poignant to them. And they have this desire to share today and they're doing that every which way.

WHITFIELD: Josh Levs, thanks so much. Thanks for bringing all of that to us.

LEVS: Thank you, Fred.

WHITFIELD: You want to check your Sunday paper today. Because many comics today are focusing on 9/11 and remembering the heroes who perished 10 years ago, but in a very different way. Here's a sample. You could see more on CNN.com.

And we will be back in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Today the eyes of the nation focused on three places of profound sadness; Shanks Ville, Pennsylvania, the Pentagon and lower Manhattan New York City. Public events dedicated to this tenth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks started early at ground zero with the president then and the president now.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(MUSIC PLAYING)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: We will not fear. Even though the earth is removed, though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea. The Lord of hopes is with us. The God of Jacob is our refuge.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Please join in observing our first moment of silence.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Although words cannot ease the pain of these losses, paying tribute by recalling not just the horror of that day but the heroism as well, can hopefully give you some comfort and stiffen the resolve of this nation.

(BELL TOLLING)

TOM RIDGE. FMR. PENNSYLVANIA GOVERNOR: We are still the freest, most blessed nation in this treasured world. And we will long honor that role with the memory and guidance of 40 good shepherds.

GEORGE W. BUSH, FMR. PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: I pray that our heavenly father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Gerard A. Barbara.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And my father, Sean Edward Bowman Jr.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Firefighter Gary Richard Box.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Christopher Joseph Blackwell.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And my dad, Michael Batch.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We will always love you. And as you always said, daddy, we got your back. God bless New York City, and God bless America.

RUDY GIULIANI, FMR. NEW YORK CITY MAYOR: God bless every soul that we lost, God bless the family members who have to endure that loss, and God guide us to our reunion in heaven, and God bless the United States of America.

(APPLAUSE)

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Just over 24 hours away from the first ever tea party debate, you'll see it right here on CNN tomorrow night, moderated by Wolf Blitzer, a two hours, eight candidates in front of a live tea party friendly crowd in Tampa, Florida.

CNN's Joe Johns takes a look at this now powerful political movement and the very uncommon players in its ranks.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOE JOHNS, CNN SENIOR CORRESPONDENT: In the Republican race for president, everybody wants a piece of the tea party these days. Rick Perry talks like a man who's already in the club.

GOV. RICK PERRY (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I have heard people say, you know, you too tea party types, you are all angry. We're not angry. We're indignant.

JOHNS: Michele Bachmann talks like an insider, too.

REP. MICHELE BACHMANN (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The tea party has been the best antidote to the out of control spending we have seen. Rather than in dicing the tea party, we should be praising the tea party.

JOHNS: Ron Paul was tea partied before there was a tea party.

REP. RON PAUL (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Why don't we just obey the constitution once again? That would solve so many of our problems.

CROWD: Vote for Mitt! Vote for Mitt!

JOHNS: While Mitt Romney sounds more like a guy who's on the outside trying to get?

MITT ROMNEY (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I'm devoted to shrinking the size of government and encouraging the growth of the free economy, I think I'd get great support from the tea party.

JOHNS: This will be the first presidential election to witness the effects of the tea party movement. And so far, the movement's biggest idea, that the government and its spending need to be scaled back now, have dominated the national political conversation.

MATT KIBBE, FREEDOMWORKS: Those are the issues that are not just animating the Republican primary. I actually think they're defining the concerns of Americans right in the middle of the political spectrum today.

JOHNS: True. But it's mostly about the Republican contenders right now, and everything knows it. Though tea partiers don't like all of what they see. Mitt Romney's state-run health care program when he was governor of Massachusetts looks a bit too much like the president's health care plan for many. Rick Perry's moderate record on immigration is a potential drag on his tea party support. And many mainstream Republicans question Michele Bachmann's potential to pull of a win in a general election.

And speaking of questions, while the tea party movement has been great for Republican energy, it has always produced candidates so unorthodox that voters eventually rejected them. Think Christine O'Donnell in Delaware. And that's where they get labeled extreme. Though they say what's extreme is the result if we don't get the government under control. Senator Mike Lee was elected with strong tea party support.

SEN. MIKE LEE (R), UTAH: It's a reaction to extreme circumstances that exist within our federal government. Again, $15 trillion debt extreme. Increasing debt, accelerating it at a rate of 1$1.5 trillion a year, that's extreme.

JOHNS: Paul showed the tea party movement took a hit in popularity recently after the congressional showdown of raising the debt limit. Movement organizers call it the cost of leadership though it could be an early sign of trouble with the presidential election still more than a year away.

Joe Johns, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: All right, let's talk more about the tea party movement and its influence by way of this upcoming debate.

Live from Tampa, Florida, Amy Kremer, the chairwoman of the tea party express. Good to see you. Perhaps you rode in with that buss we saw a little bit earlier during a live shot, the tea party express.

So you know Amy, let's talk about the tea party. In large part, is it, will it be rooting for Michele Bachmann come Monday evening?

AMY KREMER, CHAIRWOMAN, TEA PARTY EXPRESS: Well, you know, honestly, I don't think we're rooting for any one candidate. We're looking to see who the strongest constitutional conservative is and who has the ideas and solutions to turn this economy around and get us back on track. We want to know who can deal with the housing crisis, who can create jobs or, you know, get rid of the regulations so that small businesses and corporations can start creating jobs again? That's what we're interested in seeing. And so we want to see the cream rise to the top. And I think that we'll start seeing that with this debate.

WHITFIELD: So early on, the tea party movement has really distinguished itself as being very anti-Obama. It seems as though it may have backed off the type of rhetoric we saw at the very beginning, just a tad. During this debate, will there be a lot less of that or will the tea party be trying to re-establish itself or distinguish itself in a different kind of manner? KREMER: Well, look. I mean, the whole reason we're having this debate is because we - this is a very powerful movement that has changed the landscape, the political landscape of Washington, D.C. and the spending started during the Bush administration and continued through at an accelerated pace through the Obama administration. But we want to focus on who has the ideas and solutions to get us out of this mess. We cannot continue down this road, you know, with the policies of President Barack Obama and the Democrats. I mean, we just simply can't. We're in an economic crisis and we need to figure out who is the best suited to handle that.

WHITFIELD: Among the Republican contenders, then, would that be in your view the Texas Governor, Rick Perry, who seems to have jumped out in front ahead of the pack, leading some of the more recent polls?

KREMER: Yes. I mean, this, we're excited to see Rick Perry here. But again, you know, he is, you can't deny that there are a number of candidates that have been out on the front lines with the tea party movement standing strong with us, you know, on conservative principles and values for quite some time. Rick Perry is one of those. Michele Bachmann, Herman Cain, Ron Paul.

And so, you know, we're happy that he's in this. But we're not ready to decide on anyone. What we're looking for is for the field to narrow down so we can be laser focused on those issues and really get into the details of the issues and what their plans are. And that's what I think people are most looking forward to.

WHITFIELD: You know, speaking of a Rick Perry, when he says that Social Security is tantamount to, you know, a ponzi scheme and hearing this debate is going to be unfolding in Florida where a pretty sizable representation of that constituency likes Social Security, needs Social Security, is the tea party in any way using that as reason to kind of back away from throwing its arms around Rick Perry?

KREMER: Well Fredricka, honestly, you know, the Medicare, Social Security, those are issues that we need to deal with. Quite frankly, Medicare, for example, the Medicare board of trustees came out with a report in May that said if Medicare is not reformed by 2024 it will be out of money. It will be bankrupt.

I think it's irresponsible for the leaders in Washington who need to make these tough decisions not to do anything about it and to continue to kick the can down the road. I'm not you know, I think that's what people want is who is going to handle this? Who has the, you know, the backbone to stand up and make these tough, bold decisions that need to be made? It's unfair for us to do this to our seniors when we know that we have a problem, years ahead. It's simply not acceptable. So who's a candidate that's going to handle that?

WHITFIELD: Amy Kremer of the tea party express, thank you so much for your time from Tampa, Florida, of course. Be sure to tune in tomorrow night on CNN.

KREMER: Thank you. WHITFIELD: Tea party express and other tea party groups co-hosting the Republican candidates' debate in Tampa, Florida. Site of the 2012 GOP national convention, the debate first Monday night, 8:00 Eastern time. Right here on CNN.

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WHITFIELD: March 11th, six months ago to this day, that's when that massive earthquake struck off Japan's coast. It trigger add devastating tsunami that led to meltdowns and radiation leaks at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant.

Across Japan today, people paused to remember that disaster. Not every public gathering, however, was this solemn. Thousands marched on the power company's headquarters and government buildings, furious at what they consider poor handling of the crisis.

And overnight, police in Sweden arrested four people believed to be plotting terror attacks. This is the coastal city of Gothenburg, Sweden's second largest city after Stockholm. Swedish authorities say suspects were in the preparation stages of the attack. No other details have been given. Police say they have probable cause to put the suspects in jail.

And in Afghanistan, a suicide attacker set off a truck bomb at the entry gate to a coalition base. It happened west of Kabul. At least two afghan civilians are dead and nearly 80 NATO personnel are hurt. The Taliban claimed responsibility.

Thousands of American troops are still in Afghanistan on this tenth anniversary of 9/11. The man who commands international forces there sat down for an exclusive interview with CNN's Suzanne Malveaux.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Ten years from the September 11th attacks, why are we still here?

GEN. JOHN R. ALLEN, CMDR., ISAF: We're here because Afghanistan must be left as a sovereign nation, a member of the international community, governed by a democratic country government that ultimately dispenses human rights, dispenses the rule of law and is not a platform for foreign terrorism. It's not a platform, ultimately, to launch attacks on the United States ever again, on the west and upon the thousands and thousands of innocent people who have suffered as a direct result of Al Qaeda and Taliban's ideology.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Coalition forces began their assault in Afghanistan October 2001.

And we at CNN are working to independently confirm reports that Moammar Gadhafi's third son has fled Libya. We're talking about Saadi Gadhafi seen here with our international, senior international correspondent, Nic Robertson, back in April. Niger's justice minister says Saadi Gadhafi crossed in from Libya in a convoy and that Niger accepted him on, quote, "a humanitarian basis."

Just last week, Saadi Gadhafi told CNN that he hadn't seen his father in months. Moammar Gadhafi's whereabouts still unknown.

And when we think of all of the people who died September 11th we have to remember the hundreds of children who lost their mom or dad.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GABRIELLA ROMERO, DAUGHTER OF 9/11 VICTIM: When your friends complain "oh my dad's so annoying" or "he won't let me go out" or "he won't let me do this" you get mad because you would do anything to have that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Still ahead, the tragedy's youngest victims reflecting on the last ten years.

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WHITFIELD: For the children of 9/11, today isn't just the anniversary of an American catastrophe. It means it has been ten years since they lost a mom or a dad. Looking at the world trade center site where so many lives are lost you can't help but think about these young faces of tragedy.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: On 9/11 I lost my father, John Robinson Lenoir.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Benjamin Keef Clark. He was an executive chef.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My day was Elvin Romero.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My uncle's name was Edward Lichtschein.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Sergeant John Coughlin.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I was in my fifth grade class and our teacher said everyone look outside the window.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My teacher said it was a little accident then I realized it was bigger than that.

JESSICA MURPHY, DAUGHTER OF 9/11 VICTIM: My first thought was, is my father OK?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We were in her bedroom watching this TV show.

MATTHEW BRODERICK, SON OF 9/11 VICTIM: I remember asking her, oh, mom, what movie are you o watching.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She said they were all gone.

BRODERICK: I guess, it didn't click what we were watching wasn't a movie. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I remember looking at a window thinking the whole thing was a dream.

COURTNEY, LENOIR, DAUGHTER OF 9/11 VICTIM: Nobody else has lost a parent nationally on the news; nobody else has seen it over and over. And that's something we ought to live with.

ERIN COUGHLIN, DAUGHTER OF 9/11 VICTIM: My mother sat us down and had everybody cop's worst nightmare that daddy wasn't coming home. My little sister at that time just screamed out loud. All of the sudden, I was the oldest of the family. I had to step up at that exact minute.

TAJ CLARK, SON OF 9/11 VICTIM: I was very, very angry, I knew it. I punched the wall.

SAM LICHTSCHEIN, DAUGHTER OF 9/11 VICTIM: And I saw the world just like a gross bolder (ph), place full of hatred.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I do not remember a good two years of my life because I like just emotionally blocked it all out.

ALEX ROMERO, SON OF 9/11 VICTIM: I don't remember anything about it. Sometimes I think it was a better thing that I didn't know him and that he was like taken away from me or it was the worst thing that I didn't get to spend like the whole time I would have known him.

GABRIELLA ROMERO: When your friends complain like my dad's so annoying or he won't let me go out or do this, you get mad because you would do anything to have that and they complain and they don't really appreciate what they have.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If we're talking about 9/11 in class --

ALEX ROMERO: And everybody would like turn around and stare at me.

DONALD SPAMPINATO, SON OF 9/11 VICTIM: Because they almost know that I was affected by it directly.

ALEX ROMERO: Sometimes it makes me feel a tiny bit agitated because it's not like I would want to be known as oh, his dad died, his dad was killed. I don't want to be known as that. I just want them to know me as me, like for who I am.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Anywhere you went we're right away labeled as the 9/11 kids.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You get people trying to help saying I know how you feel. Everything's going to be OK.

BRITTANY CLARK, DAUGHTER OF 9/11 VICTIM: Brittany, I'm sorry this happened to you. Brittany, is there anything we can do? It makes me feel kind of cornered, when everyone is around me. It's like oh, yes, Brittany, you lost your father. Are you OK?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I really think people expect us to fail sometimes.

GABRIELLA ROMERO Every night I need to talk to my mom, and my brother right before I go to sleep because I'm always afraid something's going to happen to them, too.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm afraid if I lost one parent I'm afraid of losing the other.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Life is short.

MATTHEW BRODERICK: It could be taken away. In an instant, just like it did on that Tuesday morning.

BRITTANY CLARK: I cry more. I grieve more, because now I recognize what I've lost.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My mother will stand in the middle of the kitchen and be like can you please stop acting just like your father.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My mom always tells my sister and I that we have his smile or his sense of humor.

BRITTANY CLARK: Took me a very long time to like not move on from the situation, but to accept the situation. But in the end, we came out pretty well.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

I'm Fredricka Whitfield. Don Lemon is up next from Tampa.

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