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Unions Back Occupy Wall Street Movement; Wall Street Reaction to Occupation; Amanda Knox Back Home in Seattle; Obama Signs Spending Bill; Senate Spat Over Jobs Bill Vote; Dust Storm Causes Pileup; Giant Tree Falls, Closing California Park; Fugitives Fooled in Sting Operation; Murray's Girlfriends Testify; "The Simpsons" Series in Jeopardy; The Rise of Mobile Medicine; Perry's E-Mail Policy: Delete After One Week
Aired October 05, 2011 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: The "Occupy Wall Street" rallies are striking a chord across the country; L.A., Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, Albuquerque -- big cities and small. They're all starting their own movements fighting against what they call corporate greed and the protests about to get a lot more muscle. Several New York unions are joining today.
We've got team coverage as this movement spreads. Alison Kosik is standing by at the New York Stock Exchange. But let's get started first with Susan Candiotti live at what's being called base camp.
Susan, it's a big day for "Occupy Wall Street." What more can we expect?
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, the question is how many people will turn out for this. Certainly one of the large unions that will be here, has about 25,000 people that belong in the New York metropolitan area, but how many of them will show up today?
Certainly, organizers of this protest movement hope that certainly at least hundreds will join them as they carry on a march near city hall and then back here to the Wall Street are. Again, people camping here all night, just getting up now, having something to eat before they join that march, much later this afternoon.
The main reason the unions say they are joining this group is that they share the message of this group fighting corporate greed. Because unions have taken so many hits in the recent years, losing jobs, losing benefits and that's why they're here to join in this protest movement.
And they say they applaud the courage of many of the young people who are part of movement. Fred --
WHITFIELD: And how is the message being spread?
CANDIOTTI: Well, the message is being spread a lot through social networking, over Twitter, over Facebook. And in fact, if you look over my shoulder, see which direction, you see someone tweeting, working on their Blackberries right now. You'll see lot of laptops set up around here as they are trying to spread the word. And then of course, there's media coverage, certainly us our turning our cameras on this group also help spread the word and that's what they want.
WHITFIELD: All right, Susan Candiotti, at base camp there at lower Manhattan. Thanks so much. Let's check in now with Alison Kosik at the New York Stock Exchange. So, Alison, what's the mood there about this "Occupy Wall Street Movement."
ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know what, Fredricka, since this movement started a few weeks ago, I have been talking with traders and you know what? They truly emphasize and understand the frustrations, you know, they're equally frustrated as the folks out there on the park right now.
You know, they have also had it the gridlock that's in Washington. They've had it with the state of economy as well. But the traders that I talked to, they want protesters to understand they're getting hit hard in this economy as well.
You know, they're facing layoffs in the tens of thousands in the financial industry. If you look at the trading floor here, it has fewer people than ever before, because it's more electronic, but once again, they understand that the New York Stock Exchange is the symbol of American capitalism.
And that's why they say "Occupy Wall Street" is really targeting Wall Street. You know, traders are really the face of Wall Street, of the financial system. The traders that I've talked to say that they understand the protesters need a place to go to air their grievances. Fredricka --
WHITFIELD: All right, Alison Kosik, thanks so much, at the New York Stock Exchange.
Amanda Knox, well, she's spending her first morning in the United States. She's back in Seattle, Washington, starting over, after the Italian justice overturned her murder conviction. After four years of prison, Knox arrived at the airport with her family and spoke last night.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AMANDA KNOX, MURDER CONVICTION OVERTURNED: What's important for me to say is thank you to everyone who's believed in me, who's defended me, who supported my family. I just want my family is the most important thing to me right now and I just want to go and be with them. So, thank you for being there for me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Let's go to CNN's Sandra Endo in Seattle. This was a very emotional moment for her and her family members. What happened after that moment, where has she gone? SANDRA ENDO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fredricka, she spent the night here in Seattle, her first night in the United States in four years, presumably surrounded by her family and of course, her closest friends, staying very low key and you heard in her voice, trembling with motion.
Amanda Knox addressing the press yesterday after she landed here in Seattle and she didn't take any questions from reporters, but mainly just wanted to thank supporters. This has been a long drawn-out four years of fighting to get her free.
And obviously, she just said that now all she wants to do is be with her family. Now her nightmare is over. Listen to her reaction for coming home.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KNOX: I'm really overwhelmed right now. I was looking down from the airplane and it seemed like everything wasn't real.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ENDO: So, as she wakes up here in the Seattle this morning, Fredricka, we can only presume that she's had the best night of sleep she's had in four years. Fred --
WHITFIELD: Sandra Endo, thanks so much from Seattle. All right, Amanda Knox's acquittal has created quite a media storm not only here in the states, but really around the world.
CNN's Zain Verjee is in London following the global reaction and what is it been like, Zain?
ZAIN VERJEE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, Fred. Good morning. Let's take a look straight at the "International Herald Tribune. This is its headline today. It says, "Lessons from the Amanda Knox Case."
It goes on what about the Kercher family? It would have done no honor to their daughter had two people grown old in prison for an accusation that could never be proven. Asking those questions again and looking honestly at the case, may bring them some peace.
Check out the Italian newspaper. It's headline, "The Disaster Every Trial is a Lottery." It says (inaudible) in Perugia attack the sentence and they speak of crazy justice. But who will give those two kids back their 1,400 days spent in jail?
Finally, look at "The Guardian" that's a left leaning paper here in the U.K. It says, "The Foxy Thing Helps, But in Italy the Courtroom is a Circus." The judiciary no one really doubts it is in desperate need of reform.
The trouble is that the one man most desperate to reform it, the prime minister is co-incidentally the most desperate to avoid it. That in reference to the Prime Minister Berlusconi who has a bunch of cases pending against him.
WHITFIELD: All right, some pretty harsh observations and headline there. Thanks so much, Zain.
Turning now to U.S. politics, President Barack Obama has signed a temporary spending bill, ending the latest threat of a government shutdown. The measure, which passed the House yesterday, keeps the federal government funded through November 18th.
The extension is designed to give Congress time to debate and pass bills to fund the rest of the 2012 fiscal year.
A new "Washington Post"/ABC News poll, finds only 14 percent of Americans approve of how Congress is handling its job, 20 percent somewhat disapprove and 62 percent strongly disapprove. Its Congress's worst showing in more than two decades of the "Washington Post"/ABC News poll.
And those poor poll numbers for Congress, likely won't get better than any time soon. Our Kate Bolduan is on Capitol Hill to talk about what's going on with the president's jobs bill. Kate --
KATE BOLDUAN, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, Fredricka. Well, it seems the fighting has returned to Capitol Hill. Despite recent talk of trying to get along with each other if you will in the past weeks.
We've heard the president repeatedly targeting Congress, calling on lawmakers to pass his jobs bill and pass it right away. Well, now, it seems he's targeting one lawmaker in particular, the number two Republican in the House, Eric Cantor. Listen here to a little bit of President Obama yesterday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: I would like Mr. Cantor to come down here to Dallas and explain what exactly in this jobs bill does he not believe in. What exactly he is opposed to?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BOLDUAN: Now, Eric Cantor's spokesperson, Brad Dayspring, released a statement right shortly after that firing back saying in part, quote, "President Obama needs to understand that his my way or the highway approach simply isn't going to work in the House or the Democratic Senate, especially in light on his abysmal record on jobs. Serious problems deserve serious leadership."
Now, Fredricka, this all comes after Eric Cantor, Congressman Cantor came out speaking to reporters this week to say, basically to shoot down any chance that there would be a vote on the president's full jobs package in the House calling the president's approach unreasonable.
The interesting part is that -- the very same time this was all developing yesterday, kind of similar back and forth was happening in the Senate, where the top Republican in the Senate, basically tried to call the president's bluff, forcing a vote on the president's full jobs package.
Mitch McConnell saying kind of giving the president what he's asking for, Republicans in the Senate seemed pretty confident that the votes aren't there to support the full package that the president is putting forward because there are some Democrats who oppose elements of the plan.
Regardless that maneuver didn't go anywhere, but it sure made for some interesting political theater as the fighting over creating jobs continues up here today. Fredricka --
WHITFIELD: All right, Kate Bolduan on the Hill. Thanks so much.
All right, West Coast now. Dr. Conrad Murray's love life is now part of his involuntary manslaughter trial. Was he too busy with his girlfriends to pay proper attention to his famous client? We'll talk about it with Dr. Sanjay Gupta in a moment.
And a dust storm halts interstate traffic, creating pile ups involving dozens of vehicles. Details next in the NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: All right, checking stories cross country now. Arizona's Interstate 10 is back opened after blinding dust storms caused a trio of multiple car crashes yesterday. One person was killed. Fifteen more hurt.
In California, a section of the Sequoia National Forest is closed because of a giant Sequoia that fell right over a trail. The closure is temporary until the park service can actually get it all cleaned up.
In Chicago, they came for an offer they simply couldn't resist. Tests some electronics get paid 75 bucks to fill out a survey and then keep what you tried out. Well, it turns out the recipients of the offer were actually fugitive and the deal was really a sting operation.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SHERIFF TOM DART, COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS: Another guy kept calling us, because he was running late for his appointment. He has to simply please keep the company open a little bit longer and we obliged to him. So he literally took five buses, jumped off the last one and sprinted down the street to get here.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: The sheriff says more than 100 fugitives were picked up in the two-week long operation.
In the Michael Jackson death trial, the jury is learning more about Dr. Conrad Murray's busy love life and about the powerful anesthetic Propofol. CNN's chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta is joining us now. So Sanjay, you know, what stood out for you so far in this trial?
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, we were in there in Los Angeles last week, and if you remember, they sort of -- the defense for Conrad Murray, sort of trying to make this case, that, look, this is a doctor who's trying to wean Michael Jackson off Propofol
That Michael Jackson had been taking Propofol for a long time. I think what really stood out to me over the last couple of days was how much Propofol Dr. Murray was buying. The answer is a lot of it, and it didn't quite jive well with a doctor who's also trying to get patient off of this stuff.
Also, Fredricka, you mentioned this whole -- the conversation about the girlfriends, there was a particular moment where they talked about when he was talking to his girlfriend and he probably realized that something had gone terribly wrong with Michael Jackson.
And the girlfriend was able to describe what she heard on the other end of the line, that was important because it established, you know, exactly more of a time line of what was happening in the room that day.
Then finally, also, you know, just the really remarkable efforts I think in the emergency room that took place still to try and to revive Michael Jackson. People didn't realize at the time that he had been declared dead at the home.
And in the ambulance, they still did some remarkable things in the emergency room at Dr. Murray's request. This is sort of how things are unfolding obviously, very early still in the trial, but some important details coming out.
WHITFIELD: Well, you know, the emergency -- the first responders reported that they didn't know. Dr. Murray never said anything about Propofol being used. Have they known that, would that have changed the method in which they were trying to revive him?
GUPTA: Probably not and that's a very good question, an important one and it's more important depending on your frame of reference. I mean, the prosecution is really using that bit of information to say, look, it was suspicious behavior.
He was not forthcoming. This is indicative of someone who is covering something up. The defense said exactly from a medical angle that it wouldn't have made a difference. I think that they're probably right based on everything that we're hearing. First and foremost of which that it sounded like by the time paramedics arrived at Michael Jackson's home he was no longer alive. So I don't think anything would have made a difference.
WHITFIELD: So, you know, what happens if Conrad Murray is found not guilty, is his medical license, his ability to practice in jeopardy?
GUPTA: Yes, it is, but maybe not quite clear as you think. I mean, you know, if he's found not guilty of involuntary manslaughter, which is the charge, he could spend up to four years in prison.
Right now, he has licenses in four states, which are Nevada, Hawaii, California and Texas. The states still decide themselves as to how they're going to handle his medical license, which obviously takes into account the court ruling.
But it's not completely dependent on it. So right now, his Hawaii license has expired. His California license has been suspended. But he has still licensed in Texas and Nevada albeit a restricted license. So it's not as clear cut as you might think in terms of actually losing his ability to crack this medicine.
WHITFIELD: All right, fascinating. Dr. Sanjay Gupta, thanks so much.
GUPTA: You got it. Thanks.
WHITFIELD: A Wisconsin man is in a real thorn -- rather is a real thorn apparently in Rick Perry's side. He has been pushing the Texas governor to hand over his government e-mails for years and that push is costing a fortune. We'll tell you why coming up.
Next, a surprise elimination last night on "Dancing with the Stars." High scores from the judges, but not enough for one shocked couple.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: It is television's longest running sitcom. I find it hard to believe. We're talking about "The Simpsons." They've been around for 23 years. Where's the time gone? But if the producers and writers can't come to terms, this season could be the last.
"SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" A.J. Hammer joins us now from Los Angeles with the story I cannot believe it's been that long.
A.J. HAMMER, HOST, "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT": Yes, this is bumming me out, Fred. It could turn out for this big showdown for "The Simpsons." And as far as I'm concerned, as a huge Simpsons fan, this isn't the way this show is supposed to end.
Yes, it's been nearly a quarter of a century that this show has been on TV and we could be saying goodbye for good to the grand daddy of all animated comedies over a money dispute. Now, the actors who voiced the parts of Homer, Bart and some other key characters are in this big battle with the studio, 20th Century Fox over the cost of production.
The studio says it needs the actors to take a major pay cut in order for the show to continue. Here's what the studios is telling "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" about that. Twenty three seasons in, "The Simpsons" is as creatively vibrant as ever and beloved by millions around the world.
We believe that this brilliant series can and should continue, but we can't produce future seasons under its current financial model. Well, the "Daily Beast is reporting that the actors make around $8 million a season each to voice their characters. Fox wants them to take a 45 percent pay cut. Fred, I think what I'm going to do is start up a little collection because we can't let this happen.
WHITFIELD: No, it would be blasphemous. OK, well, you were on the set of "Dancing with the Stars" and the couple that was eliminated. Well, they find that decision blasphemous. What happened?
HAMMER: Yes, I got to tell you. It's been really fun for me sitting in the audience of "Dancing with the Stars." Hanging with contestants backstage after and I was just as shocked as some of the contestants themselves, when really one of the seemingly better dancers, Kristin Cavallari got sent packing last night.
She and her partner came up short after America cast its votes. While some of the stars with the lowest judges' scores like Chaz Bono and quite frankly, our own Nancy Grace, managed to hold on for another week. Go, Nancy.
But no one was more surprised about what happened to Chaz, himself. In fact, he told me backstage, he was sure he was going to be the one let go last night. But now that he's here for another week, he's going to have a very special guest watching from the audience next week, his mom, Cher will be there. Watch what Chaz told me about that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHAZ BONO, CONTESTANT, "DANCING WITH THE STARS": She texted me yesterday, right before the show, she said, you know, I didn't want to come because I wanted everybody to feel your presence. And she said, and I think you have made your presence known.
And I tweeted back, I said, OK, so if I get through next week, does that mean you're going come? She was like yes.
HAMMER: Pretty cool.
WHITFIELD: Yes, all attention will be on Cher.
HAMMER: Chaz and Cher.
WHITFIELD: OK, lastly, let's talk about house shopping for Kurt Cobain's only child.
HAMMER: Yes, the late Nirvana front man's daughter, Francis Bean, apparently has more than teen spirit. She's got a brand-new property. She's 19 years old. She reportedly dropped $2 million of her inheritance on a historic Hollywood Hills home.
It's pretty cool. This house was actually built in 1930 designed by the art director. Now, Frances is an inspiring artist, she was only to afford the lavish property really thanks to this multimillion trust fund that was set up secure her financial future after her father's suicide back in 1994. She reportedly currently studying art school in New York, but Fred, it look like she's planning on calling California home in what I think will be a very stylish way.
WHITFIELD: Yes, I think she's now deeply in (inaudible) making a sizable purchase. A.J. Hammer, thanks so much.
And you want information on everything breaking in the entertainment world, A.J.'s got it this evening. "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT," 11:00 p.m. on HLN.
All right, politics now, Herman Cain ties Mitt Romney at the top of a new GOP poll. But is it time for Republicans to just settle a front- runner? Our "Political Buzz" panel squares off in just a few minutes.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: A look at our top stories now, Amanda Knox is back home in Seattle for the first time in four years. An Italian appeals court threw out her murder conviction of her roommate.
The trial of Dr. Conrad Murray resumes a little more than an hour from now. Prosecutors plan to call police to the stand as they press their case that Murray is criminally responsible for Michael Jackson's death.
At least 10,000 marchers shutdown Central Athens today protesting Greek austerity measures. A one day strike has also closed the city's airport, government offices and schools.
All right, "Political Buzz," is your rapid-fire look at the best political topics of the day. Three questions, 30 seconds on the clock. Playing today, here they are CNN contributor Maria Cardona, Sirius XM political talk show host and comedian, Pete Domenic and talk radio host, Dana Loesch.
All right, good to see all three of you. First question, it's official. We all know by now that Chris Christie is sitting this one out. Is the GOP field now set, Dana?
DANA LOESCH, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: I'm not sure, there was a headline on "Politico" yesterday, which said that the law firm, which represents (inaudible) was making some initial inquiries as to the filings for early states.
So there could possibly be someone else getting in the race or it may be just all speculation, not quite sure. But we know that Christie is definitely out. I don't think however and I'm just going go. I don't think that it rules out him doing something as a VP.
WHITFIELD: OK, Maria, you next.
MARIA CARDONA, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: I actually do think that it's set, Fredricka. But the biggest challenge is going to be how are they going to sell to the American people a Medicare and Social Security ending jobs killing, investment slashing, competiveness slashing, billionaire, millionaire, protecting GOP agenda that puts corporations before the American people. Personally, I do hope that someone else comes in because I'm a huge Tina Fey fan and I think she would be great.
WHITFIELD: Do you think she'd be the one. OK, all right, so Pete, you know is this stage set in your view?
PETE DOMINICK, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Yes.
WHITFIELD: Might she jump in?
DOMINICK: Yes, well, yes. Tina Fey, I would like to revive her Sarah Palin impression threat, but yes, the field is set. Sarah Palin only held out to wait for Christie to announce so that we would talk about it. I'm not playing that game.
He's definitely running. He's just trying to sell book so good for her. She'll get more speech mic. I personally am holding for Bob Dole. I'm a big Bob Dole fan, or maybe John McCain will run again. John McCain could run again. It could be Cain/McCain.
WHITFIELD: OK, all right, well, let's talk about what we do now right now. Herman Cain tied with Mitt Romney for the number one spot in the new CBS News poll of GOP presidential candidates. Is it time for the party as a whole to commit to a contender, Maria?
CARDONA: No, it's not time. That's the reason why primary processes were put into place. It is so that none of us, though as much as we would like to think ourselves as the ones who choose the nominees, were not, it's the Republican voters that will choose the nominee,
Look four years ago, this exact same time, Giuliani and Thompson were at the front of the pack. Barack Obama was 30 points behind Hillary Clinton.
WHITFIELD: Right.
CARDONA: So, there's still a lot of time left. It's not up to us. It's up to Republican voters.
And we might not see the numbers that we're seeing today.
WHITFIELD: Dana, is that really true? Because, you know, money talks and if the party is throwing support behind a particular candidate, doesn't that help that candidate?
LOESCH: Well, there are these times when something happens in the universe, I agree with answer that Maria gets. And I agree with her at this point. I think it's -- I mean, this is exactly what the system is for.
Also, it's very important to look at fund-raising. We just got the third-quarter reports. And here we have Rick Perry who's raised $17.1 million, $3 million to $4 million over what Mitt Romney is rumored to have made. And there's a lot of speculation as to whether or not Herman Cain actually has the momentum to go all out in a battle with Mitt Romney throughout the entire process.
So that's something a lot of people don't know where their fate stands on that. So, I think it's too early to discount anyone. Money does talk.
WHITFIELD: All right.
LOESCH: You raise money, you can raise vote.
WHITFIELD: OK. So, Pete, should the party being throwing its support behind a particular candidate.
DOMINICK: I know that Dana and Maria do agree on other thing off the record, they both told me I'm the best looking bald man on TV right now. That's off the record, I'm sorry.
CARDONA: Absolutely. I'm saying it on the record now.
DOMINICK: See? No, it's way too early now. I love watching these primaries. I love watching Hillary and Senator Obama at the time to beat the hell out of each other, all that bloodletting. That's good. That's good for the Democratic process, it's good for it now in the Republican race.
I like to see these guys and women attack each other and criticize each other's plans and policies. We should see as many ideas as possible. There's no way you should get behind one now.
But Mitt Romney is raising a lot of money.
WHITFIELD: All right. It makes for good sport right now.
OK. So, your buzzer-beater, 20 seconds each.
Several unions are joining this "Occupy Wall Street" demonstration. Participants say their movement is not political. Is that possible, Dana?
LOESCH: Well, it's about time they actually joined. They have been helping to put them together. We know that Wade Rathke, who is this ACORN, has been trying to organize this since March. And Steven Lerner, who sits on the board of SEIU, has been instrumental in getting some things off the ground. So, make it official. Show up.
WHITFIELD: OK. But it is political?
LOESCH: Of course, it's political. Absolutely it's political. It's very political. It's all about a political agenda.
WHITFIELD: OK. Maria, they say it's not. They say it's not political, this really is about, you know, principle?
CARDONA: It is. It's purely about economics, but what happens is, when you have a political party in the GOP right now that has starkly aligned themselves with the one person of the wealthy and protecting big oil and gas corporations and other corporations with their tax subsidies and has done absolutely nothing but hurt the middle class, of course it becomes political, because that's the way it is.
LOESCH: Solyndra and G.E.
WHITFIELD: Pete, you get the last word one.
DOMINICK: Fred, a lot of this "Occupy Wall Street" movement is economic inequality. We rank behind corrupt dictatorships like Syria in economic equality. Say what you will about unions, everybody's got an anecdote that the mop guy can't use the broom. The fact is they're the only organization, the only organization that advocates for the middle class, which has been stagnated for the last 30 years.
LOESCH: No.
CARDONA: Amen, Pete.
WHITFIELD: All right, Pete, getting the last word on that.
Thanks to all of you, Maria, Dana, Pete. Appreciate it.
CARDONA: Thank you.
WHITFIELD: Of course, all week, we are going in-depth on our mobile- connected society, you know back in the day, there were no apps to measure, your heart rate or web forums, where folks diagnose each other. You had to actually go to a doctor, like our Dr. Sanjay Gupta.
So, Sanjay, you see a ton of medical questions via your Twitter account now @SanjayGuptaCNN.
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Right.
WHITFIELD: More than 1.3 million followers now, by the way. That's huge. What's the lure? I know that you're the lure. But what's going on people asking you questions via Twitter, et cetera?
GUPTA: I think there's a few things that are quite attractive to people. First of all, the immediacy of social media thing. So, whether it'd be something like a drug recall, or you know, for example, a lot on cantaloupes recently, like what exactly you should be eating and not be eating I think is -- you know, you get that sort of stuff immediately. So, there's a real public health sort of component to this.
WHITFIELD: Yes.
GUPTA: What I think that also interesting, though, is the real conversations that can take place not only between, you know, doctors and potential patients and doctors and people who are curious for content, but also among peers. So, for example, if people have similar maladies, or medical maladies, for example, to be able to talk to each other in ways that possibly couldn't happen before.
We used to talk about things like support groups which were hard to organize, as you intimated, Fred, you needed to do those things in person. But busy lives, it's hard to do, so much of that can be done online now. And I think that's a big point of attractiveness as well.
If you go to someone's Twitter account, like mine for example, and you look at the various tweets that people are tweeting about a particular topic, you can potentially learn a lot there.
WHITFIELD: Wow. Well, you know, people just instinctively now are kind of turning to the Internet, if they find out they had a certain ailment, or sickness or disease, they kind of want to self-diagnose, get as many questions as possible, answer via Internet. Do you like that idea or do you think that it will also have a danger?
GUPTA: You know, I think a lot -- it's funny, because a lot of doctors have been really resistant to this and you know, understandably so, because there's a lot of misinformation out there as well.
I will say two things about that: first of all, I think that ship has sailed. So, I mean, we're not going backwards in terms of sharing more information.
The second thing is, as I have been looking into this now for a couple of years and really following some of these sites you find that the crowd does a pretty good job of vetting out misinformation. You know, things don't get retweeted as much or comments are made to basically trying to set the record straight. Sometimes, it can be harder to sort of decipher. But I think it actually does a pretty good job.
What we also find is most people like you said, you know, will go to the Internet, trying to find things. But it doesn't seem to be substituting their visits to the doctor. So, that potentially -- that trend of not actually getting medical information from your doctor, that doesn't seem to be happening.
WHITFIELD: It just means you got more questions to answer when they come to see you at the doctor's office. They got a list of questions now.
GUPTA: Right. I get them a lot on my Twitter account as well.
WHITFIELD: That's right.
All right. Dr. Sanjay Gupta, thanks so much. Always good to see you.
GUPTA: Thank you. You, too.
WHITFIELD: Well, this is unwelcome deja vu, deep in the heart of Texas -- a wild fire ignites. And a county where more than 1,500 homes went up in smoke last month. The latest next in cross country.
Also ahead, a birthday celebration ends with a fatal helicopter crash. We'll you take live to New York's East River for the latest on that investigation.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Checking stories cross country now. Bastrop County, Texas, a case of deja vu of wild fire weary residents. A new blaze broke out yesterday, burning 1,000 acres.
And check out this close call for firefighters and the photographer covering this restaurant fire Monday in Franklin, Ohio, whoa! Windows blowing out of this bistro because of a back draft. Luckily, three firefighters who had just entered the building were able to escape unharmed.
And this year's White House holiday tree will hail from northeastern Wisconsin. An 18 1/2 foot balsam fir was selected by the White House grounds keeper on Monday. It will be cut down in a couple of weeks and then presented to the first lady right after Christmas.
And in New York, the pilot of a helicopter that crashed in the East River Tuesday had apparently just radioed that he was having problems. Moments later, the chopper slammed into the river, leaving one woman dead and four others injured.
Well, now comes the search for answers.
CNN's Jason Carroll joins us now from the East River. They are learning anything more from their investigation.
JASON CARROLL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, that -- those search for answers is underway. The NTSB, the National Transportation Safety Board, the investigators have become their inquiry, that started yesterday.
They have interviewed the pilot, Paul Dudley, once. They'll be interviewing him again today, Fredricka.
And in addition to that, they've also recovered the helicopter. That happened late yesterday. We have some pictures of that as it happened. They recovered the Bell 206 Jet Ranger from the East River last night, recovered mostly intact. And that will be a pivotal part of the investigation as well.
We're expecting a briefing from NTSB, just about 20 minutes from now.
But I wanted to review what happened here yesterday. At about 3:22, right before 3:30 yesterday afternoon, that's when the pilot, Paul Dudley, radioed that he was having problems with the aircraft. Unable to keep altitude, he radioed in that he was having problems.
Witnesses said that they noticed that the aircraft was having issues in the air, it spun around, crashed into the East River, turned on its side and very quickly it sank.
Three of the passengers and the pilot were able to be rescued. But one woman, Sonia Marra, 40-year-old from Sydney, Australia, she apparently, Fredricka, was trapped in the back of the aircraft and was unable to get out.
There were a number of witnesses who were on the scene when it all happened. I spoke to a few of what happened and about what they saw. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERT DRESS, HELICOPTER CRASH WITNESS: This thing just went up and it went down. I thought that I was going to see people bobbing up and down in the water. There was no one. It was just two struts pointing towards Queens. And then they popped up. I honestly think that they went down to try to, like, rescue the others and came back up, and they're like look --
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CARROLL: Again, the victim, Sonia Marra, 40 years old, she did not survive the crash. Also identified her mother Harriet and her stepfather, Paul Nicholson, also her partner Helen Tamaki (ph), 43. Those were the others who were onboard. They fortunately survived the crash.
NTSB, once again, will be interviewing the pilot, Paul Dudley, to try to get some answers about exactly what happened out here yesterday. That briefing expected in about 20 minutes -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right. Jason Carroll, thanks so much. The woman who died, that was to be a part of her 40th birthday celebration.
All right. Still ahead, you'll meet a Wisconsin man who was trying to figure out why Governor Rick Perry's office deletes its e-mails after 70 days. He's wondering if Perry's got secrets.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: A Wisconsin man thinks that Texas Governor Rick Perry is keeping too many secrets. He's been pushing Perry to be more opened and transparent with his e-mails especially now that he's running for president.
But as CNN's Ed Lavandera shows us, these efforts come with a steep price.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): To find the man whose become an unlikely thorn in the side of Rick Perry, drive more than 1,200 miles from the Texas governor's mansion to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and meet John Washburn.
Washburn is a computer programmer, open records advocate, self- described Ron Paul Republican, and the lead character in a battle over forcing Rick Perry to save thousands of government e-mails.
JOHN WASHBURN, OPEN RECORDS ADVOCATE: He doesn't like the idea of people looking over his shoulder, seeing what he's doing, where he's going. But the whole idea of American government is you don't trust people of power, you watch them.
LAVANDERA: Four years ago, Washburn learned Rick Perry staff destroys many of his e-mails after seven days. Open records advocates say this is an unusually short time. So from his home computer, Washburn created a program that sent automated open records requests to the governor's office every four days.
WASHBURN: This is the --
LAVANDERA (on camera): All the back and forth it took just to get those e-mails.
WASHBURN: Yes.
LAVANDERA (voice-over): But it was the price that Perry's office charged that stunned Washburn.
WASHBURN: Five hundred sixty-eight dollars for four days of e-mails.
LAVANDERA (on camera): What did you think?
WASHBURN: I laughed. I did. I laughed out loud the first time I saw it.
LAVANDERA: Did you ever come across a response like this?
WASHBURN: No. Certainly not for this kind of money.
LAVANDERA (voice-over): But it wouldn't be the last time Governor Perry's office would shock John Washburn. As words spread through Texas of his fight with the governor's office, Rick Perry defended his e-mail destruction policy like in this memorable interview with the "Texas Tribune" Web site.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why not have them stay around longer, for the purpose of records?
GOV. RICK PERRY (R), TEXAS: How long?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You tell me.
PERRY: But I'm asking you. I already say it, it's seven days.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. Do I -- Governor, do I get to pick? How about a month?
PERRY: No, you don't get to pick.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think it ought to be 30 days.
PERRY: OK, I don't.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And that's the end of the conversation?
LAVANDERA: Governor Perry went on to say he didn't want state employees wasting time organizing open records requests for people going on fishing escapades.
WASHBURN: He is the most obstructionists, by far. No one in his league in that regard.
LAVANDERA: After Perry announced he was running for president, John Washburn fired up the automated open records request again. The governor's office just sent Washburn the latest bill.
(on camera): And the bill for that for another four days with the e- mails is now how much?
WASHBURN: Twenty-three hundred and four dollars.
LAVANDERA: Twenty-three hundred dollars for four days of e-mails?
WASHBURN: Correct.
LAVANDERA (voice-over): If he ever wants to see them all, it will add up to almost $210,000 for a full year of e-mails. A hefty price tag, but John Washburn says it's the principle of his battle that's priceless.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: All right. Big price tag indeed. Ed, Lavandera, here in the studio.
So, is Washburn financing all of this himself?
LAVANDERA: Well, you know, he's done about 20 of these open records over the past four years. He paid and took some donations to pay for the first batch. I think he said he got somewhere between 3,000 and 8,000 emails. Obviously, this is too much for him.
It doesn't sound like he's ready -- he said that I got much better time --
WHITFIELD: Is this gaining traction or is this kind of his personal crusade?
LAVANDERA: It's interesting. I think there's a lot of people who follow him closely. I think there's a lot of people in Texas who are kind of wondering why is -- why has it taken this Wisconsin guy to kind of, you know, forge this battle with the governor? So, he's definitely gotten a lot of attention in Texas. It's been very much a Texas story.
The governor's office is saying, look, we are following the rules that have been in place for years, even before Governor Perry took office. They're saving and protecting all of the e-mails that they are legally obligated to protect. Of course, people like Washburn and many other open records advocates simply don't believe that.
WHITFIELD: Interesting stuff. Ed Lavandera, thanks so much for bringing that for us. Good to see you in person.
LAVANDERA: Good to see you. You got it.
WHITFIELD: All right. All right. The NBA -- let's talk basketball now -- wiping out the rest of its preseason and possibly the first two weeks of the regular season might be wiped out also. That story plus the baseball playoffs, next in sports.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: All right. The Texas Rangers have advanced to the American League Championship Series. Adrian Beltre hit three home runs to help the Rangers beat Tampa Bay yesterday and eliminate the Rays. A TBS cameraman, watch closely, took a little bit of a fall as he was jogging beside Belter beyond being a little bruise, his pride that is. He's all right.
And here's a look at the other division matchups. The Yankees beat the Tigers last night, evening their series at 2 now.
The Phillies took a 2-1 series lead after beating the Cardinals. And the Diamondbacks won, but still trail the Brewers, two games to one.
The NBA, by the way -- I know you're up to date on this one -- they have canceled the rest of its preseason games. The league's move comes after the latest contract talks between the players and owners broke off. The NBA plans to cancel the first two weeks of the regular season if there's no deal by Monday. No talks as far as we have know have been scheduled.
All right. Apple unveiled its newest iPhone yesterday. Already, rival Samsung is filing a lawsuit to stop it.
Alison Kosik is at the New York Stock Exchange with more on that -- Alison.
ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Fredricka.
So, Samsung wasting little time, it wants to stop the iPhone 4S from being sold in Italy and France. It's claiming patent infringement. What it's accusing Apple of using its wireless technology. It's essentially getting a free ride on its technology.
Now, this is nothing new, though. Apple and Samsung, they have been going at it for months. They have filing suit after suit, both claiming the same thing: patent infringement, because there's a lot at stake here. Each one wants to have the title of number one smartphone maker. Right now, Apple is on the lead, but Samsung is at the close second, right behind it -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: OK. So, Apple investors, they're responding how?
KOSIK: Well, right now, shares of Apple are down just slightly, probably a bit of a continuation of yesterday, you know, when the phone was unveiled. You saw some disappointment from consumers and from investors when you saw the stock dropped 4 percent. It recovered at the end of the day. But, you know, investors not too thrilled that they didn't come out with a brand spanking new phone. As for stocks, we're in the green today. The Dow up by 54. The NASDAQ is higher as well. Investors still have one eye on European debt fears, but they're also focusing on an upbeat on the labor market -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: OK, we like the word upbeat. Thanks so much, Alison.
KOSIK: Yes.
WHITFIELD: We'll try to stay there.
All right. In the next hour of the CNN NEWSROOM, President Obama is pushing his jobs plan hard, but GOP candidate Herman Cain has a plan of his own. He calls it the 999 plan.
So, what is it? And could it work? We're breaking that down.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: If money determines the front-runners in the political contest, no doubt about who's out front in the Republican race for president. New campaign funding numbers out this morning and political -- senior political editor Mark Preston is joining us right now with details on that.
All right. Mark, any surprises? The money is rolling in, isn't it?
MARK PRESTON, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL EDITOR: It certainly is. And for someone like Rick Perry, who's only been in the race for 49 days, he has a big number to announce this morning, which he has just done. He has raised $17 million in 49 days. That is half the time that he had to raise money as opposed to all of the other candidates.
Now the other leading candidate, Mitt Romney is expected to have raised between $11 million and $13 million in this third quarter. Now, we should note that Mitt Romney did very well in the second quarter. He raised over $18 million.
So, money is a big determining factor in where Republicans are placing their money on who should be the Republican presidential nominee. And, of course, we wait to see what everyone else is going to announce, including Herman Cain, who has risen in the polls in the past couple of weeks.
Now, Fred, down in Florida, a couple of big announcements for Mitt Romney now that Chris Christie is not going to run for president. You start to see this logjam break up.
Three state representatives are now going to back Mitt Romney. They are former Tim Pawlenty backers. Their speaker designate, Will Weatherford, and State Representative Chris Dorworth and Richard Corcoran, big deal down in Florida, because Florida will play a big role in helping to choose the next GOP presidential candidate -- Fred.
WHITFIELD: Right. And that, too, why it's going to be very interesting to see who Chris Christie his support toward. PRESTON: No doubt.
WHITFIELD: I'll be careful with my language again this time.
PRESTON: I thought you were going to say --
(CROSSTALK)
WHITFIELD: Mark Preston, you heard that earlier, didn't you? I didn't mean -- all right.
PRESTON: Absolutely.
WHITFIELD: All right. Mark Preston, thanks so much. Good to see you.
All right. Much more of the NEWSROOM ahead with Suzanne Malveaux -- Suzanne.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN ANCHOR: I'd be very curious what you said before, but I'll find out.
WHITFIELD: Oh, it was delicate. It was harmless. I'll just watch my words.
MALVEAUX: I'll look at the tape. Thanks, Fred.
(LAUGHTER)
WHITFIELD: All right.
