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President Obama to Kick Off His Campaign in Ohio; 9/11 Defendants Arraigned in Guantanamo
Aired May 05, 2012 - 12:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, ANCHOR, CNN NEWSROOM: Hello to you. And our legal guys are going to be joining us to talk more about the obstaclesahead in the John Edwards trial. Yes, it's really something else.
RANDI KAYE, CNN: Sure is.
WHITFIELD: All right. We're talking about the campaign trail for real this year, in the next hour, President Barack Obama holding his first official campaign rally in the critical battleground state of Ohio. He narrowly won that state back in 2008, and now he's going on the offensive to keep it out of Mitt Romney's hands.
CNN's Jessica Yellin is live at the rally, the Ohio State campus in Columbus, a pretty giant crowd there, Jessica. What message are we expected to hear from the president in what appears to be a mostly college crowd?
JESSICA YELLIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, mostly college. Mixed crowd here, Fredricka, and still not a full auditorium, I'd point out, but they have an hour to go. The message you'll hear is effectively the president preempting a tax on the economic conditions in the U.S., in part.
You know, he expects that the Romney campaign is going to attack the unemployment rate and the president's stewardship on the economy, so you'll hear him talk about how hard the economy was hit before he got in office, what he inherited and how he made things better, how much worse they could have been, in the president's view, and what he could do going forward.
He'll also, because this is a manufacturing state here, a big emphasis on how he believes the auto bailout made conditions much better. That's a popular theme in any (inaudible) here in Ohio.
But then you'll also hear the broader messages that we've heard him emphasize, a much more political speech because of course as you say, the first campaign -- official campaign rally to date. And he's appearing as well with the first lady. So this crowd is excited, Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: So Jessica, pretty excited crowd there. So Michelle Obama will be leading things off very similar to how she was involved during the 2008 campaign, right? YELLIN: Yes, she's had a much more behind the scenes and less political presence as first lady. She's getting involved now attending many fundraisers. We're going to see her on the campaign trail increasingly in the next few months.
She goes with the president from here to Virginia next. And we're going to see her on the campaign trail in the coming weeks and months, as well, Fredricka. She delivers a message sometimes that's even more clear, in a way, than the president does, more forcefully articulating what he has done sometimes than even the president does himself, Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right. Jessica Yellin, thanks so much from Columbus, Ohio. We'll check back with you.
Later on this hour, we'll go back to Columbus to talk with President Obama's campaign press secretary. And at 1 o'clock Eastern time we'll have live coverage of the president's first official rally right there in Columbus, Ohio.
All right. Mitt Romney is slamming President Obama over the new labor report that came out yesterday. Unemployment is down to 8.1 percent, but the economy only added 115,000 jobs last month. Romney says that's no cause for celebration.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FORMER GOV. MITT ROMNEY, R-MA, PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The unemployment rate has dropped to 8.1 percent. And normally that would be cause for celebration. But in fact, anything over 8 percent, anything near 8 percent, anything over 4 percent is not cause for celebration.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: The Republican presidential candidate says the country can't celebrate until unemployment is at 4 percent.
Another big story we're following today. The arraignment of five men accused of planning and carrying out the September 11th attacks. The alleged mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed is among them. All five accused terrorists are attending the hearing in person at the U.S. military base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, CBS's Chris Lawrence is there right now and joining us by phone.
Chris, what happened during this hearing this morning?
CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fred, there was a major disruption in court just in the last four minutes. One of the defendants, Ramzi bin al-Shibh shouted out in very broken English to the courtroom, and he said maybe you're not going to see us anymore. The judge tried to quiet him down, saying this is not the place for that, this is not the time for that.
And bin al-Shibh screamed out again, the people at the camps, they are going to kill us. So a major disruption. Ramzi bin al-Shibh is a Yemeni. He allegedly helped the hijackers find the flight schools and get into the United States, and also allegedly helped finance the entire 9/11 operation.
He was supposed to be one of the hijackers and he actually made a martyr video, but he was denied a visa at the U.S. embassy in Berlin and so was not allowed to enter the United States. So, Fred, a major disruption in court just within the last five minutes.
WHITFIELD: So while that disruption was taking place, what about Khalid Sheikh Mohammed? What was his demeanor, what was he doing or what was his response?
LAWRENCE: Well, the reason that disruption came as such a shock is that the defendants have been disconnected all morning. We saw KSM, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, for the first time in years. His beard is now red. It's long. He was wearing a turban and reading glasses.
He and the others ignored the judge for most of the morning, they refused to answer any questions. Many could be seen just flipping through the Koran or holding their prayer beads, but overall just completely disconnected and ignoring anything that was said to them.
WHITFIELD: So what was to transpire during that hearing? Is this the attorney spelling out the case before them, reiterating the charges, what?
LAWRENCE: We haven't even gotten to that point yet, Fred. There have been so many other issues that have cropped up, it's been a circus- like atmosphere. One defense attorney has been complained -- or complained, brought a complaint that the female prosecutors are dressed inappropriately, that the defendants have to avert their eyes to avoid committing a sin.
From what we saw, the female prosecutors all had suits on. And at least one perhaps had a skirt, but it was still a suit.
Another one of the defendants was brought into the courtroom in shackles because apparently there was an incident this morning as they were being brought to court. His attorney says he was being mistreated.
So there have been all these issues going on, and then you add to the fact that the defendants had just refused to speak or participate in any way, it's been a circus-like atmosphere in the courtroom.
WHITFIELD: And this is likely to take on how long today?
LAWRENCE: Whoo. It's supposed to take most of the day. But who knows. And you have to feel somewhat for the families who are there as well. They are really hoping that this would at least be the start, starting to bring closure, some of the victims' families from the 9/11 attacks are here. But so far I don't think court has turned out quite that way.
WHITFIELD: All right. Chris Lawrence, thanks so much. Coming to us from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. And of course we're going to talk more about that case later on with our legal guys who will be joining us as well.
And then want to show you some live pictures right now, President Barack Obama, who, along with his wife, Michelle Obama, there at Columbus, at the airport arriving. This is the day where the president and first lady crisscross the state of Ohio, as well as Virginia, kind of officially beginning his campaign tour for 2012.
We'll, of course, be taking his speech, his expected speech in the 1 o'clock hour live for you. Meantime, just a few shots there of all the folks who have turned out to see the president and first lady upon their arrival there in Columbus, Ohio. More on that later.
All right. Meantime, a top Russian general has strong words of caution for the U.S. He says Russia may consider a preemptive strike on missile sites if the two countries can't agree on a deal. Talks over plans to deploy a missile defense shield in Europe have reached a dead end.
Moscow doesn't want to participate in the program unless they are certain it will be used against their own systems. But the Obama administrations says it is directed only toward countering missile threats from the Middle East.
All right. Fast horses and flashy hats. You know what I'm talking about. The Kentucky Derby. And it's just hours away. We'll take you to Churchill Downs for a preview.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Well, the possibility of rain is dampening the Kentucky Derby just a bit. HLN's Joe Carter is at Churchill Downs with a look at the field.
All right. Two questions for you. Number one, where is your hat? And number two, which horse is the odds on favorite? You can't be at the Derby without a hat.
JOE CARTER, HLN CORRESPONDENT: I was like caught in between -- I know. I was caught in between actually wearing a hat and not wearing a hat, and I decided to not go with a hat, and now you're going to bust me on it.
WHITFIELD: Oh. I'm sorry. You'd look --
CARTER: See, a lot of horses are being talked about this year. (Inaudible), this is a very strong field, Fredricka, that six to eight horses could contend for today's Kentucky Derby. So if you're going to spend your hard-earned money your guess is as good as the race experts at this point. But yes, people are talking about Bodemeister. You may have heard of his trainer, Bob Baffert.
This is a guy who has -- really has a new lease on life. Back at the end of March. Bob Baffert was at a race in Dubai, guy suffered a heart attack, had to have three stints put in his heart. He said he had gotten in the plane to come back to the States a few hours later and had that heart attack, he wouldn't be with us today. So he has a new lease on life. He has two horses running in today, but his favorite is Bodemeister, one of the contenders for today. But you've got several horses in the field, as the race experts say, six to eight that could contend for today's Kentucky Derby, Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: Oh, my goodness, and now what about the weather? Is it going to hold out, will it delay, interfere, change the race?
CARTER: You know, right now it's beautiful, it's exactly what they want in Kentucky, weather, it's nice and hot, it's nice and humid. The track actually is now being called a fast track. Overnight, thunderstorms, pretty heavy rain, had about an inch of water on the track when we got here this morning. But they graded it out, they've had a few races. And right now it's considered a fast track.
So don't you for one second think any sort of thunderstorm is going to dampen the spirits here. There's supposed to be 165,000 people that are going to show up. And they are supposed to serve some 120,000 mint juleps. Of course, the hats are everywhere. Everybody's got a hat on but me.
And this -- I asked people yesterday, I said, what's the hats about? What does that mean? They said there's one rule when it comes to wearing a hat in the Kentucky Derby, and that's there are no rules. Just creative as possible. Channel your inner Southern belle. So next year, Fredricka, I'll try to channel my inner Southern belle.
WHITFIELD: Elaborate. Hey, well, there's still time before race time begins. and we'll probably see you again later on today. And the sun will be out, that'll inspire you to get a little topper before the next time we see you.
CARTER: Good idea. Thank you.
WHITFIELD: That's a challenge. All right. Thanks so much. Joe Carter, appreciate that. Churchill Downs.
All right. Of course you want to pay less at the pump. Who doesn't? We know one way to actually do it. Time to hit the road.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: All right. So why does the price you pay for gas depend on where you fill up? Christine Romans breaks it down by the gallon in this week's "Smart is the New Rich."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): Quoting an average gas price in America is like quoting the average temperature. It's different depending where you live.
ROMANS: We are 80 miles to empty. So we're going to fill up this tank. Half a tank in New York, half a tank in New Jersey. And you'll be able to see just how much taxes and where you live depends on what you pay for gas. All right, eight gallons at $4.259 is $34 for half a tank of gas. Now we go to Jersey and fill up the other half.
All right. So fill me up. Regular, $3.73. I guess it is going to be about eight gallons. It costs just under $28 to fill up the rest of the tank. The difference is the taxes.
The government breaks down gas prices like this: taxes make up 12 percent of the price of a gallon of gas, 6 percent of the cost is shipping and advertising, 6 percent is refining it and 76 percent is the cost of crude oil. High oil prices mean high gas prices.
People see those numbers and they cannot understand how everybody who's reaching into their pocket isn't making money. But not everyone is making money at gas prices at $3.80.
TOM KLOZA, OIL PRICE INFORMATION SERVICE: No. The big profits have been in exploration and production. If you look at multinational oil companies, a lot of them are getting out of retail and a lot of them are getting out of refining.
ROMANS (voice-over): The good news for you, the average gas price is now below where it was a year ago.
MIKE FITZPATRICK, EDITOR IN CHIEF, "ENERGY REVIEW": I think you'll probably prices retreat as we get into the season. Normally prices peak around the Fourth of July. And I think you're going to see them peak -- I think they are peaking right now.
ROMANS (voice-over): But here is that pesky average again. If you live in the Northeast, refinery closures mean prices could stay high. And every dollar in here is a dollar not spent on consumer goods or a 529 college savings plan or your retirement savings. And that's why gas prices are the economic indicator we love to hate -- Christine Romans, CNN, Clifton, New Jersey.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: And a New York maid wants her day in court. She's suing a prominent international businessman that she says tried to rape her. Our legal guys are standing by to talk more about this case.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: The man who admitted to masterminding the September 11th attacks is in a military courtroom right now. Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, also known as KSM, and four other men are answering formal questions related to their alleged roles in the plot. At least that was the plan. But there's already been drama in the courtroom this morning. One of the defendants shouted out, quote, "They are going to kill us."
Let's bring in our legal guys, Avery Friedman, a civil rights attorney and law professor in Cleveland. Good to see you. And Richard Herman, your criminal defense attorney and law professor joining us from Las Vegas. Good to see you as well. I feel like it's been a long time.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Finally you're back, Fred. Finally.
(CROSSTALK)
WHITFIELD: I know, I know.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Party in New Orleans.
WHITFIELD: I know. It was fun. Hey, I was working. It was fun, though.
(LAUGHTER)
OK. All right. So back to Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. So there has been this disruption in the court, enough, Avery, to disrupt things where it may be rescheduled or are they just going to have slide matters a bit?
AVERY FRIEDMAN, CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY: Well, that's exactly what's going on. This whole experiment is sliding matters. This matter should be tried in a federal district court. It's being tried in a military tribunal, brand new experiment. As Chris Lawrence reported earlier to you, it's circus-like. This would never happen in a federal district court, Fredricka.
We're trying these people in military courts as if they are warriors. And remember Robert Reed, the shoe bomber, when he was tried in a real federal court, the federal judge said, after the conviction, you know what, you're no warrior, you're nothing but a mere species of criminal.
So we're going to see this circus-like activity. I think it diminishes the Constitution. I'm very upset that it's moving forward in a military tribunal instead of a federal court.
WHITFIELD: So, Richard, is this your concern as well, that this is going to be too much for this military tribunal to handle?
RICHARD HERMAN, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Well, you know, Fred, they are in uncharted waters. So they are making up some of the rules as they go on. And -- but we're comforted because the lead prosecutor said now it's fair. So that gives us comfort.
Listen, these guys, in my opinion, are animals. And they absolutely should suffer. But if you're going to try them, they need to have a fair trial because this is the United States. This is not going to be a fair trial in Guantanamo.
And they can jump up and they can carry on and start praying and do everything else. It's going to continue on, Fred. And there's going to be a verdict here and it's probably going to be death sentence for all of them. So at the end of the --
(CROSSTALK)
FRIEDMAN: And then there will be appeals.
HERMAN: -- what's going to happen here.
WHITFIELD: Yes, so I wonder, barring further disruptions, what is supposed to happen during this hearing? How would we see it played out? Is it an issue of revealing what the evidence is, reading the charges, explaining the charges? What would, under best circumstances, be happening here, Avery, at this hearing?
FRIEDMAN: Well, they want as close to being like a real federal court. Mark Martins, who's the brigadier general trying it -- who, by the way on Law Review with Barack Obama at Harvard Law School is doing his best, will do his best.
But as Richard said, these are sort of made-up rules. There's no reason. This was a political sellout. Congress screwed this thing up. It should be in a federal courtroom. And it's going to be as Chris reported, Chris Lawrence reported earlier, a continued circus- like atmosphere. Very unfortunate.
WHITFIELD: OK. OK. Let's move onto the Dominique Strauss-Kahn case, because just when people thought, at least domestically here in this country, that case was over, we're talking about the former IMF chief, that criminal case between he (sic) and the hotel maid, that was dismissed.
But now a Bronx judge is saying that her lawsuit, her civil suit claiming that Dominique Strauss-Kahn sexually assaulted her, can proceed. Richard, what gives here?
HERMAN: Well, you know, he tried to get immunity based on his status. The problem is, is that during the criminal proceedings, he wanted to waive immunity because he wanted to show his innocence, but now in the civil proceeding, he's trying to invoke it.
The statute he's looking to base it on, the United States is not a member and part of that treaty. So therefore he had no grounds to bring this immunity. He's in The Bronx, New York, Fred. This the jurisdiction that gives the highest personal injury awards in the state of New York. It's a lotto jurisdiction. And, you know, they are just not going to like him.
Overseas, if he -- I don't know. How do you force oral sex? I don't know. That's what she's going to claim happened here. But if the jury buys it -- and there's a good chance they will -- he's going to get a telephone number against him in this case on a verdict.
WHITFIELD: So Avery, you know, France is an extradition country with the U.S. So as this proceeds, is this what we're going to see, that the request will be made, that Dominique Strauss-Kahn will have to make his way back to the U.S. to defend himself with this kind of case or would it go as far as the U.S. extraditing him? What would happen here potentially?
FRIEDMAN: Well, there's not going to be a fight. I mean, DSK is going to be the defendant. The case is going to be tried in The Bronx. The irony is that the -- and was touched on, there is a U.N. treaty, and it was passed in 1947. The difficulty is that we are not parties to it. It makes no sense to use that as a defense. It didn't work.
The Bronx judge called it a Hail Mary pass at best. And now what's going to happen is all these other acts, in fact, even today there's a report of another investigation involving a hotel in Washington, The W, where he brought other women in and was rough with them.
I think DSK is in a world of trouble. The only way this thing is going to go away is if he comes up with the dough and there's going to be a private settlement. If not, this guy is in a world of trouble.
WHITFIELD: Oh, my goodness.
HERMAN: Fred, he's not in a world of trouble. It's going to be a civil judgment, they are never going to be able to enforce it or collect it. It's going to be a joke.
FRIEDMAN: (Inaudible) agree with that.
HERMAN: The good thing for DSK is he's across from the greatest team in sports history, the Yankees. So he can go watch the Yankees play during the trial (inaudible).
(LAUGHTER)
(CROSSTALK)
WHITFIELD: You love that New York.
FRIEDMAN: Oh, my goodness gracious, please.
WHITFIELD: OK. Well, hey, someone who was potentially really in a world of trouble, we're talking about the John Edwards corruption trial. Just based on the testimony that we've been hearing thus far, you guys are going to be back in 20 minutes to talk more about that, the dramatic testimony, the twists and turns. Where is this case going? We'll see you in a bit.
And -- oh, I know you all are big fans. The Reverend Al Green -- who is not a fan of his? Well, he did perform at one of the venues closest to his heart, we're talking about the New Orleans Jazz Fest. That's when I was there last week -- and I was working. But I was curious about his ideas on this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OBAMA: I am so in love with you --
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: That could have gone so wrong but maybe it didn't. You're going to hear what Al Green has to say about that.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: All right. Checking today's top stories, President Obama's first official campaign event kicks off in less than an hour. It's a rally at Ohio State University in Columbus. Ohio is a key battleground state. And the Obama campaign has opened 18 offices there. Later this afternoon the president heads to Virginia, another state up for grabs in November.
In Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, a major disruption during the arraignment of five alleged 9/11 terrorists. One of the defendants just shouted out, quote, "They are going to kill us." The five charged men include the alleged mastermind of 9/11, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. If convicted, all five face the death penalty.
Protests turned violent in Cairo today. One person was killed and more than 300 people injured as demonstrators clashed with government forces. The protests broke out following deadly clashes earlier this week. Demonstrators want the military government to move quicker toward civilian rule.
And speaking of the president earlier, who is officially continuing his campaign today, remember when he sang one of Al Green's songs? Well, I caught up with the legendary soul singer during the New Orleans Jazz Fest now in its second and final weekend, and among the other headliners, Jimmy Buffett, Florence + The Machine, Zac Brown Band, Ne-Yo and Marsha Ball, the list goes on.
But back to Al Green. I asked him face-to-face what he thought about hearing the president's rendition.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: The Reverend Al Green, so great -- oh, thank you --
(CROSSTALK)
THE REVEREND AL GREEN, SINGER AND MINISTER: Fredricka (inaudible) --
WHITFIELD: -- here in New Orleans.
GREEN: Yes.
WHITFIELD: Is this your favorite spot to perform?
GREEN: Yes. One of my heartfelt spots.
WHITFIELD: Really? Why?
GREEN: Because it's so close to home. Because I'm a southern boy, so it's a really unique for me, yes.
WHITFIELD: We hear people already yelling, making requests.
GREEN: Yes, there's 130,000 folks. That's a lot of folks, that's a lot of requests. We'll try and do our best, you know.
WHITFIELD: Yes, well, I imagine that one of the requests has to be "Let's Stay Together." We know that President...
GREEN: That's our national anthem. WHITFIELD: Yes. President Obama gave his rendition.
GREEN: Yes. I said, wow.
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES (singing): I'm so in love with you...
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
WHITFIELD: Did he do well?
GREEN: He was good, though.
WHITFIELD: He was good.
GREEN: I mean, honestly, he was good. He sounded great.
WHITFIELD: So how flattering is that for you, for the president of the United States to sing your song?
GREEN: I thought that was so unique. I never had that happen before. But when a president do it, then that's kind of -- that's kind of special.
WHITFIELD: What kind of grade would you give him?
GREEN: His singing I think would be a B-plus, but I don't want him to take my job.
(LAUGHTER)
WHITFIELD: So don't do it again.
GREEN: Yes, that's enough.
WHITFIELD: You really have been called the first -- one of the first mega stars.
GREEN: Yes.
WHITFIELD: And with that also comes seemingly kind of maybe a big responsibility, or is that kind of sometimes also a big burden, too?
GREEN: Well, I mean, I was supposed to be in the pulpit this morning. I had to call my junior pastor. He was telling me, well, what do you want me to do? I said, well, stay in the Book of John and there you go. We have to go on with it. Everybody says, Al is in New Orleans, yay. You know, I don't know, you know.
WHITFIELD: Well, thank you so much. It's so great to see you here in New Orleans.
GREEN: Thank you.
WHITFIELD: The crowd awaits.
GREEN: Thank you. Yes, we'll have fun.
WHITFIELD: Yes, I know you will.
GREEN: God bless and God bless CNN.
WHITFIELD: Thank you so much. Reverend Al Green, the one and only.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: Al Green.
Today we go face-to-face with one of the masterminds behind the Jazz Fest, how CEO of the fest, Quint Davis, and the rest of his staff pull this off every year. Hundreds of thousands of fans all converging in one place every spring for great music, food, and fun, of course.
All right. A woman throws away a million dollar ticket. Another woman finds it in the trash and claims the prize, but a judge rules "finders-keepers" does not apply here. Our legal guys are back with us to weigh in on that case.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Another dramatic week of testimony in the John Edwards corruption trial. Some colorful details from a former adviser who says he warned Edwards to stay away from Rielle Hunter. Our legal guys are back, Avery Friedman in Cleveland, Richard Herman in Las Vegas.
All right, gentlemen. John (sic), you first. Oh, my goodness, talk about a roller coaster ride, an emotional one and legal one. A, it is difficult to kind of keep up with all the details of "he said-she said," and it really is underscoring that John Edwards, at least according to testimony, was rather defiant about maintaining this relationship.
How does this hurt or help the corruption trial?
RICHARD HERMAN, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: It hurts it, Fred.
AVERY FRIEDMAN, CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY: Well, John...
HERMAN: I think that he's really -- I'm sorry.
WHITFIELD: Go ahead, Richard, you first.
FRIEDMAN: Go ahead, Richard.
HERMAN: OK. Fred, I think that John Edwards is in real hot water at this point during the trial. And I think he should try to cut his losses and make a deal now. I think he's going to get convicted here.
Trials are about facts and the law and personalities, Fred. He was not a nice guy. He had this fatal attraction situation going with this Rielle Hunter. He couldn't stop. His wife was dying of cancer. He was funneling money. Listen, if he was not running for president, he would have gotten this money himself. The fact that he had all these different layers to hide this money, and the fact tat he was hiding it from the public to win an election is going to defy the defense theory here that it was just personal to hide it from his wife.
It wasn't to hide it from his wife. He wanted to win an election. He funneled this money to keep this woman quiet. He got exposed right now.
FRIEDMAN: Well, but it was more than that.
HERMAN: I think a jury is going to hammer him.
FRIEDMAN: It was more than that.
WHITFIELD: Well, in what way, Avery?
FRIEDMAN: Last week I said that I thought the government was in trouble. And my, oh, my, as the prosecutor put their case together. They actually put a lawyer on whose name was Forger. How would you like to be a lawyer whose last name is Forger?
WHITFIELD: Somehow that's an oxymoron.
FRIEDMAN: He testified that the -- he had never met the interior decorator who had funneled $725,000. The lawyer said that he was at an art gallery in New York where that meeting between Huffman, the interior director, and John Edwards took place.
John's credibility -- John Edwards's credibility is sinking. Again, we're still in the prosecution's case but I am not nearly as optimistic about John Edwards's chance for acquittal based on what we saw this week. Very, very...
(CROSSTALK)
WHITFIELD: Back to that thought, then, Richard. You said plea deal. You would think that it's much more advisable at this juncture, even though trial has already begun, for he and his attorneys to say, you know what, second guess this plea deal, it would seem as though that would be that much more devastating, no?
HERMAN: Well, Fred, he's looking at 30 years if he gets convicted here. I can't believe a judge would give him 30, but even if he got 20, even if he got 10...
WHITFIELD: Do you think a plea deal would offer him less?
(CROSSTALK)
HERMAN: He's cooked, but he's got to try to make a deal here, Fred. Look, I'm not a fan of his, but I don't want to see him get hit with 30 years either. I don't think that's necessary. But Bunny said, through Bunny she gave the money to make a president, Fred. That's devastating testimony. She put the money up to make a president. (CROSSTALK)
FRIEDMAN: Well, that's part of the testimony, Richard. That's part of the testimony.
WHITFIELD: Avery, you think that's part of changing the story? Because at least reportedly earlier on that Bunny Mellon, not her words, but reportedly, that she had given this money to aid the cover up this relationship.
But now we're hearing testimony that, no, that money was for campaign to make a president, and that's a real conflict here.
(CROSSTALK)
FRIEDMAN: That's where the testimony has come out. But at the same time, Bunny Mellon contributed over $6 million to an anti-poverty program created by John Edwards. I mean, Bunny Mellon saw John Edwards as the next John F. Kennedy, Fredricka.
I mean, she was into it. And once John got that $400 hair cut, she flipped. That was the point where this money started flowing in. Again, the argument is, look at, we don't want to hurt Elizabeth Edwards, but I think the testimony that came out this week is really damaging to Edwards, really damaging.
WHITFIELD: It is painful to watch. It is fascinating but it is too very painful.
FRIEDMAN: Oh, it is. You're exactly right.
WHITFIELD: All right. Let's move on to another case because I know we're going to be talking about the John Edwards case again, as it takes twists and turns. Let's talk about "finders-keepers."
Oh, boy. Most people would think if they find a lottery ticket or anything else in the trash, that it is "finders-keepers," especially if it becomes a $1 million lottery-winning ticket. This did happen in the case of an Arkansas lady. But now she is having to return it because the judge has ruled that there is a rightful owner, the original owner who bought that ticket rightfully should have those winnings.
This is very unusual, isn't it, Richard?
HERMAN: It's unbelievable, Fred.
(CROSSTALK)
WHITFIELD: ... identifying claim on a ticket. But go ahead.
HERMAN: If you throw something away, you divest yourself of that ownership. Then if someone else goes in the garbage and takes it, it should be theirs. What the judge is saying here is when the original purchaser of the ticket ran the ticket, the machine said she was not a winner, so she threw it away, because she said she was not a winner. Then it turned out that the machine was wrong and she was a winner. So the judge is saying, well, she then rightfully -- the woman did not sustain her burden of proof to show that the original owner divested herself of ownership, because she was deceived by the machine.
FRIEDMAN: You like that?
HERMAN: I don't know.
WHITFIELD: I'm fascinated.
(CROSSTALK)
HERMAN: I don't know. I think the judge may have something -- maybe get a piece of this, I don't know.
WHITFIELD: Sorry. Usually when you buy a ticket, there isn't anything on there that you immediately state your name or most people don't write their name on it, et cetera.
FRIEDMAN: That's right. That's right.
WHITFIELD: And it seems as though when you dispose of it, you throw it away, it is hard to be able to recover it and say, that's the one that I bought. How in the world were they able to establish that, Avery, in court?
FRIEDMAN: Well, I agree. I think the evidence is very difficult. One of the arguments by Sharon Jones, who is the dumpster diver, that's what she does, she makes a living go around behind convenience stores and picking up old lottery tickets. She's saying look at, it was thrown out.
I think it's an interesting argument. Look at, it was the lottery commission that screwed up, says Sharon Duncan who bought the ticket, that's why I threw it out. The judge exercised what are called equity power saying, look at, a million dollars, Sharon Jones, you got $200,000.
She actually blew $200,000 in one year and she's not going to be able to blow the rest. The case is on appeal. I think the court of appeals is going to agree with the lower court and say the original ticket buyer gets the 800...
(CROSSTALK)
WHITFIELD: Wow. To give that money back. That hurts. Ouch, ouch, ouch. All right. Thanks so much, Avery...
FRIEDMAN: Maybe give it back, I don't know.
WHITFIELD: Yes. Avery, Richard, thanks so much. Always good to see you. Avery, I know you had a great time at the White House Correspondents' Dinner. I hear you were quite dapper, I'm sorry I missed that.
FRIEDMAN: I was just a back-up boy. That's all. I heard you had a great time in New Orleans.
WHITFIELD: Oh yes, I did. Next time I'll look up your brother, I'll have time for that.
(CROSSTALK)
WHITFIELD: As touristy as it is, I have to do it. It's part of the whole experience. All right. Gentlemen, thanks so much.
HERMAN: You were working, though.
WHITFIELD: I was working.
(CROSSTALK)
WHITFIELD: All right. Don't forget to look up at the night sky tonight. It will be a sight that you may never see again, or at least one you've never seen before. It's called a "supermoon." We'll explain why it is so super.
But first, some people wouldn't dream of going on vacation without their pets. There are some precautions that you need to take before you and your furry friend are "On the Go."
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER (voice-over): It's a joyful reunion for Tim Sampson and his two dogs Ben and Jack. They started their day in Costa Rica and just arrived in Houston.
(on camera): So tell us why you decided to travel with your pets?
TIM SAMPSON, BEN & JACK'S OWNER: They are my kids. They travel with me and go wherever I go.
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER (voice-over): If your four-legged family member is going on your next trip, a visit with the vet should be the first stop.
Dr. Sorenson checked my dog Astro.
DR. NANCY SORENSON, VETERINARIAN: If you're going probably for either whether it be car or air, you'd want to have a copy of maybe their most recent medical records with their vaccination history, rabies history.
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Sorenson also suggests you take a photo of your pet in case you get separated.
SORENSON: Make sure they have an identification tag on them that have their contact information of where you'll be when you're on vacation.
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: These precautions can help make sure your furry friend comes home safe.
SAMPSON: They look healthy and happy. I don't think they minded the trip at all.
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: The next time you are "On the Go."
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: You're going to want to look up at the sky tonight. You probably can't miss it really because the Moon is extraordinary. Reynolds Wolf in the Weather Center, tell us about the "supermoon."
REYNOLDS WOLF, AMS METEOROLOGIST: You're blown away by this, aren't you?
WHITFIELD: I am. I can't wait. I love a full moon anyway.
WOLF: You're thrilled about this idea. So many people are. The "supermoon," let's explain this for a moment. Once a year the Moon has an orbit that gets it closer to Earth than any other time of the year. For us tonight, this year, is going to be the night. On Cinco de Mayo this evening we can expect for each time zone around 11:30 the Moon will be directly overhead, that is if the weather cooperates.
However, earlier in the evening, if you happen to look towards the east and you see the Moon rising, that's when it's going to appear its biggest, in fact, it's going to appear 14 percent bigger, 30 percent brighter, and should be just beautiful.
Question is, who is going to have a better shot at seeing it? Well, as you might imagine, wherever you happen to have clear skies would be your best bet, mainly out towards the west, in the Great Basin, even into places like the Sierra Nevada Mountains should be just perfect for you, away from the city lights, it should be great.
However, in the Great Lakes, it gets kind of a hodgepodge, nice to the eastern half, back towards the west it gets kind of cloudy, Northern Plains, another good choice. Outer Banks, another good choice.
But not bad in parts of the Northeast, mix of sun and clouds. Same deal over -- sun and clouds, Moon and clouds, and same deal in parts of the Southeast. So keep your fingers crossed.
WHITFIELD: All right. So at least on the East Coast, look at it, optimal time, 11:00 Eastern hour.
WOLF: Yes, but even earlier in the evening as it starts rising should be pretty nice. Get the cameras ready.
WHITFIELD: Thanks so much, perfect. Thanks, Reynolds. Appreciate that.
WOLF: You bet.
WHITFIELD: All right. President Obama, he's about to hold his first official campaign rally in Ohio. So what makes it official? You're going to get the answer from Obama's 2012 press secretary.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) WHITFIELD: President Barack Obama is about to hold his first official reelection campaign rally in the important swing state of Ohio. Then later on in the day onto Virginia. Joining me right now from Columbus, Ohio, 2012 Campaign Press Secretary Ben LaBolt.
Ben, good to see you. You've got a big crowd at the campus of Ohio State University. Give me an idea, what is the president going to try to drive home today at that rally?
BEN LABOLT, OBAMA 2012 PRESS SECRETARY: Well, the title of the speech is "Moving America Forward." He's going to talk about the journey that the nation has been on for the past three years. When the president took off, we were losing 750,000 jobs a month, we were in the midst of a severe economic crisis, the manufacturing sector was in decline, the auto industry was on the brink.
But over the course of the past three years we've created more than 4 million private sector jobs, more than 200,000 right here in Ohio. States like Ohio are actually leading the recovery, because after years of decline, the manufacturing sector is coming back because of investments that this administration has made.
When the pundits said, no, and other politicians ran for cover, the president granted rescue loans to the auto industry that has driven GM to be the number one automaker in the world again.
WHITFIELD: So, Ben, the president is going to take advantage of this forum and say these are the things that I've done that indicate progress. And at the same time he'll also kind of be taking a preemptive strike against the Republican candidate who is likely to say not enough has been done in the way of the economy.
But Ohio is really an interesting state because there are a lot of Ohioans who are saying, you know what, economically we're struggling today, just as we were four years ago. You've got to convince that electorate there that he needs to find his way back in office. How does he do that?
LABOLT: Well, the unemployment rate is lower here in Ohio than it was when the president took office. Manufacturing jobs, the backbone of the economy in this state, had been in decline since 1997. Nationally we've created nearly 500,000 manufacturing jobs, nearly 30,000 of those jobs here in Ohio.
WHITFIELD: But then why is the race so tight, though? Why is the race here so -- why is, I guess, the gap so tight then between Obama and likely the Republican nominee Mitt Romney when you look at recent polls, they're only like 2 and 3 points behind them in terms of in Ohio alone.
LABOLT: Not everybody has had time yet to focus on the candidates' records like you and I have. But we'll have a discussion about the decisions that were made over the next six months.
The fact is that Governor Romney would have taken a different approach to the auto industry. He said that we should let Detroit go bankrupt when a million jobs were on the line, up and down the supply chain.
They'll learn more about his economic record in the private sector as a corporate buyout specialist who profited off of outsourcing and bankrupting companies. As governor, manufacturing jobs declined by twice the national average in Massachusetts, and job creation overall slipped.
We're going to put the president's record of creating more than 4.2 million private sector jobs up against Governor Romney's. And I think ultimately Ohioans will side with the president. Ohio is one of the states leading the recovery right now.
WHITFIELD: And so, Ben, this is not -- this is by design, this is no, you know, by chance moment that the president would spend a significant amount of time yesterday in front of a college campus, talked about college loans, helping young people get out of debt, stay out of debt, but still get an education, and then he is back on a college campus this time in the swing state of Ohio?
Is this an indicator that this administration is saying, you know what, one of the linchpins to this election or getting back in office is holding onto that youth vote?
LABOLT: The president was out there yesterday ensuring that the interest rate on student loans wouldn't double. Until he enlisted the support of the American people over the past couple of weeks, the Republicans and Governor Romney had expressed no interest in doing that.
He's already doubled funding for college scholarships. In the Romney- Ryan budget you'd see funding for college scholarships cut by 10 percent. Look, young people are going to be critical to this election.
There are 12 million people who weren't old enough to vote for the president the last time around who could decide the election if they turned out. And the president has kept his promises to them. He said he'd end the war in Iraq in a responsible way.
WHITFIELD: All right.
LABOLT: He has done that. He said he'd...
WHITFIELD: I'm sorry, we're going to lose our satellite window, so I don't want to cut you off before...
LABOLT: OK.
WHITFIELD: Or I want to cut you off before it does. So, Ben LaBolt, thanks so much, 2012 campaign press secretary, appreciate that, from Columbus, Ohio.
And, of course, we're going to be returning to Columbus, Ohio, as soon as the president then arrives there at the rally to officially kick off his 2012 campaign. All right. In today's "Help for Her," too thin and too young is no longer in when it comes to Vogue magazine. Starting with their June issues, the editors of the 19 international editions of Vogue have made a pact to stop using models who are under the age of 16 or those who appear to have an eating disorder.
Conde Nast International Chairman Jonathan Newhouse said, "Vogue editors around the world want the magazines to reflect their commitment to the health of the models who appear on the pages and the well-being of their readers."
And the president and the first lady are in Ohio for the first official Obama campaign reelection event. The rally in Columbus starting soon. We'll bring that to you live.
