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The Olympic Badminton Players Booted; President Obama In Ohio; Race For The Gold In Gymnastics

Aired August 01, 2012 - 13:00   ET

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

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Suzanne Malveaux . This hour in the CNN NEWSROOM, a badminton team is disqualified at the Olympic by trying to fix the match by trying not the win.

President Obama, he is gaining big ground in battleground states, including all-important Ohio, that is where he is speaking this next hour.

And why 10s of thousands of Americans are dying every year due to medical mistakes. Let's get right to it.

The United States is dry, disastrously dry. More than half of all counties in the nation now designated disaster zones. That was from the U.S. agriculture department today. And here is the reason, excessive heat, no rain, creating one of the worst droughts in our history. I want to bring live the severe weather center to pinpoint the hottest and driest spots, we've got that coming up.

And new health benefits for women are taking effect today, it's part of President Obama's health care reform law. Insurance claims are required to cover a broad range of early detection services with no co-payments. The most controversial parts of the plan requires employers to provide contraceptive coverage. Now, insurers, they also have to breast and cervical cancer screenings, pre and post-natal care, screenings for gestational diabetes, as well as breast feeding support and supplies.

A famous author, play write, and political commentator, Gore Vidal has died. He was 86 years old. Now, Vidal wrote more than 20 novels, including one of the first American books featuring homosexuality. He also unsuccessfully ran for office twice. Well, his nephew says Vidal died at home in Los Angeles of complications of pneumonia.

Well, pretty tough to win the White House without winning Ohio, that is why President Obama is on the ninth campaign trip to the battleground state today. His visit might be paying off. We have some new polls here to show you. He is leading in Ohio. The president is campaigning in Akron later today, just wrapped up a speech last hour in Mansfield. That is where he said that the economy is job one.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Our first order of business is to recover all of the jobs and wealth that was lost in the crisis, and we have made strides in the last three and a half years to get that done. But beyond that, we're here to reclaim that financial security has been slipping away for more than a decade. The decade before I came into office, your incomes and wages generally weren't going up, jobs were moving overseas, auto industry had been getting hammered. So, our job is not just to put people back to work. It's also to build an economy where over the long haul, that work pays off, so that no matter who you are or what you look like or where you come from, here in America, you can make it if you try.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: Join us is Political Director Mark Preston. Good to see you, Mark. We know Ohio, one of the handful of states that really could make or break this presidential election either way. Tell us about what these polls are actually revealing right now.

MARK PRESTON, CNN POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Well, Suzanne, no question how important Ohio is. In fact, this is the ninth visit by President Obama just in the past year or since January, I should say, to Ohio to show that he is fighting for middle-class values. Let's look at this new poll right here from the Quinnipiac, CBS "New York Times." It shows that that President Obama has a lead right now in Ohio when it comes to likely voters, 50 percent to 44 percent, up six points.

But you know what's interesting about this is when you drill down into the numbers, you hear President Obama talk, Suzanne, a lot about the middle-class and he talked a lot about -- in the speech, about tax cuts, and how he would raise taxes on people making over $250,000 a year, a big fight here where we are in Washington. Well, I got to tell you what, when we dug down and look at that -- those poll numbers, it showed that more than 60 percent, Suzanne -- or, yes, 60 percent has shown that people support that idea. So, a major issue in this presidential campaign.

And we also know, Mark, the poll is showing the president leading in two other critical swing states, Florida and Pennsylvania. Give us a sense of what the margin is and talk a little bit about specifics when it comes to women and independence.

PRESTON: Sure. And let's look down here at this poll coming out of Florida right now. Again, CBS, "New York Times." The Quinnipiac shows that the president has a lead down in Florida right now, Suzanne. And really, what this lead is being fueled by in Florida, as we are seeing in other states as well, it's his support from women. President Obama has a bit of a lead over Mitt Romney when it comes to the women vote. In Florida, he holds a six-point lead in that state.

Let's kick it up to Pennsylvania right now. This is a state that Republicans haven't won since 1988, that's when George W. Bush won the White House. Pennsylvania is a state that Republicans think that they can win perhaps in November. I have to tell you, if they were to win it, the election would be over for President Obama. And you look at those numbers right there, President Obama has 11-point lead, and double-digit lead in Pennsylvania. And, again, it's the women vote right now that is propelling President Obama's popularity in all of these three critical swing states.

MALVEAUX: And let's talk a little bit about Mitt Romney, he's back in the United States after the overseas trip. He is standing by some of the controversial remarks that he made while he in Israel. He said that culture does make a major difference in the difference in wealth between the Israelis and the Palestinians. This national review editorial today, he defends his comments, said the struggle for freedom influenced the American culture. Here, he writes we fought a bloody civil war against slavery and it took a nonviolent civil rights movement to bring political and social equality to all Americans. In these epic struggles, we changed our culture and vastly improved it. Are people asking, are they following up with questions, Romney in his explanations here, or have folks essentially moved on?

PRESTON: Well, Suzanne, there is no question that this was a political op-ed placed today, it was placed in the conservative national review. It was a -- it was an effort made to try to get the Jewish voters to support President Romney. He doesn't care about the Palestinians there, they're not going to be influential in this election, certainly here in the U.S. but American Jewish voters specifically in Florida would be one of the states that he is trying to reach out to, Suzanne.

MALVEAUX: All right. Thank you very much, Mark we appreciate it.

Here's what's going on right now at the Olympics. The men's gymnastics all-around competition is under way. And Americans Danell Leyva and John Orozco are in the hunt. In about 90 minutes, the men's 200 meter breast stroke begins. Well, Americans Scott Welt and Clark Ruckel they are going to be racing for the gold. Scandal (INAUDIBLE) at the 2012 summer Olympics in London, it is happening now in the U.S. women's gymnastics team winning the gold. First time in 16 years that the women's team has taken the top spot at the Olympics. And just last hour, the White House confirmed that President Obama called the team to congratulate them on the remarkable success. He spoke one by one with all five gymnasts, the fab five.

And another story we are following, eight badminton players have been booted for allegedly trying to lose matches. Our Zain, she is live in London's Olympics Park. Zain Verjee, tell us, first of all, how is this badminton controversy playing out here? This seems kind of surprising out of nowhere.

ZAIN VERJEE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It is. You know, when you come here to be a top athlete in the world, you come to win. But eight players were playing a match to lose in badminton. You've got Indonesia, South Korea, the teams, as well as the Chinese teams. They were out there, and, Suzanne, they were playing really lame. And, obviously, just not really interested in winning the match. La, la, la, la, la, they just, like, would, like, you know, hit the easy shots out, they would miss those or they would --

MALVEAUX: Kind of like if we were playing badminton.

VERJEE: -- they would miss if they were serving. Yes, I know. MALVEAUX: Kind of lame.

VERJEE: I know. I know. It was. And it was just so obvious. I mean, the whole crowd was booing them and everything. Now, the reason, allegedly, they were doing this is, you know, to be strategic and tactical. They wanted to lose so they could end up playing a weaker team and end up being able to win in the long run. The Chinese, apparently, didn't want to win, because if they won, they would be playing another Chinese team. So, they have been kicked out. It is pretty humiliating and that's just -- you know, it's just tough luck for them, because according to the rules here, you need the play to win, and any indication that you are deliberately trying to lose is a problem.

MALVEAUX: All right. Is there any move for them to actually appeal the suspension or are they basically going back home?

VERJEE: They are going back home, because, initially, they said that they would appeal and even Indonesia tried to launch an appeal, so did South Korea, the Chinese were, like, we're doing our own investigating here. But, basically, the federation of badminton had said, no, you can't appeal. So, they should be on their way out.

MALVEAUX: All right. We could have won those matches, huh, I guess, Zain. Tell us a little bit about the --

VERJEE: Easy peasy.

MALVEAUX: Yes, easy peasy. Tell us about the fab five, what's next for them?

VERJEE: Amazing performance, right? I mean, did you watch it? It was absolutely tremendous they had a solid performance. They started with the vault and the just boom, boom, boom, just kept nailing every single one. Today, Gabby the flying squirrel Douglas is probably celebrating a little bit, but trying the focus, because she's got an all-around individual contest and so does Alexander Riceman tomorrow, so they're going to set their eyes on the next goal.

MALVEAUX: I did get a chance to watch it a little of it. It was really amazing. I love the gymnastics. I don't know, do you think she likes the flying squirrel? Do you think that that's a name that she's adopted warmly? I don't know, I would think something else, but --

VERJEE: I think -- I know. If you get a nickname and it creates buzz, I think it's OK, just go with it.

MALVEAUX: Flying squirrel, OK. I'll be the lame squirrel. Michael Phelps, tell us a little bit about what he's up to.

VERJEE: Well, he was trying to qualify for the 200 meter individual medley, the heats were earlier today, he did it. He has still got about three more races to go, you know, he's got the 19 gold medals, 19 medals, rather, in the can. The highest ever of any Olympian. Now, there's a little bit of controversy and, you know, people are getting mad a little today, because the debate is, is he the greatest athlete ever?

Now, the Olympic chief here, Sebastian Coe, said that he's not the greatest. He is successful, but he is not the greatest. So, everyone is mad saying, why is he saying that? And really, it's because he is saying that in swimming, first of all, you have an opportunity just get more medals, because they swim more competitions and then they have relay events as well, so you can rack more up. And also, in the Olympics, there are so many different disciplines that require amazing strength of character and overcoming obstacles, so it's just really hard to say, this one is it.

MALVEAUX: Zain, explain to us a little bit about London's mayor here in this zip line fiasco that happened here.

VERJEE: Yes.

MALVEAUX: Clearly, not an Olympic athlete. What happened?

VERJEE: I think he is a little too overweight there for the zip line there. You know, but essentially Boris Johnson decided he was going to carry two British flags and just go down the zip line, it's in Victoria Park, actually, and he goes down and then he gets stuck halfway. It is totally embarrassing and he shouts down, send me a rope, give me a rope. And then, everyone asked him, are you OK? And he goes, I'm fine, the games are going really well, everything is going well so far. And right, right?

MALVEAUX: How did he get down?

VERJEE: And so ,it was just really embarrassing.

MALVEAUX: How did he get down?

VERJEE: He's still -- he's still up there, and nobody wants to bring him down.

MALVEAUX: I am like, who gets stuck on a zip line?

VERJEE: No, he was up for about five minutes.

MALVEAUX: He's got to lift his legs.

VERJEE: Too much fish and chips.

MALVEAUX: Yes, he's got to lift his legs, that's the key to it all. But ,yes, too much fish and chips, I guess, for the mayor. Thank you, Zain, appreciate it.

VERJEE: We're going to leave him there.

MALVEAUX: Here is what we're working for this hour.

(voice-over): The controversy over Chick-fil-A's stance against same-sex marriage heats up. Those who support the restaurant are asked to turn out in droves and eat some chicken and fries. Will the federal reserve pump more dollars into the economy? Investors are hoping for more stimulus. We are live at the New York Stock Exchange ahead of next hour's big announcement.

And don't call him Snoop Dogg anymore, that's Snoop Lion to you. Why the rap star says that dogg is dead to him.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: The Democratic Party may soon break new political ground by backing gay marriage as part of the party platform. A preliminary draft supporting the marriages will be reviewed by a platform committee. It's going to happen next week.

This week, the issue is being debated in a much different way. Chick-fil-A restaurants. Yes, the fast food chain's president Dan Cathy recently outraged gay marriage supporters when he said he believes in, quote, "the Biblical definition of the family unit." But many conservatives, they're applauding his position. And former Republican Presidential Candidate Mike Huckabee is calling on Americans to support the restaurant today.

George Howell, he is outside a Chick-fil-A restaurant in Smyrna, Georgia.

So, first of all, Huckabee dubs today Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day. What are you seeing? Are people actually out to lunch? Are they making a political statement? What's happening?

GEORGE HOWELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Suzanne, people are answering that call. In fact, we pan over here, you can see the Chick- fil-A eat more chicken cow is even out. And we're seeing big crowds out here. A lot of people coming together to support Chick-fil-A. now the company has made its stance. The spokesperson has said that this company does not endorse the support Chick-fil-A day, but you are seeing a lot of people coming together. We even saw church members coming together just across the street. Church members came over to take a picture in front of this Chick-fil-A. Even found one person with Bible in hand walking to the Chick-fil-A. Take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm supporting Mr. Cathy and his views, his Biblical views. And it's not necessarily his views, it's God's views. And we're just agreeing with him today.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This book, from the beginning, says that a marriage is between a man and a woman. That's the way God ordained it. And it has never changed down through the ages. No matter how society change or culture change, the word of God never changes. It's the same today, yesterday and forever.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOWELL: And you find that I hear in the Bible belt. This person with Bible in hand walking to the Chick-fil-A. You'll find more support here in Atlanta, where this company was founded, as opposed to where you'll find opposition in places where the company expanded. For instance, at NYU in New York. Take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And I don't really feel like I want to eat there anymore and I feel like we should probably boycott the one in the NYU dorm.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOWELL: We even saw in Houston, Texas, aerials, lines outside the door to get into the Chick-fil-A. A lot of people coming together on this day to support them, Suzanne.

MALVEAUX: George, are you finding anybody who's there who's just having lunch and they don't really have a political view either way about this?

HOWELL: I think you find that. You see some people who just came for lunch. But you do also find that this has become a political issue and you find those people who come here today to make that stance that they are for traditional marriage, Suzanne.

MALVEAUX: George, tell us a little bit about some of the gay rights activists as well who are going to be not only boycotting Chick-fil-A, but they're also going to have -- I believe it's a kiss- in, is that right?

HOWELL: Sure. It is National Same Sex Kiss Day, Suzanne, and it will happen on Friday. And just to make the point, the company has also gone out of its way to make sure that it is neutral on both issues. The support Chick-fil-A day, also the National Same Sex Kiss Day, that it will not endorse either of those movements.

MALVEAUX: Do they explain why? They've already taken a position on the issue. Why are they -- why are they keeping out of it now?

HOWELL: You know, you do see from the statements that the company has been putting out, first of all those statements made by Dan Cathy, the CEO, and then after that subsequent statements have come out saying that Chick-fil-A supports all of its customers. Somewhat backing off of the rhetoric that came out initially from its leadership. So you do see the company trying to make sure that all customers feel welcome, but some people are taking opposition to what the leadership has said.

MALVEAUX: It will be interesting when you take a look at the big picture, whether or not they end up losing business, losing more money, or actually getting more business, more money because of this issue.

George, thank you. Really appreciate it.

Hurricane Katrina completely destroyed it. Well now, seven years later, this hospital is back. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: Defense Secretary Leon Panetta is in Israel today. He meet Israeli troops and their minister of defense. He's also promised U.S. support if Iran makes aggressive moves towards Israel, particularly with nuclear weapons.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LEON PANETTA, DEFENSE SECRETARY: But if they don't and if they continue and if they make the decision to proceed with a nuclear weapon, as the minister has pointed out, we have options that we are prepared to implement to ensure that that does not happen.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: Iranian officials insist their nuclear program is not for military use. Leon Panetta, he is meeting Israel's president later today.

Osama bin Laden's death made al Qaeda weak, but the terror network's offshoot groups are now a rising threat to the United States. That is from the State Department's annual terrorism report. Now it points to bin Laden's death as the start of what they call a serious decline for al Qaeda that the group may not be able to reverse. It also says al Qaeda affiliate groups, like those in Yemen, are sophisticated enough to stage attacks now inside the United States.

Well, a Louisiana hospital has opened its doors now for the first time since Hurricane Katrina. The floods completely destroyed this medical center. That was, of course, back in 2005. It is located just a couple miles outside of New Orleans. $90 million has now gone into this hospital. It has 40 beds. It is being called one of the last major pieces of Katrina recovery.

Storms roaring through an Indiana town, leaving it in a state of disaster.

Don't forget, you can watch CNN live on your computer while you're at work. Head to cnn.com/tv.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: Some very grim numbers today show just how deeply this country is in dry weather emergency. The Agriculture Department today says more than half of all counties in the United States are now disaster zones. That's more than half. Corn and soybean farmers, they are suffering because cattle ranchers, they're struggling just to have enough food and water for the animals. Want to go to Chad Myers here to talk a little bit about why this is happening and the impact that this is having now on our country, because it really is extraordinary when you look at it.

CHAD MYERS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yes, the amount of corn that animals, you and me, feed, corn dough (ph), corn flakes will have is going to be significantly less than we've had in our normal years. No question about that.

Let me show you the counties we're talking about because the secretary did add about 200 and some odd more counties into the disaster fund here, which means that farmers here, ranchers, can get emergency funds. And I know you've heard all about this crop insurance and when I was -- had farms in Nebraska, I would buy it as well. But it doesn't really pay you for what you could have made with a bumper crop. It might just pay your expenses for what you're actually going to lose. So, you know, these guys are going to be hurting, especially ranchers that were hoping to have heads of cattle, but there's no grass and there's no grain and there's no corn to feed them. You actually have to get rid of that cattle and give it -- give it to someplace else. And so those guys are in trouble as well. All the way from California, all the way to Florida, there it is.

This is something else, too, about the pasture conditions. And I call this "hey, where's the hay"? Ninety-eight percent of the pasture in Missouri is poor or very poor, which means it's literally not growing. Illinois, 95 percent. Something else that happened today, there was a conservation reserve program going on and that's land that doesn't get planted. Farmers are paid 10 cents, 15 cents on the dollar literally to not plant it so that places for birds and other habitat can be there. Now that actually -- some of these farmers can put cattle on that to find some of the hay, to find some grass to give these animals.

Illinois, right now, this is the corn. You plant 12.8 million acres of corn, 71 percent is poor to very poor. Which means, literally, there's just no corn out there. The pictures of this corn, it's just completely ugly. These corns have no chance of making any real yield. Maybe 20, 30 bushels where when I had a farm in Nebraska, we'd get 180 bushels of corn on that irrigated farm.

Something else going on here. A chance of development. That could be Ernesto. We lost the last frame, but that's OK. You can see that in the first couple of frames, there is something there that could, could maybe even get into our pastureland. Maybe it could get up into the Gulf of Mexico. Obviously you don't want a category four or five hurricane --

MALVEAUX: Right.

MYERS: But we'd like to maybe see it spread some rainfall in those very dry areas, Suzanne.

MALVEAUX: And what about the storms hitting southern Indiana last night?

MYERS: Well, it is something else. This is Oakland City, Indiana. Not a big population. But a festival and parade, and 30 minutes' notice, and they did not get out of the way. Baseball-sized hail fell. Here's are some of the pictures from the area. They were pounded. This is what happened to the power lines. Obviously, the wind did some of that. But baseball-sized hail, knocking down people and buildings. People were taken to the emergency room because of being hit by that. It was a nasty storm. It is all because it is so hot sometimes. And even right now, it is 111 in Tulsa or so. And you will get big storms with big heat. And they had big heat yesterday. And the storms, even though wrecking some of crops, if there were crops out there, you don't want hail hitting it, because it is so fragile. You see a storm coming this time of the year, you take cover, whether it has warning or not. That storm had a warning. But I just want everybody to know the storms can get big, and in a hurry.

MALVEAUX: Thank you, Chad. You've got to stick around for this story.

She is 22 years old. Saved her dad's life. You can see it here. Saturday, he was pinned underneath his BMW and his daughter, Lauren, did what many people thought was impossible. She lifts up the car and pulls out the dad and performs CPR. Her dad has a few broken ribs and some other fractures, but no permanent damage. Quite amazing. His two daughters there, really saving his life. It is incredible what you do when you have to.

MYERS: Incredible strength there when you need it, right?

MALVEAUX: Absolutely.

Chad, thank you.

MYERS: You're welcome. Thank you.

MALVEAUX: Imagine a talk show that looks like this. This is a news station in Egypt where all of the hosts wear veils. It could signal a massive cultural shift in the biggest country in the Arab world. We will take a look.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: Welcome back. When you see of the talk show hosts, you don't normally see them covered, but that is exactly what a new TV station in Egypt is featuring. It is something that you would not have seen under Hosni Mubarak's regime.

Ian Lee tells us what is behind this in Cairo.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ABU ISLAM ABDULLAH, MARIA TV PRODUCER (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

IAN LEE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): "Talk naturally," says Islam Abdullah, "as if you are talking to your sister." Advice to a new presenter, because on Maria TV, it is all about her voice. The audience will never see her face. All of the women from the presenters to the producers are veiled from head-to-toe, a first for Egyptian television.

Camerawoman Heba Seraq-Eddin says she could not get a TV job after graduation, just because she was veiled.

HEBA SERAQ-EDDIN, CAMERAWOMAN: (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

LEE: "I was told that an existence in television was rejected. I felt despair because I could not work in the field, she says. "The door of my employment was closed until I came across the ad for this channel."

Maria TV gives Seraq-Eddin and others like her a voice for four hours a day on the anti-Christian at Umma (ph) satellite channel. The mission is to give the women's conservative Islamic presence a voice in the post-Mubarak Egypt.

ALAA ABDULLAH, FEMALE BROADCASTER & STATION MANAGER: (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE).

LEE: "We are trying to create a better society after the earthquake of freedom that was January 25," says the station manager. "Egypt should be better. It should be more constructive, freer."

And while Abdullah fights for greater freedoms for voices like hers, she warns of giving too much freedom to others.

"We have liberal and secular channels that destroy Islam," she says, "And they want to influence society to create one with ideas not its own, and create new customs and traditions."

ABU ISLAM ABDULLAH: (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

LEE: The man behind Maria TV is her father, Abu Islam Abdullah, who Christianity for what he calls society for loose morals. And he hope hopes that Maria TV will put people back on what he sees as the right path.

ABU ISLAM ABDULLAH: (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

LEE: "Maria TV is my rejection of the heretical system of democracy, he says. Democracy lets women work as dancers and even serve as members of parliament. For Muslims and me, this is sheer madness."

The unique channel has already developed a devoted following. Until the advertising revenues start coming in, viewer's donations keep the lights on and the cameras running, bringing in around $33,000 a month.

Women are working for free, hoping that some day Maria TV will be able to spread the conservative message 24 hours a day.

Ian Lee, CNN, Cairo.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MALVEAUX: We will find out next hour if the Fed will offer up more stimulus to jump start the economy. We are live from the New York Stock Exchange with a preview on your money.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) MALVEAUX: Just about 30 minutes from now, the Federal Reserve will wrap up a highly anticipated meeting. The question is, will the Fed make any move to stimulate the struggling economy?

We are joined by Alison Kosik at the New York Stock Exchange to talk a little bit about what we expect now from Wall Street.

ALISON KOSIK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, the question is will they or won't they? The expectation is that the Fed will not make any change in the interest rates. The expectation is the interest rate will stay at the historic lows.

The funny thing is that used to be the main focus of these meetings, the interest rates, but the question today is whether the central bank will jump and give a jolt to the economy, to stimulate the economy, whether that is buying government bonds to get the money flowing or some other action.

Many believe that if the Fed is going to act, it has to be today or at the next meeting in September, because it is very, very close to the election and some may view for it as a political move. The benefit of waiting another month would be, by then, the Fed would have seen two monthly jobs report and would have a better idea if that a trend that the jobs market is losing momentum. They look at how the hiring has stalled in the past couple of months and see how economic growth has slowed in the second quarter.

Still many are not expecting any action today. Many think the Fed will tweak its language in its policy statement to reflect it's the negative news about the economy -- Suzanne?

MALVEAUX: How is the market reacting to this all of this?

KOSIK: Well, the market is mixed. It's in a wait-and-see mode, waiting for central bank to make the decision. Besides the Fed coming out with the decision today, it is also waiting on a meeting from the Fed equivalent in Europe, and that is the ECB. That meeting happening tomorrow morning for our time. Some analysts say that what happens in the ECB meeting may impact the markets here even more -- Suzanne?

MALVEAUX: All right. Alison, thank you.

Talking about the gender gap in the 2012 race for the president. What about the generation gap? More Millennials and young voters supporting President Obama, while more seniors, 65 and older are backing Mitt Romney. There's an article in the "USA Today" calling it one of the biggest demographic divides among voters.

Political Director, Mark Preston, joins us to talk about this.

Mark, I understand our results in our own polling reflects what we saw in the report as well. How wide is the gap, this age gap?

MARK PRESTON, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Well, Suzanne, it is very wide actually in many ways. And, yes, "USA Today" has the story today where it talks about the differences in the support between these two very different age groups, the young folks and really the older folks.

Take a look at these numbers form the CNN/ORC poll from last month, which shows how different it is right now among the support for President Obama. He gets 62 percent of the voters aged 18 to 34 while Mitt Romney only gets 35 percent of that. Let's look at the 65 and older voters and see who comes out on top there. As you can see right there, 57 percent go for Mitt Romney while only 41 percent Suzanne, go for Barack Obama. So as you can see, there is a generation gap when it comes to the election.

MALVEAUX: And so, Mark, we saw it play out in 2008. One of the turning points of the campaign is when you realized and you saw the enthusiasm of young people who used to go to the universities and the crowds that he used to really excite and attract. And you knew that there was something different happening. That there was a turn here, that there was a possible that he would win this thing. How tough is that going to be this go around to get that kind of enthusiasm among the young voters who are not known to come out to the polls?

PRESTON: Well, it is very important. And look, the Obama campaign will acknowledge that, that part of the strategy to win is to get out the young voters. They are targeting them just as much as they are targeting black Americans to come out as well, another key constituency that helped Barack Obama win in 2008.

But let's look at the enthusiastic gap between the 18 and 34 and as well as 65-plus right now, and it will show you where we are right now 97 days before the election. If you add the two numbers together, only 37 percent of the voters between ages 18-34 are extremely enthusiastic or very enthusiastic, which is a low number. Let's look at voters 65-plus now, Suzanne. Look at the difference right there when we look at those numbers. Just add those together and you have 60 percent. You know, more than half right now of older voters are enthusiastic about the election, which means they are enthusiastic for Mitt Romney.

But I have to say this, if you are to add in the number of somewhat enthusiastic, it will add another 30 points on to the Obama number, the bottom line for voters between the ages of 18-34. Which goes straight to the question and the point, that turnout among the younger voters is extremely important for President Obama, should he win a second term. Quite frankly, it will matter in states such as North Carolina, where the Democrats are holding the national convention, as well as in Ohio and Florida -- Suzanne?

MALVEAUX: Yes, it is going to be tight.

Thank you very much. Good to see you, Mark.

It's estimated 200,000 Americans die every year because of medical mistakes. Our Dr. Sanjay Gupta has an idea of why that might be happening.

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MALVEAUX: So, 12-year-old boy scrapes his arm while playing basketball in gym class, but a few days later he dies. Rory Stanton went to the hospital after getting this cut. He is throwing up, feeling pain in his leg, and the doctors said he was just dehydrated. They gave him Tylenol and sent him home. Days later, on April 1st, he was on his death bed. He returned to the hospital. Doctors said he had sepsis, which is a preventable infection. Well, that infection killed him. Doctors had missed the warning signs.

A New York hospital is now changing its discharge procedures. And cases like Rory's are more common than you think. But it is not easy for the hospitals to track the numbers. Some experts estimate that medical mistakes result in 200,000 American deaths each year.

CNN's chief medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, wrote about this in a "New York Times" op-ed this week. In it, he talked about doctors who over treating and making more mistakes because of it. But in Rory's case, it was a problem of under treating.

When I talked to Sanjay earlier, I began by asking him, what was the real problem at our hospitals.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, in Rory's case, what happened was a very specific thing. They checked specific lab values in Rory that would have given them a pretty good idea that he was developing an infection that could turn into sepsis, which is a body-wide infection. The problem was those labs weren't checked. This was a case where they ordered tests. They ordered plenty of tests and that would have given them knowledge. But the follow up wasn't there. It's a mistake that you see in hospitals, and it's the worst kind of mistake. You did order the things you need to know and didn't follow through. Those things have to be reviewed before a patient is discharged. It should be something that happens in a lot of hospitals.

MALVEAUX: You give another example of a young woman who received an antibiotic, pretty common, for a case that was a viral infection. But she was allergic to this. I would assume there are kinds of tests these doctors are testing, whether or not people are allergic to medicine. That seems pretty basic, pretty simple.

GUPTA: When you talk about the type of allergic reaction she had, it's a very rare thing. It's something known as Stevens-Johnson Syndrome where people get blistering all over their skin. It almost seems like their skin has been burned. It's so rare, it becomes a question, do you test every single person who is given a common antibiotic for a one in million allergic reaction. That's tough. It's like the same constant screening. You screen everybody for every single medication for dispensing. I don't think you can.

But the point I was making here is she had a viral illness. It should have never been treated by antibiotics. What happened to her was rare, but totally unnecessary at the same time.

That's the point. If we over treat, if she got this medication, we have to be accountable for those actions. Every antibiotic we prescribe, every test we order, every procedure we perform injects the possibility of a fresh new error. So you have to think about all that.

MALVEAUX: This example worried me because it was so stunning, so alarming. You talked about a doctor who operated on the wrong side of the brain. Describe that story for us. And how does something like that happen?

GUPTA: It's a tough story. This is discussed in the meeting, which is called a morbidity and mortality meeting, where the doctor get together, shut the door and hold each other accountable. He gave the story. He said things were moving fast. It was a trauma situation. The patient had blood accumulating on the brain. Someone had put up the C.T. scans were backwards on the light box. He was scrubbed and started to operate, and he realized when he had gotten through the operation that he was on the wrong side. He subsequently switched gears and the patient survived. This guy was wrecked, this e doctor. He spent hours throwing you have afterwards. I still remember this.

The point is, in that hospital, afterwards, there's what is called a time-out procedure. It's a time out like people do with their kids. Before the operation starts, everybody stops. Is this the right patient? Is this the right side of that patient? Are we doing the right procedure on the right patient? Everybody weighs in. It helps eliminate, if not greatly reduce mistakes like that.

MALVEAUX: You have a novel out, a best seller, a "New York Times" best-seller, Monday morning. It's going to be a TV series now.

GUPTA: Yes.

MALVEAUX: I told you I wanted to play the nurse, for god's sake.

(LAUGHTER)

GUPTA: Had we known you were available, we would have called you.

(LAUGHTER)

MALVEAUX: It's based on your experiences. What is the focus?

GUPTA: The focus is taking people inside a part of medicine they haven't seen before, where doctors get together and openly discuss their mistakes, complications. I realize a lot of people just don't know what happens after a mistake occurs in a hospital. This is the next step. This is what happens. What people walk away with is a sense of aspirational. This is how we move science forward, by learning from our mistakes.

MALVEAUX: Looking forward to seeing it.

GUPTA: Thank you.

MALVEAUX: All right, thank you, Sanjay. Appreciate it. GUPTA: You've got it.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MALVEAUX: Rapper Snoop Dogg says that's not his name anymore. Jeannie Moos has this interesting reason why, up next.

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MALVEAUX: Rapper Snoop Dogg says he no longer wants to be a dog. He is dropping the D-O-G-G from his name, wants to be known as Lion. Snoop says he evolved in Jamaica while recording his new album.

Jeanne Moos tell us about his epiphany.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MOOS, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): After all these years of Dogg --

DAVID LETTERMAN, HOST, LATE NIGHT WITH DAVID LETTERMAN: Please welcome Snoop Dogg.

JIMMY KIMMEL, HOST, JIMMY KIMMEL: -- Snoop Dogg.

REGIS PHILBIN, FORMER HOST: Here's Snoop Dogg.

MOOS: -- suddenly we're faced with Lion?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Snoop Lion. Give it up for Snoop Lion.

SNOOP DOGG, RAPPER FORMERLY KNOWN AS SNOOP DOGG: I could never become Snoop Lion if I was never Snoop Dogg.

MOOS (on camera): Did you guys hear the news? Snoop Dogg has changed his name to Snoop Lion.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Lion?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Snoop Lion?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I liked the old Snoop Dogg.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, I think it's a dumb idea.

MOOS (voice-over): But Snoop has been reincarnated, which also happens to be the name of a film about his spiritual journey. He went to Jamaica where, at a temple, a high priest suggested he's a lion, not a dog.

SNOOP LION: I want to bury Snoop Dogg and become Snoop Lion.

MOOS: Instead of rap, he's doing reggae.

(SINGING)

MOOS: But is the switch to Snoop Lion permanent? Web site, Holy Moly put it, better not be lion to us.

SNOOP LION: Snoop Lion is the innovation of Snoop Dog.

MOOS: We haven't had to adjust to such a jarring name change since Puff Daddy switched to P Diddy then diddled with the "P."

P DIDDY, RAPPER: Enough is enough with the "P" getting in the way.

(LAUGHTER)

You know, just call me Diddy.

MOOS: Online posters called Snoop "The artist formerly known as Dogg." The nickname reportedly came from his mom because he reminded her of Snoopy with his long Snoopy-shaped face.

True, the name got a bad rap from former Senator Alan Simpson.

ALAN SIMPSON, (R), FORMER SENATOR: Snoopy, Snoopy, poop dog.

MOOS: Somehow that insult wouldn't work as well with Lion. But Snoop still applies.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Come on Snoop! Snoop a loop!

MOOS (on camera): There's this downside to the name change. Pity the poor fans stuck with merchandise like the Snoop Dogg floor mat, walking around in pajamas wearing Snoop Dogg slippers.

(voice-over): Some may pretend to shrug off this change.

(on camera): He changed his name to Snoop Lion. I kid you not.

LETTERMAN: Top 10 things that sound cool when said by Snoop Dogg. Here we go, number 10.

SNOOP DOGG: Yo.

(LAUGHTER)

MOOS (voice-over): But will "yo" still sound cool if said by Snoop Lion?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes. Anything with lion. I'm a Leo.

MOOS: In the lion kingdom, the news merits something between a yawn and a roar.

(ROARING)

MOOS: Jeanne Moos, CNN --

(on camera): What's your message to Snoop Lion?

(LAUGHTER) MOOS (voice-over): -- New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(LAUGHTER)

MALVEAUX: CNN NEWSROOM continues right now with Brooke Baldwin.

Hey, Brooke.